FOREST SERVICE

The Forest Service, of the Department of Agriculture, administers the Tongass and Chucagh National Forests located in southeastern Alaska and the Prince William Sound region. These forests, with an area of 21,000,000 acres, contain most of the strictly commercial timber of Alaska and are estimated to contain 85,000,000,000 board-feet.

The possible yearly cut in perpetuity is estimated at 1,000,000,000 board-feet, while the present yearly cut is only 56,000,000 board-feet, or 5.6 per cent of what could safely be taken.

While these forests now supply local demands for a variety of raw materials, such as saw timber, piling, and ties, it is hoped to increase the cut through the manufacture of newsprint paper within the Territory.

Studies of water powers and timber stands are in progress by large paper interests, and there is every reason to believe this industry will be established within the Territory as a result of these studies.

Roads and trails within the forests are financed by funds appropriated under the forest road section of the Federal highway act, in cooperation with the Territory, and are built by the Bureau of Public Roads.

An extensive road and trail program is in progress to make the forests more accessible.

The principal roads are in the vicinity of the larger settlements and connect them with small towns, mining districts, and agricultural communities. The trails open up new regions for mineral prospecting and other developments.

Up to June 30, 1929, 350 miles of trail and 281 miles of road had been constructed, at a cost of $4,500,000.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

The policy of granting special-use permits for such purposes as fox farms, residences, cabins, and canneries has been continued. Seven hundred and ninety-one such permits were in effect at the close of 1928. A continued increase in the number of permits issued along newly constructed roads is noted.

Prospecting for new ore bodies has been carried on in numerous sections of the forests and has been quite active especially in the Hyder district, at the head of Portland Canal, and on Taku River. No restrictions are placed on the location or patenting of mineral lands within the national forests.

The new 5-acre home site act for Alaska of March 3, 1927, is proving popular. Applications for special-use permits that may lead to patent under that act total 171. A few applications for agricultural homesteads under the act of June 11, 1906, are still being secured, but the home site act is largely replacing this class of application.

Many of the tracts occupied by canneries and industrial plants are being released from the forest withdrawal in order that title may be secured under appropriate laws.

The mapping of the Tongass National Forest by aerial photography was begun in 1926. The work is being done by the United States Navy in cooperation with the Geological Survey, the Forest Service, and other Government agencies in Alaska. Four Navy planes arrived in Alaska in May, 1929, to complete the work in Southeastern Alaska begun in 1926. It is expected the work will be completed in the early summer of 1929.

These photographs are of immense value in locating timber bodies, lakes, and rivers valuable for water power, possible routes for roads and trails, and for accurately mapping the coast line.

RECEIPTS

Receipts from timber sales, special-use permits, and miscellaneous sources in the Alaska national forests for the fiscal year 1929 were $82,515.58. Except for such sums as are spent for roads and trails the receipts slightly exceed the expenditures.

GAME AND FUR CONDITIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

The Alaska Game Commission entered its fourth year of operations under the Alaska game law. (Act of January 13, 1925; 43 Stat. 739.) The commission is composed of five members, one from each of the four judicial divisions of the Territory, and the chief representative of the Biological Survey resident in Alaska acting as executive officer, fiscal agent, and secretary.

The general public is still somewhat confused regarding the activities and functions of the United States Bureau of the Biological Survey and the Alaska Game Commission. Although both agencies are under the general jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture, they are independent organizations, each with separate duties to perform. The former is responsible for, and conducts scientific studies and investigations on the wild life of the Territory in its relation to agriculture, grazing, game, and fur industry. It also administers certain bird reservations. The fundamental activities of the latter agency are regulatory and pertain to the requirements of the Alaska game act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

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The fifth annual meeting of the commission was held in Juneau November 8-20, 1928. All members were present, and careful consideration was given to fur and game conditions in the Territory. To accommodate residents of the Territory living north of the Arctic Circle who must necessarily depend entirely upon game for their meat supply, a continuous open season on caribou was provided. Regulations permitting the killing of large brown and grizzly bear, when such animal is about to attack or molest persons or property, were modified. This was done in response to an appeal from residents of the Kodiak-Afognak Islands group, engaged in agricultural pursuits, to protect their grazing livestock from these animals. Regulations were so liberalized as to permit residents of that district to kill a bear at any time or place when such animal is considered a menace to persons, livestock, or property. To replenish the diminishing supply of mink in southeastern Alaska, it was found necessary to restrict the taking of mink in district No. 1, to the month of January. To restock depleted fur areas, it was also found advisable to continue the closed season on mink in fur district No. 3, and on beaver and marten throughout the Territory. These changes, together with several slight modifications in the regulations, were recommended to the Secretary of Agriculture. The revised regulations, Circular No. 6, were published April 2, 1929, becoming effective July 1, 1929.

