The Wrangell sentinel., 1950-10-13
50 Attend Local Fish
 Hearings

Oa vice vessel Brant arrived here We'd nesday with a group of officials to conduct annual hearings on con- mercial fishing regulations for the 1851 season. About 50 local per- sons interested turned out for the meeting which was held in Bjorge's hall.
 Those coming down for the hear ings from Juneau included Howard Baltzo. assistant regional director who presided over the meeting; C.. Scudder, fish specialist with the Alaska Native Service; Dick Schu- man, fisheries management super visor; Frank Hynes, chief of fish management biological department and Earl Bright, fleet supervisor The Brant is skippered by Jim Col lins.
 The hearing opened by FWS giy- ing its recommended changes for the coming year. Any person inter- ested has the privilege of protest ing or approving the proposals by sending a written statement to the department at Washingon, D. C.. before Dec. 1 Baltzo assured fish ermen that their protests or re- commendations are given careful consideration by the department.
 Among the departments propos- ed changes are:
 1. To adopt a mpCe strict inter pretation of personal use privilege It was pointed out that many vio- lations are occurring through the personal use taking of fish and the suggestion was made, fishing will not be considered for personal use if conducted with commercial gear within AS hours of an open fishing period.
 9. Fish tickets will be definitely inaugurated in 1851 and applied universally to all purchases of fish in Alaska except Bristol Bay and traps which are already adequate 1y reported. Tickets are expected to be supplied to all fish buyers by January 1.
 8. Stringent enforcement of the regulation which prohibits fishing to low tides and within 500 yards of Falls Creek and all Wrangell Narrows streams.
 4. Strict enforcement of proper weekend trap closure methods. 5. Make principal fish buyers re- sponsible for submission of the an nual statistical reports on opera tion and production.
 6. Delete the requirement. for playing the name of a boat on top of the pilot house.
 '. Prohibit all fishing, regardless of gear or purpose, within 500 1t. Of any fish ladder or counting weir.
 8. Prohibit the use of more than one power boat in connection with the operation of any single unit of net fishing gear.
 g. Prohibit nylon or other trans lucent plastic material in gillnets.
 10. Prohibit trolling for echoes from Sept. 20 to June 15 instead of allowing the season to reopen Oct. 5, as at present.
 II. Lift the regulation which prohibits fishing in LituYa Bay and return to the 1949 regulation on releasing of undersize king salmon.
 13. Open the mainland shore of opening on Aug. 9 and closing Sep tember 1.
 13 Open the maitland shore of Stephens Passage to fishing.
 14. Move the Anan and Bradfield closed area markers in one mile closer to the mouth of the creek.
 Is. Close Portland Canal north of Engineers Point.
 16. Prohibit commercial fishing for sole or founder from June to October 15 in all SEE. waters closed throughout the year to salmon fishing.
 IT. Effective in 1852, prescribe a maximum mesh of inches for beach seines to circumvent illegal use of gillnets as beach seines.
 IS. Prohibit SC of mesh larger than 6 inches in the Stikine dis trict after June 24 to prevent de- liberate fishing for kings.
 19. Restrict sockeye fishing in gillnet areas of Lynn Canal, Taku, Port Snettisham and Stikine to on- ly half time, or S4 hours per week.
 Shrimp Season May
 On shrimp it was proposed to make the spring opening on May l..
 Stikine troll and gillnetting opens on this date and crab fishing closes May 1.
 It was also proposed to delete the regulation which prohibits the possession of over 25 percent of shrimp which are under 2h inches in length.
 On rahu f. uas urnnouad ho tba