64 FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 



3. That there be available in Alaska waters at least two vessels 

 belonging to the Department of Commerce and Labor for the use of 

 the Bureau of Fisheries in the salmon inspection. For work in south- 

 east Alaska a comparatively small launch (about 60 feet long, 12 feet 

 beam, and fitted with a 50 to 60 horsepower gasoline engine) would 

 answer the requirements, as the waters to be traversed are compara- 

 tively protected and harbors are numerous. For the cruise to central 

 and western Alaska a much larger vessel is needed, one at least of 

 several hundred tons displacement, as the waters in these sections are 

 open and storms are frequent. 



The Canadian government has already two or three vessels of con- 

 siderable size devoted to the protection of its fisheries on the British 

 Columbia coast and will presently provide another and much larger 

 one. The Alaskan territory involved is enormously greater in extent 

 and the product much greater in value than the Canadian, but no 

 vessel has yet been assigned to this work. 



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