The Wrangell sentinel., 1943-05-28
THROUGH THLS SEN I MEL
 PIERISGOPE
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] q Fl Effort to push a bill through Con gress to transfer certain functions of the Fish and Wildlife Service mainly fisheries5 from the De partment of Interior 10 that Of Ag- riculture apparently is being rel viYed with renewed yigor. The plan Was started last fall and some ln- iIuential Senate support was won lor it. l. was inspired primarily by a large group in the commercial fishing industry, mainly on the east coast. who saw the possibilities oTl the fisheries getting the same kind of marketing assistance now given farmers, providing jurisdiction over fisheries could be placed in the de- partment of Agriculture. Alaska fisheries and those on the Pacific Coast have been little concerned, entirely neutral in the controversy because they have been able to han de their marketing satisfactorily without government help, whereas the east coast with its inferior scrap dsh and more diversified pro-I ducts presents a completely differ-I ent picture.
 Interior Secretary Ickes was rel gently before the congressional con- lGittee digging into the matter and naturally enough opposed such transfer from his department. But aside from the disposition of anyl department head to oppose the talk ing away from his department, the Secretary presented the committee with some sound reasons in support Of his argument He pointed out, TOT example, that fisheries is a mar time industry and not particularly related to agriculture; that the In-l terior Department is the Federal 1 agency having administration of in dustry involving renewable natural resources; that the problems of fishermen are quite different from those of farmers; that the fishing industry is based upon the eXploita- tion of a renewable natural re- source while the heart of the az ricultural industry is the planting
  and harvesting of crops or the rais- ing and processing of domesticated animals. The Secretary gave many other reasons, but his concluding paragraph is the one that reflects that self-styled "Sourpuss" Ickes isl in there pitching in his stride. Said he:
 Tn conclusion, let me say that the preparation for and participa- tion in this hearing has absorbed a great deal of the time of our fisheries staff. This time would otherwise have been spent in direct aid to the United Nations at war. I beg that you conclude this hear ing as soon as possible, dismiss the proposal made in the bill before you. and permit us 10 carry on our work. a'
 Fishermen and cannery workers numbering some 16.OO0 who will be engaged in the Alaska salmon fishing and canning industry this season are going to do seven per cent better than last year on the pay checks. Regional War Labor Board in Seattle has granted theI seven per cent boost over last year by six to three vote.
 Other terms of the regional WLBl decision included:
 t1) War risk insurance to bel paid by the employers of s5000 per men
 CD Up to s15o forzloss of tools and clothing during the season to fishermen who signed on in San Francisco.
 (3) Some 5000 Filipino workers from California will receive their transportation fare north plus 36I subsistence.
 l4) Fishermen and workers also will receive the difference between The first class fare to which they are accustomed and the actual cost of their transportation to and froza
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