EEPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 97 



Germany. There is an extensive oil and guauo establishment at Kil- 

 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 Jisher'ies. — 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 tishing industries, it is 

 evident that the hsheries 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 yield 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 v/ays — 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 separatel}'. 



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 tishing 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 



