The Cordova daily times., 1922-12-04
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1922
A CLOSED SEASON ON SALMON

At this time the salmon fisheries of Alaska are prominently before the people. There IS no doubt that large number of once famous salmon streams are sadly depleted; Tn fact most of the waters of the North, with the possible exception of the Bristol Bay reg1on, no longer produce tithe of the fish they once did. The fisheries of Alaska are one ot the Territoriy's greatest resources; one that not only should, but must be regulated to save the industry from total extinction. Nor can these regulations be too drastic.
 That the effect of unrestricted fishing has proved disastrous is realized is evidenced by. the fact that practically all of Southwestern Alaska is now embraced in huge fishing re- serve, Hearings have been held ill Seattle, and later will be held in San Francisco upon appll- cations for fishing rights within this reserve and it is presumed the Bureau of Fisheries will impose certain restrictions as to the talk ing of fish. At recent meeting of the Terri torial Fish Commission at Juneau, resolutions were adopted calling upon the Bureau of Fisheries to establish yearly closed season on salmon during the runs, and for the en- forcement of measures to curtail waste in herring curing plants
 sr Fraser. river that the Canadian authorities are considering a closed season of five years on that river truly drastic measure but one undoubtedly warranted by the conditions
 The establishment of reserves, the recom- mendation of yearly closed season during the salmon run are steps in the right direc- tion and will undoubtedly held but the ques- ton arises whether they will work out tor, .1 ( 41o 4nr,t
 A few years ago beaver in Alaska were threatened with 5xtermination, and closed season of several years was imposed, With the result that there was a marked increase m tlle number of animals when the closed season expired last year. There IS no reason why a closed season would not work the same beneficial results with the salmon flsherles' and it is an absolute certainty that some such regulation is necessary if the fisheries are to be brought back to anything like their former greatness If closed season during the run is good why not make it better by making every alternate season closed one. Such a proposition would not be nearly so drastic in its effects upon either the fishermen or the packers as the bald statement appears
 The packer whc puts in a whole season Tn the North with full crew, and puts up quarter of pack or less loses more money than he would if his plant were closed for that season, particularly if the closing down would bring with it the fair chance of full pack the next season, and ultimately the posi- tive assurance of such results.
 True, such measure would deprive the Territory of the license tax from the cannerles every other year, and the Territory needs the money, but again the probabilities are that the cannery tax paid every other year would equal or exceed the taxes now paid Tn any two years, with the added advantage that the packers, through having better pack and clean market would be better able to pay the taxes than under present conditions wherein some of them are wholly unable to meet the required payments.
 Probably the Copper River is as good an ex- ample as can be found for the need of some action of this kind. A few years ago the Cop per river was one of the best red salmon