PAGIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. ~ 58 
COOK INLET. 
While this great inlet has an abundant supply of salmon, it is one 
of the most difficult sections in all Alaska in which to fish successfully. 
The tides and currents in the inlet are strong and treacherous, increas- 
ing in height and force as its head is approached, where the tide comes 
in with a bore which is extremely dangerous to small craft. Shoals 
make out a long distance from shore and are continually changing. 
The first cannery to be built on the inlet was in 1882, when the 
Alaska Packing Co., of San Francisco, built one at Kasilof, on the right 
bank of the Kasilof River at the mouth, utilizing the available machin- 
ery from the cannery built by the Cutting Packing Co. at old Sitka 
in 1878. In 1885 this cannery was sold to the Arctic Fishing Co. 
In 1890 the loss of its cannery ship forced it to close that season. 
In 1893 it joimed the Alaska Packers Association. At the height 
of the season of 1905 the plant was burned. It was rebuilt the next 
spring and has been operated each year since. 
The cannery of the Northern Packing Co. was built in 1888 on the 
eastern side of Cook Inlet, at Kenai, at the mouth of the Kaknu 
River. It was operated up to and including 1891. In 1893 it joined 
the Alaska Packers Association, but has not been operated since 1891. 
In 1897 the Pacific Steam Whaling Co. built a cannery at Kenai, 
but did not install the machinery and operate it until the next year. 
In 1901 this cannery was taken over by the Pacific Packing & Navi- 
gation Co. In 1903 the plant burned down. Upon the sale of its 
assets in 1905 the site passed to the Northwestern Fisheries Co. In 
1910 the company put up a new plant here and has operated it con- 
tinuously since. During the period when the site was unused a mild- 
curing establishment was operated here by the San Juan Fishing & 
Packing Co. in 1907 and 1908. This plant was burned down just 
before the fishing season of 1916 began. 
In 1890 George W. Hume, of San Francisco, built a cannery at 
Kasilof, on the right bank of the river, about half a mile above its 
mouth. It was operated in 1890, 1891, and 1892. In 1898 it joined 
the Alaska Packers Association and was consolidated with the plant 
of the Arctic Fishing Co. 
C. D. Ladd operated a saltery on the left bank and at the mouth of 
the Chulitna River, about 6 miles above Tyonek. This saltery was 
purchased by the Alaska Salmon Association in 1899. The follow- 
ing spring it erected a cannery here and made a small pack. It was 
operated also in 1901 and 1902, and then abandoned. 
In 1907 J. A. Herbert & Co. established a saltery at English Bag 
and operated it until 1910. 
6111°—17——26 
