The Alaska daily empire., 1917-03-12

ARCH l2, 1917,
 
 laws. Laws Of this kind, though known in some of the European countries TOT a generation or more, arc very new to tho United States, althouEh AuCh ~ law has been enacted. by thS hSuvTtui 3tntcg have some kind of wOrNmcn 8 cUmpcngntion laws: and there are also some forms uf industrial insurance Chapter 7l of Inc Session Laws or Al, aska. 1915. has met with both favor ana criticism. It is quite probable that an entirely just and equitable law or thls kind has never been Formulated. II belongs to class of experimental lcE- islatlon which will take the experience of years Co bring Co a state Of toierablc perfection There can be no doubt that the principle Is sound. It is Tn tho equitable application Of the primer nlc that dvcrgenccs of opinion arise; both on the part of the, employer ana employee Tho Alaska law, moreover relates solely to the measure and rec coycry of compensation Co injured cm- ployCcs in the mining Industry or the Territory If, in your judgmcnt' the present law should be amended ana ampllfiod, l have only Co request thc remarks made by mo in discussing this subject in my message Co the second Legislature. when it was Said thht thls entire subject must be Judged m n spirit of fairness with broad views or burcr aside from the labor that he performs, and also with true concep- tlon Of the rights of capital in its re- lations Co industrial affairs. Each' to other. but We must never forget the human cQuatiOn. Money is for the use and support of the mon. not 10 rule him. It is merely a measure or value | k1s I1rtnHs nN never be permitted Co use it in such way as Co control thc man or the gov crnmCnt established by him for his use and advancement.
 Depletion of Salmon Fisheries
 Although the fisheries of Alaska arc under the direct control Of the Fcd- oral government. they are an asset or great economic and industrial Import HnCc to the Territory; and hence | have thought it fit and proper to refer just conservation of our fisheries is a matter Of vital importance Co our peo- pie. The views entertained by myself Hs tO the threatened depletion or thc salmon and h0llbut fisheries, and es- pccinlly of the former, are nt direct variance with those Of the United Statcs Bureau of Fisheries. which ser vice is charged With the HpmlnlSlrh- ton of the laws and regulations Tor their protection, Os well as the hand- ling Of problems, both scientific and economic regarding these fisheries. The Bureau of Fisheries contends that thc salmon fisheries are not In danger or depletion. hnd while the sincerity or the Bureaus attitude cannot be qucs- ,ioucd any more than can It's Scicnui- ic knowledge. the depletion Of tish lS Ta matter that is not strictly confined 10 scientific determination or inCOm- plctc observation The question has n practical as well as an economic side in support Of the contention that the salmon fisheries are being rapidly dc- plctcd, due Co the rapid increase Tn canncrics. improved fishing gear Of various kinds and intensive fishing, ] beg to refer. in this respect, Co my nn- nual report to the Secretary Of tho ln- terlor for tho fiscal year 1916, in part
 salmon fisheries in Alaska. cs-
 pcclally those of thc Southeastern
 section, are being rapidly depleted
 and probably a great deal more
 rapidly than the Bureau Of Fish
 cries realizes The few statistics
 available tO the Bureau cannot show
 this growing scarcity Of the sal
 mon. and in fact, may even be
 misleading to the extent or glYlnE
 the impression of an increase It
 Is true that the statistics Of the
 packs for n number Of years snow
 as a rule. an Increase Tn the an
 uual production Of canned nlmon,
 but gg against this condition lt
 must De borne lil llllllh AliAN NAlNl
 has been a substantial Increase m
 the number Of canncrieS. together
 with longer seasons Ot constant op-
 craton, and an increased amount
 of fishing gear operating. IhSre
 has also been an enormous in
 crease in the number Of traps both
 i'm actual numbers and In varieties of positions coupled with increased
 efficiency iI traps, as developed by
 vcarg of experience in the ObscrNa-
 .F H. thR fish. md
 corresponding correction In posi-
 tions and shapes of traps. An in-
 creased number Of scncs or large
 size and efficiency, both of design
 and skill in handling, Is to be not
 ed. ss well as an increase in the
 number of gill nets a greater var
 icty of places in which they are
 used. longer hours Of use ot tmSSSS tm,SSs,
 longer seasons In which Co use
 them. There has also been an in-
 crease in the miscellaneous Kinds
 of gear and methods or obtaining
 salmon such as hooking. dipping;
 fish wheels. etc Added
 to ali tbis is tho remarkable in-
 crease in the number Of men en-
 gagged in the capture Of salmon the vast increase and accumulation
 of knowledge and experience by
 cpuncry men and fishermen, which
 add to their efficiency. and, m
 short. every step in the develop
 mCnt Of Alaska has had It's effect.
 either directly or indirectly to in-
 crease the production of canned
 salmon The Bureau of Fisheries
 has statistics showing the truth ,oi
 some Cf these statements, but in
 others equally true. there is no data
 Co be had In the end the st1tS-
 ties will undoubtedly show the maxi
 mum capacity of production of sal-
 mo min Alaska. but it is feared
 that ere this Is shown, tho supply
 will have become SO badly depleted
 that tho industry will have been
 ruined before even the most dras-
 ilc measures C9n rccoup the loss
 and bring back the maximum Dr0-
 duCucn. if in fact it can ever be
 accomplished"
 In, view of the above statcmcnts l have Co recommend that the Lcgisla- turc take such actiCn as may, m ilS wisdom. scom TIC and proper to the end that this threatened calamity be avert cd by securing. if possible. through the Congress more complete preservation or this fishery and the proper observation of laws and regulations for the protcC- ton of the fisheries. and their dcycl- opmcnt and extension.
 The Alaska Insane
 A matter of vital concern to the pco-