People of Wrangell
The people of Wrangell should bo
reminded of what a fine friend the
ALASKA WEEKLY (published in
Seattle) is. The following is from
iheir own pen and printed in
September 1924.
A COMPLAINT PROM A NEW
SOURCE
What a vast difference it makes
'vhose ox is gored. Residents of
Wrangell recently petitioned U. S.
t> ish Commissioner, Mr. Henry
O’Malley, for an extension of the
open period for fishing and repres
ented that the prosperity of the en
tire community was endangered bj
the present restrictions.
The committee representing Wran
gell states that some 200 fishermen
operating forty boats would be
hard hit and unable to pay for
£45,000 worth of supplies purchas
ed from Wrangell merchants—a sad
story indeed.
We do not wish to be misunder
stood—we are not ridiculing the
plaint of the purse-seiners of Wran
gell nor belittling the serious na
ture of their plight. Furthermore,
we in common with the citizens of
Wrangell, feel much more highly
exercised over a loss sustained by
resident fishermen and merchants of
Alaska than we do over the losses
of outside packers and banks.
But we cannot refrain from men
tioning the fact that these are the
same people who vote the hardest
for the men who are responsible
and who cheer the loudest when
the packer receives a body blow,
however foul that blow may be.
And isn’t the principle the same:
A packer constructs his trap out
lit for the season, contracts for his
labor, and ships his supplies to the
plant. He is ready to operate when
a wire comes which says; “Trap
fishing is prohibited in Blank Bay.”
Result is $100,000 loss. “Hooray,’’
says the purse seiner, “fine business."
We maintain that it is mighty
poor business and serves no end
that justifies the means. However,
it must be considered that the De
partinent of Commerce through the
bureau of fisheries is honestly en
deavoring to administer a law de
signed to perpetuate the industry,
we have no quarrel with the law
nor with tlie uureau other than that
non clad and indexible provisions
were put into ehect without allow
ing leeway enough to handle in
dustrial cases and were made ef
tective without suliicient notice to
permit adjustment to meet the pro
visions.
'Many changes will doubtless be
made and it is to 0e nupud tua.
such conditions as those prevailing
at YV rangell will be remedied. This
is certain if sound, constructive
siatesmenship is brought to bear on
the lisheries question instead of
political grandstanding. One thing
n is well lo keep in mind—serious
damage cannot be done to any in
tegral parL 01 an industry wuIioul
nurting all of that industry.
AX INTERESTING DECISION
The recent decision of the Cali
fornia Supreme Court in the fish re
duction case contains statements that
may have a direct hearing on the
threatened impairment of the fish
eries by power projects. One is the
principle, often set forth in the past,
i hat “The title to, and property in
the fish within the waters of the
state are vested in the state and held
by it in trust for the people of the
state.” Another, even more perti
nent to the question of dam con
struction, is that:
“It is apparent that the amount
of damages which would compen
sate plaintiff (the state) for the des
struction of its fish * * * would be
extremely difficult, if not impossible,
of ascertainment. This is partic
ularly true in the light of the cir
cumstance that the state owns the
fish, not in a private or proprietory
capacity, but in its sovereign capa
city and as a trustee for the people
of the state.”
This principle was cited as ground
ior the issuance of an injunction.
—Pacific Fisherman.
•
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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
* . _ - .. *
— i . - . - ~ +
I
Butterhorn Bakery
The House that Quality Built
Ketchikan, Alaska
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
Thwaites Photo Shop
Ketchikan
Kodak Finishing
Copying—Enlarging