67 
ALASKA’S FOOD FISHES AND THE 
INTERESTS OF ITS FISHERIES. 
BY Dr. BUSHROD W. JAMES, PHILADELPHIA. 
MEMBER OF PENNSYLVANIA FISH PROTECTION ASSOCIATION. 
Probably I should give as my reason for so often 
writing upon the natural resources of Alaska, that 
having visited the country and become a member of its 
historical society, I consider myself in a measure 
identified with its admirers and defenders. The seal 
industry alone has given the Territory importance for 
so many years, that the recent disturbance, judging only 
from that standpoint, appears to have demoralized it to 
such an extent that its future might be considered as 
almost hopeless, so far as its value to the United States 
is concermed: but the ‘seals actually, represeseomn a 
small percentage of its great resources, among which 
gold, silver and coal have prominent positions. Yet 
I have no doubt that more extensive investigation will 
demonstrate that seals, gold, silver and coal are 
surpassed in value by the immense quantities of 
excellent food fishes which attain to great size and 
perfection in the peculiarly pure waters of Alaska. 
Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, whose position as a member 
of the United States Fish Commission has led him to 
minutely examine into the numerous kinds of food fishes 
in Alaska, and their approximate value, has returned 
such an extended and accurate report of his investigation 
to the government, that I may be considered rather 
bold in touching upon the subject. As my defense, I 
will mention that Dr, Bean’s report is so identical with 
