The Alaska daily empire., 1918-02-12
All Salt Water Fishermen and Distributors Are Affected by the
 Order.
FROM ADMINISTRATOR
Some of the Provisions Requiring a License Are Explained
 by Bureau.

After February 18th all salt wa ter fishermen and distributors of seafood not already licensed will be required to operate under licenses granted by the United States Food Administration. President Wilson, acting under authority granted by the Food Control Act, has issued | proclamation which gives the Food Administration almost complete con trol of the distribution of salt wa ter fish, including menhaden, crus- taceans and shellfish. Wholesale fish dealers are already operating under license.
 The proclamation covers all fishermen engaged at any period of the year, whether fishing independ- ently or on shares. It covers, as well, all people engaged in the com mercial distribution, including catching and selling of any or all varieties of salt water fish. The term salt water fish is defined to embrace all forms of seafOod taken from salt water. This places oy- ,ters, crabs, lobsters, clans, all shellfish and crustaceans under the control of the Food Administration.
 Any person, firm, corporation or association engaged in the catch ng or distribution of any forms of seafood who engage in business af- ter February 15 without securing license, will be liable to a fine If not more than 5000, to imprs- onment for not more than one year, or to both fine and imprison- nent.
 All persons subject to license must apply to the United States Food Administration, License Di- rision, Washington, D. C., specify ing the nature of the business to De licensed.
 The licensing of the fishermen md the control thereby given will ,nable the Food Administration to oster and aid the salt water fisher es and greatly increase the catches md the opportunities of the fisher men to broaden their operations. All this will. be brought about by 'egulations soon to be enacted and ,mbracing the Atlantic and Gulf casts which will largely supercede he local laws in the various fish ng districts; these laws are at pres mt discouraging the fishermen, no tho moot productive kinds of gear and cur ailing the catches. Also in some If the districts closed seasons on certain varieties of salt water fish ,re now being enforced during the periods when these varieties are in "reatest abundance in the shore wa CTS and in many of the districts 'estrictive laws against non-resi- Tents and alien fishermen are rem lering it impossible for vessels and .atches of fish in the shore waters If adjacent states.
 In the enactment of the regula- ions due regard will be paid by he Food Administration to any present restrictions which are vi ally necessary from the standpoint of conservation. Regulations will later be put into effect on the Pacific Coast as result of the recommendations of the Federal Food Administrators for the salt water states No modification will be made in regard to restrictions 1t present prevailing on the hali- out and salmon industries; the present laws being regarded as very necessary to conserve the supplies of these varieties.
 The licenses will be issued with put charge or fee of any kind un- erning the conduct of the business IS may be prescribed by the U. s. Food Administration
 All applications for license must be on blanks to be provided and must be mailed to the following ad dress:
 United States Food Administra- tion, License Division, Washington, D. c.
 The Federal Food Administrator for Alaska has been advised that application blanks are being sent to his office, Seward Building, Ju- neau, where they may be obtained upon request