BUREAU OF FISHERIES 123 



powers of regulation including the right to set aside streams 

 as spawning grounds which would be completely closed to 

 all types of fishing. 25 



The Alaskan fur seals like the Alaskan salmon fisheries 

 had been under the control of the Treasury but in 1908 were 

 placed under the Bureau of Fisheries in the Department of 

 Commerce and Labor. Two years later on expiration of 

 the private sealing lease the bureau assumed actual charge 

 of sealing operations under the authority of an act of Con- 

 gress. 26 



In an attempt to avoid duplication of effort and to estab- 

 lish a more logical administrative system, the control over 

 land animals in Alaska which had been vested in the Secre- 

 tary of Commerce was transferred to the Secretary of 

 Agriculture, and the powers exercised by the Secretary of 

 Agriculture over sea-lions and walrus were given over to 

 the Secretary of Commerce by a clause in the appropriation 

 act of I92O. 27 The latter, however, was specifically con- 

 tinued in his control over the Pribilof Islands and the fur 

 animals found thereon. 



It might be said that with one exception this marked the 

 end of the period of foundation building. Since 1910 there 

 have been occasional changes in the administrative structure, 

 in the personnel and in policies but not in the general func- 

 tions of the bureau. Scientific research in aquatic life, the 

 collection of vital fishery statistics, fish-culture work, and 

 the administration of the Alaskan seal and salmon fisheries, 

 have been the chief lines of activities within the bureau. 

 There has been a steady expansion of work but upon foun- 

 dations laid prior to 1910. 



25 29 Stat. L. 316. 



26 36 Stat. L. 326. 



27 41 Stat. L. 694. 



