The Wrangell sentinel., 1935-11-22
SEINER vs. TRAP

Disconcerting to many Alaskans, particularly those who depend for their livelihood on some branch ot the fishing industry is the news that something like 25O,0OO cases of the 1885 salmon pack have been held up for segregation and recon ditioning by the United States Bu- reau of Chemistry until such elim- nations as are actually unfit for food are made. Of this number it is estimated that 125,000 cases orig mated in southeast Alaska, and that at least so per cent of the con demned pack were seine-caught salmon.
 Cannerymen were not taken uE- awares, however, for it is said that pr. John L. Harvey, government fisheries expert, in a speech before the American Can Company's 'salE- on clinic" in Seattle last season, indicated that the Bureau intended to put seiners "on the spot until they learned to handle their catch in a more sanitary fashion,
 Those who have been closely as- sociated with the industry admit that seiners have not always paid as much heed to the cleanliness of their boats as they should, nor are they always frank in their state ments as to how long the fish have been out of the water. Seldom do they moke any attempt to keep separate fish which were taken 24 hours apart, This doubtless ac- counts for no small proportion of the condemned salmon. Seining has been more or less racket.
 The question naturally arises: Why did the Bureau of Chemistry wait for the fish to be packed and shipped to Seattle before it con- menced it's work? Why, in other words, were not the inspectors sta tioned at the various canneries 10 pass on the condition of the fish before they were canned, thus say- ing the industry a lot of trouble, expense and undesirable publicity.
 In answer to this question we are told that eight or ten years are re quired to train an inspector, ans since this bureau is just commenc- ing to function in a large way 1t has not had time to train enough inspectors to carry on the field work.
 The only method of detecting spoiled fish after it has been canned is by opening the can and smelling the contents. Only a few of r. ficiently keen to qualify as inspect ors, it is said. The person with or dinary olfactory nerves would be likely to find nothing wrong with about 90 per cent of the salmon condemned by an expert.
 This is an unfortunate state of affairs because 1t places eXtraor- dinary powers in the hands of a few exceptionally gifted persons, at the same time providing no scien. tific means of controverting their evidence.
 It is unlikely that the 1885 pack was any worse than any other pack Salmon have been canned in Al aska for almost 50 years, and there is no proof that anybody ever died from eating canned Alaska salmon Moreover, in recent years the can ners have maintained their own in- spection service, each cannery be- ing assessed a fraction of cent per case to cover the cost of such ser vice.
 It is no doubt a coincidence that the Bureau of Chemistry saw fit to turn loose it's expert fish smellers on the 1885 pack just a few weeks before the date set for the hearing on legislation for the abolishment of fish traps. Certainly it has placed in the hands of the traI owners a weapon capable of creat. , ing havoc in any congressional committee, and one that they vii not hesitate to use against the pro posed legislation.
 A number of canners are pre- paring to contest the Bureaus con demnation action but this will take time, and in the meanwhile tn, fate of the traps must be decided