BUKEAU OF FISHERIES 121 



A preliminary report was published dviriiig- the year setting forth 

 the causes of the decline in oyster production which has been strikingly 

 evident in the York River, Va. Field and laboratory studies have 

 demonstrated that the effluent from a local pulp mill is toxic to oysters 

 and that its discharge into the York River is primarily responsible 

 for unfavorable conditions in this area. Further chemical studies of 

 the effluent are being continued to determine which of its constituents 

 are most toxic. 



LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION 



This Division is concerned witli the enforcement of the act of 1931, 

 regulating interstate commerce in black bass, and work incident to 

 the Whaling Treaty Act of May 1, 1936, to give effect to whaling 

 treaties. This Division also conducts an anglers' service, and issues 

 permits for the taking of bait fish in the District of Columbia. 



The hlach hasfi Jaio. — There has been no change in the manner of 

 administering the Federal black bass law since last year. In coop- 

 eration with the States, approximately 100 investigations have been 

 made of alleged illegal shipments of black bass, many of which have 

 resulted in obtaining evidence on which prosecutions can be based in 

 either Federal or State courts. In man}' cases seizures of black bass 

 were made, and objectives obtained without recourse to court 

 procedure. 



In connection with the administration of the black bass law, the 

 X)ivision assists the States in the improvement of their angling laws, 

 and in bettering black bass conditions in other ways. The Bureau has 

 received excellent cooperation from the States in this work. The 

 usual publications on fish laws, angling, etc., have been renewed and 

 distributed, to supply an increasing demand. 



Whaling. — A total of 25 licenses to take and process whales were 

 issued by the Secretary of Commerce to 2 floating factory ships, 1 shore 

 ■station, and 22 catcher boats which are operated from the factory 

 ships and shore stations. The total revenue received from these licenses 

 was $7,000, which was turned over to the United States Treasury. One 

 scientific permit was issued to import a Right Whale for scientific 

 purposes. 



The enforcement of the whaling laws is primarily the duty of the 

 Coast Guard and the Bureau of Customs, with which the Bureau of 

 Fisheries cooperates. 



The Department is charged in the Whaling Treaty Act with the 

 collection of statistical and biological whaling data in addition to the 

 issuance of licenses. The Division has prepared tAvo statistical reports 

 covering the number of whales taken, species, sex, size, etc., which 

 have been forwarded to the Association of Whaling Companies, Sande- 

 f jord, Norway, as required by treaty, and has completed biological ex- 

 aminations of a large number of samples of whale stomach contents 

 from whales captured by United States whalers. 



Angling. — A large part of the time of the Division is taken up in 

 answering questions relative to how, when, and where to fish. Com- 

 plete information on fishing tackle, fishing laws, etc., has been assem- 

 bled in the Division for the use of anglers. 



