The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-08-18

I (Continued from Page One)
 volume of the present run. They
 also say that Seton Thompson, who
 is supposed to handle Alaska sal- l mon regulations, has not even been in the Territory while the opening \ and closing of seasons are being
 handled by Day and George Kelez who they claim are unfamiliar
 with commercial operations.
 An estimated nine local canneries
 had an investment of $5,000,000 in
 this season at the opening date and
 are being given no opportunity to
 recover their investment with this arbitrary and unwarranted closing
 order.
 KeIez Gives Answer
 ]. In Juneau today. George B. Kelez,
 Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Man.
 agement Supervisor said the pos isibility of heavy run of pink sal I mon in any district of Southeast 1 Alaska prior to late August is very
 unlikely. During the past IS years, Il the time of run of this species has
 been becoming progressively later. This has been true of the South ern districts of Southeast as well as
 the others. Very few fish were taken in this area prior to August ll5 in 1946, the parent cycle for
 this years run.
 l It has beer the concensus of l informed fishermen and operators as we'll as the Service that the once numerous early running pinks should be re-established through out Southeast Alaska, Kelez said. All persons appearing at the pub 1 lie hearings last year were in agree ment that fishing of early pink runs should be prohibited or held to an absolute minimum in the 1948 sea- son.
 In addition to this situation con- corning early pink runs, everyone ! is well aware of the deplorable con ditions existing among the South east Alaska pink salmon popula- tions. A very large proportion of fishermen and operators have even suggested complete closure of pink salmon fishing in this area in order Ito make some contribution to the rehabilitation of the species. Since the 1941 run alluded to, the annual pack of pinks has de- creased to about one seventh of it's normal amount. Affects Economy
 Such a series of failures, con- tinued Kelez, has had marked ef- l feet upon the economy of most Southeast Alaska communities A continuation of poor runs for "a Few more seasons may well speed eco homie ruin to this area. In this
 situation. nasty judgment and un- Informed opinion can hardly be weighed against the factual ln- formation assembled by the Service as a guide to it's actions.
 While the present runs III the iKetchikan area are better than in almost any other district of South \ east Alaska, they are not of great lproportion and, with the exception of such early streams as Anar Creek, most of these fish are still in the bays and probably will be at | the time fishing recommences. Such
 protection as will be afforded by
 this weeks closure will be helpful
 to these streams but can hardly overload them with fish.
 Anan Creek. incidentally, carried only 100000 spawners, by actual 1 weir count, in 1g41. and not over 6Oo,OOO in the largest years run
 experienced while the weir was in
 The progress of the runs and l experiments during the coming
 week will demonstrate whether or l not adequate essapement will be I obtained, Kelez said.
 l It is considered significant that the same reasons, as are now De- ing given, were advanced in order
 to obtain extensions of fishing time during the past few seasons m | the Ketchikan area and in no in- l stance did the resultant fishing I bear out the local contentious that | heavy run was indicated by pilot Il traps or other irregular means o1 determining abundance.