284 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
twenty minutes, and the tests were therefore insufficient to obtain a 
thorough knowledge of the bottom, yet it was satisfactorily demon- 
strated that the greater part of Bristol Bay affords good fishing- grounds. 
As arule, vessels have better fishing after the lapse of two or three 
days, the bait which falls from the hooks or otherwise reaches the bot- 
tom tending to tole the fish from the surrounding area. 
While all of the fish taken during the summer montas were care- 
fully examined, only one cod was secured in which the elements eof 
reproduction were at all mature. It was a male containing ripe milf. 
The finding of occasional individuals thus sexually advanced outside 
of the breeding season has also beensrecorded with respect to the 
North Atlantic Ocean. 
The investigations of the steamer Albatross probably covered all of 
the important cod banks on the eastern side of Bering Sea, as it is 
extremely doubtful if any rich banks will be found north of Cape 
Newenham. Certainly we have received no information of such areas 
up to the present time, although scattering specimens of cod have been 
reported from the vicinity of Nunivak Island and from along the coast 
as far north as St. Michaels. On the Siberian side the conditions are 
better suited to their occurrence in higher latitudes, and they are said 
to abound there farther north. 
Salmon canneries of Bristol Bay.—The first salmon cannery was built 
on the Nushagak River by the Arctic Canning Company in 1884, hay- 
ing been the outgrowth of a salting station established there the pre- 
vious year. Other canneries were soon afterwards constructed in the 
same vicinity. The buildings of the Arctic Canning Company are 
situated on the east bank of the river, some 12 or 15 miles above its 
mouth. The number of men and boats employed is as follows: One 
superintendent, Mr. H.C. Jeneen; 50 fishermen, 20 mechanics, including 
engineers, machinists, firemen, carpenters, coopers, cooks, and waiters; 
92 Chinamen; 25 boats, and 1 steam launch 35 feet long, used for light 
towing and other purposes. 
Each cannery has one large vessel to carry material to the field of 
labor—men, machinery, boxes, nets, boats, barrels, lumber, ete. As 
soon as she arrives at her destination she is immediately stripped of 
sails and running rigging, and moored for the summer. After the close 
of the salmon season she is again fitted up, receives the catch on board, 
and sets out on the home voyage. Scow lighters are used for discharging 
and loading the ships. They also serve as quarters to live in when- 
ever fishing is carried on up the river a considerable distance from the 
cannery. The salmon are frequently most abundant 40 or 50 miles 
from the mouth of the river, at which time the entire force of fisher- 
men repair to that place and work night and day until a change of 
location becomes desirable. When a scow is loaded with salmon it is 
generally taken in tow by the steam launch, but sometimes one or more 
will drop down the river on the ebb tide without this aid. 
