The Cordova daily times., 1920-03-19
FISH HATCHERiES AND PROTEC
 TON

For every $4,0OO taken out of the Alaska fisheries, congress has seen fit for number of years to give back one dollar; that is, it has believed it was doing that. Alaskans generally will not burst with generosity because of this magnanimity of congress, which, while the sum was entirely in- adequate, would not have been awful were it not for the fact that 80 cents Of every one of these dollars was taken to build a bone factory at Pribi- lof islands, and cents for the trans fer of Alaska fish to the coast of Maine for the benefit of the Eastern coast industry.
 So the government, on this S50000,- 900 in fish which is taken out annually, actually gives back to Alaska approxi- nately $25,000 for the propagation and preservation of it's greatest present day industry. No more is given, de- spite the fact that tens and hundreds of thousands are collected in taxes
 Under the fisheries bill prepared by the Alaska fisheries commission pro- vision is made that three-fifths of all revenue collected outside incorporated towns from the fisheries shall go into the territorial treasury, into fisher ies fund" for the preservation and propagation of food fish. This annual income, without any assistance from congress, will be more, and will make it possible to do more for the benefit of the industry, than was ever done before
 It will mean that every salmon stream in Alaska can be cleared out, that men doing the work can be paid proper wage, and not a miserable stipend such as now offered by the bureau of fisheries for grown men. It will mean that hatcheries can be built and streams can be we'll policed to see that the laws regarding them are we'll enforced.
 This feature of the bill is attractive in that it is putting back into the fisheries money that is taken from it, and is put back in such way that it will bear interest for this and future generations.
 AS for the hatcheries, under the new bill the fish commission, which is to have it's headquarters in Alaska, will be authorized to build fish hatcheries and will be provided with the neces- sary funds for the work
 This question of hatcheries is moot question, with many men engaged in the fishing business of the opinion that it is the salvation of the fisheries. Others are of equally strong opinion that they are worthless. It is a fact, however, that the hatcheries iii some localities, particularly along the Co., lum bld river, have shown SuCn re- suits as to warrant Alaskans in giv- ing them a good trial, even at con- siderable expense. Under the present hatcheries law, which has been oper- ative for many years, no provision is made to provide hatcheries of any con- sequence, and these sections of the proposed bill are but further reasons why the taxpayers of Alaska, the peo- pie engaged in business and in the fisheries, should urge congress to give it serious consideration.
 There have been so many fisheries bills introduced and none of them act ed upon that the public begins to pay little attention to them when they are presented, and in the meantime the fish dwindle. Attention must be given and the demand must be made, and from Alaska, that some action be taken to protect and foster the fishing industry in the waters of the North Pacific
 The senate naSSed the Svmnathy V