BUREAU OF FISHERIES XXVII 



ALASKA FISHERIES SERVICE 

 ADMINISTRATION OF FISHERY LAWS AND KEGUX,ATIONS 



The execution of the laws and regulations for the conservation of 

 the fisheries of Alaska was continued in accordance with the policy 

 adopted when the White law of June 6, 1924, gave the Secretary of 

 Commerce broad powers with respect to control of the time, place, 

 and method of commercial fishing. As salmon yield greater wealth 

 than any other natural resource of Alaska, particular attention was 

 given to conservation measures affecting this fishery. Extreme fluc- 

 tuations characterized the salmon runs in the calendar year 1930, 

 necessitating sharp curtailment of commercial fishing in some places 

 in order that no cyclical recurrence of the shortage might be caused 

 by lack of seeding of the spawning beds. The Commissioner of Fish- 

 eries was in Alaska for a number of weeks during the active salmon- 

 fishing season, giving personal attention to various fishery problems. 



Revised fisheries regulations were issued December 18, 1930. to be 

 effective in 1931. These have since been modified by a number of sup- 

 plementary orders, including the temporary closing during the 1931 

 season of certain areas in southeastern and central Alaska which will 

 eliminate the operation of some 150 traps. The boundary of the 

 Yukon-Kuskokwim area has been extended and additional waters 

 in that area have been opened to limited commercial fishing for 

 salmon. 



Twelve statutory employees and 232 temporary stream guards 

 and special workmen were identified with the patrol of tlie fishing 

 grounds in the calendar year 1930, in addition to the crews of 15 

 bureau vessels and 10 chartered boats. Launches were used by many 

 of the stream guards stationed at the mouths of salmon streams and 

 in other closed areas to prevent illegal fishing. As in the previous 

 season, a supplementary patrol by aircraft was maintained from 

 time to time, chiefly in southeastern Alaska during the weekly closed 

 periods. 



Much was accomplished in the improvement of salmon streams by 

 the removal of obstructions that hindered the ascent of salmon to the 

 spawning grounds. The destruction of predatory species of fish that 

 feed upon young salmon was actively carried on in the Bristol Bay 

 region. Territorial assistance in j^roviding funds for these purposes 

 was of material advantage. At its 1931 session tlie legislature ap- 

 propriated $25,000 for continuance of this work during the next 

 two years. 



ALASKA SALMON HATCHERIES 



At the Government hatcheries at Afognak and on McDonald Lake 

 33,731,790 red-salmon eggs, 18,019,470 pink-salmon eggs, 100,000 

 chum-salmon eggs, and 123,904 steelhead-trout eggs were collected in 

 the calendar year 1930. Shipments totaling 16,262,776 pink-salmon 

 eggs and 3,055,000 red-salmon eggs in the eyed stage were forwarded 

 to Seattle for distribution. At the privately owned hatchery oper- 

 ated under the provisions of the Alaska fisheries act of June 20, 1900, 

 21,190,000 red-salmon eggs were collected. 



