The Nome Nugget

Gov. Egan Protests
Halibut Decision

SEATTLE (P -- Alaska Gov. Wm. Egan termed the opening of the eastern Bering Sea to Japanese halibut fishermen "a terrible mistake" today and said he would protest the action.

The decision was made here Saturday at the closing session of the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission and is final.

But Egan told the Seattle Times from New York, where he is attending meetings, that he would protest to Washington anyway.

"I certainly am displeased," the governor said. "I feel events will show that we will get nothing in return."

The commission's action was seen here as an effort to create better relations with Japan for continuation of the tri-partite treaty, which expires next June.

Egan said the decision was not "a good gamble when it is obvious that no agreement is in the offing with Japan for better protection of our salmon."

"I just can't understand the commissioners taking this action on halibut."

The commission will hold an interim meeting in Tokyo next February to work out regulations with Japan for halibut fishing in the eastern Bering Sea.

Egan called the commission's action "appeasement" and said such U.S. policy "is one of the big reasons we are in trouble in so many parts of the world today."

The governor also lashed out at the commission for holding closed meetings and said he had not been consulted before the decision was reached.

"What happened in Seattle exemplifies what goes on in secret meetings when matters of great importance are being considered." he said. "We must get away from this type of operation."

Egan said he thought the U.S. delegation "should have held out strongly" for hearing in Alaska before agreeing to any major changes in the treaty.