22 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
excess of the quantity then being utilized by the plants in operation, 
and that production would be increased by the amount of their 
packs. It-was contrary to the policy of the Food Administration to 
grant a license for the operation of additional canneries where it 
simply meant a division of the supply of salmon without probable 
increase of production. Important considerations in this connection 
also were the conservation of labor, material, and supplies, particu- 
larly of tinplate. 
The representatives of the Food Administration in Alaska, Wash- 
ington, Oregon, and California met in Portland and Seattle in Feb- 
ruary, 1918, to take up chiefly the matter of licensing canneries and 
fixing the prices of salmon. Subsequently the United States Food 
Administration, acting upon the recommendation of Pacific-coast 
administrators, fixed the prices to be paid fishermen for raw fish. 
These prices varied for the different districts of Alaska, being made 
to meet local conditions. 
The fixing of prices governing the sale of canned salmon, and action 
in respect to withdrawals of most of the pack in 1918 for military 
uses, received attention at the hands of the Food Administration. 
Following the cessation of hostilities, licenses, restrictions, and other 
requirements of the Food Administration were removed early in 
1919. 
Among those interested in the canning industry in Alaska who 
were more prominently identified with the activities of the Food 
Administration and who were connected with it were Messrs. Frank 
M. Warren, of the Alaska-Portland Packers’ Association, E. B. 
Deming, of the Pacific American Fisheries, Dan Campbell, of the 
Astoria and Puget Sound Canning Co., and August Buschmann, of 
the Deep Sea Salmon Co. The food administrator for Alaska was 
Judge Royal A. Gunnison, following whose death Mr. P. R. Bradley 
was appointed. All of these gentlemen rendered great and valuable 
service, ably handling the many arduous and troublesome duties 
requiring their attention. 
INQUIRY BY FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. 
As part of a comprehensive investigation of food-producing indus- 
tries undertaken by direction of the President, the Federal Trade 
Commission conducted an inquiry in 1918 in regard to the produc- 
tion and distribution of canned salmon. In December, 1918, the 
results of the inquiry were published by the commission.? It is 
stated that the report is based practically upon complete returns 
from all the salmon canners in the United States, cluding Alaska. 
Following a general description of the salmon-canning industry, 
including references to history, species of salmon, and methods of 
selling and distribution, general chapters are devoted to the con- 
sumption and production of canned salmon; the cost of packing and 
marketing; the prices of canned salmon, including particular refer- 
ence to opening prices, and brokers’ prices; capacity, investment, 
and profits; organization and control; legislation to protect the 
supply of salmon, and suggestions for the improvement of conditions 
in the salmon-canning industry. 
a Report of the Federal Trade Commission on Canned Foods. Canned Salmon. December, 1918. . 
Washington, 1919, 
