REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 97 
Germany. There is an extensive oil and guano establishment at Kal- 
lisnoo. The principal species taken for this purpose is the herring 
(Clupea pallasii), but considerable numbers of humpback and dog 
salmon are now used both for the oil and for fertilizer. This establish- 
ment also salts a good many humpback and dog salmon bellies and 
herring. The dog salmon bellies are cut small, to conform in size to 
the humpbacks, and all are sold as ‘* pinks.” 
Value of the Alaska salmon jishertes.—The vast importance of the 
salmon fisheries of Alaska is not realized except by those who have 
given the subject special consideration. The value of the pack for 
1903 ($9,748,599) exceeds the original cost of Alaska by more than 
$2,000,000 and the entire mineral output of the territory for 1901 
by nearly $3,000,000. If to the value of the salmon there be added 
that of the halibut, cod, herring, and other fishing industries, it is 
evident that the fisheries of Alaska greatly surpass in value all the 
other resources combined. 
Protection of Alaska salmon.—The very large capital invested in 
the Alaska salmon fisheries and the enormous annual product which 
those fisheries vield demand that everything possible be done to insure 
their permanency, and it is evident that to this end the fishes must be 
given protection commensurate with the destruction from all causes. 
This must be accomplished in one of two different ways—by actual 
limitation of the catch, so that a large number of fish may reach their 
spawning grounds, or by artificial propagation on such a scale that 
the fish destroyed by the canners will not be missed. ‘These two 
methods may be considered separately. 
In the first place, barricades or obstructions of all sorts in the 
streams should be prohibited. It is also important that no nets of 
any kind be used in the smaller streams, like those in southeast Alaska 
and in the Kadiak region, for in these small streams there are pools 
and pockets and small lagoons from which, by persistent seining, all 
the fish could be taken. Moreover, nets can be so placed as to have 
all the effect of barriers. For the same reason nets and traps should 
be excluded from lakes and lagoons. 
Hook-and-line fishing should be permitted at all times, as the sal 
mon never take food in fresh water, and snap at the hook only when 
annoyed by it. The Indian spear and gaff may perhaps be permitted 
in the rivers, because this method has been used from time immemo- 
rial, and the number of fish thus taken is inconsiderable. 
The streams being free from nets or barriers, other forms of pro- 
tection are of minor importance. At present there is no pollution of 
streams in Alaska. There are practically no factories. Lumber is 
sawed for local consumption only, and the sawmills, usually attached 
to canneries, are all on the sea. Should they ever be established at 
F. C, 1904—7 
