MINOR FUR-BEARING ANIMALS. 63 



REGULATIONS. 



There was no change in the minor fur-bearing animal regulations 

 in 1919, but under date of January 9, 1920, the following regulation 

 was issued by the Secretary of Commerce, extending the prohibition 

 on the killing of sea otters in Alaska: 



By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 4 of "An Act to protect the seal 

 fisheries of Alaska, and for other purposes," approved April 21, 1910, it is hereby, 

 ordered that the killins; of any sea otter within the limits of Alaska Territory or in the 

 waters thereof is prohibited until November 1, 1925. 



Years ago sea-otter hunting was a lucrative industry in North 

 Pacific waters, and, as not infrequently happens, it was conducted so 

 assiduously that the practical extinction of sea otters resulted. Pro- 

 tective legislation has undoubtedly had a beneficial effect, but the 

 reestablishment of sea otters upon a commercial basis can not be 

 expected for years to come. It is urgently necessary that every pre- 

 caution be taken to protect fully this highly valuable marine fur- 

 bearing animal. By the terms of the North Pacific Sealing Conven- 

 tion of July 7, 1911, the taking of sea otters in waters covered by it 

 outside the 3-mile limit is prohibited. In administering the fur- 

 bearing animal laws and regulations within the Territorial waters of 

 Alaska, it is the polic}^ of the Bureau to support and parallel the 

 provisions of the international treaty in respect to sea otters. 



The Bureau has from time to time received advices of a desire in 

 certain parts of Alaska for the removal of the prohibitions upon the 

 killing of beaver and marten. The Bureau feels, however, that the 

 time is not yet ripe for making an open season for these valuable fur- 

 bearing animals, as there is no authentic evidence available to show 

 that their numbers have been replenished to an extent justifying such 

 action. Undoubtedly both beavers and martens are more numerous 

 in some sections of Alaska than a few years ago, but this is the best 

 evidence that the regulations were needed and have been producing 

 beneficial results. A continuance of the same policy for some time 

 to come is considered advisable. 



VIOLATIONS OF REGULATIONS AND SEIZURES OF SKINS. 



On January 22, 1919, Assistant Agent Christoffers cooperated with 

 the collector of customs at Seattle in the seizure from an express 

 company of 10 trunks containing skins consigned from Seward, 

 Alaska, to San Francisco. The trunks were the property of J. H. 

 Smith, of Anchorage, and contained 717 beaver skins, 20 swan skins, 

 'and one can of beaver castors. No claim was made for possession of 

 the furs, and the shipper was not a])prehended for prosecution. 



On February 1, 1919, Special Warden Martin seized 44 marten 

 skins from John E. Carlson at Anchorage. Carlson was fined SI 00 

 and costs, amounting in all to $118.15. 



Game Warden Stephen Foster seized two marten skins, one on 

 February 17, 1919, from Charles P. Christiansen and one on March 4, 

 1919, from Tom Cook, both in the Kantishna River region. 



United States Commissioner Charles J. Koen, of St. Michael, for- 

 warded to the Seattle office three beaver skins which were seized from 

 two natives, one of whom pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 

 days in jail, while the other stood trial, was convicted, and sentenced 

 to 60 days in jail. Commissioner Koen also reported that in April 



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