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 Tost Oilice at
K ETC 111 KAN, ALASK A
SUBSCUPTION PRICE $2.00 FOR TWELVE ISSUES
OUR PLATFORM:
ALASKA FOR ALASKANS.
FULL TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
ABOLISHMENT OF ALL TRAPS.
COMPETENT CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
THEY KNEW IT—BUT IMD NOTHING
-X
Henry O’Malley, Czar of Alaska, said in sub
stance, in discussing the failure at Karluk:
“The failure of reds in the Karluk River was
not unforeseen. It was predicted in 1926 by Dr.
Charles H. Gilbert and Dr. Willis II. Rich in an of
ficial report covering the red salmon run to the
Karluk River.
“The question of whether an overcrowded
spawning area would be disastrous to succeeding
cycle runs of salmon was discussed at some length.
In 1924 there were tremendous runs of both
humpies and reds to the Karluk. Many of the fish
did not even reach the spawning beds. The lake
and river were polluted with both fish and spawn.
The 1926 run of pinks, the next in cycle order,
was a failure. Observing these conditions, Drs.
Gilbert and Rich, after setting up these facts,
said—If a similar fate befell the 1924 red salmon
eggs we shall have an extremely limited fingeriing
run in 1926 and a failure of the run in 1929.
“The current season has bourne out the pre
diction of these specialists. The red run was a
failure, but the run of pinks has been fair.”
The Prediction of the Specialists
While the overstocking of the river was going
on. the “specialists” did nothing. The time to pci
was then. The fish that caused the overstocking
were wasted for they should have been canned.
Besides, these same fish polluted the river. After
the damage was done, the “specialists” predicted
that there would be a failure in 1926 and 1999.
Henry O’Malley feels “vindicated” in Hie fulfill
ment of their predictions.
The same thing happened in Southeastern
Alaska in 1927—the year O’Malley abolished the
second fishing season. Our streams were over
stocked while the canneries were begging for the
very fish that were doing the damage.
The thing occurred again last year—notably
at Klawock where a million salmon were wasted
while Henry O Malloy looked on BUT DID .NOTH
ING.
The History
The record of the Bureau of Fisheries is but
a repititicn of this—they saw what was going on
but they would do nothing until the damage was
done.
We Alaskans are the ones to suffer.
O'Malley gets his salary- We can only tighten
our editorial belts and hope that the good Lord
will soon take Henry to heaven, for the powers on
earth, getting their information Worn Henry or
his beneficiaries, tv neve in the infallibility of the
Czar of Alaska. Wo are disposed oi. by being
called “bol-shiviks” while our people hunger. • Any
change that might be made in the office of Com
missioner of Fisheries would give the people of
Alaska hope Oertain 1 y the si tua1 ion co111 d not
be made worse.
-X
INVESTIGATIONS
-— -x
Every year the Bureau of Fisheries conducts
investigations So do other departments, for that
matter. But Alaskans are interested in the ’ fish
e'io- and the manne? of conducting those inves
tigations reminds us of the following story:
A certain customs deputy. in the early days
of Alaska, when sale of any liquor mas illegal,
went to a certain house. The mu dame of the
house responded to hu knocks wkiereunon he pull
ed a notebook from his pocket and said: “You arc
Mrs. Fo-and-So It is reported that you are sell
ing illicit liquor. Let's see, this is Monday: on
Friday, I am coming to investigate."
Strange to snv, when he made his search,
there was not a drop of liquor on the premises.
hen thp Y'-.-eau of Fislaerins “invest* antes”
charges of illegal operations by cannor or trap
owner, the onerator usually has ample opportun
itv to clear the decks and l.herebv refute the
clrn-ges. Si»*ange! Isn't it that those fellows al
ways know of “invostiga tinm-The ALASKAN
I.-OCMTI^n of ?i\Tpr-vr1"'? r 7,
NATIVES OF DIVISION
-x
Dr Will jo >n Connor United »St.*> hvs C
vir-nor of Education is in AVrsko. >'Mth <^0
of soioctiop,' ft f.-ifr» in Fovthonst^n A• msi:n
industrial school for Natives. Tills will s
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