BUREAU OF FISHERIES XI 



persons on the bureau's fleet of 15 vessels, 220 men were employed as 

 stream guards and special workmen in 1931, In addition, 9 char- 

 tered vessels were used, and there was also limited aerial patrol 

 service. 



The work of maintaining the salmon runs at tlic maximum pro- 

 ductivity was aided materially by the removal of obstructions hin- 

 dering the free passage of salmon to the spawning grounds and by the 

 destruction of predatory enemies. The latter work was carried on 

 in cooperation with the Territory, chiefly in the Bristol Bay region, 

 and has proved to be not only of great value to the salmon fishery 

 but also has provided an important source of income for local 

 residents. 



ALASKA SALMON HATCHERIES 



At the Government hatcheries at Afognak and on McDonald Lake 

 48,055,000 red-salmon eggs, 353,000 pink-salmon eggs, 33,000 steel- 

 head-trout eggs, and 2,731,000 Dolly Varden trout eggs were collected 

 in 1931. The Dolly Varden trout eggs and 3,145,000 red-salmon 

 eggs in the eyed stage were shipped to Seattle for distribution. One 

 privately owned hatchery, operated under the provisions of the 

 Alaska fisheries act of June 26, 1906, collected 20,280,000 red-salmon 

 eggs. 



PRODUCTS OF THE FISHERIES 



The yield of the Alaska fisheries in 1931, curtailed considerably 

 because of economic conditions, showed a decrease of approximately 

 7 per cent in quantity and 11 per cent in value, as compared with 

 figures for the preceding year. The decline occurred chiefly in her- 

 ring and halibut products and in the total suspension of whaling 

 operations. 



Salmon products comprised about 79 per cent in quantity and 

 91 per cent in value of the total output of the Alaska fisheries in 

 1931. Nearly 95 per cent of the salmon production consisted of 

 canned salmon, the pack amounting to 5,403,739 cases, or 259,379,472 

 pounds, valued at $29,096,292. As compared with the pack of the 

 preceding year, the output of canned salmon in 1931 showed an 

 increase of 7 per cent in quantity but a decrease of 2 per cent in value. 

 The number of canneries operated dropped from 149 in 1930 to 116 in 

 1931. 



The total output of Alaska fisheries products in 1931 was 345,435,- 

 388 pounds, valued at $33,594,752, as compared with an average of 

 377,905,159 pounds, valued at $47,570,728, for the 5-year period from 

 1926 to 1930, inclusive. The value of the 1931 catch to the fishermen 

 was approximately $10,043,000, or about $2,242,000 less than in the 

 preceding year. There were 22,577 persons employed in the various 

 branches of the industry, as against 27,568 in 1930. 



ALASKA FUR-SEAL SERVICE 

 GENERAL ACTIVITIES 



Under international cooperation secured by the North Pacific Seal- 

 ing Convention of July 7, 1911, whereby the killing of fur seals on 

 the high seas of the North Pacific is proliibited, the fur-seal herd 



