The frontiersman., 1952-07-17
FWS Fails to Relax Knik Arm Red Salmon Ban
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ALASKA
 RESIDENTS CHARGED BY SPORTsMEN

regulation, which would lift the ban on fishing in Knik Arm (but not in its tributaries) 48 hours after the close of the red salmon Commercial season or on August 14. Previously the interpretation had extended the ban beyond the close of the silver salmon season.
 Proposal Misunderstood
 Rhode either misunderstood or ignored the intent of the Sports mems proposal in his letter; he assumed that the SportSmen wanted unrestricted personal use salmon fshing in Knik Arm. "As we understand it," he wrote, members of your group and other persons in the area are in agreement with the Service that spawning salmon should not be disturbed in the fresh water streams but you believe unreStric- ted personal use fishing by nets should be allowed in upper Knlk Arm"
 In another paragraph he added, Where personal use fishing IS not of importance to the overall runs we have made no curtai1- ments. In this area 1t Is of critical importance and Is growing in inn portance as the population and demand increases. It does not ap- pear there is any real hardship being imposed by this added pro lection. Obviously, it deprives some persons of an easy method of taking fish for personal use. l The restrictions on the commer- cial taking of fish throughout the 1 Inlet have certainly been a great CT hardship on those persons who must depend on fishing for live lihood. We are aware that the l shoe must do some plncnlng but we are determined, too, that the salmon runs will not be destroy ed. .. cannot believe Sports man organization or it's members would insist on removing all take restrictions with no thought of the future"
 Red Salmon Run Begins
 Rhodes failure to recognize the restrictions that were implicit in the Sportsmen's proposal may have had some bearing on his outright mo" to the proposal and might possibly open the door to further negotiations. However, time is short; the red salmon all ready have been seen making their way up the streams tribu- tary to Knik Arm.
 The position of the SportSmen in regard to the FWS counter proposal was reflected in their statement issued this week.
 "The counter proposal offered by the Fish and Wildlife Service to the peoples demand for the privilege of fishing salmon for home use is not acceptable.
 This proposition to allow fish ing after August If sounds very good but the catch is, there are no fish then. At that date only sick, over-ripe reds, few hump ies and very few silverS are avail able.
 "The FWS people by their own admission seem to be more con- cerned with the welfare of the canned salmon interests that they are with the interests of the resi- dent Alaskan. We ask only that we be given the same opportunity as they in being allowed to fish in Knik Arm on the open days ot the commercial season.
 Any decrease in the salmon runs cannot be blamed on the l home use fishing, and we suggest the Fish and Wildlife Service look into the big fish killer, the salmon traps, which catch more fish in one tide than all the home use fishing will take in year"
 Boot Logging" Feared"
 Several of the Sportsmen be- lieve that FWS failure to relax it's complete ban on red salmon fishing in this area will result in widespread "bootlegging" in the crucial tributary streams. Said Clair Stock, If FWS had CO., } operated with Valley fishermen to the extent of permitting limit ed personal use fishing in Knik Arm, the whole Valley would , have been behind them in guard ing against fishing the creeks. Now nobody will want to help