30 U- S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



In the last analysis, the suppression of this business appears to be 

 almost wholly in the hands of the cannerymen and the operators of 

 traps themselves. It seems reasonable to conclude that refusal to 

 purchase salmon from susjiicious sources and the employment of 

 honest watchmen will make it unprofitable and cause the entire cessa- 

 tion of the reprehensible practice. 



TERRITORIAL FISH COMMISSION. 



The Alaska Territorial Fish Commission was created by the legis- 

 lature at its session early in 1919, and at the same time the sum of 

 $80,000 Avas appropriated for its work durino; the ensuino; biennium. 

 The efforts of the commission have been devoted chiefly to fish- 

 cultural work, the removal of natural barriers in salmon streams, and 

 the destruction of predatory trout. The commission has issued two 

 printed reports covering its activities during each of the two years 

 ending March 31. According to the report for the biennium ending 

 March 31, 1921, there was expended in the first year $27,901.24, and in 

 the second year $40,143.66, thus leaving an unexpended balance of 

 $11,955.10. "Of the $27,901.24 expended in the first year, $12,072.08 

 was spent for fish-cultural work, $6,373.98 for stream improvement, 

 and the balance for general expenses, permanent improvements, etc. 

 Of the $40,143.66 spent in the second half of the biennium, $16,573.71 

 was chargeable to propagation and $19,695.90 to stream improve- 

 ment and the destruction of predatory fish, the balance going for 

 general expenses. 



According to the reports of the commission, stream improvement 

 work in 1919 was accomplished as follows: Juneau district, seven 

 streams: Ketchikan district, eight; Cordova district, three; and 

 Seward district, three. In 1920 this work was upon a more extensive 

 scale, being reported as follows: Juneau district, seven streams; 

 Ketchikan district, various streams south of Wrangell Narrows, num- 

 ber not stated; Cordova district, five; and Seward district, eight. It 

 is reported also that in the Juneau district 10,000 predatory fish 

 were destroyed, and in the Cordova district 13,648 were destroyed. 

 Mention is made also of the destruction of a considerable number 

 of predatory fish in the Bristol Bay district. Figures in respect 

 to this, however, are covered by the report by Dennis Winn, field 

 superintendent of fish-cultural work for the Bureau, appearing on 

 page 31. The Territory contributed $2,000 toward the fund for 

 conducting this work in Bristol Bay. 



Details as to the fish-cultural and hatchery work of the commission 

 will be found in the section of this report devoted to hatcheries. 



TERRITORIAL LICENSE TAX. 



Under the laws of Alaska a tax is levied on certain fishery prod- 

 ucts and apparatus, and it is payable annually to the treasurer of 

 Alaska. On May 11, 1921, the treasurer furnished a statement show- 

 ing the collections as made to that date for the fiscal year ending 

 December 31, 1920. As compared with collections for 1919, the reve- 

 nues of the Territory fell off $51,901.14, which amount is almost 

 covered, however, by delinquent taxes for 1920. 



