Bush fruits, such as currants, gooseberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc., are abundant and, especially in the coast region, are very successfully grown. It is probable that fruit growing in the interior will be confined to the cultivation of berry bushes.

The Fairbanks station has 90 acres under cultivation, and it is being run to demonstrate how far general agriculture, such as would be practiced by the average farmer, could be made a success in that region. Fairbanks is located in the Tanana Valley, in which it is estimated there are 1,000 square miles of land available for agriculture. Grain growing and the cultivation of vegetables, particularly potatoes, are the lines of work followed at this station. By way of demonstrating that potato growing can be made a success in this valley, it is reported that 30 tons were grown on 7 acres in 1911, which, if sold at the average low-market price of 5 cents a pound, would be worth $3,000. In 1912 the station sold several tons of potatoes at an average of a little more than $100 a ton. The first binder and the first thrashing machine used in Alaska were operated in fields at Fairbanks during 1911 and 1912.

The Rampart station is located in the Yukon Valley at latitude 65° 30′ north. About 30 acres of land are under plow, all of which is devoted to experiments in the production of new varieties, the growing of pedigree grains, and the introduction and testing of forage plants which give promise of being useful.

The Kodiak Experiment Station, located on the island of the same name, is devoted exclusively to stock breeding. Eighty-five head of pure Galloway cattle of all ages were at the station in 1912. There was, in addition, a flock of long-wooled sheep, which appeared to be remarkably well adapted to the climate. The Galloway breed of cattle was chosen on account of their hardiness, the breed having been originated in Scotland, which has a somewhat similar climate. The animals are provided with a heavy coat of long hair, which protects them from heavy rains. They are excellent rustlers and can find their living wherever the snow is off the grass. Moreover, having no horns, they can be handled and shipped with greater ease than horned cattle. They are an excellent beef breed, and there has been a ready market for beef in towns along the Alaska coast, but they are poor milkers, and one of the problems the station is trying to solve is an evolution of an all-purpose Galloway cow that will give milk as well as provide them beef. The volcanic disturbance in May, 1912, necessitated the removal of the cattle from Kodiak Island, as the pastures were covered with ash, but there has been sufficient revegetation of the region to warrant the return of the cattle in 1914. During the period that the stock was kept on the island the cattle were pastured during the summer and late into the fall, after which they were kept almost exclusively on hay and silage made from native grasses.

WATER RESOURCES.1

The streams of Alaska have been important factors in its industrial growth. The success of the work on the placer deposits in northern and central Alaska has depended primarily on the water available for hydraulicking and dredging, and water power has long been used by mines, canneries, sawmills, and other industries in southeastern Alaska. The future development of mining and lumbering plants, fisheries, and the manufacture of wood pulp and electro-chemical products is contingent on the water supply.

Since 1906 the United States Geological Survey has made systematic studies of the water resources of Alaska. Investigations with special reference to placer

1 Publications on the water resources of the country are issued by the United States Geological Survey. A complete list can be obtained by applying to the Director, United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C.

mining have been made in Seward Peninsula and the Yukon and Tanana regions, and reconnaissance surveys for water powers have been made about Prince William Sound, Copper River, Kenai Península, and in other parts of southcentral and southeastern Alaska. During the last few years some large waterpower plants have been installed near Juneau, and attention has been called to the feasibility of several large projects in this region. The Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Forest Service, is now making detailed investigations in order to obtain more precise data on the power sites of southeastern Alaska. It is generally assumed that water power is abundant in this part of the Territory, but extensive development should not be undertaken without complete data for careful study of the many conditions that determine the feasibility of a power site.

As the quantity of water that will probably be available in any stream can be predicted only from records of its flow in the past, observations of the various conditions of flow to which a stream is subject must be continued for several years.

Special arrangements have been made by the Survey to continue measurements through the winter in order to obtain data relating to the low-water flow, which is so important a factor in water-power development.

In addition to the above investigations, a study was started in 1915 of the quality of the surface waters of Alaska and also of the Hot Springs.

FISHERIES.1

The first Alaska industry to be developed was its fisheries. The Russians engaged in fishing, but their efforts to develop the industry were necessarily limited. However, for years prior to the purchase of Alaska from Russia and before there was any extensive exploitation of its mineral resources, American vessels from San Francisco carried on cod fishing in Alaska waters. This, however, was a modest effort as compared with the present great industry which has made salmon and other fishing products from Alaska known to many nations, and which has produced values of approximately $20,000,000 per year.

Since the purchase of the Territory in 1867 it has produced fisheries products to the value of $254,000,000, almost equal to the total value of the mineral output during the same period. The total of fisheries products includes fur-seal skins and other aquatic furs that may be considered under the general title of a fishery.

The chief importance of the fisheries of Alaska lies in the salmon industry. Next in importance is the halibut fishery, which, as yet, has been only partially developed, but which offers great promise in the future. The herring fishery is also very important, and many other food fishes abound in the waters of Alaska that are as yet utilized only to a limited extent. Included in the list are various species of trout, together with grayling, whitefish, rockfish, black cod, eulachon or candlefish, and others. In addition to the numerous species of fish found in these waters, the whale fishery is important, and there are in many places quantities of clams, mussels, crabs, and shrimps.

