BUREAU OF FISHERIES 99 



mental to practical methods of improving the quality of market 

 oysters through artificial feeding or the control or selection of the 

 environment. 



A number of investigations and surveys were conducted in the 

 South Atlantic States with a view to rehabilitating public oyster 

 beds in North Carolia and Florida, and studies on the cidtivation of 

 the native Olynipia oyster in Puget Sound were ctmtinued. A prac- 

 tical result of this latter undertaking has been the prediction of the 

 precise tnne of setting of oyster larva in Puget Sound, enabling the 

 oystermen to regulate their planting activities so as to secure a 

 maximum set of seed oysters. 



In order to answer many requests regarding the cultivation of 

 hard clams, a minor research project was undertaken on the life his- 

 tory of this valuable shellfish. Much information has been secured 

 in Long Island Sound regarding its life history, habits, and physi- 

 ology, as a basis for developing practical methods of propagation. 



Oyster pest control. — Near the end of the year a special appropria- 

 tion of $100,000 became available for a study of means of controlling 

 various pests of the oyster that have reached epidemic proportions, 

 menacing the existence of cultivated and natural beds. A staff of 

 competent investigators was recruited and headquarters were estab- 

 lished at Milford, Conn., to study means of controlling the depreda- 

 tions of starfish; at Bivalve, N. J., and Beaufort, N. C, for the con- 

 trol of the drill, which is the most important oyster enemy in the 

 Middle Atlajitic section; and at Apalachicola, Fla., for combating the 

 leech, a flat worm which has recently become extremely destructive 

 of valuable oyster supplies in Florida. The steamship Kittery 

 was transferred from the Shipping Board, without exhange of funds, 

 to the Federal Emergency Relief Administration for use in the drill 

 control work in the vicinity of Norfolk, Va. This investigation will 

 continue throughout the next fiscal year with the hope of demon- 

 strating practicable methods that can be applied on a large scale 

 by the Federal or State Governments and by private 03^ster planters 

 in controlling the most important enemies of the oyster industry. 



ALASKA FISHERIES SERVICE 

 ADMINISTRATION OF FISHERY LAWS AND REGULATIONS 



The control of commercial fishing in Alaska was administered as 

 usual in accordance with general laws and regulations for the con- 

 servation of the fisheries. A consistent program has been followed, 

 the main object of which is to assure an adequate escapement of 

 brood fi.sh to maintain a maximum supply. A breeding reserve of 

 50 percent of the salmon runs is regarded as the minimum require- 

 ment. Careful observations of the runs are made each season, and 

 when signs of depletion are evident in any locality appropriate re- 

 medial measures are initiated. 



An unusual abundance of salmon in practically all areas charac- 

 terized the 10;U season, and few additional restrictions on com- 

 mercial ojierations were imposed. In some instances existing re- 

 strictions were relaxed as the season advanced. Revised regulations 

 for the protection of the fisheries in 1935 were issued on January 

 19, the most im.portant changes of which were the prohibition of com- 



