The Alaska daily empire., 1920-07-31
THE FISHERIES INDUSTRY

The comprehensive and authoritative article pre- pared by Ward T. Bower, head of the Alaskan ac- tivities of the Bureau of Fisheries which appeared in The Empire Thursday, is of general interest In Alaska where fishing has become the premier in dustry.
 Mir Bower has left little say to the need for legislation for the protection of the salmon He shows clearly that the waters of Alaska are being overfshed and that the supply already has begun decrease. He very frankly states that No further expansion possible at this time with serious encroachment the supply of salmon In fact, he continues. further rerenchment is considered necessary if the salmon fishery is to be continued profitable commercial industry.
 The history of the development and retrogression of the industry given by Mr. Bower shows that remedial and protective action has been delayed too long by the government. For fourteen years there have been changes in regulations affecting the 8industry, although radical changes have been made in methods of operation and conditions now totally different from those which obtained at the time the present laws enacted MT. Bower admits that this is true, but claims and Alaskans will grant that he is correct, that the department has been unable. after eight years of effort, to legislation the subject, although it has given both houses of Congress true and accurate accounts of the conditions demanding laws Moreover, states MT Bower, the limit of protection has been reached under the law and departmental jurisdiction be further extended
 The 1919 salmon pack AZ per cent in catch below that of 1918, and indications are that the pack of the present year will be less than that of last. There is in attempting to con- eeal the fact that this is critical time for the industry. It would be well to look facts squarely in the face, MT. Bower has looked them, and seek to devise ways and means to meet the crisis The chief difficulty in framing Alaska fishery code he says, has been in securing the coordination of views among divergent interests. But at the same time it is admitted that legislation has been requested which Congress seemingly will not pass After eight years of effort without result, it reasonable conclude that Congress does not realize the importance of the situation.
 In spite of the facts that he has given relative to the failure of Congress meet the situation in Alaska. Mir. Bower concludes that the time has not arrived the fisheries industry to the control of the Territory, although he admits that in time Alaska should have jurisdiction it just as the separate States of the Union have over the industry within their MT. Bower says Federal control should be continued in order to get capital interested in the fisheries.
 The fact is, however, that the statement of MT. Bower does not warrant his conclusion that the time has not arrived for Territorial control. Rather it shows the necessity for il He proves that it has been impossible, after eight years of effort, to secure much unanimy of action among those in- erested in the fisheries industry is necessary to get action from Congress and he furtber shows that the capital and equipment already have is suf Gcient 10 oyerfish the waters of the Territory
 However. there is justification for the con tention that capital would afraid local con rol and supervision of the fisheries No people are greatly interested in securing capital for Alaska development those who their money invested n the Territory and who live and work here The