ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 427 



The Alaskan salmon firms arc in the Te-rritory to get fish. They prefer to get tliem 

 without injury to the future of the business if possible, but got them they must or 

 be overcome by financial disaster. In their efforts to win success they have often 

 stretclied nets across the mouths of small streams and ])revented the salmon from 

 going up until a sufficient number had collected to make a good seine haul possible. 

 They have erected traps in rivers in such a way as to stop every salmon from ascend- 

 ing, and, in some cases, actually built impassable barricades to prevent the ascent of 

 fish entirely until the demands of the canneries were satisfied. Even when fisliing 

 regulations were adopted by mutual agreement among the firms interested individual 

 infractions of the rule were only too l're(|uent. 



The trap men on Wood River are building upon the well-known habit of the 

 quinnat (or king salmon) of following alon^' the shores in shallow water to escape 

 from enemies. All the conditions, both natural and invented, will favor the entrance 

 of salmon into the great inclosuro at the end of the leader of netting. In all proba- 

 bility few salmon will swim in mid-channel and reach the upper waters and lake 

 sources of the river, and it will always be possible to cut oil' this remnant in the 

 manner suggested l)y Lieutenant-Commander Tanner, and actually practiced by fish- 

 ermen on occasions, that of stretching a seine across the o])en water. If the Govern- 

 ment should interi)retits acts so as to allow the use of traps, in spite of the unfortu- 

 nate outcome of such ajipliances in neighboring countries, it sbould then prescribe 

 regulations for the conduct of the fishery and appoint agents to see that the laws are 

 enforced. If these matters aie left solely to the discretion of the individuals having 

 a financial interest in this fishery there will soon be no salmon to protect. 

 Very respectfully, 



T. H. Bean, 

 Ichthyologist, United States Fish Commission. 



Col. Marshall McDonald, 



United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 



Absolute prohibition of the capture of salmon by the use of any kind of nets or 

 traps within 100 yards of the mouths of the rivers would assure that some proportion 

 of each run of salmon would succeed in entering the streams and reaching the 

 spawning grounds. 



The prohibition of the use of more than one seine in the same berth would prevent 

 that actual and effective obstruction of the approaches to the rivers which is now 

 accomplished by the use of seines in pairs sweeping the same area and succeeding 

 each other so continuously as to capture every fish coming within the seine berth. 



The above requirements, reasonably and uniformly enforced, would probably be 

 sutHcient to maintain regular conditions of production and render permanent this 

 great food source. Should they be supplemented by recourse to artificial propaga- 

 tion on an adequate scale, it will be possibleuot only to maintain the present supply, 

 but probably greatly to increase the annual production. The enforcement of tlie 

 regulations and requirements above indicated would, however, demand constant 

 minute supervision and the employment of a large ijersonnel and difficult adminis- 

 tration. 



It is believed that better results and more satisfactory administration could be 

 accomplished by limiting the catch in each stream to its actual productive capacity 

 under existing conditions, and by leasing the privileges of taking the salmon to the 

 highest bidder. The lessees of any river would see that there was no trespassing 

 upon privileges lor which they paid. The limitation of the catch being kept safely 

 within the natural productive capacity of the stream, greater care would be exercised 

 by the canners, the quality of the products would be improved, and stability of prices 

 assured by reason of the fact that the total production would be approximately 

 known in advance of the season. 



The number of cases packed would be a matter of easy and accurate ascertainment 

 by the Government agent charged with that dnty. Should the funds obtained from 

 the lessees be applied first to tlie administration of the regulations of the fishery, and 

 the balance devoted to systematic fish-culture, it is probable that tlie revenues from 

 these fisheries will not only suffice for their rational management, but will ]>ermit 

 and provide for such extensive fish-cultural o])eration8 as will not only maintain 

 present conditions and production, but also greatly increase the annual output. 

 Very respectfully, 



Marshall McDonald, Commisaioner. 



No. 2. — Oregon Statutes, vol. 2, of fishing for salmon. 



Skc. 3489. It shall not be lawful to take or fish for salmon in the Columbia River 

 or its tributaries, by any means whatever, in any year hereafter during the months 

 of March, August, and September; nor at the weekly close times in the months of 



