54 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



who spent about seven weeks studying conditions in that field. His 

 report has been published in "Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries 

 in 1919." Another investigation was made by Dr. C. H. Gilbert and 

 Mr. Henry CMalley of fishery conditions in central and western 

 Alaska. With the exception of Chignik, visits were made to all the 

 most important fishing districts. Their report also is incorporated 

 in the general report referred to. 



The controversy which arose as a result of salmon-canning opera- 

 tions at the Yukon River led to the Bureau's undertaking in 1920 a 

 special investigation of the whole fishery situation on the Yukon. 

 The work was assigned to Dr. C. H. Gilbert and Mr. Henry O'Malley, 

 who proceeded to the Yukon region early in the season of 1920. The 

 results of the investigation will determine tlie future course of the 

 Bureau in regulating the salmon fishery in that stream. 



FISHERY RESERVATIONS. 



In accordance with the regulations issued 'jointly under the terms 

 of the Executive order of March 3, 1913, two additional permits were 

 issued for fishing operations in the Aleutian Islands Reservation. At 

 the end of the fiscal year 1920 there were 26 such permits in force. 

 Fishery matters in the Af ognak Reservation have received proper at- 

 tention. The usual patrol of the fishing grounds was maintained, 

 and permits were granted to natives to take salmon in the reserva- 

 tion. In order to prevent drain upon the supply of salmon for the 

 Afognak hatchery, Litnik Bay was closed at all times to commercial 

 fishing except for silver salmon, which species runs late in the season. 

 The commercial catch of salmon in the reservation was 113,163, a 

 slight decrease from the previous season, 



PRIVATE SALMON HATCHERIES. 



The private salmon hatcheries operated in Alaska have been in- 

 spected, as required by law. In 1920 only two such hatcheries were 

 in operation. One of these, on Naha Stream, in the fiscal year 1920 

 liberated 17,070,000 red-salmon fry. The other hatchery, on Hugh 

 Smith Lake, planted 11,357,000 red-salmon fry in the same year. 

 Upon the basis of the output of these hatcheries the operators thereof 

 were entitled under the law to a remission of taxes upon canned 

 salmon at the rate of 40 cents a case to the amount of $11,370,80. 

 The Territorial Fish Commission also did fish-cultural work chiefly 

 at Juneau, where a small hatchery is maintained. 



WOOD RIVER SALMON CENSUS. 



As the result of an investigation made in 1919, Dr. C, H. Gilbert, a 

 recognized authority on the Pacific salmons, recommended the dis- 

 continuance of the counting of red salmon at Wood River, which 

 has been carried on each season from its inception in 1908 through 

 1919, with the exception of the year 1914, Dr. Gilbert felt that 

 the work could be more advantageously conducted elsewhere in 

 Alaska, preferably at Chignik or at Karluk, where the runs would 

 represent distinct races. The determination of the direct ratio be- 

 tween the catch of salmon and the escapement as tallied in either of 



