94 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE 



Five weirs for counting the escapement of spawning salmon were 

 operated in 1933, chiefly in localities where important biological 

 studies of the salmon have been in progress for several years. 

 Through an allotment of $6,000 by the Public Works Administration 

 for the purpose, arrangements were made for the operation of 11 

 salmon-counting weirs in Alaska in 1934. An allotment of $20,000 

 of Public Works Administration funds was used in reconditioning 

 and repairing the Bureau's Alaska vessels. 



Considerable work was accomplished in the Civil Works Adminis- 

 tration project of improving natural propagation conditions in 

 southeast Alaska by the removal of log jams and other obstructions 

 that blocked the passage of salmon to the spawning beds. Three 

 regular employees of the Bureau supervised the work, which gave 

 employment to approximately 200 persons for varying periods. 

 Notwithstanding severe weather during part of the winter, the work 

 was carried forward throughout the first 4 months of 1934. In that 

 time 468 salmon streams were cleared for a distance of 621 miles, 

 and more than 100 miles of trail were cut to assist stream guards 

 in making surveys of the spawning beds. 



The destruction of predatory trout in important red-salmon rivers 

 tributary to Bristol Bay^ was carried on under an appropriation of 

 $15,000 by the Territorial legislature in 1933, to be expended the 

 next biennium for bounty on these enemies of salmon. 



ALASKA SALMON HATCHEIJIES 



After the liberation of salmon fry and fingerlings that were reared 

 at McDonald Lake and Afognak from eggs collected in 1932, the 

 operation of the Government's hatcheries at those places was dis- 

 continued. One privately owned hatchery, operated under the pro- 

 visions of the Alaska fisheries act of June 26, 1906, collected 20,650,- 

 000 red-salmon eggs in 1933, from which 20,030,000 fry were produced 

 and liberated in Alaska waters. 



PRODUCTS OF THE FISHERIES 



Although the quantity of fishery products in Alaska in 1933 was 

 slightly less than in the preceding year, there was a marked im- 

 provement in value, which was of material benefit to the fishermen, 

 Several plants were reopened and employment was given to a larger 

 number of people than in 1932. 



Salmon products comprised about 76 percent in quantity and 92 

 percent in value of the total output of the Alaska fisheries in 1933. 

 Ninety-five percent of the salmon production consisted of canned 

 salmon, the pack amounting to 5,226,000 cases, or 250.829,000 poimds, 

 valued at $28,376,000. As compared with the pack for 1932, the 

 output of canned salmon showed a decrease of one-half of 1 percent 

 in quantity but an increase of nearly 31 percent in value. The num- 

 ber of canneries operated increased from 87 in 1932 to 91 in 1933. 



The total output of Alaska fishery products in 1933 was 346,- 

 480,000 pounds, valued at $32,127,000, as compared with an average 

 of 373,624,000 pounds, valued at $40,329,000, for the 5-year period 

 from 1928 to 1932, inclusive. The value of the 1933 catch to the 



