110 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1915. 
no restrictions upon the open season of 1915-16, but to provide that 
on and after March 14, 1916, the killing of martens should be prohib- 
ited until November 15, 1921. The formal regulation was promul- 
gated early in 1916, in time to permit trappers throughout Alaska to 
inform themselves in regard thereto before making preparations for 
the trapping season of 1916-17. An examination of the table show- 
ing the statistics of minor furs shipped from Alaska (p. 139) will show 
the marked annual diminution year by year in the number of marten 
pelts shipped. 
SEIZURES AND PROSECUTIONS. 
One unprime red-fox pelt was seized in the latter part of the year 
from Frank Carroll, a resident of Copper Center, who had acquired it 
from a native. 
On November 29, 1915, Assistant Agent Ball swore out three com- 
plaints against Paul Wolkoff, of Kodiak, charging him with the un- 
lawful killing of two land otters and one silver gray fox. The defen- 
dant was tried and convicted on December 1 for the unlawful killing 
of a land otter and was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail and until 
the costs of the prosecution, amounting to $123, were paid. On the 
motion of Mr. Ball the other cases against the defendant were dis- 
missed. One silver-gray fox skin and three land-otter skins were 
taken from him as being unprime. 
In the latter part of the year separate complaints were filed before 
the United States commissioner at Kodiak charging Andrea Yaka- 
shoft with having unlawfully killed five foxes. The evidence was 
identical in respect to each of the five complaints. The defendant 
was tried December 2, 1915. A verdict of not guilty was found on 
the first charge and the others were then dismissed. The five skins 
involved, all of which were unprime, were seized and retained. 
In December Ole Espland was arraigned before the United States 
commissioner’s court at Copper Center charged with the unlawful kill- 
ing of six cross foxes. The defendant pleaded guilty and sought clem- 
ency on the ground that he did not know the terms of the law and 
had no way of learning them except by hearsay. In view of what 
were considered extenuating circumstances a fine of but $1 was 
imposed. In this case the foxes while killed in the open season had 
been captured in the close season, the killing being in violation of the 
regulation which provided that fur-bearing animals captured in the 
close season should not be killed at any time. 
On December 21, 1915, Charles Petersen, of Karluk, was arraigned 
at Kodiak charged with the unlawful killing of foxes. The defendant 
pleaded not guilty and asked for a jury trial. The jury returned a 
verdict of guilty and a jail sentence of four months was imposed. 
