ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 19 34 5 



the Kiiskok\\4m and Yukon Rivers. These divisions are solely for 

 statistical purposes and do not coincide with areas established in 

 departmental regulations. 



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 of special investigation 

 or inquiry. 



ALASKA FISHERIES LEGISLATION 



On April 16, 1934, the President approved an act amending the 

 Fisheries Act of June 26, 1906, as amended by the act of June 6, 1924. 

 This modification permits commercial fishing for king salmon in the 

 Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers by native Indians and bona fide 

 permanent white inhabitants under such restrictions as may be speci- 

 fied by the Secretary of Commerce. Prior to the enactment of tliis 

 measure all commercial fishing was prohibited in the Yukon and Kus- 

 kokwim Rivers and within 500 yards of their mouths. The text of 

 the amendment is as follows: 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Amer- 

 ica in Congress asse77ibled, That section 3 of the act of Congress entitled "An act for 

 the protection and regulation of the fisheries of Alaska", approved June 26, 1906, 

 as amended by the act of Congress entitled "An act for the protection of the 

 fisheries of Alaska, and for other purposes", approved June 6, 1924, be, and the 

 same is hereby, amended to read as follows: 



"Sec. 3. That it shall be unlawful to erect or maintain any dam, barricade, 

 fence, trap, fishwheel, or other fixed or stationary obstruction except for purposes 

 of fish culture, in any of the waters of Alaska at any point where the distance 

 from shore to shore is less than one thousand feet, or within five hundred j-ards 

 of the mouth of any creek, stream, or river into which salmon run, excepting 

 the Karluk, Ugashik, Kuskokwim, and Yukon Rivers, with the i)urpose or result 

 of capturing salmon or preventing or impeding their ascent to the spawning 

 grounds, and the Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized and directed to 

 have any and all such unlawful obstructions removed or destroyed: Provided, 

 however, That the exception hereinabove contained with reference to the Kusko- 

 kwim and Yukon Rivers shall be solely for the purpose of enabling native Indians 

 and bona fide permanent white inhabitants along the said rivers to take from 

 said rivers for commercial purposes and for export from the Territory of Alaska 

 king salmon in such manner ajid such quantities, and at such times as the Secre- 

 tary of Commerce may, by suitable regulations, from time to time permit: 

 Provided further. That no i)erson shall be deemed to be a bona fide permanent 

 inhabitant of the said rivers who has not resided thereon, or within fifty miles 

 thereof for a period of over one year, and that the term 'native Indians' as used 

 herein shall be taken to mean members of the aboriginal races inhabiting Alaska 

 when annexed to the United States, and their descendants of the whole or half 

 blood. For the purposes of this section, the mouth of such creek, stream, or 

 river shall be taken to be the point determined as such mouth by the Secretary 

 of Commerce and marked in accordance with this determination. It shall be 

 unlawful to lay or set any seine or net of any kind within one hundred yards of 

 any other seine, net, or other fishing appliance which is being or which has been 

 laid or set in any of the waters of Alaska, or to drive or to construct any trap or 

 any other fixed fishing appliance within six hundred yards laterally or within 

 one hundred yards endwise of any other trap or fixed fishing a])pliance." 



Sec. 2. That section 4 of the act of Congress entitled "An Act for the protection 

 and regulation of the fisheries of Alaska", approved June 26, 1906, as amended 

 by the act of Congress entitled "An Act for the protection of tlie fisheries of Alaska, 

 and for other purposes", approved June 6, 1924, be, and the same hereby is, 

 amended to read as follows: 



"Sec. 4. Tliat it shall be unlawful to fish for, take, or kill any salmon of any 

 species or by any means except by hand rod, spear, or gaff in any of the creeks, 

 streams, or rivers of Alaska; or witliin five hundred yards of the mouth of any 

 such creek, stream, or river over which the United States has jurisdiction, except- 

 ing the Karluk, Ugashik, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers: Provided, That nothing 

 herein contained shall prevent the taking of fish for local food requirements or 

 for use as dog feed: Provided further, That the exception hereinabove contained 



