REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



51 



and 111.; Roanoke River at Salem, Va. ; Shenandoah River at Elk- 

 ton, Va.; and Potoniac River at Harpers Ferry, W. V'a. 



The cost of mussel distribution durin*!; the liscal year 11)20 was 

 considerably less than in the previous year, beinj; at the rate of 

 $().()o02 ijer'thousand as compared with $0.0089 per thousand in 1919. 

 The dttcreased cost was due to the laro'er output of glochidia,notwith- 

 staiulin<2: the fact that the cost of labor, eciiiipmeut, and material was 

 greater than in the preceding; year. This computed cost of mussel 

 propagation includes overhead charges and depreciation of build- 

 ings, boats, and nets calculated at $0.0198 per thousand. 



Fkesii-Watkk MussKi, Tropaoation in 1020, Showinci >;umi!eu of Each Speciks 

 I'lanted and Points of Deposit. 



Locality. 



Lake Pokegama, Minn , 



Mississippi River at Lake Pepin , 



Mississippi River between Mimieiskaand Dakota, Minn, 



MississipiJi River at Fiiirport , Iowa 



Mississippi River at New Boston, 111 



Mississippi River at Oquaw.ka, 111 



Mississippi River at Lake Keokuk, Iowa and 111 



White River at Newport, Ark 



Total . 



Mucket. 



1,878,100 



5,000 

 i,56i,666 



3,384,700 



Lake Pepin 

 mucket. 



60,694,250 

 82,044,350 



5,060,2.50 



795, 500 



19,807,675 



168,402,025 



Pocket- 

 book. 



11,234,995 



11,234,995 



Total. 



60,694,250 



82,044,350 



11,234,995 



1,878,100 



6,060,250 



800, 500 



19,807,(175 



1,501,600 



183,021,720 



ALASKA FISHERIES SERVICE. 



GENERAL CHARACTER OF WORK. 



Enforcement of the fisheries laws and regulations constitutes the 

 chief feature of the Bureau's w-ork in connection with the general 

 fisheries of Alaska. Other important duties include the collection 

 and dissemination of statistical information, the marking of stream 

 mouths, inquiries and investigations as to aquatic resources, the study 

 of conditions with respect to proposed fisheries legislation, the in- 

 spection of private salmon hatcheries, and the holding of hearings 

 to determine the advisability of further restrictions upon fisliing 

 operations. 



Details in respect to the work of this service are published in an 

 annual document issued under the title " Alaska Fisheries and Fur 

 Industries." This comprehensive report will give full details in 

 regard to all important phases of the matter involved. 



EXTENT AND CONDITION OF THE FISHERIES. 



The salmon fishery of Alaska, which reached such enormous pro- 

 portions in 1918, showed a marked decline in 1919. So serious was 

 the falling ofi" that a prediction may be freely made that, unless most 

 drastic steps are taken to further curtail operations, the industry 

 may suffer almost irreparable damage and may before many years 

 cease to be of ])aramount commercial importance. As compared with 

 1918, there were declines in 1919 of 16 per cent in value and 42 per 

 cent in the catch of salmon. 



