THE SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 
171 
upper end, depending on the size of the trap. The top of the gate varies in its dis- 
tance above low water, as does the bottom at the upper end below low water, de])end- 
ing on the depth of water at the pot. The trap fishes during ebb tide only, the loose 
bottom allowing it to clear itself of most of the grass during Hood tide. The flsh are 
taken out just after low water. The upper end of the gate is triced up, one side 
of the pot lowered, and a boat worked sideways into the pot, the lines holding the 
bottom corners being let go, and the net underrun until the fish are in a small space 
between the lioat and the other side of the pot. They are then either scooped ont 
with a scoop net having a handle balanced on the gunwale of the boat or are hooked 
out with a short hook on a handle about 2 feet long. If cod, flounders, etc., are 
numerous enough to interfere, they are hooked out; if not, the upper end of the net is 
let go and the flood tide clears the pot. Pour men are required for each of the larger 
traps. Their principal Avork is to keep the traps as free as iiossible from grass and 
to repair breaks in the net caused by the weight collected, as well as to replace piles 
carried away in the deeper water by the strong tide. The traps are taken up after 
the fishing season is over, and changes are constantly made in their size and arrange- 
ment during the Ashing season. 
Seines are hauled on the flats southwest of the island, and on the western shore 
opposite, where a gill-net crew is also located. The shores are usually rocky or grassy 
flats. The outside beach on the spit is fine sand and gravel. 
It is evident to anyone who examines Ohignik Lagoon during the packing season 
that the place is overfished. For many years one organization fished here and made 
a pack averaging 61,400 cases, from 1890 to 1896. In the latter year two more 
canneries were built by rival companies, and all expect to make the pack from the 
product of one stream. The result is that all kinds of practices are resorted to, and 
the overtaxed stream must suffer by this excessive fishing. The trails are so close 
together and occupy so much of the channel that they look almost like barricades, 
but the stream is not entirely barricaded, probably because all would not be benefited 
alike. In some instances the tunnels or gates of the traps are lifted during the 
weekly close season, and in others they are not. 
Locally it is said that the stream will stand a yearly pack of 100,000 to 150,000 
cases. In my opinion 50,000 cases is all that can be taken here by fair legal fishing. 
In 1896, 87,769 cases were packed; in 1897, 74,159 cases. The 1896 pack, however, 
included about 20,000 cases of Karluk fish, and in both years a small pack of humi)- 
backs from other localities was made. When the redfish cease to run in sufficient 
numbers for packing, about the middle of August, the Ohignik canneries clean un and 
close for the season. 
OEZENOY. 
In 1889 a cannery, under the title of the Western Alaska Packing Company, was 
built at Orzenoy, on the western side of Stepovak Bay, south side of the Alaska 
Peninsula, and packed that year 6,400 cases. In 1890 a pack of 2,198 cases was made. 
As the locality iiroved UTifavorable on account of the scarcity of fish, the cannery was 
dismantled in 1891 and the site abandoned. 
THIN POINT. 
Thin Point is on the southern side of the Alaska Peninsula, near its extreme 
western end. Two canneries were formerly located here, but they have been removed 
and the site is iiractically abandoned. A saltery was operated at Thin Point for 
