THE COD FISHERY OF ALASKA, 223 
conveyed from the heart of the cafion above, and in it the fish are allowed to soak for about ten 
days, when they are taken out and placed on the “flakes” to dry. The “flakes” consist of a 
frame, with a number of laths placed at intervals apart rising from each side of the frame and 
making an obtuse angle at the top. On these laths the codfish are spread to dry, and when night 
comes on taken under cover. A great deal of care has to be exercised in the drying process, as 
prolonged exposure to a very hot sun would result in the utter destruction of the fish, When 
_ properly dried the fish are ready for market, and command from 6 to 7 cents per pound.” 
Under the present arrangement, it will be remembered, the fish are kept in pickle until they 
are needed for the market, when they are dried on the flakes only half a day or so. The climate 
of San Francisco is said to be good for drying fish in summer, but not in winter. 
7. CAPITAL INVESTED IN THE INDUSTRY. 
CAPITAL IN VESSELS, APPARATUS, AND CURING ESTABLISHMENTS.—AIl the capital invested 
in the Pacific cod fishery is furnished in San Francisco. The parties who were engaged in the 
business in 1879 are the following—the names of their vessels being also given: Thomas W. Me- 
Collam & Co., 208 Clay street, the Wild Gazelle, Alfred Adams, Unga, Nagay,* Pirate Cove 
station. Lynde & Hough, 416 Davis street, the Undaunted, Sarah (now lost), H. L. Tiernan, 
Adelaide Cooper, Fremont. N. Bichard, 10 Howard street, the General Miller, Page, Constitution. 
James Laflin, 37 Vallejo street, the Alaska.} Johnston & Veasey, Davis street, near Washington, 
the J. H. Roscoe.{ John Molloy, Clay street, the Glencoe. 
The value of these vessels, as already stated, is $105,300. 
Lynde & Hough have a warehouse 4 miles south of San Quentin, with wharf and tanks, which 
cost $35,000. McCollam & Co. and Bichard have warehouses opposite Saucelito. McCollam & Co. 
own the permanent fishing-station at Pirate Cove, Shumagins, where cod are kenched or pickled. 
According to the information obtained in San Francisco from leading men in the cod trade, 
by Prof. D. 8. Jordan, the capital invested in 1879 was as follows: 
Value. 
Warehouses, wharves, &6 .........00- $70, 000 
Ships engaged .............cenesveveee 104, 300 
Outfit (including provisions).........- 48, 200 
The total expenses of all sorts were said to be about $225,000, and the total value of the 
product as sold delivered in San Francisco, $234,000. 
Following is a copy of the returns of codfish-curing establishments in Saucelito Township 
California : 
T. W. McCol- Lynde 
lam & Co. & Hough. 
Catal a naencnenaidnws cacrtavesen en ccsuwenwewawen memes $6, 000 $20, 000 
Maximum of hands .........- 25 60 
Males above 16 years 10 18 
Hours in ordinary day of labor: 
May to November. .ecaccnacceanmnsceeseanneseanenne ’ 10 10 
November to May........-0++- ssievigeeanthncbeweseees 9 9 
Total wages (urind Years. scsnsseansensswereennarsaness $2, 500 $6, 990 
Months in operation on full time. .........-..-.ee-eeeee 12 12 
Value of material (including mill-supplies and fuel).... $52, 500 $25, 100 
Value of product .......-2.. 22. 2ceeee sc seeeeeneceeenes $62, 500 $42, 000 
Average day’s wages for skilled mechanio.............|.-.. qreeeteeee $1 50 
Average day’s wages for ordinary laborer...........+--|---seceesse--- $0 75 
* Lost at the Shumagins in 1880. tSold out and gone to Mexico. t Sold out. 
