The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-08-07
MESS TAG ISHUNG
 5E FISHERY
Trap Issue Again Raised as Congressmen Open
 Ears 10 Fishermen

Congressional inquiry here into questions concerning control and regulation of Alaska fisheries open ed late yesterday afternoon with a blunt declaration by Juneau attor- ney William L. Paul, Jr, that the Southeast Alaska fishery is in a ness
 It is so bad, he declared. that the economy of the Territory and the Territorial government itself are threatened
 Paul, who appeared as the first fisheries witness before the Jackson Subcommittee of the House of Representatives Committee on Mer- chant Marine and Fisheries in the capacity of Secretary for the Alas ka Marine Workers Union tAFD : and the Alaska Native Brotherhood, was given little opportunity, how ever, to expand his remarks His testimony was interrupted, to be put over until this afternoon, so that hurry up" witnesses who had to, leave town this morning might be heard at yesterdays afternoon session.
 Abolish Fish Traps Paul was followed by Alaska senatorial nominee Frank Pera- trovich, who is President of the sAMWU. Peratrovich trained his statement on advocating abolition of fish traps over a five year per iod, program similar to that in- corporated in bill he introduced in the 1945 Alaska legislature.
 Traps Untair Competition
 Admitting traps may be the most efficient way to catch salmon" Pera- trovich opposed them as being un- fair competition for the resident fisherman in his little boat Will traps develop this Territory? he rhetorically demanded.
 Pointing out that what the resi- dent fisherman earns is spent with the merchants of Alaska to their benefit, he said each trap with it's two watchmen could be replaced by two seine boats manned by five men each.
 Way For Employment
 This is a way to give employ ment to returning veterans and to attract new residents, he argued, adding his belief that, with traps eliminated, seiners would be able to triple their seasons catch.
 He referred to the tripled pack of salmon in the State of Wash ington last year as laying the spec Ire that the Washington pack level had been greatly reduced by trap abolition.
 Change q Season
 Concerning fishing regulations, Peratrovich held with later wit ness-Frank G. Johnson, Mayor of Kake-that the seasons are wrong. Gamers and fishermen are agreed on that. he said. He ad- vocated setting back the seasons at least D days or two weeks.
 tfI ttOi tQi COHtfOt CfyS0
 Asking for more flexible seasons, Peratrovich urged that control of the fisheries be placed in the hands of the Territory He set up the Alaska Game Commission as an ex- ample
 We feel the time has come when we are fully capable to talk ing care of our own resources, he stated; then answered query by Alaska Delegate E. L. Bartlett by saying he has no fear that pres sure on a Territorial government in control of them might result in a depletion of the fisheries.
 Peratrovich disagreed with quot ed statement by the Assistant Sec- retary of the Interior that fish traps are desirable and efficient adjunct to salmon canning oper- ations.
 Against Territorial Control
 Wilfred Stump of Ketchikan, Secretary of the Resident Trap Owners Association of Southeast Alaska. disagreed with Peratrovich's stand for Territorial control. He gave opinion there is more chance that conservation might suffer from political pressure if the Territory rather than the Federal government were in control.
 Stump, referring to the State- hood Referendum before Alaska voters in october, held out for con- trol of everything in Alaska at once not piece-meal. Statehood is what's needed, he inferred. | Answering Bartlett, Stump called