Evening star., 1924-05-04

greatly extended and have taken on
a much wider aspect. Operations
prohibited within the streams have
been moved into deeper waters and
to such points as are beyond the areas
within which regulation is permitted
under the act of 1906. And, as the
result, fish have been taken in such
numbers that there has not been a
proper escapement for spawning pur-
poses and the runs in many places
have been greatly diminished.
New Safeguards Sought.
Year after year Presidents and
Secretaries of Commerce have urged
upon Congress the necessity for fur
be control of the situation in these
waters. Frequently such legislation
has been proposed: but for one rea-
son or another it has always failed
The situation became more and more
acute until two years ago President
Harding, in the absence of any con
gressional action, decided to handle 1T
so far as possible by Executive meas
ures. To that end, by proclamation,
he established in Alaskan waters two
fisheries reservations, one known as
the Alaska Peninsula Fisheries Res
ervation and the other as the South
western Alaska Fisheries Reserva-
ton. These two reservations cover
approximately one-half of the fishing
areas of Alaskan waters and were in
sections in which there was stu the
possibility of preserving the salmon
runs, but in which there was then
threatened large. new INVASION OIL
canneries and fishing boats.
THE reservations were never IN
tended to have a permanent charac-
ter. 1t was recognized that the situa-
tion could only be finally dealt with
by direct legislation. The thought
behind their establishment was the
maintenance of the existing conditlon
and the prohibition of further incur
sions against the fish. The Secre-
tary of Commerce was authorized by
these Executive orders TO make rules
and regulations as TO fishing WITHIN
the reservations, and these rules We're
duly made. AS to one OF them, tne
authority of the department has been
exercised for the two seasons of 1922
and 1928 and as to the other only for
the season of 1928.
Benefits Demonstrated.
When there was imposed upon
the Department of Commerce the uuty
of dealing with this situation IL 1oull'.
an existing condition Which had
grown UP as the result of long-con-
tinued operation in these waters. For
the most part, the fishing apparatus
was controlled and the canner1es
owned by some four or hVe large COT
porations, which. as the result OF
their ample means and long expert
ence. were to a considerable extent
dominating the situation. The de-
partment was compelled to deal with
tie situation as ii found it. IL real
lied the temporary character oil ltS
control. 1t adopted the fundanfe ental
rule that no new operations shohiu De
allowed within the reservations; that
no new cdnneries should be permitted
to locate within them, and no new
fishermen allowed to invade them !;
and. further, that. so far as possible
under it's limited authority, the op-
on should
tailed and diminished. This policy
has been in force in the two reserVa-
tions for the period stated. and the
policy adopted has been carried out,
so that today. with one or two minor
exceptions. there are no new can
neries within these areas and no ex-
tensions of previous operations, and
the take of fish has been very con-
siderably diminished.
"As to the remainder of Alaskan
waters constituting. roughly. one
half Of the fishing areas. the depart
ment is without any authority what
soever. and fishing has proceeded and
still proceeds unregulated and unre-
strained except by ability 70 carry on
operations at a profit. WITHIN the
reservation areas the pack of salmon
for the year 1923 was reduced about
% per cent below the pack of 1922,
while in the unregulated areas out
side of the reservations the pack Tor
1928 exceeded that for the previous
year by about ~ per cent. No fur
ther argument would seem to be nee
essary as to the nece ssity for some
form of control.
Coolidge Urges Action.
president Coolidge. in his message
to the present session of Congress,
urged the necessity for legislation to
save the salmon. Following his
recommendation, which was in ac-
cordance with recommendations made
by the Secretary of Commerce at
every session of Congress for at least
the past three years, a bill was in
troduced in the House by Representa-
tive White of Maine, which provides
a method for dealing with the situa-
ton. Hearings were held by the
House committee and all of the
parties in interest appeared and pre-
sented their views. AS result, a
complete bill was formulated by a
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