4 
72 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1916. 
to 22 fishing vessels during the season. Another important change 
in ownership and transfer of interests is noted in the sale of the 
A. W. Thomas Co.’s business and property at Port Walter to the 
Alaska Herring & Sardine Co. This company engaged primarily in. 
the canning of kippered herring. i 
METHOD OF CANNING HERRING. 
Kippered herring, as a canned article, is one of the new products 
of the Alaska fisheries in 1916. It is believed, therefore, that a brief 
description of the method followed in its preparation at Port Walter 
will be of interest. When the herring are delivered at the cannery, 
usually at night or early in the morning, they are spread on the floor 
in a thin layer and sprinkled with salt, where they remain until such 
time as the cannery workers are ready to clean them. The fish are 
then placed on tables around which are gathered Scotch women, who 
dress them by cutting off the head and removing the viscera. After 
being cleaned in this manner, they are immersed for a short time in 
a tank of salt solution. The herrmg are then taken to the smoking 
room and hung by the tails on sticks studded on both sides with rows 
of sharpened nails. These sticks when filled with fish are placed 
side by side and tier above tier in the smokehouse where they are ex- 
posed to alder-wood smoke overnight. During this process all surplus 
moisture has drained from the body cavity and surface of the fish, 
and the natural oil commences to appear. While in this condition, 
they are packed by hand in 1-pound oval cans, 14 inches deep, 74 
inches long, and 44 inches wide. Each can holds from five to eight 
fish. The cans are then sealed without the addition of any oil or 
dressing and are cooked about two hours by immersion in boiling 
water heated by steam. A most excellent article of food is thus 
prepared. 
STATISTICAL SUMMARY. 
In 1916 the total investment in the herring fishery in Alaska was 
$509,046, as compared with $211,640 in 1915. The number of 
persons engaged was 392, as against 158 in 1915. The products 
were valued at $418,076, which is a gain of $262,497 over 1915. 
INVESTMENT IN THE HERRING FISHERY OF ALASKA IN 1916. 
Items. No. | Value. Items. No. | Value. 
Vessels: Purse seines. eens en toh ee nw 20 | $13,400 
Steamers and launches. ..-..-.-. 11 |\_ $40,'860")*Dragseines® . 222 f2s2terc 2.2 tee. 4 2, 050 
MONDALG os 4s eee eee B 0 al aes & ee Gillnetce . 42 5a cb weber aaae 3 
Barimers iS ee SA 3 16} 000"||" Cask capital’ fo o,f 252 See ee ements 273, 056 
ONNALC. sce has enn tee ack SAO Hy. Eo Shore and accessory property......|..---- 142, 825 
Launches under 5 tons... ----- 6 9, 800 _——— 
Boats, row and seine. .-...-..-. 39 3, 265 Motale to ..2 3. coep))45955 eee 509, 046 
Lighters and scows........---- 9 6, 400 
PHS GTIUVONS So et ona ies Poe 2 1, 400 
