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Ottawa, and Mr. Andrew Halkett, of the Department of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa, to investigate the fur-seal question. Professor Thompson and Mr. Macoun visited the Pribilof Islands, and spent much of the summer there. Mr. G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton was also sent by the British Government to the Russian seal islands, to make an independent investigation there. These gentlemen have, I understand, made a report to their Government.

Under the provisions of a joint resolution of Congress, approved June 8, 1896, Prof. David S. Jordan, of Leland Stanford University, California, was appointed as an expert to examine into the present condition of the fur-seal herd on behalf of our Government. There were associated with him Mr. F. A. Lucas and Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, of the U. S. National Museum; Mr. Charles H. Townsend, of the U. S. Fish Commission; Lieut. Commander Jefferson F. Moser, U. S. N., and Mr. Joseph Murray, formerly special agent of the seal fisheries. These gentlemen spent the summer on the Pribilof Islands, the Russian Commander Islands, and an expedition was also made to the Kuril Islands, off the coast of Japan. Although Professor Jordan has not yet prepared his final report, enough appears from the preliminary report which has just been received to indicate that the sole cause of the decrease in the fur-seal herd is pelagic sealing. The fur-seal herd is threatened with rapid extermination unless changes are speedily made in the award regulations. It is sincerely to be hoped that the respective governments may agree upon the needed changes to effectually preserve the herd and protect this valuable industry and its product for the use of mankind.

It is proper at this time to make mention of the meritorious services of Mr. Lucas and Dr. Stejneger of the U. S. National Museum. Under the terms of the resolution they were detailed for the purpose of assisting in this investigation. No provision, however, was made by which any compensation could be given them in addition to their regular remuneration as members of the National Museum. I earnestly urge upon Congress the propriety of appropriating additional compensation to these gentlemen for the valuable services rendered by them. The work performed could not properly be said to be incident to their regular employment. The hardships inevitably suffered were many, and I believe it to be just and equitable that reasonable extra compensation be given them for their services.

SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA.

Under the requirements of an act of Congress approved June 9, 1896, three inspectors were appointed to visit the canneries and fishing streams of Alaska, with a view to the enforcement of the law for the protection of the salmon. This commission entered upon the duty of inspection in July-as soon as the appropriation became available-and

the report of its work was made late in November. From this report it is apparent that many of the smaller streams which formerly produced large numbers of red salmon have been reduced to such a condition as to render their use unprofitable to those engaged in the fishing industry. This condition has been caused by a total disregard of the law of 1889, which prohibited the erection of barricades, dams, or other obstructions tending to deter the ascent of salmon to their spawning grounds. The large expanse of territory affected by that law could not be covered by a single officer during the season, owing to the inadequate transportation facilities, and inspection was therefore confined to a few canneries.

Under the recent act the inspection has been more thorough, extending to the streams and spawning grounds, thus bringing the law directly to the attention of those engaged in the unlawful practices. Complaints were investigated and reported to the Department by the inspectors, whose presence among the fishermen and personal examination of the various localities enabled them to reach conclusions free from prejudice to either of the parties concerned.

All the streams inspected in which obstructions contrary to law were found were ordered cleared, and in every case such orders were promptly obeyed. In order to preserve this condition, inspectors will be required to make occasional visits during the fishing season, and to this end better means of transportation should be provided, so that the officials will not be obliged to ask favors at the hands of those interested in evading the law.

The condition of the fisheries in Cooks Inlet, Prince William Sound, and Kodiak is much better than that of southeastern Alaska. This is due, no doubt, to the fact that the numerous companies engaged in the first-named places watch each other closely for violations of the law, and thus assist in protecting the industry. In the southeastern part, however, the packing stations are many miles apart, and the supply of fish is drawn from streams 50 or 60 miles distant, and there is consequently sharp competition for the best fish. This competition, which enhances the value of the fish, necessarily results in improper methods of obtaining a supply with the least possible labor, and hence the fencing and barricading of streams has been practiced for many years, until the streams no longer offer inducements to the fishermen.

The law of June 9, 1896, has been thoroughly promulgated throughout the entire territory, by the force of inspectors placed in the field during the season just closed, with a promise of good results. Some changes might be made which would prove valuable, as suggested in the report of the inspector.

The protection of the salmon trout, one of the most destructive of the numerous enemies of the salmon, is evidently a mistake and should be withdrawn.

