100 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 



mercial fishing in the Bristol Bay region during the red-sahnon 

 runs in order to build up the weak cycle appearing in the calendar 

 years divisible by 5, and the closing of 31 trap sites to permit a 

 greater escapement of salmon to the spawning grounds and to check 

 the tendency of this form of gear to monopolize fishing in certain 

 localities. 



Twelve regular and 1G4 temporary employees were engaged in. 

 patrolling the fishing grounds in the 1934 season in addition to the 

 crews of 12 vessels of the Bureau and 3 chartered vessels. Morei 

 extensive use than in previous j^ears was made of chartered air- 

 planes as an auxiliary patrol and for general supervision of the 

 Bureau's work and inspection of the spawning areas. 



Weirs for counting the escapement of spawning salmon were oper- 

 ated in 12 typical salmon streams in the calendar year 1934. An 

 allotment of Public Works Administration funds enabled the reestab- 

 lishment of several of these structures, both in 1934 and 1935. The 

 counts of salmon thus made furnish valuable information in con- 

 nection with life-history studies, as well as providing a means of 

 determining the ratio of escape to catch. Scientific investigations 

 in regard to salmon, herring, and clams were continued. 



Some work was accomplished in the removal of log jams and other 

 barriers that prevented the passage of salmon upstream to the 

 spawning beds. In certain localities, also, natural propagation con- 

 ditions were improved by the destruction of predatory fishes that 

 feed upon the salmon eggs and fingerlings. This work was done 

 partly by weir operators and stream guards, but chiefly through the 

 appropriation of funds for the purpose by the Territorial Legisla- 

 ture and by contributions of local packers in the Bristol Bay and 

 Yakutat regions. At its 1935 session the Territorial Legislature 

 again appropriated $15,000 for clearing salmon spawning streams 

 and for the destruction of predatory enemies of salmon, to be ex- 

 pended under the same provisions as in the case of similar previous 

 appropriations. 



ALASKA SALMON HATCHERIES 



Only one salmon hatchery was operated in Alaska in the fiscal year 

 1935 — that of the Pacific American Fisheries at Hugh Smith Lake, 

 in the southeastern area. At this hatchery 10,221,000 red-salmon 

 eggs were collected, from which 9,860,000 fry were produced and 

 liberated in Alaska waters. Under the provisions of the Alaska 

 fisheries act of June 26, 1906, the owners of private hatcheries receive 

 a rebate on license fees and taxes on their catch and pack of salmon 

 at the rate of 40 cents for each 1,000 red or king salmon fry liberated. 



PRODUCTS OF THE FISHERIES 



Notwithstanding the fact that some branches of the industry were 

 handicapped by reason of the longshoremen's strike on the Pacific 

 coast, which for a time caused a shortage of containers and other 

 supplies, and by price disagreements between fishermen and packers 

 in southeast Alaska and the Copper River area, the total output of 

 fishery jn-oducts was the largest in the history of the Territory. 

 This exceptional harvest may be attributed especially to the abun- 

 dance of salmon in virtually all producing centers and also to 

 increased activity. 



