THE ALASKA FISHERMAN
Published the 15th of each month at Ketchikan, Alaska
WILLIAM L. PAUL, ATTORNEY FOR THE
ALASKA NATIVE BROTHERHOOD
Entered as second * class matter at the Post Office at
KETCHIKAN, ALASKA
SUBSCRPTION PRICE $2.00 FOR TWELVE ISSUES
OUR PLATFORM:
ALASKA FOR ALASKANS.
FULL TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
ABOLISHMENT OF ALL TRAPS.
COMPETENT CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
TERRITORIAL PLATFORM OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY PROPOSED
A number of the members of the last legislature
met informally one night and some one suggested that
a proposed Republican Platform be adopted for the:
entire Territory.
We herewith print the result of this and other
discussions for the consideration of the Republican
Party in Alaska, to-wit:
1. Elective Territorial Officials for all major offices;
2. Separation of Territorial offices from federal offices;
3. Equitable taxation:
4. Trap-tax based on catch;
5. Discriminatory tax on non-resident fishermen;
6. Repeal by Congress of Section 27 of the Jones
Merchant Marine Act.
HENRY O’MALLEY ON HATCHERIES
Henry O’Malley sneaked through the town of Ketchi
kan without seeing any fishermen except those who are
members of the Ketchikan Commercial Club (hie)
Ordinarily this really would not matter only that this
time he was "guiding” two members of Congress who
wished to study our fisheries “first hand.” O’Malley
was playing true to form and was steering the Con
gressmen so that they did not see anybody who did noL
approve of Henry O’Malley.
These men, Messrs McKeown and Lanham, are fine
men and were seeking for the truth. It is too bad.
O’Malley will prove anything of course.
ON HATCHERIES
Henry pleased the Commercial Club by coming out
strong for hatcheries. It is well to remind him that
the Alaska Packer’s Association, who have not been
accused of being bad business men, have quit hatchery
operations at Loring after trying the experiment for
over 25 years. However, O’Malley says the government
will continue to operate at Yes Bay. It is too much
to expect the hand-picked Fish Commissioner to con
duct the public’s business having due regard to the val
ue of money.
We quote: “REGARDING HATCHERIES.”—Mr.
O’Malley declared that the government intends to main
tain the hatchery at Yes Bay. He said he believed
there was plenty of proof to be had that hatcheries
were no longer an experiment, but good practical in
vestment for fish propogation.
Mr. O’Malley said one need go no farther than the
example furnished by the Columbia river hatcheries
He said despite irrigation projects and a number of
other commercial interferences, the salmon run up the
Columbia, which was nearly extinct, is again giving
employment to a larger number of people, due entire
ly to common-sense regulative measures and to the
stock of young fingerlings and yearlings released from
the hatcheries.”
However, O’Malley was not under oath, and prob
ably had his fingers crossed. Rear in mind, that O’Mal
ley is a hatchery product, and has no practical knowl
edge of commercial fisheries. He spent his business
life in hatcheries. And yet, he testified quite different
ly before Congress in 1924 (see H. R. 2714, Jan. 31,
1924, page S).
“Mr. Roach. And there has been a depletion of the
fish, in numbers, as mentioned in your report, notwith
standing the activities of those two hatcheries to re
stock?
“Mr. O’Malley. The Territory is so large and the
hatchery can only supply an individual stream on
which it is located, it is a mere bagatelle as compared
with the whole area.
Mr. Roach. I was interested to know to what extent
the government activities in restocking these streams
over there had extended.
“Mr. O’Mally. MY PERSONAL OPINION on that pro
position is this, that IT IS NOT AN ARTIFICIAL PRO
ROGATION PROBLEM; it is a problem wherein a
sufficient, escapement should be provided to take ca~e
of the spawning beds, because IT WOULD BE TOO
EXPENSIVE AND TOO COSTLY OTHERWISE.
“Mr. Davis, of Tennesee. I think you are right about
that.”
A SINGULAR COINCIDENCE
United States Attorney General Sargent made a
speech in which he criticized citizens who accept and
demand enforcement of some laws while winking at
or encouraging violations of others. He observed that
none can obtain the fruits of others’ law violations
without rewarding the actual violator with some form
of profit. “If my respectable neighbors pay someone to