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KQD1AK> ALASKA, NOVEMBER 26, 1960
Gambling is not recognized as
legal in most parts of the country.
Bait gambling of a sort is practic
ed every year by the fishermen of
this area as well as in other areas.
Fishermen in Kodiak know its a
gamble every time they ready
their gear each year—they are
gambling every time they chug
out of the harbor, come fishing
time. They are sure of one thing—
there’s fish in the ocean. But how
many or how few—or whether
they will catch enough to warrant
the time and effort spent—there’s
the gamble.
But each year Kodiak is the
scene of busy activity—boats and
men stirring—each year, it seems,
sees more and more of them.
The men who ply this hazardous
trade, return to it again and again.
In their blood is something of ad
venture, of anticipation, of hopes
raised and a fondness for the sea,
reckless disregard for the uncer
tainties. There is always the lure
of the jumping, silvery horde
which means to the fisherman a
payload for his boat.
Kodiak in years gone by has
been blessed with an abundance
of fish. Many are the tales told
of nets breaking, boats filled to
the gunwales, canneri es humming
as the sea crop was hervested.
Then as the years went by, the
crop diminished, one year rising,
the next lower than ever. Theories
ga’ore have been offered to ex
plain this rise and fall. None have
been completely satisfying. To the
fishermen the gambling element
still remained.
Alaska fishermen have pinned
their hopes on State control of
fisheries to come up with the an
swer. Whether they will or not re
mains to be seen. But it is a step
in the right direction.
Kodiak does depend to a great
extent on its fishing economy—
how much is easily seen the past
season.
The catch this year was not sen
sational—neither did it equal that
of not too many years gone by.
whether this condition will con
tinue, get worse or get better.
As a yardstick to make your own
comparison, we present herewith
a table giving you the Kodiak
salmon pack for the years from
1931-1960. The table was prepared
by ADF & G personnel, especially
for the Progress Edition of the
Kodiak Mirror. Here it is:
Afonie Lukin, Jr. of Afognak, peuglis a big one out of a Port Wakefield live tank.
The king crab is taken in the waters adjacent to Kodiak Island by a majority of the fishing
fleet. This is due to the comparative shelter of these waters to those extending along and
beyond the Aleutian Chain. The big take in these waters is near Alitak.
The only American boats now fishing in Bristol Bay are Wakefields, and even theirs are limited to
just enough to maintain American fishing rights in the waters.
KODIAK SALMON PACK 1931 - 1960
Year Reds Pinks Chumbs Cohos Kings Totals
1931 90,744 454,553 16,219 15,647 455 577,620
1932 100,779 264,431 23,686 4,606 541 394,063
1933 105,634 322,301 47.704 7,786 292 483,717
1934 154,592 412,300 71,341 9,317 332 647,882
1935 119,720 534,083 42,130 6,753 350 703,036
1936 202,983 394,025 39,248 17,548 620 654,424
1937 120,674 769,055 29,353 14,179 357 933,618
1938 142,112 450,098 69,792 14,716 316 677,034
1939 115,604 603,429 62,1&5 9,442 651 791,374
1940 93,751 443,154 60,332 14,246 313 611,796
1941 121,725 508,306 57,368 22,854 638 701,891
1942 83,340 313,711 76,563 10,751 363 484,782
1943 129,105 555,209 41,766 5,682 308 730,070
1944 142,212 335,683 56,036 5,623 183 539,736
1945 154,513 491,346 64,957 5,640 521 761,997
1946 65,810 541,334 37,817 3,982 34 648,977
1947 85,805 494,211 23,133 6,752 27 609,928
1948 98,030 303,564 93.918 4,046 189 499,747
1949 69,861 208,537 63,632 5,055 803 347,888
1950 64,463 226,694 73,846 5,786 408 411,197
1951 81,117 126,238 89,926 8,842 5,996 312,119
1952 89,888 281,405 141,730 4,678 1,963 519,664
1953 47,451 273,844 68,239 5,143 328 394,505
1953 34,643 382,779 141,682 6,597 682 566,383
1*55 17,923 525,322 54,290 3,059 78 600,672
1956 29,461 156,127 62,970 4,990 157 253.705
1957 15,643 232,975 96,680 3,885 63 349,246
1958 18,803 254,320 91,704 3,304 95 368,226
1959 23,300 110,510 65,897 2,642 274 202,623
1960 27,924 281,122 100,076 5,102 161 414,385
——-- - - ..;.—____
O . . i*
~ O
KODIAK KING CRAB CATCH
Period No. of Crab Taken
July 1955 — June 1956 292,125
July 1958 — June 1957 777,180
July 1957 — June 1958 487,516
July 1958 — June 1959 715,543
July 1959 — June 1960 1,411,864
KODIAK SHRIMP CATCH, 1960 to Date: 2,998,396 lbs.
CLAMS - Output usually approaches the quota set by regulation.
Prior to 1960 the quota in Swikshak area was 12,500 cases
(on a 24 lib basis). In 1960 this was raised to 15,000 cases.
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