The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-09-20
FAVOR LATER
 OPENINGS OF FISH SEASON
Witnesses df Hearing Urge F&W Service fo More
 Drastic Action

commercial salmon fishing seasons throughout Southeast Alaska for next year were laid before local fishing interests here this morning by the Fish and Wildlife Service and were generally favorahly re- ceived by those concerned.
 Principal comment was that pro posed opening, particularly in the northern section of the Southeast division, were not late enough Will jam L. Paul, Sr.. representing the Alaska Native Brot." rhood and the Alaska Marine Workers Union (AFL) urged opening of the Icy Strait district and the northern sections of the Western district tc seining not before August l, with an August 18 date possibly to be favored by his organizations.
 Paul accompanied his late open ing request with a call for elimina- ton of fish traps and no fixed clos ing dates on the seasons.
 Proposed Regulations
 Proposed new regulations submit ted by Seton Thompson, Assistant Chief of Alaska Fisheries, in charge of conducting the hearing here anc subsequent hearings elsewhere fol tl1a I1p,ATT ipoInJad tho fcllpui,1c suggested opening rates on seint and trap fishing, for the l947 sea son.
 Icy Strait, west Of Pt. Carolus July IA.
 Icy Strait, east of Pt Carolus July 21.
 Western district, northern sec ton, south of Sullivan Island July 2l.
 ! Western district, central, southerr and western sections; July 28.
 Eastern district July 28.
 Sumner Strait, Ernest Sound, Zi movia Strait and Anan; Aug. II.
 Sumner Strait, except Ernes Sound, Zimovia Strait and Anan August II.
 Clarence Strait, central, south i eastern and southwestern sections August 4
 Clarence Strait, northern section August II.
 South Prince of Wales Island August IS.
 : Southern District, July 2l.
 Why Dates Set
 The proposed opening dates have been set, he said, upon indication from past observation that the, would allow the first 25 percent o the runs to escape. In addition to the later seasol openings. it is proposed to close tt commercial fishing for salmon al bays leading to major spawning areas Among those bays now be ing considered for closure under thi policy, he listed: Port Frederick Gambler Bay, Pybus Bay and Sey mour Canal.
 1 Other suggested regulation chang es, of less sweeping nature, are: l. Revision of administrativ boundaries to include all of Lisian ski Strait, Lisianski Inlet and "a koki Island within the Western dis trict.
 1 ?. Discontinuance of the fal fishing season in northern South east Alaska waters Normal date of this season are from Septembe 1 IS to November 30
 3. Prohibition of commercial fishing in the "Hole-in the Wall near Pt. Baker.
 4. Possession of king salmon weighing less than six pound: dressed weight. to be prima face evidence of illegal taking.
 5. Permitting earlier offshor seining for red salmon off Noye Island.
 6. Division of the Sumner Strai district for administrative purpose
 T Prohibition of side rigs" o "jitneys."
 8 Requirement that spillers o traps be lifted during the week. closed periods.
 g. Extension of closed seasons o dungeness crabs. on butter clam in Icy Strait and on shrimp in tn vicinity of Wrangell and Peters burg