46 FISHERY AKD FUR INDUSTRIES OF ALASKA IN 1912. 



in the neighborhood of Howkan with rakes. The salmon are taken 

 in depths of from 3 to 20 fathoms. 



Coho and king salmon are the only species so far taken by this 

 method. This is perhaps due to the fact that these species feed on 

 the herring inshore to a greater extent. The smaller species probably 

 feed less on herring and more on smaller species, such as sand lances, 

 and it is quite possible that they feed less in the inside waters. But 

 since the king salmon were not taken in Alaska by hook and line 

 until in recent years, it may be that means will later be found to 

 develop a similar fishery for the other species. An excellent field for 

 investigation leading to such results remains open. 



CANNING. 



Conditions and events of the season. — The season of 1912 reversed 

 in large measure the successes of 1911. "While those companies mak- 

 ing the greater part of their pack from red salmon were prosperous, 

 those depending upon the pink and chum packs lost correspond- 

 ingly. Twenty-three new plants were inaugurated, 20 of them in 

 the southeast or pink-salmon region, and none in Bering Sea, where 

 the heavy run of reds occurred. A few of these new plants were 

 offshoots of established concerns or extensions and conversions of 

 pickling plants, but most of them were new firms entering the field 

 as such for the first time. It is expected that several of these plants 

 will be closed for the season of 1913, partly in view of the heavy run 

 of pinlvs due in Pugct Sound this year. 



In the matter of accidents and casualties the industry fared well. 

 The warehouse belonging to the cannery in Hidden Inlet collapsed, 

 but the loss of stock was slight. Two fatalities occurred in the 

 Yakutat region by drowning. These are the only accidents of note 

 reported. 



Tlie phenomenal success of the floating cannery Glory of the Seas 

 last season found fewer imitators than was anticipated. Only this 

 vessel and a second, the William H. Smith, were operated as such. 

 The active demand for pink fish induced by the many new concerns 

 and the subsequent low market price reversed the 1911 results, and it 

 is not expected that any further attempt will be made to exploit this 

 form of cannery in the near future. 



The use of the "sanitary can" was further extended. It is proba- 

 ble that it will entirely displace the solder can by another season. 



It seems proper in this place to again urge the desirability of 

 greater care in putting on the market only a wholesome product and 

 that in an attractive form. During the past season many samples 

 of salmon which had been questioned under the pure-food law came 

 into this Bureau for criticism as to quality and branding. Not all of 

 this was packed in Alaska, but the qualities which make the con- 

 tents of a package wholesome and attractive in one place apply to 



