68 FISHERY AND FUR INDUSTRIES OF ALASKA IN 1912. 



The first whale was killed April 20 and the last September 22. 

 One sperm and one sulphm* bottom were lost durmg September on 

 account of rough weather. The Tyee Co. operated for oil and bone 

 fertihzer. No attempt was made this year to utilize other portions 

 of the carcass, as ui previous seasons. 



ALASKA WHALING CO. 



The Alaska Whaling Co., an organization incorporated under 

 the laws of the State of Minnesota, operated for the first time in 

 Alaska this season. A station was established at Akutan Harbor, on 

 the northern shore of Akutan Island. The latter part of May the 

 Norwegian steamer Admiralen (998 tons) arrived from Sandefjord, 

 Norway, with a cargo consisting principally of metal tanks and 

 material for the shore station, and cannon, harpoons, Imes, and other 

 equipment for the two killing steamers TJnimak and Kodiak (each of 

 99 tons), which vessels were built at Seattle early in 1912. The 

 Admiralen was equipped as a floating factory for the conversion of 

 blubber into crude oil. 



Whaling operations were begun June 3 and continued until October 

 21. The total take was 310 whales, of which 174 were males and 

 136 females. The shore station was not ready until the first of 

 July, until which time the blubber only was utilized aboard the 

 Admiralen. At the shore station both oil and fertilizer were prepared. 



Unfavorable weather also interfered with the operations of this 

 company, lessening the catch materially. The bark Hadyn Brown^ 

 under charter to the company, was wrecked May 12, 1912, on 

 Montague Island, and seven lives were lost. The vessel was return- 

 ing light in tow of the tug Pioneer, but during a severe gale it was 

 necessary to cut adrift and the disaster followed. 



UNITED STATES WIEALING CO. 



Another new concern to engage in whaling operations in Alaska 

 was the United States Whaling Co., incorporated under the laws of 

 South Dakota. A shore station was erected at Port Armstrong, on 

 the southeast shore of Baranof Island; also the Norwegian steamer 

 Sommerstadt (2,777 tons) was employed as a floating factory. The 

 material for the shore station and the equipment of the three American- 

 built whaling vessels used by the company arrived from Norway on 

 the Sommerstadt about the middle of April. Three steam whaling 

 vessels were built for the company during the past winter at Seattle. 

 These are the Star I, 133 net tons burden, and the Star II and Star III, 

 each of 97 net tons. A whaling gun is mounted at the bow of each as 

 in the case of similar vessels employed in the same work. 



On July 14 the Sommerstadt, in company with the Star II and the 

 Star III, left for Sanborn Harbor, on the west shore of Nagai Island, 



