162 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 
assessed in each case. The defendant in one of these cases remained 
in jail approximately 3 months previous to trial, being unable to 
furnish the required bond. 
Improvements in State laws protecting black bass have been con- 
tinued in accordance with the Bureau’s recommendations for ade- 
quate protection. Thirty-nine States now prohibit the sale of black 
bass at all times, regardless of where taken, and all but four States 
provide a closed season on these game fish during at least a part of 
the spawning period. The States have cooperated 100 percent in 
carrying on this branch of the work. A summary of the game-fish 
laws for 1937-88, with special reference to black bass, was Prepared 
and published, also several leaflets on subjects pertaining to angling. 
Whaling—The total number of licenses issued for taking whales 
was 15—covering 3 shore stations and 12 catcher or killer boats. The 
total revenue received for these licenses was $4,750 which was covered 
into the United States Treasury. 
The Division prepared, in accordance with the terms of the Whal- 
ing Convention of September 24, 1931, two statistical reports covering 
the number of whales captured, species, size, etc., and has made bio- 
logical studies of the samples of stomach contents taken from whales 
captured by United States vessels. It has completed two biological 
reports which, together with the two statistical reports, were for- 
warded to the International Bureau of Whaling Statistics, Sande- 
fjord, Norway, as required under the convention. 
Angling.—Requests for information on how, when, and where to 
fish with rod and line have increased during the fiscal year. Thirty- 
nine permits, required by act of Congress, to take certain small bait 
fish in the District of Columbia were issued. 
VESSELS 
Fifteen vessels of the Alaska service cruised approximately 107,000 
nautical miles in the fiscal year 1939, as compared with 117,000 miles 
in the previous year. The Penguin covered about 30,000 miles, the 
Teal 11,000 miles, and the Crane 9,000 miles. Owing to the accidental 
grounding of the Brant on Williams Reef on July 15, that vessel 
was out of commission during a considerable part of the season, and 
its total mileage in the fiscal year was only about 8,000 miles. 
The Penguin made five round trips between Seattle and the Pribi- 
lof Islands, carrying personnel and emergency supplies. Interisland 
service also was performed, and native workmen from the Alaska 
Peninsula were transported to the Pribilofs to assist with sealing 
activities. ‘Two trips were made to the western Aleutians in con- 
nection with sea-otter investigations and patrol. 
The Auklet, Kittiwake, Merganser, Murre, and Widgeon were en- 
gaged in fishery protective work in southeast Alaska. The Hider op- 
erated in the Kodiak area, the /b7s at Chignik, the Red Wing in the 
Alaska Peninsula area, and the Coot on the Yukon River. The Blue 
Wing was on Prince William Sound and also assisted in the patrol 
of southeast Alaska. 
The Zeal operated on Cook Inlet, carried on the stream survey in 
the Prince William Sound area, and assisted in the stream survey 
and general patrol in southeast Alaska. The Crane transported per- 
