Seward daily gateway., 1924-01-30
AN7|-ADM|N|sTRAT|ON FISH BILL PRESENTED ? |[ !!l N
 BY ALASKA D[LEGATE Alaska's Congress ional Representa- tive Continues Fight Against
 Secretary Hoover
PROVIDES FOR A COMMISSION
No Exclusive Rights to Be Given and Corporation or Cannery-
 May Abate Traps

The fisheries bill passed by the 1923 Alaska Legislature, known as the Grant Fish Bill, which Congress was memorialized to enact, was intro duced in the House of Representatives last month as House Bill No. 752, cop ies of which have been received by The Gateway. It provides for the administration of the industry by an Alaska Fish Commission, appointed by the Governor of the Territory, with the approval of the Territorial Senate, and for employment by the Commission of a director of fisheries, chief warden, hatchery superinten dent and other employees.
 The measure was introduced as a part of concurrent resolution last spring in the House by D. G. Grant, of Wrangell, and in the Senate by Charles Brown of Nome. At that time it was generally understood that Delegate Sutherland had caused the introduction of the resolution and he was in constant attendance at com mittee hearings when it was being considered supporting and advocating its passage. It passed the House on April 27 and the Senate on May 1.
 Rejected by Hoover
 Some of the main provisions of the bill sections seven and eight, aimed at trap fishing and zoning are virtu- ally identical with those rejected by the National administration at the last session of congress when it dis approved the famous White Fish Bill, and over which the bitter row against the Bureau of Fisheries and the Bu- reau of Commerce was started by the Delegate. These provisions were en- phatically disapproved by both Sec retary Hoover and Fish Commissioner Henry O'Malley, who were understood to have the support of the President.
 The attitude of the Administration led to charges by the Delegate that the Department of Commerce was giving away Alaskan fisheries to the Packers Trust which MT. Sutherland alleged was dictating the terms, con- ditions and zoning in the Bureaus administrative regulations of the fishing reserves created by executive orders proclaimed by then President Harding.
 Duties of Commission
 The proposed Alaska Fish Com would consist of three mem- bers appointed by the Governor and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The first commissioners shall be appointed for two, three, and four years respectively, and thereafter one Commissioner shall be appointed each year for a four year term. Commis- sioners shall receive a salary of $1200 per year and necessary travelling and subsistence expenses when away from home. The Commission is given com plete control over the fisheries with large discretionary powers as to lim- iting the catch, closing sections of the waters from fishing, establishing a closed season, etc.
 A Director of Fisheries is created as secretary and executive officer of the commission, devoting his entire time to the business and receiving a sal ary of $5,O0O year. The Director of Fisheries is given power to appoint a Chief Warden and Chief Super intendent of Hatcheries with the ap- proval of the Commission, each at a s>l,a1y of $5,000 year. He shall also name assistants to each of these and cnlLlcy other assistante as the C,m- mi.'. ion may authorize.
 No Exclusive Rights Permitted
 In edition to providing that nc trap, f ca or floating, wire or pound net shall be constructed in any bay, 'Htet ol estuary, the width of which IS three miles or less at it's entrance or within enc mile of the ert.ance of any bay, inlet, estuary or channel that IS two miles or more in width, the law would provide that "no ex- elusive or several right of fishery shall be recognized or granted in the Territorial waters of Alaska"