REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 41 



PROTECTION OF AVALRUS AND SEA LION. 



Pursuant to the provisions of the act of May 31, 1920, which trans- 

 ferred to the Department of Commerce the jurisdiction heretofore 

 exercised by the Department of Agriculture -with respect to the 

 ■walrus and the sea lion in Alaska, the Secretary of Commerce ap- 

 proved a new set of regulations governing the killing of these animals 

 within the territorial limits of Alaska, and in a circular issued under 

 date of April 21, 1921. promulgated the regulations and quoted from 

 the Alaska game law approved May 11, 1908, extracts in regard to the 

 walrus and the sea lion. The new regulations are as follows : 



WALBUSES. 



1. The killiug of walruses for their tusks or hiik'S. or both, is prohibited as 

 beiug wanton destruction within the meaning of the act of May 11, 1908. 



2. The killing of walruses at their l)ree(ling places in Alaska i.s prohibited at 

 all tilings. 



3. The killing of walruses throughout the territorial limits of Alaska is pro- 

 hibited from May 1, 1921, to April 30, 1923, both dates included, except by 

 natives for food or clothing or by miners or explorers when in need of food. 



SEA LIONS. 



1. The killing of sea lions on their rookeries or hauling-out grounds is pro- 

 hibited at all times. 



2. The killing of sea lions is prohibited from May 1, 1921, to April .30, 1923. 

 except by natives for food or clothing, or by miners or explorers when in need 

 of food, or by anyone in the necessary protection of property, or while such 

 animals are actually engaged in the devastation of runs of salmon. The killing 

 of sea lions under any other circumstances than the foregoing will be deemed 

 wanton destruction and punishable as a violation of this order. 



>rEW LEGISLATION NEEDED. ^ 



The a<t of June 26, 1906. which provides for the regulation and 

 protection of the fisheries of Alaska, is obf-olete in some of its f'ni- 

 tures and in general is (jiiite inadequate to meet the conditions that 

 have existed for a nwniher of years. The law is practically re- 

 stricted to the salmon fi.shery, which, under its operaticm, has become 

 SO e.xtensive that the salmon supply in certain waters has been seri- 

 ously depleted and the future welfare of the industry and of the 

 Territory is jeopardi/.ed. The law imposes no limit on the number 

 of ( anneries and salteries that may be estai)lished and operated, the 

 number of fixed and floating trai)S that may be constructed, the 

 number of purse seines, haul seine-, set and drift nets that ma}' be 

 used, the number of trolling lioats and ti'olling lines that may be 

 employed, the nnmber and ago of salmon that may be caught, \ari- 

 ous restrictive features of the law have long since proved inelTective 

 to prevent the capture of an undue proportion of the run of salmon 

 in certain waters, and fishing operations in full compliance with 

 law may be entirely incompatible with the welfare of the fishery. 



One of the most serious defects of the law is its failure to give 

 sufficient jjrotection to salmon off the months of s{)awning streams. 

 The maximum distance from the mouth of a stream to which the 

 jurisdiction of the Department extends is 500 yards. It is entirely 



