PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 67 
Stokes & Stokes operated a small saltery on the lower Yukon, packing 15 barrels of 
chum salmon. Their plant was valued at $1,500. Equipment consisted of one 
power boat and 300 fathoms of gill nets. They report having located too far up the 
river, but before another season will move to a point lower down. 
Warden (©. F. Townsend reported that one Sepella operated a saltery on the Yukon 
about 12 miles from salt water and that a pack of 110 barrels of chums and cohos was 
made. Salmon were taken with gill nets and one wheel. Mr. Townsend also advised 
that the Delta Fishing Co. was in the field in a small way. 
Statistics compiled at the close of the season of 1918 indicate that exclusive of gear 
operated by the cannery and salteries near the mouth of the river, the whites and 
natives on the Yukon and tributary waters used 393 fish wheels, valued at $19,650, and 
130 gill nets aggregating 3,250 fathoms, valued at $6,500. The estimated catch for 
local requirements was 1,400,000 salmon, which when dried represented approximately 
700 tons of fish, valued at $140,000. 
The total population of the Yukon region of Alaska, dependent in some measure on 
the fisheries, was estimated late in 1918 as being 10,907, of which number 6,638 were 
whites and 4,269 were natives. The number of dogs in the region was estimated at 
6,183. 
Prior to the season of 1918 the size of the run of salmon in the Yukon was an almost 
unknown quantity. The belief was expressed in some quarters that a comparatively 
small run ascended its waters, but others who were interested in the commercial 
exploitation of its fisheries held the opinion that a run aggregating many millions of 
salmon annually ascended the river. The necessity of maintaining the fisheries is 
paramount at all times, and ii it is reasonable to suppose that a serious depletion of the 
supply by unrestricted fishing seems imminent, limitations must necessarily be 
imposed. This was done on December 14, 1918, by the promulgation of regulations 
alfecting commercial fishing for salmon in the Yukon River. The closing order which 
is published in full on page 11 in this report became effective January 1, 1919. 
MISCELLANEOUS PLACES. 
At times small quantities of salted salmon have been packed in 
Bering Sea in the neighborhood of Nome and St. Michael. In 1917 
the Arctic Fish Co. operated on a large scow on Golovin Bay, near 
Nome. 
ARCTIC OCEAN. 
Although it is known that there are good runs of salmon in some 
of the rivers debouching into the Arctic, the ice and other conditions 
have deterred people from attempting to extend their operations 
into this region. In 1912, however, the Midnight Sun Packing Co. 
built and operated a small cannery on Kotzebue Sound, in the Arctic 
Ocean. <A small pack, mostly of Dolly Varden trout, was made in 
that and subsequent years. The plant was not operated in 1919. 
BRITISH COLUMBIA.2 
Fraser River.—This, the largest river in British Columbia (over 
1,000 miles in length), has been important from a fishery standpoint 
ever since salmon canning was taken up commercially. 
The Hudson Bay Co., the first to prepare salmon for commercial 
urposes, bought the fish from the Indians and pickled them in 
Barely for export, mainly to the Hawaiian Islands and Asia. 
Howay,° in his work on ‘‘British Columbia,” after describing 
briefly tha fishing operations carried on by the Hudson Bay Co. in 
the Fraser River, has the following to say with respect to the develop- 
a The author is indebted to Henry Doyle, of Vancouver, British Columbia, for practically all of the 
historical data relating to the canning industry of British Columbia, and hereby expresses his deep appreci- 
ation for this and many other courtesies. 
b British Columbia, from the earliest Times to the Present. By F. W. Howay. 4 vols.,illus. Van- 
couver, 1914. 
