302 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 
establish limitations on the time, means, methods, and extent of sport 
fishing in the fresh waters of Alaska. 
A congressional investigation of the Alaska fisheries was begun 
during the summer of 1939 by a subcommittee of 7 members of the 
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. The subcommittee 
was assisted by a joint committee of 4 members from the Territorial 
legislature. ‘This investigation was concerned primarily with the use 
of traps in catching salmon, the advisability of maintaining or chang- 
ing the prescribed fishing seasons, the effect of herring fishing opera- 
tions upon the salmon fishery, offshore fishing by foreign nationals for 
crabs and salmon, and other matters concerning the conservation of 
the fisheries of Alaska and a reasonable development of the fishing 
industry. 
The congressional committee held public hearings at nine important 
fishing centers in Alaska and one hearing in Seattle, Wash., in the 
course of the investigation. At each hearing supplemental statements 
and briefs were invited, and these, together with much additional 
information of a factual nature, were made a part of the record of the 
hearings. A report of the investigation, together with recommenda- 
tions of the committee, was published as Report No. 2379 under date 
of June 5, 1940. 
Dr. Carl L. Hubbs, of the University of Michigan, was engaged to 
make a special investigation of the fisheries of Alaska on behalf of the 
Secretary of the Interior in the season of 1939. Dr. Hubbs covered the 
Territory widely, including a visit to the Pribilof Islands, and upon 
his return in the fall submitted an exhaustive report. 
Under the authority granted by the act of August 2, 1937, for the 
protection of oyster culture in Alaska, a 6-year lease was executed for 
100 acres of bottoms in Alaska. This is the third such lease to be 
executed under the act. An output of 52 gallons, or 455 pounds of 
oysters was produced in the Ketchikan district in 1939. This is the 
first reported commercial production of oysters in Alaska waters, 
although there has been some experimental cultivation since 1931. 
A patrol of the fishing grounds was maintained by 14 Bureau vessels, - 
1 chartered vessel, 5 speedboats of the Bureau, and numerous small 
craft. As in previous years, chartered airplane service was used to 
some extent to supplement the vessel patrol, and also for surveys of 
spawning grounds and transportation of officials to isolated districts. 
One hundred and seventy-eight persons were identified with fishery 
law-enforcement work, including stream guards, weir operators, crews 
of patrol vessels, wardens, and biologists. 
In a few isolated regions, funds provided by the Territorial legis- 
lature and by local fishery operators were used to continue the payment 
