ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES 101 
prohibition on the killing of walruses was extended to cover the period 
from July 1, 1939, to June 30, 1941, and the restrictions on the taking 
of sea lions were continued in effect. Walruses may be taken only 
by natives for food or clothing, by miners or explorers when in need 
of food, or by collectors of specimens for scientific purposes under 
permits issued by the Secretary. Similar conditions apply in respect 
to the taking of sea lions, and their killing is permissible also in the 
necessary protection of property or while the animals are destroying 
salmon or other food fish. 
JAPANESE VESSELS IN BERING SEA 
The only reported fishing operations by Japanese vessels in Bering 
Sea waters in 1939 were those led by the crab-fishing depot ship 
S.S. Toten Maru, owned and operated by the Nippon Suisan Kabusiki 
Kaisya (Japan Aquatic Products Co.), accompanied by 3 self-navi- 
gating vessels and with 10 small craft carried on board, which arrived 
in Bering Sea on April 17 to engage exclusively in fishing for crabs. 
Its principal area of operation was in the open sea between latitude 
55° and 57° N., and between longitude 163°30’ and 168° W, The 
Coast Guard on May 7 observed the Toten Maru anchored at latitude 
56°22’ N., longitude 161°21’ W., with 5 sampans working gear near 
by and 2 approximately 80-foot Diesel craft setting gear to the 
southward. The vessels left Bering Sea by the middle of May and 
therefore did not interfere with the salmon fishery in that region. 
In accordance with preliminary arrangements, the Japanese training 
ship Hakuyo Maru, of the Tokyo Fisheries Institute, made a training 
cruise in the Pacific Ocean and called at St. Paul Island on July 11 
and 12 to give the students an opportunity to acquaint themselves 
with conditions concerning the breeding of fur seals and the facilities 
provided for their protection while breeding. On the morning of 
July 12 one party was furnished transportation to Webster Field at 
Northeast Point, and later in the morning a second party was taken 
to visit the Reef rookery from Observation Rock. 
FISHERY INDUSTRIES 
As in corresponding reports for previous years, the Territory of 
Alaska is here considered in the three coastal geographic sections 
generally recognized, as follows: (1) Southeast Alaska—embracing 
all that narrow strip of mainland and the numerous adjacent islands 
from Portland Canal northwestward to and including Yakutat Bay; 
(2) central Alaska—the region on the Pacific from Yakutat Bay 
westward, including Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet, and the 
southern coast of Alaska Peninsula, to Unimak Pass; and (8) western 
Alaska—the north shore of the Alaska Peninsula, including the Aleu- 
tian Islands westward from Unimak Pass, Bristol Bay, and the 
Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers. These divisions are solely for 
statistical purposes and do not coincide with areas established in 
departmental regulations. 
Detailed reports and statistical tables dealing with the various 
fishery industries are presented herewith, and there are also given the 
important features of certain subjects of special investigation or 
inquiry. 

