FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 31 
either prefer Sunday or are indifferent to which day is selected for the 
close season. On the whole the change has been beneficial and 
should be allowed to stand. 
CLOSING OF NUSHAGAK AND WOOD RIVERS. 
The closing of Wood River to commercial fishing in order to in- 
crease the number of redfish reaching the important spawning beds 
at the headwaters of this stream has been frequently advocated and 
repeatedly recommended by the salmon agent. On October 28, 1907, 
the secretary of the Alaska Fishermen’s Union of San Francisco re- 
quested, by a telegram to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, a 
hearing as provided by law, to determine the advisability of closing 
Wood River completely to commercial fishing, and of prohibiting all 
stationary fishing gear in Nushagak River. Similar telegrams and 
requests were received from the secretary of the United Fishermen 
of the Pacific, of Seattle, Wash., from Senator C. W. Fulton, of 
Astoria, Oreg., and others. In accordance with these requests the 
following announcement was issued: 
To all whom it may concern: 
Whereas the Secretary of Commerce and Labor has been requested by numerous 
persons and organizations to prohibit all commercial fishing in Wood River, Alaska, 
and to forbid the setting of traps and stationary gear of any kind in Nushagak River, 
Alaska, notice is hereby given that under the provisions of section 6 of the act of Con- 
gress approved June 26, 1906, entitled ‘* An act for the protection and regulation of the 
fisheries of Alaska,’’ a hearing to determine the advisability of setting aside as preserves 
for spawning grounds Wood River and Nushagak River, Alaska, and of limiting or 
entirely prohibiting all fishing therein, will be held in the office of the Secretary of 
Commerce and Labor at Washington, D. C., on December 16, 1907, at 10 0’clock a. m., 
at which time all persons interested will be heard. 
, GEORGE M. Bowers, 
Commissioner of Fisheries. 
Approved: 
Oscar 8S. STRAUS, 
Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 
This announcement was published in several newspapers on the 
Pacific coast and copies of 1t were sent by the Commissioner of Fisheries 
to all parties known to be interested. The hearing was held on 
December 16 and 17, 1907, before the Secretary of Commerce and 
Labor, and was attended by representatives of the Alaska Fisher- 
men’s Union, the United Fishermen of the Pacific, the Alaska Packers 
Association, of San Francisco; the Alaska-Portland Packers Associa- 
tion of Portland, Oreg; the Northwestern Fisheries Company of 
Seattle, Wash.; and the Columbia River Packers Association of 
Astoria, Oreg.; and by the Hon. C. W. Fulton, Senator from Oregon; 
the Hon. William R. Ellis, Congressman from Oregon; the Hon. 
Thomas Cale, Delegate from Alaska; the Hon. George M. Bowers, 
Commissioner of Fisheries, and other representatives of his Bureau. 
35670—08——5 
