18 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



canning of fish which in the judgment of its employees should not be 

 canned. The superintendent of the plant is ordinarily the responsi- 

 ble head of affairs, with absolute control of operations, and is thus 

 not definitel}' bound by the actions, recommendations, or suggestions 

 of the inspectors. 



In 1920 this private inspection service was competently conducted 

 under the supervision of Dr. E. D. Clark, of Seattle, who for many 

 years was identified with the U. S. Bureau of Chemistry. Its per- 

 sonnel was made up chiefly of students from the Fisheries College at 

 the University of Washington. The Government has no direct con- 

 nection with the inspection service thus maintained under the 

 auspices of the National Canners' Association but approves of its 

 general purposes and objects. 



VIOLATIONS OF FISHERIES LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 



Fishery work before the courts of Alaska in 192(3 involved prosecu- 

 tions for failure to close the tunnels and open the heart walls of traps 

 during the weekly close season, fishing in streams and lakes closed 

 to commercial operations, fishing within 500 yards of the mouths of 

 salmon streams, disregard of the lateral distance interval between 

 fixed appliances, and the wanton waste of salmon. It also covered 

 the completion of prosecutions begun in 1919. In most cases the pen- 

 alties imposed were tines, though in one case the sentence was im- 

 prisonment for one month. Fines aggregated $6,480.95, of which 

 amount $101 was imposed in central Alaska, $158.80 in western 

 Alaska, and $6,263.15 in the southeastern district. Costs of prosecu- 

 tions, which ordinarily follow the judgments, are included in these 

 amounts, as far as they were reported, but the record is incomplete as 

 in several instances the costs had not been computed at the time 

 reports were made. The total amount of penalties would therefore be 

 increased somewhat by including these costs. 



On Soi:»tember 18, 1919, William Strcmg was indicted at Juneau 

 as an alien, having engaged in fishing in Taku River August 3, 



1919. The case came to trial on March 4, 1920, at which time Strong 

 pleaded guilty and Avas fined $100. 



The Alaska Pacific Fisheries was indicted in 1919 for not opening 

 the heart walls of two traps on Sunday, August 3, 1919, and tried at 

 Ketchikan. The jury failed to agree on a verdict. On April 28, 



1920, the case was again tried in the district court at Ketchikan and 

 resulted in an acquittal of the company. 



On July 17 the Alaska Pacific Fisheries was accused in a com- 

 plaint filed before the United States commissioner at Juneau of 

 failing to close the tunnel of its trap at Neck Point, Chichagof 

 Island, during the weekly close period on July 11. The case was 

 tried on August 6. but the jury did not agree on a verdict. Subse- 

 quently the case was dismissed on motion of the United States 

 attorney. 



The case against the Ward's Cove Packing Co., indicted in the 

 fall of 1919 for fishing with two traps on Sunday, August 3, 1919, 

 was called for trial at Ketchikan, April 26, 1920. The company 

 pleaded guilty and Avas fined $200 and costs. 



On November 23. 1920. the Ward's Cove Packing Co. was indicted 

 at Ketchikan for illegally fishing Avith a trap in Clarence Strait 4 



