Resolutions In Re: Fisheries
-Y
Ketchikan, Alaska
December 19, 1929
Mon. Robert P. Lamont,
Secretary of Commerce,
Washington, D. C
My dear Mr. Lamont:
We natives of Southeastern
Ataska have two reasons for
sending our fish resolutions di
rect to you, (1st) because the
law makes you the responsible
rfificer, (2nd) because the Bu
leau of Fisheries heretofore
has always refused to give us
any consideration whatever.
We are somewhat acquainted
with the Constitution of the
United States, having been
taught largely by federal teach
ers in federal schools. However,
it is very perplexing to us to re
member that the Constitution
guarantees us the right of peti
tion when the Bureau of Fisher
ies takes our resolutions and
discards them without giving us
a hearing.
The enclosed resolution deals
with measures which most ex
pert fishermen in Alaska consid
er necessary for the conserva
t.on of salmon AND population.
The argument is set off by itself
and we believe is worthy of care
ful attention.
Yours respectfully,
William L. Paul
Grand President.
-X
Practically every Indian resi
dent of Southeastern Alaska is a
f sherman of many years ex
perience, having been born to
the business and making a liv
ing fishing, and
There is no person or group of
persons to whom the business of
l .shing is more important. For
which reason we affirm that the
natives of Southeastern Alaska
f-re qualified to speak and have
the right to speak on the sub
ject of fishing and fish regula
tions;
Therefore, We Hereby Resolve
that the saving of the fast dis
appearing salmon and the fast
decreasing white population of
Alaska can only be stopped by
the adoption of the following
principles and rules:
1st.: Foremost and necessary
the fish trap must be abolished;
2nd: The seasonal closed pe
riod must be abolished;
3rd: Escapement of the salmon
must be provided for by a weekly
closed season plan either of the
same duration as at present, to
wit, 36 hours, cr by an extension
of the same;
4th: A discrimination musi, be
r. ade between resident Alaskans
end non-resident fishermen fol
lowing the regulations adopted
by the States of Oregon and
Washington.
5th: The use of herring for
fertilizer must be prohibited;
6th: In the event that the trap
system is retained, no trap
should be permitted to hold or
have therein any fish whatever
after any closed period takes ef
fect.
Argument
The primary cause of deple
tion of the salmon fisheries is
the fish trap with its 24-hour
efficiency as against the daylight
efficiency of the seine and the
gill net, hence ooint No. 1 above.
In re 2nd: The seasonal closed
plan does not provide a proper
or scientific escapement of sal
mon and brings a great danger
to the salmon industry of Alaska
as proper escapement for the
early run of fish is not provided
for. There is great danger that
in time, Alaska will have but
the late run of fish.
In re 3rd: The weekly closed
plan guarantees a uniform es~
cupement of salmon throughout
the entire season. With the ab
olishment of the fish trap there
would be a positive gain in the
escapement of salmon to the
spawning grounds approximat
ing ten mi.lion salmon.
In re 4th: The great common
wealths cf Oregon and Washing
ton to protect their resident po
pulation, have deemed it wise
and necessary to permit only re
sidents cf 12 months standing or
more to fish in their waters. If
ir, is good for those States, it is
good for Alaska. If the United
States is really wanting to stop
the flight of white population
from Alaska, a measure of this
kind must be adopted.
In re 5tlr: Herring is a food
fish and even under the present
law, its use for fertilizer must be
held to te wanton waste and
therefore unlawful.
In re 6th: This rule would
place seines and traps on an
equal basis in this respect.
Adopted this 25th day of No
vember, 1929, at Haines, Alaska.
.Alaska Native Brotherhood,.
(Signed) William L. Paul,
Grand President.
Attest: Frank G. Johnson,
Secretary.
AN APPEAL TO LAMONT
Mon. Robert P. Lamont,
Secretary of Commerce,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Lamont:
Fish Regulations:
The elected delegates from
five thousand natives of South
eastern Alaska comprising towns
irom Yakutat to Cape Fox in
cluding at least two thousand
expert fishermen met in annual
convention at Haines, Alaska,
during the week beginning No
vember 17th last.