Douglas Island news., 1913-01-08
Protection and Development of
 Fisheries
-Report of Governor Clark.


 now being made upon the fisheries of Alaska, the danger of serious depletion
 will not continue imminent provided the fishermen observe faithfully the protective laws now in force or recently proposed ,and provided a suitable mum. Der of hateheries is maintained. In addition, there are the benefits accru- ing from setting aside, for greater or less periods, of streams as reserves wherein the fish may propagate natur' ally, undisturbed by commercial fish, ermen.
 During recent years, with the con stantly growing use of the purse seine, there has been tendency upon the part of fishermen using this form of gear to violate the law prohibitiye of setting nets entirely across the mouths of streams. It is not even an uncom- mon practice for fishermen to go up the streams and drive the fish down from the spawning beds into the wait ing nets. This practice is most vicious and its continuance will be potent factor in destroying or so reducing the runs of salmon as practically to ruin great industry. The cry is often heard that the traps are destroying the run of salmon-that they catch countless mil lions of fsh--but moment of impar tial study of the situation may lead to different conclusion. With trap, or a series of traps, extending out thou sand feet into channel often several miles wide, the part of the passage blockaded against the salmon is com paratively small, and the result is that great mum bers of fish pass by un- harmed. Moreover, the trap is fixed piece of apparatus and is susceptible of regulatFon The law provides that it be so arranged as to permit the free and unobstructed passage of salmon during the weekly close period of 36 hours. After the fish have passed the traps they head for the mouths of streams seeking spawning grounds. Their habits are such that they fire quently school off the mouths of the streams before attempting to ascend. It is as they congregate thus that the deadly efficiency of the purse seine IS felt. The purse seine is in effect mobile trap.
 As to the contention that the traps are catching all of the fish, it is only necessary to consult the statistics for 1911, the last compiled, aud it will be observed that of the catch of pink sal non in Southeastern Alaska over SO per cent were taken in seines and but 35 per cent in traps. Over 9T per cent of the total catch in this section of AIaska was pink salmon. In the case of traps, the 6sh gre usually not re- naoVed until the esnnery is able to haldle them in fresh condition, but 5n the case of purse seines, 8 power boat oftsd starts out from the eannery and is gone several days, sometimes a week, catching Ssb each day, before re- turning 60. the cannery or sending the cateb m by 8 collecting boat. 1t is easy to see that fish caught under such conditions can not possibly be in as good condition @s those saken from tVaps-
 1u it's SDag analysis sbs complaint of those who gre crying foT the aboli- tio0 og srsps amoOnss to 8 laboT ques- t5on- Phe purse sejnes require more laeoT iu theiE operation than do the srags. 1t should De urged DpOn con- gYess to snaes as sD early date lesisla- tioD so sssuBsss SOd licsDse sH forms oa Eshrg gssr opsEnted in Alaska. A tax should also hs placed upon all Sornss of SsAiBg geaT As we'll as upon the EUishsd pGSdDGa. Generally l en- aorss she DToyisio8s of the Esheries