The Cordova daily times., 1923-02-28
ALASKA TOUR OF LEGISLATORS IS CERTAIN
Bureau TukeSSteDs
 70 PreUent Waste
 M Herring Cdtch

That the Bureau of Fisheries is talk ing early and definite steps to fore- stall waste in the herring industry is evidenced by letter recently written to a Fisheries publication in Seattle by Henry O'Malley, Commissioner of Fisheries for Alaska. In this con- munication MT. O'Malley says:
 "For several years the Bureau of Fisheries has had under consideration the expediencey of establishing regu- lations to prevent undue waste in the herring fisheries of Alaska, but it has hesitated to take definite steps to that end lest unnecessary obstacles to development be placed in the way of an industry recently and, as yet, not too firmly established
 Reports received from it's agents in Alaska and from others in a posi- tion to know the facts have shown that at certain places and seasons large numbers of fish too small to cure have been taken and destroyed. In many places there is waste in the careless or ill-advised corrallng or impounding of herring taken in uuan- titles obviously greater than the ca- pacity of the plants will permit to be cured. In still other places the small and damaged fish, resulting inevit- ably from even carefully conducted op- erations, and the offal are not utilized as they should be for the production of by-products, even when plants for the purpose are readily accessible. It is believed that the herring fisheries of Alaska are destined eventually to oc- cupy very important place in the development of the Territory, and the best interests of those already estab- lished and of those that may engage in the industry hereafter dictate that it should not be jeopardized by prevent able wastes.
 Tt is the duty of the Bureau of Fish cries to conserve this important fish cry, and notice is hereby given that on or about March 1, 1924, I shall rec ommend to the Secretary of Con- merce the promulgation of regulations which will require all plants that have been established for a period of two seasons prior to that date to so con- duct their operations as to avoid the undue or unnecessary destruction of herring from whatever cause, to uti- lize all necessary and unpreventable waste fish and parts thereof in the production of useful by-products, and to refrain from pollution of the waters by deposits of dead fish and offal. It is the present intention to afford plants which may be established in new fields two years of grace before applying the regulations in order that full opportunity may be given for pros- pectlng new sources of supply.
 Tt is intended also to establish such regulations as may be necessary to correct such abuses as may exist in the capture of food fishes specifically for the manufacture of oil and fertiliz- CT. It is needless to say that so far as may be possible the regulations will avoid undue disturbance to the her. ring industry now existing, and the imposition of restrictions tending to impede it's development Notice of these intentions is given at this time, to afford those engaged in the indus try an opportunity to consider the means by which they may meet the prospective requirements"