SMALL INDIVIDUAL FISHER
MEN who are largely dependent
on the salmon runs for a livlihood
We have had a trying season, es
pecially in the district south of 58.
We know that in 1925 the spawn
ing beds in southeastern Alaska
were well seeded with pink salmon.
This is a two-year cycle fish, but
they failed to return this year. The
same condition obtains in British
Columbia, where the run of pink
salmon is also extremely short.
The failure of this year has no
bearing on the run for next year,
but will have on the return of this
cycle for pink salmon, which is
1929. There have been many con
flicting reports regarding the extent
of the seeding of the spawning beds
sinc6 the closed season was put into
effect. We have five boats operat
ing In southeastern Alaska and our
men are covering all spawning areas
as thoroughly as possible. Know
ing that the packers and fishermen
were as deeply interested in, the
spawning-bed condition as is the
Bureau, I have suggested to the in
dustry that they place men on our
boats to examine spawning beds in
conjunction with our men so that
their observations may be coordin
ated.
The gear in southeastren Alaska
this year has no bearing on the fail
ure of the run this season, but, nad
there been a large run, it would
have had its effect. I have staled
many times to individual trap own
ers and others that IF EACH TRAP
in southeastern Alaska had caught
39,000 fish this year there would
not have been canneries or peopio
enough In southeastern Alaska to
have put up the pack. From my
personal observations I know nat.
only a limited quantity of fisb
reached the spawning beds prior to
the closing of the season. I am de
termined that there shall be a sharp
reduction in the amount of gear in
southeastern Alsaka for the next
season. I have not been arbitrary
as to how this reduction shall be
brought about. I have considered
the necessity of greater spaces be- 1
tween traps, but if anyone can form- i
ulate a better method than this
which I have in mind, I shall be
glad to receive it and give it consid- 1
eration. Any method suggested by 1
anyone in or out of the industry i
must make for the reduction of gear. I
Otherwise it will have no considera <
tion.
The early closure of the season j
this year overcomes in part the
sharp increase of gear which has
been put into the water since last
season and could not be foreseen
when the regulations were prepared
last December. You will appreci
ate that my acticn in curtailing the
season was necessary in order to
comply with the White Fisheries
Act passed in 1924, which provides
for a 50 per cent escapement as far
as practicable to all spawning areas.
If I had failed to act and attempt
to secure such escapement, I should
have been unfaithful to my trust
Crocodile Tears
]
A Letter From The Superior Pack- '
i
ing Company
i
Tenakee, Alaska i
July 30, 1927
Mr. William L. Paul <
Atty. at Law \
Ketchikan, Alaska. I
De°r Sir: ]
1 am writing on behalf of some ]
thirty-five or forty native fishermen ^
fishing for us here at Tenakee In- \
let. These men have in previous |
years always caught from thirty to <
fifty thousand fish to the boat per (
year and thereby made a fair sub- }
stantial sum to live on. ^
I understand that there has been
considerable talk among the cannery ^
men, trap men and seiners to try
and get the fishing season extended
owing to the extremely late run of 1
salmon. Personally I think it would
be profitable for everyone concerned
if you would take this up with the
Jommissioner of Fisheries when he
irrives in Juneau or Ketchikan
vhich I understand is within a
rery few days. Lay the cards on
he table, explain the situation
;horoughly as it is and I am sure
;hat he would consider either to ex
end the season seven or eight days
)r open up earlier for the fall run.
Speaking of Icy and Chatham
Straits districts the hsh has just
started to show up but it looks very
nuch as if the seines will not be
ible to do anything before the close
>f the 3eason as they are not in po
sition to catch the fish until they
lead for shore. As explained to
ne by the old {reliable fishermen
he run herp this year is about
wenty to twenty-five days late as
ar as the escapement is concerned
t would not hurt the least to have
he season extended as the escape
nent will be better owing to the
ibundance of fish now standing in
Leep water in the middle of the
traits. 1
i tninit tuereiore that the Uom
nissioner of Fisheries will readily
lee that an extension would be bene
icial to cannery men and fishermen
md the escapement of salmon as
veil as over crowded spawning
itreamg have not proven beneficial
it all.
Talking from the fishermen point
>f view they really will be in a bad
ix as they owe considerable money
>oth to the canning companys and
ocal merchants. These men have
lever complained at all in previous
rears as they have always been able
o catch a fair amount of salmon
rnt owing to the extremely lateness
>f this season they feel that eith
sr an extension or earlier opening
ip of the fall season should be
granted.
I presume that others have taken
his up with you and I sincerely
lope that something along these
ine3 could be done.
Yours very truly,
J. T. Tenneson
President Superior Packing Co.