The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1941-06-06

eeption. But actually it has been
operating as a more or less indie
pendent agency along its old lines
and policies of Commerce Depart
ment days. Under the plan which
has now been worked Out after a
years study, fisheries will be blend
ed in with game the whole as one
compact unit
Foundation of Fish and Wildlife
in Alaska was the Alaska Game
Commission; in the nation. the Bio
logical Survey. Over a long period
these two agencies had worked out
an efficiently functioning unit
Fisheries, however, was operated
under a strictly political setup. Pos
ition of Commissioner of Fisheries
and under posts had been political
appointments for decades. Shifted to
a new department and bereft of its
head. fisheries just drifted along.
No drastic shakeups are expected
Immediately as the new program of
coordination gets underway. Later,
one may expect to see these devel-
opments:
q Formation of an Alaska Fish
Commission patterned after the Al
aska Game Commission with Alas
kans getting opportunity for genu-
inc voice in conduct of the fish
cries
% Greater flexibility of regu-
lations so that officials in Alaska
will have more authority in deter
mining when seasons might be
shortened, heightened, or closed
81 Establishment of the Alaska
headquarters of fisheries in Alaska
and not in Seattle as at present.
- =
juneau Chamber of Commerce
n3st week Joined with Fairbanks in
opposing Delegate Dimond's reap
portionment bill. Naturally expect
ed for the same reason that Fair
banks did-domination of its Divis-
ion in political strength. Only op-
position to the bill comes from the
Big Four-Juneau, Fairbanks, Nome
and Anehorage-bi towns of the
respective four judicial divisions
Smaller towns are rallying to sup
port to the bill which will give them
representation from their respective
districts. Their combined strength
is far greater than the big towns
United they can make the big broth
ers pull in their horns. Political
bigWigs like to refer to the outly-
ing precincts as canoe districts ="
There is growing indication the
canoes are padding in wholeheart-
eddy to the support of the Dimond
reapportionment bill.
-
Down Ketchikan way, 3. L. Samp-
son, one of Alaska's best read men.
is a very consistent reader of the
Periscope. Sometimes he doesn't
agree with us but he reads on. hope
full that eventually even a Peris-
copper might have a word of wis
dom Recently, Periscope referred TO
what we labelled probable purge"
attempt in Alaska politics. Reader
Sampson had this to say about it:
will you permit me to say that
your recent resurrection in Alaskan
politics of the matter of purge
therein, sounds to me like a lone
tootle after the band has quit play
ing? Perhaps it is because I never
did get the eye to eye attitude
Herewith when that crescendo was
pealing it's volume a few years ago
in national politics. The prefixing
of that imported Russian to a pol
itically justifiable URGE proved
nothing, despite all its sinister i'm
plication, except that the USA is
still a free country, as the Presi-
dent lately reminded the Alaskan
Legislature in response to its sug-
gestion to him respecting a Cabinet
member. Harpers some months ago