Data And Figures
COMPARING TYPES OF GEAR,
NUMBER OF BOATS IN USE
AN1) GENERAL OUTLINE
OF FISHING INDUSTRY
CHAS. B. FERGUSON
Representative First Division.
1915 was the first year TRAPS
were used in Central Alaska and
gradually increased until 1919
most of (lie canneries went broke*
as the expenses of operating so
many traps was more than the in
come. Tn 1921, 2 TRAPS were op
crated with success so increased
from that year till last year there
were 40 TRAPS operated in the
Prince William Sound District and
this year 10 additional TRAPS
will he built. 1923 was the small
year there being only 75 6,363 cas
es packed; 1924 was a fair season
there being 1,607,920 cases packed.
Tn 1 925, the WHITE BILL became
a law and despite the added restric
tions in 19 26, 2,140,485 cases were
packed. All rulings which have
been put into effect have only cur
tailed the earning power of the
small operators and at the present
time the resident fishermen are al
most destitute.
Tn 1917 BRITISH COLUMBIA
OPERATED 87 CANNERIES AND
EMPLOYED 1 1,387 FISHERMEN
WHILE ALASKA OPERATED US
CANNERIES AND EMPLOYED
7,480 FISHERMEN. HAVE NO
STATISTICS FROM BRITISH CO
LIJMBIA FOR 1921 BUT KNOW
THERE WAS NO DECREASE OF
MEN EMPLOYED WHILE ALAS
KA’S TOTAL DROPPED TO 4,352
FISHERMEN.
1925 was the first year the COP
PER RIVER DELTA was barred
from the use of STAKE NETS, drift
ing only being done; this same year
there was a 30 hour closing period
each week.
15,582 cases of RED SALMON
were put up in 1925.
14,000 cases of RED SALMON
were put up in 1926; this is not an
accurate report, but i3 fairly close.
Last season we were still using
drift nets but had an additional
12 hours closed period. Both sea
sons were fairly large runs of sal
mon; last season there was an
early breakup and also an early run
of fish, as the season opens the
20th day of May, the fishermen
missed the early run which was the
main cause for so small a pack, al
so the season was closed the 28th
day of June instead of the 10th day
of July 30 missed the late run.
1922 was the big year for the
number of boats and fathoms of
gear used. There were approxi
mately 200 boats and 75,000 fath
oms of gear or an average of 500
fathoms of nets per boat while in
1925 and 26 each boat was limited
to 250 fathoms; there being 91
boats and numerous skiffs that
could only handle 150 fathoms, in
all 45,000 fathoms of gillnets were
used.
Prior to 1925, stake nets were
mainly used though some drifting
was done near the bars; most of the
stake nets had there beginning at
the grass banks but had to be a spe
cified distance from the mouths of
the Rivers and Sloughs. Very lit
tle time was lost on account of
storms. If too rough at high tide,
the men tended to the nets when
the tide receded. They also had no
closed period and designated day to
commence or stop fishing.
With the rulings we have at pro
sent the season commences the 20th
day of May, and allowed 250 fath
oms of gear to each boat and not
permitted inside the 1500 foot limit
off the grass banks, only allowed to
drift; having a closing period of
48 hours per week and season clos
ing the 10th day of July. There
are thirty nets as far as gear is con
cerned, its there method o^use. Drift
nets are moveable nets; set nets are
anchor nets and used where there
is sufficient water to float them at
all times and stake nets are nets
hung on stakes and used on shallow
places where the tide rises and re
cedes. Fishermen maintain when
gillnets are used, they themselves
should be the ones who should de
cide on how to use them, also their
boats whether they should have
power or sail; the Bristol Bay rulf
ingy forbidding the use of power
boats is not very consistent in the
advanced stage of modern conveni
ences that are at our command to
day.
Alaska Monthly Payroll
A great many complaints are
coming into our office charging can
nery companies (mainly herring
plants) with firing employees with
out paying them off. The most re
cent ones are Dr. Waxman and the
Emlock Packing Company of La
touche. Dr. Waxman went so far
as to say, “We can fire you no*
without any comeback because the
legislature failed to pass the month
ly payroll law.” (Note—this i3 the
law which Tom Gaffney of Nome
was instrumental in defeating).
For the reason that laboring meu
are mainly uninformed, we take
the liberty of printing the statute
introduced in the Senate by Senator
Frank Aldrich.
CHAPTER 45 SESSION LAWS 1935
Section 1. It shall be the duty of
every employer of manual labor
performing services in Alaska to
pay wages or other compensation
for such labor with lawful money of
the United States or with negotiable
checks, drafts or orders payable up
on presentation without discount
by some bank or depository within
the Territory of Alaska unless a
written valid contract to the con
trary shall have been entered into
by the employer and employee be
fore such labor was performed,
which contract shall state the term
of employment, the rate of wages
or compensation and the time, place
and manner of payment ,and tlie du
plicate of such contract shall have
been delivered to the empolyee,
Section 2. Every person or cor*