EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 25 



All the minor fisheries of Alaska are undergoing development, and 

 each year shows a general increase. Of these, the most important is 

 tlie halibut, in which nearly a thousand persons are now engaged, 

 and the catch in 1910 amounted to 21,579,289 pounds, valued at 

 $808,010, against only 5,189,924 pounds, valued at $195,529, in 1909. 

 This increase is partly due, however, to transfer of headquarters of 

 American vessels hitherto discharging at Vancouver. Tlie herring 

 fishery yielded $115,765 and the cod fishery $63,443. 



FUR SEALS. 



An important change in the management of the Alaska fur-seal 

 industry occurred in 1910, in that upon expiration of the lease of 

 the North American Commercial Co. on May 1, 1910, direct charge 

 of all operations was taken over by the Government and the leading 

 system was abandoned, under the act approved April 21, 1910. 



At a conference of the chief agent with officials of the North 

 American Commercial Co. on Ma.j 23, arrangements were made for 

 the purchase of the company's property on St. Paul and St. George 

 Islands, and the formal transfer was accomplished July 1. 



It was agreed that all company houses, native dwellings, wharves, 

 ways, derricks, tools, and implements should be taken at the invoice 

 price less 50 per cent ; all household goods and office furniture at invoice 

 price less 25 per cent; all live stock, sea-lion skins, drugs, and instru- 

 ments (less 50 per cent on St. George), groceries in company house, 

 salt, and seal tAvine at invoice price; all fox traps at invoice valua- 

 tion; all coal at $17 per ton; all boats, launches, bidarrahs, telephone 

 line (less 50 per cent on St. George), and library at lump sums; and 

 all other articles at San Francisco invoice cost April 30, 1910, cor- 

 rected to date of transfer. In accordance with the above under- 

 standing, payment was duly made to the North American Commer- 

 cial Co. in the sum of $60,568.17, itemized as follows : 



St. George Island. 



Buildings .$9, 125. 50 



Furniture 1, 530. 13 



Tools and implements 582.23 



Telephone line and equipment 148.62 



Librarj- 100.00 



Live stock L 313. 72 



Wharf and equipment 868.61 



Boats 700.00 



Merchandise in store 6,874.53 



Medical supplies and surgical instruments 359.48 



Coal 646.00 



Sea-lion skins 85. 71 



Total for St. George Island $21, 334. 53 



