i 4 REPORT OF ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS. 



METHOD OF CLOSING TRAPS. 



There has been no little agitation and controversy, especially during the past fishing season, regarding 

 the manner of closing traps. The law, as it now stands, specifies clearly that throughout the weekly 

 closed period of 36 hours the gate, mouth, or tunnel of all stationary or floating traps shall be closed and 

 25 feet of the webbing or net of the heart of such traps on each side next to the pot shall be lifted or lowered 

 in such manner as to permit the free passage of salmon and other fishes. 



It seems quite clear that an opening of the full width of 25 feet, both at the top and bottom, was 

 intended by this act of Congress. For several seasons past, however, it has been the custom to use shove- 



Part of Icy Strait region, showing 37 fish traps operated in 1914. 



downs fastened at the lower end of the pot. These shove-downs have been laid back at an angle, thus 

 causing the opening for the passage of fish to be much narrower at the bottom than the 25 feet prescribed 

 by law; in fact, quite often the shove-downs have been so short that at low tide no opening whatever 

 existed. This is obviously wrong, and notwithstanding previous custom in the enforcement of the law- 

 it is my belief that corrective measures are necessary to prevent further continuation of this unsatisfactory 

 method of closing traps. If, as some cannery men contend, it is impracticable to open the heart walls on 

 each side of the pot for the full width of 25 feet from top to bottom, the law should be revised. My belief 

 is that it is entirely feasible to provide such an opening without working undue hardship upon the fishing 

 interests. I do not think it necessary to. drop the web entirely to the bottom, but feel that if it is lowered 

 to approximately 4 feet below the lowest minus tide all purposes will be served. 



