U.S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



INTRODUCTION 



The Bureau's work in Alaska has to do with the conservation of 

 the fisheries and the management of the Pribilof Islands fur-seal 

 herd. This work in 1932 was conducted on the same general plan as 

 in previous years. The Commissioner of Fisheries spent several 

 weeks in Alaska during the summer for personal observation of the 

 salmon fishery. 



The regulations for the protection of the fisheries were modified 

 from time to time as the need therefor became apparent, and late in 

 the fall revised regulations were issued to be effective in the following 

 year. 



In the patrol of the fishing grounds 15 Bureau vessels and 8 

 chartered boats were employed, and more than 200 persons were 

 engaged for varying periods. Stream obstructions that blocked the 

 passage of breeding salmon were removed, and some destruction of 

 predatory fishes was accomplished. 



Scientific studies of the salmon, herring, and other aquatic resources 

 were continued. Twenty-seven weirs for counting the escapement of 

 spawning salmon were operated as a means of establishing the ratio 

 of escape to catch. The propagation of salmon was carried on at 

 2 Government hatcheries and 1 private hatchery. Keports of com- 

 mercial operations were collected, from which data have been 

 compiled and are published herewith. 



At the Pribilof Islands 49,336 fur-seal skins were taken, a decrease 

 of 188 from the take for 1931. Killings in general were from surplus 

 3-year-old male seals. A suitable number of this age class was 

 reserved for breeding stock. The computation of the herd as of 

 August 10, 1932, showed 1.219,961 animals of all classes, an increase 

 of 92,879 over the corresponding figures for the previous year. From 

 the fox herds at the islands there were obtained 1,120 blue and 23 

 white pelts in the 1932-33 season. 



Work was continued on the construction of buildings at the Pribilof 

 Islands for use of the natives and for the sealing industry. Progress 

 was made on the extension of improved roads, and the dock at East 

 Landing on St. Paul Island was completed. 



Through the cooperation of the Navy Department the U.S.S. 

 Sirius transported the annual supplies to the Pribilof Islands and 

 brought out the season's take of sealskins on the return trip to Seattle. 

 Valuable assistance was rendered also by the United States Coast 

 Guard in maintaining a patrol for the protection of the fur seals. 



Two public-auction sales of fur-seal skins were held in 1932. at 

 both of which fox skins were sold also. 



Acknowledgment is made of the assistance rendered by members 

 of the Bureau's staff in the preparation of this document. 



VISIT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES TO ALASKA 



The Commissiouer of Fisheries sailed from Seattle for Alaska on 

 the Brant on July 1. After spending a few days at Juneau he 

 visited the Prince William Sound area, inspecting the fisheries and 

 calling at the various canneries. No trip was made to the districts 

 farther west, where generally satisfactory runs of salmon were re- 



