ALASKA FISH
FEEDING THE
MULTITUDES
The New West Magazine, published
In Salt Lake City by Miss Lena H.
White, publishes the following very
comprehensive article on the food re
sources of Alaska:
“Food will win the war!” The slo
gan. rang from the battlefields of Eur
ope, across the Atlantic to the Pacific
and north to AJaska. The territory
stood at attention. From the pic
turesque shores of the inside passage
to the distant banks of Bristol bay
and on through the north, Alaskans
dropped pick and shovel to take up
net and tackle. Alaska was prepared
to give hre best in food as she had
already given her manpower and sub
scriptions.
That was a year ago. Today Alaska
holds a record for fish production
which surpasses all previous seasons,
Although it is too early to cite figures,
it is etimated that the value of the
output for 1918 will approximate $65,
900,000. Inspired by patriotism and
the market created by war conditions
for fish of all kinds, more than one
hundred new fishing concerns were
started in southeastern and south
western Alaska within the last twelve
months.
Canneries already established en
larged their equipment and increased
their staff of laborers where addition
al help was available. The labor prob
lem was met in a new way in the ter
ritory last year. Realizing the urgent
need for workers, dozens of women
throughout southeastern Alaska
donned their jeans and worked regu
lar shifts throughout the canning sea
son, doing their patriotic best to make
tli 'i output of fish from the north as
large as possible. A party of high
school girls from Belingham also
worked all summer in a cannery in
southeastern Alaska.
Fish canneries sprang up over night.
A little tackle, brine, and a few bar
rels seemed al lthut was necessary to
operate a saltery. Fortunate indeed,
was the possess of a craft, in which
to reach the fishing waters.
For the Indian, 1918 was a year of
plenty. Every native who could handle
a pair of oars, fished for Uncle Sam
and for enlargement of his own‘bank
account. Along the southeastern
coast, where the run of salmon was
especially heavy it was not uncom
mon for a fisherman to leave town
one day and return the next with a
catch which he could sell at a figure
ranging from $20 to $100. An Indian,
homeporting on Douglas island, pad
died out into Gastineau channel one
morning last summer and returned
hours later with salmon which he sold
for $40 before he had ben back in
town 30 minutes.
As if sensing the world need for
foo< , nature yielded an unprecedented
catch during the past year. Approx
imately 400,000 more cases of salmon
were packed last year than in 1917,
wb a the total output was 6,000,000
c;
iibut fishing, which is carried on
thr. ghout the year in Alaska, has
been so extensive for several seasons
that the banks are becoming depleted
and each year fishermen are obliged
to go farther westward to make a sub
stantial catch. Recommendations have
been made by both the American and
Canadian governments that closed
seasons be enforced to protect and in
sure the Alaskan halibut industry.
While Alaskans may have made hay
while the sun shone on the interior, a
large percentage of them along the
coast took advantage of the shortage
of European herring for eastern mar
kets to make a small harvest from
herring in Alaska. Scows and barges
were hastily equipped with barrels
and the necessary salt for preparing
fish. Cod was also packed in large
quantities. Besides creating a new in
dustry which is bound to survive with
proper encouragement, herring added
$1,000,000 to the Alaska pay roll last
year.
Norway estimated the value of her
ring output for 1917 as nearly $7,000,
00, while the herring packed in Alaska
was valued at less than $600,000. With
a greater coast line in her favor,
Alaska possesses herring resources as
great, if not greater, than those of
Norway, only awaitng devlopment to
yield as large a revenue. Twenty
three thousand barrels of herring
were packed in the territory in 1917,
while the output for last year is ex
pected to approximate 80,000.
Whale steak was introduced in the
Seattle markets last summer, and
along with other substitues was ac
cepted as an unavoidable result of the
war. All who tried it soon acquired
a taste for whale meat that has as
sured its popularity as a food product,
and may be the means of outflanking
the packing trusts. Whale steak is
now put up in cans like salmon, and
tuna and is meeting with the same
favor as other sea food delicacies.
Several new clam canneries were
started and operated successfully dur
ing 1918. The novelty of beginning
his meal with crab cocktail prepared
in his own home town, was enjoyed
by the citizens of Cordova for the
first time. A plant, opened last sea
son, specialized with splendid success
in the preparation of anchoives and
crab and clam cocktails. The industry
will undoubtedly be continued on a
large scale this year.
The United States bureau of fisher
ies estimates that there are 125 varie
ties of fish which can be utilized in
Alaskan waters. Not more than
twenty varieties are being handled at
present and comprise only the better
variety which have become depleted
along the Atlantic coaBt. The fiBhing
Industry of Alaska is capable of great
expansion, and if properly developed
and conserved, should result in the
building of a large and prosperous
fishing population, together with
many allied industries.
