THE ALASKAN FISHING-GEOUNDS. 87 



Leaving out the interior division, and supposing that one-fifth of the whole population are 

 i.dult male fishermen, we shall have about the number estimated in the Census Bulletin. Bearing 

 m mind the great abundance of fish everywhere, and the wasteful habits of a people who neither 

 profit by the hint of prosperity nor take warning from the kick of adversity, we may form some 

 idea of the millions upon millions of fish annually taken in Alaska. There are not fewer than 

 twenty-eight thousand people in the Territory who live largely upon fish, fresh during half of the 

 year or less, and in the form of uMli during the balance of the year. In the absence of records 

 to show the amounts actually put up for winter use, wo must depend upon estimates. Mr. 

 William J. Fisher, of Saint Paul, Kodiak, has very carefully inquired into the matter, taking 

 counsel with parties who are in the business of preparing ukali for consumption, and observing 

 the quantities put up by natives for their own use. Mr. Fisher has given us the following result 

 of his investigation : 



"The annual supply of dried salmon [ulcali) put up by a native family, consisting of two 

 adults and two children, is estimated at fifteen hundred fish, averaging about five pounds 

 each before being dried, and, when cured, averaging about one-half pound each. The Creoles 

 (native whites), in addition to the above, put up about six barrels of salt fish for winter 

 consumption. These stores are not touched until the beginning of November, when, owing to 

 inclemency of the weather, the catching of fresh fish has to be suspended. By the first of May, 

 when the weather permits fishing again, these stores are generally exhausted. The dried fish' or 

 ulcali is used to a great extent in lieu of bread. In addition to the above supplies, each family 

 adds about one-half barrel of salmon spawn, more or less, to their winter stores." 



I take this estimate of the quantity of fish consumed on the island of Kodiak as the basis ot 

 a calculation for the whole Territory, because the supply, as shown on previous pages of this 

 account, is ample on all portions of the coast ; Mr. Fisher's statement, moreover, agrees with all 

 the information we have concerning the region. On the above basis each one of the population, 

 will consume at least seven hundred and fifty fish annually, the supply of tiJcali lasting only six 

 months and being replaced by fresh fish during the rest of the year. At the low average weight 

 of five pounds we have the equivalent of thirty-seven hundred and fifty pounds of fresh fish per 

 year for each person, and twenty-eight thousand people at the saire rate will eat one hundred 

 and five million pounds of fish. The first cost of fish is about one-half cent per pound, so that 

 the yearly supply of the Territory represents five hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. 



We will now consider the different divisions adopted by Mr. Petroff, giving an account of 

 the number of fishermen, the kinds of fish, and the modes of capture and preservation. 



SOTJTHEASTEEN ALASKA. 



There are at least as many as eleven hundred adult Indian fishermen in this division, who 

 devote themselves wholly or in large part to the business of fishing for a livelihood while the 

 season lasts. Our own observations began at Sitka, continuing there from May 28 to June 16, 

 1860. During this time the fishes most frequently seen in canoes and offered for sale were the 

 halibut, several species of rock-fish, sea trout or bass, cultus cod, common cod, Gairdner's trout, 

 red-spotted trout, Clark's trout, "hoikoh" salmon, and "keezich" salmon. In hook-fishing, which 

 is the common method, sand launce and herring are generally used for bait. At Sitka abalones 

 are abundant and are eaten raw by Indians. Some Chinamen, belonging to the " Jamestownj" were 

 drying large quantities of them for export to China. Delicious clams (a species of Saxidomus) 

 are extremely plentiful, and form an important part of the Indian diet. The Indian village at 

 Sitka for our purposes may be taken as the type of such villages throughout the region under 



