The Alaska daily empire., 1913-04-05
Seine Fishermen Protest Vigorously Against Traps
Continued from Page 1.)


 fish have decreased to such an ex- tent that the traps are now lifted only every third day while formerly it was lifted twice each day.
 At Rats Harbor they have trap that is so constructed that it catches fish on both sides, floating trap is anchored short distance from shore near the mouth of the stream and all fish that escape this trap are caught in the stationary trap built across the mouth of the stream. Fish as a rule follow the shore line and it is impossible to get by the traps. At this place where there were formerly many fish going to the spawning grounds now there are none. Brad field Canal was another place where traps were built across the mouths of spawning streams.
 Of course big streams like the Stikine could not be entirely closed by traps. The fish had chance like betting on a roulette wheel.
 The Alaska Packers Association, Mir. Lewis declared bring all their stores from below, bring their men from below and pay them off outside the country, leaving absolutely noth- ing for the fish they take. Before the traps came the Indians had an oppor- tunity to earn money during the fish ing season with seines. Where for merly they made $500 during the sea. son which is a small amount for a man to support family on, they are now fortunate to make $50 during a season. The women and children are given employment in the canner' ies and occasionally men are employ ed a few days. There are only three canneries that employ native crews; the caunerymen send their white crews into the mouths of the streams and ravish them of the fish going to the spawning grounds. It is true that native fishermen also violate the law in taking fish but they are driven to it by the necessity to earn enough to live.
 Traps, Lewis said are supplying the canneries of Icy Straits, the richest fishing grounds in the territory and the natives are even now in Juneau on their their way south where they hope to have an opportunity to fish with seines during the season. The Indian can see his only chance of earning living disappearing and something should be done to prevent it. If salmon catching is not regu- lated. within ten years Mir, Lewis thinks salmon will be exterminated in Alaska.
 Mir. Lewis states that traps built across the streams will and do catch all the fish and that hatcheries do not increase the stock of salmon even in the localities in which they are op- erated, notwithstanding it is the na- ture of the fish to return to his breed ing place. His remedy is to prevent traps from being built near salmon streams and he would force all sorts fishing gear certain distance from each side of the mouth of salmon streams.
 Charles Johnson, of Juneau, said he came to Alaska in 1896 and that he had followed fishing off and on for 2S years and that he had fished from Southeastern Alaska to Cooks Inlet. He said that he had seen from 30 to 40 traps in operation on Cooks Inlet alone. some of them with leads as long as 17OO feet and that this year he understands that they are going to put in one trap with a lead of 24OO feet. Mir. Johnson says that it is im- possible for fish to escape the trap, catching not alone salmon, but halibut cod fish, salmon trout, etc.. which they dump overheard and become a total loss except the salmon which are canned. He said that he operated two of the first floating traps ever con- structed in Alaska for the Alaska Packers Association at Hetta. He contends that traps are the most de- structive of all gear known to be in use. There has been, he says, a steady decrease of salmon of all kinds each year since he has been in the country and that some streams are practically exhausted. On Cooks h. let they had no Sunday law to enforce between 1906 and 1912.