The Alaska daily empire., 1920-03-08
THE FISHERIES QUESTION

If the fisheries problems of Alaska solved ii will be by those who earnestly try They will not be solved by those who desire to make political issues of them They will not be settled by those who too timd to tackle the job simply throw rocks at those who do. l#
 The whole fisheries problem. of course, should be in the hands of the people of Alaska If 1t had not been that then Delegate Wfckersham for req sons that have been clearly explained in spite of attempts in that direction had not insisted Tn hating his organic act for Alaska provide that the Territorial Legislature should have power to leg slate regarding the fisheries the question would have been taken up long ago and, in all probability would have been worked out ere this Delegate Wickersham in Congress for ten years and has been fighting for seat since, yet he not only blocked the chance for the Territory to get control but he never suggested in Congress elsewhere single remedy for single phase of the question He kept the whole matter ice and brought it out only in political campaigns when he hurled anatbema at the so-calIed fish trust'
 More than two years ago Delegate Suzer intro duced two bills designed to turn the fisheries in- dustry to the Territory, of which went be fore the Committee Merchant Marine and Fish cries and the other before the Committee on Ter ritories Both committees decided however, count of the pressure of war matters there would be time to hear them. both measures died.
 It has been known for long time that Congress would probably not give the time necessary to passage a fisheries for Alaska unless all those interested could agree its terms That meant there would have to be agreement among the interests toral Government and the Bureau of Fisheries if anything done
 The proposal to get all these interests together considered by the Territorial Fish Commission last Summer. and 1t finally concluded to have convention at Juneau in which all of them would be represented Last October about the time the commission had decided upon the terms for call for such convention the Bureau of Fisheries issued call for conference to consider this very question Seattle. At that conference a commit
 
 mittee consisted of John N Cobb professor of fish cries at the University of Washington, who nected with the Bureau of Fisheries during the ad- ministrations of President Roosevelt and President Taft. D. w. Branch, of Libby, McNe X Libby, Carl Suter of the Fdalgo Island Packing Company, Frank NJ Warren. of the Alaska Portland Packers and head of the fisheries organization Henry D. OMally Field Assistant of the Bureau of Fisheries and professor of fisheries the University California. John k. Beegie, the Ketchikan canneryman and member of the Territorial Fish Commission and Charles D. Gar field Secretary and member Of the Territorial Fish Commission. To avoid conflict the Territorial Fish Commission abandoned the plan have a conven- tion at Juneau.
 The principal purpose of the committee which took up the preparation of fisheries law late in December was provide for the perpeuation of the salmon supply. And with this end in view. closed season of twenty days provided in Southeastern Alaska and 1t proposed prohibit stream fish ing well fishing around the mouths of streams. Fifty wardens and 25 patrol boats provided for in the bill to patrol the and enforce laws and regulations. The restrictions the location of traps in future and the character of the traps that will be permitted would tendency to pre- vent unlimited increase in the quantity of fishing equipment
 The bill provides that the Territorial Legislature shall not have power to amend the taxation reve- nue producing of the for four years and it voices the intention of authors that at the end of that time Congress shall turn the control of