RALPH LOMEN— STATESMAN
Ralph Lomen, statesman representing all of Alaska
even against the wishes of divisional delegates trie 1
to give new birth to the hatchery system. Mr. Ross
introduced a bill to turn the buildings and other pro
perty to the Road Commission. Lomen then offered
amendments providing that a man “of scientific at
tainments’’ to carry on “fish propogation” at Ketchi
kan, and appropriating $25,000 for the biennium.
Charles Benjamin, thinking that enough money
should be set aside to plant the fry now on hand, offer
ed to support the amendment if the sum were reduced
to $10,000. This was accepted by Lomen. It is thot
that Benjamin did not realize that Lomen’s motion was
to restablish the fish hatchery by giving the work “for
the bienium” to the Road Commission.
Such a move is just what you might expect from n
member of the reindeer fraternity—the propogation
of fish by the Road Commission. Not a bad idea to try
the Road Commission on the reindeer industry.
After a hard battle the motion was lost.
WE PREDICT
We predict that there will be general jumping ot
the most valuable fish trap sites in 1928. The cause
Is in the absolute ignoiance of the cannerymen them
selves.
Smiley and Company “jumped” the fish trap of a
couple of resident fishermen and then had the nerve
to ask the court to enjoin the local fishermen from “in
terfering” with their site. Smiley’s engaged Mr. Zieg
ler, one of the three best lawyers in Ketchikan to re
present them, and the local men secured Mr. Griggsby,
another of the three best, and they went to battle in
Juneau. i
The court decided according to well established pre
cedents, to-wit; that there is no property in trap-site's;
that use and occupation in the year 1926 gives no
prior right in 1927; that the law of fish traps is “first
come, first served.”
Smiley and Company lost in spite of able counsel.
We predict—next year there will be many local fisher
men who will take advantage of the law which Smiley
and Company have rediscovered.
THE POWER OF THE PRESS
When the House Controller Bill sought admission in
to the Senate of Alaska, Senator Harry Pratt raised the
point of order against It.
President Bartley Howard said he would take the
point of order “under advisement.” When he sustained
the point of order, Senator Charles W. Brown asked for
a copy of Howard’s written opinion, but President How
ard refused this reasonable request. It was found out
later, however, that President Bartley Howard had giv
en the Juneau Daily Empire an ADVANCE copy of the
opinion.
It is thought by many that a member of the staff of
the Juneau Empire wrote the opinion as well. Wheth
er that is true or not, it amounts to the same thing.
Prom the teamwork of the3e Senators, these men—
Bartley Howard, John W. Dunn, Tom Jensen, and Har
ry Pratt became known as the JUNEAU EMPIRE
SENATORS.
FISH TRAPS OR PEOPLE—WHICH?
LIST OF LARGER CORPORATE TRAP OPERATORS
IN S. E. ALASKA 192G
Astoria and Puget Sound Canning Co.
Alaska Packers Association
Alaska Consolidated Canneries
Booth Fisheries Co.,
Deap Sea Salmon Co.
Fidalgo Island Packing Co.
Hoonah Packing Company
Hidden Inlet Canning Co.
Karheen Packing Co.
Libby, McNiel and Libby
George T. Myers Co.
N. Pacific Trading and Packing Co.
NAKAT PACKING CO. (A & P. Products
With Swift-Arthur Crosby Co.
Pacific American Fisheries
New England Fish Co.
Sanborn-Cutting Co.,
Smiley & Co.,
Sunny Point Packing Co.,
Sea Coast Packing Co.,
Superior Fish Company
Thlinget Packing Co.,
Beegle Packing Co.,
7
12
49
2G
20
10
7
5
G
14
4
6
Co.)
38
7
8
10
14
10
7
r*
7
10
Traps
22 Corporations operated
17 Other Corporations operated
95 Individuals operated
285
285 Traps
121
107
613
In 1926, these 39 corporations with 406 traps, and
95 Individuals with 107 traps, caught Sl% of all the
Salmon canned in all Southeast Alaska.
SOUTHEAST ALASKA
THREE YEAR PERIOD, 1924 - 1926 - 1926.
Case Tax 142,984.67 $138,899.52