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Do you have any comments you would like to make? 



Senator Burns. I have a question, Mr. Chairman. 



Now Mr. Leighty, I come from a wheat-producing state. 



Mr. Leighty. I was raised in Idaho. 



Senator BuRNS.Well, I am concerned about the international re- 

 lationship in the Pacific Ocean in regard to salmon. I think I can 

 probably take care of two problems with one stone. We do not want 

 any more salmon fish taken. It helps my beef industry — we will let 

 our U.S.S.R neighbors and Japanese neighbors have the salmon. 



Any reaction from you on that? Indeed, it probably violates the 

 free-market mechanism. 



Senator Murkowski. I do not think it does. What I am saying is 

 I do not want any more salmon being taken. In other words, would 

 that affect your business? 



Mr. Leighty. Not allow us to be a salmon operation any more? I 

 suppose we could serve beef. [Laughter.] 



We could move on to other things but there is a local salmon 

 market and a lot of it is being produced, especially in Europe and 

 South America and Japan. Of course that would be on the market 

 and replace the Alaska-caught fish. 



Senator Wirth. What is the difference between salmon from a 

 fish farm and salmon that is fresh caught up here? 



Mr. Leighty. There is a variety of opinions on that. Of course the 

 Alaska-caught salmon is superior in all regards. [Applause.] 



One opinion I heard just yesterday from the manager of the 

 Icicle Seafood Plant in Petersburg is that the farm fish is literally 

 softer, they call it number two fish because it has not been swim- 

 ming freely in the ocean and it has not been exercising its muscles 

 and if we were raised on beef like that we would be a little soft too. 

 [Applause.] 



Senator Burns. The point I am making is directly impacting any 

 kind of Tongass legislation. I am wondering if our attitudes should 

 change. That is the point I am trying to make here. I think you 

 sort of stepped around that very well. 



Mr. Leighty. I think you are trying to look around beyond our 

 provincial interests and it is our business and it is what is going to 

 be the best in the long term for all of southeast Alaska and the 

 whole planet. I think in the long term the highest and best eco- 

 nomic use of the Tongass includes the forest industry, of course, 

 some timbering but it includes emphasis on tourism and fisheries; I 

 think that that is where the big money is. For example we have 

 hardly scratched the Japanese market. They are going to buy half 

 of Hawaii and California and have money left over that they are 

 desperate to invest and they want to come here. They have not 

 scratched that market yet. 



Senator Burns. I wanted to spend some money on fish but I 

 want to ask Mr. MacKinnon one question. Are you in favor of any 

 mandatory actions on the 1872 Mining Law? 



Mr. MacKinnon. I think the 1872 Mining Law is eroded in histo- 

 ry, it goes beyond — further and beyond. Our national experience 

 beckons the middle ages. I think there can be some changes. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you very much, Mr. MacKinnon. 



Thank you very much, Senator Burns. I think the point is that if 

 we — if there is less salmon fishing in the high seas the demand for 



