EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION. xlix 
rivers discharging into it. Alaska, formerly so contemned, has become 
now the field of the most active exploitation. From the report on the yield 
of 1902 by Howard M. Kutchin, the special agent, it appears that “the 
entire take of Salmon represents 36,265,056 fish, and reaches the colossal 
figures of 126,303,360 pounds of food prepared for the table. 
“As compared with the catch of all other Salmon fisheries on this conti- 
nent (or in the world, for that matter), it is 2,631,320 cases against 1,686,- 
gtr. The grand total is 4,317,631 as against 5,048,773 cases last year, 
showing a decline of 731,142 cases from the aggregate pack of 1901,” but 
the total pack of the Alaska Salmon fisheries for 1902 was “554,659 cases 
in excess of that of 1901.” 
Of this aggregate number of 36,265,056 Salmons of all kinds, the several 
species had contributed as follows : “ King, 207,676; Red, 22,925,362 ; Silver, 
627,651; Humpbacks and Dog, 12,504,367. The inferior grades represent 
about 36 per cent of the whole, or something more than one-third. This is 
a smaller proportion than was shown last year.” 
The total market value of the season’s pack was “ $8,667,673, as against 
$6,926,167” in 1871, “(an increase of $1,741,506, or upward of 25 per 
cent.” 
The total number of hands employed at the several fisheries was “ 13,822, 
or 2,182 more than” in 1871. This army of workers was made up of “ 7,567 
whites, 5,376 Chinese and Japs, and 2,679 natives.” 
“The aggregate amount paid in wages was $4,060,682, approximately 
one-half of the sum total or gross receipts. 
“The outlay for tin plate was $1,383,680, the Alaska Packers having 
paid out $640,000, and the Pacific Packing and Navigation Company $323,- 
725 of this amount.” 
The total tax collectable was “ $105,808.13, of which the Alaska Packers’ 
Association paid $50,154.94, and the Pacific Packing and Navigation Com- 
pany, $25,982.64.” The amount collected in rgo01 was “ $87,622.95.” 
The shipping employed in the industry comprised “ 125 steam vessels and 
68 sailing ships. Lighters and small boats numbered 2,134.” 
Fishing gear was composed of “251 seines and 1,445 gill nets, with 72 
traps built of piles and webbing.” 
On the question of the enforcement of the law Mr. Kutchin has remarked 
that “ one of the commonest errors in regard to the Alaskan Salmon fisheries 
is that there is almost universal disregard of the law and regulations estab- 
lished for their preservation, and that the exhaustion of the existing universal 