To assist in the support and maintenance of Alaska's fisheries seven salmon hatcheries are operated, two of which are the property of the Government, while five are owned by companies engaged in canning salmon. For every thousand of either red or king salmon fry released these companies are allowed a remission of 40 cents of the Federal fisheries tax. For the fiscal year ended

1 Statistics and general information on the fishing industry may be obtained from the Bureau of Fisheries, Washington, D. C., which will forward a list of publications free of charge. Copies of the Federal laws and regulations for the protection of the fisheries may be obtained from the same source.

June 30, 1914, rebates to the amount of $25,741 were credited to the operators of private hatcheries for 64,355,580 red salmon fry released. During the same period the two Government hatcheries released 51,163,100 young red or sockeye salmon. This makes a total of approximately 120,000,000 young sockeye salmon returned to the waters of Alaska during the year. In addition about 17,000,000 humpback salmon fry were planted by the Government hatcheries.

In 1914 in all branches of the fisheries industry in Alaska there were 21,200 persons engaged. This number is made up of 11,178 whites, 4,184 natives, 2,138 Chinese, 1,318 Japanese, and 2,382 miscellaneous, under which head are embraced Filipinos, Mexicans, Koreans, and some others.

The total investment in Alaska fisheries in 1914 was $37,038,632, a decrease of $8,673 from 1913. Of the more important fisheries the amounts in each were as follows: Salmon, $31,894,355; halibut, $2,744,055; whaling, $1,456,649; cod, $623,921; herring, $203,045; by-products, $116,607. By geographical sections the investment is distributed as follows: Southeastern Alaska, $16,454,646; Central Alaska, $6,357,055; and Western Alaska, $14,226,931.

In 1914 Alaska produced fisheries products to the total value of $21,242,975, as compared with $15,739,068 in 1913, or an increase of $5,503,907 in 1914. This is the greatest return the industry has ever shown in any one year. There were produced 4,056,653 cases of salmon, valued at $18,920,589; 15,057,797 pounds of halibut, valued at $782,757; 3,272,000 pounds of mild-cured salmon, valued at $300,052; 15,045,378 pounds of cod, valued at $438,208; 26,362 barrels of pickled salmon, valued at $252,662; 6,374,780 pounds of herring, valued at $60,610; 192,662 gallons of herring oil, valued at $38,532; 1,936,000 pounds of herring fertilizer, valued at $24,075; 632,400 gallons of whale oil, valued at $182,690; 162,750 gallons of sperm oil, valued at $66,727; 3,122,000 pounds of whale fertilizer, valued at $41,682; 35,000 pounds of whalebone, valued at $26,250; 1,934,733 pounds of fresh salmon, valued at $74,375; 228,528 pounds of frozen salmon, valued at $8,551; 52,200 pounds of dry-salted, dried, and smoked salmon, valued at $2,300; 96,606 pounds of trout, valued at $5,758; 87,573 pounds of black cod, valued at $4,743; 2,880 pounds of clams, valued at $300; 308,000 pounds of by-products, fertilizer, and meal, valued at $4,926; 4,850 gallons of by-products oil, valued at $1,188; and 75,000 pounds of miscellaneous fresh fish, valued at $6,000.

FUR-BEARING ANIMALS.1

The census of the Pribilof Island seal herd gave the following:

1 Federal laws and regulations in regard to the killing of fur-bearing animals and the shipment of furs and statistics of fur shipments may be obtained upon application to the Commissioner of Fisheries, Washington, D. C.

The following table shows the number of pelts shipped from Alaska of the various kinds of fur-bearing animals in the years ending November 15, 1912, November 15, 1913, and November 15, 1914, respectively. The table does not include shipments made from the Pribilof Islands:

Minor furs shipped from Alaska in 1912, 1913, and 1914.1

1 Neither the fur-seal nor the fox skins from the Pribilof Islands are included.
2 Assuming same average values as for preceding year.

The Secretary of Commerce has authority to lease certain islands off the coast of Alaska for use for the propagation of foxes and other fur-bearing animals.

TIMBER RESOURCES AND NATIONAL FORESTS.

There are extensive timber resources in Alaska. The heaviest and most accessible timber occurs in southeast Alaska and in the vicinity of Prince William Sound, where the forest is chiefly composed of Sitka spruce and western hemlock. The forests of the interior are of a different type from that on the coast, being mainly white spruce, white birch, and cottonwood. The interior forests, though they do not yield large and heavy timber such as occurs in southeast Alaska, are of very great importance locally in furnishing material for construction and for domestic use. Except where the forests have been destroyed by fire, the settler will find timber of useful size and quality to construct his improvements and plenty of it for fuel, except in long-settled districts. In the same way the local timber is of great importance for use in mining development. The coast forests offer an opportunity for the development of wood-using industries. Many sawmills are now supplying the bulk of the lumber used locally, and with the increasing development of the Territory a large lumber industry may be expected. There is an excellent opportunity for the establishment of wood-pulp industries, for timber is plentiful of the right size and quality, accessible to water transportation, and easily logged.