FISUEUIKS OF ALASKA, 19()<S. 33 



FISHING LAWS AND THEIR ENFORCEMENT. 

 INDICTMENTS AND COMPLAINTS. 



In view of 1-cports early in the season that the trap-net fishermen 

 were not ^^oing to observe tlic law, the waters of southeast Alaska 

 were very thoroughly patrolled this 3^ear, and a cruise hy the assist- 

 ant agent in Stephens Passage, Lynn Canal, Chatham and Icy straits, 

 extending from Satuinhi}', July 4, to Monday afternoon, the Ctli, 

 covering some 300 miles and including visits to 38 traps, complete 

 and in process of construction, disclosed a most remarkable condi- 

 tion of affairs. Of the 34 traps operating, 29 were brazenly violating 

 the law, 4 were guilty of minor or technical violations, and but 1 

 trap was conforming strictly to the letter of the law. In addition to 

 the traps mentioned, 1 was missed in the darkness, and there were 5 

 which it was impossible to reach during the closed season. 



On another trip over practically these same waters, beginning 

 early in the afternoon of July 1 1 and lasting until early the morning 

 of the 13th, 36 traps, only 1 of wliicli was in an unfinished condition, 

 were visited and inspected. Eight were not visited owing to the 

 lack of time. Of those visited and inspected 24 were found openly 

 violating the law, and 3 were guilty of minor violations, but 8 con- 

 forming to the law. July 24 to 26 the traps were found to be gen- 

 erally conforming to the law, the few violations found being teclmical 

 ones, and these minor offenses. 



The district court of the first district of Alaska, then sitting at Skag- 

 way, heard these cases on the 16th and 17th. As a result of confer- 

 ences with the district attorne}^ beforehand, it had been decided not 

 to present to the grand jury tlie offenders guilty of minor or teclmical 

 violations. In all, 53 violations were brought before the grand jury, 

 which reported true bills in every instance, and the corporation, part- 

 nership, or individual owning the trap, the superintendent or other 

 officer actively representing the corporation or partnership, the head 

 trap boss, the watchmen at the traps, and such other persons as par- 

 ticipated directly in the A^olation of the law were indicted. The 

 following are the trap owners who were indicted, together with the 

 number of indictments found against each: 



Name. 



Location. 



Indict- 

 ments. 



Pacific American Fisheries 



Alaska PackiTs Association 



Colunitiia raniiinf; Co 



Thiinkpt rackitit; Co 



Northwf'stern Fi.slieries Co 



Astoria and Piii;el Sound Packing Co 



George T Myers 6c Co 



James Robertson 



74811—09 3 



Excursion Inlet. 

 Pyramid Harbor 



Haines 



Funter I5ay 



Dundi\s Hay 



Excursion Inlet. 



Sitkoh Bay 



Hawk Inlet 



