The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-07-19
BELL WINS MANY FRIENDS.

At the end of his public hearing here Tuesday, Frank T. Bell United States Commissioner of Fish cries. surrounded by large number Of people from the interested audience who thanked him for the evident sympathy with which he had listened to some of their problems connected with the ad- ministraton of the fisheries and expressed gratitude for his promise that he would regard the welfare of Alaska fishermen as one of the factors governing future regulations One of the significant features of the meeting here, and word comes that it has been noticeable in other places, was the frlendl- ness of those attending the meeting. There was no indication of any bitterness evidence of antagon- ism toward the Bureau of Fisheries, and nothing but hopeful regard for the Commissioner.
 Undoubtedly this would not have been true last year possibly not any time since the enactment of the present Alaska fisheries law by Congress And this is said with all due regard for MT. Bells immediate predecessor who gave some 12 years of his best efforts to building up the fisheries of the Territory. But he had definitely aroused bitter enmity against himself among large proportion of Alaska's fishing population Rightly or wrongly they had become absolutely convinced that his sole concern in preserving fish for posterity even though present generation should starve through lack of employment
 The reason for the reversal in attitude is not far to seek It plainly does not lie in any startling modfications of existing regulations that Commis- sioner Bell has made He has made none. Further than that he announced publicly when he first assumed office several months ago that none would be made He has reiterated that statement at every hearing held in the Territory and in every interview given the press.
 In the Alaska hearings themselves however, is contained the Never before has every indi- vidual white and Indian seiner, troler. trap-man, packer, professional man and business man, been publicly and permitted to discuss the fisheries ind1S he SO Commissioner OrMalley denied any man the right to approach him and discuss these matters. But that is altogether different matter than holding previously announced public hearings at places where everyone has an opportunity to be heard. From Ketchkan to the farthest reaches of Bristol Bay, he has foregathered with Alaskans and heard what to them of their most serious problems. And that is already paying him fine dividends in new friends.
 Commissioner Bell has not promised Alaskans the impossible He has promised to "humanize" the regulations One question he asked in the local hearing seemed to give the drift of his thoughts 'Is it a fact that the packers make a practice of buying seine fish at the beginning and the end of the season, when fish are few, but refuse to buy them at the peak of the run?" He branded such practice unfair and unjust to the fisher men. He didn't say but it could be seen if such practice existed, he would like to see it stopped. He termed it unbalanced operation" It would not be difficult to avert the necessity of practice of that kind If the combined take of traps and seines proves too great for the plants to handle, the reduction ought to be made first in the trap take That apparently the trend of thought MT Bell following.
 It was such incidents as this one it is in the minor changes made, all of which designed to benefit the local fishermen and his frank declara- tion that he would always make known what he is doing or going to do, and the for doing it. with his invitation for local cooperation that will in the future pay bigger dividends in CO., operation the part of Alaskans and their support it may be needed