16 U. S. BUBEAU OF FISHERIES 



under 8, and some being as small as 3 pounds. Tliuir age, on the 

 average, is from 5 to 8 years. No mature fish are found among theui 

 except as strays. 



Closure of these areas would, therefore, be a clear-cut protection 

 of young fish. Unlike a size limit, it would not involve great waste 

 of culled fish, but it would prevent the worst of what now occurs. 

 No hindrance would thereby be placed upon the use of what small 

 fish are taken on the banks in general in the course of ordinary 

 fishing. There would be no penalty upon efficiency of method. The 

 economic benefits to be derived from the increase in weight and value 

 per pound woidd not be conditioned in any way by economic losses. 

 If the protection of young fish is desirable, then the closure of the 

 nurseries must be. 



But the area thus protected is very small in comparison with the 

 extent of the banks as a whole. The some five or six hundred square 

 miles includes but a very small fraction of the general halilnit popu- 

 lation, or, indeed, of the small fish in general. To that extent their 

 lilosure coidd, even if it completely removed these fish from the 

 catch, be but of small effect compared to the general increase in 

 intensity of the fishery. Moreover, what effect is observable must 

 be confined to the general region in which these nurseries are located 

 because of the slow migratory movements. For these reasons, the 

 closure of nurseries being advisable, the principle should be extended 

 to all similar banks in all parts of the grounds as soon as definite 

 information is at hand. 



In view of the present condition of our knowledge of marine 

 fisheries, a word of caution in regard to such closures may be added. 

 The maximum productivity of a bank may not be served by permit- 

 ting overpopulation. Although it would seem unlikely that such 

 would occur, nevertheless the condition of the " nurseries " should 

 be under observation, and too implicit faith in their efficiency should 

 be withheld. 



The commission, therefore, while it agrees with the universal senti- 

 ment for closure of these grounds, regards the principal justification 

 for closure as economic. The value of such action for the })erpetua- 

 tion of the species must be conditioned upon the control of the re- 

 jnaining fishery and must, at best, be insufficient to stem the course 

 of overfishing in general. 



The areas that the connnission recommends should now be closed 

 are the so-called "nurseries" about Timbered Islands. Alaska, and 

 Massett, British Columbia. Their description is as follows : 



Timbered. Inlands nursery. — The waters off the coast of Alaska within tlie 

 followiiijr liouiularies : From the northwest extremity of Caiic Lynch. Heceta 

 Ishind, soiitliwest (magnetic) IS miles to a point apprnximalcly hititude 

 55° 42' 21" nortli. hnijiitude l.S4° 12' 'M" west; thence soutlicast (magnetic) 10 

 miles to a point aji] proximately latitude .55° 24' north, longitude 184° [V 42" 

 west; thence approximately northeast (magnetic) Sr^o miles to the southern 

 extremity of Cape Addington. Noyes Island. 



From the northwest extremity of Cape Lynch, Heceta Islan<l. southeast three- 

 fourths south (magnetic) approximately 14/(t miles, to a i»oint on Noyes Island 

 in range with the peak shown on chart No. 81.50 published by the Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey, said point being approximately in we.st longitude 

 132° yj)' :«)". 



Massett nursery. — The waters off the north coast of CJraham Island wthin 

 the following boundaries : 



