18 ALASKA riSHEBIES AND FUB INDUSTRIES, 1911. 



The erection of several hatcheries in southeastern Alaska would be 

 of great benefit in that region, which has been and will continue to be 

 heavily fished, and rather than 1 or 2 more large hatcheries it would 

 be desirable to have 8 or 10 smaller establishments, even though the 

 aggregate output thereof is no greater than from a single large plant. 

 More streams would be protected and there is less possibility of a short- 

 age in the supply of natural food. A capacity of from 5 to 10 million 

 eggs would best suit the hatchery needs in several localities. This 

 course is bound to insure a more thorough covering of the field and 

 will consequently be of greater benefit to the industry. 



Apparently the time is not far distant when the propagation of the 

 heretofore practically neglected humpback salmon will be under- 

 taken on an extensive scale. 



FUR INDUSTRIES. 

 FUR SEALS. 



The administration of the fur-seal service in 1911 followed the same 

 general plan as in 1910 with respect to management of the seal herd, 

 and yielded a shipment of skins amounting to 12,006 in number, 

 1,000 3-year-old male seals havingfirst been marked and excluded from 

 the killing. With respect to the affairs of the native inhabitants of the 

 islands a new fiscal plan was adopted, whereby higher wages were 

 paid and it is sought to encourage the individual native's responsibil- 

 ity for his own welfare. A detailed report upon the administration 

 of the islands, by the chief resident agent, Mr. Walter I. Lembkey, is 

 appended hereto. 



SALE OF FUB-SEAL AND FOX SKINS FROM THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



When the Government, on April 21, 1910, took entire charge of all 

 matters pertaining to the Pribilof Islands and the care and manage- 

 ment of the fur-seal and blue-fox herds, the Department of Commerce 

 and Labor at once began consideration of the proper method of dis- 

 posing of the skins to be taken each year. After careful investigation 

 it was decided to continue for the present, at least, the practice which 

 had been in vogue for more than 40 years and ship the skins to Lon- 

 don, there to be sold at auction. 



For a long period practically all the fur-seal and blue-fox skins of 

 the world, as well as all other furs, have passed through the hands of 

 Messrs. C. M. Lampson & Co., of London, England, the firm receiving 

 the skins on consignment and selling them at auction to the highest 

 bidder. The sale day for the Alaska fur-seal skins is usually about 

 the middle of December of each year. Northwest coast skins, as the 



