Seward daily gateway., 1923-07-23
SECRETARY HOOVER TELLS IF PLANS
 ALASKA FISHERIES
FINDS SENTIMENT UNANIMOUS THAT SOMETHING MUST BE
 DONE-WiLL NAME BOARD
Special to The Gateway

Secretary of Commerce Hoover, in lengthy dispatch to The Gateway, from Sitka, has the following to say regarding the fisheries situation:
 "I have now had an opportunity of consulting with scores of people in Alaska on the fisheries question; with fishermen, canneries, public officials, business men and experts, in public hearings and otherwise. There has not been single dissent from the conclusion that there must be strong and immediate restrictions on salmon fishing, if we are to preserve that in- dustry from the same destruction that has ruined many of our National fish cries elsewhere. In fact. it should have been undertaken in Alaska years ago. Moreover, through the western part of Alaska, where actual measures have been taken, I have found unan- imous support of the Departments policy of reserves and other methods for the immediate limiting of the amount of fish taken, pending action by congress.
 The need for conservation in Alas ka has been recognized for over ten years and has been a constant sub ject of debate and discussion, and am greatly pleased to see the large measure of support given the admin istration for having substituted action for pious discussion.
 Restriction of activities naturally caused sacrifice and trouble. 1 re- gret that the purpose of the reserves has been deliberately misrepresented to the people in Western Alaska and elsewhere, not only as to purpose, but as to the actual methods install ed. However, the working of the re- ed to the people the untruth of these statements.
 It is to be hoped that Congress will take immediate action to give more executive authority. In the meantime this administration does not intend to sit idly by, denying re- i sponsibility under the authority al- ready available, but to use it to the 1 fullest effect.
 This is the largest of all Alaskan in dustries, more than half her popula- tion and more than half her territo- rial revenues being dependent upon it. It can in time be built up to much larger dimensions than at present If nothing is done it will be lost within few years. It is of vital importance to the whole American people as a source of National food supply.
 New legislation, in order to be eff fective, must be of the broadest pos sible order, because of the different typographical and biological prob lems of each locality, together with the differing rate of depletion of diff ferent species, and many other fac tors, the method of regulation must vary with each locality. If we would serve the primary purpose of securing rebuilding of the fish supply and at the same time do absolute justice to the canners and fishermen in main taining the industry, and in the end gradually build a permanent Alaskan population devoted to the fisheries.
 There are no universal panaceas for this whole problem in Alaska. Neither seasonal restrictions nor lim- itations, nor limitations of pack, linn itation of any particular gear or its location, are universally applicable, as every district is problem to it. l self.
 The complete suppression of can ming upon the Yukon, has already in- creased the supplies for the natives. whites and their dogs, throughout the Interior. where before the supply was