66 
BULLETIN OF TFIE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
METLAKAHTLA. 
Metlakabtla, or New Metlakalitla, is situated on Port Chester, on the western side 
of Annette Island. It consists of a comniunity of Tsimpsean Indians who, in 1887, 
followed Mr. William Duncan from Metlakahtla, British Columbia, to make a home in 
Alaska. So much has been written of this interesting colony that a history of their 
progress is superfluous in this report. Suffice it to say, that all honor is due to the 
energetic and intelligent civilizer and preacher, Mr. Duncan. In 1856 he found the 
Tsiinpseans hardened savages and cannibalistic in their tendencies, and was obliged 
to live inside a stockade for protection. After having brought them to a civilized 
condition through his own example and energetic teachings, some question arose in 
the church, and he deemed it best to retire. He was followed by about 400 of the 
community, and, as they were not allowed to carry with them their own belongings, 
they calmly faced the inivations they were to endure in their new home, and to-day 
the New Metlakahtla stands a monument to their skill and industry and an honor to 
the self-sacrificing devotion of their leader. 
Annette Island has been set aside by an act of Congress for a reservation for the 
Metlakahtlans and other Alaskan natives who may join them, under regulations i)re- 
scribed by the Secretary of the Interior. An attempt has been made by some influ- 
ential whites to open mines on the island. In 1890 the population of Metlakahtla 
was 823, of which number 817 were Indians, 4 whites, and 2 mixed. 
One of the principal industries of this communityis salmon canning, which is carried 
on by an organization known as the Metlakahtla Industrial Company. When the colony 
moved to their new home in 1887, after the people w^ere comfortably housed, Mr. Duncan 
commenced erecting buildings with a view to establishing a cannery. It took several 
years to obtain the necessary funds and install the machinery, and it was not until 
1890 that any i)ack was attempted. In that year an experimental pack of only 500 
cases was made. The following year it was in active operation and a pack of 5,834 
cases was the result. 
All parts and branches of the cannery and the fisheries supplying it are conducted 
by native Indians, who show considerable skill in the different kinds of work. During 
the time of onr first visit, June 10 to 12, they were making cans for the season’s pack, 
rebuilding the steam tender, and some 30 or 40 women and girls were making seines 
and nets for the use of the community and for sale. All this work is done by the 
Indians, and apparently well done. 
The value of the cannery buildings, machinery, piping, tools, material, etc., is a 
little under $25,000. In 1896 the product of 72 native fishermen was used, and during 
August 162 natives were employed in the cannery. In the fisheries they used 9 drag 
seines, each 100 fathoms in length, valued at $200 each; and 2 purse seines, 120 fath- 
oms long, worth $350 each. The vessels and boats employed were the steam tender 
Marie G. Haamn (rebuilt in the spring of 1897), valued at $3,000, of 12.8 net tons, and 
with a crew of 5; also 7 Columbia River boats, valued at $180 each; 2 lighters at $150 
each, and 10 skiffs, etc., at $30 each. 
The statistics for 1897 were about the same as for 1896, but besides the seines, 10 
gill nets were tried, 180 fathoms long, 4 fathoms deep, 5J-inch and 0-inch, mesh, and 
valued at $150 each; and in addition to Marie G. Haaoen, ^wothQY steamer, the 
Herald, was purchased. This was of T9.4 net tons burden, had a crew of 5, and was 
valued at $7,000. 
