KEPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES XXXI 



4,000,000 i)Oimds less than in 191.7 ; the 1922 catch in Lake^Michio-an, 

 exchisive of mussels, was less than two-thii'ds that of 1917 and only 

 sliohtly above half the 1908 catch; in Lake Huron there was an 

 increase of 500,000 pounds over the 1917 catch. ^Yhile Lake Erie 

 yielded a catch over 10,000,000 i)ounds in excess of that of 1917, 

 and Lake Ontario's 1922 catch almost equaled that of 1917. 



The yield of some of the more important species in 1922 was: 

 Lake trout, lo,720,9o9 pounds, valued at $1,(547,002; pike perch 

 (three species), 24,798,044 pounds, valued at $1,588,093; ciscoes, 

 3G,U)1,042 pounds, valued at $1,:)80,;)27; whitelish. 4,519,072 pounds, 

 valued at ^718,048: carp, 8.129,:>>7 pounds, valued at $o;U.144; 

 vellow perch, 4,915,454 pounds, valued at $315,919; and suckers, 

 5,491.910 pounds, valued at $2()5,075. 



Compared Avith 1917, the catch, in pounds, of lake trout increased 

 by 3 per cent ; pike perch increased 109 per cent : ciscoes decreased 

 So per cent; whitetish decreased 30 per cent: carp increased 13 per 

 cent; yellow perch increased 17 per cent; and suckers decreased 2 

 per cent. 



FLORIDA SP0N(;E FISHKRY 



The quantitv of sponges sold at the Tarpon Springs Exchange in 

 Florida in 1923 was 490.200 pounds, valued at $734,391. This total 

 included large wool sponges, 243,230 pounds, valued at $604,343; 

 small Avool. 54,292 pounds, valued at $59,721; yellow, 87,878 pounds, 

 valued at $40,808: grass. 88.772 pounds, valued at $15,979; wire, 

 10,028 pounds, valued at $7,480. It was estimated that sponges 

 to the value of $50,000 were sold at Tarpon Springs outside of the 

 excliange. 



ALASKA SERVICE 



The work of the Alaska service falls naturally into two broad 

 divisions: (a) The protection and conservation of the salmon and 

 other tislieries, and {b) the development and utilization of the fur- 

 .seal herd of the Pribilof Islands. In the exercise of the duties thus 

 fixed by law it is constantly the aim land objective of the bureau 

 to bring about the greatest possible use of these highly valuable 

 natural resources ancl at the same time to insure their perpetuation. 

 Within the past year there has been marked achievement in con- 

 serving the salmon fisheries, and the development in fur-seal activi- 

 ties has been very satisfactory. The seal herd has been increased 

 from approxiniat'ely 140,()(K) animals in 1911 to about 700,000 in 

 1924, and more than iM)0.0()0 skins were taken during that period, 

 while the fishei'ies of Alaska have grown in value from less than 

 $17,0t)0,00() in 1911 to more than $38,000,000 in 1924. 



EXTENT OF THE ALASKA FISHERIES 



In 1!>23 the Alaska salmon industry showed an increase over 1922 

 in the catch, product, investment, and number of persons employed. 

 Striking fluctuations, due to increased or decreased runs of salmon 

 and the effect of regulations pronudgated by the department, were 

 noted in the take of salmon as compared with 1922. In southeast 



