176 SALMON FISHERIES OF PACIFIC COAST. 



On January 24, 1902, this regulation was amended so as to require 

 the planting of "red salmon fry in such numbers as shall be equal 

 to at least ten times the number of salmon of all varieties taken from 

 the said fisheries." 



Although the regulation was mandatory, but few of the packers 

 obeyed it, some because no suitable place was to be found within a 

 reasonable distance of their plants, others because the establishment 

 and operation of such a hatchery would cost more than their returns 

 from the industry justified, and others because of lack of knowledge 

 required in hatchery work. The greater number of them absolutely 

 ignored it, and as a result those who conformed to the regulation were 

 placed under a heavy financial handicap. The injustice of this 

 arrangement was patent on its face, and in 1906, when a comprehen- 

 sive revision of the law was made by Congress, provision was made 

 for reimbursing in the future those cannery men who operated sal- 

 mon hatcheries. The section covering this point reads as follows: 



Sec. 2. That the catch and pack of salmon made in Alaska by the owners of pri- 

 vate salmon hatcheries operated in Alaska shall be exempt from all license fees and 

 taxation of every nature at the rate of ten cases of canned salmon to every one thousand 

 red or king salmon fry liberated, upon the following conditions: 



That the Secretary of Commerce and Labor may from time to time, and on the 

 application of the hatchery owner shall, within a reasonable time thereafter, cause 

 such private hatcheries to be inspected for the purpose of determining the character 

 of their operations, efficiency, and productiveness, and if he approve the same shall 

 cause notice of such approval to be filed in the office of the clerk or deputy clerk of the 

 United States district court of the division of the District of Alaska wherein any such 

 hatchery is located, and shall also notify the owners of such hatchery of the action 

 taken by him. The owner, agent, officer, or superintendent of any hatchery the 

 effectiveness and productiveness of which has been approved as above provided 

 shall, between the thirtieth day of June and the thirty-first day of December of each 

 year, make proof of the number of salmon fry liberated during the twelve months 

 immediately preceding the thirtieth day of June, by a written statement under oath. 

 Such proof shall be filed in the office of the clerk or deputy clerk of the United States 

 district court of the division of the District of Alaska wherein such hatchery is located, 

 and when so filed shall entitle the respective hatchery owners to the exemption as 

 herein provided; and a false oath as to the number of salmon fry liberated shall be 

 deemed perjury and subject the offender to all the pains and penalties thereof. Dupli- 

 cates of such statements shall also be filed with the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 



It shall be the duty of such clerk or deputy clerk in whose office the approval and 

 proof heretofore provided for are filed to forthwith issue to the hatchery owner, caus- 

 ing such proofs to be filed, certificates which shall not be transferable and of such 

 denominations as said owner may request (no certificate to cover fewer than one 

 thousand fry), covering in the aggregate the number of fry so proved to have been 

 liberated; and such certificates may be used at any time by the person, company, cor- 

 poration, or association to whom issued for the payment pro tanto of any license fees 

 or taxes upon or against or on account of any catch or pack of salmon made by them 

 in Alaska; and it shall be the duty of all public officials charged with the duty of col- 

 lecting or receiving such license fees or taxes to accept such certificates in lieu of 

 money in payment of all license fees or taxes upon or against the pack of canned 

 salmon at the ratio of one thousand fry for each ten cases of salmon. No hatchery 



