Evidence for local depletion around Killisnoo

Figure 1. Production of oil at the Killisnoo plant, plant capacity, and the proportion showing the ratio of herring to salmon oil.

When herring were difficult to obtain, the Killisnoo plant would switch to alternative low-value species (chum salmon and possibly dogfish). Cobb and Kutchin (1907) make note that herring were scarce in 1906, and the plant resorted to deriving oil from salmon, making up 35% of its oil production for 1906. The plant operates at well below its capacity for producing oil (Figure 1). For several years after this, Cobb makes notes about the relative proportions of herring and salmon used in making the oil at Killisnoo. The ratio of herring to salmon oil in the records could provide an index of relative abundance, at least as far as the availability of herring to the Killisnoo seiners. The proportion herring increases over the succeeding years, until in 1910 it reaches 100%, and the plant is operating near capacity. This corresponds with one of the periodic peaks in herring catch in the Killisnoo plant records. The other factor affecting production is obviously price received for products; if market conditions could be ascertained and removed as a factor, the amount of the catch and oil production below plant capacity could provide a good index of relative abundance for the Chatham Strait area. Thus far no good long-term source of herring oil markets has been located for this period.

Figure __. Removals from the Killisnoo Lagoon by the herring reduction plant at Killisnoo, 1885-1929.

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Figure __. Removals from the Killisnoo Lagoon relative to other removals.

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