The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-11-07
Fines Leyied on Lewis, Nine Workers Upheld
Traps 'Foree' Fisherman 10 Communism; Seiners Catch
 More than Seis, Say Owner

ing fishermen out of business. He said that trap owners and cannery operators have monopoly and that Alaska is being 'bled to death' by the fish traps. He said he would possibly turn to Socialism or even Communism" if things are not changed.
 Jordan, a resident of Alaska four years and World War II vet eran, was questioned at some length on his latter statement by Rep. Thor Tollesen, (R-Wash) but he made no further reference to the threatened change.
 Will Brighten Investors
 When Jordan said that Congress has been influenced by the money and lawyers of the fishing industry Rep. John J. Allen. (R-Calif) ans wered that fifty times more pres sure has been exerted on Congress by the fishermen than by the in- dustry"
 Rep. Allen also pointed out that if Alaskans permit Outside capital to develop the Territory and then turn around and confiscate the product of this capital, they cannot expect additional outside capital to invest in the welfare of Alaska Another highlight of his testi- mony was the statement that most fishermen don't care about the regulations" and that there is no spirit of cooperation with the law among them.
 Answering charges of steamship monopoly in Alaska, Rep. Allen de- clared that anyone can enter the steamship business in the Territory | if he so desires.
 McCay said that the dispute over traps is a fight which must end with either the fishermen or the trap owners coming out victorious implying that there is not room for both. Mx s Ness confirmed much of the other testimony. s 's 'sa E ss Fishermen Live Outside George Gunderson, owner of two fixed traps, inadefa startling rev elation when lie declared that his traps did not catch as much fish in the past two successive seasons as the top seine boat in the Ter ritory did in just one year. He also said that this boat continually catches more fish each year than his two traps together. He argued that boat fishermen can range all over Alaska wherever the fish are located while a trap must remain in one place.
 Gunderson also stated that many fishermen live, in the States and l do not reside or operate from AL aska and therefore do not con- tribute to the economy of any community in the Territory. He pointed out that because of high license costs, trap fish cost more
 than other fish. Traps, he said icost up to $l5,000 per season to op-
 crate and he would stand to lose approximately $50.000 if traps were
 abolished.
 Refuting other statements on the incomes of fishermen, Gunderson
 explained that in 1908, fish were lsold at $7 per thousand but that the current price is around $4oo
 per thousand.
 Patterson argued. that there was tho need for further legislation on fish traps, declaring that James
 Curry, Washington attorney for Alaskan Indians, had advised him that the present law gives that lauthority to the Fish and Wildlife
 Service. This was denied. however
 by Paul who said that the legisla-
 tion is necessary
 Paul also declared that the In-
 dians have been unable to catch
 enough fish to earn an adequate
 income which, in turn, he argued
 has brought about lack of suf-
 ficient food and clothing and has
 undermined the health of the In