Kodiak Complacent
Since the advent of the King
Crab industry here the general ec
onomic picture of Kodiak has
looked, and genuinely been, “pret
ty good” . . . especially when vari
ous indicators of economic health
such as consumer sales and unem
ployment and employment figures
are compared to those of other
communities throughout the state.
Most everyone we talk to sounds
generally happy . . . contented . . .
and, we feel it necessary to point
out .... complacent. We suggest
that perhaps not enough is being
done about planning ahead to in
sure an even greater acceleration
of our fishery-based economy . . .
and let there be no doubt of it—Ko
diak’s economy is almost complete
ly dependent upon its fisheries.
This should not be surprising when
one considers the fact that Kodiak
sits smack dab in the middle of the
richest fisheries on the Pacific
Coast! It’s true!—marine biologists
have been aware of this fact for
some time.
Things look good now , , . but
what about the future? Is Kodiak
to be satisfied with less than can
be accomplished in bolstering and
expanding its fishery-based econ
omy? We suggest here the possi
bility that private industry . . ,
namely the canneries . . . are not
keeping fast enough pace with the
researchers who are constantly re
vealing new potential sources of
economic wealth from the imme
diate waters surrounding our green
little island. We suggest the possi
bility that community leaders are
not showing enough initiative in
the fight to erase the artificial bar
riers that are keeping American
fishing interests from competing
with the Russian and Japanese
fishing operations in our waters.
For it is by comparison with the
efforts of these foreign fishing op
erations that we might well judge
our own efforts. It certainly does
not make sense that we should con
tinue to complacently tolerate the
existence of artificial barriers
which prevent us from making full
utilization of our own marine re
sources. The existence of the for
eign fishing operations starkly sug
gest that there exists a tremendous
potential for great expansion of
our local economy.
What is being done in the way
of developing new methods, new
processes for utilizing our sur
rounding marine riches? What
F.OR ^
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486-2231
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planning is being done to expand
the crab industry . . . the fledgling
shrimp industry and the estab
lished but comparatively small ra
zor clam industry?
We have been told that our crab
industry is probably as large as it
will get . . . why? Who put the lid
on further expansion ... is it
caused by overly restrictive gov
ernment regulations or by indus
try’s complacent self satisfaction
with present operations? Why
isn’t more being accomplished to
expand our shrimp industry? The
shrimp are available in vast com
mercial quantities we are told by
researchers. And why hasn’t the
clam fishery expanded? With near
by Alaskan beaches thriving with
razor clams, Kodiak’s clam pack re
mains virtually static while at the
same time the clam fishery of the
East Coast is expanding and thriv
ing mightily.
We are pleased with what expan
sions have been announced but do
not feel that they are anywheres
nearly adequate enough to keep
pace with the potentials that have
been uncovered. We urge all in
terests involved in our fisheries to
get together and come forth with
suggestions . . . with expansion
planning ... with action. While we
remain complacent with our half
*
or part time efforts, the foreign
fleets are busy processing fish
products that should be going
through our own island canneries
. . . after being caught by our own
fishermen. It has been said that
“There’s lots of fish in the sea.”
. . . O.K. . . . Let’s get busy and
get them!—K.A.
Juelson Graduates
Thomas Clair Juelson of Kodiak
was graduated last week from Ore
gon State University at Corvallis.
He received a bachelor of science
degree in agriculture.
Oregon State University this
year conferred 1,841 degrees, in
cluding 1,382 bachelor’s degrees,
388 master’s degrees, 4 profession
al engineering degrees, and 66 doc
tor’s degrees.
TO CENTURY 21
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Johnson and
children left Saturday via PNA for
a trip to Seattle where they will at
tend the World’s Fair.
VISITING SON
Mrs. John Fletcher returned to
her home in Kodiak Saturday after
a brief visit with her son, Skip,
in Seward.
Mirror classifieds bring results.
PM Sets New
Traffic Recenl
Pacific Northern Airlines’ pas
senger traffic during May showed
a 19.6 per cent increase over the
same month a year ago for a new
May record of 15,817, it was an
nounced today by Harold A. Olsen,
PNA Vice President Traffic and
Sales.
An all-time one month record
for cargo ton miles flown was also
established along with May highs
in passenger miles, mail ton miles,
and total revenue ton miles flown.
During the month, PNA flew
583,246 cargo ton miles to top the
previous best month, August, 1961,
by 18.9 per cent. Passenger miles
flown in May were 12,578,000; mail
ton miles, 166,783; and total reve
nue ton miles 2,111,425.
To be successful find a man who
seems to be going somewhere and
then follow the leader.
/ „T'*Es breaking up*
/ mEY^E NYLON f
GOODYEAR'S
«4*»* «£r
/ Phone 486 eo!«E 0,1 detroit
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— U\E
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