FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 



As in corresponding reports for previous years, the Territory of 

 Alaska is here considered in the three coastal geographic sections gen- 

 erally recognized as follows: Southeast Alaska, embracing all that nar- 

 row strip of mainland and the numerous adjacent islands from Port- 

 land Canal northwestward to and including Yakutat Bay; central 

 Alaska, the region on the Pacific from Yakutat Bay westward, includ- 

 ing Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet, tmd the southern coast of the 

 Alaska Peninsula, to Unimak Pass; Jind western Alaska, the north 

 shore of the Alaska Peninsula, including the Aleutian Islands and 

 Bristol Bay and the Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers. 



Detailed reports and statistical tables dealing with the various 

 fishery industries are presented herewith, and there are also given 

 the important features of certain subjects which were the objects of 

 special investigation or inquiry. 



WATERS CLOSED TO COMMERCIAL FISHING. 



Section 6 of the act approved June 26, 1906, for the protection and 

 regulation of the fisheries of Alaska, is as follows: 



Sec. 6. That the Secretary of Commerce may, in his discretion, set aside any streams 

 or lakes as preserves for spawning grounds, in which fishing may be limited or entirelj^ 

 prohibited; and when, in his judgment, the results of fishing operations in any stream, 

 or off the mouth thereof, indicate that the number of salmon taken is larger than the 

 natural production of salmon in such stream, he is authorized to establish close sea- 

 sons or to limit or prohibit fishing entirely for one year or more within such stream 

 or within five hundred yards of the mouth thereof, so as to permit salmon to increase: 

 Provided, however. That such power shall be exercised only after all persons interested 

 shall be gi^en a hearing, of which due notice must be gi^en by publication; and where 

 the interested parties are known to the Department they shall be personallj^ notified 

 by a notice mailed not less than thii-ty days pre\iou8 to such hearing. No order 

 made under this section shall be effective before the next calendar year after same is 

 made: And provided fvrther, That such limitations and prohibitions shall not apply 

 to those engaged in catching salmon who keep such streams fully stocked with salmon 

 by artificial propagation. 



Pursuant to the provisions of this section, action was taken in 1919 

 in regard to the waters of southeast Jind central Alaska, and also in 

 regard to certain waters tributary to Bering Sea. 



Under date of September 24, 1919, announcement was made of a 

 hearing to be held in respect to the district extending from Cape 

 Spencer on the east to Cape Sarichef on the west, and northward 

 on Bering Sea to Cape Newenham. The text of the announcement 

 was as follows: 



It ha\ing been recommended that the Secretary of Commerce set aside all lakes 

 and streams as preserves for spawning grounds and limit or prohibit commercial fish- 

 ing for salmon and other commercial fishing in the prosecution of which salmon are 

 taken or injured in all such streams and lakes and all waters tributary thereto and 

 within 500 yards of the mouths of such streams, in all waters of Alaska flowing into 

 the Pacific Ocean between the 1-ongitude of Cape Spencer on the east and the longi- 

 tude of Cape Sarichef on the west; also in all such waters tributary to Bering Sea 

 between Cape Sarichef and Cape Newenham, notice is hereby given, under the pro- 

 visions of section 6 of the act of Congress approved June 26, 1906, entitled "An act 



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