THE HOMER NEWS
Alaska*s Largest Mimeogrqph Weekly
Published every Thursday in Homer* Alaska
Bill Raver, Editor and Publisher
Dorothy Raver, Compositor
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THE HEARING
V3o will preface this editorial with the frank statement
that we do not pretend to be experts in the world of Alaska
fishing. A3 a matter of fact, this wook was our introduction
into this world so fraught with politics and group problems.
Heretofore we were observers from a distance. 3y. attending
the hearings at the schoolhouso on Monday evening and the
fisheimen*s mooting on Tuesday, we came to realize some of
the problems of the fishermen and the Fish and Wildlife Ser
vice. But being rather observing we reached a few conclu
sions of our own that wo> would like to pass along for what
ever they might bo worth in the light of the admission that
wc are just learning.
First it should bo noted that Soton Thompson, FWS chief of
the branch of Alaska Fisheries, Washiigton, D. C., cane to
Alaska to find out how the fishermen felt about throe pro
posals concerning the future of fishing on the Inlet. Those
proposals would: S^ek an amendment to the White Act which
would set the distance between sotnets and traps at 600 yds*,:
pinpoint trap sites by FWS survey, and return the length of
drift nets to 150 fathoms* These proposals were made up by
representatives of Alaska Salmon Industry, Incf{ Alaska
Shell Fish, Inc., Kenai Packers, Snard Packing Co.,. Ire*,
S^ldovia Bay Packing Co., Libby, McNeill & Libby, and Lottie
Edelman, agent, Cook Inlet Branch, AFU, and presented to John
L. Farley, FWS director on December 1, 1954.
Each of the proposals is important to the three types of
fishing found on the Inletsetnet, drift and trap. If the
White Act is amended by Congress it will automatically mean
that the other tuo uni go into erroct ana tno risnennen uijj,
be back on tho 1954 regulations uith the exception that the
traps nill be pinpointed by survey and the setnottors uill be
able to place their nets exactly 600 yards from the traps and
know that tho traps uill not be moved.
Perhaps something else has been gained if tho Act is
amended/.#a gear war will have been headed off. It was tho
opinion of most of those who spoke at the 'hearing that a vrar
between the setnottors and tho trap men would have been the
result of the 1800 foot ruling between sotnets that Trill be
the law if the amendment is not passed bofore tho fishing
season starts. The setnetters can still jump the trap sites,
and men trying to earn a meager living for their families
can be dangerous under such circumstances.
In adding up all of the things we heard uc catno to the
conclusion that the fishermen had no choice in the proposals
but to accept them and in doing so ’’legalize" the fish trs5>s
which the majority of the fishermen and the majority of tho
people do not want in Alaskan waters.
Perhaps the proposals were the best way to handle the sit
uation, but they are a bitter pill to be swallowed by the men
of Alaska who make their living from the sea. They mere made
up by the representatives of six packers aid one agent rep
resenting a dead fishermen’s union...and then the JFWS came
along to hold hearings on proposals which they kno:7 the
fishermen had to accopt or face bloodshed and see their
children go hungry next 7/inter.
Lottie Edelmar admitted to the fishermen that the propos
als j7ore ”a packago deal" and defended them by saying that
without the support of the Salmon Industry the ^ihite Act
could not be amended. In other words Congress would not lis
ten to tho fishermen and tho people of Alaska, but they uill
listen to tho Salmon Industry. Anyone who doubts the powor of
the Washington lobby of the Soattlc packers, take note.
tTIRED OF
^CARRYING WOOD?
'S
SWITCH TO OIL
PHONE
40
/SAL ES OFFtCE
NEXT TO BANK
TERMINAL
OIL SALES
The fishormen are perhaps at fault in not being Dct*or or:
so that Y;hen such emergencies arise, they can meet
tZl ' They have to since early last Fall that the 1955
rotations .could, unless the lan nas changed by Congress,
enntain^tho 1800-foot ruling. Honover it =as left to Lottie
to got together nith the PacKcrs and i.orh out the
nroDOsals. She corked, as closoly as possible, nith Delegate
Bartlett, but the fishermen from Cook IhlSt should have ha
ow of their men in Seattle to represent the views of local
fishermen. Perhaps such a representative vould have accom~
ulishS little, but the Packers might have been- impressoa tr
the unity and determination of the fishermen of Alaska and
bosun to think of the day tthon Statehood t3.ll make the fish
ermen their equal, if not their masters.
" As ne sec it, the proposals are another victory for the
Seattle packers over not only the fishermen but the Fish anc
Vildlifo Service, a department set up to serve th^ people of
the United States but apparently not Alaska. „■_
ANCHOR FT
The movie and dance held
Saturday night “'as “’ell at
tended "ith about 75 folks
enjoying the eveniig at Keel
ers* The entertainment "as
sponsored by the Anchor Point
Community Club*
On Jodnesday, January 19th
the Anchor Point Homemakers
met at the home of Mrs* Loraa
Keeler for the regular pot
luck luncheon* Th.q Homer
Homemakers, Mrs* Eric Ander
son and Mrs* Bill Jenson* nho
attended the short course in
Fairbanks this fall, furnish
ed the program “ith a review
and discussion of the topic,
Family Relationship*
The Anchor Point PTA meets
Friday night, January 21, at
the schoolhouse for its regu
lar monthly business mooting*
CARL HXILXM* IN
FROM FOX RIVER
Carl Heilenann, Foi Rivor
homesteader, -as in term on
Tuesday to sell some of his
yearling beef#
DRIVES TO ANCHOR POINT
Russell Cronin and t~o
toys drove to Anchor Point
and returned on uodnosday.
Electric
Association
READ YOU a METER
TODAY
MARSHAL TO BE HERE SATURDAY
It is expectod that Ered
Williamson, U. S» Marshal for
the Third Division, "ill he
in Homer on Saturday to in
spect the new headquarters
for the deputy marshal who
will be moving here soon.
Jim Reynolds has been busy
the past ton weeks putting a
basement under his office
building which has been moved
back from the road* The
basement trill contain the
heating plant for the build
ing, office spaeo for the
deputy and a coll for prison
ers* . :
LOCAL FISHERMEN >v •. '
ATTEND KENAl FWS HEARING
Bill Eklof amL- Dick and
Brantley Edens attended tho
FWS hearings in Kenai Tuesday
night to inform tho FWS that
tho Homer fishermen’s associ
ation had approvod the throe
proposals offered by the Sgi*
vico*
FATHER CUSTER IN TOW
Father Custer r:as in Homer
this rook to hold services at
the local Catholic church.
Services ~ere held Wednesday
evening aftd Thursday morning*
ENJOY TRUE HASKAN
hospitality AT
HAROLD
AND
ELECTA'S
STERLING
BAR L
LIQUOR STORE
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