IS 8H 11 .A7 A52 1951 DATE DUE ANN1 Alask Alaska De Demeo, Inc. 38·293 --~-~- ARLIS Alaska Resources Library & Information Services Ancboragt, MuJka '-;ttl ;,.." .) I 1951 j; 'I i , ANNUAL REPORT Alaska Fisheries Board and Alaska Depar~ment of Fisheries Ernest Gruening Governor J. Howard WakeField Chairman C. L. Anderson Director REPORT NO.3 JUNEAU, ALASKA ARLIS ~s Alaska Resources Library & Inform3t\fm Sen1ces AneLD: 3;;~, ,~aska To: THE GOVERNOR OF AL, MEMBERS OF THE TER AND CITIZENS OF ALAS Herewith is submitted t Board, created by the 1~ 21, 1949. This report covers the ment of Fisheries based ( 1951. KARLUK BEACH SEINE FISHERY, KODIAK ISLAND To: THE GOVERNOR OF ALASKA MEMBERS OF THE TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE AND CITIZENS OF ALASKA Herewith is subtnitted the Third Annual Report of the Alaska Fisheries Board, created by the 19th Territorial Legislature and approved March 21, 1949. This report covers the activities of the Board and the Alaska Depart­ tnent of Fisheries based on the calendar year January 1 to Decetnber 31, 1951. C. L. ANDERSON, Director J. HOWARD WAKEFIELD, Chairman IRA H. ROTHWELL, Metnber J. P. VALENTINE, Metnber KARL BRUNSTAD, Metnber WILLIAM WALTON, Metnber W. O. SMITH, Metnber JDIAK ISLAND f The following report co Fisheries Board and the J year 1951, except for th based on the Territorial A review of the work of public may becollle acquai Attention is directed to th and Watershed Managelll by the increased funds ap The statistical tables h hist.ory of the sallllon can When the biological re effort was lllade to bring Fishermen and dealers \ The response was excel benefit. The continued i encouraging. In establishing the new, lowed. The Wrangell and ( helpful in organizing the I men and packers of the Kc starting of the watershed The reception accordec especially gratifying. Th~ in the first project unde lllaterials, boats and othe Without this wholehear1 have been exceedingly di these new divisions and st Each and every elllploye, cooperation and trust the groups in solving the llla dustry-fishing. FOREWORD The following report contains a summary of the activities of the Alaska Fisheries Board and the Alaska Department of Fisheries for the calendar year 1951, except for the financial statement, which. of necessity, is based on the Territorial fiscal year, April I, 1951 to March 31, 1952. A review of the work of each division is presented, so that the general public may become acquainted with the overall program of the department. Attention is directed to the new sections on Predator Control, Sport Fish. and Watershed Management. These new activities were made possible by the increased funds appropriated by the 1951 Legislature. The statistical tables have been brought up to date and a chronological history of the salmon canneries of Central Alaska has been added. When the biological research division was inaugurated in 1950 every effort was made to bring the program as close to the people as possible. Fishermen and dealers were invited to meetings in the principal ports. The response was excellent and the exchange of ideas was of mutual benefit. The continued interest at subsequent meetings has been very encouraging. In establishing the new divisions in 1951, a similar procedure was fol­ lowed. The Wrangell and Cordova fishermen and packers were especially helpful in organizing the hair seal predator control program. The fisher­ men and packers of the Kodiak-Afognak area contributed to the successful starting of the watershed management project in that area. The reception accorded the work of the Sport Fish division has been especially gratifying. The Tanana Valley Sportsmen aided immeasurably in the first project undertaken in that district by furnishing manpower. materials, boats and other equipment. Without this wholehearted support from Territorial residents it would have been exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to have inaugurated these new divisions and started the actual work within such a short time. Each and every employee of the Department is grateful for this splendid cooperation and trust that they will merit the continued support of all groups in solving the many problems vital to Alaska's first-ranking in­ dustry-fishing. p 1 TABL Foreword Fisheries Board . Adm.inistration . Biological Investigations ... Library . Inspection and Enforcem.ent Watershed Managem.ent ..... Sport Fish Statistics: Table I Num.ber of G Table II Gom.parative Table III Gatch by Ap Table IV Poundage ar 1942-1951 . Financial. Report ..... Looking Ahead . History of Salm.on Ganne rie TABL~ OF CONT~NTS Foreword 7 Fisheries Board 10 Administration 17 Biological Investigations 19 Library 43 Inspection and Enforcell1ent 43 Watershed Managell1ent 45 Sport Fish 54 Statistics: Table I Nwnber of Canneries and Pack, 1942-1951 62 Table II COInparative Values by Species, 1942-1951 62 Table III Catch by Apparatus, 1951 63 Table IV Poundage and Value, Alaska