52 FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1910. 



On some of the trawls baited hooks are placed between the gangions 

 for the purpose of catching bait for the pots. All sorts of fish, clams, 

 etc., are used as bait. 



When fishing the pots the fishermen throw back into the water sell 

 crabs under 6 inches in width, measured the broad way of the back, all 

 females, and the soft-shell ones, the latter because there is usually very 

 little meat in them. 



At first the crabs shipped out of the district were packed alive in 

 seaweed, but so many died on the way or arrived in bad condition 

 that now all are boiled before being shipped. The shippers classify 

 them as follows: Large, 7 inches and over; medium, 6| to 7 inches; 

 and small, 6 to 6£ inches. The prepared crabs are packed in boxes 

 holding between 12 and 14 dozen each, and are set on their bottoms 

 in three tiers with layers of ice at the bottom, between each tier, and at 

 the top. The freight to Seattle is $7.50 per measured ton, which 

 would include 35 dozens of crabs. 



There is ample room for a large development of this industry, both 

 in canning and marketing fresh, and it is probable this will take place 

 as soon as knowledge of the abundant supplies to be had in Alaska 

 becomes more general. 



THE WHALE FISHERY. 



The only shore whaling station in the United States where all the 

 parts of a whale are utilized is at Tj^ee, at the lower end of Admiralty 

 Island, in southeast Alaska, and this plant was operated more vig- 

 orously than ever this year. In addition to the steamer Tyee, 

 Junior, and the gasoline schooner Lizzie S. Sorrenson, which com- 

 posed the fleet in 1909, the steamer Fearless (85 net tons) was fitted 

 out this year. In order to permit the fleet to operate more freely in 

 the open ocean, where most of the whales are now killed, the bark 

 Diamond Head, loaded with supplies of coal, gasoline, provisions, etc., 

 was anchored in a convenient bay, to which the fleet could resort when 

 in need and thus save the long trip to the station except when neces- 

 sary to tow the catch there. 



The Lizzie S. Sorrenson early in the season met a most unusual fate. 

 As she was cruising around in the ocean about 8 miles southwest of 

 Cape Addington the evening of May 10 a whale was sighted. She 

 was cautiously worked to within gunshot and a harpoon driven into 

 the animal. The weapon failed to reach a vital spot, and the whale 

 made off at a terrific rate, but finding its progress checked it suddenly 

 turned and charged directly at the vessel. Unavailing efforts were 

 made by the crew to work the ship out of the way of the infuriated 

 creature, and the whale, striking her a terrific blow in the stern, 

 knocked out a portion of the bottom. Efforts made to plug the hole 

 were without success, and as the pumps did not suffice, the crew took 



