The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1933-03-10
HICKMAN SAYS O'MALLEY
IS UNJUST TO SEINERS
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IS UNJUST TO SElNERS
CONTINUED from Page One)
made by traps. In this connection
| would say that that the regula-
ton fixing a limit on the length
of purse seine boats, and thus elm
mating the large outside boats
from Puget Sound, has been of ma
terial benefit. This regulation, of
course, reduced the total percentage
of catch by seines and resulted in
a proportionate increase of catch
by traps.
Alaskans Favored
1.-The regulations have also fixed
the size and length of purse seines.
This has favored local Alaskans as
against outsiders, and l know that
the records prove that purse seines
of the size now permitted in South
eastern Alaska can make adequate
catches of salmon. Excellent catches
have been made by purse seines in
various parts of Southeastern Alas
ka, especially in the Icy strait re-
gion and to the southwark.
THE trouble, as far as economic
conditions are concerned, is not the
inadequacy of catches by purse
seines, but the fact that particular
ly during the past two seasons the
Of aannnrinc in
Southeastern Alaska have refused
in many instances to accept purse
seine caught fish because % such
fish were often of inferior quality.
and (2)because they had plenty of
fish both from their own traps and
from Independent traps owned by
local residents of Alaska.
81 am sure you will appreciate
that this is primarily an economic
situation and does not come within
the scope of conservation of the
fisheries of Alaska under authority
of the fishery laws. If the salmon
packers of Southeastern Alaska pre-
fer to use or purchase trap caught
fish instead of seine caught fish,
regardless of whether the fish may
be better or cheaper in price or for
whatever reason, l do not see that
the bureau of fisheries has any
right to step in and say that one
or the other class of fish must be
used so that any certain group of
fishermen may have a market for
their catch. Any such regulatory
action would be wholly unwar
ranted invasion of the rights of
private enterprise. l am sure you
will appreciate that we have no
control over the situation as to
whether the packers shall purchase
seine caught fish or trap caught
fish.
Up To Packers
You have advocated that the
regulations be modified so as to
permit the operation of seines in
Southeastern Alaska a number of
days after the traps are permitted
to operate. Obviously, this is TO
benefit the purse seiners. In this
connection 1 wish to say that if
during the course of the entire fish
ing season the packers will pur-
chase salmon fro mthe seiners when
such fish are offered for sale, the
situation will automatically take
care of itself.
Last season in the west coast of
Prince of Wales island region there
was an abundance of trap caught
salmon, with the result that it was
particularly difficult for purse
seiners to dispose of their catch.
This created hard feeling and dis
content. AS matter of fact, it was
reported that six traps were cut
loose from their mooring. The fact,
however, that the packers did not
see fit to purchase all of the seine
caught fish offered in this region
is no reflection on the regulations.
The fact that there was an abund-
ance of salmon is direct evidence
of the soundness of the regulations
insuring good runs of salmon as
compared with the scanty runs be-
fore the present regulations became
effective.
Seiners May Be Hit Further
''In the coming year l am appre-