BUREAU OF FISHERIES 87 
The Bureau laid out a program of rearing pond development in the 
Finger Lakes region and, with local county authorities as sponsors, 
a W. P. A. project was approved providing for construction of rearing 
ponds. The Bureau is now supervising this development and will co- 
operate in its operation on completion. A total of six carloads of fish 
were assigned to the States of South Dakota and North Dakota for 
the purpose of stocking new ponds and reservoirs in that area. The 
respective States defrayed the costs of transportation, and similar as- 
signments on a smaller scale were made to several other States. 
There has also been an extension of the system of submitting Federal 
fish applications to State authorities for check and review prior to 
delivery of the fish. 
ALASKA FISHERIES SERVICE 
ADMINISTRATION OF FISHERY LAWS AND REGULATIONS 
In the control of commercial fishing in Alaska to assure an escape- 
ment of brood fish sufficient to maintain an undiminished supply of 
the fishery resources, the conservation program that had been in 
effect since 1924 was continued. The Commissioner of Fisheries was 
in Alaska for a number of weeks for personal observation of both 
fishery and fur-seal operations. 
Revised fishery regulations effective February 8, 1937, contained 
comparatively few changes from those of 1936, in view of the ex- 
pectation of generally satisfactory runs upon the basis of known 
escapements. Some additional restriction was placed en salmon fish- 
ing in the Bristol Bay region, particularly in the Nushagak district, 
and the regulations were relaxed in certain areas, a few closed waters 
in southeast Alaska being opened to commercial fishing and the lim- 
itation on the take of razor clams in the Seward-Katalla region being 
changed to permit an increased pack. 
Fourteen vessels of the Bureau and a number of launches and 
chartered boats were engaged in the patrol of the fishing grounds in 
1936. There were 249 persons identified with fishery protective work, 
including wardens, stream watchmen, crews of vessels, weir operators, 
scientific investigators, and special workmen. Airplanes were used 
to advantage as a supplementary patrol, as well as for transporting 
officials to isolated districts and in the inspection of certain spawning 
areas. 
Studies of the life history and migration routes of salmon and 
herring were continued, in connection with which tagging experi- 
ments were carried on in southeast Alaska. Eleven weirs for count- 
ing the escapement of spawning salmon were operated in typical 
streams as a means of determining the relation of the catch to the 
brood stock. The information thus derived from the weir counts 
and biological investigations is of value in determining adequate 
conservation measures. 
In addition to the regulation of commercial operations to assure 
the perpetuation of the salmon runs at a high level, the improve- 
ment of conditions for natural propagation was given further atten- 
tion. Through the removal of debris that hinders the passage of 
salmon upstream, larger spawning areas are made available; the 
destruction of predatory trout that feed upon salmon eggs and fry 
