The Wrangell sentinel., 1953-06-19
H g
 THROUGH THE SENTINEL
 PERISCOPE
More Snow Pass Trap

Supplementing our report of last week on the projected installation of the old Snow Pass fish trap at Eesbitt Point, long abandoned, first we can report that fish caught in the trap are not going to the Libby Cannery in Petersburg as first re ported.
 From Juneau II. G. Heaton, Dis trict superintendent of Libby. Nc Neil and Libby, wires:
 Have just read your article in The Sentinel regarding Snow Pass trap. Please be advised Libby, Me Neill and Libby has no interest whatsoever in Nesbitt Fish Company trap or fish and we do not plan to change this position We would ap- preciate your so advising your read CTS"
 Then comes Clarence J. Rhode. Regional Director of the T. s. Fish and WildHfe Service. with some succulent information about the trap and FWS's position in the matter. Writes he:
 Dear Lew:
 We would like to comment on your "Periscope" item in last weeks Sentinel concerning the permit gran. ted the Nesbitt Fish Company for installing the Snow Pass fish trap. When it was noticed that license had been issued, this Service in letter dated June 5, 1853 called the Com pany's attention to the fact that commercial fisheries regulations pro hibit fish traps anywhere on Zarem.. bo Island.
 Although the background of the Company or it's motives are unknown to us, part of the explanation may lie in the ease with which tran permits may be secured. Applicant must first secure permit from the Army Engineers, which agency is solely concerned with hazards to navigation. License for installation may be obtained upon simple appli- sation from the Territory because the Department of Taxation is only interested as a revenue matter. Should the Wrangell Sentinel wish to broaden it's investment base and extend its already far flown finan- cial empire, it would have no diff. culty whatsoever in obtaining Territorial license to install a fish trap almost any place of it's choosing so long as it does not interfere with navigation!
 This office is aware of no change in law, regulation, or policy which will allow installation of fish traps other than in certain areas as pres. cribed in the printed regulations. and the Nesbitt Fish Company has been informed that it cannot be permitted to operate at the licensed location in Snow Pass.
 Sincerely yours,
 Clarence J. Rhode
 Regional Director
 Meanwhile a report from FWS in Washington, via The Associated Press, today says regulations against traps in the Point Nesbitt- Snow Passage area are unchanged. It says the Nesbitt Fish Company of Seattle has obained a Territorial license for trap and probably got an Army permit FWS stresses, however, that service regulations, which are dis tinct from Army or Territorial li- censes, would prohibit the trap.
 It appears from the above that there is a Nesbitt Fish Company that it was licensed to put a trap in Snow Pass despite it being a closed area, and nobody seems to be too happy about it. except perhaps the Nesbitt Fish Company and they no doubt know what they are going to do with the fish, if and when they catch 'em.
 Headquarters of the Nesbitt Fish Company is an office in the Henry building occupied by a major Seattle legal firm. Attorney F. S. Bayley sad the firm is acting for the Nes.. bitt company but says he is not in position to disclose anything about client or plans.
 A. Schoenwald, Seattle salmon broker, was interested in the trap when it was last i'll operation some l5 years ago. He may still be.
 So while We wait with baited breath to see if the Snow Pass ac.. tually operates we're going to do some contemplating on that tin from Clarence about broadening The Sentineis investment base. Off hand We think a nice place for a tran would be right off the breakwate1 in Wrangell harbor; so many feet this way and that from the red buoy. It might catch a few fish, and 1t certainly would save these 5 am sport fishermen a lot of sleep and energy All they would have to do 1. row over to the trap and we'd give 'em a king salmon for the derby for price, of course.
 Must make a note to check witf the new administration about that