38 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
by its creation. From the date of the establishment of the reserve 
until the spring of 1912 all commercial fishing in Afognak waters 
was prohibited, but the order was not obeyed and no attempt was 
made to enforce it. Though those waters were nominally closed to 
all commercial fishing and the two canneries on Litnik Bay sus- 
pended operations and were dismantled and sold, pickling operations 
were carried on by local parties at the most important streams of the 
island until 1912, when by departmental order the reservation was 
opened to the native inhabitants of the region under such terms and 
conditions as seemed necessary to safeguard the runs of salmon. A1I- 
though the fishery resources of Afognak were well known, the mere 
fact that fishing was authorized coincident with the opening of a sal- 
mon cannery at Kodiak was sufficient inducement for the entire native 
population of the island to seek and secure fishing privileges. The 
legalization of fishing did not, however, increase the supply of salmon 
in those waters, though on the face of returns that might appear to 
have been the case. The catch in 1912 was larger than any year since 
1892, but it was so for no other reason than that more fishing was 
done. Yet, on the whole, results were disappointing, and it was 
early apparent that the island fisheries alone could not support the 
natives of Afognak. It was further evident, after a few seasons had 
passed, that the salmon runs would suffer serious depletion if the 
original scale of operations was allowed to continue. Accordingly a 
limit was placed on the number of fishermen, who were divided into 
small gangs, to each of which certain fishing grounds were assigned. 
Experience taught that where unnecessary numbers of fishermen con- 
gregate at one place fishing is much more intensive. This evil was 
easily corrected by limiting the number of men who might operate 
at each place and by shortening the fishing season. Authority was 
therefore given that not to exceed 55 natives were to be licensed to 
fish in Afognak waters in 1920. 
The issuance of licenses was placed in the hands of the superin- 
tendent of the fish-cultural station at Afognak until July 10, when 
William E. Baumann was put in charge of patrol work about the 
island. He took over the licensing of fishermen for the remainder 
of the season. 
Fishing began May 11 and continued until September 9. Salmon 
were taken at seven localities, the total catch being 125,538, all species 
except kings being taken. This catch was sold to the Kadiak Fish- 
eries Co., at Kodiak. 
The following table shows the total take of salmon for commer- 
cial uses in the Afognak Reservation: 
CoMMERCIAL CATCH OF SALMON IN WATERS OF AFOGNAK RESERVATION IN 1920. 
Locality. Coho. Chum. |Humpback. Red. Total. 
ittlerAtognakes = ..22 Stic. nco-ceaseeee aes Dy A28 os caine cee 34, 374 8, 556 48, 058 
Dangem Ba yerte ses cose once see eee 70 eee es OR ei Ace eS i 840 
Litmik Bay esas e ook ee ac So eee See ere | Goa Soe ee ak BS EY ee ee 6, 201 
Paramanof payers as e- ase BRE Serre mis oe ee senc 35 15, 385 18, 009 33, 429 
SeallBaw Sak sosce cee cetaa oe asses neaes| seco eee ae \Sssoasaseees 190 11, 733 11, 923 
Malina: Bayest Seas. 2222 fos. 2 aceiececcweses osusacedaciaé Reon oe 10, 995 10, 728 21, 723 
AznuGAB aye. 2 ee cee oceans Se ele aaron aero Sect | seeee eee ee iaar eee 3, 364 3, 364 
Totalt pecs. cee uot er sccees oaese 12, 162 35 60, 944 52, 397 125, 538 
