migrants, here population came only with the de
velopment of other resources than farms,”
Some in Alaska will take comfort in the re
port that we have gained in population. The
proof will be the census reports.
The Facts
The fact is this—If the census had been taken
in 1025, Alaska would have shown a very substan
tial gain. The critics who have placed the blame
on the fishing regulations and other government
al policies have seen this substantial gain and the
substantial loss which loss was and is due to the
policy of Henry O'Malley, who discriminates
against the residents of Alaska constantly.
One illustration of what we mean is this—
Ketchikan had a population of 7.000 people in
-x
1925 according to the best estimates obtainable.
According to the last census, Ketchikan shows on
ly 4,700, including the suburbs.
The end is not yet in sight. . . . .
It is too early yet to make deductions from the
reports. For example, it is very probable that
the entile increase in the population of Alaska is
in the Indian or Native population of Alaska is
the decrease in the death of infants and others.
It seems to us to be true that the Indian popula
tion has materially increased due to these factors.
Of this we are certain—the population of
southeastern Alaska will double within a few
vears if the discriminatory fish regulations of Mr.
O’Malley were changed.
On this basis, we predict that Ketchikan
would soon have a population of 15.000 people.
Open Letters to Secretary Lamont In Re: Blackmailing
Of Resident Fishermen Ly U. S. B. F. Agents
Alaska Native Brotherhood,.
Hvdaburg Camp,
Hydaburg, Alaska
I KE OF BOATS AND THE
DEAD LINE QUESTION
On August the thirteenth, one
nine two nine, the gasboat Dixie,
Capt. Ed. Morrison, was seized
for fishing illegally at Saltery
Creek Bight. The crew consist
ed of three men, namely, Ed.
Morrison, Thadeus Morrison and
Paul Cogo. According to the
information given by the men,
they believed that they were
within their rights and fishing
the straight line as Warden
Cloudy of Hetta had as his pol
icy. Cloudy maintains that the
marker means only one thing,
and that is marker to marker.
The boat was taken in tow to
Craig to be arraigned before the
U. S. Commissioner. Up to this
time the crew had not made a
cent. On being arraigned before
the Commissioner at Craig, Capt.
Morrison was handled in the
usual manner by the Bureau of
Fisheries and the Comissioner’s
court. Capt, Morrison wanted
to take the case to court, but on
being informed that his boat
would be held till he did take it
to the court, he gave up the idea
and pleaded guilty as he was an
xious to go out again thinking
that he would be able to make
more money in the supposed big
run that never came. All the
time Capt Morrison informs us
that, the Commissioner got kind
of flippy with him and was on
the verge of saying something
v/hen the fine of $311.00 was pro
nounced. “A Kangaroo Court.”
He was requested to take the
dish as it was dished out to him
and unable to say much for him
self. He was requested to plead
guilty, that he would be fined a
certain sum, and the boat giv
en back. After forcing him to
plead guilty, information was
received from Juneau to the ef
fect that the fine imposed on
him should be $311.00. The can
nery for which he was fishing
paid the fine. Ed and his crew
started out broke and came
home to Hydaburg to get food
on credit to continue fishing to
pay up the fine to the company
which they did.
We protest the two different
policies in regards to the dead
lines. One agent of the Bu
reau of Fisheries, allows us to
fish the straight line from
marker to marker. The other
agent has one marker meaning
one, two and three different
things at one time. A brief out
line follows
Ketchikan, Alaska
Feb. 25, 1930
Hon. Robert P. Lamont,
Secretary of Commerce,
Washington, D. C.
My dear Secretary:
We would like very much to
hear what is becoming of our
several protests against the pol
icy and specified acts of the Bu
reau of Fisheries. Another
year is beginning and our peo
ple feel that the burdens impos
ed on them are unjust.
Here is another case. From
the drawing you will see that
vour personal representative is
not satisfied with closing our
fishing grounds “from marker