56 



ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1919. 



steamer service was maintained in western Alaska. Other operattirs 

 claimed that their business was injured by the importation of cod 

 from Japan with which they were unable to compete. 



Bering Sea retains its supremacy as the chief field of production, 

 though very considerable catches were made on the banks of the 

 Pacific Ocean south of the Alaska Peninsula. Winter fishing in 

 the vicinity of the Shumagin and Sannak Islands is carried on rather 

 indifferently since the introduction of power dories, previous to the 

 use of which it constituted a prosperous industry. The reason as- 

 signed for the declme of the winter fishing is that the fishermen are 

 not able to handle the additional weight which the installation of 

 power in the dories has meant when it becomes necessary to launch 

 or haul out their boats. The common dory was easily handled on 

 the beaches. 



VESSEL FISHERY. 



Two important changes occur in the list of companies and individuals 

 carrying on the vessel cod fishery of Alaska in 1919; one is the omis- 

 sion"^of the Northern Fisheries (Inc.), which did not resume operations 

 after 1918, and the other the addition of Lars Mikkelson who pur- 

 chased and sent north to engage in cod fishing in the vicinity of the 

 Aleutian Islands the steamer Dora, which by reason of its years of 

 faithful service to the people of western Alaska, is now the most noted 

 vessel in Territorial waters. The small gas schooner Alice, used by 

 the Northern Fisheries (Inc.), in connection with its shore station at 

 Kodiak, is now shown under the name of the W. J. Erskine Co., while 

 the schooners Charles Brown &nd Azalea and the gas schooner FaZtZ^-z are 

 dropped from the list. The Allen A, belonging to the Alaska Codfish 

 Co., was reported a total loss by being blown ashore on Unga Island 

 early in the year, but subsequently it was hauled off and towed to 

 Seattle for repairs, and finally sold. The Fanny Dutard, owned by 

 J. A. Matheson, was withdrawn from foreign trade in which it was 

 engaged in 1918 and reentered the Bering Sea cod fleet in 1919. 

 No other changes were noted in the vessels operated. 



