Alaska reported to congress through
David Starr Jordan and Barton Warren
Evermann. In 1907 a review of this re
port was made by the last named scien
tist and Edmund Lee Goldsborough.
Their descriptions of the specie of
salmon are enlightening.
The red salmon, called also red fish,
sockeye, and blue-black salmon, is
commercially by far the most valuable
in Alaska, constituting sixty-five per
cent, of the entire pack and seventy
per cent, of the value. It is of wide
distribution, ranging from southern
Oregon to Bering sea. The Columbia
is the most southern river in which this
species is known to run in any num
bers. The red salmon is said to ascend
the Yukon at least to Caribou Crossing,
and occurs also on the Asiatic side. It
is the neatest and most symmetrical of
the salmon. In the sea, or when fresh
run, it is clear sky blue on the back and
upper part of the sides, shading to a
clear silver white below. Soon after en
tering the river for the purpose of
spawning the color of the head changes
to a rich olive, the back and sides to
crimson and finally to a dark blood red,
richest in the males. In size the red
salmon ranks third among the five Paci
fic species of the genus.
The king salmon, chinook, or Quin
nat salmon, is called by the natives the
tyee, which means king. Among llie
Russians it is called tschavetche or
tsehawvtscha.
It is a salmon of wide distribution.
It is found on both coasts of the Paci
fic from Monterey bay and China
northward to the Arctic ocean, ascend
ing all large streams. The principal
river in southeast Alaska nto which the
king salmon run is the Taku. In Cop
per river and large streams tributary
to Cook inlet there is a considerable
run of king salmon. It is said that this
fish can be taken by trolling any month
of the year about Admiralty island, par
ticularly in the vicinity of Killisnoo.
Usually the king salmon make their ap
pearance at the time of the run of th
herring, upon which they largely feed,
and they also follow up the smelt. Their
size is immense, individual fish weigh
ing ninety pounds and more being on
record. A curious fact regarding the
color of the flesh has been noticed—be
ing red in some, in others white, about
forty-two per cent, of Alaska king be
ing white meated. In southeast Alaska
they are taken chiefly by trolling. The
king salmon is least abundant of the
five species found in Alaska and ranks,
therefore, lowest commercially.
The coho or silver salmon is common
in southeast Alaska and as far north at
least as Karluk. As a food fish the coho
occupies a high rank. The flesh is less
firm than that of the red salmon and the
scales fall off more readily when the
fish is handled, and it is paler in color,
not possessing the deep red hue of the
red salmon and the choice Chinook. The
flavor of the fish, however, is excel
lent and only the pale color keeps it
from ranking with the best. The ean
ners usually bay to the fishermen the
same price for the cohoes that they pay
for teds. Commercially, the coho is at
present, next to the king, the least im*
portant of the five species.
The pink or humpback salmon is the
most abundant salmon in Alaskan wa
ters. It exists in millions, swarming
everywhere along the shores and in wa
ters near the sea—in streams, brooks,
lakes,»swamps and brackish lagoons, in
fact, in all places where fresh water,
however little, may be found. The
humpback is the smallest of the five
Bpecies of Pacific coast salmon. It is
known to the Russians as gorbuscha
and to the trade as pink salmon.
Its flesh is pale or pink in color, less
firm in texture, and with less of the
salmon flavor characteristic of the sock
eye and chinook. Although as a canned
product not ranking so high as the red,
the king, or the coho, pink salmon is
regarded as palatable very nutri
tious, and thoroughly wholesome in
every way. As a food product its place
is now established and in the future it
will only increase its popularity. When
fresh and directly from the sea, it is,
next to the king, generally considered
the best of all salmon as a fresh fish.
As a salted fish also it ranks high. The
catch of humpbacks in 1909 was second
only to the Ted salmon.
The clium, salico, or dog salmon is
a species of wide distribution. On the
American coast it occurs from San
Francisco northward at least to Hotham
inlet, Kotzebue sound, and Bering
Strait. It is found also on the Asiatic
coast and is the principal salmon in
Japanese waters. In size it is second
only to the Chinook salmon.
Ab a food fish this species is inferior
to all other salmon. The inferiority,
however, is more marked when the fish
is canned than when otherwise utilized.
The flesh is soft and spongy and does
not lend itself rapidly to the canning
process. It is pale in color and there
fore not so attractive in appearance as
that of the other species. When util
ized fresh the fish takes a higher rank.
It is coming more and more to be froz
en and shipped east or abroad, and is
meeting with much favor in that form.
Considerable quantities are being dy
salted for the Japanese market. In Ja
pan this species, the most abundant in
that country, is highly prized and is a
valuable product of the fisheries.
