THE FISHES OF ALASKA. 



243 



As a food fish this species is inferior to all the other salmon. The inferiority, however, is more 

 marked when the fish is canned than when otherwise utilized. The flesh is soft and spongy and does not 

 lend itself readily to canning processes. It is pale in color and therefore not so attractive in appearance 

 as that of the other species. "WTien utilized fresh the fish takes a higher rank. It is coming more and 

 more to be frozen and shipped east or abroad, and is meeting with much favor in that form. Consider- 

 able quantities are being dry-salted for the Japanese market. In Japan this species is highly prized and 

 is a valuable product of the fisheries. It is the most abundant salmon in that country. 



^\'hen fresh run from the sea the dog salmon is a handsome fish, plump and silver^-, very attractive 

 in appearance, and closely resembling the silver salmon. Later the dark of the back tends to form 

 vertical bars which extend down on the sides. In the breeding season the body becomes largely dirty 

 black, obscurely barred with dirty red, the jaws become gi-eatly elongated and distorted, and the teeth 

 show prominently. Frequently the flesh is dirty red and soiled white alternately in broad bands which, 

 together with the banding on the sm-face, doubtless suggested the name calico salmon. The Russians 

 call this salmon hayko or lekai, while to the Japanese it is sake. The trade name on our coast is chum. 



Although the dog salmon does not yet rank high in popular favor, and while it is commercially the 

 least valuable of the several species of salmon except the coho, it is nevertheless a valuable fish, one 

 destined to become more and more appreciated as we learn better methods for its utilization. The flesh, 

 though not so red nor so firm and flaky as in other species, is no less nutritious and no less wholesome. At 

 present it is probably better to utilize it either fresh or by dry -salting rather than by canning. 



During the season of 1906 the dog salmon fishery increased enormously over previous years. The 

 total nimiber of fish utilized was 3,259,384. Reducing the entire catch to a canned salmon basis it is 

 equivalent to 273,459 cases, valued at $755,374. 



The Beginning and Ending of Commercl\l Fishing for Dog S.\lmon at Various Fishing 



Stations in Alaska, 1904-1906. 



Note.— The fact that the name of a river is given does not mean that fishing is carried on in the river itself; in fact, 

 the fish are nearly always caught before they enter the streams. In many instances the fishing station is in the vicinity 

 of the stream and its name has merely been used to locate the station more clearly. The dates given do not necessarily 

 mean the beginning and ending of the run for each stream, as the fish may have been nmning for sometime before the 

 cannery men were abe to fish the stream and the pacii may have been obtained and fishing stopped before the end of the run. 



Waters. 



1904. 



1905. 



Fishing 

 began— 



Fishing 

 ended— 



Fishing 

 began— 



Fishing 

 ended— 



1906. 



Fishing 

 began— 



Fishing 

 ended — 



Bering Sea. 



Xushagak Bay a. 

 Kviehak River... 

 Naknek River. . . 

 I'gaguk River... 

 I'gashik River... 

 Nelson Lagoon. . 



Southeast Alaska. 

 Icy Strait: 



Dundas Bay 



Glacier Bay— Bartlett Bay 



Pleasant Island 



Excursion Inlet 



Port Frederick, Chichagof Island 



Lynn Canal 



Chilkat Inlet and River 



Eagle River 



Tee Harbor 



Lena Cove 



Point Louise 



Auk Bay 



Chatham Strait: 



Funter Bay, Admiralty Island 



Gut Bay 



Bay of Pillars — 



North Arm, Kuiu Island 



South Arm. Kuiu Island f> 



St. Michael Bay— Kuiu Bay, Kuiu Island. 

 Stephens Passage 



Taku Inlet ■■ 



Port Snettisham d 



Seymour Canal 



June 25 

 July I 



July 5 

 July 31 



June I 

 June 24 



July 28 

 July 22 



July 



Aug. 1 



June 23 

 June 13 



July 25 

 July 28 



June 15 



Oct. 8 



June 25 

 June 24 



Oct. 8 

 Sept. 23 



July I 



Sept. 



June 25 

 June — 



Sept. 7 

 Sept. 15 



June 25 

 July I 

 July 4 



Sept. 7 



do... 



Aug. 4 



Sept. I 

 Aug. 26 

 June 22 



Sept. 1 

 Sept. 10 

 Oct. 15 



July 10 



Oct. 15 



Aug. 15 



July I 

 ...do... 

 June 25 



June 19 

 July 20 



July - 



July — 

 June 25 

 ...do... 

 ...do... 



Sept. IS 



do.. . 



...do... 



Sept. 16 

 Oct. 27 



Oct. — 



June II 

 June 25 

 June 23 

 June 15 

 June 18 

 June — 



Aug. 26 

 Sept. 5 

 Aug. 15 

 Sept. 8 



June 26 

 June 29 

 June 21 



June 21 

 July 20 



Oct. — 

 Sept. 15 

 ...do... 

 ...do... 



July 20 



June • 



o 1900. June 19 to July 1. 

 i> 1900. July 15 to August 31. 



f 1900. Angus 

 d 1900, July 9 



1 15 to September 25. 

 to September 24. 



Aug. 4 



Aug. 7 



July 30 



July 25 



July 31 



July - 



Aug. 31 

 Sept. 18 

 Sept. 5 

 Sept. 18 



Sept. 22 



Do. 

 Sept. S 



Sept. 5 

 Aug. 1 



Aug. I 

 Aug. — 



