6 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES, 1911. 



FISHERIES. 

 INSPECTION OF SALMON FISHERIES. 



With the exception of arctic Alaska, nearly all of the general 

 localities in which important fishery operations are conducted were 

 visited this year by one of the four agents engaged in the inspection 

 work. For want of transportation facilities none of the packing 

 establishments or fishery grounds on the Alaska Peninsula could 

 be visited, with the exception of Chignik Bay, where one agent was 

 located for the season. Another agent was located on Nushagak 

 Bay, where his time was fully occupied with the inquiry carried on 

 in connection with Wood River. In central Alaska, pomts about 

 Prince William Sound and the Copper River had to be omitted. 

 In southeastern Alaska a more efficient inspection was made, and 

 with the exception of Dry Bay, the territory was well covered, for 

 although there are many more places to be visited, the number of 

 common carriers available enabled the agent to make more advan- 

 tageous use of time. A fishery to supply local demand is carried 

 on m the Yukon River and its tributaries, by means of fish wheels, 

 nets, and spears, but it has not been possible to extend the inspec- 

 tion work over this large area, or to secure specific data. Arctic 

 Alaska has not been visited, but such incomplete data for this section 

 as could be secured are shown. 



Detailed statistics of the fisheries are contained in the report of 

 Mr. John N. Cobb, assistant agent, which appears in subsequent 

 pages of this publication. 



COMPLAINTS AND PROSECUTIONS. 



On Sunday, July 9, fish traps no. 1, 2, and 3, belonging to the 

 Alaska-Pacific Fisheries, operating in connection with its Chilkoot 

 cannery, and trap no. 2, belonging to the Taku Canning & Cold 

 Storage Co., of Taku Harbor, all in Lynn Canal or connecting waters, 

 were found fishing in violation of the weekly close season, and Abel 

 Johnson, the web boss, Thomas Johnson, Edward Meland, and John 

 Loseth, trap watchmen for the Alaska-Pacific Fisheries, and Axel 

 Strom, watchman for the Taku Canning & Cold Storage Co., were re- 

 ported to the district attorney. All the defendants were arraigned 

 before the United States commissioner at Juneau on July 11, and were 

 bound over to appear before the next grand jury. On October 25, the 

 grand jury, then in session at Ketchikan, returned true bills against 

 all the defendants. John Loseth, Edward Meland, Thomas Johnson, 

 and Abel Johnson pleaded guilty, and the three first named were fined 

 $75 each, while the latter, against whom there were three indictments, 

 was fined $150 under each. Axel Strom, the other defendant, agreed 

 to appear at the next Juneau term of court and plead guilty. 



