ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1916. 
By Warp T. Bower, Agent, Alaska Service, and Henry D. AutER, Assistant, Alaska 
' Service. 
INTRODUCTION. 
As in previous years, the activities of the Bureau of Fisheries in 
respect to Alaska have been directed chiefly toward the enforcement 
of the law for the protection of the fisheries proper, the fur seals, and 
the fur-bearing animals generally; the collection of statistics and 
information in regard to the methods of the fisheries industries; the 
operation of hatcheries; and the continuance of scientific investi- 
gations along various lines. 
In enforcing the law for the protection of the fisheries proper, 
field work was continued throughout the year, the work, being 
increased by additional patrols during the active fishing season. 
Canneries and other fishery establishments Were inspected. Some 
attention was given to improvement of stream channels so as to 
facilitate the ascent of spawning salmon. Private salmon hatcheries 
were inspected. The Federal hatcheries in Alaska are under the 
immediate direction of the division of fish culture of the Bureau, 
but certain information in regard to them has been incorporated in 
this report in order to present properly fish-cultural operations in the 
Territory. A count was made of the salmon ascending Wood River, 
Nushagak Bay, in the breeding season. 
In connection with the enforcement of the law, including the North 
Pacific Sealing Convention of July 7, 1911, for the protection of fur 
seals, the Bureau maintained its regular stations at the Pribilof 
Islands; attended to the support, education, and health of the 
natives of those islands; preserved the sealskins taken from seals 
killed for food for the natives; secured such skins from the blue-fox 
herds of the Pribilofs as could properly be taken; and made a census 
of the fur-seal herd. Attention was also given to the marking and 
authenticating of fur-seal skins legally taken by Indians of the State 
of Washington and to the suppression of traffic in sealskins not 
authenticated as to their legal status. The patrol of the North 
Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea for the protection of fur seals and sea 
otters was carried on as in previous years by vessels of the Coast 
Guard. 
Field work was continued throughout the year to secure proper 
protection to the fur-bearing animals in Alaska generally. As far as 
practicable, information was obtained in reference to fur-farming 
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