410 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



river so that they will swing- with the tide, or to avoid their doubling up or swinging 

 too far. We have even to cross the river at its mouth to work our seines to the best 

 advantage. 



This season our white fishermen have not caught any fish to speak of above what 

 virtually might be called the mouth of the river. Our white fishermen are quite 

 willing, and have been for the past two years, to give the natives the privilege of 

 fishing the river above the mouth. The same is true of the Italians fishing for the 

 Alaska Improvement Company. They have not done anything against the natives 

 fishing. 



The decrease in fish caught in the river is something too large to number. 

 Yours, truly, 



S. B. MATTHEWS. 



Messrs. CHAS. S. HAMLIN and Jos. MURRAY. 



We asked Mr. Matthews whether the salmon were decreasing in the 

 Karluk River, and his reply was, a The decrease in fish caught in the 

 river is something too large to number." 



His words have been corroborated by everyone to whom I mentioned 

 the subject, and there were many who suggested the establishment of 

 " hatcheries" for the propagation of salmon, so that the present supply 

 might be continued indefinitely; and some of the canners offered to 

 donate to the Government a "hatchery" already prepared on the 

 Karluk River, on condition of its being worked at the expense of the 

 Government; while others suggested a tax of 5 cents per case and 10 

 cents per barrel, on every case and barrel of salmon taken in Alaska, 

 on condition that the Government would enact laws, and appoint agents 

 to enforce them, for the full protection of the salmon streams and the 

 perpetuation of the fish. 



Before leaving Karluk Mr. Barling, of the Alaska Improvement 

 Company, sent the following letter : 



KARLUK, August 17, 1S94. 



DEAR SIR: Herewith appended you will find a few suggestions necessary to the 

 protection of the salmon of Karluk River: 



(1) Prohibiting all fishing in the river above the first rapids, save and except by 

 Aleuts, and their catch of salmon should be limited. 



(2) To prohibit fishing from Friday 6 p. m. until Saturday 6 p. m. 



(3) Regulating the size of seine mesh used not to be less than 3 inches stretched 

 mesh. 



(4) Punishing the anchoring of set nets at or near the mouth of the Karluk River. 

 This will insure the immediate and uninterrupted laying out of all nets. 



(5) The use of purse nets should be declared illegal. Upon the head of purse 

 nets, I can assure you their use has often been deplored since their introduction upon 

 the Atlantic Coast. 



(6) That a tax of 5 cents per case be levied against the total pack of Alaska; same 

 to be collected as the Treasury sees fit to decide. This tax would raise upward of 

 $25,000. 



(7) Operate the hatchery at Karluk out of the funds above raised. 

 Hoping the above will meet with your kindly consideration, I remain, 



Respectfully, yours, 



H. J. BARLING. 

 Hon. 0. S. HAMLIX. 



The idea of levying a tax on salmon packed in Alaska was first 

 broached to me by Mr. Barling, and, with a single exception, I have 

 found it favorably received by the canners. 



After my return to Washington, and while collecting data for my 

 report, I compared several bills which had been introduced into Con- 

 gress, or prepared for that purpose, by the friends of the several rival 

 establishments in Alaska, for the protection of salmon. I had been 

 assured, too, by every salmon canner I had met that they were deeply 

 interested in the matter of full and adequate protection, and that they 

 hoped to see a bill passed and the law most rigidly enforced to that end. 



That I might succeed in framing a satisfactory bill 1 read many that 



