84 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 



River and is granted authority to regulate the salmon fisheries in 

 international and territorial waters through which Fraser Kiver 

 sockeye salmon pass on their spawning migration. 



Although the reservations to this treaty completely nullity the reg- 

 ulatory authority of the commission for a period of 8 years, during 

 which time scientific investigations shall be conducted, it is felt that 

 a forward step has been taken to protect this resource, which has 

 declined rapidly since 1913. 



CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES 



New construction during the year has been confined almost en- 

 tirely to fish-cultural stations. During the early part of the year, 

 the Works Progress Administration allotted funds for construction 

 of new fish-cultural substations at Uvalde, Tex. ; Santa Rosa, N. Mex. ; 

 and Smokemont, N. C, in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. 

 Active construction was initiated in November and the Jsew Mexico 

 project was completed by the close of the fiscal year. In North Caro- 

 lina, the new hatchery was placed on a producing basis, but was not 

 fully completed. In Texas, work progressed very favorably but 

 much remained to be done at the end of the fiscal year. 



In addition, the Bureau supervised the construction ot hatchery 

 facilities where the work was being performed by other agencies, with 

 the intent of having the operation taken over by the Bureau upon 

 completion. Such projects were located at Walhalla, b. C, under 

 sponsorship of the Forest Service, at Norris Dam, m cooperation 

 with T. V. A. authorities, and at Hoffman, N. C, the site of a Re- 

 settlement Administration project. The last two units were nearly 

 ready for operation at the close of the fiscal year. In addition to 

 this local W. P. A. agencies sponsored projects comprising the en- 

 largement and improvement of several of the Bureau's hatcheries, 

 including those at Rochester, Ind. ; Natchitoches, La.; and Lake Mills, 

 Wis • and in the Upper Mississippi Wild Life and Fish Refuge. 



Development work also continued at the York Pond, New Hamp- 

 shire, brook trout station, labor and materials being furnished by the 

 Emergency Conservation organization and the W. P. A. Minor im- 

 provements were effected at the Lamar, Pa., hatchery through the 

 assignment of C. C. C. workers. 



Comparatively little maintenance or improvement work could be 

 performed under the regular appropriations, since it was necessary 

 to devote these funds to the production of fish. 



CONSERVATION OF WHALES 



An act, to give effect to the Multilateral Convention for the Regu- 

 lation of Whaling concluded at Geneva, September 24, 1931, signed 

 on the part of the United States March 31, 1932, and which became 

 effective January 16, 1935, was approved by the President on May 

 1, 1936. The administration of the act rests jointly with the Secre- 

 tary of Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce, each of whom is 

 charged with specific duties. Enforcement matters in general are 

 to be carried on by the Coast Guard and Customs Service of the 

 Treasury Department, and the licensing features and collection of 

 statistical and biological data are to be performed by the Bureau 

 of Fisheries of the Department of Commerce. 



