The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-11-27
ALASKA SHOULD CONTROL IT'S OWN
RESOURCES.

The people of Alaska should have full control over
their fisheries well all other natural
in the Territory Until they do, no method of admin
istration will prove satisfactory Pending such
summation however, and long the Bureau OF
Fisheries is charged administering the fisheries
laws and making regulations governing the industry
it should have all the authority necessary to deal
with any situation that may arise. The principal
argument used against the system is that ii
gives the Secretary of Commerce authority 10 refuse
licenses to any canneries and thus gives mon
opoy to the canneries already in the field Such
power conferred be exercised when in the judg-
ment of the Secretary the establishment of addi-
tional plants would endanger the salmon supply.
Under such circumstances it would seem that the
evils monopoly would be less than those that would
follow the unrestricted entry of surplus canneres.
1t cannot be reasonably contended that the Territory
would be better off to let all the canneres desiring
into the field and when by their operations the
supply OF fish is depleted that get a
profitable pack to be compelled to close down the
industry entirely for period of years to permit the
to become re-estabshed The result of the latter
system would be to make the canning industry an
intermittent highly expensive and nondependabe
source of employment for local labor
In view of all the circumstance attendant on
the safme canning industry II is probable that the
action of Secretary Hoover in asking for the creation
of additional is necessary step AS The
pire has urged previous occasions, however in
the establishment of these reserves utmost care
should be used in framing the orders in drawing
the regulations for their administration To in
continued effort by the Department of Commerce
and its agent the Bureau of Fisheries, for modern
fisheries legislation adequate contingencies
and to safeguard the supply of salmon the life
reserve orders should be definitely limited the
expiration date should net be too far off in the
future II the life of the reservations limited
to not to exceed two years, would seem as if that
would give the Department of Commerce plenty of
time to draw up suitable legislation and secure its
enactment by Congress.
In addition it should be specifically provided that
the creation Of these reservations does add to
the area Of Jurisdiction already held by the Bureau
OF Fisheries in its administration the fisheries.
The wording of the two executive orders already
issued and regulations promulgated under them leaves
loophoes through which the Bureau might infringe
upon other activities under cover of protecting the
salmon supply. For instance it is not inconcevabe
that conflicts might arise out the development of
the Oil districts the Alaska Peninsula all of which
Is included in fisheries reservations Similar conflicts
could arise in the Prince William Sound district if
1t is included in the latest proposed reserve In
Southeastern Alaska it is not impossible that dhcuI-
ties might be encountered in attempts to develop the
should see conflict between it and the fisheries
industry. Neither executive orders nor regulations
should be issued which will give the Bureau of
Fisheries power to stop development These re-
quests are not unreasonable and if presented to the
Administration will probably be granted without
hesitation.