68 U. fe. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



in touch with market prices at three American ports, two of which, 

 Ketchikan and Seattle, are amon<>" the most important centers of the 

 fresh-fish trade on the Pacific coast. 



VIOLATIONS OF THE FISHERIES LAWS AND REGULATIONS 



Practically all reported violations of the fishery laws and regu- 

 lations fall into four general classifications, namely, fishing during 

 the weekly close season of 36 hours, fishing in streams and closed 

 areas, wasting salmon, and failing to observe the regulation which 

 requires that all fixed fishing appliances shall bear a sign showing 

 in 6-inch letters the name of the owner of each apparatus. 



Of the cases reported by the bureau in southeastern Alaska 22 

 indictments were returned against the owners and watchmen of traps 

 that were not closed in accordance with law during the 36-hour 

 period, 1 against the owner of a trap for locating it within 500 

 yards of the mouth of a salmon stream, 3 against the operators of 

 seines for fishing in streams or in the closed area at the mouths of 

 streams, and 1 against a canning company and an individual for the 

 wanton waste of salmon. 



Fourteen trap cases were closed by pleas of guilty being entered 

 and the payment of fines aggregating $2,070, 3 were continued 

 until the next term of court, and 4 resulted in acquittals or dismis- 

 sals. In most instances the cases against the trap watchmen were 

 dismissed. Five were held to answer the indictments, and upon 

 being arraigned pleaded guilty and paid fines amounting to $280, 

 and, in addition, 2 were given jail sentences of 10 days each. All 

 indictments alleging failure to place identification signs on traps 

 were dismissed. 



Trials of cases involving unlawful fishing by seiners at the mouths 

 of streams resulted in two acquittals and one conviction upon which 

 a fine of $50 was paid. 



Two indictments against one company charged with the wanton 

 waste of salmon were called for trial at Ketchikan and resulted 

 in the dismissal of one and an instructed verdict for the defendant 

 in the other. 



At the spring term of the district court at Ketchikan one com- 

 pany and one individual were indicted for the wanton waste of 

 salmon at Scow Bay in 1922. These cases were called for trial at 

 the September term of court, when the company pleaded guilty and 

 paid a fine of $200. The case against the individual was dismissed, 

 as he was only an employee of the company concerned. 



Two other cases alleging violation of the fishery laws and regula- 

 tions of Alaska were reported to the grand jury at Juneau in No- 

 vember by private parties, and indictments were returned. One 

 accused P. E. Harris ^ Co. of having operated its Point Marsden 

 trap every Sunday in June and the first three in July; the other 

 alleged that two natives had fished within the closed area at Xeka 

 Creek near Hoonah. The natiA^es were acquitted, but no verdict 

 was reached in the case against the company. 



Two cases of fish piracy were brought to the attention of the grand 

 jury at Ketchikan, resulting in the indictment of two gangs of 

 natives under the charge of grand larceny for taking several thou- 

 sand salmon from traps of the Alaska Consolidated Canneries on 



