The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-02-12
SALMON TRAP REFERENDUM IS AMEN

fConr.Euec rem Page Onej proposing abo..J-Un O. traps grad ually over Q l0-year period, he sal, it would at least give reasonablt time for ieuidation of investments Shore plants. ha stated, have lift somewhat ip excess of 10 years while there are tremendous invest ments in floating equipment that | e-recially designed and not usefu otherwise than in connection witf trap fishing This Heating equip ment is generally considered tC have a 20 year life. The amend m.nt would give more time for sal wage of what could be reclaimed.
 Arnold concluded that he does not think the bill is fair or req scnable." but the 10-year plan would make i. twice as favorable Questioning Arnold's statement that this is not proper issue Tor SlIL IllSSlDl1 lO bllI fONNASi Peratrovich asked if Arnold did not think it would settle the matter sat- isfactorily? Tt does not offer any solution at all,' was Arnolds re- ply.
 House Member William Egan ouerried Arnold regarding a remark by the latter comparing traps to gold dredges. Is it not true, Egan asked, that trap ownership is a special privilege, whereas anyone with enough money can buy gold dredge and find a claim to put It to work on?
 Hazardous Business
 Arncld's answer was that every citizen has opportunity and legal right to locate a trap. The differ ence, he indicated, is that trap op- eration is classed as hazardous business" with more failures thar successes. In the end it has moi proved practical to operate trap' individually.
 Rep. Egan then brought up com parative employment on dredge! and traps, which Arnold later ask ed opportunity to answer by re- counting the preseason and post season work connected with traI fishing, as well as the service ant maintenance crews required during the season. The end effect, he helc is to employ fewer over a longer period which, he said, is benefic ial as Alaska's greatest economi Ill is seasonal peak employment Asked by Senator Gunnard En eeareth if the Federal Bureau 0 Internal Revenue would not likel. permit dep 2eiation ot plants mad useless over a five-year period, Arn old replied that there would not b sufficient profits to recover Gepre citation at that rate. Arnold adde' that it is not contended that tn ndustrys entire investment woul' ba equally prejudioed. Wlere trap are not now used, there should b no loss, he conceded.
 Geography Limits
 Answering Senator E. B. Collin regarding the effect of trap fishinI upon conservation, Arnold pointed out that the control and conserva tion of the Alaska fishery is re served to the Federal government W. ich has research and scientifi personnel at it's disposal to mak annual recommendations upol which control regulations are based Geographic factors limit gear use In some areas traps cannot be used The same applies to other forms o gear Each type Of gear is gener ally permitted by regulation where ever it can te efficiently used There are large areas where n other forms of gear but traps i efficient
 The Fish and Wildlife Service which controls the Alaska fishery agrees that fishing by traps lend itself more readily tc conservation measures and control than othe gear forms, Arnold declared. Trap tand to distribute the toll on runs t all streams in the area and hel to maintain balanced escapemen with maximum efficient use of tn resource, whereas other gear form tend to concentrate fishing upo runs to particular streams
 Will Carry Fight
 To Senator Don Carlos Brownel Arnold freely acknowledged that tn industry will carry its fight agains trap abolition to Washington, C., should the abolition referendul be placed in the ballot and carr, He did not admit Brownell's poir that eXtensicl oi the eliminatio i.-t-fif.i--i-i..t..t.i-i