FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 47 
INJURY TO SALMON BY BIRDS. 
Appreciation of the injury done to salmon and their eggs by water 
birds leads to the conclusion that a reduction in their numbers in 
some localities, particularly about the spawning grounds of salmon, 
is desirable. It is understood that the birds most destructive to 
salmon and their eggs are gulls and terns. 
The law protecting birds in Alaska is covered in the act of June 2, 
1902 (32 Stat., 327), as amended by the act of May 11, 1908 (35 Stat., 
102), which reads in part as follows: 
From and after the passage of this act the wanton destruction of wild game animals 
or wild birds, except eagles, ravens, and cormorants, the destruction of nests and 
eggs of such birds, or the killing of any wild birds, other than game birds, except 
eagles, for the purposes of selling the same or the skins or any part thereof, except as 
hereinafter provided, is hereby prohibited. 
The desirability of securing some relief from the depredations of 
the birds injurious to fish life led the Department of Commerce to 
take up the matter with the Department of Agriculture, under whose 
jurisdiction the act referred to is administered. That department 
advised that consideration of the several sections of the act‘led to the 
conclusion that the killing of gulls and terns by the officials of the 
Bureau of Fisheries charged with the protection of spawning grounds 
of salmon in Alaska does not constitute “wanton destruction”’ of the 
birds as prohibited under the law, and that the officials or agents of 
the Bureau of Fisheries may, therefore, take such action as is nec- 
essary to protect the salmon and their eggs on spawning grounds. 
It was noted, however, that the killing of gulls and terns away from 
the spawning grounds or when not committing destructive acts would 
be unlawful, and that all possible care should be taken by the agents 
of the Bureau of Fisheries to safeguard the birds from unnecessary 
destruction. Furthermore, the killing should be done only under the 
regulation and direct supervision of officers of the Bureau of Fisheries. 
A number of birds have already been destroyed and it is expected 
that there will be an expansion of effort along this line in 1916. 
DESTRUCTIVENESS OF HAIR SEALS IN THE SALMON FISHERY. 
The injury done to salmon by hair seals in southeast Alaska was 
made the subject of a preliminary investigation by Inspector Walker. 
The work was taken up largely in connection with other work and 
could not, under the circumstances, be carried on in an exhaustive 
way. The following extract from his report is made: 
In southeastern Alaska the damage done by hair seals to salmon is observed mainly 
at the three principal gill-netting grounds, namely the Stikine, Taku, and the Chilkat 
Rivers and vicinities. There are at least three reasons for this: First, the seals are in 
