The Alaska daily empire., 1922-11-02
THEORY VS. ACTUAL PRACTICE.

Delegate Sutherland, in denouncing the establish ment of fisheries in Alaska the gound that under them existing cannery owners given mon opoly, is at least theoretically correct There is no quection but that the regulations adopted by the De- partment of Commerce and which have the formal approval of Secretary Herbert Hoover monopos- tic. They leave it within the discretion of the De- partment to fcrbid the establishment of new can neries at any point in the reserves created. It must be admitted that the Department during the season recently closed, refused license any neries in the Alaska Peninsula Fisheries Reserve which had operated there before that time In theory any monopoly whether government supervised or not is against the best interests of the public.
 The Delegates attitude in the present instance is based purely theoretical reasoning without taking into consideration the practical side of the question affected by the peculiar circumstances surround ing the fching industry. The demand both in and outside of Alaska is strong for the preservation of salmon canning industry. That be effected only by some of protection of the salmon them selves It is the conviction of Mr. Sutherland that efficient protection be given the salmon by the abolition of the fish trap. There is little for expecting that the trap will be abolished and if it should where a demand exists fish to can or cure that demand will be supplied by fish caught in some other manner. Thus the abolition of any particular class of will absolutely lessening of the number of fish taken each year. and that end aimed at. It is not how the fish are taken SO much as how many taken that is involved in perpetuang the salmon industry. It would seem wise. therefore, to adept system of pack limitation not only whole but by the several districts or by the stream if it proves to be necessary.
 Lacking legislation enable it to establish such limitation, the Department of Commerce has the only means apparently available to it to accomplish the desired end. It asked secured an executive order which MT Sutherland for all of his proclaimed allegiance and loyalty President Harding's Ad- ministration attacks sharply accusing the President of approving something of which he knew nothing that enables it to limit the fishing in streams the pack of fish in any district and the transport ation of fish from district another That order does not prohibit the establishment of canneries but leaves 1t open to the decision of the Department of Commerce, which if it determines it can be done with out injury to the supply of salmon, license add- tonal canneries. In this manner, if no addi- tcna legislation is enacted it will be possible to control the fisheries situation and to give adequate protection to the salmon in order that future supplies are assured. The system evolved by the partment of Commerce entails first the establishment or general reserve; next its division into smaller districts; the licensing these districts and limitation of their packs the requirement. that cannereS may fish in and obtain fish only from waters within the boundaries the in which they are located and that fish may be transported rom one district to another in the reservation or out side of the reservation to other canneries If the agents of the Department find that the escapement
 
 lifhed in any year to maintain standard pack it within the power it possesses to further limit the pack or to refuse to license any all canneries until runs become large enough again justify fishing If the escapement on the other hand is found to be in excess of the size required maintain the supply pack limits may be increased additional canneries licensed.
 IL IS true that such system is paternastic. But so is the buraeu system of administration. While We have bureaucratic government it should be made efficient The Empire is opposed to the administra- tcn of any of the Territorial affairs by bureaus believes that the fisheries could wisely cred by the Territorial government and that it should be allowed to do SO Pending the achievement of that ambition, however, it is convinced that the depart ment or bureau in charge Of the fisheries should have absolute power to deal with the situation It's author ty must be equal to it's responsibility otherwise it be held accountable for any disaster that ba falls the industry.