it would be well to read of the
war between the Cattlemen’s
Association and the “Rustlers,”
the latter being in reality the
small herd owners. If memory
serves correctly the Association
itself was cleaned out of mav
erick branding, cattle stealing
proclivities by a combination
of the smaller men.
In the reindeer country, the
Eskimos showed a 10 per cent
increase in their herds annually
whilst the Lomen’s show 93
per cent. In the hearings it
was shown that in the running
of the various herds on a range
many native deer were killed,
notations of credits to be made
and none shown ever given.
It has been stated that in
formation and statements pre
sented the Committee were not
all published. They were just
too disgraceful to present to
the general public and political
pressure of no mean proportions
was brought to bear upon wit
nesses who were made to feel
the veiled fist in no uncertain
manner.
Out of which came the plan
of a governing board to be com
posed of the Governor of Alas
ka, the Department of Indian
Affairs, the Eskimo reindeer
owners, the Lomen corporation,
which was to meet and name
the personnel of the committee
which would draw up rules and
regulations governing the in
dustry.
Late in June, Governor Parks
and Acting Chief of Indian Af
fairs in Alaska, Charles Hawkes
worth journeyed from Juneau
to Nome to call the first meet
ing. Governor Parks was named
chairman, Charles Hawkesworth
and D. F. Mozee, both of the Bu
reau of Indian Affairs, Alfred
Lomen, representing the Lomen
Reindeer Meat Packing Corpor
ation, and Roby Uttitukul and
Louis Tungwenuk, representing
native deer owners. Mr. Mozee
was named secretary.
Among the first regulations
published is that no deer can bo
taken in lieu of herding fees.
The regulation set forth by
the Senate Committee with
draws use of the Teller and
Buckland grazing area from us3
of any save the native owners.
After many years of exploit
ation, it now appears that tin
Eskimos will now come in for a
period of fair dealing
-x
TROLLERS STAND PAT
-v
Led by the Alaska Trollers
Association, the fishermen de
clared a strike when the buyers
of king salmon set their prices
down to 8-4-2 on the grounds
and 10-6-3 delivered. With the
large fleet of trollers on the va
rious grounds, it is an establish
ed fact that it is impossible to
earn a fair, let alone a living
wage, at less than ten cents per
pound.
The strike was called following
a meeting of the Association at
Port Alexander. Patrol boats
were sent north and south to
advise all fishermen of the situ
ation and to urge cooperation.
After the matter was explained,
all but a few of the trollers tied
up their gear and pulled into
harbors to await development,
The most salmon delivered dur
ing the month of June was at
Juneau where the fishermen de -
livered from Taku Harbor at
the 10-8-3 price. A few hand
trollers delivered to the buyers
on the ground. Craig fishermen.
Sitka and the West Coast stood
pat with the demand of the As
sociation and at this writing,
July 10, there is no indication
of a break from either side.
The fishermen contend that
the price of fish is so low and
the cost of operation so high
that it is impossible to break
even. The buyers, on the other
hand declare that the economic
depression is hitting the fish
markets as every other and the
prices demanded by the fisher
men cannot be borne by the
buying public. On top of which
they point to the bank failures
which has caused the tightening
up on loans so that it is almost
impossible to borrow rncesorivy
capital to operate. So then the
matter stands.
The fishermen, tlr* mi o!
v hc-m are not large .uumey
earners, are doggedly determin
ed that they wil not fim at the
lew prices offered. Tee buyers,
unable to finance their opera
te ns and witn markets in bad
pe feel unable to navt what
'fey call exhortitanc demands
Amalgamation
It has been rumored that the
Oxenberg Bros., interests will be
combined with that of Einstoos’
Later reports from Ketchikan,
published by J. E. Berg represent
that the Oxenberg interests
denied the amalgamation.
During the week cf the Fourth
it was also rumored that the
fishermen were going to call off
the strike on account of lack of
funds to finance the bare living
expenses of many of the men
who had not earned any money
prior to the strike. The return
to operations was said to be due
to take place about the 12th of
the month, but this report could
not be substantiated in Peters
burg by any of the Association
men.
In Klawock Capt. Barnaby of
the “Lucky” reported that R. J.
Peratrovitch’s boat the “Du
brovnik” was buying for Libby,
McNiell & Libby and that quite
a number of native fishermen
were selling to this outfit. The
Hydaburg natives were said to
be giving strong support to the
strike.
A. P. Walker was elected to
represent the Craig fishermen as