The revenues from licenses, fines, and forfeitures received by the executive officer during the fiscal year totaled $62,979.80, which, in accordance with the Alaska game law, have been divided equally between the Federal Treasury and the Territorial treasury. The moneys to the Territory are deposited in the school fund. Sources of revenues are shown in the following table:

Seventy-two cases of game-law violations were filed in court during the year. The fines totaled $5,953.50. Jail sentences totaled 321 days. Numerous furs, traps, guns, trophies, and game meat were forfeited under court action and by voluntary releases where court action was not found to be advisable.

The motor vessel Seal, built by the commission in the spring of 1926, made her fourth patrol trip to the Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Islands, and Bristol Bay. Considerable improvement in game and fur law observance was noticed on this patrol. In the fall this ves

sel was brought to southeastern Alaska, where it engaged in an effective patrol during the winter months. The small cabin cruiser placed in operation on the Kuskokwim River in 1928 patroled this district for the second time and did much good work. The 48-foot motor boat Sea Otter, which has been in steady service in southeastern Alaska since the passage of the Alaska game law in 1925, has efficiently carried on the work assigned in this district.

Paul G. Redington, Chief of the United States Bureau of Biological Survey, arrived in Juneau in the spring of 1928, for the purpose of acquainting himself with the Territory and its needs. During his three months' trip he visited the Kodiak-Afognak Island group, Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Islands Reservation, Alaska Railroad belt, Yukon River, and the Seward Peninsula, and much data of value to the department was obtained.

The value of the land-fur bearing animal pelts shipped from the Territory during the calendar year 1928 was $4,277,347.13. This was an increase of $619,406.45 over the year 1927, and was largely due to the increase in the average value of furs. Furs (except fur seals) shipped from Alaska during the years 1926, 1927, and 1928 are shown in the following table:

Furs shipped from Alaska during the years 1926, 1927, and 1928

The program of stocking certain areas with fur and game animals, funds for which were provided by the 1927 Territorial legislature, was continued, and eight elk were placed on Kodiak Island. The

commission has received favorable reports of the increase of deer, beaver, and muskrats placed on the Kodiak Island group during the years 1923-1925, and of beaver on Baranof and elk on Kruzof Islands in 1927. The 23 head of buffalo, obtained through the courtesy of the Bureau of Biological Survey from Moiese, Mont., and placed in the Fairbanks district in the fall of 1928, are successfully adapting themselves to their new surroundings.

Three hundred and eighty fur-farm licenses were issued during the year. To keep pace with this growing industry, additional funds were appropriated by the 1929 legislature to provide for the work and continued service of Dr. E. F. Graves, Territorial veterinarian, who is assisting the fur farmers with their problems in animal husbandry. This work is carried on under the direction of the governor.

To encourage and assist persons desiring to establish fur farms, 116 permits were issued for the capture of live fur bearers for propagation purposes during the fiscal year. These permits provided for the capture of 656 mink, 181 muskrat, 174 fox of red stock, 65 white fox, 90 martin, 29 beaver, 10 cross fox, 2 silver fox, 4 lynx, and 10 weasel.

R. K. Stewart, an experienced predatory-animal hunter assigned to the Territory by the United States Biological Survey, has continued his operations in predatory-animal control work, operating with funds appropriated by the 1927 and 1929 Territorial legislatures. To further the control of predatory animals, the 1929 Tegislature appropriated funds for the employment of additional hunters. This work is carried on under the joint direction of the governor and the Alaska Game Commission.

Big-game hunting continues to be an attraction to nonresident hunters. A total of 109 visited the Territory during the fall and spring hunting seasons of 1928-29. During this period a total of 57 guides were licensed.

The service of 49 licensing officers in widely scattered sections of the Territory is available for the convenience of persons desiring to comply with the license provisions of the Alaska game law.

UNITED STATES COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY

This year marked the completion of the survey of the entire outer coast of southeast Alaska from Dixon entrance to the vicinity of Cape Fairweather. Some progress was also made in the survey of the coast of Kodiak Island, urgently needed to meet the growing demands of commerce. In addition, important geodetic work was accomplished, and the bureau continued to make tidal and current investigations along the coast and magnetic and seismological observations.

A magnetic and seismological station was maintained at Sitka throughout the year, and primary tide stations were maintained at Ketchikan and Seward during the entire year and at Valdez for a part of the year.

The Coast and Geodetic Survey ship Surveyor worked along the south side of Kenai Peninsula, west and southwest of Montague Island. The inshore work was carried continuously westward along