240 U.S. BU15EAU OF FISHERIES 



considerably curtuilod bocaiisQ of the limitation of funds. The 

 Commissioner of Fisheries was in Alaska for a number of weeks 

 inspecting both the fishery and fur-seal activities. 



In the ])atr()l of tlie fishin<;' jj^rounds to assure enforcement of the 

 laws and re<!;ulations api)roximately 200 ])ersons, including the crews 

 on 14 vessels belonging to the Bui-eau ^md 2 chartered boats, were 

 emi)l()yed for varying i>eriods. Obsei'vations wjere made of the 

 extent and condition of the salmon runs and of the ])roportion that 

 escajx'd capture. From time to time modifications were made in the 

 regulations eitlier to curtail commercial fishing in order to permit 

 a more adequate seeding of the spawning beds, or to relax existing 

 I'estrictions if the situation warranted. 



Weirs for counting the escapement of spawning salm(m were o]:>er- 

 ated in oidy a few streams where im])ortant scientific studies of the 

 biology of the Pacific salmons Iuiac been in progress for a number 

 of yeai-s, or where the inst^iUation and maintenance of the structure 

 couhl be accomplished by the stream guard in that locality in con- 

 junction with his other duties. The oj^eration of fish-cultural sta- 

 tions in Alaska by the Bureau was discontinued. 



Reports of commercial fishery oj^erations were collected, and data 

 compiled therefrom are published herewith. 



Seeding ojjeraticms at the Pribilof Islands resulted in th(> take of 

 54,550 fur-seal skins, or 5,214 more than tlie number obtained in 



1932. Practically all the killings W(>re of 3-year-old sui-plus male 

 seals. Observations indicated that the number of this age class 

 not taken up in the drives was ample to provide for the future breed- 

 ing stock. Tlie computation of the fur-seal herd as of August 10, 



1933, shoAved 1,3'18,5C)8 animals of all classes, an increase of 98,G07 

 over the number computed for the previous year. The fox herds 

 on St. Paul and St. George Islands were fed during the winter and 

 yiehled 939 i)elts in the 1933-34 season. 



Some work was accomplished in the re])air and improvement of 

 buildings for the use of natives and for the sealing industry, and in 

 the consti'uction of roads to facilitate the delivery of sealskins from 

 th(> killing grounds to the central ])lants. 



Through the cooperation of the Navy ])e])artnient the general 

 shii)ment of sujjplies foi- the Pribilof "islands was forwarded on 

 the U.S.S. Vega, and the sealskins taken during the season were 

 brought out on the return trip to Seattle. Valuable assistance was 

 rendei-ed also by the United States Coast Guard in maintaining a 

 patrol for the i)i-otection of the fur seals. 



Two public-auction sales of fur-seal skins were held in 1033, at 

 both of which fox skins were sold also. 



Acknowledgment is made of the assistance rendered by members 

 of the Hui-eau's staff in the preparation of this document. 



VISIT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES TO ALASKA 



The Conunissioner of Fisheries sailed from Seattle aboard the 

 Ih'atit on June C for Alaska, where an extended survey of fishery 

 conditions was made in all important salmon districts as far west 

 as Bi-istol Bay. About 20 ])ubli(; hearings were held at various places 

 to give all interested persons an opportunity to express their views. 