The Saturday close season should be changed to Sunday, as many of the natives, having been taught to regard Sunday as a day of rest, must

either lose one day's labor or break a long-established rule by working on Sunday. As this is a hardship upon them, without any compensating benefit to the fisheries, it is respectfully urged that the law be changed in this respect.

The law, as drawn, confers authority upon the officers to protect the salmon, but no authority is given them to prevent the packing of fish unfit for food, or to prevent the wanton waste of good fish, sometimes practiced by the packers. The law should be so amended as to confer this authority as a protection to the consumers and in order that the useless destruction of fish may be prevented.

The pack for the current year is largely in excess of that of 1895, being 965,450 cases and 9,314 barrels.

The number of persons employed is estimated at 5,600, of which about 2,000 were white, 1,300 Indians, and 2,300 Chinese.

The value of the tin plate used for cases amounted to $470,000, the duty on which amounted to about $140,000.

About $130,000 has been paid in wages to resident whites and natives in Alaska by the packing companies, of which the Alaska Packers Association has paid $100,000. This association also maintains two medical stations in the Territory, one in Bering Sea and on in the Kodiak District, at which places the natives can obtain medical advice and medicine free of charge.

Hatcheries have been established, one at Karluk and one at Etholine Island. In the Karluk District 5,500,000 eggs have been secured and over 2,000,000 at Etholine Island.

As suggested in the reports of inspectors, some protection should be afforded to those engaged in propagating fish, so that the result of their labor would benefit them directly. This can be done by securing the persons engaged in these enterprises certain exclusive rights to the stream, or parts of the stream, on which the hatchery is located, and a portion, at least, of the beach contiguous to the mouth of such stream. If such action is taken it will probably result in the erection and maintenance of hatcheries at every packing station in the Territory.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

During the past year work has been prosecnted on 53 buildings, including extensions and repairs specifically appropriated for, of which number 11 buildings have been completed for occupation, thus placing under the control of the construction branch of this Department 383 buildings, classified as follows:

Completed and occupied.....

In course of construction during year.......................

Of which number there were completed and included in the above..

Active building operations not yet commenced.......

Total.............

317

53

11

42

21

383

The following statement shows the amount expended upon public buildings during the year ending September 30, 1896:

For sites and construction of new public buildings...
For repairs and preservation of public buildings.....
For heating apparatus for public buildings.....
For vaults, safes, and locks for public buildings..
For plans for public buildings.........

$2,881, 066.99

273, 027.36

127, 418. 27

39, 421. 64

3,207.88

Total...............

NAVIGATION.

3, 324, 142. 14

The annual report of the Commissioner of Navigation* shows the tonnage, geographical distribution, material of construction, motive power, and employment of the documented merchant marine of the United States on June 30, 1896, compared with June 30, 1895, as follows: Documented merchant marine of the United States on June 30, 1896.

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Documented merchant marine of the United States on June 30, 1896—Continued.

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These figures show a continuous and most gratifying growth of our shipping on the Great Lakes, where, within relatively a short time, natural advantages have enabled us to build a merchant navy surpassed in extent only by those of Great Britain and Germany, and surpassing that of France or Norway, or of any other two foreign powers combined.

To the end that we may regain our maritime rank in foreign trade, I have the honor to renew the recommendation of my two preceding annual reports for the repeal of the law forbidding American registry to vessels owned by Americans and engaged in the foreign trade unless built in the United States. Our own experience, as well as that of other maritime nations, proves that law useless for the protection of American shipbuilding, while it represses American navigation. Even those nations which have seen fit to apply public funds to the development of the private enterprises of shipowners and shipbuilders, years ago repealed similar laws restricting to home-built vessels national registry and the use of the national flag. The urgent need of the adoption by the United States of modern and liberal policies toward shipping has been emphasized this year by the appearance of Japan as a maritime rival of this country on the Pacific. An extension at least of the legislation which resulted in the admission of the New York and Paris, the construction of the St. Louis and St. Paul, and the partial reestablishment of the United States as a maritime power on the Atlantic appears necessary to meet the new conditions confronting us on the Pacific.

From all legislative projects for the development of our shipping, in my judgment, should be excluded the adoption of discriminating duties. of 10 per cent on all cargoes imported into the United States in foreign vessels. That plan would involve the total or partial abrogation of our treaties of friendship, commerce and navigation, with nearly all the nations of the world, the product of three generations of American statesmen. It would throw into confusion our trade relations with the rest of the world for the indefinite period required to recast our treaties on the basis of commercial warfare instead of commercial friendship. Its almost certain result would be the adoption by foreign nations of FI 96

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