The Alaska daily empire., 1923-04-18

wife and their two children, c I ing to the length of lead it was gen
 erally agreed by all witnesses nal l ing statements, was negotiable. MT Buschmann, explaining the operation
 of the traps and why 1t did not fol
 low that traps with long leads would take more fish than others with short
 ones. said the proper tax would be
 based on the number of fish taken
 He suggested that trap catch ol I 10000 fish be used as the basi: 1 for a $200 license and the scale rise from that point. Figures on the trap and a check on their figures from the pack. MT. Roden argued that this was 1he better method of trap taxation than the one proposed by the Committee.
 Admits Salmon Depletion MT. Buschmann readily admitted that the salmon in the district in which he operates are being depleted. I nC 6dlu ID bbC itouil Ol ONCl fishing. He denied that 1t was in tensive trap fishing but from over fishing both by trap and seine. Asked now he would remedy the situation, he frankly said by forcing less fish ] ing, the use of fewer traps and fewer cines, treating both methods fairly. Ail of the fish were not taken in 1x.x they are caught all down Chatham Straits and mp Lynn Canal. at Chil- kat River, the result being gradual depletion.
 Might Prove Last Straw
 If the proposed tax schedule is
 .Ccpted will fishing operations cease" asked Mr. Decker.
 No" replied MT. Buschmann, i've VII probably keep on going until we are broke.' The tax. he said fur !hti as evidence by the statements introduced showing losses tcurred daring the past four years, might prove to be the straw that breaks the camel's back. The 1921 tax, he add ed, was. considered to be fair
 Chairman Ross called attention to the Oregon tax of 32 cents per case in addition to cannery license fees, etc, and asked how they compared to the proposed schedules. MT. Busch. mann replied it was hardly fair to compare the two since the cost of packing on the Columbia River and Puget Sound was much less than the Ala skan cost
 Percentage of Increase MT. Robertson declared the in. screase in taxes as proposed amounted to, on all lower grades except chums, on packs of 15000 cases IA per cent; 25,000, 14S per cent; 40,000, PIT per cent; 60000. 259 per cent, in excess of 60,000, BOA per cent. On reds. 10000 cases, 216 per cent; 15.OOO, 23S per cent; 25,0O0, 2S5 per cent; 10000, 392 per cent; 60,0O0, 547 per cent; in excess of 60,000 cases, 622 per cent.
 In connection with the higher packs and heavy increases in taxes, MT iOUos cApihluCu lnnt IL NaS thc pui pose of the committee to put on a tax sufficiently high to force con servation, lin other words, to make | it unprofitable to put up the larger packs. The heaviest rates. he said were not regarded as revenue pro ducers but as means of conservation Roden Defends Plan MT. Roden defended this system of conservation warmly. It is the only way the present situation can be met he declared, adding that the canners are making their piepara
 tions to put up every fish tAey can get. God help the salrnua this year!" he declared.
 | He said from Q legal standpoint there was no dol bi as to the power of the Legislature to impose con f.scatory tax under 9 decisic. of the Supreme Court in tiie case oi the Territory against inc Alaska Fish X Byproducts Company. This was ques tioned by both MT. Roberts ;n and MT. Faulkner. both conteniilg that | .ny tax imposed for the purpose ol putting any business on the rocks would be held inva.id unless he pur pose were concealed and the tax designed as a revenue measure as a subterfuge.
 Salmon packers through sheer hog 'gishness have killed the goose that