FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1909. 
41 
THE COD FISHERY. 
With one exception, all of the firms and individuals operating in 
the district for cod exclusively have their headquarters at Seattle, 
Anacortes, or Tacoma, Wash., and San Francisco, Cal., at which 
places, or in their immediate vicinity, the kench-cured fish are re- 
ceived and prepared for marketing. Some firms have shore stations 
located at favorable places in central Alaska, from which the dory 
fishermen carry on their fishing operations, bringing in the catch 
daily. These operators also have vessels which engage in fishing on 
the banks in the North Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea, and are also 
employed in transporting the kench-cured fish to the curing plants 
at the home ports. 
It has been known for some time that cod were abundant around 
St. Lawrence Island, in the northern part of Bering Sea, and the 
Bureau of Education in 1907 seriously considered sending an ex- 
perienced salter to its station on that island for the purpose of in- 
structing the natives how to cure the fish for the white trade, but for 
various reasons the project was not carried out. If these cod could 
be prepared properly, there would be a good demand for them in 
Nome and St. Michael, both of which are securing their supplies 
from the Siberian coast at present. One of the best banks around 
the island is about 10 miles north-northeast from Cape Chibukak. 
The commander of the United States revenue cutter Thetis , in a 
letter dated November 19, 1909, reports that he heard of a cod bank 
“ to the westward of Shishmaref Inlet in the Artie Ocean. A former 
resident of Shishmaref Inlet told me that he had seen large numbers 
of cod in the vicinity of the hot springs at the head of that inlet in 
the fall of the year when ice was forming.” 
Mr. John Nelson, of Squaw Harbor, took up the preparation of 
stockfish at his new station this year. In curing, the fish are hung 
over wires, with the skin side up to shed the water and allow the 
flesh to dry. In the damp climate of Alaska the fish rot when placed 
with the flesh side up, as has been done heretofore. Only a small 
quantity of stockfish was prepared, and this was packed in bundles 
containing 100 fish each, with an average weight of 100 pounds. 
The packages were wired and burlapped at each end. If the experi- 
ment proves profitable, it will be prosecuted more vigorously next 
year. 
SHORE STATIONS. 
During 1909 the following shore stations were operated : By the 
Alaska Codfish Company, at Company Harbor and Moffat • Cove, 
Sannak Island; Unga, Baralof (Squaw Harbor), and Kelley Rock 
(Winchester), Unga Island; and Dora Harbor, on Unimak Island. 
