The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-09-19

date proposed seeks to overcome this objectionl
 Paul ST. critically recited the history of Alaska salmon fishery regulating under the Bureau of Fisheries and the F&WL to show that the statutory escapement re- quirement of 50 percent has never been achieved; that all that has been sought to do is conserve 90 percent of the fish that get by the traps, after they take all they can. This, he said, is the cause of the now-recognized pink salmon deple- tion
 Traps Too Efficient
 Paul said the only argument against traps he wanted to pre- sent is that they are too eff cient. He suggested progressive elimination of the most efficent gear forms, starting with the most productive traps, then if necessary to secure conservation. following up by restrictions on seines. He gave Bristol Bay as an example of control that should be extended to the rest of the Territory.
 Paul ST. also had specific recommendation that the late sea son cohoe runs be more generally recognized by the regulations. They are now recognized only at the Chlkat, Taku and Stikine rivers, he held.
 Gill-netter Hcnkins wanted to know if Port Snettisham would be recognized as a gill net area un- der the proposed l948 regulations and he was assured it would be. Only Introduction
 , Peck offered that the late poor seasons are only an introduction to the coming years unless traps are done away with. There used to ,te three pink runs, he said. The early and the summer runs have been killed off now and the late run is in danger. The whole situation points to traps which are dangerous not only to pink sal mon but to thc other species, to ! kings, cod and various other fish, He called also for increased pa trols on all types of gear; es- exponent through the summer and elimination of fishing by dis ! tricts The many small fishing district, he claimed, have proven a complete failure The weather has much to do with fish survival, he stated. July and August are dry months and the fish do not 1 enter the streams until the first flood. Open seasons during the dry times are dangerous
 Peck answered Thompson, that the August 9 opening date might Le all right, underlining might. Ii rains don't come by August 9, il
 won't be late enough. He refer red the F&WL to the Weather Bur
 eau. Peck identified himself as
 a purse Seiner.
 Jones first asked for information on 1947 escapement, but was told that this years spawning surveys n this area are just now getting under way 1948 regulations arc tied to 1946 escapement. Thomp- son informed him.
 | Fishermen Confused
 ] Jones later cited that the var
 iety of short closed and open seasons in the many districts caus- ed confusion in the minds of fish elmen and led to unintentional violations. He asked for redefin- ition of boundaries to form fewer number of large districts and for openings and closings at mid night. Paul ST. added his feeling that fishermen would be mor, satisfied with shorter open per iods if they came at times which
 would put them on equality witf
 traps. The 6 p. m. opening gives seiners time for just one or two sets before dark while the trap
 fish all through that night. Wetcat pointed to past scasor
 violations of closed trolling in th'
 area from Cape Spencer to Yaku tat. He wanted better enforce ment, stiffer fines for violation
 and that tne part of the closed
 stretch from Lituya Bay on up th' ' coast be reopened to trolling. Trol
 Ter Lindstrom felt the entire ares
 should be reopened, because ,vio'
 lations of the closure are so com.
 mon. He also asked reboundint
 of closed sections in Lynn Cana
 and Stephens Passage during June
 to let the small trollers take thu