BUREAU OF FISHERIES XXXI 



85 were taken by natives of southeastern Alaska, 450 by natives of 

 Washington, and 2,297 by natives of British Cohimbia. Through 

 the courtesy of the Interior Department the superintendent of the 

 Neah Bay Indian Agency authenticated the skins taken by Indians 

 of the State of Washington. 



FUR-SEAL PATROL 



A patrol of the waters frequented by the Pribilof Islands fur-seal 

 herd was maintained by vessels of the United States Coast Guard, 

 supplemented in the spring by two of the bureau's fishery patrol 

 vessels which traversed the waters in the vicinity of Cape Flattery 

 and off the coast of southeast Alaska. 



PROTECTION OF SEA OTTERS, WALRUSES, AND SEA LIONS 



No changes were made in the regulations previously issued for the 

 protection of sea otters, walruses, and sea lions. The killing of sea 

 otters is prohibited at all times. There is a closed season at all times 

 on walruses and sea lions, although certain limited killing is per- 

 mitted under specified conditions. 



BLACK BASS LAW ENFORCEMENT 



With the transfer of Talbott Denmead, formerly assistant United 

 States conservation officer of the Biological Survey, from the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture to the Department of Commerce to fill the 

 newly created position of law enforcement officer, the new black bass 

 laAv enforcement division of the bureau was formally inaugurated. 

 The appropriation for the fiscal year 1932 will permit the bureau to 

 employ one more full-time inspector, and perhaps several part-time 

 ones, which positions will be filled in the near future. 



With this small force it was found necessary to create the coopera- 

 tive position of deputy black bass law inspector, without salary, ap- 

 pointees to be generally limited to regularly employed State fish and 

 game protectors. While fully realizing that unpaid deputies are 

 not always satisfactory, it is felt that much can be accomplished in 

 this manner at present that could not be done in any other way. 



The law enforcement officer has visited and held important con- 

 ferences with State game officials and others in Pennsylvania, Min- 

 nesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and the New England States relative to 

 the enforcement of the black bass law. Inspections of Baltimore 

 fish markets have been made regularly. 



As the Federal statute is predicated on an infraction of State law, 

 it is essential that the various State laws relating to closed seasons, 

 limits, sale, and transportation of black bass be made readily avail- 

 able to all interested, including Federal and State officials, com- 

 mercial fishermen, fish dealers, and sportsmen. Bureau officials have 

 been steadily engaged for several months in a study of the game fish 

 laws of the 48 States, and rapid progress has been made. The largest 

 part of this rather complicated task is completed, and it will shortly 

 be possible to issue in printed form a synopsis of the State game fish 

 laws, along with the Federal black bass law and other data. 



