FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 79 
excellent quality and large size. In 1916 there was some activity 
in this work in the vicinity of Petersburg. There is every reason to 
believe that the business may be expanded very materially. Ac- 
cording to the customs records the exportations from Alaska in 1916 
were 68,845 pounds of shrimps in brine, valued at $2,770; 3,060 
pounds dried shrimps, valued at $831; 100 pounds shrimp meat, 
valued at $35; and 3,880 pounds shrimp fertilizer (shells), valued at 
$114. The total value of the shrimp products in 1916 was $3,750. 
SHARKS. 
Recently there has been considerable progress in the utilization of 
shark skins in the manufacture of leather, thus opening up an oppor- 
tunity to utilize more fully another aquatic resource heretofore prac- 
tically neglected. With a view to taking advantage of this oppor- 
tunity a company was formed by Messrs. J. H. Scott and James Lee, 
with headquarters at Ward Cove, to engage in the taking of mud 
sharks in southeastern Alaska between Petersburg and Juneau. The 
motor scow Elliott (139 tons net) was utilized in the work, which 
resulted in the capture of 450 sharks. The carcasses were not used, 
but it is hoped that in future operations they may be converted into 
fertilizer. ‘The hides were valued at $4,000, and the livers yielded 
2,700 gallons of oil, valued at $1,350. The total value of the shark 
products was therefore $5,350. The investment in this fishery was 
$11,600, and employment was given to 12 persons, all whites. Cer- 
tain preliminary steps have been taken by J. F. Lavarne, with a view 
to establishing this industry in the vicinity of Seward. 
