FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 
The Territory of Alaska is divided for the purposes of this report 
into three coastal geographic sections generally recognized as follows: 
Southeast Alaska, embracing all that narrow strip of mainland and 
the numerous adjacent islands from Portland Canal northwestward 
to and including Yakutat Bay; central Alaska, the region on the 
Pacific from Yakutat Bay westward, including Prince William Sound, 
Cook Inlet, Chignik, and Ikatan Bay; and western Alaska, the shores 
of Bering Sea and Kotzebue Sound, and the territory drained by 
rivers tributary thereto. 
Detailed reports and statistical tables dealing with the various 
fishery industries are presented herewith, and there are also given 
the important features of certain subjects which were the object of 
special investigation or inquiry. 
WATERS CLOSED TO COMMERCIAL FISHING. 
Section 6 of the act approved June 26, 1906, for the protection 
and regulation of the fisheries of Alaska, is as follows: 
Src. 6. That the Secretary of Commerce may, in his discretion, set aside any 
streams or lakes as preserves for spawning grounds, in which fishing may be limited 
or entirely prohibited; and when, in his judgment, the results of fishing operations in 
any stream, or off the mouth thereof, indicate that the number of salmon taken is 
larger than the natural production of salmon in such stream, he is authorized to estab- 
lish close seasons or to limit or prohibit fishing entirely for one year or more within 
such stream or within five hundred yards of the mouth thereof, so as to permit salmon 
to increase: Provided, however, That such power shall be exercised only after all per- 
sons interested shall be given a hearing, of which due notice must be given by publi- 
cation; and where the interested parties are known to the Department they shall be 
personally notified by a notice mailed not less than thirty days previous to such 
hearing. No order made under this section shall be effective before the next calendar 
year after same is made: And provided further, That such limitations and prohibitions 
shall not apply to those engaged in catching salmon who keep such streams fully 
stocked with salmon by artificial propagation. 
Pursuant to the provisions of this section, action was taken in 
1918 in regard to the waters of southeastern Alaska, the Copper 
and Yukon Rivers. 
Under date of June 12, 1918, announcement was made of a hearing 
to be held in respect to the Yukon River. The text of the announce- 
ment was as follows: 
It having been recommended that the Secretary of Commerce 1imit or prohibit 
commercial fishing for salmon, or other commercial fishing in the prosecution of 
which salmon are taken or injured, in the Yukon River and its delta, and in all tribu- 
tary waters in Alaska, notice is hereby given under the provisions of section 6 of the 
act of Congress approved June 26, 1906, entitled ‘‘An Act for the protection and 
regulation of the fisheries of Alaska,’’ that a hearing to determine the advisability of 
limiting or prohibiting fishing operations in the above-named waters will be held at 
the office of the Bureau of Fisheries, 1217 L. C. Smith Building, Seattle, Wash., on 
Ne eae “itt 1918, at 10 o’clock a. m., at which time and place all persons interested 
e heard. 
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