The Alaska daily empire., 1922-12-27
BUREAU ORDERS
AGENT TO HOLD
WASTE INQUIRY
Methods in Use in Herring
Packing Industry to Be
Investigated Soon.

A hearing in Seattle for the pur-
pose of discussing ways and means
of eliminating waste in the herring
packing industry in Alaska has been
authorized by the Bureau OF Fisher
les, according to advices received to-
day by Gov. Scott c. Bone. No date
has been set for it, but it is under
stood it will take place within the
near future.
Harry ]. Christoffers, agent Of the
Bureau, with headquarters at Seattle,
under instructions from Commission
er O'Malley, will conduct the hear
ing He was requested to give
proper notice of the meeting and its
purposes. The attention of the Blu
reau of Fisheries was directed to
wasteful practices in the herring
packing industry by the Territorial
Fish Commission, which, in its Fall
sessions here last month, adopted
resolution urging the Federal fish
cries authorities to adopt regula
lions for better protection of the
herring and to safeguard both the
supply ana the INDUSTRY.
Complaints on the same matter
have been received by the Bureau
from other sources. Three main com
plants have been made One, that
large quantities of herring suitable
for human food are utilized for the
production of fertilizer, fish meal
and oil; two. that in certain regions
large part of the fish caught are
too small for curing and are thrown
away; three, that in certain regions
a considerable part of the fish con-
tain red feed and are dumped as un
suitable for curing.
Has Definite Plans
Commission OMalley said that
the Bureau has not been unaware of
these practices, but, owing to the
precarious future of the industry in
cidental to conditions peculiar to de-
dustry In the Territory, it had not
taken corrective steps, believing they
would hamper and might be fatal to
its establishment. The Bureau, h
added, had been reluctant to impose
any obstacles to development in the
early stages of its establishment
1t has, he added, pretty definite plans
in mind for correcting the evils of
which complaints are being made
1t is expected that these will be EN-
bodied into regulations following the
Seattle hearing now announced.
Urge Pack Restriction
Declaring that they fear an ex-
cessive catch of salmon in South
eastern Alaska waters in 1923 If,
plans for increased operations now
being made are permitted to ma
terialize, representatives of 81 can
ming concerns at meeting in Sc
attic last week renewed the request
on Secretary Hoover for a new fish
cries reserve covering all of the Ter
ritory now included in former reserve
orders. The following wire was sent
to Mr. Hoover over their signature:
''At meeting of the undersigned |
Gamers representing a majority OF
the interests engaged in salmon pack f,
ing in Southeastern Alaska. it was
unanimously resolved that immediate |
action should be taken for the con
servation OF salmon and the regula.
ton of fisheries by any means which |
in your judgment may be necessary
at this time, covering the section of |
Alaska lying east OF Is degrees west !
longitude, to perpetuate the supply |
of fish. II was unanimously agreed /
by all the undersigned packers pres
ent at the meeting that each would I
be willing to accept an equitable ad- !
justment of their 1923 pack pending
the establishment of a reservation !
and an adequate allotment which will |
permit OF a proper escapement of
salmon to the spawning grounds.
Unless definite action is taken and /
proper notification published imme-
diately the run of fish will be Sc
riously depleted in 1923 as prepare
lions are now being made for ma
terially increased pack and conse-
quent excessive catch of fish"