CHIGNIK TO RESURRECTION BAY SALMON STATISTICS 
703 
The last division of the table shows a small catch of salmon in 1926 at Rocky 
Bay, a locality east of Cape Elizabeth and therefore not included in Cook Inlet 
catches. 
Salmon canning on Cook Inlet began in 1882 and it has been continued without 
interruption ever since. No records are available showing the number of salmon 
of each species taken in the first 11 years of its history, but the pack in that period, 
irrespective of species, was reported by Moser 16 whose figures are accepted as the 
most reliable for this period, although the catch records of Murray 17 for 1893 have 
been used as being the first year in which catch statistics were published. A fair 
estimate of the number taken each year prior thereto could be made by assuming 
that the pack was 80 per cent red salmon, 10 per cent kings, and 10 per cent cohos. 
By figuring reds at 15 fish per case, kings at 3, and cohos at 9, a satisfactory estimate 
of the catch by species in these earlier years can be made. 
Table 30 shows the total pack in cases for the first 12 years of salmon packing in 
this district: 
Table 30. — Pack of canned salmon on Cook Inlet, 1882-1893 
Year 
Cases 
Year 
Cases 
Year 
Cases 
Year 
Cases 
1882 . 
6,044 
14,818 
21, 141 
1885.. 
19, 217 
28, 433 
30, 765 
1888 
42, 421 
50, 494 
28, 655 
1891 
58, 997 
20, 741 
31,665 
1883 
1880 
1889 
1892 
1884 
1887 
1890.. 
1893 
In the 6-year period from 1882 to 1887, 1 cannery operated on Cook Inlet; in the 
next 3 years 2 canneries were in operation; in 1891 there were 3; from 1892 to 1897, 
another period of 6 years, 1 cannery alone occupied the field. In 1898 and 1899, 
there were 2; in 1900 to 1902, there were 3; in 1903, the season opened with 2 canneries 
in operation, but 1 plant was destroyed by fire at the height of the season. From 
1904 to 1909, there was no increase in the number of canneries, but 2 salteries were 
operated in 1907 and 1908, and 1 in 1909. In 1910, the number of canneries increased 
to 2, 1 more was added in 1911, 2 in 1912, bringing the number to 5. Another was 
added in 1915, and except for the destruction by fire of 1 plant at Kenai, which was 
rebuilt the following season, no change in the number of canneries occurred until 
1918, when it was reduced to 5 by the permanent closing of a small plant on Goose 
Bay near the head of Knik Arm. Only 4 were operated in 1919, 7 in 1920, 4 in 1921, 
and 9 in 1922. The number decreased in the next two years and then gradually 
increased to 11 in 1927. 
In this connection, consideration should also be given to the number of traps 
operated in Cook Inlet as having a direct relation to the catch and to the number 
of canneries. As new canneries are opened, fishing appliances are increased or a 
corresponding division made of the then operating equipment in order that the 
lately established plants may obtain a supply of fish; usually the alternative first 
mentioned is followed. From the beginning of canning in 1882, until the close of 
the season of 1896, fishing was probably limited by choice to the use of beach seines 
and gill nets operated in the rivers. At least no reference to the use of traps is found 
in any published report until 1897 when eight were installed and successfully fished. 
Thereafter for 13 years the number of traps used in any season did not exceed 20, and 
111 Alaska Salmon Investigations in 1900 and 1901, by Jefferson F. Moser. Bulletin, U. S. Fish Commission, Vol. XXI, 1901 
(1902), pp. 175-398. Washington. 
17 Report of the Salmon Fisheries of Alaska, 1894, by Joseph Murray, special agent. Washington, 1896. 
