The Wrangell sentinel., 1924-04-10

WASHINGTON, April 10.- The White Bill placing the Alaskan fisheries under the control of the Secretary of Commerce, passed the House yesterday afternoon, in spite of considerable opposition.
 Two amendments to the bill pro- hibit the use of traps, wires, or pound nets in any bay, inlet, or es- tuary. the entrance of which is less than three miles wide, or in any channel connecting two larger bod ies where the width is three miles or less or within one mile of the en- trance to any bay, inlet or estuary two miles or less in width, or within one mile from the mouth of a stream in which salmon run.
 The White Bill CHR. S143) was introduced in the House on March P, 1924, by Congressman Wallace H. White of Maine. Following Is the text of the bill as it was intro duced:
 A BILL
 For the protection of the fisheries
 of Alaska, and for other purposes.
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Con- gress assembled, That for the pur pose of protecting and conserving the fisheries of the United States in all waters of Alaska the Secretary of Commerce from time to time may set apart and reserve fishing areas in any of the waters of Alaska over which the United Stats has jurisdic- tion, and within such areas may es- tablish closed seasons during which fishing may be limited or prohibited as he may prescribe. Under this au thority to limit fishing in any area so set apart and reserved the Secre-  acter of nets, boats. traps, or other gear and appliances to be used there in; (bD limit the catch of fish to be taken from any area; (c) make such regulations as to time, means. meth ods, and extent of fishing as he may deem advisable. From and after the creation of any such fishing area and during the time fishing is pro- hbited therein it shall be unlawful to fish therein or to operate therein any boat. seine, trap, or other gear or apparatus for the purpose of taking fish; and from and after the creation of any such fishing area in which limited fishing is permitted such fishing shall be carried on only during the time, in the manner. to the extent, and in conformity with such rules and regulations as the Secretary prescribes under the au- thority herein given: Provided, That every such regulation made by the Secretary of Commerce shall be of general application within the par ticular area to which it applies, and that no exclusive or several right of fishery shall be granted therein, nor shall any citizen of the United States be denied the right to take, prepare. cure, or preserve fish or shellfsh in any area of the waters of Alaska where fishing is permitted by the Secretary of Commerce. The right herein given to establish fish ing areas and to permit limited fish ing therein shall not apply to any creek, stream. river. or other bodies of water in which fishing is prohib- ited by specific provisions of this act. but the Secretary of Commerce through the creation of such areas and the esta blishment of closed sea sons may further extend the restric- tions and Limitations imposed upon fishing by specific provisions of this or any other Act of Congress.
 Sec. 2. In all creeks, streams or rivers. or in any other bodies of wa ter in Alaska, over which the United otatee has 'nrieT'intinn in which sal mon run. and which now or here after there exists racks, gateways or other means by which the number in run may be counted or esti. mated with substantial acuracy there shall be allowed an escape the total number thereof. In such