THE ALASKA FISHERMAN
Published the 15th of each month at Ketchikan,
Alaska, by A. N. B. Publishing Co.
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Louis F. Paul - Editor
William L. Paul - - Associate Editor
C. O. Parks - Business Manager
Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office
at Ketchikan, Alaska
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 FOR ONE YEAR
OUR PLATFORM
ALASKA FOR ALASKANS.
FULL TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
COMPETENT CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
ABOLISHMENT OF ALL TRAPS.
FOUR YEARS STUDY AND KNOWS NOTHING
-x
Mi] lei Frrrman, editor of the Pacific Fisher
man, co-member of the International Halibut
Commission after four years of intensive study of
the halibut fisheries was unable to determine the
reasons for the dwindling of halibut. He report
ed at the hearings recently held in Seattle his ef
forts but made no report as to the reasons for the
declining condition of the fisheries nor did he of
fer any solution.
It would appear that this commission needs
members who are unafraid to speak out in school
to report their efforts and findings and to make
recommendations as to how to preserve and build
up that branch of our fisheries.
The halibut fishery has shown a ten percent
decline per year for the past several years with
more intensive methods of fishing. In a few
more years, unless effort at retrenchment is
made, those who are in the industry now with in
vestments of boat and gear running up as high
as $60,000 will be holding property, that will have
but little value.
We do not profess to know anything about
halibut fishing. We do know that our commun
ities depend largely upon this industry and
are vitally interested in the solution of the prob
lem. There can be only one solution to the prob
lem—curtailment of production. We do not know
of any other method which will insure perpetua
tion of the halibut fisheries. The solution offer
ed by the commission is a longer closed season.
This meets with opposition from certain quarters
in the halibut fleet. The next solution to be of
fered then should come from this opposing fac
tion. And the thing is to offer it without delay
for the longer the delay the sooner will earning
power of the entire fleet be cut.
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THEY LOSE BUT THEY WIN
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In some quarters is much joy that the Repub
licans (the Indian ticket) lost some of its offices
in the past election. It is well to take that joy
with a little salt for with that joy is a bitter pi’l.
Regardless of whether or not it names the
ticket—the Alaska Native Brotherhood will have
something to say at each election as to who shall
hold office. They may not enter into the pri
mary and they may not give their support before
elections to any candidate or group of candidates.
But they will most certainly enter into the elec
tion booths with their minds made up as to
whom they will support. And they will hold the
balance of power—the political life or death of
some of the candidates.
For instance: in the matter of electing school
commissioner, if the vote had swung from Keller
to Karnes, Keller would have been swamped and
with such force that he would never have known
what had happened. To swing from Smith to
Hardcastle would have made a considerable
chagne in the vote for that office and it is not
improbable that the final election might have
been different. To take from 1200 to 1500 votes
away from any one candidate and swing to his
opponent is a heavy drag meaning difference of
from 2400 to 3000 votes in the final count.
It is well to remember, win, lose or draw, this
vote must be reckoned with and it will be found
allied to those men who stand out in character
and principle, and for the political and economic
principles which will mean most to the territory.
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WHY THEY ARE A “BLOC”
-X
The Indian voters of Alaska have been damned
for voting together for certain candidates in the
past elections. It is well to question why they
stand together. And we ask why it is that the
Labor Organizations of the States stand together
to support their candidates? Why does the order
of Locomotive Engineers, Conductors, and other
allied unions get out in support and work in unity
for certain candidates? The answer is plain—
they are forced by circumstances to ally them
selves to work as a unit for legislation that will
be of benefit not only to themselves but to the
country at large. In Alaska, the economic con
dition is such that the Indians were compelled to
join hands in their effort to better their own
economic condition which in tu^n simnlv means
hollering the economic condition throughout the