The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-07-31

servance of the requirement. of law for an escapement of not less than 50 percent of the salmon to the spawning grounds.
 Four years ago, when l became Commissioner of Fisheries. l called meetings and conducted hearings at various places throughout the Ter ritory, with a view to acquiring ln- formation that might be helpful in formulating regulations. In sum marking results of these widespread and extensive inquiries it developed that there was general endorsement of the principle of conservation, but each man felt that restrictions upon fishing should be applied in the other mans district. At the same time. each put forth arguments why there should be relaxation of regula- tions in the place where he operat- ed. Also, his arguments for or against curtailment of activities in the region where he operated de- pended on the kind of gear he hap pened to be using. Each man felt that his kind of gear would not be harmful from a conservation stand point, but that the gear used by the other fellow was bad for the future supply of salmon.
 As @ result, I reached the conclu- sion that in any adjustments as be- tween different types of fishing ap- paratus, and in respect to the ex- tent of fishing operations in vari- ous districts. conservation needs must necessarily be the dominant factor in any regulatory policy to be pursued.
 At all time in the formulation of regulations it has been the desire to render conditions as easy as pos sible for all forms of fishing appa- ratus deemed proper in the districts involved. We have wanted to let the fishermen have as large a share of the catch as the waters could stand without adversely affecting the fu- ture supply.
 It is gratifying to note that the industry has cooperated in under taking to better the conditions of the salmon fishery of Alaska, and while members of the industry did not get all that they wanted in res pect to concessions for types of gear, extensions of seasons, or other re- laXations of the regulations, they were willing to go along with the Department in what seemed best to maintain the fisheries as a whole.
 As an example, mention might be made of conditions in the Nushagak River. Any one familiar with the situation there knows the need of sharp curtailment of fishing privil- eges so that the run may be built up. This situation has existed in other places in Alaska, but prohi- bition of fishing, more or less bit ter pill for the fishermen to swal- low at the time, proved wise and the runs of salmon increased.
 In formulating regulations we have ever been mindful of the needs of the people of Alaska to the full est extent possible consistent with the 50 percent escapement feature of the law, and whenever regula- tions have been issued, the under lying thought has been to have them assure the greatest good to the greatest number of people.
 It must be remembered that AL aska unquestionably is the last stand of one of the worlds richest sources of valuable protein food. The distance of Alaska from cen ters of population, it's freedom from the irresistible push of manufac- turing industries and from pollu- ton of streams, the absence of power development, and the non- existence of irrigation projects and other similar difficulties encounter ed at times in the States, all point to the responsibility which rests upon the Department of so admin istering and conserving the fisher ies of Alaska that the future of this rich resource will never be endan- gered. This is our policy in handling the fisheries of Alaska.
 This story, having to do with the salmon of Alaska, would not be con- plete without an expression of ap- preciation for the fine cooperation received constantly from the Cover nor of the Territory and other local officials. This applies equally to of ficials and representative of other Government agencies who have CO., operated so well with us in our large problem of maintaining and per- petuating Alaskas richest natural resource-the salmon fisheries.