THE FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1909. 
By Millard C. Marsh, Agent at the Salmon Fisheries of Alaska , 
and 
John N. Cobb, Assistant Agent. 
SUMMARIZED STATISTICS OF ALASKA FISHERIES. 
As in the similar reports for previous years, the District of Alaska 
is considered in the four geographic sections generally recognized, 
as follows: Southeast Alaska, embracing all that narrow strip of 
mainland, and the numerous islands adjacent, from Portland Canal 
northwestward to and including Yakutat Bay; central Alaska, the 
region on the Pacific, or south side, from Yakutat Bay westward, 
including the Aleutian chain; western Alaska, the shores of Bering 
Sea, and islands in this sea; and arctic Alaska, from Bering Strait 
to the Canadian border. 
With the exception of arctic Alaska and a portion of central and 
western Alaska, practically all of the fishing localities were visited 
by one or the other of the agents. Statistics of the yield of fur seals 
from the Pribilof Islands were obtained through the courtesy of the 
agent at the fur seal islands, while figures for the other aquatic furs 
(except the coast fur seals and sea otter) and skins, also whalebone 
and walrus ivory, were obtained from the custom-house records at 
Juneau. Considerable commercial fishing is carried on in the Yukon 
Biver and its tributaries, where fish wheels, nets, and spears are 
employed, but unfortunately it has been found impossible so far, 
owing to the short time available each season and the few agents 
employed, to extend the inspection work over this large region, or to 
secure data showing the extent of the fisheries there. 
Owing to the impossibility of the agents’ visiting arctic Alaska in 
the limited open season, thus making it difficult to secure accurate 
data, no attempt has been made to show the number of persons em- 
ployed and the investment in the fisheries of this large region, al- 
though certain of the products are shown in the proper table. It 
has also been found an impossibility to secure even approximate 
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