The Alaska daily empire., 1921-05-03
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

The Britt Resolution submitting for the approval of CongIbss bill providing for the regulation of the fisheries of Alaska and conterring control of that industry upon the people of Alaska, considering the importance of the sheres industry in this Territory and its dangh of des.rtcon, is the most important bit of constructive le islation that has been con- sidered at the present session Of the Legislature, Probably ln importance to it is the Territorial Fish sion Bill Similar in principles to these, and only of less importance because of the lesser importance it's subject matter, is the game bill. All them involve the question of selfgoyernm and the capacity of Alaska for constructive statesman ship in d manner vital that it makes the scramble and contest the personnel of the public service pettily sordid
 The bill proposed in the Britt Resolution is az liberal as any one could hope get through Con eress. and it provides very satisfactory start, at least toward regulation It makes a definite closed season. of considerable ,,length at period of the year when the salmon are running to take the place of the useless far as fish preservation concened Sunday closing proFisens 1t provides for the regu qaion of traps and fishing devices and gear. It give Commission authority to limit packs and to protid longer closed periods and to close to fishing l. gives the Commission power limit the number of traps and other fishing paraphernalia But, abov all these, it goyes the people of Alaska control oyer the fshedes, Including the necessary authority to amend the bif aR'
 It awould be shame if such measure as th. were 10 be sacrificed because of a sham battle over what is to be done with the fish traps-a battle ,tha has heen wagng in Alaska eight or ten years. and has succeeded not only in preventing any of legislation but in making the fisheries question football for those who play politics game Congress will never legisate fish traps out of exist ence The voting constituents of Senators and Rep resentatives in Congress who interested in the Alaska fisheries cannery trap owpers has been demonstrated that the Congressmen inter ested opposed to the abolition of fish traps Tho
 
 solution of that question: and all the other problem which it may not settle. to the people of Alaska
 Two three years ago, at a meeting of tn Alaska Fish and Game Club, John Rustgard nol Attorney General, declared that the only way uls safon fisheries problem in Alaska would ever b solved would te through the destruction of salmo fishing for commercial purposes He said the ifs would be exhausted, and the fisheries companit would go out of business because would be unproft ale to continue. Then, he said the fish supply be built up through a long of years an scientific Legislation.
 Is 1t possible that the people of Alaska are goin to permit the fight between radicals at both end or the line and the of personal politics tn arlfet for temporary party personal advantage i q game in which the offices the stakes for thos who played with greatest strategy to make this pre- rhecy true?
 Are we going to permit the slaughter of a grea. industry, and endure long period depression fol he purpose of making holiday for politicians an llreconvcieabes in the strife between packer an HshermahE Are we going have another ten-yea ao-nothing period? Or ere we going to demonstrat mat AasKas are capable of constructive governmen