60 



FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1910. 



to prevent the indiscriminate killing by whites, is accomplished, and 

 very few of the animals are now killed except by the few sportsmen 

 who visit the Bering Sea district in summer. This year's reports 

 indicate that walruses are increasing. The inspector of fisheries for 

 Alaska saw a large number on the ice in Bristol Bay in May, while 

 the master of the trading schooner Helen Johnston claims to have 

 encountered in Bering Strait, near the Diomede Islands, on July 5 a 

 large herd of swimming walruses which covered several acres of water. 

 Capt. S. F. Cottle, of the steam whaler Karluk, reports having seen 

 large pods of walruses this year. 



LICENSE TAXES AND HATCHERY REBATES. 



Under the provisions of the act for the protection and regulation 

 of the fisheries of Alaska (approved June 26, 1906) the packers in 

 Alaska are compelled to pay license fees or taxes on their season's 

 output, as noted in the table following. The collection of these license 

 fees or taxes is in the hands of the clerk of the court of the judicial 

 district in which the packer is operating. The law literally requires 

 the packer to pay the license fee in advance, but as the fee is based 

 upon the pack he makes and it would be impossible in such an uncer- 

 tain industry as fishing to estimate in advance exactly the quantity 

 that will be packed, it is the custom to require the operator to apply 

 for a license before beginning operations and then at the end of the 

 season make return of the amount due the district. 



The following table shows the quantity of taxable fishery products 

 prepared, the stated license tax on the product, and the total amount 

 of tax due on each. The last item is approximate, being based upon 

 returns on file at this Bureau, some of which are sworn to and some 

 estimated, and therefore perhaps varying somewhat from those sent 

 to the clerk of the court. It is not probable, however, that the amount 

 given will vary much either way from the correct amount as shown 

 by the returns of the clerks : 



License Taxes on Prepared Fishery Products. 



Items. 



Canned salmon 



Pickled salmon , 



Mild-cured salmon 



Dry-salted salmon in bulk. 



Fish oil 



Fertilizer, from fish 



Fertilizer, from whales 



Total. 



Unit of 

 quantity. 



Cases 



Barrels 



Tierces a .. 

 100 pounds 



Barrels 



Tons 



...do 



Quantity 

 prepared. 



2,413.052* 



14, 405 



3,357 



77,478 



578 



1,308* 



435 



License tax 

 per unit of 

 quantity. 



$0.04 

 .10 

 .40 

 .05 

 .10 

 .20 

 .20 



Estimated 

 amount of 

 tax due. 



$100, 522. 08 

 1,440.50 

 1,342.80 

 37.70 

 57.80 

 261. 70 

 87.00 



103,749.58 



o As the net weight of a tierce of fish is 800 pounds, this item is figured on a basis of 4 barrels to the tierce 

 in working out the amount of tax. 



