THE COD FISHEBY OF ALASKA. 



223 



conveyed from the heart of the canon above, and in it the fish are allowed to soak for about ten 

 days, when they are taken out and placed on the "flakes "to dry. The "flakes" consist of a 

 frame, with a number of laths placed at intervals apart rising from each side of the frame and 

 making an obtuse angle at the top. On these laths the codfish are spread to dry, and when night 

 comes on taken under cover. A great deal of care has to be exercised in the drying process, as 

 prolonged exposure to a very hot sun would result in the utter destruction of the fish. When 

 properly dried the fish are ready for market, and command from 6 to 7 cents per pound." 



Under the present arrangement, it will be remembered, the fish are kept in pickle until they 

 are needed for the market, when they are dried on tbe -flakes only half a day or so. The climate 

 of San Francisco is said to be good for drying fish in summer, but not in winter. 



7. CAPITAL INVESTED IN THE INDUSTRY. 



CAPITAL IN VESSELS, APPARATUS, AND CURING ESTABLISHMENTS. All the capital invested 

 in the Pacific cod fishery is furnished in San Francisco. The parties who were engaged in the 

 business in 1879 are the following the names of their vessels being also given : Thomas W. Mc- 

 Oollain & Co., 208 Clay street, the Wild Gazelle, Alfred Adams, Unga, Nagay,* Pirate Cove 

 station. Lyiide & Hough, 416 Davis street, the Undaunted, Sarah (now lost), H. L. Tiernan, 

 Adelaide Cooper, Fremont. N. Bichard, 10 Howard street, the General Miller, Page, Constitution. 

 James Laflin, 37 Vallejo street, the Alaska.! Johnston & Veasey, Davis street, near Washington, 

 the J. H. Koscoe.f John Molloy, Clay street, the Glencoe. 



The value of these vessels, as already stated, is $105,300. 



Lynde & Hough have a warehouse 4 miles south of San Quentin, with wharf and tanks, which 

 cost $35,000. McCollam & Co. and Bichard have warehouses opposite Saucelito. McCollam & Co. 

 own the permanent fishing-station at Pirate Cove, Shumagins, where cod are kenched or pickled. 



According to the information obtained in San Francisco from leading men in the cod trade, 

 by Prof. D. S. Jordan, the capital invested in 1879 was as follows: 



The total expenses of all sorts were said to be about $225,000, and the total value of the 

 product as sold delivered in San Francisco, $234,000. 



Following is a copy of the returns of codfish-curing establishments in Saucelito Township 

 California : 



* Lost at the Shvunagins in 1880. 



t Sold ont and gone to Mexico. 



\ Sold out 



