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Domestic News
February 3, 1948
The Daily Alaska Empire
Juneau, Juneau County, Alaska
What is this article about?
In Washington on Feb. 3, Frances Lopinsky, counsel for Southeast Alaska Indians, argued against a bill licensing fish traps in Alaskan waters for 15 years, claiming it would bar Indians from traditional fishing sites and allow big canners to monopolize them.
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INDIANS MAY "JUMP" FISH TRAPS, CLAIM
Frances Lopinsky Allowed to Present Arguments on License Bill
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.—(A)—Alaskan Indians may "jump" fish traps if the bill to license traps in Territorial waters for 15 years becomes law, a tribal attorney told a Congressional Committee today.
"This may be called trap jumping by those who don't like it," said Miss Frances Lopinsky, Counsel for the Southeast Alaska Indians, "but who is doing the jumping? The Indians were there first."
Her arguments against the bill were set forth in a brief filed with the joint Senate-House subcommittee which is considering the legislation. The committee concluded its hearing last Friday but permitted Miss Lopinsky to come in later with her brief.
She said big salmon canners had been buying and selling traps for years for $10,000 to $100,000 or leasing them for as much as $3,500 a year.
"What the operators are buying and selling," she said, "is the promise of the last user of the site not to attempt to use it during the term of the agreement, a promise valuable only because all of the big operators have combined to make life miserable for any newcomer who tries to break into the industry."
She said the industry ought to be happy with such an arrangement but there was the danger it might be interpreted as illegal or some other person might get a trap site first.
"As a matter of fact," her brief continued, "several Indian groups I represent are planning to set out their own traps this coming season, if this Congress does not prohibit them from setting out traps and earning their own living."
She contended the bill would grant salmon packers vested rights in the trap sites and bar newcomers from the best fishing.
Frances Lopinsky Allowed to Present Arguments on License Bill
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.—(A)—Alaskan Indians may "jump" fish traps if the bill to license traps in Territorial waters for 15 years becomes law, a tribal attorney told a Congressional Committee today.
"This may be called trap jumping by those who don't like it," said Miss Frances Lopinsky, Counsel for the Southeast Alaska Indians, "but who is doing the jumping? The Indians were there first."
Her arguments against the bill were set forth in a brief filed with the joint Senate-House subcommittee which is considering the legislation. The committee concluded its hearing last Friday but permitted Miss Lopinsky to come in later with her brief.
She said big salmon canners had been buying and selling traps for years for $10,000 to $100,000 or leasing them for as much as $3,500 a year.
"What the operators are buying and selling," she said, "is the promise of the last user of the site not to attempt to use it during the term of the agreement, a promise valuable only because all of the big operators have combined to make life miserable for any newcomer who tries to break into the industry."
She said the industry ought to be happy with such an arrangement but there was the danger it might be interpreted as illegal or some other person might get a trap site first.
"As a matter of fact," her brief continued, "several Indian groups I represent are planning to set out their own traps this coming season, if this Congress does not prohibit them from setting out traps and earning their own living."
She contended the bill would grant salmon packers vested rights in the trap sites and bar newcomers from the best fishing.
What sub-type of article is it?
Indian Affairs
Politics
Legal Or Court
What keywords are associated?
Alaska Indians
Fish Traps
License Bill
Congressional Hearing
Salmon Canners
What entities or persons were involved?
Frances Lopinsky
Southeast Alaska Indians
Where did it happen?
Washington
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Washington
Event Date
Feb. 3.
Key Persons
Frances Lopinsky
Southeast Alaska Indians
Event Details
Frances Lopinsky presented arguments to a Congressional subcommittee against a bill to license fish traps in Alaskan Territorial waters for 15 years, claiming it would allow big salmon canners to monopolize sites and bar Indians from traditional fishing, with Indian groups planning to set their own traps if not prohibited.