ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1920, 15 
herds annually resorting to the Pribilof Islands. <A statement re- 
garding this patrol appears in the fur-seal section of this report. 
The vessels of the Coast and Geodetic Survey were engaged in the 
vitally important work of that service in different coastal districts 
of Alaska and therefore could not be expected to have opportunities 
to do much for the fisheries. 
WAR DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS. 
Early in 1920 a rather general protest was registered before the 
Chief of Engineers of the War Department by various interests in 
Alaska against the location of floating fish traps in offshore posi- 
tions, it being contended that such traps were a menace to navigation. 
After considerable inquiry into the matter, the Acting Chief of Engi- 
neers issued, on April 22, 1920, a temporary order for the regulation 
of floating traps, as follows: 
During the calendar year 1920 no floating pound net or fish trap in the navi- 
gable waters of Alaska shall exceed 2,400 feet in length over all nor be con- 
structed and operated in more than 100 feet depth of water at the outer end 
of the net or trap at mean high tide according to the United States tide tables; 
with the exception that a floating pound net or fish trap may be constructed 
and operated in a greater depth of water, provided the extension, measured 
from the shore line, at mean high-tide line, does not exceed 1,000 feet over all. 
At the same time announcement was made that public hearings 
would be held during the year to determine the advisability of contin- 
uing or modifying the order. Accordingly two hearings were held in 
1920—one at Juneau on September 14 and the other at Seattle on 
November 19—as a result of which the War Department continued 
without modification the order of April 22. On January 5, 1921, 
new regulations were issued prescribing the conditions under which 
fishery operators may construct and maintain fish traps in the navi- 
gable waters of Alaska. The regulations are as follows: 
War DerparTMENT, 
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, 
Washington, January 5, 1921. 
Norr.—It is to be understood that this authority does not give any property rights 
either in real estate or material, or any exclusive privileges; and that it does not author- 
ize any injury to private property or invasion of private rights, or any infringement of 
Federal, Territorial, or local laws or regulations, nor does it obviate the necessity of ob- 
taining Territorial assent to the work authorized. It merely expresses the assent of the 
Federal Government so far as concerns the publie rights of navigation. (See Cummings v. 
Chicago, 188 U. S., 410.) 
To whom it may concern: 
The attention of those fishing in the waters of the coast of the Territory of 
Alaska, and in the navigable waters tributary thereto, is called to the provi- 
sions of section 10 of the river and harbor act of March 8, 1899, as follows: 
“Sec. 10. That the creation of any obstruction not affirmatively authorized 
by Congress to the navigable capacity of any of the waters of the United 
States is hereby prohibited; and it shall not be lawful to build or commence 
the building of any * * * weir * * * or other structure in any * * * 
navigable river or other waters of the United States, outside established harbor 
lines, or where no harbor lines have been established, except on plans recom- 
mended by the Chief of Engineers and authorized by the Secretary of War.” 
In accordance with the above provision of law, and until further notice, all 
fishermen who desire to operate in the waters above described, and under 
conditions stated as follows, but not otherwise, and whose written applications 
may receive the approval of the district engineer of the engineer department 
at large, in charge of the locality, are hereby authorized by the Secretary of 
War to construct and nraintain fish weirs, traps, or pounds erected in the usual 
manner as heretofore, subject to the following conditions: 
