The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-05-27

Salmon Fishing in the Yukon Rivtr
 As to the wisdom Of engaging in fishery activities along the Yukon River, the Bureau of Fish cries in accordance with it's pre- viously expressed opinion still feels that the run of salmon in that river is not large enough to support commercial fishing upon scale sufficient to warrant ex. tensive cannery operations. The present demands upon the sal mon fishery of that region by the inhabitants of interior Al. aska are great enough to re. move the possibility of further operations without serious dimi mutton of the supply of fish The Bureau must therefore dis courage any activities along the line of cannery operations. It will make no promise of i'm munity from molestation to those who may undertake to establish themselves in the commercial uti lization of salmon from the Yu. kOn for other than local needs There are inclosed several copies of the circular embracing the fed eral fishery laws and regulations applicable to Alaska, together with copies of three additional orders promulgated recently In order that you may take care of the requests for information bearing upon the salmon industry referred to by you, there are for. warded under another cover sev. eral copies of the document Fish cries and Fur Industries of Alaska in 1916" Generally speaking, docu. ments of this character are now upon sales basis, although they are forwarded free of charge by the Bureau in meritorious cases.
 Very truly yours,
 H. NJ. SMITH,
 Commissioner. Following the receipt of this let. ter, Delegate Sulzer asks the Blu. reau of Fisheries for stay of pro- ceedings. Acknowledging the help lessness of the Bureau, Commis- sioner Smith replied as follows:
 Washington, D. C.. Mar. 15. 1918. Hon. Charles A. Sulzer,
 House of Representatives,
 Washington, D. c.
 Dear sir:
 The receipt of your letter of the 11th instant Bureaus file No. 1548), in regard to fishery opera tions on the Yukon River, is here by acknowledged.
 After inviting your attention to the Bureaus letter of March l, 1918, in which its attitude regard ing the salmon fishery of the Yu- kon River was formally stated, you are advised that the Department of Commerce cannot exercise execu- tive authority in the matter of limiting lawful fishery operations on the Yukon River except in ac. cordance with the provisions of Section of the act for the pro- lection and regulation of the fish. cries of Alaska approved June 26, 1906. This act is printed in De- partment Circular No. 251, copy of which is enclosed herewith. By virtue of the provisions of this section the Department has limited or prohibited fishing in waters in various parts of Alaska, and it will not hesitate to take similar steps if necessary to secure the conservation of the salmon supply of the Yukon River. Late last year the Department issued three orders affecting fishing operations in the Copper River, Boring River and Karluk River, respectively.
 The time for the Department to act to limit fishery operations on the Yukon River will be when a situation obtains which is contem- plated in Section 6 of the act of June 26. 1906. The Bureau of Fisheries was not asked by the United States Food Administration for an expression of its views as to the advisability of granting the Carlisle Packing Company a li- cense to operate on the Yukon river. In connection with licenses issued by the Food Administra- tion the Bureau of Fisheries acts only in an advisory capacity and only to that extent when its views are requested. In most cases, how ever, the Bureau has had oppor- tunity to express it's opinion be- fore final action was taken by the Food Administration.
 Very truly yours.
 H. M. SMITH.
 Commissioner.