BEPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OP FISHERIES. 89 



ing grounds about Lake Aleknagik the Bureau in 1908 began the 

 enumeration of the fish and has continued this work each year since, 

 1914 excepted. By means of a temporary rack thrown across the 

 stream near the lake, the fish are compelled to pass through a narrow 

 gate and are there counted by agents kept continuously on duty, by 

 day and night, for about seven weeks during which time the run lasts. 



In 1916, between June 23 and August 12, the number of salmon 

 ascertained to have gone to their spawning gromids was 551,959, 

 compared with 259,341 in 1915. The bulk of the fish came in three 

 distinct waves in July, at the crest of which 57,237, 47,343, and 

 55,864 salmons, respectively, were noted in 24 hours. Except during 

 the heavy rmis a considerable proportion of the fish showed injuries 

 attributable to nets, and such fish were somewhat more numerous 

 thanui 1915. 



Acknowledgments are due to several fishing companies for assist- 

 ance which made this work possible. The Alaska-Portland Packers' 

 Association provided a tug for towing the equipment to the lake. 

 The Alaska Salmon Co. supplied a boat for use in making investiga- 

 tions on the lake and the Alaska Packers Association furnished the 

 entire equipinent required for making the count. 



A FISHERY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE FOR ALASKA. 



In response to a formal request by the Territorial Legislature of 

 Alaska, the Bureau of Fisheries in conjunction with the Signal Corps 

 of the United States Army estabhshed (in the summer of 1917) a 

 fishery intelligence service whereby a number of coastal towns in 

 Alaska are furnished daily (Simdays and holidays excepted) with 

 the prices of fishery products at Seattle and Ketchikan. The daily 

 quotations include the prices of the more important kinds of fresh 

 fish, and on Monday of each week additional iiiformation is furnished 

 in regard to prices of salt products at Seattle and Ketchikan. It is 

 hoped that the service thus afforded the public will tend to stabilize 

 prices and to create a more dependable market for the fishermen's 

 products. 



COMMERCIAL FISHING WITHIN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS RESERVATION. 



During the past fiscal year 11 permits to engage in fishery opera- 

 tions within the Aleutian Islands Reservation were issued to the fol- 

 lowing persons and companies: 



1. S. Applegate, of Berkeley, Cal., authorizing the packing of not 

 to exceed 300 barrels of salmon per annum in the vicinity of Umnak 

 Island. 



2. A. C. Goss, of Unalaska, authorizing the taking of atka mackerel 

 and red salmon in the vicinit}^ of Attn Island and Umnak Island, 

 respectively, in 1917. 



3. Pacific ' American Fisheries, authorizing the construction and 

 operation of a plant on Ikatan Peninsula for the canning or salting 

 oi salmon or other food fishes. 



4. Sockej^e Salmon Co., authorizing the construction and operation 

 of a plant on Unimak Island for the camiing or salting of salmon or 

 other food fishes. 



