Douglas Island news., 1919-11-21
FOR CONTROL OF
 SALMON FISHERIES
Delegate Gngsby Framing Bin Co Permit Territory to Handle
 Own Fish

WASHINGTON. D. C.. Nov 15. Convinced that Che intensive nshinr ! of ho last fow years has depleted |tho salmon fisheries of Alaska to a point approaching extinction. Dele gate George n. Gr.Esby of Alaska Ia framing bu Co bo introduced oarly at Che next session which may pro- .hibit fishing OF at loast greatly re- strict it Wtb chat end in yiow he . Is gathering data and consulting with people or the cannery business
 The production Of Che Alaska can- ner.cs fcI on by nearly oue-third laat yoar notwithstanding am onor- nous Increase iu Che number of traps In operation. and cauuorymcu are alive Go Che danger that ii uurc-
 strictcd fishing Is allowed Go cone uuue It win be but a shor, timc uu- on Che industry s destroyed
 Delegate Cr.gsby is firmly Of Che opinion that Che fisheries of Alaska should be administered by Che pco- pie of Alaska. Instead or by officials from Washington Hc believes chat Che Naskaus. being closer Co Che scene of operations. are m much better position Co judge of Che cou- dIu0us and Co frame laws for Che protection of Che industry He be- ucves also that au of Che taxes from Che fisheries should go towards Che cos. ol carrying on Che government Of Alaska instead or part of .t going to tbc federal government as at pres eut Tho bu which he win introduce carly I'm thc next session doubtless vm bc framed Co bring abou, re- suits aions thcsc iIucs
 Just what plan win be devised to restrict or prohibit fishing has not yet bccn determined. One of thc plans suggested by Che Northern cauucrymcu and which seems most likely to bc incorporated into Che proposed law. provides for Che d.v.s- ton of Che Alaska coasflnc into three or Ave districts. I'm one or moro of which fishing for salmon would bc prohibited cach year, This plan would not cut oT salmon fishing al- together. but it would give Che de- pictcd shoals a chance to build thcm- selves up to choir former numbers A law ot ths kind would bc easy Of enforcement for canncrios In Che .'oscd district would not be allowed Co open that ycar and therc would be uttlc OF no incentive for Che dsh- ormcu to take salmon from those waters They would have mo place to dispose or thc.r catch.
 The present plan ot closing Che traps on Sunday a not at an pt.s- factory There arc not enough game vardcus to watch thcm. and che duo
 Imposed Is so slight that .t pays a cauneryman Go violate Che law. Al day's catch during Che running soa- son .s worth a great deal more chan Che amour. of fhc dne
 T. was at frt proposed Co divide Che coastI.nc into four districts and close one to fishing each year, This plan was abandoned as .mpract.cable Tho salmon after being spawned goes Co sea for four years and then returns Co its native locality. If the coosI.nc s divided into four d.s- tr.cu and each district s closed once every four years it would work out that after Che fub year Che dis- rirt would be closed ou Che year when Che big run would occur as
 Che result of Che closing four years previously The coastl.nc therefore must be divided into am odd number Of units.
 A bu relating to Che fisheries Of Alaska has been introduced by Con- greamau Alexander of Missouri but there Is no expectation Chat it win pass at th.s session of Congress. t probably NHl be withdrawn in favor of Che Cr.Esby bIu at Che next scs- s.on.-J J Underwood iu Seattle Seattle Times