398 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
pronounced a success. One set of can-makers was in operation in this cannery this 
year, which averaged over 40,000 cans per diem. All the cans were made on the 
ground except 10,000 cases which were carried from San Francisco: 100-pound 
domestic plate was used throughout. The Chinese and fishermen contracted on 
practically the same terms as given in my previous reports. 
Halibut and cod are common around the canneries and trout are abundant in 
the streams of Prince William Sound. Early in the spring a few steelheads are 
taken in the delta of the Copper River. 
The following averages per case of fish taken in the Copper River delta during 
different years may be of interest as indicating the possible variations from year to 
year: King salmon, 3 j, 4k, 4, 4k; redfish, 9f, Ilk, 10k, Hi, Ilf. 
COPPER RIVER DELTA. 
The conditions in this locality were fully described in my report for 1897, pages 
129-139, and reference here will only be made to changes and additional information 
noted. The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey has extended its work over 
the delta as far as Cottonwood Point, and the location of sloughs with their distance 
from the canneries can now be indicated with accuracy. The mining excitement 
throughout this section has caused quite an influx of people, and communication is 
therefore much better and more reliable. 
The cannery of the Peninsula Trading and Fishing Company at Coquenhena, 
referred to in my former reports, has been dismantled and the available machinery 
utilized in the Pacific Steam Whaling Company’s cannery at Kenai, Cook Inlet. 
The fishing localities in the delta are unchanged, except that the Chilkat River 
east of the delta is now more vigorously fished. Cannery steamers capable of going 
to sea carry the fish from the mouth of the river to the delta, and transfer them to 
stern-wheel steamers, which carry them to the canneries. 
The value of the Chilkat River is unknown, but the following data, from the 
books of the Alaska Packers Association, may be of interest : 
Year. 
Dates. 
Redfish. 
1896 
June 27 to July 15 
23, 980 
1897 
June 15 to June 29 
39, 269 
1898 
June 20 to June 29 
39, 383 
1899 
June 16 to July 4 
27,072 
1900 
June 19 to July 6 
106, 167 
