INTRODUCTION 



The two main functions of the Bureau in Alaska are the conserva- 

 tion of the fisheries and the protection and management of the fur- 

 seal herd that has its breeding grounds on the Pribilof Islands. 

 Deputy Commissioner Charles E. Jackson and other officials spent 

 several weeks in Alaska during the 1937 season, observing both fishery 

 and fur-seal activities. 



Regulations for the control of commercial fishing to assure an 

 escapement essential for propagation were modified but slightly dur- 

 ing the fishing season, and all changes recommended for the revised 

 regulations to be effective in 1938 were of minor importance. The 

 generally satisfactory condition of the fisheries is indicated by the 

 fact that the production in 1937 was the third largest on record, the 

 quantity of canned salmon being noteworthy because for the first 

 time in an odd year it exceeded 6,000,000 cases. 



A patrol of the fishing grounds was maintained by the Bureau's 

 fleet of 14 vessels and numerous small boats, supplemented by occa- 

 sional aerial inspections, chiefly during weekly closed periods. Approx- 

 imately 165 temporary employees served as stream guards during the 

 fishing season, in addition to the regular personnel of about 60 persons, 

 principally wardens and operators of vessels, engaged in the enforce- 

 ment of the fishery laws and regulations. 



Wlienever practicable in connection with their patrol duties, Bureau 

 employees gave attention to the improvement of salmon streams, 

 removing log jams and other barriers that prevented the ascent of 

 salmon to the spawning grounds. 



An important phase of the conservation program is the control of 

 predatory trout, which feed upon salmon eggs and fry. This work 

 was carried on chiefly in the Bristol Bay and Cook Inlet regions, 

 where a bounty was paid for Dolly Varden trout through funds pro- 

 vided by the Territorial Legislature and by the local salmon packers. 

 Some predatory trout were taken also by Bureau employees in con- 

 nection with weir operations. 



Biological studies of the salmon and herring were continued, and 

 similar investigations in regard to predatory trout were begun in the 

 Kodiak region with a view to obtaining data as a guide to a rational 

 control program. 



Attention was given by the Department of Commerce, in coopera- 

 tion with the Department of State and other Government agencies, 

 to the problem of averting the threatened encroachment on the Alaska 

 salmon fisheries so as to assure the protection and perpetuation of the 

 important food resource and industries involved. 



There were 55,180 fur-seal skins taken at the Pribilof Islands in 

 1937, or 2,734 more than in the previous year. The computed num- 

 ber of animals in the herd as of August 10, 1937, was 1,839,119, as 

 compared with 1,689,743 in 1936. Incidental to the fur-seal industry, 

 the feeding and management of blue-fox herds on the Pribilof Islands 



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