The Alaska daily empire., 1918-05-15
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.

Congress is giving consideration to the Sulzer bill for the protection of Alaskas fish supply, and for the comforting of legislative powers over the fisheries of Alaska to the people of this Territory. The time is ripe for the consideration of this question, and that the whole matter is that should be brought Alaska for final adjustment is indisputable The Sulzer bill provides system for the protection of the fisheries but than that it sends the whole ques tion~to Alaska for amendment and development, The question of the protection of the fisheries industry is of the greatest that eonfronts the people of this Territory It involves the perpetuity the great est industry in this country and, therefore, the life of Investments in business, manufacturing, homes and other things well in the industry itself No one will question the patriotism of Congress its desire do well in this matter in others, but the inteTcst is more less of benefcient theory an abstract proposition, to those whose homes 4000 or more miles away, while here it is a ter of long life eventual death to much busness.
 The recent hearings of the Americans Canadian Marine and Fisheries conference at Seattle and Van eouver have disclosed condition of fisheries situation on Puget Sound that avoid if pos fible' and that be best avoided by giving the people of Alaska, those who into the question with first hand information, control over the mat ter.
 The following special dispatch from Vancouver 'o tue Seattle Times gives fairly graphic picture ol what the Puget Sound fishermen are up against
 Unless measures for the protection of the salmon, which now have 10 the gaunt- let of fish traps and other paraphernaa on their way to the spawning grounds, are not taken immediately, the salmon commercial fish will become valueless in the course of the next few years, accord ing to evidence before the international mission which sat yesterday and will cinde it's sittngs on this side of the boun- diary line at New Westminster, today
 During the sittngs in Seattle it final " suggested that there should be closed season from July 20 August 1 each year.
 William Sloan, provincial commissioner of the Dominion fisheries department and John D Babcock inspector under Sloan, advo- eated a closed lasting full four year cycle, and Col F. H. Cunningham, chief pominlon fisheries inspector advocated seyenty-two-hour weekly closed season as cal eulaed to relieve the situation.
 All of the suggestions have their advo- cates and of information has been laid before the commission. It was brought out in the evidence that cannerymen of the
 Puget Sound district have much the advan- tage over those of the Fraser River district on account of the strict regulations of the Do- minion, and while the salmon originate in the spawning grounds of the Fraser water shed in Canadian territory, they have to run an almost unrestricted American gaunt- let on their way to spawn, for il has been established that rule the salmon re- turns to the place of propagation
 Thus it becomes absolutely necessary that any measures for the rehabilitation of the industry must be adapted jointly by the United States and Canada.
 The full seriousness of the situation was outlined during the afternoon by H. Bell Irving, one of the pioneer cannerymen of British Columbia, who in 1890 bought ont seven of the thirteen canneres then on the Fraser River and has found it advisable since to close them all on account of the depletion of the salmon runs. Two of his canneries were open last year. but there will be none this year. He told the com mission that he did expect these can neries would be again in his lifetime
 He believed the fishing should be closed for term of years and it unthinkable -&that nations closely allied would be able to settle differences in so vital d matter Individual interests he said. must