THIS ISN’T A FISH
BUT A CRAB STORY
Have you seen the gigantic, many
legged sea “critter" that was on dis
play over in the window of the Royal?
If so, you were right on your first
guess: It’s a crab, only more of it.
Talk about your Dungenes and Cor
dova crabs! They’re not even pups
alongside this an-a-miel. Quite a few
of the creatures were brought up from
the Seldovla section on a launch
which is their habitat, and they are
not only edible, but the most delicious
food of the crab family.
These creatures go by the name, lo
cally at least, of Japanese or spider
crabs, and a good-sized one would
make a feed for a threshing crew.
According to Captain Samuel Tan
sey of Seldovla, who should be an au- .
thorlty on the preparation of this kind
of sea food, the proper way to go
about the undertaking lines up as fol
lows :
First, secure your crab, then get a
half-tierce and put the creature in
there alive (which is the only proper
way to cook a crab or lobster); then
place an another chain, a couple of an
vils or some other weighty article on
top to keep the old boy in the can and
guard against his attacking the
kitchen crew; next connect up with
the steam dome of a good-sized boiler,
and let her go. If you doubt the effi
cacy of this method yau are at leave
to ask Captain Harry Locke of the
marine ways, as he is the affidavit
man in the case.—Anchorage Times.
NOTICE.
It is imperative that all rubbish in
back yards, on vacant lots and in fact
in all parts of the city be immediately
removed. Those who fail to comply
with the health regulations will be
prosecuted.
W. H. CHASE, Health Officer.
FOR SALE
New Boat Hulls
Fish and Clam Power Boat
Hulls now ready at shop on Sec
ond street, next to jail building.
E. D. l.ACY
WINDSOR HOTEL
L. WALN, Prop.
WHERE YOU GET
COMFORT AND SERVICE
And the Rates Are Right.
CORDOVA, ALASKA
EMPRESS
LAST TIME TONIGHT
LATE PATHE NEWS
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TOMORROW—LENORE ULRICH IN "THE ROAD TO LOVE.” j
HEARST-PATHE NEWS
DIMON NICKOLOFF
8HOE REPAIRING
Red Cabin (Ocean Dock)
Men's Shoes half-soled and
heels sewed and nailed.12.75
Rubber heels and soles. 2.75
Ladles' Shoes half-soled. 2.00
Heels, rubber and leather.76
Men's haf-soles . 2.25
Children’s Shoes, heels and
soles . 2.50
Harness Repairing; Automobile
Tires Vulcanized
Rubber Boota Repaired
Hand and Machine Work
Cordova
The City Beautiful
Help to keep It so by using a
Garbage Can. Plenty of them at
CORDOVA
8HEET METAL' WORK8
Phone 143
i
ARE YOU GOING OUT THIS FALL?
Visit San Francisco and Stop with
Mark C. Thompson
at his new hotel in the heart of the city between
Powell and Mason Streets.
The Dale-Tallac Hotel
140 ELLIS STREET
Special Rates and Headquarters for Alaskans.
THE UNIVERSAL CAR
The Ford Sedan is a car with refined
appointments, many conveniences, and
with all the economy a d satisfaction
characterized by Ford cars. It is a
popular car among women who drive.
It meets eveiy social demand, every
family want, every day of the year, re
gardless of weather. Equally useful in
city or country. Price, $775; Coupe,
$650; Runabout, $500; Touring Car,
$525; Truck Chassis, $550. These prices
* f. o. b. Detroit.
We carry the largest stock of Automobile
Parts in Alaska. Orders promptly filled. Wire
or write.
MARSHALL & NEWMAN CO., INC.
Authorized Ford Dealers JUNEAU, ALASKA
KENNY HOLDEN’S
Pool and Billiard Parlors
CIGARS, SOFT DRINKS AND TOBACCO.
FIRST-CLASS BARBER SHOP
IN CONNECTION
MUSIC EVERY NIGHT PHONE 15
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| CANNERY SUPPLIES MARINE HARDWARE
Miller and New Pacific Fishermen’s Engines, Medium and Heavy Duty, Four-Cycle Extended Bases
MINING MACHINERY
B _ ,....... _
1 Steel Shafting, American Steel Split Pulleys, Shafting, Hangers, Bearings. All sizes Malleable Pipe Fittings. Vic
I tor Balata and Leather Belting
I MACHINE WORK
I NOTICE.—We will be located in our new building at the Ocean Dock in August
I HARMON MACHINERY COMPANY, INC.
1 CORDOVA. ALASKA