Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-09
and LAS gill nets. with seventy-two traps
built Of piles and webbing.
Enforcement of Law

enforcement of Law.
On the question of the enforcement Of the
law Mr.. Kutchin says one of the common
est errors in regard to the Alaskan salmon
fisheries is that there is almost universal
disregard Of the law and regulations es-
tablished for their preservation. and that
the exhaustion of the existing universal
yield Of Alaska waters will surely be
speedily brought about by the alleged flu
tility of all efforts to enforce the protect
i've enactments. These beliefs. he says.
are due to the hasty and superficial obser-
vations Of random tourists, who rarely
penetrate into the salmon region farther
than Sitka.
Though 1t is a statement greatly at va
rance with prevalent ideas upon the sub
ject- 1 do not hesitate to affirm" Mr. Kut-
chin says, that all existing lawless prac-
tees could never materially affect the Alas
ka salmon fisheries. 1t is not to be un,
derstood that they may not be endangered
by the stupendous drain upon them by
processes which are entirely lawful. Even
on this point l am sometimes almost shak-
en- in strong affirmative opinion. Some
curious calculator has estimated that
every square mile of sea water contains
100000 fishes of all varities, and In the
North Pacific one sees things that almost
make him think that the greater part OF
these are salmon.
Such violations as are occasionally to
be found, and for which the offenders are
called upon to answer to the courts, are
rarely OI OSllDSTdlo CudTdCltI, Jul hoiO
often technical errors, or due to the i'm
petuous eagerness Of ignorant fishermen.
whites and natives, to make the most OF
good runs.
Taken all in all, 1 feel fully warranted
in asserting that the Alaska salmon fish
cries. barring the probable disproportionate
encroachment Of new packers upon field
already well occupied, are in better case IN
almost every particular-certainly so in re-
gard to recognition Of the law and its gen.
eral observance-than at any previous time
in their history. All that Is needed is an
active forwarding of liberal propagating
efforts, and some important changes in the
law on the lines of later experience, to as
sure absolute permanence and even increas-
ing volume to this valuable industry"
Recommendations.
Mr. Kutchin closed his report with the
following recommendations:
That modification be made in the reg
ulations regarding hatcheries, to relieve
small salters of pink salmon exclusively,
who put up, say, not to exceed 800 barrels,
from the requirement to maintain hatch
cries or otherwise supply red salmon fry
to the waters fished. This class of packers
do not deplete the red salmon streams, and
thus far there seems to be no occasion to
assist nature in the propagation of the in
ferior kinds of salmon.
for the building and operation of two or
more government salmon hatcheries in
Alaska, with the provision that packers
who would elect not to maintain hatch
cries shall procure and pay for their quota
of fry to be planted in the waters fished by
each, under the supervision of government
officials
THAT a limitation of the fishing season
for southeastern Alaska, say from and in
Guiding the waters Of Cross sound south
ward to Dixons Entrance, be fixed to begin
not earlier than July Of each year.
THAT existing law be amended to change
the closed season from midnight of Friday
to 6 am. Of Sunday, so that 1t shall be
from midnight of Saturday to am. OF
Monday. Also that the use Of fixed or sta
tionary distractions, such as traps, not only
in or at rivers and streams but in all the
waters, be forbidden.
That some plan be formulated to pro-
tect and encourage those who engage in
salmon culture, such as reserving streams
for that purpose and insuring to the propa-
gators the sole benefits of their efforts In
this direction.
'.That definition be made as to the stage
of tide at which-whether high or low water
the mouths of rivers and streams shall be
established. The uncertainty as to this
question should be removed to obviate re-
curing complications.
"That a regulation be adopted restricting
the minimum size of net mesh to Ga inches.
When smaller than this the effect is to
catch fish practically unfit for use, and re-
suits in a waste.
THAT regulation be adopted forbidding
the packing of salmon that have been out
of water longer than forty-eight hours. In
the warmer portions of the season fish be-
come too stale to be wholesome even sooner
than that, and the long distances they are
often transported operates to make them
too foul for food.
That a request be made Of all depart
ments of the government that the Alaska
officials Of each be instructed to cooperate