The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-08-23

under responsible management, he said.
 Most of the argument opposing the closure order was based on the economic aspect of the situation.
 Speaking for Ketchikan, Robert Jernberg, attorney, said: "Ketchi- kan has been on the brink of ruin for sometime and if this closure is enforced, it will tip the scales in that direction"
 Running through the complaints as an ever recurrent theme was the charge that the short season August g to September 3 had been agreed upon by the packers and F&WS at meetings prior to the issuance of regulations governing the l948 operation with the idea that a late season would helr build up the depleted pink salmon run, and that it would allow for concentration of mobile fishing gear, that the packers would oper- ate through this short season with out interruptions.
 Operation was planned on that basis.
 Cause of Order
 After the first weeks operation as result of meeting between F&WS executives and operators August IA, lack of fish in streams was considered cause to order 9 weeks closure. August l6 to B. in the middle of the already short season fotf all SEE Alaska. It was the extension of this closure order to August 27 in the districts of SEE Alaska in which it was thought that lack of fish indicated need of further restriction that brought the belligerent operators to Juneau to protest.
 Argument was made that if the pink salmon run was as bad as the FEW Service indicated, the operation should be closed for a year or two years, with notice in advance so that closure could be planned upon.
 At this period there would still be no pink salmon on the East Coast of Prince Of Wales" A. w. Brindle, Ketchikan, said, and A. R.. Breuger of Farwest, Wrangell, agreed. Fish are 90 percent dogs and echoes at this time. We don't expect pinks except for an early run at Anan Creek and we don't see why you close to save some thing that doesn't exist"
 Purpose <N feated
 Stanley Ta.rant, Pacific Ameri- can Fisheries, called attention to the partial closing of SEE Alaska fishing defeating the purpose of the l948 regulations as they per- tained to concentration of fishing gear. Tt would be better if the whole area were thrown open so we could find out where the fish are and the intensity of the run.'
 Archie w. Shiels, PAF, who had spent the last eight days making surveys on Sumner Straits and Fredericks Sound. said that in that time he had seen no govern ment boat on survey, that there was no question that there are a great many more fish passing through Sumner and Fredericks Sound now than week ago"
 James Nolan, Wrangell business man and candidate for the House of Representatives, echoed his townsman's protest. If the clos ure had been made known last winter, people would have had a chance to get out of town. Now they have no money to move, no jobs to go to-"
 Lon LAWS. F. E. HarrlS, .aSkeQ the service to forget the order, let's go fishing. Take a look and I think we'll find some fish"
 R. E. Robertson, as citizen of Juneau, called attention to the fact that our town, though indi- rectly, is also dependent upon the fishing industry and it's close con- nection, transportation. There should he no embarrassment, after the testimony we have heard, in re- voking this order"
 H. B. Friele, Sr. Nakat Pack ing. who, like those who had pre- ceded him, said that We are all vitally interested in conservation. probably more so than you and one