The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-02-20

on the other hand he closed.
 c. R. Burrell, of the Alaska Fishermen's Union, Cook Inlet branch, was asked to the stand by Senator H. H. McCutcheon. He stated his belief that the salmon canning industry could be carried on as well with mobile gear as with traps, making special reference to Bristol Bay and other Third Division fishery areas. He declared that in Cook Inlet gill nets alone could keep the canneries operating they can furnish all the fish needed he said, and added that 97 per cent of the gill net and set net fishermen of Cook Inlet are residents of the Territory.
 In reply to question by Senator N R. Walker. he stated that hand traps in that area yield an average of 30,000 fish, while gill nets catch 10000 as an average.
 Arnold On Stand
 IeCpi SociiIuiS tiic SdililcQ cduiOl Industry, w. O. Arnold took the stand to offer opposition in the guise of information" Increased population, greater earning power places for returning war veterans stimulated local business in Alaska all are definitely desirable" objec- tives, he affirmed. "If this bill could accomplish these objectives, no one could have any objection to it; but in my opinion they will not be obtained"
 He declared the decrying of fist traps to be the effort of a vel organized minority" within the Territory's largest industry to put their own cause ahead of the wei fare of the whole industry.
 Replying to Peratrovich's state ment that he represented tht wishes of 5000 fishermen, MT. Ar hold said Tn normal years there are 25,000 persons employed in al the salmon fishing industry What of the other 19,o00? The 2,50t workers engaged in the operation servicing and maintaining of traps "also want to come back to theil old jobs"
 MT, Arnold pointed out that the competition between traps ano seine boats is not as great as i: often charged. Traps are generally located farther from the rivel mouths than seine boats will nor. mally operate. "The proportion ot seine boats that can and do op. crate in outside waters is small, he stated. Seine boats can worl profitably only after the salmon have "schooled up" on comin nearer the creeks.
 On the point that about 800 new seine boats could replace the traps MT. Arnold remarked: Even if i were true that that number. O. boats could maintain the level O. the pack, who would make the in. vestment in the boats? If tht s, ,000,000 invested in traps is con. fiscated, who will build 800 boats at approximately $20,000 apiece, tt replace them?
 Investments
 There are 109 canneries in tho Territory, he continued. About 70 oi them use traps. The canneries art each an investment of from $500,- 900 to $1,500,O00 They are built tt operate on regularly -maintainec supply. Such supply can be ob. tained only from the use of traps which are in effect, reservoir from which fish can be drawn a. they are needed. They are brought from the trap to the cannery il from 10 to IA hours of the time il is determined they will be needed In case of breakdown at can. nery, fish can be held in the trap No damage results to fish in trap. during tn first four days except ir cases of extreme weather. Seine boats, on the other hand, vii swamp cannery when fishing is good, a few days later the weather may turn or the run be lost ano then boats cannot keep the can. nery going. r A*s
 Replying to a question by Senator McCutcheon as to why there ar. no traps in Bristol Bay, MT. Arnole replied that tidal conditions proven, the use of traps except well up into the streams. That is where they were located in early days--in tho form of river barricades - bu Bureau of Fishery regulations pre-. vent them there now.
 Answering Senator Lyng, ht stated that in the areas wher. traps are used, only one or two canneries operated on trap-caugh fish exclusively. He said cannerie. will use seined fish when availabl, and keep their trap supplies in re. serve, when possible. Normally, z cannery uses about 65 per cen, trap fish and 35 per cent from seine boats.
 The objection of the industry te the proposed referendum, MT. Ar. hold explained, is that all the people in the Territory will bt voting on a question that effects only the coastal regions. Inland residents are not in a position te know the facts and judge accord.