46 
FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1909. 
at a depth of 15 feet in order to get the coolest water and so that 
no trouble shall be experienced with driftwood or ice. The pipe line 
is about 3,300 feet in length and enters the power house on a small 
bay on the inlet. Here a three-phase system of two generators has 
been installed, each developing 1,000 horsepower. A right of way 
between the power house and the plant at Ketchikan was cleared and 
over this was constructed the transmission line of a little less than 5 
miles in length. 
To protect the buildings from fire, a 500-gallon fire pump has been 
installed, which has an 8-inch suction from the harbor and discharges 
into a 6-inch main inclosing the entire group of buildings. From 
this main seven two-way hydrants are supplied, these hydrants being 
so located and equipped with fire hose, etc., located in the house in- 
closing them, that all points may be reached and supplied. 
A special pipe connects the plant with the waterworks of the 
Ketchikan Light and Power Company, this furnishing all the fresh 
water required for the use of the employees and the operation of 
the plant. 
In the wing adjoining the freezer building is a 20-ton can ice plant, 
and there is storage space in the rear of this wing for 70 tons of ice. 
The plant comprises 155 cans of 400-pounds capacity, each arranged 
in a single battery and served by a 2-ton electric crane. The ice 
dump discharges the cakes of ice through openings into an air lock 
at a level 5 feet above the storage floor, from which it is chuted 
to all parts of the storeroom and packed. 
The engine plant is in a separate building and receives the electric 
current from the power station at George Inlet in a volume of 6,600 
volts. With its transformers it reduces that to 440 and 110 and sup- 
plies energy to two 150-horsepower motors which operate two 65-ton 
compressors to force ammonia through the condensers for making ice. 
STATISTICS. 
During 1909 there were 281 persons employed in all branches of 
the halibut industry. The reason for the apparently small number 
recorded for a fishery of such importance is that many of them 
spend more time in fishing for king salmon than for halibut, and 
have been counted in the former fishery, where the greater results 
were accomplished. The number of steamers and launches increased 
four over 1908. The total investment is almost exactly the same 
as in 1908. While the catch in 1909 decreased 472,082 pounds as 
compared with 1908, the value of the catch increased $20,987. 
