The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-06-16
RESIDENT FISHERMEN AT
 DISADVANTAGE.


 The resident halibut fishermen of Southeast Alaska, who are largely owners and operators of vesesls too small to risk trips tc Western Alaska areas which negotiated almost absolute safety by the schooners which for the most part come from Puget Sound complain that the regulations of the International Fisheries Commission work to their great disadvantage, and unless there is some modi- fication which will permit them to fish longer periods during the year. they will be unable to earn livelihood. Apparently there is just ground for their complaint
 The waters of the North Pacific Ocean off the coastline of Alaska, where the fishing banks are located divided into two the dividing line being fixed at Cape Spencer. In each area the Commission fixes a maximum quantity of fish that can be taken. It opened the season this year on March l. No closing date set, but the fishermen were told that when the maximum reached in either it would be closely entirely for fish ing for the remainder of the year.
 The procedure followed last season. Area two, in which the waters of Southeast Alaska fishermen, with their smaller vessels forced to remain idle from then until last March The schooners, mainly owned by nonresdents of Alaska, fished until late in October Word has been re- ceved here by the fishermen that two will be closed again this year August due to the fact that it's quota will have been exhausted by that time.
 Last season. it was claimed in some quarters, and credited in official circles that the local fishermen which includes all Alaskan halibuters, refused to curtail their operations while those of Puget Sound did. That cited a why the quota in two used up quickly This year, how ever, local fishermen did curtail in agreement with those of Puget Sound. After each trip the boats laid up 10 days. Each boat limited to the amount it could take per in it's And still the result is unchanged Curtaiment it seems, has not benefited the resident fishermen at all. On the contrary it has cost him money since he has lost several trips he might have made to the banks, and the fish he might have taken had there been no limit set for the boats
 How has it affected the Puget Sound vessels? The resident fishermen claim they have not been injured in any way They say positively that the larger vessels, of them instead of shipping nine-men crews increased them to ten thus making up any loss that could occur from boat limitation They further allege that the Puget Saunders have fished so extensively in two, which requires a much shorter than three that any possible benefit that might have accrued from curtailment, has been impossible.
 It is easy to understand how and why that
 
 stance would naturally find it more profitable to fish south of Cape Spencer than west of that line to the Kodiak banks The time consumed in making the voyage to the first would be much less than to the latter And consequently, the number of trips taey could make. regardless of the 10-day layup would be correspondingy numerous. AS they, too, anxious to much each season as they it seems inevitable that they would fish in area two long the regulations permit.
 There is another advantage that is bound to result to the nonresident schooner operators from the early closing of two As as that is accomplished, competition from the small boats is cut off The larger vessels have the market all to themselves The supply of fresh fish is reduced substantially and the fishermen who has them to sell ordinarily would get higher prices for his fares
 These things pretty generally accepted as fact by resident halibut fishermen They are bound to resent them. They convinced the present system works to the advantage of the nonresident It is true that the Alaskan is not barred by law from three. Usually, however, he is barred by economics He is of small means. He hasn't the money or credit to purchase expensive fishing vessels He cant fish in the unsheltered waters without them He believes, and very properly, that cries Commission, ought to evolve a system that will at least permit him to fish long enough each year to earn a living for himself and his family. And there doesn't to be anything radical or unjust about that belief.
 FEARS ARE RELIEVED