MINOR FUR-BEARING ANIMALS. 
FIELD WORK. 
Field work was carried on continuously throughout the year and as 
much of the territory was included within the scope of operations as 
was possible. The appropriations available for the year provided 
for seven wardens. While the primary duties of these wardens are 
to enforce the law and regulations for the protection of the fur- 
bearing animals and to secure information in regard to these animals, 
it has been found highly advisable to utilize the services of some of 
them from time to time in connection with matters pertaming to the 
fisheries. On the other hand, some attention has been given to the 
fur-bearing animals by employees who are primarily concerned with 
the fisheries. 
One special warden, with headquarters at Chicken, was employed 
throughout the year at the nominal salary of $10 per month. 
The wardens employed were Harry J. Christoffers, Ernest P. Wal- 
ker, James H. Lyman, Fred H. Gray, Calvin F. Townsend, Wiliam 
P. Hemenway, Reginald F. Irwin, Harry H. Brown, Shirley A. Baker, 
and Christian L. Larson, special warden. 
An unfortunate event was the disappearance of a party of three 
persons engaged in patrol work in southeast Alaska. Warden Irwin 
left Ketchikan October 9, 1915, on the hired launch Frances R. 
With him were Charles A. Clark, the master of the launch, and Mike 
De Costa, a cook. As the men did not return to Ketchikan within a 
reasonable time, a search was instituted. The launch was found 
wrecked jin the Chickamin River, but the indications were that the 
mishap to the launch was a sequel to some accident to members of 
the party. The search for the missing persons was most thorough. 
It was participated in by officers and employees of the Government 
and by private citizens, and several vessels, public and private, were 
utilized. No satisfactory explanation has been made as to the fate 
of the men. 
REGULATIONS. 
In the early part of the year it was deemed advisable to revise 
the regulations for the protection of the fur-bearing animals. The 
new regulations were published in Department Circular No. 246, 
third edition, dated May 24, 1915, 
In revising the regulations no change was made in the seasons for 
the killing of fur-bearing animals. The killing after July 1, 1915, of 
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