THE SAOION AND SAEjMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 
35 
backs, for the latter were not in favor and few were packed. In 1897 the pack for tlie 
same section is double the 1889 pack, but they are nearly all humpbacks. Tbe pack 
of redtisb is certainly very much less, yet nil tbe streams within 70 or 80 miles of the 
canneries have been scoured ^vith all the gear that could be devised or used. 
Probably nowhere is the depletion more noticed than in Copper Eiver Delta and 
Prince William Sound district. In 1890 the two canneries used 20 boats, each with 
150 fathoms of web, besides seines, and lished Mountain Slough, Eyak Lake and Kiver, 
and Algonek and Glacier sloughs in the delta, and Miner Eiver and Cheniga in Prince 
William Sound. In 1897, to make a slightly increased pack, one cannery used .'>2 
boats, the other 43, all with 450 fathoms of web to a boat, and they fished all the 
streams from Chilkhat Eiver to Eyak in the delta, and all the streams in Prince William 
Sound. There is no doubt in the minds of the people of Prince William Sound that 
the streams are being depleted. 
Redfisli hatchery at Karlnk. 
At Karluk, in spite of the great run of 1890, it is conceded that the average run 
is smaller than in the early days of fishing off this river. 
At Ohignik, from 1890 to 1896, an average of 01,400 cases per year were packed 
from that stream by one organization. In 1896 three separate canneries, with all their 
forces and every eftbrt they could make, only packed about 05,000 cases of Chignik 
fish ; and in 1897, by doubling their efforts, they reached a pack of 74,159 cases. Any- 
one who sees the fisheries at Ohignik will readily understand that the stream can not 
stand the excessive fishing. 
It was a matter of great surprise to discover, as the investigations progressed, 
the large number of streams which were either actually barricaded, or which showed 
indications of having been barricaded, notwithstanding the strict law forbidding such 
obstructions, the maximum penalty being $1,000 fine, three months’ imprisonment, 
and a fine of $250 per day for every day the obstruction remains. 
