BUREAU OF fishepjp:s 97 



JAPANESE ACTIVITIES IN THE BRISTOL BAY FISHERIES 



Special attention was given during the past year to Japanese fishing 

 operations in Bristol Bay. A number of floating crab canneries and 

 reduction plants have been operated annually in this area by the 

 Japanese since 1930. Their recent activities in the salmon fishery, 

 however, aroused widespread alarm among tlie Bristol Bay packers 

 and American fishermen. Grave concern was felt lest the interception 

 of the salmon runs bound for Alaskan streams should jeopardize and 

 eventually destroy the long-established Bristol Bay salmon industry. 



Following an extensive investigation, this problem was made the 

 subject of diplomatic negotiations between the State Department and 

 the Japanese Government. As a result, assurances were obtained from 

 Japan that it would suspend its official survey of the salmon fishery in 

 Bristol Bay and would issue no licenses to vessels to take salmon in 

 those waters. Continued attention and careful consideration will be 

 given this development to assure the perpetuation of this important 

 American fishery. Funds have been appropriated by Congress for an 

 extensive survey of the Bristol Bay salmon resources, and plans have 

 been made to start the work in the 1938 season. 



INTERNATIONAL. PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES COMMISSION 



The American members of the International Pacific Salmon 

 Fisheries Commission were appointed by President Roosevelt on 

 August 24, 1937, pursuant to ratification on July 28, 1937, of a con- 

 vention between the United States and Canada for the protection, 

 preservation, and extension of the sockeye salmon fishery of the Fraser 

 River sj^stem, tributary of the Puget Sound area of Washington and 

 British Columbia. The American members of the Commission are : 

 Charles E. Jackson, United States Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries; 

 B. M. Brennan, Director of Fisheries of the State of Washington ; and 

 E. W. Allen, of Seattle, who is also a member of the International 

 Halibut Commission. The Canadian members who have been ap- 

 pointed are : W. A. Found, Deputy Minister of Fisheries ; Tom Reid, 

 Member of Parliament from British Columbia ; and A. L. Hager, of 

 Vancouver, B. C. 



A. L. Hager was elected chairman and B. M. Brennan secretary at 

 the first meeting of the Commission, held in Vancouver, B. C, on 

 October 28 and 29, 1937. It Avas agreed that the positions of chairman 

 and secretary of the Commission would alternate between the United 

 States and Canada every 2 years. Dr. W. F. Thompson, Director of 

 Investigations for the International Fisheries Commission, was loaned 

 to the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission on a part- 

 time basis to initiate the biological investigations. 



Studies by the United States Bureau of Fisheries on the condition 

 and trend of the fisheries were discontinued in February 1938, since 

 the work will hereafter be carried on under the International Pacific 

 Salmon Fisheries Commission. 



CONSERVATION OF WHALES 



An international conference held in London on June 8, 1937, resulted 

 in the signing of an agreement with respect to whaling. This agree- 



