38 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



by its creation. From the date of the establishment of the reserve 

 until the spring of 1912 all commercial fishing in Afognak waters 

 was prohibited, but the order was not obeyed and no attempt was 

 made to enforce it. Though those waters were nominally closed to 

 all commercial fishing and the two canneries on Litnik Bay sus- 

 pended operations and were dismantled and sold, pickling operations 

 were carried on by local parties at the most important streams of the 

 island until 1912, when by dej^artmental order the reservation was 

 opened to the native inhabitants of the region under such terms and 

 conditions as seemed necessary to safeguard the runs of salmon. Al- 

 though the fishery resources of Afognak were well known, the mere 

 fact that fishing was authorized coincident with the opening of a sal- 

 mon cannery at Kodiak was sufficient inducement for the entire native 

 population of the island to seek and secure fishing privileges. The 

 legalization of fishing did not, however, increase the supply of salmon 

 in those waters, though on the face of returns that might appear to 

 have been the case. The catch in 1912 was larger than any year since 

 1892, but it was so for no other reason than that more fishing was 

 done. Yet, on the whole, results were disappointing, and it was 

 early apparent that the island fisheries alone could not support the 

 natives of Afognak. It w^as further evident, after a few seasons had 

 passed, that the salmon runs would suifer serious depletion if the 

 original scale of operations was allowed to continue. Accordingly a 

 limit was placed on the number of fishermen, who were divided into 

 small gangs, to each of which certain fishing grounds were assigned. 

 Experience taught that where unnecessary numbers of fishermen con- 

 gregate at one place fishing is much more intensive. This evil was 

 easily corrected by limiting the number of men who might operate 

 at each place and by shortening the fishing season. Authority was 

 therefore given that not to exceed 55 natives were to be licensed to 

 fi.sh in Afognak waters in 1920. 



The issuance of licenses was placed in the hands of the superin- 

 tendent of the fish-cultural station at Afognak until July 10, when 

 William E. Baumann was put in charge of patrol work about the 

 island. He took over the licensing of fishermen for the remainder 

 of the season. 



Fishing began May 11 and continued until September 9. Salmon 

 were taken at seven localities, the total catch being 125,538, all species 

 except kings being taken. This catch was sold to the Kadiak Fish- 

 eries (^o., at Kodiak. 



The following table shows the total take of salmon for commer- 

 cial uses in the Afognak Reservation : 



Commercial Catch of Salmon in Waters of Afoonak Reservation in 1920. 



