INTRODUCTION 



Tlie l)iireau's work in Alaska in the calendar year 1924 was con- 

 ducted along much the usual lines, the matter of greatest importance 

 to the fisheries being the approval on June 6 of a new fisheries act, 

 which gave the Department of Commerce increased authority over 

 the fisheries of Alaska and made possible the promulgation of regu- 

 lations for stricter control of fishery operations. A greatly expanded 

 patrol was maintained for the enforcement of the new law and the 

 regulations issued thereunder, particularly for the protection and con- 

 servation of the salmon fishery. The Commissioner of Fisheries 

 spent a considerable portion of the fishing season in Alaska observing 

 conditions and the working of the new law and regulations. 



Salmon-tagging operations were carried on at a number of localities 

 in southeastern Alaska to secure data on the migration routes and 

 runs of salmon in that district. Weirs used to facilitate the counting 

 of salmon ascending to the spawning grounds were again maintained 

 in Karluk and Chignik Rivers and in certain streams tributary to 

 Alitak Bay waters. In central Alaska a special investigation in re- 

 spect to clams was made in an effort to determine the best method 

 of conserving this fishery. The annual closed season on halibut, 

 provided for in the North Pacific halibut treaty, became effective for 

 the first time in 1924. 



On the Pribilof Islands fur-sealing operations were carried on as 

 usual, the chief features being the marking and reserving, for breed- 

 ing purposes, of a larger nuinber of 3-year-old male seals than here- 

 tofore and the blubbering, at St. Paul Island, of practicalh^ the whole 

 of the 1924 take. The total take of sealskins on St. Paul Island was 

 13,458, and on St. George Island 3,766, a grand total of 17,219 skins. 



A special study was made of the fox herds, and methods were de- 

 veloped for the systematic feeding of the herd on St. Paul Island. 

 Experiments in feeding various kinds of food were also conducted, 

 and equipment was installed for the preparation of more satisfac- 

 tory food to take the place of the preserved seal carcasses heretofore 

 fed on St. George Island. In the winter of 1924-25, 81 blue and 26 

 white fox skins were taken on St. Paul Island and 600 blue and 2 

 white on St. George Island. 



Two sales of fur-seal skins and one of fox skins were held durmg 

 the year by the department's selling agents. 



Acknowledgment is made of the invaluable assistance rendered by 

 the office staff in the compilation and preparation of this report. 



TRIP OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES TO ALASKA 



On June 28, 1924, soon after the promulgation of the Alaska 

 fisheries regulations (June 21), which was made possible by virtue of 

 the increased authority conferred by the act of June 6, 1924, Com- 

 missioner O'Malley left Washington for an extended trip to Alaska 



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