APPENDIX A. 



THE FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1908. 



By MILLARD C. MARSH, Agent at the Salmon Fisheries of Alaska, and JOHN N. COBB, Assistant Agent. 



SUMMARIZED STATISTICS. 



As in the reports for previous years, the District of Alaska is con- 

 sidered in the four geographic sections generally recognized, as 

 follows: Southeast Alaska, embracing all that narrow strip of main- 

 land, and the numerous islands adjacent, from Portland Canal 

 northwestward to and including Yakutat Bay; central Alaska, the 

 region on the Pacific, or south side, from Yakutat Bay westward, 

 including the Aleutian chain; western Alaska, the shores of Bering 

 Sea, and islands in this sea; and arctic Alaska, from Bering Strait 

 to the Canadian border. 



With the exception of arctic Alaska and a portion of western 

 Alaska, practically all of the fishing localities were visited by one or 

 the other of the agents. Statistics of the yield of fur seals from the 

 Pribilof Islands were obtained through the courtesy of the agent at 

 the fur seal islands, while figures for the other aquatic furs (except 

 the coast fur seals and sea otter) and skins, also the whalebone and 

 walrus ivory, were obtained from the customhouse records at 

 Juneau. Considerable commercial fishing is carried on in the 

 Yukon River and its tributaries, where fish wheels, nets, and spears 

 are employed, but unfortunately it has been found impossible 

 so far, owing to the short time available each season and the few 

 agents employed, to extend the inspection work over this large 

 region, or to secure data showing the extent of the fisheries there. 



As in previous years, by far the greater part of the fishery prod- 

 ucts of Alaska are marketed outside the district, but a steadily in- 

 creasing local demand is noticeable, especially in the case of the 

 hitherto somewhat neglected minor species. 



PERSONS ENGAGED. 



The number of persons engaged in the fisheries of Alaska in 1908 

 was 13,337, of whom 4,976 were engaged directly in fishing, 7,740 

 in the canneries, salteries, and at other shore work, and 621 employed 

 on the transporting vessels. This total is a gain of 585 over the 



number employed in 1907. The fact that the fishermen act as 

 sailors on the transporting ships to and from the salmon canneries 

 and salteries explains the small number of transporters shown in 

 the table. Owing to the impossibility of the agents visiting arctic 

 Alaska in the limited open season, thus making it difficult to secure 

 accurate data, no attenpt has been made to show the number of 

 men employed and the investment in the fisheries of this region, 

 although certain of the products are' shown in the proper table. 



Persons engaged in the Alaska fisheries in 1908. 



INVESTMENT. 



The total investment in the fisheries was $10,319,784, an increase 

 of $1,103,756 over 1907. The item of cash capital was eliminated in 

 the 1906 report, and this procedure has been followed ever since. 



INVESTMENT IN THE ALASKA FISHERIES IN 1908. 



' Aggregate length of 2,400 yards. 



* Aggregate length of 300 yards. 



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