ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
By Warp T. Bower, Agent, Alaska Service. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The work of the Bureau of Fisheries in Alaska falls under certain 
main heads, which may be stated as follows: Enforcement of the 
laws and regulations for the protection of the fisheries and fur- 
bearing animals; administration of the Pribilof Islands Reservation, 
and matters incidental thereto; the collection of statistics and the 
dissemination of information regarding the fisheries; the making of 
certain scientific investigations, chiefly in regard to the life history 
of the salmon and in connection with the fur-seal herd; and the con-. 
duct of fish-cultural operations. 
The work of the Alaska service in regard to the fisheries and fur- 
bearing animals has been devoted in considerable measure to the 
enforcement of the laws and regulations. The patrol of the fishing 
districts was extended by the charter of several small power boats and 
the employment of a number of men temporarily as stream watchmen 
in the central and southeastern sections. The census of red salmon 
ascending Wood River was again taken, and the private hatcheries 
were inspected. Work was continued in the opening up of streams for 
the spawning of salmon. 
Three formal hearings were held at Seattle in regard to fishery 
operations in the streams of southeastern Alaska, in the Copper River, 
and in the Yukon River, and as a result formal orders were issued 
Imposing restrictions on operations. Detailed statistics were as- 
sembled covering practically all features of the varied fishery indus- 
tries A i Territory. Statistics of the shipments of furs were also 
compiled. 
The work in connection with the Pribilof Islands expanded greatly 
in 1918 with the resumption of commercial killing of seals. A number 
of natives were secured from Unalaska to aid in the work, and tempo- 
rary assistants were employed for sealing operations and general 
construction and repair work on the islands. Necessary transporta- 
tion of supplies and products was furnished by the Bureau’s steamer 
Roosevelt, together with some cooperative assistance by the Navy 
Department. Fur-seal skins and fox skins were taken and preserved 
as usual. A by-products plant was erected on St. Paul Island for the 
conversion of seal carcasses into oil and fertilizer. Cold-storage 
facilities were planned, and the géneral administration of the natives’ 
affairs was carried on. A census of the fur-seal herd was taken as 
heretofore. Two sales of fur-seal skins and one of fox skins were held 
during the year at St. Louis, Mo. 
Acknowledgement is made of valuable aid in the preparation of this 
report by Assistant Agent E. M. Ball, who compiled the statistics of 
the fisheries and prepared much of the accompanying text. Dr. 
G. Dallas Hanna assisted in the preparation of items regarding the 
Pribilof Islands. 
7 
