Evening star., 1938-02-13
\ RESPECTS Of a private war" in
. the Bering Sea between American
and japanese salmon fishermen are

n RESPECTS Of a private war" in
the Berlng Sea between American
ana japanese salmon fishermen are
by no means remote, according to
testimony given before the House Mer-
chant Marine Committee. And if the
Alaskan coast is visited by plague of
net-cutting and boat-burning such as fire.
quently has characterized similar contests
IN the past, the effect on the already
stralned relations between the two nations
cannot be other than extremely dangerous
On the other hand, the solution advanced
oy Anthony j. Dimond, Alaskan Delegate
10 congress. and supported in substance by
Representative William L. Sirovich of New
YORK, which boils down to an assertion
OF American sovereignty over most of the
Bering Sea, is one which already has been
tried without success.
Nations have fought over rich fishing
GROUNDS before, and when the conflict has
not brought on actual hostilities, it has
o1ten meant i'll feeling, tortuous dplo-
matte negotiation and personal combats
between the crews Of fishing vessels. In
tne lS20s Tor example, when Great Britain
INSISTED on closing the Bay of Fundy
to Americans, three vessels seized bv Brit
1sn patrol ships were rescued by bands
= OF armed volunteers from Eastport. Me-
TO the detriment of Anglo American unity.
1t is quite customary for nations to ban
foreign fishing in their territorial waters
ana to enforce this ban Vigorously The
dlfdcultles arise, in the first place, through
treaty concessions limiting the extent of
such enforcement, and in the second place.
through the lack of agreement as to what
constitutes territorial waters. A third
source OF trouble has arisen recently be-
cause OF the efficiency of modern fishing
methods and the consequent exhaustion of
many gooo fishing grounds. Sometimes
due to the migrations of the fish, this ex-
haustion is caused by operations at a
distance from the regular grounds.
Once River Industry.
This Is the case in the present con-
troversy. Salmon spawn in inland waters
and are most easily caught as they ascend
the rivers for that purpose For years,
therefore, salmon fishing was regarded as
q river industry, controllable by the coun-
try in whose rivers the salmon spawned,
The United States has taken great pains
TO assure the continuance Of the Alaskan
eaten by limiting the rivers in which they
may be taken except by spear or rod;
fixing long closed season; forbiddine
more than half the estimated run of anv
river to be taken in a season, and many
similar regulations. No aliens are per-
m1tted to engage in this industry.
But the salmon inconsiderately leaves the
river at an early age and passes out to sea
lar beyond the three-mile limit. Then
at spawning time he returns to the river
IN which he was born. The Japanese fish,
ermen operating a fleet of tenders from
. floating cannery," stretch great nets in
the relatively shallow waters of Bristol
Bay "a corner of Bering Sea- formed by
the juncture Of the Alaskan Peninsula and
the mainlanO and scoops up thousands
OF fish before they reach the American
seines and fish dams in the rivers. Since
he Is outside the jurisdiction Of the Bu-
feau OF Fisheries, its orders cannot be en-
forced upon him.
Consequently. Alaskans claim, the huge
catches OF the japanese craft threaten
the whole industry. valued at $4,000 900
annually. Particularly, they assert, the
Bristol Bay fisheries, producing $l2, ,o00, 900
. year. are in danger Of being exhausted
within five years. At first they proposed
m extension of Government jurisdiction
TO IL miles from shore. as was done during
prohibition. But evidence shows that
the japanese fish from II to 100 miles
out, 20 that this step would be relatively
Intellectual.
Would Define Sea Boundary.
The present bill which Mr.. Dimond ad-
vocates would enforce fishery regulations
over all Of the Bering Sea, As far West A
the line drawn between Russia and the
United States at the time Of the Alaska
Purchase IN 1867. This line passes close
10 the Siberian shore and Is nearly 1000
miles from American soil in some places.
Congressional leaders were said to re-
gard this as an extraordinary step when
It was first advanced. AZ = matter Of fact,
many years ago.
After the purchase Of Alaska the fur
trade was long its principal natural re-
source, and sealing was the most important
element Of the trade. Fur seals come on
land to breed, then return to the open sea-
For breeding purposes they use certain long
established "rookeries" in the
Pribdlof Islands, an American possession
In the Bering Sea. Killing of the seals on
land can be easily regulated 80 Is to
prevent extinction by indiscriminate slaush-
ter Of females and young: The anology to
the salmon situation Is. therefore, re-
narkably close.
Like the salmon, the seals drew alien
hunters particularly in the early days
Canadian-who slew the animals as they
swan in the sea. This "pelagic" sealing
was dificult to regulate and meant the kill
ing Of many female and young seals, so the
Pribilof herd diminished rapidly in SIZE
Hence the United States Government de-
clared that the whole Of the Bering Sea
was . mare olausum''-closed sea-which
came completely under American jurisdic-
tsa 1eeslgn vessels caught sealing ~sss