AT.ASKA FISHERIES AND FUE INDUSTRIES, 1911. 1? 



Since, however, there is another side to the question, it would seem 

 that the only logical and equitable solution of the problem is Govern- 

 ment ownership of all hatcheries in Alaska. This may be brought 

 about by repealing the law providing for rebates and appropriating 

 a sum sufficient for the Government to acquire the present hatcheries 

 at a fair valuation and provide for operating expenses thereafter in 

 current appropriation acts. 



The existing rebating system in aid of private hatcheries has been 

 subjected to much criticism. The rate allowed by law is such that 

 while it covers generously the running expense of an established 

 plant is not sufficient to induce any new ventures in hatching for profit. 

 Only those hatcheries are now running which were in operation at the 

 time the law was enacted and which had been erected in the faith 

 that the results in increasing the number of fish would warrant the 

 expense of their operations. At the time they were built, fishermen 

 were firm believers in the parent stream theory and the sense of the 

 word "millions" used in expressing the output of fry was perhaps 

 unconsciously carried over into the estimates of profits. 



As to inspection of private hatcheries by the Government, the wide 

 separation of the various establishments and their isolation and rela- 

 tive inaccessibility render adequate inspection very difficult. Con- 

 tinuous inspection would require a resident inspector at each plant, 

 while even frequent inspection would entail the employment of two 

 or three inspectors actively throughout the season with large expense 

 for travel. Living quarters for the Bureau's agents can be secured 

 only by courtesy of the operating companies. Under such circum- 

 stances the main dependence is necessarily placed in the affidavit 

 of the managers, and general knowledge of the size of the run at any 

 given locality, the normal results of hatchery operations, general 

 character of ability shown by employees, etc., in connection with 

 actual inspection at least once during the season. 



With the increase in personnel of the Alaska Fisheries Service, 

 as stated by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor in the letter just 

 quoted, a closer inspection was made than heretofore has been possi- 

 ble, and improvements have been instituted at the hatcheries as a 

 result. A detailed report upon the hatcheries, by Mr. Ward T. Bower, 

 appears on pages 67 to 89 herein. 



NEED OF NEW HATCHERIES. 



Undoubtedly there is urgent need of a hatchery in the Bristol Bay 

 region, where for many years the drain upon the supply of salmon 

 has been heavy. In the light of present information Lake Aleknagik, 

 of which Wood Kiver is the outlet, presents a suitable field for fish- 

 cultural operations. No appropriation for this work, however, has 

 been made as yet by Congress. 



