82 REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. 
the purpose of the law in question meant a definite amount, namely, 
48 pounds of salmon, and in assembling statistics of the fisheries of 
Alaska it has consistently considered a package containing 48 half- 
pound cans of salmon as a half case. 
Recently the clerk of the district court in southeastern Alaska, 
acting in accordance with an opinion by the United States attorney 
at Juneau, insisted that salmon canneries pay a license tax upon their 
canned product at so much per case, without reference to the quantity 
of salmon involved. This action was manifestly arbitrary in that 
the amount of taxes to be collected would be based not upon the 
quantity of salmon packed but upon a condition brought about by 
the desires of salmon packers or the changing notions of the public 
as to the size of case which could be handled to the best advantage. 
The situation was brought to the attention of the Bureau of Fish- 
eries by the Association of Pacific Fisheries. Upon the request of 
the Bureau, the Solicitor for the Department of Commerce rendered 
an opinion in regard to the matter, which was to the effect that a 
case of salmon within the meaning of the fisheries act of June 26, 
1906, was a definite amount, 48 pounds of salmon. The matter was 
then referred to the Attorney General of the United States with the 
request that if he concurred in the opinion of the Solicitor, instruc- 
tions be issued to the United States attorney at Juneau to enforce 
the collection of license taxes on that basis. The Attorney General 
concurred with the opinion of the Solicitor for the Department of 
Commerce, and instructions were issued to collect the tax on canned 
salmon in accordance therewith. 
INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SALMON HATCHERIES. 
Representatives of the Bureau have made the usual inspections of 
private salmon hatcheries maintained by companies engaged in 
salmon canning. Three of these plants, located at Loring, Quadra, 
and Hetta, were operated in 1917-18. Their work was in general 
found to be conducted in a satisfactory manner, but additional facili- 
ties for rearing salmon should be provided in order that they may 
fulfill their highest purpose. The output of these hatcheries during 
the fiscal year 1918 was 23,712,000 red-salmon fry, all of which were 
planted in local waters. Under the law, the rebates of taxes on 
canned fish allowed as an offset to the hatching operations amounted 
to $9,484.80. 
WATERS CLOSED TO COMMERCIAL FISHING. 
Pursuant to the authority conveyed by section 6 of the act approved 
June 26, 1906, and for the purpose of giving needed protection to 
salmon in various parts of Alaska, the following orders prohibiting 
or restricting salmon fishing were promulgated during the fiscal year 
1918 after hearings held in accordance with law. The orders became 
effective on January 1, 1918. 
Karluk River, under date of November 80, 1917.—That until further notice 
all fishing for salmon, or other fishing in the prosecution of which salmon are 
taken or injured, excepting only the native Indians taking limite@? numbers of 
salmon for their own consumption and not for sale or barter. be and is hereby 
prohibited in waters of Alaska, as follows: In Karluk River and Lagoon, and 
all tributary waters, 
