REPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES XXXIX 



can fur-seal herd was maintained by Coast Guard vessels, which 

 also patrolled in Bering Sea and along the Aleutian Islands dur- 

 ing the season. Patrol vessels of the bureau stationed in south- 

 eastern Alaska were assigned to the same duty in that district dur- 

 ing the migration, giving particular attention to sealing operations 

 by the Indians. 



PROTECTION OF WALRUSES AND SEA LIONS 



No change was made in the regulations for the protection of 

 walruses and sea lions in Alaska during the fiscal year. 



VESSEL SERVICE NOTES 



During the first three months of the fiscal year the steamer Fish 

 Hatok was undergoing repairs at Brooklyn. In October she com- 

 pleted the biological survey of Long Island Sound, and in Novem- 

 ber was sent to New England waters, where, basing at the Boston 

 Navy Yard, she has been continuously engaged in the fishery in- 

 vestigations of the Gulf of Maine. During the year the Fish Hawk 

 steamed 2,395 miles and covered 202 stations. 



The fishery investigations of the Gulf of Maine were continued 

 b}'^ the steamer Halcyon^ excepting during the winter months, when 

 this vessel was utilized for fish-cultural work in connection with the 

 Gloucester (Mass.) hatchery. The Halcyon's operations extended 

 from JSTantucket Shoals to Mount Desert, Me., and consisted chiefly 

 in tagging cod, haddock, and pollock in order to determine their 

 migrations. Some temperature stations were made and shore fishes 

 were collected. Over 16,000 fish were taken, tagged, and returned 

 to the ocean. The steamer cruised 5,143 miles. 



The steamers Gannet, Shearwater^ and Phalarope and several 

 motor vesels have been used for fish-cultural work on the New 

 England coast, in the Great Lakes, on the Potomac River, and in 

 connection with the biological laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass. 



Tlie Eider was used chiefly as a local tender for the Pribilof 

 Islands, although some incidental service was rendered the salmon 

 fishery investigations for a few weeks during the summer, and in the 

 late fall and winter she was at Seattle for the annual overhauling. 

 Since the installation of a Diesel engine, this vessel has rendered 

 particularly excellent and economical service. 



Four vessels — the Widgeon^ Mxirre^ AuMet, and Petrel — were as- 

 signed to patrol work in southeast Alaska, remaining in commission 

 practically throughout the fiscal year. The Kittiwake was on duty 

 in Cook Inlet and to some extent in Prince William Sound waters. 

 The Ihis was at Chignik, the Merganser at Ikatan and vicinity, the 

 Scoter was in Bristol Bay waters, and the Tern on the Yukon Eiver. 

 The last four vessels were used for a few months only during the 

 active salmon-fishing season and were hauled out of the water for 

 the balance of the year. 



An addition to the Alaska fisheries patrol fleet was the Blue Wing, 

 which was acquired early in the fiscal year, and after a brief period 

 in southeastern Alaska was assigned to the Kodiak district with 

 headquarters at the Afognak hatchery. This vessel is 55 feet in 

 length and is of the sturdy and seaworthy purse-seine boat type. 



