The Cordova daily times., 1915-01-22
EXHAUSTIVE REPORT ON ALASKA $
 VARIOUS FISHERY INDUSTRIES

of tta report of Dr. E. Lester Jones' Deputy Commis- soner of Fisheries, which deals with his special investi
 gaons in Alaska this past Under the direction of the Secretary of Commerce he made through survey and investigation of the various fishery ndustries visited the fur seal fisheries the Prbof Islands and made study in herewith for the purpose of formulating definite and business like policy for the administration of those islands and inquired into the fur bearing animals, including both the matter of the protection of the wild stock and the de veopment the industry of rearing such animals in captivity His field work occupied nearly five months and result of his visit Cordova Dr. Jones has recommended M of the four government hacheres needed should be located on Eyak lake, where there good of red salmon and the fact a splendid water supply is available. It upon geson of the local Chamber of Commerce that the Deputy Commissioner visited the lake and his recommendation is the result
 Dr. Jones strong advocate of federal control of fisheries On this subject he says:
 'The contention of in Alaska that the Territory can better administer its fishery affairs is susceptible of ad criticism because of the strife and friction diverse local interests that would almost inevitably follow such efforts to handle the situation This has been the States and 1t therefore honest belief that full Federal rol of the fisheries of Alaska mpariay and honestly ad mnistered by the Department of Commerce through the Bureau of Fisheries will result most benecay all interests cerned And furthermore owing to the vast amount of prac cal and scientific knowledge and information acquired and de velOped during extended period by of training and experience in the Bureau of Fisheries any idea thought transferring jurisdiction this highly important industry to another institution board of the National Government should be serious mistake and would prove handicap to the greatest development of Alaska rich fishery
 Further in this report he dsapproves of purse which he states can not be recommended desirable method of fishing particularly for the that rank with the trap in which fresh and wholesome fish are deliver ed at the canneres From much personal observation there doubt my mind but that fair portion of brought to the cannerie unfit for have been in this condition ac count of the rough treatment they received the hands purse-seine fishermen. Another thing that purse seine can be moved wherever the fishermen may wish to take it. thus following the fish into the very stream mouths objection able practice.
 should be curtaed extent Unortunaey there are men engaged in the fishing industry who little for the law and in order to put check them necessary legislation will insure it's observance common occur in southeastern Alaska when salmon they have worked their way up to the s2wnng grounds for can neries to furnish the fishermen with senes with which to go up and take fish from spawning grounds With ordinary facilities is impossible the Government to detect and stop all such illegal practices in the taking Therefore, would suggest that remedy this situation it would be we'll to abolish the of senes under minimum length of 100 athOms and further, law stronger
 would be we'll to make the possession of any such seine in Alaska under 100 athoms violation much as to be acu y caught using Also with regard traps purse should be operated closer than half mile mouth of stream This most important point in the future protection of the salmon"
 Under the caption of Otter Fishing Methods" the Com missioner "Another rather unique method pracced in the Copper River above the delta When the salmon are running up the stream localities where the swift they seek the shore order avoid the current and easily picked by hand dip experienced the sensa ton of catching them myself and very easy land many of them the of hour It strikes when these fish have by gill nets in the Copper River delta they should be permitted to continue nteruptedy their journey up the spawning grounds However, there various little settlements along the shore of the many miles this river might create undue hardship to totally prohibit this method of fishing and would therefore proper permit their capture for domestic purposes exortaton should be- allowed in any form, irrespective of whether fresh smoked mdcured canned otherwise prepared And furthermore there should be method of fishing allowed in this stream other than by hook and line or by hand dip nets'
 Dr. Jones recommends that the present fishing ot the mouth and delta of Copper River is all stream oayht to stand and to insure certain number of salmon reaching ter spawning grounds is advisable this stream above the delta to all kinds of fishing except for emesc purposes
 allow no fish to be shipped out in any shope also the Akow rVe near Yakuta should be protected against all mercial fishing This might result some hardship for inc Indians who rely on this stream for their supply of fish but such fishing might be allowed with perfect popretv if done under certain restrictions without any of inc being utilized for commercial purposes"
 The report deals at length with the natives Alaska and