Upper: Fur-seal harems on St. Paul Island, Alaska, one of the areas where the conservation work of the Bureau of Fisheries protects the supply of an important natural resource.

Lower: Stocking an improved mountain stream with rainbow trout forms an interesting angle of Bureau of Fisheries activities for the conservation of natural resources in the seas, rivers, and lakes of the Nation.

Charles E. Jackson, Acting Commissioner

ORIGINALLY established on Feb. 9, 1871, as the United States

Commission of Fish and Fisheries, an independent agency, and redesignated the Bureau of Fisheries on July 1, 1903, when it was by law included in the newly created Department of Commerce and Labor, this Bureau has completed 69 years of active service in the field of fishery conservation.1

During the past year encouraging progress was made in the development of practical programs of fishery management and in securing State and private cooperation in support of these programs. Biological investigations contributed much fundamental information that will assist in maintaining the productivity of the fisheries. Technological investigations contributed substantially to the development of better methods for the preservation of fishery products and to the more complete utilization of byproducts. Statistical studies provided a measure of abundance for most of the commercial and game species, thus furnishing a basis for regulation and assisting in the orderly production and distribution of fisheries commodities. During periods of world disaster, such as wars and famines, the problem of supplying wholesome and nutritious foods in sufficient quantities is of paramount importance to the Nation-not only as it affects the armed forces, but the country as a whole. Such a condition prevailed during the last World War and is likely to again occur should similar conditions arise.

Under authority of the Secretary and the absolute control of the Bureau of Fisheries, the Alaska salmon in 1917 provided the fisheries resource from which the pack was increased over that of of 1916 by about 25 percent, or 2,520,128 cases. This increased production on short notice is indicative of the ability of the Bureau to so regulate these fisheries as to constantly maintain a reserve upon which to draw.

1 This, the Sixty-ninth Annual Report of the Bureau of Fisheries, is the first submitted to the Secretary of the Interior and the last to be made as the Bureau of Fisheries. In accordance with the President's Reorganization Plan No. II, this Bureau was transferred from the Department of Commerce to the Department of the Interior on July 1, 1939; and by Reorganization Plan No. III it was merged with the Bureau of Biological Survey on June 30, 1940, to form the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Bureau has remained cognizant of the real and potential value of this vast food resource which has been intrusted to its keeping and, although continually providing the markets of the world with a canned fishery product of unquestioned excellence, it has constantly maintained a balance sufficient that should the need arise, production can again be stepped up to the required level.

In carrying on the work of the Bureau it has been necessary to maintain a number of vessels which, although designed primarily for specialized fishery activities, could readily be converted for use by the Navy in times of national emergency. The Bureau fleet could be augmented by hundreds of fishing craft and thus form a defense unit that would contribute materially to the conduct of naval operations.

SUMMARY

Data on the 1938 catch of fishery products were collected in all sections of the United States and Alaska except the Mississippi River area. The combined catch in the areas surveyed shows a decline of 2 percent in volume and 7 percent in value as compared with the catch in the same sections during the preceding year. Decreased catches were made in each of the geographical sections except the Chesapeake Bay and South Atlantic and Gulf States. Marked declines in the value of the catch occurred in the New England, South Atlantic and Gulf, and Pacific Coast States, and in Alaska. The value of the pack of canned fishery products in all sections declined 21 percent as compared with 1937; byproducts decreased 17 percent; cured fish about 5 percent; and packaged fish, 2 percent.

The total catch of fishery products in the United States and Alaska, as based on the most recent surveys, amounted to 4,253,445,000 pounds, valued at $93,547,000. Slightly more than 130,000 fishermen were employed in making this catch.

The production of canned fishery products in the United States and Alaska during 1938 amounted to 667,527,840 pounds, valued at $83,445,889; the output of byproducts was valued at $30,576,367; the production of frozen fishery products, excluding packaged products, amounted to 117,125,519 pounds, valued at $7,800,000; and fresh and frozen packaged fish and shellfish, 216,661,255 pounds, valued at $27,243,645. Based on surveys for 1938 in all sections except the Mississippi River area, and for 1931 in that area, the production of cured fishery products amounted to 102,617,256 pounds, valued at $14,865,530. It is estimated that about 680,000,000 pounds of fresh fishery products (excluding packaged fish and shellfish) valued at about $50,000,000 were marketed during 1938. The total marketed

value to domestic primary handlers of all fishery products in 1938 is estimated at $214,000,000.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

HALIBUT INVESTIGATIONS

Under authority of the treaty of January 29, 1937, the International Fisheries Commission continued the regulation of the Pacific halibut fishery and carried on the scientific investigations of the halibut and its fishery, which form the basis for regulation.

The representation of the United States on the Commission was changed during the year. Mr. Frank T. Bell, who had been a member of the Commission since July 31, 1933, resigned effective January 31, 1940. Mr. Charles E. Jackson, Acting Commissioner of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, was appointed to succeed him. The membership of the Commission at the end of the year was: Mr. L. W. Patmore and Mr. A. J. Whitmore, for Canada; Mr. Charles E. Jackson and Mr. Edward W. Allen, for the United States.

Meetings of the Commission were held at Seattle on July 7 and December 12, 13 and 14. At the latter meetings, Mr. L. W. Patmore was elected Chairman and Mr. Edward W. Allen was elected Secretary for the ensuing biennium.

In fulfillment of its regulatory duties, the Commission determined the catch limits necessary for each regulatory area, recorded the catch from each area, forecast and announced the date of attainment of each area limit and closed the areas accordingly. In 1939, areas 1 and 2, which include all halibut-fishing grounds south of Cape Spencer, Alaska, were closed to halibut fishing at midnight July 29. The total catches were 1,068,000 and 24,309,000 pounds, respectively, for the two areas. Of the area 2 catch, 373,000 pounds were taken under permits while fishing for other species after the closure of that area. Areas 3 and 4, which include all the halibut-fishing grounds north and west of Cape Spencer, were closed at midnight October 28 with catches of 25,360,000 pounds and zero pounds respectively.

The 1940 fishing season was opened on April 1 under regulations issued on March 25, 1940. Several changes were made in these regulations to facilitate enforcement and to assure limitation of the catch to the prescribed poundage which is as much as is justified by the present condition of the stock. Possession of undersized halibut was prohibited, fishing was restricted to one area on any one trip, and provision was made for the examination of all records dealing with the landing, purchase, and sale of halibut. At the request of the fleet, the method of closure of area 3 was changed to conform to that of area 2.