FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 15 



the Vicksburg and was transported to Ikatan, where he remained 

 while the vessel went on to Bristol Bay. The Vickshurg' s stay in 

 western Alaska was comparatively short, due to the small run of 

 salmon and the early closing of the canneries. The return voyage 

 began early in July and ^Ii'. Scudder was picked up and brought 

 back to Juneau. En route the Vicksburg called at Cordova on July 18 

 to convoy subchaser No. 310 back to Juneau. Subchaser No. 3J0, 

 which was detailed to central Alaska, made one short inspection trip 

 around Prince William Sound and into Valdez for the Bureau and 

 afforded transportation to Assistant Agent E. M. Ball to Kodiak, 

 but from there was at once ordered to Yakutat in the matter of a 

 disturbance over fishing rights of the Indians and was of no further 

 assistance to the Bureau in the central district. Representatives of 

 the Bureau in southeast Alaska were on a nmnber of occasions 

 afforded transportation on the subchasers No. 309 and No. 29If.. The 

 latter replaced No. 309 late in July. The U. S. S. Marblehcnd was 

 also in the southeast district for a short time in connection with the 

 fish-trap piracy situation. 



VIOLATIONS OF FISHERY LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 



The case against the Alaska Pacific Fisheries, which company was 

 indicted in October, 1918, on 15 counts for failing to close properly 

 several of its traps during weekly close seasons in July and August, 

 1918, was called for trial at Juneau on Juno 14, 1919. Motion by 

 the defense for a continuance being denied, evidence was present(>d 

 by the Government on five counts of tlie indictment in resjiect to 

 traps at Grindnll Point, Cleveland Peninsula, South A^allenar Point, 

 Stone Rock Bay, and Cape Chacon. The jury returned a verdict of 

 guilty. Tlie court thereupon imposed a fine of .SI, 000 for each of 

 the fivo counts, which with tlie costs of SI 77.20 made a total of 

 $5,177.20 paid by the Alaska Pacific Fisheries for the unlawful 

 operation of the traps in question. The remaining 10 counts were 

 dismissed owing to the absence of an important witness for the 

 Government. 



Anotlior case against the Alaska Pacific Fisheries involving the 

 construction in 1917 of a floating trap within tlie prohibited lateral 

 distance of a traj) at ViUago Point, Icy Strait, belonging to the 

 ThUnket Packing Co., was also brought to trial on June 14, 1919, 

 after many postponements. Tlie company, being denied a further 

 continuance, pleaded guilty to the charge and paid a fine of SlOO 

 plus costs amounting to S7O3.80. 



During the weekly cl()S(; season on August 23, 1919, a trap of the 

 Alaska Pacific Fisheries on Cliichagoff Island was found in full 

 fisliing order. Complaint being entered before the United States 

 commissioner at Juneau on September 15, the company pleaded 

 guiltv and was fined .S200 and costs. 



On September 22, 1919, Hugh Whitelaw and Gus Starkloff were 

 found fishing in Staney Creek on the west coast of Prince of Wales 

 Island. Whitelaw was brought before the United States commis- 

 sioner at Ketchikan on October 23, when he pleaded guilty and paid 

 a fine of SIO and costs of $3.13. Starkloff was indicted but not 

 apprehended during the jear. 



3528G°— 21 25 



