big canners, Smiley’s at Ketchikan and the Peters
burg “Big Cannery’’ which pays so much taxes to
the city in the Narrows.
* * * *
Looks like the Alaskans are not going to be
bothered much with the Oriental labor problem- -
or any other kind of a labor problem for that
matter. With canneries closing down there is no
market outside of halibut fishing and trolling for
any of Alaska’s labor. Oh, well, perhaps they will
go halibut fishing.
-x
PRICES GO DOWN
-Y
By the first of January pink salmon was sell
ing in Seattle at 85 cents per dozen; reds station
ery at $2.15. Any daily in Seattle will show pinks
being retailed at 10 cents per can ,three for a
quarter. P. E. Harris, who operates the big can
nery in Hawk Inlet is predicting that salmon
prices will go even lower.
Naturally, those big fellows who have been
forming a combine to hold up prices—invariably
cicublecross each other and then the price cutting
var begins. It never fails—a man or corporation
who or that doublecrosses another, will do it
again in a pinch. And the oftener the double
crossing.
The fact is, in order to get operating money
the canners must sell their fish for not many of
them will be able to touch the soft side (which
ever side that is) of a banker’s heart. And to sell
them they must begin price-cutting. And there
you have the same old circle.
x
A CONSERVATION MEASURE
-x
Henry O'Malley, Czar of Alaska’s fisheries,
Alaska ambassador for the Alaska Pacific Salmon
Corporation and the Alaska Packers Assocation,
and, other helpless salmon corporations, has de
creed that all idle trap sites belonging to the
Skinner Corporation of Seattle will be closed by
creation of “closed areas” in said districts. Other
trap sites, those not operated last year, MUST be
operated ;his year or they will be vacated by
closure i egulations. A number of operators last
year by agreement protected their idle trap sites
by having O’Malley close said areas—the operators
using local fishermen to put up their packs.
For the purpose of conserving salmon, O’Mal
ley now closes the Alaska-Pacific Salmon Corpora
tion’s idle trap sites. “A Daniel come to judge
ment.” For the purpose of conservation, we sup
pose, he orders other idle trap sites to be operafc
ed. “Oh noble judge, a Daniel come to judgement.”
We have often been damned for condemning
O Malley. When he pulls off shady tricks like that
can you blame us? We wouldn’t believe his
sincerity on any regulation—not as far as„ we
could throw a bull by its tail.
—-x
GIVE ITS THE RUSSIAN CZAR
x
Congressman Welch of California has intro
duced a bill in Congress which would give Czar
O'Malley jurisdiction over waters beyond the
three-mile limit. Under such a law (proposed a
i.ncndment to the White Bill of 1924) O'Malley can
prohibit the landing of salmon from any district
outside of the three-mile limit.' The bill further
is purposed to prevent floating canneries from
moving in the various districts.
It is expected that this legislation (and it is
being hoped by the canners) will be jammed
through Congress. Its sponsors are well aware
that the Democratic congressmen and Senators
consider that O’Malley already has too much pow
er. And they further expect that this power will be
curtailed at the first available opportunity.
The extra-jurisdictional powers sought will
hit the trollers. All right, Alaska Trailers’ Associa
tion, all join hands and start objecting. The pro
hibitions put on floating canneries is for the pro
tection of the stationary canneries in the West
ward sections. The argument is set forth that
floating canneries enter various districts and take
salmon out to the point of depletion. U is pointed
out that in the First Division, Ketchikan packers
went as far north as Lynn Canal one year for
their fish; swung around to the West Coast of
Prince of Wales because there was a dirth of
salmon in the Ketchikan district. What O’Malley
would prohibit floating canneries from doing, he
permits stationary canneries to do with their
high-powered trap tenders.
But what is a little thing like discrimination
to a United States Commissioner of Fisheries? If
such a question were raised as to the Canadian
Commissioner of Fisheries, we venture to say both
packers and fishermen would rise to his defense.
TENAKEE DISTRICT
-x-•
Under the new regulations, the Tenakce dis
trict fishing season has been extended three days.
For which small favor the fishermen thank Mr.
O’Malley. But, with the closure of nearly all the
market for seine fish, what good is the extension?