| Summary: | HALIBUT MEN ASK BONUS OR LARGER LIMIT. HALIBUT MEN ASK BONUS OR LARGER LIMIT The New Deal method of paying farmers for plowing under crops was suggested for the Pacific Coast halibut industry yesterday afternoon at the hearing at the University of Washington conducted by the International Fisheries Commission. Declaring fishermen cannot make a "decent" living under present regulation of the catch, John, Haakenson, delegate of the Deep Sea Fishermen's Union, suggested that some measure such as that devised for agriculture under the Agricultural Adjustment Administration be adopted for the fishermen, and that the government pay them for not catching fish. He said this would conserve fish and afford fishermen a living at the same time. B. C. Has 'No Objection' George J. Alexander of British Columbia, chairman of the commission, said the commission would have no objection to this plan, "if your government wants to pay you for not fishing." Haakenson and Louis Larson, another union delegate, previously had asked that the catch limit be raised. Although halibut in the North Pacific have increased during the last five years, the Commission is not yet prepared to raise the limit by the fishermen, the commissioners indicated. Conservation measures which saved the fisheries from destruction will be continued and extended to include strong protests against encroachments from other nations. Reports were made to the commission that vessels were outfitting in Europe to take halibut in the richest fisheries in the world. Since the halibut banks extend offshore many miles beyond the continental limits, the problem of keeping aliens out is difficult of solution. The regulation limiting the annual catch to 46,000,000 pounds has been strongly enforced during the last few years. Fishermen from Seattle, who man 200 boats, asked that the limit be raised 4,000,000 pounds, principally in area No. 3, which stretches westward to the Aleutian Islands. Overfishing Feared Dr. W. F. Thompson, director of investigations, explained that while it was true that the catch for each "skate" of gear had been increased from 35 to 65 pounds, it would be imprudent to invite overfishing. The parent stock of halibut has been increased, he said, but there was no evidence that the abundance had reached a point where more fish could be safely taken. Dr. Thompson was supported in his views by Mr. Alexander and United States Fish Commissioner Frank T. Bell and Edward Allen, Seattle. There was a division of opinion among fishermen concerning the date for opening the season. Vancouver and Prince Rupert fishermen favored March 1 while Seattle and Alaska fishermen favored April 1. March 15 was proposed as a compromise but the entire question was referred back to the fishing fleet for recommendations. It was urged by the British Columbia men that fishing was better in early spring, while Seattle fishermen wished to be certain that frozen fish in storage plants be entirely consumed before new fishing began.
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