RESOURCE HARVEST AND USE PATTERNS

SPECIES USED AND HARVESTED AND LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE HARVEST AND USE OF WILD RESOURCES

In 1987/88, False Pass residents used a minimum of 59 kinds of wild resources for subsistence purposes. . . .This total includes at least 19 kinds of fish, 11 kinds of mammals, 13 kinds of marine invertebrates, and 12 kinds of birds and eggs. Detailed data were not collected on types of plants, but at least four kinds were used. . . . On average, False Pass households used 22.6 kinds of wild resources, attempted to harvest 14.6 kinds, and harvested 14.0 kinds. In addition, the mean number of resources received per household was 13.1, and the mean number given per household was 9.7 kinds. One of the oldest persons in the community commented on this diversity explaining "That's what we're living here for, so we can use all these different kinds of things."

. . . The use and harvest of wild resources was universal in False Pass in 1987/88 with all of the households using, attempting to harvest, and harvesting fish, game, or wild plants. Also, every household received wild resources from successful harvesters in other households, and 95.0 percent of the households gave away portions of their catches, or redistributed resources they had received from others to people in other households or communities.

In terms of resource categories, every household in False pass used salmon, fish other than salmon, marine invertebrates, and wild plants during the 1987/88 study year; while 90.0 percent used birds and land mammals. Sixty percent of the households used marine mammals, and fifteen percent used furbearers. The most commonly used resources were coho salmon and berries, both used by every household. Other resources used by three quarters or more of the households included sockeye salmon (95.0 percent) halibut (95.0 percent) caribou (90.0 percent) ptarmigan (90.0 percent) octopus (90.0 percent ) plants other than berries (90.0 percent) chitons (85.0 percent) king salmon (75.0 percent) Dolly Varden (75.0 percent) and king crab (75.0 percent). . . .

In 1987/88, every False Pass household harvested wild plants; while 80.0 percent harvested marine invertebrates and 70.0 percent caught fish other than salmon. In addition, 70.0 percent of the households harvested birds or eggs, 65.0 percent of the households caught salmon, 40.0 percent took land mammals (35.0 harvested big game) 30.0 percent successfully hunted for marine mammals, and 15.0 percent trapped furbearers. On the individual resource level, 90.0 percent of the households harvested berries, and 90.0 percent also harvested other plants. Other resources harvested by at least half the households included chitons (75.0 percent) ptarmigan (65.0 percent), halibut (65.0 percent) coho salmon (60.0 percent) sockeye salmon (55.0 percent) and pink salmon (50.0 percent). . . . 85. 7 percent of the population of False pass engaged in wild resource harvesting activities in 1987/88. The most (73.0 percent) harvested wild plants, while 60.3 percent fished (including gathering marine invertebrates) and 23.8 percent hunted mammals or birds or trapped.

SEASONAL ROUND OF RESOURCE HARVESTS

. . . With the exception of a few species such as salmon, many resources are generally available year-round in the Lower Alaska Peninsula/Unimak Island area. Therefore, the seasonal around of subsistence harvests is more dependent on the availability of time and on regulatory restrictions. Many species of bottomfish (cod, halibut) marine invertebrates (clams, crab, chitons, octopus) birds (some waterfowl, ptarmigan) and mammals (harbor seals, caribou) live in the area year-round, and most are generally taken in small quantities when needed. During the study period, concentrated subsistence activities in False pass took place in the spring (May) and throughout the summer when salmon were available. Late summer and early fall were also very important for caribou, ptarmigan, and waterfowl hunting. . . . Harbor seal hunting took place year-round, but most seals were taken in fall (September and October) and in winter (January, February, and March). . . .

RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION AND EXCHANGE

Sharing of resource harvests was extremely common during the study year in False pass. . . . Every household received gifts of wild foods, and all but one (95.0 percent) gave away a portion of their harvests (or resources they had received) to others. On average, households received 13.1 kinds of wild resources from harvesters in other households and gave away 9.7 kinds. Most households received gifts of marine invertebrates (90.0 percent of the households) land mammals (85.0 percent) salmon (80.0 percent) birds 75.0 percent) other fish (75.0 percent) marine mammals (55.0 percent) and wild plants (50.0 percent). The most commonly received resources were caribou and octopus (85.0 percent of the households). Other resources received by at least half the households included coho salmon ( 80.0 percent) king crab (70.0 percent) ptarmigan (65.0 percent) halibut (60.0 0 percent) tanner crab (60.0 percent) gull eggs (50.0 percent) Dolly Varden (50.0 percent) king salmon (50.0 percent) and sockeye salmon (50.0 percent). . . .

. . . More False pass households gave away fish other than salmon (75.0 percent) than any other resource category. Next, was marine invertebrates with 70.0 percent of the households, followed by salmon (60.0 percent) birds and eggs (60.0 percent) wild plants (50.0 percent) land mammals (35.0 percent) and marine mammals (30.0 percent). It should be noted that all successful harvesters of big game and marine mammals shared their catches with other households. Chitons were the resource given away by most households (65.0 percent). Other resources given away by a third or more of the households included halibut (60.0 percent) ptarmigan (55.0 percent) sockeye salmon (45.0 percent) Dolly Varden (40.0 percent) berries (40.0 percent) caribou 35.0 percent) king salmon (35.0 percent) and coho salmon (35.0 percent). . . .