FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 31 



either prefer Sunday or are indifferent to wliich day is selected for the 

 close season. On the whole the change has been beneficial and 

 should be allowed to stand. 



CLOSING OF NUSHAGAK AND WOOD RIVERS. 



The closing of Wood River to coinniercial fishing in order to in- 

 crease the niunber of redfish reaching the important spawning beds 

 at the headwaters of this stream has been frequently advocated and 

 repeatedly recommended b}^ the salmon agent. On October 28, 1 907, 

 the secretary of the Alaska Fishermen's Union of San Francisco re- 

 quested, by a telegram to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, a 

 hearing as provided by law, to determine the advisability of closing 

 "Wood River completely to commercial fishing, and of prohibiting all 

 stationary fishing gear in Nushagak River. Similar telegrams and 

 requests vrere received from the secretary of the United Fishermen 

 of the Pacific, of Seattle, AVash., from Senator C. W. Fulton, of 

 Astoria, Oreg., and others. In accordance with these requests the 

 following announcement was issued: 



To all whom it may concern: 



WheiH^as the Secretary of ('oininen-e and Labor has been requested by luimerous 

 persons and organizations to prohibit all coinmercial fishing in Wood River, Alaska, 

 and to forbid the setting of traps and stationary gear of any kind in Nushagak River, 

 Alaska, notice is hereby given that under the provisions of section 6 of the act of Con- 

 gress approved .Tune 2G, 1906, entitled '"An act for the protection and regulation of the 

 fisheries of Aliiska, ' ' a hearing to determine the advisability of setting aside as preserves 

 for spawning grounds Wood River and Nushagak River, Alaska, and of limiting or 

 entirely prohibiting all fishing therein, will be held in the office of the Secretary of 

 Commerce and Labor at Washington, D. C, on December IG, 1907, at ]0 o'clock a. m., 

 at which time all persons interested will be heard. 



George M. Bowers, 



Commissioner of Fisheries. 

 Approved: 



Oscar S. Straus. 



Secretary of Commerc and Labor. 



This announcement was published in several newspapers on the 

 Pacific coast and copies of it were sent by the Commissioner of Fisheries 

 to all parties known to be interested. The hearing was held on 

 December 16 and 17, 1907, before the Secretary of Commerce and 

 Labor, and was attended by representatives of the Alaska Fisher- 

 men's Union, the United Fishermen of the Pacific, the Alaska Packers 

 Association, of San Francisco; the Alaska-Portland Packers Associa- 

 tion of Portland, Oreg; the Northwestern Fisheries Company of 

 Seattle, Wash.; and the Columbia River Packers Association of 

 Astoria, Oreg.; and by the Hon. C. W. Fulton, Senator from Oregon; 

 the Hon. William R. Ellis, Congressman from Oregon; the Hon. 

 Thomas Cale, Delegate from Alaska; the Hon. George M. Bowers, 

 Commissioner of Fisheries, and other representatives of his Bureau. 

 35670—08 5 



