their catches in Seattle. Only
such vessels as were able to
catch a full trip in three or four
days and had sufficient speed,
could do so. Instead of coming
via Ketchikan they would make
the perilous 7-day journey
across the Gulf of Alaska. The
manner in which these iarge
vessels from the northern banks
affect the Seattle prices is given
by the following illustration:
On October IS, 1923, five local
Seattle vessels sold 32,700 pounds
of halibut for prices ranging
from 1914 to 23 cents for medi
um halibut or halibut from 10 to
80 pounds and from 13 to 18
cents for chicken and large hali
but or halibut under 10 and over
80 pounds. From 25 to 30 per
cent of the fish is chicken and
large halibut. On the next day,
the PIONEER, a vessel from the
northern banks marketed 37,000
pounds, and seven Seattle boats
marketed 20,000. Because of the
presence of the fish from the
northern banks, the price drop
ped to 16 V2 to 20 cents for medi
ums and 12 to 16 cents for the
other grades, or an average drop
of 3 cents per pound on the first
grade and one and one-half cent
per pound on the second. On the
20th, 30,000 pounds more of
northern fish was offered with
42,000 pounds of local, which re
ceived 15 to 161/2 cents and 13 to
15 cents, or another drop of 3
cents on the mediums. This is
a situation which occurs every
time a vessel from the northern
banks lands fish in Seattle. With
an increase in landings that
would result following the enact
ment of the proposed law, the
125 Seattle vessels would be forc
ed out of business. These ves
sels represent an investment of
3625,000, and provide a living for
625 men. The benefit derived
by Seattle by the arrival of these
few vessels from the north
would more than be offset by
the loss of the vessels that oper
r.ted entirely out of Seattle
An increase in the cost of
marketing fish such as this pro
posed law would cause would lay
open our industry to competition
of foreign fish. Our principal
competitor at the present time
is Canada. During the past year
{approximately 80 Canadian ves
sels landed 9,524.728 pounds of
halibut in Prince Rupert. These
vessels are small, and fish on
close-in banks, and as a result
are able to operate more cher il
ly than the American vessels.
Their output is held in check by
i he • act that their market is the
same as ours and that they are
compelled to pay a 2-cent duty.
A change in the method of
marketing American halibut
would cause a large influx of
this fish.
The last two years have seen
the entry of Japan into the froz
en-fish market in the United
States. The Japanese have un
limited banks close to their
country and are able to land
frozen halibut in the United
States as cheap, if not cheaper,
than can Americans. A change
in present marketing conditions
would handicap us greatly in
competition with both the Jap
anese and Canadians.
In connection with this con
troversy we would like to submit
a few facts for your considera
tion. It has been mentioned
that the Canadians have a hold
on the halibut industry. This is
entirely erroneous. In the firs.t
place American b u y e rs—New
England Fish Co., Booth Fisher
ies Co., and San Juan Fishing
& Packing Co., all large Ameri
can buyers, have branches at
Prince Rupert, and purchase the
largest portion of fish landed
there by American fishermen. In
the second place the money re
ceived for fish sold is not spent
in Prince Rupert, 90 per cent of
the outfitting is carried on in
Ketchikan. No fishing gear can
be purchased in Prince Rupert
as the duty on lines is prohibit
ive. '
It is conceivable that under
the operation of the proposed
law Ketchikan will profit slight
ly but not in a measure as would
warrant the hazard to this in
dustry. We are American citi
zens and would therefore prefer
to discharge our fish at an Am
erican port, and to do so when it
is practicable. We cannot profit
ably land all our fish in Ketchi
kan. and in order to remain in
business we must land olr catch
es wherever they can be landed
at a profit. Prince Rupert, by
reason of its position as te m
inus of a railroad, offers in a
market that can not be equaled
elsewhere. The difference pric
es paid in Prince Rupert and
Keuchikan represents our profit.
This is shown by the following
example:
On October 12, 1928, the
schooner FOREMOST sold 33,
000 pounds in Prince Rupert for
13 cents and 6 cents. On the
following day, the day when the
FOREMOST would have been in
Prince Rupert had she chosen,
the YAKUTAT sold 33,000 pounds
for 14.8 cents and 6 cents. By
choosing to sell in Ketchikan the
owners and crew of the FORE
MOST lost $1,200, which sum re
presents the difference between
the price paid in Ketchikan and
Prince Rupert. There are times
when Ketchikan buyers refuse
to even make a bid. Can anyone
wonder that fishermen market
their catches in Prince Rupert
in preference to Ketchikan?
We appeal to you not to de
stroy the halibut industry. The
industry which we represent
consists of 250 vessels, valued at
over one and one-half million
dollars, and gives employment
;o 2,500 men. This industry has
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