ALASKA SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN 1900. 
249 
COOK INLET. 
Alaska Salmon Association . — In the Cook Inlet district but one new cannery has 
been established; it is that of the Alaska Salmon Association, which was incorporated 
in San Francisco. This company, in 1899, purchased the C. D. Ladd saltery on the 
left bank and at the mouth of the Chuitna River, Cook Inlet, a good-sized stream 
entering the northern shore of the inlet about 6 miles above Tyonek. In the spring 
of 1900 this company erected a cannery on the site of the Ladd saltery and made a 
small hand-pack. The cannery machinery consists of 3 retorts, 1 solderer, 1 Columbia 
River washer, 1 cutter, and the necessary equipment for making cans by hand. 
The capacity of the cannery is 500 cases per day, but next year (1901) 2 tillers 
and a topper will be installed, which, with the necessary hands, should increase it to 
1,600 cases per day. The tin plate used is 100-pound domestic. Fish are pewed to 
the tish wharf and after cleaning are conveyed to the cannery. 
The Chinese contract was 45 cents per case, with the usual conditions. The 
fishermen received $25 per month from the time engaged at San Francisco until paid 
off, and one-half cent each per case. The sailors were paid $40 per month when 
working the vessel and $50 per month when fishing, but no bonus. Full board was 
furnished for all except the Chinese. 
The following men were employed: Thirty-nine white fishermen and trap men, 
4 white cannery men, 12 white beachmen, and 51 Chinese. The cannery used 4 traps; 
leads 100 fathoms, wings 40 fathoms, pots 40 feet by 40 feet, all 6 fathoms deep; 
leads, 3£-inch mesh, 48 thread; wings and pots, 3-inch mesh, 60 thread; value, $1,500 
each. One drag seine 150 fathoms long, 5 fathoms deep, 3-inch mesh, value $1.65 
per fathom. Sixty gill nets, each 65 fathoms long, 30 meshes deep, one-third of 
them 9-inch mesh, one-third 64-inch mesh, and one-third 5f-inch mesh; value, 65 
cents per fathom. The traps were located early in the season, as follows: One near 
Tyonek, one between that place and Chuitna, one at the mouth of the home river, 
and one about 3 miles to the eastward. Heavy winds and strong currents demolished 
all these traps, except the one near Tyonek, before fishing began, and the latter was 
only saved by hard labor, which the catch did not justify. About 10 per cent of the 
catch was taken in traps, the remainder in gill nets. 
The boats consisted of 4 scows, $250 each; 2 lighters, $150 each; 1 lighter, $50; 
20 gill-net skiff's, $40 each; 5 old skiff's, $30 each; 1 yawl. $40; 1 pile-driver, $1,150. 
The vessels employed were: Bark Prussia , 1,131 tons, crew fishermen, value 
$25,000, chartered; launch King Fisher , 7 tons, crew 3, value $5,500, owned. 
The following was the output for the season: 
Species. 
Cases. 
No. to 
the 
case. 
Dates. 
King salmon: 
Red 
1 326 
2 92 2 
3, 640 
5 
12 
3.5 
3.5 
12 
June 10-July 2. 
Do. 
July 1-Aug. 9. 
White 
1 Flats. 2 Tails. 3 Salted 44 barrels of redfish and 3 barrels of humpbacks. 