Fisheries Products, 1942-1951 _ 64 Financial Report 66 Looking Ahead 69 History of Sahnon Canneries in Central Alaska, 1882-1950 71 lIIIIII f= FISH(:RI(:S BOARD Detailed reports on the presented to the Board and During the year 1951 two regular meetings of the Alaska Fisheries Report. Board were held at the office of the Alaska Department of Fisheries in The principal business ( Juneau. A summary of each meeting follows. commendations to the U. S ies regulations. A joint 0 REGULAR SPRING MEETING, APRIL 2-6, 1951 Service; a number of fis} The Board elected William R. Walton, Sitka fisherman, to serve as numerous letters were re chairman for the ensuing year. The Director's report, covering the gen­ Afte r due deliberation the eral activities of the Department since the November 1950 meeting was for transmittal to Mr. Ali presented along with a resume of bills and appropriations, effecting the vice. Washington, D. C. : operations of the Board and the Department, approved by the 1951 Legis­ lature. All members of the Board were most appreciative of the splendid The Alaska Fisheries Boa' support given the Department by members of both houses. for your consideration in At a joint conference with officials of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Ser­ tection of the commercia] vice agreement w'as reached on Department assistance 'and cooperation aware, the members of U with the Service for Inspection, Enforcement and Stream Improvement can appreciate the viewpoi projects for the 1951 season. On the subject of predator Control, it was te rs pertaining to the fis] agreed that the Alaska Department of Fisheries should confine its efforts men have their homes in largely to the reduction of hair seal in places where they are a menace closely tied in with the s to the fisheries: and that the Fish and Wildlife Service should concentrate you can be assured they a on the elimination of sea lion. per utilization of this reso The proposed program for 1951 of the Biological Research Division was In its 1949 brief to you accepted as outlined. This provided for a continuation of the troll salmon follows: inve stigation with allowance fo"r an expansion to cover the king salmon "As a general state' fishery of the Taku River. The blackcod (sablefish) investigation was also with fishing method! to be continued insofar as time and personnel permitted. types of legal salm( The Inspection Division was authorized to purchase a limited number traps. No.2 seines; r of outboard boats and motors for use in districts, where men with their In setting up the ge: own boats were unavailable. The overall plan called for a limited expan­ Service has specifie sion of the enforcement program during the 1951 fishing season. area. When based on With the additional funds appropriated by the Legislature, it became crimination this is possible to set up two new divisions within the Department: the Water­ fishery management shed Management Division and the Sport Fish Division. The outlining of Service has seen fit the 1951 work programs for these two new divisions was left to the dis­ types of gear restri, cretion of the Director, with an understanding that the Watershed Man­ strictions can undOl agement projects be started in the Kodiak-Afognak area and the Sport other reasons and Fish work be centered near Fairbanks, preferably at the University of lations. However, Alaska if suitable space becomes available at that institution. namely the trap, is In the matter of Predator Control for which a special appropriation was seines or gill nets, made by the Legislature, it was decided that the greatest benefit could be to be discriminator derived by concentrating the efforts in a few districts. Since all reports are many cases in indicated that the Copper River and Stikine River deltas were suffering against the less eff the greatest damage from hair seal predations, these two locations were seem proper for the given top priority. tions and to set up s The financial report for the biennium, 1949-1951 was accepted by the crimination. Unless Board as presented. After adoption of a personnel classification and a general rule shoul salary schedule the meeting was adjourned. the more effective effective should lik, REGULAR FALL MEETING, NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 1951 recognized for year, Mr. J. H. Wakefield was elected chairman to complete the unexpired term of Mr. William R. Walton who had resigned after his election at The Board still believe the spring meeting. Mr. W. O. Smith, fisherman of Ketchikan, was wel­ that the Service consider 1 comed as a new member of the Board. effective gear where mOrE 10 FISHERIES BOARD 11. RD Detailed reports On the summer activities of various divisions were presented to the Board and are incorporated in other parts of this Annual of the Alaska Fisheries Report. epartment of Fisheries in The principal business of the fall meeting was the consideration of re­ commendations to the U.