XXXIV REPORT or THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES 



of mesh of certain forms of iishina" ai)i>aiatus, the prohibition of 

 specified kinds of fishin^; ofeai' in (lesi<>nated districts, and the 

 creation of 12 areas in which fishin<2: ^vas entirely prohibited. Dur- 

 in<r the progress of the fishing treason of 1JJ24 a number of additional 

 regulations were promulgated by tlie Secretary of Connnerce upon 

 recommendation of the Commissioner of Fisheries, who spent the 

 active salmon-fishing season in Alaska in order to study the effect 

 (ii the regidations and the need for additional restrictions to fulfill 

 the requirements of the law. 



The benehcial effects of tliu new law and regulaticms have been 

 self-evident. There has been a far greater escai)ement of salmon to 

 the spawning grounds in proportion to the size of the runs than for 

 many years ])ast in practically every section of Alaska. Definite 

 results in the increased returns of salmon can not be expected within 

 a })eriod of from two to five yeai's. de])ending ui)on the place and 

 species, as it takes this length of time for salmon to mature. 



Obviously laws and regulations indifferently or inadequately en- 

 f<;rced are of but little value. In the season of 11)24, however, there 

 was the most vigorous and com})lete enforcement of the hsheries 

 law and regulations in Alaska ever undertaken. More than 100 

 special stream guards and a number of chartered boats in addition 

 to the bureau's regular force of employees and its fleet of 10 patrol 

 vessels were used in the accomplishment of this work. It nmst be 

 pointed out, however, that a further material ex})ansion in succeed- 

 ing seasons will be necessary in order to rehabilitate the salmon 

 fishery in accordance with the terms of the law. 



The Alaska Fisheries Advisory Committee, appointed in the 

 summer of 192-1 by the Secretary of Commerce, will be an adjunct 

 in developing the best methods of controlling and conserving the 

 lisheries of Alaska under the broad authority conveyed by the act 

 of June f), li)24. The personnel of this committee, which iiijcludes 

 both representatives of the Alaska Territoi-ial Fish Commission and 

 commercial fishery interests, is as follows: (tov. Scott C. Bone, 

 chainnan, Juneau; Anthony J, Dimond, Valdez; Carl A. Sutter, 

 Ketchikan; Samuel Butts, Sitka; J. 11. Heckman, Ketchikan; Cal- 

 vin C. Hazelet, Cordova; and Harry E. Ellsworth, Seward. 



In the season of 1923 fishing within the Alaska Peninsula Fish- 

 eries Reservation and the Southwestern Alaska Fisheries Keserva- 

 tion was in accordance with regulations jnonudgated by the Secre- 

 tary of Connnerce. Fishing in the former was authorized by 15 

 formal permits, and in addition 28 ])ermits for minor operations 

 were issued by local representatives of the bureau. For fishing in 

 tlie Southwestern Alaska Fisheries Keservation, 71 formal permits 

 were issued by the Secretary of Connnerce, and in addition 292 per- 

 mits for minor, operations were issued locally. The Executive orders 

 creating the Alaska Peninsula Fisheries Keservation and the South- 

 western Alaska Fishei'ies Eeservation were i-evoked by the President 

 under date of June 7, 1924. 



In the season of 1928, 17 statutory employees were engaged in 

 fishery protective work. The bureau also employed 4(> men as stream 

 guards, of whom 25 Avere in southeast Alaska, 15 in central, and 6 

 in western Alaska. Tlie vessels used for the work included 9 owned 



