The Alaska daily empire., 1923-07-23
fContdnued srom rage one.)

tional fisheries elsewhere. In fact. it should have been undertaken in Alaska years ago. Moreover. through Western Alaska where actual meas ures have been taken. have found unanimous support , of the depart ments policy of reserves and other methods for the immediate limiting of the amount of fish taken pending action by Congress.
 Charges Misrepresentation. 'The need for conservation in AL aska has been recognized for over ten years and ahas been a constant subject of debate and. discussion and I am greatly pleased to see the large measure of support given the admi inistration for having substitut- ed action for pious discussion. Re- striction on activities nearly causes sacrifice and trouble. I regret that the purpose of the reserves has been deliberately misrepresented to the people, in Western Alaska and elsewhere, notSonly as to purpose but as to the actual methods in- stalled. However, the working of the reserves for Sa. season has demon- strated to these people the untruth of the statements.
 Tt is to be hoped that Congress will take immediate action to give more constructive authority. In the meantime this administration does not intend to sit idly by denying re- sponsibility under the authority all ready available but to use it to the fullest effect. This is the largest of the Alaska industries. More than half her population and more than half her Terri torial revenues are de- pendent upon it. It can in time be built up to much larger dimensions than at present. If nothing is done it will be lost in few years It is of vital importance to the whole American people as source of na- tional food supply.
 Needs Broad Legislation.
 New legislation, in order to be effective, must be of the broadest POoSibhS oCCduoc LII lut ulI- ficult typographical and biological problems of each locality, together with the differing rate of depletion of different species and many other factors, the method of regulation must vary with each locality if we would serve the primary purpose of securing a rebuilding of the fish sup ply and at the same time do abso- lute justice to the canners and the fishermen in maintaining the indus try, and in the end gradually build permanent Alaskan population de- voted to the fisheries. There are no universal panaoeas for this whole problem in Alaska.
 Neither seasonal restrictions nor limitations of pack, limitation of any particular gear. or it's location, are universally applicable as every district is a problem to itself. The complete suppression of canning upon the Yukon has already increased the supplies for natives, whites and dogs throughout the Interior where before the supply was insufficient and there was even actual starvation pmong Indians work dogs. In other places regulations have reduced tho pack of red salmon which is the most deOieted, and a reduction in the amount of gear that can be used by each cannery on every spec ics should tends to make the total pack less.
 
 Tn preparation of escapement to the spawning grounds as example of variation of methods in Bristol Bay, the regulations abolished the whole of the existing traps in Cook Inlet On the other hand the inde- pendent fishermen as well as the eenners support the necessity of the Hpqf ;11e1ority of tho tAke being by | Ite is due to. the physical Character of the bays as well as toI