were in a serious state of depletion. The pack
this year is a further vindication of our state
ment.
The depletion of this fisheries seriously ef
fects the trolling industry for when there is a
marked shortage of herring in trolling areas, there
is a marked decline in the catches of salmon.
Continued decline of the herring fisheries
and poor catches of king salmon by trailers v/ill
mean a more serious and rapid decline of the po
pulation of the Territory.
SEINE SALMON
The average catch of seiners according to re
ports on file in Juneau point to an average earn
ing (gross) of less than $150. per man in the First
Division. Which means that the workers must
turn to other industries for their livlihood. And
as there are no other industries in Alaska to turn
to, it cannot mean anything but a migration to
the States. The problem is how will the Territory
maintain an existence without a permanent popu -
lation?
BUSCHMANN FE£RS OYEBSEEDING
-x
Impressioh that many of the Pink salmon
spawning streams cn Prince of Wales Island were
overseeded was gained by Egil Buschmann, gen
eral superintendent of the Nakat Packing Corpor
ation, in a post-season tour of the region.
Telling of his inspections, he said: “I have
made a personal inspection of practically all the
streams on the southern end of Prince of Wales
Island, and some on the northern end, following
these streams for from one to two miles, and from
personal observation found nearly all streams ov
erseeued, particularly at the couth end.—Pacific
Fisherman.
This Was Denied Last Year.
This publication made the assertion last year
that the salmon streams throughout the entire Di
vision was being overseeded by the unscientific
seasonal close periods. It was supported in its
position by a resolution drawn up by the Conven
tion of the Alaska Native Brotherhood at Sitka
But it was denied by officials of the Bureau of
Fisheries. Now that Mr. Egil Buschmann as gen
eral manager of the Nakat Packing Corporation,
declares it his opinion that the salmon streams of
Prince of Wales are over.sced credence is given his
opinion. But no credit is given the fishermen who
first decried the close season policy of the Bureau
of Fisheries which alone is responsible for the
condition.
We bring this to the attention of our readers
at this time to emphasize upon their minds the
fact that every position taken by the editor upon
the fisheries questions is now being substaniated
by individual packers and admitted, not for pub
lication, by Bureau of Fisheries employees who
for fear of losing their positions dare not express
openly what they know to be the truth about the
fisheries of Alaska.
THE WARRIOR RETURNS
-x
On another column the Hon.
James Wickersham announces
his candidacy for the office of
Delegate from Alaska to Con
gress. The Judge needs no in
troduction to Alaskans, nor is it
necessary to extol his qualifica
tions and ability to represent the
people of Alaska. His record in
the infamous mining scandals
cf Nome shows a service to the
Territory and its courts that
is a credit to any man; a record
which cleaned out a viper’s nest
which operated under the er
mine robes of justice. Alone he
defeated, when a delegate to
Congress, the infamous “Alexan
der Bill” which would have giv
en to the packing combine and
trap operators, title to navigable
waters, making void all the prin
ciples set forth in that document
of liberty—the Magna Charts.
Through his many years of
residence in Alaska, he has con
sistently given his best effort
unselfishly and unstintedly for
the good of the Territory. The
calibre of his enemies—or lack
cf calibre—marks liis position on
Questions as relates to the “com
mon class” of citizens.
The ALASKAN at this time of
fers the Judge congratulations
as his election is a foregone con
clusion.—-The ALASKAN, Peters
burg.
RUPERT M. P. AGAINST
During a recent visit to Van
couver, Mr. O. Hansen of Prince
Rupert, B. C., declared that he
does net favor limitation of can
neries in British Columbia. He
denies that lie will accompany
a delegation of canners which
will go to Ottawa to urge this
policy on the federal fisheries
authorities. A statement to the
effect that Mr. Hansen was in
cluded in the delegation was
published in a Vancouver news
paper.
Mr. Hansen, who is Liberal
nominee in the federal riding
cf Gheena, stated that he dis
agrees with any policy that
would discourage outside inter
ests from entering the cannery
business. ■ 'V
“If. fishing becofnes too inten
sive,” he said, “then it is a mat
ter to be regulated by the Do
minion fisheries department by
additional closed season and li
mitations on the amount of fish
that may be caught.”
—Canadian Fisheries.