50 



ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1917. 



after acquiring a thorough practical working knowledge of the 

 Scotch method of curing herring, a process previously unknown in 

 Alaska, they proceeded to separate districts to render aid and give 

 practical demonstrations and instructions to interested persons. Mr. 

 Crawford was assigned to the southeastern district, Mr. Anderson to 

 the Prince William Sound region, with headquarters at Cordova, and 

 Mr. Studdert devoted most of his attention to the important Cook 

 Inlet section, centerino; at Seldovia. 



The efforts of the Government along this line were met in a com- 

 mendable manner by two of the large companies interested in the 

 fisheries of Alaska — the Alaska Herring & Sardine Co. and the Alaska 

 Pacific Herring Co., both at Port Walter. These two companies 

 packed several hundred barrels of Scotch-cured herring. Smaller 

 operators manifested a willingness to foUow the Scotch cure, and 

 encouraging results were obtained. The greater part of the herring 

 pickled in Alaska in 1917 was prepared, howeA^er, according to the 

 Norwegian formula. This may be due to the fact that it requires 

 less work to pack herring in this way. Moreover, no particular style 

 of barrel is required, wliereas the packing of herring by the Scotch 

 cure involves more labor and care and requires a special barrel, but 

 a better article and one that the trade demands is obtained. It was 

 to meet the needs of the market and stimulate the production of a 

 highly desirable aquatic food that the Governm.ent inaugurated the 

 campaign to establish the Scotch-cure method of preparing herring in 

 Alaska. As a direct result of this work, 1 ,877,45.0 pounds, or 7,622 bar- 

 rels, of herring were Scotch cured in Alaska in 1917, as compared with 

 nothing previously. At the same time 13,576 barrels were packed 

 by the Norwegian method. 



STATISTICAL SUIVIMARY. 



In 1917 the investment in the herring fishery of Alaska was 

 $562,002, as compared with $509,046 in 1916. This is a very credit- 

 able showing when viewed in connection with the fact that the invest- 

 ments of the Alaska Herring & Sardine Co. and the Alaska Pacific 

 Herring Co. are now included in the investments in the salmon in- 

 dustry, since both companies made considerable packs of canned 

 salmon. The number of persons engaged was 214, as compared with 

 392 in 1916. The products were valued at $767,729, as compared 

 with $418,076 in 1916, the gain being $349,653. 



Investment in the Herring Fishery of Alaska in 1917. 



