KILLING OF WHALE
THREATENS ALASKA
Mammals Are Credited With
Herding Small Fish Into
Schools, Making Them Ac
cessible To Fishermen.
(Seward Gateway)
At the rate whales are being
killed in Southeastern Alaska
it is only a question of time
when the great mammals will
be exterminated, and with them
will go the herring, according
to fishermen who are well qual
ified to speak on the question.
During the past season ap
proximately 600 whales were
killed by two big whaling out
fits to the westward. This
meant a revenue to the whal
ing stations of approximately
$600,000. As far as Alaska is
concerned it meant nothing in
the way of revenue save the
taxes paid.
Contrary to belief, say ex
perienced fishermen, the whale
is one of the most valuable ad
juncts to the herring industry.
It is the herder of the deeo,
and drives the fish into shal
low waters of the bays and in
lets from which the major por
tion of herring are taken. It
is the habit of the whale to
spot the herring when in the
deep sea and begin rounding
them up into compact masses
to better facilitate feeding. To
escape the attacks of the whales,
the herring move inshore.
These in turn are followed by
the salmon, permitting of their
capture before the spawning
season and when they are at
their best.
The Scandinavian countries
early discovered the value of
the whale as an adjunct to her
ring fishing. In {act» accord
ing to fishermen from those
countries, the whale was the
very keynote to successful fish
ing, in many instances herding
the fish into such compact mas
ses that those in the center of
the school were forced out of
the water. The fishermen al
ways sought the whales of the
North Sea, knowing that they
would be near the schools of
herring
With respect to local herring
fishing, the waters of lower
Cook Inlet are the most pro
lific in the world. The quality
of the fish taken has establish
ed them as a staple article in
the markets of the world. If
as is claimed, the whales will
soon be exterminated, the fish
ermen will suffer untold loss
and the industry seriously crip
pled if not actually wiped out.
Some years ago it was re
ported that the herring had
left aertain waters in the North
Sea, and it was believed they
had migrated. It was discover
ed that the extermination of
the whale was the cause of dis
appearance of the fish. The
Scandinavian countries imme
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t
The House that Quality Built
Ketchikan, Alaska
*—
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Columbia Records and
Phonographs
Pianos sold on Easy Terms
Pianos For Rent
Ketchikan Music House
Ketchikan, - Alaska
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Thwaites Photo Shop
Ketchikan
Kodak Finishing
Copying—Enlarging
V'
diately enacted laws protecting
the whales and the fish are
again in their accustomed
waters. *
The herring fishermen arc
alarmed at the rate the whales
are being killed to the west
ward, and it is reported the
matter will be taken up with
the Bureau of Fisheries, asking
that curtailment be made in the
taking of such large number;
of mammals each year.
TOURISTS CAN GET
ALASKA CURIOS and
MOMENTOS at
Skagway Drug Co.
PERRY HERN
Totems, Moccasins, Spoons
Skagway, Alaska
ROY BAKERY
Also Has Fine Ice Cream
and Fruit
SITKA, ALASKA
SITKA CAMP
ALASKA NATIVE
BROTHERHOOD
Meets 8 P. M. Mondays
President: Secretary:
Mark Jacobs A. Hope
Wrangell Steam
Laundry
M. O. JOHNSON, Prop.
First Class Work
Telephone 28
G. M. & R. L. CARLSON
Optometrists Opticians
219 Commercial Bldg.
Phone Black 423
Ketchikan Grocery
R. W. EDMONDS, Prop.
Redman Building, Phone 71
Night Phone—Green 233
Ketchikan, Alaska