ON SHRIMP PROTECTION
By EARL OHMER
In Petersburg Herald, Dec. 26, 1924.
(Note Earl Ohmer is the most suc
cessful shrimp packer in Alaska, with
headquarters in Petersburg.)
There is not at the present time any
danger whatever of the shrimp an l
crab products being taken in such
quantities, over such an area, that
there is the slightest danger at pres
ent of their being exterminated, but
there is the possibility in the future
that there may be more shrimp and
crab plants operating in this Terri
tory, and at such time, if the proper
restrictions are not placed on the fish
ing of them and a protection on the
spawning season, there might be
danger of exterminating them and
seriously crippling a business which
should be preserved for the good and
welfare of the Territory.
Knowing these facts, and also
knowing the results that we have,
owing to the fact that protective
measures were not put on salmon and
halibut years ago, I have figured that
protective pleasures should be put on
shrimp and crabs sooner than is nec
essary, rather than too late.
With this idea in mind I took the
matter up over a year ago and ex
plained why I thought protective
measures should be started now, in
stead of letting it go on until possibly
it might be too late.
The Bureau of Fisheries sent their
men and boats here to get all data
on this matter, and following my sug
gestions they have placed a closed
season on the shrimp from March 15
to April 30th inclusive, each year,
which is the spawning season of
shrimp in this locality.
I recommended that we only put a
closed season on the shrimp in this
locality, as it is the only place that
we know for sure that there are
shrimp in marketable quantities, and
the only places where we have been
able to determine definitely the sea
son for spawning.
A uniform law at this time to
cover Alaska would be a (mistake, as
we do not know at present where
there are shrimps in marketable
quantities in other sections, and
should those sections exist, and at
some distance from here, there wilt
very likely be a different time for
the spawning season at such locations.
Therefore I asked that a closed .sea
son be put on in our locality where we
know the conditions, and should
shrimp be found at other places later
on, facts regarding their spawning
season could be gathered at that time,
and the date for a closed season sec
on each different locality accordingly.
I am going to take this matter up
with the Bureau of Fisheries, and see
that it is changed, if possible, as it
surely would not protect the industry,
to have such closed season at a time
when the shrimps are not spawning
Since the female crab is protected
all the time, and no male crabs to be
used under 6 1-2 inches in diameter,
this is a good protection in any lo
cality.
Sincerely yours,
ALASKA GLACIER SEA FOOD
COMPANY,
By Earl Ohmer, Mgr.
HAWAIIANS WANT MORE
AID FROM GOVERMENT
By Judge W. C. Achi, U- S. Cricuit
Court, Hawaii
Hawaii wants to share in the vari
ous federal aid funds voted by con
gress. Hawaii is especially interested
in getting its share of the funds ap
propriated for helping build good
roads and supporting public schools.
Hawaii demands better protection
as the western outpost of the United
States. Hawaii needs more fortifi
cations. We also believe the interests
of the entire nation as well as Ha
waii’s require an extension of the
naval base at Pearl Harbor.
Hawaii seeks more assistance from
the federal government in improving
the facilities of its harbors.
We urge that the work of rehabili
tating the Hawaiian race be contin
ued. That task already has started.
The government has begun to open
up its public lands to settlement by
native Hawaiians. But the act is lim
ited to a period of five years, and we
ask an extension of that brief limita
tion. The native Hawaiians left now
amount to barely a quarter of the
population. There are estimated to
be about 34;000 pure-blooded Ha
waiians and some 28,000 of mixed de
scent. Few people realize how val
uable the Hawaiian Islands have be
come to the United States, commer
cially as well as strategically. Ha
waii now ranks twenty-third among
the forty-eight states and two terri
tories in the Ffnount of money paid
annually into the federal treasury.
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