FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1909. 
31 
license fees or taxes is in the hands of the clerk of the court of the 
judicial district in which the packer is operating. The law literally 
requires the packer to pay the license fee in advance, but as the fee 
is based upon the pack he makes, and it would be impossible in such 
an uncertain industry as fishing to estimate in advance exactly the 
quantity that will be packed, it is the custom to require the operator 
to apply for a license before beginning operations, and then at the 
end of the season make return of the amount due the district. 
The following table shows the quantity of taxable fishery products 
prepared, the stated license tax on the product, and the total amount 
of tax received on each. It should be distinctly understood that the 
last item is merely approximate, being based upon returns on file at 
this Bureau, some of which are sworn and some estimated, and there- 
fore perhaps varying somewhat from those sent to the clerk of the 
court. It is not probable, however, that the amount given will vary 
much either way from the correct amount as shown by the returns of 
the clerks. 
License Taxes on Prepared Fishery Products. 
Items. 
Quantity prepared. 
License tax. 
Estimated 
amount of 
tax due. 
Canned salmon 
2,395,476 cases 
4 cents per case 
$95, 819 
Pickled salmon 
33,441 barrels 
10 cents per barrel 
3,344 
Mild-cured salmon 
2,292 tierces a 
40 cents per tierce 
917 
Dry-salted salmon in bulk 
71,600 pounds 
5 cents per 100 pounds. 
358; 
Fish oil 
5,491 barrels 
10 cents per barrel 
549 
Fertilizer b 
1,155 tons 
20 cents per ton 
231 
Total 
101, 218 
a As the net weight of a tierce of fish is 800 pounds, this item is figured on a basis of 4 barrels to the tierce 
in working out the amount of tax. 
b The fertilizer from whales has not been included. 
Salmon hatching has been a more or less extensive enterprise of 
cannery proprietors ever since 1891, and the two larger establish- 
ments have been in operation continuously for nine and fourteen 
years past. Up to 1900 the work was entirely voluntary on the part 
of the packers. On May 2 of that year the following regulation was 
promulgated by the Treasury Department, which at that time had 
control of the Alaska salmon-inspection service: 
7. Each person, company, or corporation taking salmon in Alaskan waters 
shall establish and conduct, at or near the fisheries operated by him or them, 
a suitable artificial propagating plant or hatchery ; and shall produce yearly 
and place in the natural spawning waters of each fishery so operated red salmon 
fry in such numbers as shall be equal to at least four times the number of 
mature fish taken from the said fisheries, by or for him or them, during the 
preceding fishing season. The management and operation of such hatcheries 
shall be subject to such rules and regulations as may hereafter be prescribed 
by the Secretary of the Treasury. They shall be open for inspection by the 
