XII REPORT TO THE SECEETAEY OF COMMERCE 



The bureau has reorganized its staff of biologists and rearranged its 

 program of investigations in this upper Mississippi River area to 

 reveal with greater defniiteness the conditions which obtain and the 

 steps necessary to restore the productivity in mussels and fish. It 

 has cooperated also with the Engineer Corps of the Army in consid- 

 ering plans of improvement of navigation to provide more stable 

 conditions and, if possible, to improve the situation with respect to 

 wild life and fish. 



SPECIAL SENATE COMMITTEE ON WILD LIFE RESOURCES 



On iVpril 17, 1930, there was appointed (under S. Res. 246) a special 

 committee of five Senators to investigate all matters pertaining to 

 the replacement and conservation of wild life with instructions to 

 report its findings to the Senate as soon as possible. The studies 

 have to deal with a vast range of subjects, including the fishes of the 

 Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and inland waters, and the fur-seal and 

 fishery industries. At the conclusion of its exhaustive studies, which 

 will extend over a period of more than a year, the committee plans to 

 recommend to the United States Senate any changes or additions 

 that they consider necessary in or to existing laws pertaining to 

 conservation. 



ALASKA FISHERIES SERVICE 



ADMINISTRATION OF FISHERY LAWS AND REGULATIONS 



Under the White fisheries law of June 6, 1924, which virtually 

 gives the Secretary of Commerce authority to prescribe when, where, 

 and how commercial fishing may be conducted in the waters of 

 Alaska, steady progress has been made toward stabilizing the fisheries 

 industry— the most important economic resource of the Territory. 

 While regulations will not prevent fluctuations resulting from condi- 

 tions that can neither be foreseen nor controlled, the results achieved 

 in the six years since the passage of this act leave no room for doubt 

 as to the value of the conservation measures that have been in effect 

 during that time. 



Of primary importance in preventing depletion of the fisheries is 

 the securing of an escapement sufficient for the adequate seeding of 

 the spawning beds. This is brought about by means of weekly 

 closed periods and closed seasons during which all commercial fishing- 

 ceases, by limitation on the quantity and kind of gear that may be 

 used, and by the establishment of closed areas wherein commercial 

 fishing is prohibited. Such control necessitates constant observation 

 •of conditions in all districts throughout the fishing season so that 

 prompt modifications may be made in existing regulations to meet 

 unforeseen developments with respect to the volume of the runs. 



Coincident with the enforcement of regulations to assure the 

 escapement of at least 50 per cent of the salmon runs is the work of 

 removing log jams and other barriers that prevent the fish from 

 ascending the streams. Predatory enemies of the salmon are destroyed 

 where it appears that their depredations are taking an undue toll of 

 the young fish. Material assistance was given by the Territorial 

 legislature in 1929 through the appropriation of $40,000 for these 

 purposes. 



