The Cordova daily times., 1920-07-23
CORD0VA WANTS
 CONSERVATION RIVER SALMON


 cent salmon streams of their supply Shf red fish by cannerymen fishing in the, Copper river, have filed a strong protest with the department of com merce and cites numerous instances of law violations. The protest, which is being extensively circulated is as follows:
 Washington, D. C., Department of
 Commerce.
 "It is the purpose of the signers of this letter to present for your con- sideration and recommendation the crisis created in the fishery season on the Copper river. This river is one of the streams which had bred large Snumbers of red, silver and king sal mon in the past The supply is being depleted and unless action is taken bv your department to remedy the situation, we fear that the Copper river as red salmon stream will cease to exist.
 "For a more particular description of the conditions here we refer you to Mr E. M. Ball, a representative of yonr bureau who is thoroughly famil- far with the situation having stud jed the conditions for the past few years. We believe that the trouble with the situation here is that fishing is allowed in the Copper river itself at Miles Lake and at Abercrombie canyon. We firmly believe that if the stream fishing were prohibited the supply of salmon in the Copper river would be assured without serious di- intuition.
 "The fishing now being done in the canyon and Miles Lake is confined to one concern, the Abercrombie Pack ing Go. We believe that the records will show that in the past this con- cern has violated the laws and regu- lations of your department without regard for anything but to get the fish At this time we are informed that fishermen representing this com pany are fishing on the east side of the river in plain disregard of the regulations and despite the protests of the officials of your departmen To a practical fisherman the idea of catching the salmon in such place as Miles lake and Abercrombie can- yon present no difficulties. The fish can be practically annihilated un- sess restrictive measures are promul- gated and enforced. The condition has continually grown worse until at this time we believe that the only remedy is the absolute prohibition of all stream fishing in the Copper river. Nobody will be hurt by this order as the company fishing there. has made plenty of money and more than re- ceived back it's original and subse- quent investments in profits and divi- dends. ..-. .~s,.---~.. 2.xzzz
 ''The Miles lake is an especially bad place to allow fishing as it is a resting place for the salmon after their hard fight up the river from the Copper river. flats. It is conceded by all ex- pert and practical fishermen that the fishing on the flats will not seriously deplete the fish, particularly so under the present regulations as the flats are so extensive and crossed by so many sloughs and courses that plenty of fish always get by. If this is seri- ously disputed one has but to point to the fish caught by the Abercrombie Packing company to establish beyond the shadow of a doubt that plenty of fish will go up the river if fishing is limited to the flats.
 ''The fishing industry on the flats will be destroyed unless this cannery at Abercrombie is preventedd from fishing in the river Nobody objects to competition under fair and similar conditions, and we being all fisher SS living, are ready to concede the other fellow the same right to live as we ask for ourselves. However, if the fish are exterminated, none of us can Smake a living here This will surely happen if stream fishing is continued in the Copper river, no honest man acquainted with conditions can deny. The preservation of the salmon SUD- ply for the nation is paramount to the interest of the individual or of any company, and for this reason if the valuable red fish of the Copper river is to continue to do it's share in providing edible and nourishing delicacies for the American table, inc stream ficbino rnusf he abolish