The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-07-25
ORATORY Will NOT
SPAWN SALMON
SECRETARY HOOVER OUTLINES
PLAN TO SAVE MOST IMPORTANT
INDUSTRY TO ALASKA

Aboard U. S. S. Henderson-(A. Pr
t-Declar1ng "piOv statements, scien-
Itific discussion and political oratory
Will not spawn salmon Secretary
Hoover, as head of the governmental
| department having to do with Alas
kan fisheries asserted in a statement
| that there must be temporary re-
ductlon in the number of fish taken
from Alaskan waters and at the same
| time there must be constructive mea-
sures for enlarging propagation.
Otherwise, he said, salmon fishing,
now one of the largest of Alaska's
industries, will be lost in a few years.
The secretary said he had found
unanimous support among A1askans
for action taken by federal govern
ment in creating fish reserves in wes-
tern Alaska by constructive and in
order to obtain advice as to the adj
ministration of those reserves and as
to the best form needed legislation
should take, he proposed to create
in Alaska an advisory board.
Must Place Restrictions
The need for conservation in
Alaska has been recognized for over
ten years, and has been a constant
subject of debate and discussion, and
am greatly pleased to see the large
measure of support given the ad-
ministration for having substituted
action for pious discussion.
Restriction on activities nearly
always causes difference and. trouble
l regret that the purpose of the re-
serves has been misrepresented de-
to the people in western
Alaska, not only as to the policy but
as to the actual methods installed,
ft1n
for season has demonstrated to
these people the untruth of these
statements.
1t is to be hoped that congress will
take immediate action to give more
authority. In the mean
time this administration does not
intend to sit idly by denying respon-
sibility under the authority already
available, but use it to the fullest |
effect
Fishing Largest Industry
" This is the largest of Alaska in |
iustries. More than half her people |
md more than half her territorial re- |
Venues are dependent upon it. 1t |
IAN in time be built to much larger |
than at present. If moth
ng is done it will be lost in a few
ears. 1t is of vital Importance to
ne American people as source OF
food supply.
New legislation, in order to be
Effective, must be of the broadcast
ossible order. Because of the differ
Mt Typographical and biological prob
ems of each locality, together with
he differing rates of depletion of
ifferent species and many other fac
ors, the method of regulation must
airy with each locality, if we would
erve the primary purpose of secur-
lg a rebuilding of the fish supply
nd at the same time do absolute
lstice to the Gamers and the fisher
len in maintaining the industry and
| the end gradually build a perman-
ut Alaskan population devoted to the
sheries.
"There are no universal panaceas
,r this whole problem in Alaska.
either seasonal restrictions nor ,
initiation of pack nor limitation of
ny particular gear or its location are
1iversally applicable. Every dis
let is a problem in itself
The complete suppression of can
ng upon the Yukon has already in {
eased the supply for natives, whites, {
Id dogs. In other places the regu- 7
lions have reduced the pack of red
Imon, which was the most de- :
eted, and reduction in the amount :,