INTRODUCTION 
The bureau’s work in Alaska includes two quite different fields of 
activity—first, the conservation of the fishery resources, and, second, 
the protection and utilization of the fur-seal herd of the Pribilof 
Islands. These two industries are of growing importance, and the 
bureau’s conservation work and scientific study have expanded cor- 
respondingly. The Commissioner of Fisheries was in Alaska during 
the greater part of the active salmon-fishing season of 1926 and gave 
his immediate attention to the problems at hand. 
The fisheries regulations were carefully revised in the winter of 
1925-26, and amendments were issued during 1926 to meet contin- 
gencies that arose from time to time. An adequate patrol was main- 
tained on all the important grounds throughout the active fishing 
season, and it is believed that violations of the laws and regulations 
were reduced to a minimum. Eleven patrol vessels owned by the 
bureau and more than 200 persons participated in this work. An 
excellent sea-going vessel, 100 feet. in length, named the Brant, was 
built and added to the Alaska fleet. Weirs were maintained in eight 
important salmon streams, at which the fish escaping to the spawn- 
ing grounds were counted and the relation of escape to catch estab- 
lished. Two salmon hatcheries were operated. 
Scientific investigations of the salmon, herring, and clams were 
conducted. Surveys were made of many of the more important 
salmon-spawning waters, particularly in the Bristol Bay region, for 
the purpose of determining the sufficiency of the regulations to bring 
about an adequate escapement of breeding fish. T Shrough the prac- 
tical application of such scientific studies the bureau is striving to 
maintain this great resource without impairment while permitting 
the use of the balance for the benefit of the American people. De- 
tailed statistics of the fisheries were collected and analyzed, the 
principal results being published herein. Generally the fisheries 
were in a very satisfactory condition. The pack of 6,652,882 cases 
of canned salmon was the largest in the history of the Territory. 
At the Pribilof Islands 29.131 fur-seal skins were taken, an in- 
crease of 2,271 over the preceding year. To provide for future 
breeding stock, a reserve of 9,565 3-year-old males was marked. A 
computation made of the herd indicated that it contained 761,281 
animals, an increase of 38,231 over the number in 1925. The work 
of replacing worn-out buildings, chiefly houses occupied by natives, 
was continued, and good progress was made in the construction of 
much needed roads. A very satisfactory patrol of waters of the 
North Pacific Ocean, including Bering Sea, was carried on by the 
United States Coast Guard. 
As in the past, management of the blue-fox herds at the Pribilof 
Islands was incidental to sealing work. The foxes on both St. Paul 
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