XXX REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE 



ington. A representative of the bureau at Sitka, Alaska, authenti- 

 cated the skins taken in that vicinity. An official report stated that 

 1.47G fur-seal skins were taken bv natives of British Columbia in 

 1927. 



FUR-SEAL PATROL 



The usual patrol Avas maintained by vessels of the United States 

 Coast Guard during the spring migration of the fur-seal herd 

 through waters off the Pacific Coast States, British Columbia, and 

 Alaska, and while the animals were in the vicinity of the Pribilof 

 Islands. Two of the bureau's vessels were engaged in the patrol in 

 southeastern Alaska while sealing operations were being carried on 

 by Indians in that district, and the BiYinf was likewise emploj^ed off 

 the coast of Washington. 



PROTECTION OF SEA OTTERS, WALRUSES, AND SEA LIOXS 



No change was made in the regulations for the protection of sea 

 otters, which prohibit the killing of these animals at all times. Re- 

 vised regulations for the protection of walruses and sea lions were 

 issued as of iMay 1, 1928, extending the closed season on these animals 

 for another two-year period. iHowever, the regulations permit the 

 killing of walruses and sea lions by natives for food or clothing, or 

 by miners or explorers when in need of food, and the collection of 

 specimens for scientific purposes under permits issued by the Secre- 

 tary of Commerce. The killing of sea lions by anyone in the pro- 

 tection of property or while such animals are actually engaged in 

 devastating runs of salmon is permitted. 



VESSEL NOTES 



The Albatross II continued the fishery investigations in iN^orth At- 

 lantic coastal waters during tlie summer and fall months, making 

 nine cruises in the area between the capes of the Chesapeake and 

 jNIount Desert, on which 7,417 fish were taken, tagged, and liberated. 

 During iMarch and April the steamer was lent to the New York 

 Zoological Society for an expedition to the Galapagos Islands, Ecua- 

 dor, to obtain, for breeding purposes, a supply of the giant tortoises 

 indigenous to those islands. Over 100 specimens were secured, which 

 have been colonized in suitable places in the United States witli the 

 object of perpetuating the species, which is valuable for food. The 

 expens:es of the trip were met by the zoological society. During the 

 year the Alhatix>ss II steamed 13,835 miles. 



The steamer PhalarO'pe has been used, as in past years, for fish- 

 cultural work on the Potomac River and at Woods Hole, iMass., and 

 in connection with the biological studies carried on at the latter point. 

 The steamer Shearwater was operated on Lake Erie as a tender for 

 the Put in Bay (Ohio) fish-cultural station. 



Fourteen vessels of the Alaska service cruised more than 86,000 

 nautical miles in the fiscal year 1928. Of these, the Brant covered 

 more than 12,000 miles and the Eider and Widgeon each more than 

 11,000 miles. The Eider continued as local tender for the Pribilof 

 Islands with base at Unalaska. This vessel, however, by reason of 



