58 FISHERY AND FUR INDUSTRIES OF ALASKA IN 1912. 



bait purposes that herring are handled ; at Killisnoo there is a plant 

 for the manufacture of fertilizer and oil from herring; while at 

 Ketchikan large numbers of herring are handled during the winter 

 for the Oriental export trade. Also at Ketchikan the New England 

 Fish Co. freezes a large quantity of herring for halibut bait. The 

 heaviest catches of herring are made in the Behm Canal region, 

 particularly in Yes Bay and Spacious Bay. A new plant for handling 

 herring was erected this season on the latter body of water. Though 

 nominally an American organization, this was largely controlled and 

 operated by Japanese. Another company used the barge America 

 in these waters for herring operations. In this region the herring 

 are caught by means of purse seines. In central Alaska several 

 hundred barrels of herring were salted at shore stations on Simeonof 

 Island, operated by Ross Boye and by the Union Fish Co. Herring 

 are taken in this region by means of gill nets. 



Much difficulty has been experienced in utilizing herring during 

 the summer months when they are filled with the so-cahed "red feed," 

 a small crustacean which causes rapid decomposition once the fish is 

 removed from the water. Even the use of salt will not entirely arrest 

 this deleterious influence. Capt. A. W. Thomas, of Ketchikan, who con- 

 ducted bait herring operations at Port Walter, tried the plan of hold- 

 ing herring alive for a time in several inclosures. At the end of three 

 days the objectionable "red feed" had entirely digested and the her- 

 ring were in good condition for bait or food purposes. An extension 

 of this idea will work a distinct benefit to the herring industry. 



The popular agitation against the use of herrmg for fertilizer and 

 oil still continues. The chief objection comes from the halibut fish- 

 ermen who claim that their supply of bait is endangered. This 

 contention is open to serious question, yet it possesses some merit 

 and at the same time is a distinct majority plea. Under these cir- 

 cumstances and for other reasons it appears no more than proper 

 that after allowing present operatives from 5 to 10 years in which to 

 bring their business to a close it should be made unlawful to use food 

 fish, other than the waste portions thereof from canneries or similar 

 establishments, in the manufacture of fertilizer or oil. 



It is interesting to note, however, that in the manufacture of fish 

 fertilizer the product is applied to the soils, and thereby crops are 

 greatly improved. From this point of view it may be said that the 

 herring thus converted are after all utilized as food products, though 

 in an indirect way. 



The Alaska herring is marketed but little except in Pacific coast 

 regions. It is said by the trade that present freight rates prohibit its 

 exploitation in farther distant sections. Most of the product is now 

 sold in the Orient, but difficulties in the way of satisfactory trans- 

 portation arrangements have retarded the development of this 

 almost unlimited field. 



