The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-07-09
FISH RUNS IN WEST SMALLER
 THAN IN 1929
Reds in Bristol Bay and Pinks in Central Alaska
 Reported Light

A llSllt run Ol TtQ SdlLllOll III Jllc Bristol Bay district, short run of pinks in the Kodiak and Prince William Sound districts and indi- cations of plentiful fish to come in Southeast Alaska are the fea- lures of the current Alaska fishing season, it was made known by Henry O'Malley, United States Commissioner of Fisheries, who ar rived here late yesterday after noon.
 He is on his annual inspection and administration trip to the Ter ritory, and, as usual. will cover all of the coastal districts as far as Boring Sea.
 Makes No Predictions
 The Commissioner had no pre- dictions to make regarding the fin- al pack this year. "I'll wait until after the season ends" he said laughingly, when asked for his fore cast.
 However, he declared, never be- fore on his many trips north at this season of the year has he seen as many fish in the waters be- tween Ketchikan and Juneau as were observed on the present visit. At Anan Creek there was a large escapement for the time of the year. Indications were seen every where of good runs to come.
 Reports received at local head quarters of the Bureau of Fisher ies said the run in Icy Strait and vicinity was increasing in strength with corresponding increases in daily packs by the canneres in the district. e
 Red Decrease Foreseen
 The shortage of red fish in Bristol Bay waters was foreseen last year by Commissioner OMal- ley and is the cause of no aston- ishment. To protect the escape ment additional restrictions were imposed in the way of heightened weekly close periods and gear limi- tations.
 Recent advices received from Bristol Bay said the total pack to date was slightly more than 60 per cent of last years pack at cor responding date. Ninety percent of the total so far were red fish.
 If the Japanese vessels observed in Boring Sea waters are equipped with gear for salmon fishing, 1t would not be surprising if they in- tercepted the Bristol Bay red sal- mon runs and materially reduced the Bristol Bay pack this season, the Commissioner said. Advices re- ceived by him from Coast Guard authorities said salmon fishing gear was thought to have been seen on the decks of the two Japanese ves- sels operating there.
 No Way to Stop As long as the Japs confine their operations to international waters and do not invade territorial wat CTS, there is no way to stop them MT. O'Malley pointed out. It was reported to him that they have averaged 1000 pounds of crabs per day in their operations.
 The Commissioner, who is accom- panied here by J. J. Underwood. former Alaska newspaperman, and later on the staff of Seattle papers, now Washington representative of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, will visit Boring Sea waters later this month. He, MT. Underwood and two others to arrive here short- Ily, will leave in a few days on the Brant for Illiamna. going over the portage into the Bristol Bay dis trict, and later proceeding to the Pribilof Islands.
 The party will return here about August 1, possibly little later, and Commissioner O,Malley will remain in this district observing operations until the end of the season.