The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-03-31
ALASKA
 K se> r~~@ FISHERIES z - Ss E-. z-s. a- 7

iIle SlJud OiOll, dil E}NCCuOiFS was promulgated on February IT. 1922, creating, the Alaska Peninsula Fisheries Reservation and on No- vember 3, 1922, another Executive Order was issued creating the Southwestern Alaska Fisheries Res ervation. The former extended from Sutwik Island to Cape Men shikof and included the Shumagm Islands; the latter embraced the wa ters of Bristol Bay, Cook Inlet, ana the Kodiak -Afognak region. These reservations, and the extensive per init and regulation systems set up under them, ceased to be of effect with the two revoking Executive Orders of June T, 1924, by reason of further legislation.
 It is interesting to note that the executive orders creating the Alaska Peninsula and Southwestern Alaska Fisheries Reservations were based upon such thin legal authority that probably they would not have with stood test by the courts. But as was said at the time, the condition of the fisheries had become so alarming, it was felt that the exc cutive orders were warranted as a stop-gap until Congress might take action, which it did in, 1924.
 Emergency Reservations
 So far as actual operations were concerned, the Alaska. Peninsula Reservation and regulations. appli- cable thereto, were effective through out the, active fishing seasons of 1922 and 1923 while the Southwest ern Alaska Fisheries Reserva tions were most beneficial from con- servation angle, and were tribute to the wisdom of pr. Charles H. Gilbert of Stanford University, who had so much to do with their ere ation.
 The White Act of June 6, 1924 is regarded generally as the out standing development in the history of legislation pertaining to the fish cries of Alaska. This act, with it's few amendments, in reality has been the salvation of the salmon fisheries of the Territory, as it has done much toward giving control necessary for conservation require ments
 The scope of this presentation is being confined more particularly to some of the. considerations leading up to the enactment of the excel lent White law of 1924 with it's broadened administrative control essential to assuring the future Of the fisheries of Alaska. In conclud- ing this topic, it appears of interest to record that soon after the first set of regulations was promulgated urader the act of 1924, protests concerning their drastic nature were received from various interests con- cerned.. In commenting on these protests an Alaskan newspaper at
 
 the time said: ..., ......
 For twenty years, Alaska and Alaskans, canneries and cannery- men, seiners and trapmen, have been bowling for a fisheries law that would conserve the salmon. Af- ter many years of squabbling and cussing, Congress finally passed law designed to save the fish Can nerymen and trapmen, even. the seiners. agreed that, it was not so bad. that it probably would con- serve fish But each thought it would conserve the other fellows fish and not his, Therefore, they were for it. After the law was passed. the Secretary of Commerce promulgated regulations under that act and MT. O'Malley star d to enforce the law and the regulations to the best of his ability. Inci- dentally, that ability is great. Then the snarlng started. Nobody whose toes were stepped on wanted con- servation at all They wanted only conservation that would not touch them and no other"
 The journalist whose lines writ ten 15 years ago have, just been quoted, could well have added: His tory may repeat itself'