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REPORT OF ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS. 



PURSE SEINING. 



Purse seines are more numerous in Alaska than traps, and their aggregate catch of salmon exceeds 

 that of traps. Purse seines are used chiefly in southeast Alaska, and there are two neighboring districts 

 where this method of fishing is particularly prevalent, namely, Karta Bay and Cholmondeley Sound, off the 

 eastern shore of Prince of Wales Island. By way of example of the heavy and congested nature of purse- 

 seine operations, it may be said that this past fall in the very limited area of these two waters there were 

 about 150 purse seines fishing at one time. The fishermen use purse seines in certain sections of Alaska 

 because no other kind of gear seems to answer the purpose so well. As already indicated, this principle 

 also applies to trap fishing. 



HEAD OF KASAAN BAY % 



CLARENCE STRAIT 



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K !'* -.;.:* 



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Head of Kasaan Bay, showing 40 purse seines in operation season of 1914. 



However, purse seining can not be recommended as a desirable method of fishing, particularly for the 

 reason that it does not rank with the trap as a manner in which fresh and wholesome fish are delivered at 

 the canneries. From much personal observation, there is no doubt in my mind but that a fair portion of 

 the fish brought tc the canneries unfit for use have been in this condition on account of the rough treatment 

 they received at the hands of the purse-seine fishermen. Another thing is that a purse seine can be moved 

 wherever the fisherman may wish to take it, thus following the fish into the very stream mouths, a most 

 objectionable practice. 



As in the case of traps, the operation of purse seines should be curtailed to some extent. Unfortu- 

 nately, there are men engaged in the fishing industry who care little for the law, and in order to put a check 

 on them it is necessary to have such legislation as will insure its observance. It is a common occurrence 

 in southeastern Alaska, when salmon are scarce and they have worked their way up to the spawing grounds, 



