76 U- S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



comprehensive library and oceanographic equipment for scientific 

 study of marine life in all its branches. There is also a small outfit 

 for experimental canning of salmon and crabs. The captain and a 

 party from the Hakuyo Maru visited St. Paul Island on July 8 to 

 observe fur-seal life on the rookeries. 



In view of the Japanese activities with respect to the salmon fishery, 

 widespread alarm was aroused among Bristol Bay packers and others 

 concerned lest the interception of the salmon runs bound for Alaska 

 streams should jeopardize and ultimately destroy the long-established 

 Bristol Bay salmon industry. Strong protests were made against 

 the threatened encroachment on the Alaska salmon fisheries, and bills 

 were introduced in Congress and extensive hearings were held, looking 

 to the protection of American interests. 



This whole problem has been the subject of diplomatic negotiations 

 with the Japanese Government over a long period. As a result of 

 these negotiations the Secretary of State announced in March 1938 

 that the Japanese Government has given assurances (1) that it will 

 suspend its official survey of salmon fishing in the waters of Bristol 

 Bay and (2) that it will continue to suspend the issuance of licenses 

 for vessels to fish for salmon in these waters; and that if and when 

 conclusive evidence is presented that any Japanese vessels engage in 

 salmon fishing commercially in these waters, the Japanese Govern- 

 ment is prepared to take necessary and proper measures to prevent 

 such operations. 



The American Government will continue to give constant and 

 practical attention to ways and means to assure the protection and 

 perpetuation of the highly important food resource and industries 

 involved. 



FISHERY INDUSTRIES 



As in corresponding reports for previous years, the Territory of 

 Alaska is here considered in the three coastal geographic sections 

 generally recognized, as follows: (1) Southeast Alaska — embracing all 

 that narrow strip of mainland and the numerous adjacent islands from 

 Portland Canal northwestward to and including Yakutat Bay; (2) 

 central Alaska — the region on the Pacific from Yakutat Bay west- 

 ward, including Prince WOliam Sound, Cook Inlet, and the southern 

 coast of Alaska Peninsula, to Unimak Pass; and (3) western Alaska — 

 the north shore of the Alaska Peninsula, including the Aleutian Is- 

 lands westward from Unimak Pass, Bristol Bay, and the Kuskokwim 

 and Yukon Rivers. These divisions are solely for statistical purposes 

 and do not coincide with areas established in departmental regulations. 



Detailed reports and statistical tables dealing with the various 

 fishery industries are presented herewith, and there are also given 

 the important features of certain subjects of special investigation or 

 inquiry. 



LEGISLATION REGARDING NEW HALIBUT TREATY 



An act was approved by the President on June 28, 1937, giving 

 effect to the revised convention between the United States and Canada 

 for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the Northern Pacific 

 Ocean and Bering Sea which was signed at Ottawa on January 29, 

 1937, and became effective with the exchange of ratifications on July 



