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
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 FOP. TWELVE ISSUES
OUR PLATFORM:
ALASKA FOR ALASKANS.
FULL TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
COMPETENT CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
ABOLISHMENT OF ALL TRAPS.
DAN SUTHERLAND’S SPEECH IN CONGRESS
JANUARY 9, 1930.
Every Alaskan should read Delegate Suther
land’s speech that he made in Congress last Jan
uary 9th. It is the finest presentation of this dif
ficult subject that has ever been made.
The contributions made by the Hon. J. E.
Rankin and the Hon. James A. Frear, were com
mendable and very encouraging to all Alaskans.
We are expecting that further action will re
sult as several Senators have been awaiting this
speech to see if they would be justified in asking
the Senate to make an investigation of the fish
eries of Alaska.
The people of Alaska are awakening ! !
We have known and stated from the begin
ning that the burden of conservation was unfair
ly distributed. The official figures now show it.
In 1924 (the birthyear of the White Fish Bill and
year one of King O’Malley’s reign) the seine catch
was 38 per cent and trap catch was 57 per cent
In 1928 (known as year 4 of King O’Malley’s
reign), the seine catch was 25 per cent and the
trap catch 71 per cent.
O’MALLEY HITS TROLLERS AGAIN
When Henry O’Malley, U. S. Fish Commis
sioner, closed down all trolling (except by hand)
during January, February and March, the troll
ers tried to show him that his closing order would
not accomplish his announced purpose of con
serving king salmon.
They told him that since king salmon were
merely feeding during these months, his closing
order meant only that these feeding fish would be
caught in April by non-resident trollers who come
up in April.
They then proposed that O’Malley, adopt; A
rule prohibiting the taking of king salmon that
would dress under six pounds. To this O’Malley
replied that it would be impractical because a sal
mon when caught and released would necessarily
die.
In the 1930 regulations. O’Malley showed his
insincerity by prohibiting the taking of king sal
mon which would dress under six pounds.
He also permits power trolling to begin March
first.
He also cuts down the maximum number of
lines to FOUR.
Why Restrict Alaska Trolling
Mr. O’Malley says that trolling should be re
stricted because his investigations have shown
that it is necessary to restrict fishing in Alaska to
save Columbia River fishing.
Fine for Columbia River.
The irony of it is that the experiments that
O’Malley talks about relate to experiments by
the Canadian authorities around Vancouver Is
land, several hundred miles from Alaska.
COOK INLET HERRING FISHERIES
COMPLETE FAILURE
“Complete failure of the Cook Inlet herring
fishery added a dismal concluding chapter to the
story of Alaska herring curing in 1929, the most
disappointing season this industry has ever ex
periencsd.”—Pacific Fisherman.
“The Killisnoo Fisheries Company, operating
the fish reduction plant at Killisnoo, will discon
tinue this season. The increasing difficulty of
obtaining herring in sufficient quantities, and re
gularly, is the reason given for this change. There
is no apparent decrease in the number of herring,
BUT the run has become ERRATIC, and in MANY
instances, herring have quit frequenting certain
waters because of the dead herring there.”—JU
NEAU EMPIRE.
We predict that the next legislature will try
to do something to STABILIZE the herring indus
try.
In the 1925 legislature, Charles B. Ferguson
and William L. Paul predicted the depletion of
the herring fisheries unless something was done.
If something is done in the next legislature,
the industry might still be saved.
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ORGANIZATION AND MONEY
During the entire year ending November 15th.
1929, the organizations of the ALASKA NATIVE
BROTHERHOOD AND SISTERHOOD raised $2,
614.35 for their work.
Some people think thisi is a lot of money.
This year, the Juneau Chamber of Commerce
with only 238 members will try to raise $5,000 to