50 



ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUE INDUSTRIES, 1911. 



usual percentage of loss in dressing, this iish must have weighed 

 about 115 pounds when taken from the water. 



Persons engaged. — This year 658 persons (576 fishermen, 55 shores- 

 men, and 27 transporters) were engaged in the mild-curing industry, 

 as compared with 656 in 1910, a gain of 2. A number of others also 

 were engaged for limited periods, but as their work in connection 

 with other branches of the salmon industry was more important they 

 have been included there. 



Persons Engaged in the Salmon Mild-Curing Industry in 1911. 



Investment. — There were l.*^ fixed plants operated in Alaska this 

 year, i. e., plants with permanent buildings and whose chief business 

 was the mild-curing of salmon. A considerable part of this industry 

 is carried on by schooners and launches, which move from place to 

 place with the schools of salmon. The fish are caught by the crews 

 from small boats and packed on board the vessels. 



It will be noted that there has been practically no change in the 

 number of establishments or of persons engaged as compared with 

 1910. The total investment has, however, risen from $363,818 to 

 $419,138, which is distributed principally among the items of vessels, 

 shore property, and cash capital. It is of interest to observe that 

 with this increased investment in means of production the output 

 shows only a slight increase in total pounds. The number of gill 

 nets used is slightly increased, but the value is less than in the previous 

 year. The increase in the value of the line equipment indicates 

 an even greater use of that form of apparatus. This phase of the 

 salmon industry is of especial value in that it affords labor for men mth 

 capital insufficient to engage in the other branches of the fishery, 

 and at an opportune season. The fact that the wages paid dropped 

 from $47,737 to $41 ,876 does not contradict this statement. The fish 

 are sold by piece. 