When fresh run from the sea the dog
salmon is a handsome fish, plump and
silvery, very attractive in appearance
and closely resembles the silver salm
on. Later the dark of the back tends
to form vertical bars which extend
down the sides. In the breeding season
the body becomes muddy black or band
ed in white and red, the jaws elongat
ed, and the teeth show prominently. The
Russians call this salmon hayko or lekai,
while to the Japanese if is sake. The
trade name on our cost is chum.
The dog salmon does not rank high
in popular favor. Commercially it is
the least important, next to the coho. It
is, nevertheless, a valuable fish, destined
to become more and more appreciated
as better methods for its utilization are
learned. The flesh, though not so firm
and flaky as in other species, is no less
nutritious and no less wholesome. At
present it is probably better to utilize
it either fresh or by dry-salting, rather
than by canning.
So say Messrs. Evermann and Golds
borough in heir government 1‘ Report
on the Fishes of Alaska, ’ ’ Bureau of
Fisheries, Document No. 624.
The first run of salmon is the kinfj
as early as March or April sometimes,
usually May. Then the red begins in
May or June, earlier or later in various
places, and over in August or Septem
ber. The run of humpbacks extends,
perhaps, through a longer period than
that of any other species, from June to
September, or later. The run of dog
salmon is next latest, at its height in
August or September. The silver salm
on is the last to appear, the run in
southeast Alaska usually not beginning
until after the other species have gone.
During this time the canneries and
salteries are busy—a hundred and four
teen steamships and thirty-nine sailing
vessels last year transporting supplies
and the pack. At the end of the season
Alaska steamships are loaded odwn
with cases of salmon from the various
canneries, products to be sent all over
the world. ,
The last report gave forty-five can
neries in operation—nineteen in south
east Alaska, eight in central Alaska,
and eighteen in western Alaska. These
are operated individually or by compa
nies, the largest companies being the
Alaska Packers’ Association, with can-,
neries at Boring, Wrangel, Chignik,
~ Karluk, Alitak, "Kasilof, Naknek river,
Ugaguk river, Uush'agak ;bay and
Kviehak bay, and the Northwestern
Fisheries. company, with canneries at
Quadra, Hunter bay, Santa Anm, Dun
das bay, Orca, .Uyak, Chignik, and
Nushagak bay. , The Northwestern
Fisheries company produces perhaps
fourteen per cent, of the entire output
of salmon and spends a million dollars
a season maintaining their plants. ».»1 -
The Funter bay cannery in southeast
Alaska* has been very successfu1 oper
ated. There are others at Sitkoh bay,
Taku harbor, Petersburg, Kodiak and
a score more of places.
It must be borne in mind always, in
connection with the fishing industry
that it is hazardous, subject to fluctu
ation of the market, failures in the run
of fish, loss of boats and gear, sharpness
of competition, and similiar drawbacks,
and that like all forms of business it
(Continued on Page Seven)
>• 4* •+• •M+* *l* • 4* •+••§••<•••!• •+••!•• *fr 4» 4* ••!•• •!
0imr £ $mitb
CARRIES NYAL’S FAMILY REMEDIES
AND THE A. D. S. PREPARATIONS
PRESCRIPTIONS CAREFULLY
COMPOUNDED. YOUR
MONEY BACK IF
NOT SATISFIED
•
Ok front St.
Drag Store
♦
LARGEST
AND MOST
COMPLETE PHON
OGRAPH DEPARTMENT
IN S. E. ALASKA. EDISON,
VICTOR AND COLUMBIA MA
CHINES AND RECORDS, BESIDES
ALL THE STRINGED INSTRUMENTS
Doiwla$flla$ka
•4>*4’*4>*4>*4’*4I*4**4>*4,*4»«4>*4'*4>«4>*4a*'M'M4»«4>*4>*4>*4»*4
GOOD PLUMBING PAYS!
Take a look at my work in the new
Alaska Labor Union Hall.
J. M1NKOVE
h
. . . .ift
OAK HEATING STOVES CANNOT
BE BEATEN
One canot be toe careful in boy
inc * stove in ttts dim&te. After
years of experience^ I hare came to
handle tbe ESTATE OAK because
it is peadiakfy adapted to tbe Al
aska winters. They are little Slants
toheat, and eaan*A. be beaten for
BY CABEFUIiY BUYING
a small stock I can sell better Shoes
for less money than other stores
DENNY OBFANU8
St Ann’s Boad
A Good Stock of Heating
mmSk
7 J
Comer Second ft D Streets
_
You'll find the best Stock of
Tobaccos at the Douglas News
Stand.
R. R. HUBBARD