COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1905. 



45 



At first it is caught from boats anchored close to the shore, but when 

 the new ice becomes strong enough to hold them the natives erect 

 stakes with mats hung between to keep off the wind, and fish through 

 holes cut in the ice. The fish are allowed to freeze, and in that con- 

 dition are stored away in suitable receptacles until needed. They 

 also form an important article of dog feed. 



Throughout Southeastern Alaska clams are quite abundant. In 

 1898 and 1899 the North Pacific Trading and Packing Company packed 

 each year several hundred cases of clams and clam juice, but then 

 abandoned the business for some unknown reason. The clams were 

 packed in September, usually, as they were then in the best condition. 

 In 1903 the Alaska Packing and Navigation Company built a small can- 

 nery at Wrangell and put up about 20 cases that same year, but owing 

 to lack of capital the cannery has not been operated since. In 1904, 

 42 cases were put up by the Alaska Fish and Halibut Company on 

 Wrangell Narrows. There is an excellent opening in this line for 

 experienced persons with a moderate amount of capital. 



Along the Alaska peninsula and the Aleutian chain mussels, crabs, 

 and shrimps are very abundant, and squid, octopus, and beche-de- 

 mer are quite numerous. All of these are at present utilized as food 

 by the natives and a few of the whites, and large quantities are used 

 as bait in the other fisheries. It is probable that when shipping 

 facilities become better a trade in these products with Puget Sound 

 ports can be built up. The natives also gather certain varieties of 

 alga?, and, after drying them, store them away to be eaten in winter. 



FISHERIES CARRIED ON IN ALASKAN WATERS AND CREDITED 

 TO PLACES OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT. 



Ood. — In addition to the cod fisheries carried on from the shore sta- 

 tions there is a fleet of vessels which operate on the Alaskan banks, but 

 as they hail from ports outside of Alaska they can not be credited to 

 the district. The table below gives full data in regard to the opera- 

 tions of these vessels during 1905. Their methods of work, etc., have 

 already been described in full elsewhere in this report. 



Cod Fishing Conducted in Alaskan Waters in 1905 by Vessels from Outside 



Ports. 



