£> U. S. BUREAU OF FISHEIIIES 



INTRODUCTION 



The bureau's work in Alaska, which has to do primarily with the 

 maintenance of the fishery resources and the management of the 

 Pribilof Islands fur-seal industry, followed the same plan as in former 

 years. Particular attention was given to problems concerning the 

 conservation of the salmon, by far the most important economic 

 product of the Territory. Careful observations of the runs were 

 made throughout the season and restrictions in commercial fishing 

 were modified from time to time to meet changing conditions. A 

 general inspection of the fishery and fur-seal activities was made by 

 the Commissioner of Fisheries, accompanied by an official party, 

 during July and August. 



In the patrol of the fishing grounds to enforce compliance with 

 the fishery laws and regulations 15 bureau vessels and a number of 

 chartered boats were employed, and more than 200 persons were 

 identified wdth the work for varying periods. Incidental to patrol 

 duties in certain localities were the destruction of predatory enemies 

 of salmon and the removal of obstructions that blocked the passage of 

 salmon to the spawning grounds. 



Studies of the life history of the salmon, herring, and other aquatic 

 resources were continued. Weirs for counting the escapement of 

 brood fish were operated in 27 typical salmon streams as a means of 

 determining the ratio of escape to catch and the size of a spawning 

 colony required to insure ample seeding of the beds and thus an 

 unimpaired future run. Fish-cultural work was carried on at two 

 Government hatcheries and one private hatchery. 



Sealing operations at the Pribilof Islands resulted in the take of 

 49,524 fur-seal skins, or about 17 per cent more than the number 

 obtained in 1930. Killings in general were from surplus 3-year-old 

 male seals. A suitable number of animals of this age class were 

 reserved for future breeding stock. The computation of the herd 

 as of August 10, 1931, by bureau employees at the islands showed 

 1,127,082 animals of all classes, an increase of 81,981 over the cor- 

 responding figures for the previous year. The fox herds on St. Paul 

 and St. George Islands were in satisfactory condition and yielded 

 1,401 blue and 25 white pelts in the 1931-32 season. 



Progress was made in the construction of new buildings and the 

 installation of additional equipment to facilitate handling the increased 

 fur-seal work, and some extension of improved roads was accomplished 

 on both islands. 



Through the cooperation of the Navy Department the general 

 shipment of supplies for the Pribilof Islands was forwarded on the 

 U. S. S. Vega, and the sealskins taken during the season were trans- 

 ported on the return trip to Seattle. Valuable assistance was rend- 

 ered also by the U. S. Coast Guard in maintaining a patrol for the 

 protection of the fur-seal herd. 



Three public auction sales of fur-seal skins were held in 1931, at 

 two of which fox skins from the Pribilof Islands were sold also. 



Acknowledgment is made of the assistance rendered hj members 

 of the bureau's staff in the preparation of this document. 



