FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 23 



abouts. Fish-saltery taxes Avill continue to come in for some time yet, but any such 

 taxes now delinquent are all for small sums. 



In addition to amount reported in above statement under Schedule "Fish-oil works 

 and fertilizer and fish-meal plants," the sum of $6,492 vras also collected under said 

 schedule; however, such item is not included in statement for the reason that it is 

 being held on special deposit owing to unsettled litigation regarding the schedule in 

 question. 



TERRITORIAL FISH COMMISSION. 



At the session of the legishiture early in 1919 provision was made 

 for a Territorial fish commission to consist of five members. The 

 sum of $80,000 was appropriated for its work. The governor is 

 chainnan of the commission and the remaining, fom" members are 

 appointed by him for terms of two years, subject to confirmation by 

 the Territorial Senate. 



The work of the commission in 1919 was more or less preliminary 

 in nature. A superintendent of hatchery operations was appointed 

 and other employees secured, and fish-cultural operations were 

 capably conducted at Juneau. This work was largely the outgrowth 

 of operations of the Alaska Fish & Game Club, an organization made 

 up of local sportsmen and persons interested in the conservation of 

 the fisheries, both from the point of view of the angler and the com- 

 mercial producer. Other plans of the commission include the im- 

 provement of salmon streams for spawning purposes by the removal 

 of obstructions; allotments of funds were made for this work in the 

 southeast, central, and western districts. 



Late in the year members of the Ten'itorial fish commission par- 

 ticipated in a conference at Seattle to consider the advisability of 

 framing additional legislation in respect to the fisheries of Alaska. 



PREDATORY BIRDS. 



From time to time it has been reported that certain birds in Alaska 

 feed very largely on the eggs and fry of salmon and other food fishes 

 and that their depredations are of such magnitude as to threaten 

 seriously the supply of fish, especially salmon. Practically all bu'ds 

 in this category are protected by interniitional agreement imder the 

 Migratory Bird Treaty and therefore can not be killed lawfully except 

 by specific order. After due consideration of the facts, the Secretary 

 of Agriculture issued an order on October 24, 1919, authorizmg the 

 killing of certain birds at fish hatcheries. The order is as follows: 



ORDER PERMITTING THE KILLING OR TRAPPING OP CERTAIN BIRDS, AT FISH HATCHERIES, 

 FOUND TO BE INJURIOUS TO VALUABLE FISH LIFE. 



Information having been furnished the Secretary of Agriculture that grebes, loons, 

 gulls, and terns, mergansers, and certain species of the heron have become, under 

 extraordinary conditions, seriously injurious to and destructive of fishes at fish 

 hatcheries in the United States and Alaska, and an investigation ha\'ing been made 

 to determine the nature and extent of the injury complained of, and whether the 

 birds alleged to be doing the damage should be killed ; and, if so, during what times 

 and by what means, and it having been determined by the Secretary of Agriculture 

 that the birds above mentioned have become, under extraordinary conditions, seri- 

 ously injurious to and destructive of fishes at fish hatcheries in the United States 

 and Alaska, and that such birds found committing the damage should be destroyed; 



Now, therefore, J, D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture, pursuant to authority 

 in me vested by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of July 3, 1918, and agreeably to 

 Regulation 10 of the IMigratory Bird Treaty Act Regulations approved and proclaimed 

 July 31, 1918, do hereby order that the owner or superintendent, or a bona fide em- 

 ployee of a public or private fish hatchery in the United States or in Alaska, for the 



