The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-09-23
JAP FISHERMEN
CAUSE WORRY
Are Within Rights But Un-
seasonable Pursuit De-
plotting Pacific
By HENRY WOOD
United Press Staff Correspondent

| %. = (UP) - Combined action
against Japanese fishing foreign
waters may be made by the vari,
Gus fishing associations along the
American coast, as well as those
of Canada, Australia and Other
British possessions, according to
information reaching the Ameri,
can fishing associations here.
The situation is a peculiar one
in that, while fishing off the
coasts of all of the above coun-
tries, the Japanese are within
their international rights, but are
none the less depicting various
lines of fish for the home fish
cries.
To complicate this, the fisheries
off the American Pacific coast la
bor under handicap in that their
fishing season is limited by law
and also that the fish taken by
the Japanese are really of Amer
lean or Canadian origin, since
thew are Matched in streams where
the strictest governmental regula-
tions are enforced against their
catch during the spawning sea-
son.
WIDESPREAD COMPLAINTS
The extent to which the Jap
anese are fishing off the three
mile territorial water limit of the
pacific is indicated by the extent
of the complaints that are COM
ing in to the central fishing or
CARNATIONS here.
AS far south as Panama and
Mexico and on up to Southern
California the complaint is made
against the capture of the tuna
fish. ..
Farther north from Monterey
bay to Alaska, the Japanese are
declared to operate their floating
reduction plants for sardines to
such an extent as to threaten the
eventual depletion of that fish on
this side of the Pacific.
Then, beginning with the states
of Oregon and Washington. and
extending along Canada and on
to Alaska, complaints are center
ing on the salmon industry as
practiced by the Japanese.
LAWS DON'T APPLY
Fishing as they do, outside the
three-mile territorial water limit,
they are not subjected to any Of
the measures imposed by the
American and Canadian govern
ments on their own nationals for
the protection of the fish during
their spawning season.
In addition to the restrictions
that are placed on salmon tshlng
from streams like the Columbia
river and similar streams in Can
ada, both American and Canada
an fishers are greatly restricted IN
their catch of fish in Bristol pay;
Alaska, which is one of the pr'in-
cipal spawning grounds OF the
north.
The Japanese, on the contrary,
by operating their fishing boats
and reduction plants just outside
the three-mile limit, are able to
catch at all seasons of. the year
the fish spawned in American and
Canadian waters, and to which
American and Canadian fisheries
are allowed access only during
certain periods.
| ONLY EXPERIMENT
While surveys made by the
Canadian and American fishing
interests in these waters report a
poodly number of Japanese fish
ing boats and reduction plants
the japanese insist they have only
| two such plants in operation there
and which are being operated as
part of an experiment by the
Japanese government.
Almost simultaneously, how
ever. similar complaints have
reached the Pacific coast fishery
organizations from other portions
of the Pacific dominions. -.
From Canberra, Australia, it is
asserted that just as the Com
monwealth government is en-
deavoring to put in a fishing
conservation program, especially
to keep from depicting the whales
japan is setting up competitive
industry, always outside the
three-mile territorial water line,
not only off the Australian coast
but off that of India as we'll.
INCREASE FLEET
The Japanese, it. is stated, will
have at least six reduction plants
for whales off the Australian
coast this year, where heretofore
they have not exceeded two. 9th
er European countries, especially
the Scandinavian ones, are also
expected to become competitors
in the Australian waters.
s According to information re.
ceived here joint effort may
be undertaken by the British do
minions in the Pacific, and the
United States if possible, to Sc
cure an extension of the three
mile territorial water limit, and
limiting of the fishing season SO
as to make the spawning season
closed one. This action would
probably be undertaken through
the League of Nations which has
already secured some joint ac-
ton to prevent the extinction of
the whale species.
GRANT BROKE DRINK
HART Is DECLARED