FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
17 
These fisli were not known at Attn previous to 1875. They came unexpectedly and 
were caught on hooks set for other fish. Since that time the people have had an abun- 
dance of them. From my own observations I am led to assert that 500 barrels of 200 
pounds each can be procured at Attu in the season from June 1 to July 31. * At 1 the 
entrance to Chicago!’ Harbor is the only known locality at Attu where these fish 
resort. These fish are also reported to be abundant at Kiska Island, between the 
islands of Atka and Ath^kh ; also between Uniilga and Unalaska, and also in the 
passes between some of the Shumagin Islands. I saw a few individuals in Captain’s 
Harbor, Unalaska Island, in the early part of July, 1881. This is the first instance 
of their occurrence in that locality. * * * They can be prepared at a cost of $2 
per barrel for the fish at either Attu or Amlia. The cost of the barrel and salt, of 
course, is to be added. Only the necessary sheds for protecting the barrels from the 
weather would have to be erected. Native help could be procured at a cost of .$1 per 
day for a man, and 50 to 75 cents per day for the women, who can clean the fish as 
expertly as the men. Ere many years these fish will command a highly remunerative 
price to those who will engage in the enterprise. 
It is a matter of regret that no well-directed effort has been made by 
white men to capture this species in quantities by hook and line. In the 
summer of 1889 Captain Jacobs reported that he went to Atka in the 
schooner Mollie Adams and made a special effort to catch the yellow-fish 
by the use of a purse seine. The habit of the species, however, which 
impels it to frequent shallow water, particularly where the giant kelp 
grows in abundance, rendered nugatory all attempts to catch it by 
seining. I am not informed that he made any endeavor to secure it by 
fishing with hook and line. 
Freezing -houses . — The importance to the fishing interests on the 
Pacific coast of the establishment of properly constructed freezing- 
houses can hardly be overestimated. The demand for fresh fish in all 
parts of the country is a growing one, and apparently increases more 
rapidly than the population. This demand should be met and all 
legitimate means should be employed to increase it. Among the 
methods so far adopted for the preservation and distribution of fishery 
products, none perhaps has met with greater or more deserved favor 
than that of artificially freezing many species of fish which can be sat- 
isfactorily kept in this manner and distributed through the means of 
refrigerator cars over an enormous extent of territory. In the matter 
of supplying the demand fcfr salmon, the Pacific region unquestionably 
has an advantage, and one that it is believed will be maintaiued if all 
available resources are utilized. It will doubtless be found that a 
greater amount of money will be realized if a larger percentage of the 
products of the salmon fishery can be disposed of in a fresh condition 
instead of being canned. And this additional advantage will accrue : 
that the quantity of salmon consumed will be much larger than hereto- 
fore, which must manifestly be to the profit of the producer. 
It is probable that freezing-houses might be profitably utilized to 
advance the demand for and distribution of many species of fish besides 
* The statement that 500 barrels of Atka mackerel could be taken at Attu in a single 
season, probably refers to what Mr. Turner believes might be secured from the natives, 
H. Mis. 274 2 
