REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
27 
Seven salmon hatcheries operated in 1908-9 handled 176,407,000 
eggs, of which number 96,397,000 were incubated at the two govern- 
ment hatcheries at Yes Bay and Afognak. The fry produced by the 
five private hatcheries numbered 74,249,750 and by the government 
hatcheries 87,998,770, a total of 162,248,520. Larger results are 
anticipated when the new station at Afognak is fully equipped. 
Other important fisheries of Alaska are the cod, halibut, herring, 
whale, and fur seal. A number of hitherto minor products are 
receiving more attention each year, and in a short time will doubt- 
less add materially to the value of the fisheries; in 1908 flounders, 
pollock, rock cod, and whitefish appeared in the returns for the first 
time. The extent of the entire fishing industry of Alaska, as deter- 
mined by the salmon agents, was as follows : Persons engaged, 13,337 ; 
investment, $10,319,784; value of products, $11,847,443. 
ALASKAN FUR-SEAL SERVICE. 
On the establishment of the Department of Commerce and Labor, 
in 1903, the Alaskan fur-seal service was transferred thereto from the 
Department of the Treasury, to which it had been attached for many 
years. In the Department of Commerce and Labor this service 
formed a distinct branch and was administered through the Secre- 
tary’s Office until December 28, 1908, when it was transferred to the 
Bureau of Fisheries. The Commissioner of Fisheries has appointed 
a special board, composed of five members of the Bureau’s staff who 
have personal knowledge of the Alaskan fur seals, and to this board 
will be assigned for consideration and recommendation all matters 
pertaining to the seal life on the Pribilof Islands, the blue foxes, and 
other animal resources on the islands, and the Government’s relations 
to the natives and the lessees. On January 13, 1909, the Secretary, 
on the recommendation of the Commissioner, appointed an advisory 
board for the fur-seal service, consisting of Dr. David Starr Jordan, 
Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Mr. Frederic A. 
Lucas, Hon. Edwin W. Sims, Hon. Frank H. Hitchcock, and Mr. 
Charles H. Towmsend. The Government is thus enabled to avail 
itself of the expert knowledge possessed by these naturalists and 
officials, who, through visits to the seal islands and through previous 
duty on fur-seal commissions or in the administration of the fur-seal 
service, are familiar with the problems involved in the management 
of the seal herd and the seal islands. 
From the report of the agent at the seal fisheries it appears that 
during the season which closed July 31, 1909, the lessees were unable 
to obtain the quota of 15,000 skins, for the reason that the requisite 
number of bachelor seals did not appear in the drives during the legal 
season. The total take of skins was 14,336, of which 11,022 came 
from St, Paul Island and 3,314 from St. George Island. 
