The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-05-26
APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF 49,.
FISHERIES IS RECOMMENDED;
SALMON SITUATION MENACINC

sOn1l clOSingS, Il said, III carefully
adjusted to the various runs and
rigidly enforced, might be usefully
employed in certain districts" These,
t believes, would involve a serious
question In industrial operations.
Any fixing of dates by statute would
be as fallacious as regulating tho
runs by such means"
Limiting Pack No Solution
The Commission is doubtful Of the
value for preservation of the species
in the proposal to limit the pack.
1t asserts:
'If the perpetuation of the species
is to depend upon this means there
is small chance for its satisfactory
sClut ion
There are now enough packing
plants in the Territory to handle
every marketable salmon in these
waters during tho years of small
runs From a commercial viewpoint
an equitable adjustment of quantity
ror lire, in order to guarantee over
head and operating expense and al
low a reasonable margin of profit,
must be based upon a fairly certain
price of the product. This would
be reasonable if all the packers were
in an equal financial condition. AS
they are not and MANY are depend
ing uron fortunate conditions in the
future for relief, any limitation OF
pack in this way would be looked
upon as unfair and would conse-
ouently bring about defeat of the
plan
"a limit might be adjusted to eachs
plant and the number of fish utilized
therefor of the several varieties in
each season based upon the average
quantity taken and packed in the
three preceding years, deducting an
allowance for the estimated depletion
of supply of fish in contiguous waters
and a further margin for factor of
safety, each packer confined to a
reasonable fishing radius and as soon
as his allotment is secured. to quit
fishing, call in all gear and not pro-
cure fish through other means there
after.
might commercially regulate the in
dustry, but it would be of doubtful
value in pcrpetuating the species in
that 1t would be exceedingly difficult
to adjust the same to the prevailing
conditions"
Must Restrict Fishing
Arbitrary restriction. or if neces-
80 f;ch 10 OH
Gated as the only safe way to in
sure "a perpetliaItion of the supply of
salmon. In this connection the re-.
port said:
"Granted that certain number
of fish are to be taken each year
and the rest allowed to escape dor
natural propagation, how then will
the number to be taken for CONNER
cial purposes, be determined. how
will such an adjustment affect the
industry and what economic effect
will it have upon those depending
upon the fisheries for their living?
'This can only be determined by
applying the necessary curative pro-
cesses and noting the result. The
years of large and small runs will
cause fluctuations in the commercial
and economic status. 1t is believed,
however, that both these objects
must be subordfnated for the time
being or until stabilizing adjustments
can be accomplished.
abundant proof is furnished from
the experience in Pacific salmon
states and in British Columbia, what
everlasting will do and the result is
already apparent here.
so acute is the situation in Brit
ish Columbia that at a recent con
ference of the officials OF the state
CT Washington and that Province
relating to the depleted sockeye runs
in the Frazier River. an absolute clos
ting Of fishing for this variety for
period of five years was seriously
considered.
Everyone who has given the sub
ject any thought and serious consid-
Grafton agrees that fishing operations
must be curtailed. The Federal Ad-
miristratton Is convinced of this and
is preparing to act vigorously in the
!
matter.
J while the methods discussed
either separately or collectively may
be the means to this end. it is pre-
ferred that the situation be met in
the most direct way. 1t is there
fore advocated that the jurisdiction
OF tho proper authority. be extended
to the Limit OF the Territorial waters
and clothed with power to suspend
or entirely stop fishing for any pc
Rod in any and all districts or divi-
sions when it satisfactorily appears
that insufficient salmon are reach
ing the spawning areas TO properly
seed them.
After trying many other ways the
state OF Washington and British
Columbia have adopted this method
as the most effective"
Rights OF the Indians
The report declares that the In
dams OF the Interior of Alaska have