dent that the banks were being overfished, a practice equally injurious to the best interests of both Canada and the United States.

After prolonged negotiations a treaty was concluded between the United States and Great Britain, on March 24, 1924, for the conservation of the halibut fisheries of the North Pacific Ocean. The treaty imposes a closed season from November 16 of each year to February 15 of the succeeding year. During such period of closure the taking or landing of halibut in the United States or Canada is prohibited. The agreement also provides for the maintenance of a patrol during the closed season, and imposes penalties for violations. The treaty continues in force for several years. The North Pacific halibut treaty was ratified by the U. S. Senate on May 31, 1924, and the enabling Act to put the treaty in force was approved by the President June 7, 1924.

Whales

Formerly the whale fishery was the most important of any in Alaskan waters. The fleet of 250 whalers which fished in the Arctic Ocean in 1851 had dwindled to 5 vessels in 1913, whose product amounted only to $26,250.

Shore whaling, which began in 1907, was represented in 1922 by two stations-Port Armstrong and Akutan. The products are whale oil, sperm oil, ivory, whalebone, meat (frozen), hides, and fertilizers. At the stations every portion of the animal is converted into a finished product. During the war

whale meat became a staple, and 148,000 pounds were marketed in Seattle.

In 1922 there were 220 employees, and the value of all whale products was $409,618. There were 445 whales caught, of which 204 were finbacks, 95 humpbacks, 77 sulphur bottoms, and 69 sperm. The total value to 1923 since 1880 approximates $7,000,000.

Walrus

In 1877 there were killed enough walruses to furnish 74,000 pounds of ivory and 221,000 gallons of oil. Soon the killing for oil not proving very profitable, the walrus were slaughtered for their tusks and their hides. It was evident that this animal was doomed to early extermination unless protected by legislation.

Their protection is now ensured by the Acts of Congress of May 11, 1908, and May 31, 1920. It is permitted only that natives may kill the walrus for food and clothing, and miners or explorers when in urgent need of food.

Miscellaneous

The relatively unimportant minor fisheries are gradually increasing in value and importance. The Alaskan clams, crabs, shrimps, trout, etc., put on the market in 1922 exceeded $400,000-a record. The output in 1923 was nearly double in value$788,527.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.-Annual Reports of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries.

CHAPTER XVII

AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND HOMESTEADS

As on other points, there have been advanced optimistic and pessimistic views on the possibilities of successful agriculture in Alaska. On this subject various official reports and many verbal statements have been considered, which are supplemented by personal observations over a great variety and extent of country.

Agriculture as a whole is valuable in Alaska solely for the purpose of supplying the local market, and that in part only. There are a few successful farmers, all in well-chosen localities in the vicinity of towns of considerable size. At Kenai the cattle live exclusively on the native grasses, which are sweet and nutritious. Butter and cheese are there made, but the demand is not equal to the supply.

Parts of the Yukon are suitable for gardening to a degree astonishing to the uninformed. The bestknown instance of successful farming is that at the Holy Cross Mission, on the Yukon, in 62° N. Here cattle have been raised for ten years or more, and the products of the forty acres of land under cultivation excite surprise in every visitor. All through the valley of the Yukon potatoes and other vegetables mature, when proper ground is chosen and skilled attention given.

At Fort Gibbon, at the junction of the Yukon and the Tanana, and at Fort Egbert, on the International Boundary near the arctic circle, the military garrisons have raised large quantities of vegetables, potatoes being especially successful. Even in the Koyukuk Valley similar conditions obtain, and at Coldfoot, within the arctic circle at 68° N., potatoes, cabbages, turnips, rhubarb, etc., are grown of large size and good flavor.

That the productivity of Alaskan agriculture is important both in quantity and in value is clearly indicated by the diminution in the shipment of potatoes from the United States to Alaska, which dropped from 211,215 bushels in 1906 to 167,033 bushels in 1908. Meanwhile the values of all vegetable shipments fell from $696,928 to $483,855, a decrease of more than 30 per cent. During the same period the quantity of imported hay fell from 10,405 tons to 9,165 tons, though the number of stock increased. In 1924 only 5,834 tons were imported.

Agriculture

In considering the agricultural possibilities, it has been wisely said that those considering this industry should have in mind the fact that Alaska is remote from the great markets, that its sparse population is scattered, its transportation limited, the local markets few, and the installation of an agricultural plant is as a rule excessively costly.

Naturally Alaska is not a country of grains or of tender vegetables, but it has hardy small fruits and

berries in many localities. Dall, an authority on the Territory in general, reported many years since on this point. He said:

Small fruits are in the Yukon watershed in the greatest profusion. Among them may be noted red and black currants, gooseberries, cranberries, raspberries, thimbleberries. Among other berries are blueberry, salmon, twin, heath, moss and rose.

Agricultural Experiments

The agricultural possibilities of the Territory have been quite fully determined by the experimental researches of the U. S. Department of Agriculture for many years, under Georgeson. It appears that the largest and most promising areas of agricultural land are in the valleys of the Copper, Kuskokwim, Matanuska, Susitna, Tanana, Yukon, and especially on the south fork of Forty-Mile River. In 1923 in the Fairbanks district there were 48 farms, of 12,570 acres, of which 924 were under cultivation with 157 head of stock. In the Anchorage and Matanuska district 42 farms, 9,557 acres, 497 cultivated, with 262 head of stock. It is estimated that there are in the Territory 100,000 square miles of agricultural land, half farming and half grazing. In general the soil is rather poor, from the crop-producing standpoint.

Grain

Corn cannot be grown. In the interior valleys above named oats can be grown nearly everywhere,