which return to these areas after the closure of
the canneries is abnormal while the early runs are
absolutely depleted. The fishermen in the inland
waters—Chatham Straits, Frederick Sound, Wran
gell and Ketchikan districts—report that they
have been unable to pay operating expenses—no-,
getting enough fish to pay for oil even.
Indications at the present writing are that
those packers who are able to can large packs
daily will be able to make their contracts while
the smaller operator with slower machines will be
in difficulties as they will be unable to make their
packs.
The red salmon runs in the Bristol Bay dis
trict are abnormally heavy and likewise late this
year.
A BIOLOGICAL FACT
-x
For the past ten years it has been pointed
out to Henry O’Malley, United States Commission
er of Fisheries that “to breed late fish is to beget
late fish.” Despite all biological facts substantiat
ing this statement, his regulations have not
changed one iota.
Up to 1912, it was customary for Wrangell
fishermen to fish for and secure pink salmon in
the Annan stream by the 5th of June. It was cus
tomary for them to fish for and secure pink salm
on in Clarence Straits in July. For several years
it has been useless for the fishermen to start their
fishing operations before the first of August. Now
when a few pink salmon get up the once famous
Annan stream in July, it is a news item.
The fact of the matter is that the June-July
runs of pink salmon have been destroyed. The
abnormal escapement of pink salmon after the
20th of August has permitted the runs to build up
but at a great economic waste. More salmon are
destroyed during the closed season than are can
ned through the entire season by the combined
cannery operations in Alaska. The destruction of
the early run of salmon continues! the run of this
season emphasizes the correctness of the state
ment “Breed early fish and you will get early fish.”
Set hen eggs in March and you will get earlv
breeders; set them in Septejnber and you will get
late breeders.
It is 'becoming a recognized fact that the fox
farmers are able to pick up a lot of cheap fox
feed in the fishing districts—scow loads in some
districts—salmon that are thrown up on the beach
by the receding tides and countless other millions
of fish which never get a chance to spawn
properly.
Breeding late fish and letting there be an
economic waste is not building up the fishing in
dustry to the advantage of the territory.
-x
A LOT OF SYMPATHY!
-x
“Mr. O’Malley was sympathetic with the fact
that few of the fishermen were making a living on
the flats, (Copper River) and that there were far
too many fishermen operating in that area. To
conserve the run through requiring large seines
would result in driving out the smaller fishermen,
and yet to continue present methods would not
only imperil the run but make it impossible for a
fisherman to make more than a living.
“This season there were 534 licenses issued and
it was estimated that the gear used would extend
end to end a distance of 200 miles.
“But 9,000 cases have been canned up to the
present time; last year 44,000 were packed at this
time.”
The above is clipped from Stroller’s Weekly
the first week of August.
Picture Mr. O’Malley having any sympathy for
the fishermen—real honest sympathy. With a
swing of the pen he could make conditions so
different that they would not need sympathy.
Now listen—there are more people benefiting
from the fisheries on Chesapeake Bay than Alaska
—in fact, there are 40,000 benefiting from the
fisheries of Chesapeake Bay and they are not im
ported aliens, non-residents and whatnots.
“There are too many fishermen operating in
that area.” Mr. O’Malley, does not stretch out in
miles the length of traps and then quadruple the
distance because while the 200 miles of fishermen’s
gear operate but a few hours a day, the traps op
erate 24 hours a day and a large proportion of
them seven days a week.
“To conserve the run through requiring large
seines would result in driving out the smaller fish
ermen and yet to”—why go on. To conserve the
run through using traps would result in driving
out the smaller fishermen—and that is what O’
Malley has done. He has made it impossible for the
fishermen to live in Alaska—and he is “sad”
about it.
If there are any fishermen in Southeast Alas
ka who are going to make a dime out of seining- -
we want to see that fisherman. Reports from every
district indicate that O’Malley has driven the
small gear out of the country, he that