14 



ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1919. 



1920. The WacJiibsetts , since named the Fulmar, is still at the Woods 

 Hole station. 



The Petrel was built in 1917, is 53 feet in length, and is equipped 

 with a 350-400-horsepower Dusenberg motor, which is said to give a 

 maximum speed of 25 miles. Fuel capacity is 600 gallons. The 

 vessel originally cost $14,000. 



The Merganser, which was built in 1909, is 43 feet in length, and 

 is equipped with a 20-horsepower Alco engine. Fuel capacity is 100 

 gallons and speed 9 miles an hour. 



The Fulmar was built in 1914 and is 101 feet in length and 17 

 feet in breadth. It is equipped with a 1 20-horsepower Nlsco Diesel 

 engine. The vessel measures 65 tons gross burden. 



It is planned to detail the Petrel and Merganser for duty in south- 

 eastern Alaska, and the Fulmar for service in the more exposed 

 watei-s of central Alaska. It wiD be necessary to make alterations 

 on all of these vessels before they are ready for service. The work 

 will be undertaken as soon as funds are available. It is anticipated 

 that the Petrel and Merganser will be available for duty before the 

 end of the fishing season of 1920. 



Miles Cruised and Cost of Operation of Certain Fishery Patrol Boats op the 



Bureau. 



a In commission about C mouths. 



i> In commission about 10 months. 



NAVAL VESSELS. 



In 1918 the National Council of Defense through its representa- 

 tives in Juneau requested the Secretary of the Navy to send vessels 

 to Alaska to assist in enforcing the fishery laws of the Territory. In 

 the same year, after an extended cruise in Alaskan waters, Lieut. 

 Commander Driggs, United States Navy, commanding officer of the 

 U. S. S. Brutus, in a report to the Secretary of the Navy, pointed out 

 that wastes of salmon had occurred in western Alaska, particularly 

 Bristol Bay, and that the present law was inadequate to protect the 

 fisheries properly. To meet the situation as thus represented the 

 Secretary of the Navy ordered the U. S. S. Vickshurg and two sub- 

 marine chasers to Alaska in 1919 to patrol the fishing grounds during 

 the period of greatest fishing activity. The Vickshurg with sub- 

 chasers No. 309 and No. 310 proceeded to Juneau early in the season. 

 Toward the end of May subchaser No. 309 was detailed to patrol 

 duty in southeast Alaska, while subchaser No. 310 accompanied the 

 Vickshurg to Cordova for similar duty in central Alaska, arriving 

 there shortly after the 1st of June. 



In accordance with arrangements made with the Navy Depart- 

 ment for the placing of fisheries agents on these boats, Warden H. C. 

 Scudder, of the Bureau's force in southeast Alaska, was detailed to 



