REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 45 



gated 35,338,065, and the output decreased 1,158,982; the hump- 

 backs or pinks numbered 48,316,362 and increased 3,441,091; the 

 cohos or silvers numbered 2,911,681 and increased 807,428; the catch 

 of chums, ranking third, amounted to 14,160,818 fish, an increase of 

 5,633,240; while of the kings, the largest species, 727,762 were taken, 

 an increase of 131,416 over the previous year. The total catch in 

 southeast Alaska was less than in 1917, while both central and western 

 Alaska showed a larger output. Placed end to end, the salmon taken 

 in Alaska in 1918 would extend more than 1^ times around the world 

 at the equator. 



Owing to increased attention received during 1918 by the herring, 

 the output of that species took second rank among the fisheries of 

 Alaska, displacing the halibut, which for many years had held that 



Eosition. The advance was due to a greatly increased pack of pickled 

 erring, in response to the Bureau's efforts to introduce and estab- 

 lish the Scotch cure in Alaska. This stimulus to the herring industry 

 was exhibited also in the much larger quantity of herring pickled 

 after the Norwegian method, which had previously been the only one 

 followed. The year's herring output was valued at $1,819,538, of 

 which amount $748,605 represented Scotch-cured herring. 



The Alaska haUbut fishery in 1918 was engaged in by 1 18 steam and 

 gas vessels, and represented an investment of $2,594,292. The catch, 

 amounting to upward of 13,869,000 pounds, valued at $1,667,686, 

 exceeded the 1917 output by 716,000 pounds and $547,000. 



The cod fishery has shown but slight fluctuation in recent years. 

 In 1918 the vessel catch in Bering Sea, usuallv about two-thirds of 

 the total output, was somewhat under that of the previous season, 

 while the catch at the shore stations, chiefly on the southern shore of 

 the Alaska peninsula, was sufficiently increased over 1917 to offset 

 the vessel shortage. The aggregate output of the cod fishery was 

 upward of 14,000,000 pounds, valued at $957,000. Dry-salted fish 

 constituted the bulk of the products, namely, nearly 11,000,000 

 pounds, with a market value of $778,000. 



The only other branch of the Alaska fisheries of prime importance 

 is whaling, which is conducted wholly from shore stations. The 

 number of whales taken was 448, most of which were finbacks; this 

 was 25 more than in 1917. The value of all whale products was 

 $834,000. 



FISHERY PATROL. 



The patrol maintained by the Bureau during the fishing season of 

 1918, while by no means adequate or satisfactory, was more effective 

 and comprehensive than ever before. The regular vessels were sup- 

 plemented by hired craft and the regular force of wardens and agents 

 was augmented by special employees, as far as the funds avaihible 

 would permit. 



A detailed statement of the work of the patrol in 1918 in detecting 

 violations of laws and regulations and in prosecuting the offenders in 

 the Alaskan courts is given in the special report on the activities of 

 the Alaska service for that year. There have been numerous con- 

 victions, mostly for failure to observe the weekly close season, for 

 setting gear within prohibited distances of other gear, for fishing in 

 closed waters, etc., and substantial fines have been imposed. 

 35286°— 21 4 



