PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1926 645 
We have a problem confronting us in Bristol Bay, where there 
have been poor runs for several seasons. I think that if we can 
forecast with some accuracy what the next season’s run will be, the 
people in Bristol Bay will be willing to forego a season’s operations 
in order to take care of the run and give it an opportunity to rehabili- 
tate itself. There is considerably more spirit of cooperation now 
than we had in the summer of 1924. I wondered then whether 
it was better to let the industry drift another year and make excuses 
to Congress or to take aggressive action. 
I have just received the following telegram, which I shall read to 
you: 
SouTH BELLINGHAM, WASH., 
January 6, 1927. 
HENRY O’MALLEY. 
United States Commissioner of Fisheries, 
Washington, D. C. 
After going into records of Bering River very carefully we are convinced that 
in the interest of conservation of fish this section should get all escapement 
possible this season. It is always our desire to cooperate with the bureau in 
matters of this kind and it will be agreeable to us not to operate this plant 
during 1927, if you will issue an order closing the Bering River district. It is 
our sincere belief that this should be done, and we therefore believe it our 
duty to recommend it to you. 
PactrIc AMERICAN FISHERIES. 
If we can get more people into that attitude, there is some hope 
for progress. 
Doctor Gizzerr. Since the question has arisen as to the amount of 
doubt in our prediction for the next year, I wish simply to state the 
nature of that doubt: What is the relation between variations in 
natural production, due to causes which we have not been able to 
identify, and the spawning reserve? We know what the spawning 
reserve was, the commercial run, we know in any year what a given 
spawning produced, but we have not been able to ascertain to what 
extent spawning reserves will vary in their productiveness. In other 
words, is it possible that a spawning reserve of one-third million may, 
under extraordinary conditions, produce a larger run of fish than is 
ordinarily expected ? 
Mr. Bower. I want you to know that the splendid cooperation of 
the trade is due, in a large measure, to Mr. O’Malley’s bringing 
diverse interests together. I am confident that the future of the 
salmon industry of Alaska is absolutely safe under the regulations 
of the Secretary of Commerce. 
COLUMBIA RIVER SALMON 
By H. B. HoLtMEs 
As one of the most important means of studying the life histories of salmon, 
the Bureau of Fisheries, in cooperation with the Oregon Fish Commission, has 
conducted, during the past 10 years, an extensive series of marking experi- 
ments. In these experiments young, artificially reared salmon have been marked 
by removing certain of their fins and then have been liberated into the streams 
on which the various hatcheries are situated. The marked individuals have 
been identified by the absence of the fins when they were caught upon their 
return to fresh water to spawn. By means of these complete records of indi- 
vidual fish, our knowledge of the biology of the species and the success of 
various hatchery practices has been increased materially. 
Twenty-six experiments, involving over 1,000,000 fingerlings, have been con- 
ducted. .As a result of these markings, over 7,000 adult fish have been recoy- 
