THE FISHEKIES OF ALASKA IN 1906. 59 



MISCELLANEOUS AQUATIC MAMMALS. 



Bair seals. — To the natives of Alaska the hair seal is probably the 

 most useful aquatic animal they hunt, for from the flesh and oil is 

 secured a considerable part of their winter food, while the skins are 

 put to many useful purposes. The skin, flesh, and oil are also used by 

 the coast Indians in barter with the interior tribes. Only a small 

 portion of the skins are shipped from Alaska, the number this year 

 being 17,684, valued at $12,332. This, however, is a large increase 

 over 1905, when the shipments totaled only 9,098 skins, valued at 

 $5,554. 



^yalru8. — This animal is sought mainly for its tusks of ivory. In 

 1906 there were shipped from Alaska 11,323 pounds of ivory, valued 

 at $7,125; 20 walrus hides, valued at $40; 1 walrus head and tusk, 

 $10; 1 walrus skull and tusk, $40, and 1 head curio, $15. The 

 last three were natural history specimens. 



This enormous animal is becoming very scarce in Alaskan waters, 

 owing to indiscriminate slaughter by the whalers. The scarcity in 

 recent years has caused frightful suffering and death among the 

 tribes, for to many of the Eskimo the walrus is almost a necessity of 

 life. 



Whales. — Many species of whales occur in Alaskan waters, but the 

 great majority of them are finbacks, sulphur bottoms, and hump- 

 backs. An occasional sperm whale is seen. The region of especial 

 abundance is around the lower end of Prince of Wales Island and in 

 Frederick Sound in Southeast Alaska. In Murder Cove, at the 

 southern end of Admiralty Island, Southeast Alaska, there is in course 

 of construction a large whaling plant, to be operated on the plan of 

 those on the British Columbia coast, which will probably be ready to 

 begin operation in IMarch, 1907. Every part of the animal will be 

 utilized. These whales do not yield as much whalebone as the bow- 

 head, or ''right," whale, but it is hoped that several hundred pounds 

 will be secured from each. The average amount of oil obtained, 

 according to British Columbia reports, is about 75 barrels from each 

 whale. Part of the flesh will be canned or othermse prepared, and 

 shipped to Japan and other countries for food, while the refuse will 

 be turned into fertihzer. 



MISCELLANEOUS FISHERY RESOURCES OF ALASKA. 



Owing to the immense coast line, and the fact that the populated 

 districts are for the most part on the coast or along the many rivers 

 which wind back into the interior, aquatic products form a large pro- 

 portion of the food of the natives of Alaska, and, in many instances, 

 of the white residents also. The catching and curing of fishery foods, 

 principally the different species of salmon, occupies the attention of 



