Although nearly six decades of Federal management 

 of Alaska's commercial fisheries ended December 31, 

 1959, the Federal Government will still conduct 

 numerous activities in Alaska through its Bureau of 

 Commercial Fisheries. The Bureau will continue to 

 carry on a large-scale fishery research program, 

 enforce our obligations under the international con- 

 ventions for halibut and fur seals, and enforce the 

 Federal law that prohibits the netting of salmon outside 

 the territorial waters of Alaska. 



Fur Seal Industry of Alaska 



Other important responsibilities of the Bureau in 

 Alaska are administering the fur seal industry and 

 providing for the welfare of some 600 Aleut residents 

 of the Pribilof Islands, who are employed by the 

 Bureau in this industry. 



The Alaska fur seal herd contains approximately 

 80 percent of the known fur seal population of the 

 world. The animals come ashore only on the Pribilof 

 Islands in Bering Sea, congregating there during the 

 period from May to October to breed and bear their 

 young. 



The story of the Pribilof Islands fur seal herd is 

 one of the world's classic examples of wildlife 

 "conservation in action." From a decimated popula- 

 tion of about 150,000 seals in 1911, the herd has 

 increased to about 1,500,000 animals, protected by 

 treaties with Canada, Japan, and Russia. Since 1941, 

 about 65,000 skins have been taken annually- -the 

 sales of the United States' share bringing from $1 

 to $2 million per year in excess of operating 

 costs. 



The research program on the Pribilof Islands 

 provides a constant check on the general welfare of 

 the fur seal herd and the effects of management 

 practices on the various population components and 

 total numerical strength of the herd. Also, fur seal 

 migrations and food habits at sea are being studied. 

 Under provisions of the Interim North Pacific Fur 

 Seal Convention of February 9, 1957, which became 

 effective on October 14, 1957, Canada, Japan, and 

 the Soviet Union also participate in this pelagic 

 research. 



20 



