68 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1915, 
MUSSELS. 
For a number of years the Bureau has been directing attention to 
the food value and wholesomeness of sea mussels, a product found in 
abundance along our coasts, but one which has not been in much 
favor, notwithstanding that mussels are held in as high esteem in 
Europe as are oysters in the United States. At many places along 
the coast of Alaska mussels in every way suitable for human food are 
to be obtained in quantities with but little effort. Opportunity is 
hereby taken to suggest the possibilities of this field. 
CRABS. 
A few crabs are obtained from time to time in southeast Alaska, 
chiefly in the Petersburg district, and are shipped to Puget Sound. 
Crabs are also consumed locally to a certain extent. Although not 
particularly numerous so far as present information goes, it is believed 
that crabs are to be obtained in sufficient quantities to justify the 
development of a modest fishery. According to customs records, 
14,395 pounds of crabs valued at $713 were shipped from southeast 
Alaska in 1915. 
CLAMS. 
At various places in Alaska clams of excellent quality are to be 
found. Insome sections, notably in the Prince William Sound region, 
they are to be had in sufficient abundance to warrant the operation 
of acannery. Such a plant, the first of its kind in Alaska to be listed 
as a clam cannery, will be operated at Cordova in 1916. Clams have 
also been obtained in considerable quantities in the vicinity of 
Klawak, in southeast Alaska. Some canning of clam products has 
occurred in past years at the salmon cannery of the North Pacific 
Trading & Packing Co., at Klawak. No shipments of clams from 
Alaska were reported to the Bureau in 1915. There was, however, 
some local use made of clams, particularly by the natives. 
