SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA SALMON STATISTICS 
661 
catch of other species since 1921 has shown no similar decrease there can be little 
doubt that the red-salmon runs of southeastern Alaska are depleted. 
The catches of pinks and chums show a very similar growth. Pinks did not 
become an important element in the catch until about 1895 and chums not until 
about 10 years later. Once these two species appeared in the catch, however, their 
importance increased with great rapidity. More pinks have been taken than of any 
other species in every year since 1895 and, with the exception of pinks, more chums 
have been taken than of any other species in every year since 1911. The increase in 
the catch of these two species continued with minor fluctuations up to about 1917 
and 1918, and since then has remained fairly constant except for the 2 poor years of 
1921 and 1927. 
There is some evidence of a negative correlation between the catches of these two 
species, in other words there appears to be a tendency for the catch of chums to be 
smaller in years when many pinks are taken, and vice versa. From a study of the 
selling prices of these two species 11 it is clear that the prices of chums and pinks are 
parallel — chums running usually only 5 or 10 cents lower than pinks, and it would 
appear as though pinks and chums were interchangeable in the market. If this be 
true the catches of each might be regulated, in part at least, by the abundance of the 
other species. It seems probable, however, that the catch of chums is regulated by 
the abundance of pinks rather than the reverse since pinks are slightly more valuable 
and tend, on the whole, to run somewhat earlier in the season. 
The tendencies toward a negative correlation show chiefly in certain parts of the 
curves — that is, 1911-16 and 1922-26. These are the only parts of the curve that 
have not obviously been disturbed by known factors: The period from 1904-10 was 
one in which the fisheries for these species were developing and the available supply 
obviously greatly exceeded the demand. The catches in 1917 and 1918 were tre- 
mendously increased by the extraordinary war-time demands; in 1921 the catch was 
greatly reduced as a result of low prevailing prices and a large “carry over” from 1919 
and 1920, when the pack had been large in spite of the reduced demand following the 
close of the war, and in 1927 the runs of both species were exceedingly poor for unknown 
but probably biological reasons. On account of the fragmentary nature of these data 
it has not seemed desirable to attempt a statistical analysis of this apparent negative 
correlation — we here merely point out the probable existence of such a relationship. 
The catch of cohos shows a fairly steady increase from about 1895 to 1920 and 
remained remarkably constant during the last 6 years here considered, 1922 to 1927, 
inclusive. The catches during these 6 years have been slightly lower than during the 
war-time years from 1916 to 1919, but, with this exception, have been greater than 
at any previous time in the history of the fisheries. On account of the fact that this 
species tends to rim later in the year than any other it is, generally speaking, not as 
intensively fished and the resources have evidently been able to provide for the 
gradually increasing demand. 
A still different condition exists in respect of the king salmon. The catches have 
continued to increase quite rapidly throughout the period under discussion. Previous 
to 1912 the total catch in any year did not exceed 200,000, but since that time it has 
increased quite regularly and has only twice — in 1915 and 1916— fallen below 300,000. 
11 As shown by the "opening prices” tabulated in the various editions of the Annual Statistical Number of the Pacific Fisher- 
man and in Pacific Salmon Fisheries by John N. Cobb, 4th edition, Report of the U.S. Commissioner of Fisheries for 1930 (1930), 
pp. 409-704, Washington. 
