Man’s Greed and Lack of Regulation
May Wipe Out Great Pacific Salmon
A system of free fishery in the
United States, writes Richard
Cooley in a new book titled “Poli
tics and Conservation,” induces
man to become the most ruthless
of predators.” It will be published
on Sept. 25 by Harper & Row.
Cooley shows in his book that
man’s greed and a lack of resource
regulation is resulting in the near
extirction of the Great Pacific sal
mon.
Recent reports show that the
1963 catch in the rich Bristol Bay
area was the worst in history. De
spite modern gear and efficient
fishing methods, the salmon catch
for the entire North American
Pacific fishery is today only about
half the 750 million pounds
caught in Alaska alone in 1936.
Senator Ernest Gruening states
in the introduction to “Politics and
Conservation” that our failure to
conserve a great natural heritage
“is the failure of a United States
governmental agency entrusted
with high responsibility . . . the
fact is that during the years of
their trusteeship, the federal reg
ulatory agencies — since 1940, the
Fish and Wildlife Service — in
stead of regulating the industry
were regulated and controlled by
it.”
In looking to the future, Rich
ard Cooley takes account the con
flict of forces that jeopardize this
nation’s natural resources. Direct
ing his attention to the problems
of the individual states he writes,
“There is no reason whatsoever
to expect that state government
can succeed where the federal gov
ernment failed unless the state is
willing to embark upon a long
range program based on a com
plete reformulation of the conser
vation problem in terms of eco
nomic. political, social and biologi
cal reality ... It must be recog
nized that the welfare of people
and not fish is the raison d’etre for
a management program, and that
if maximum sustained yield has
any validity, it is as a means to im
portant ends rather than as an end
in itself.”
Mr. Cooley is Director of the
Alaska Natural Resources Center
in Juneau.
Cub Scout Meet
Tonight May Be
Last For Kodiak
Tonight offers an excellent op
portunity for parents of boys be
tween the ages of 8 and 11 yeais
to learn more about the Cub Scout
program.
A special science display will
highlight the meeting of the Cub
Scout Pack which will be held at
7:30 Friday (tonight) at the high
school cafeteria.
Parents are urged to attend with
their boys to learn more about the
cubbing program and their respon
sibilities in it. Cub Scout Master
They’re Here ...!
Two More Delightfully New
1963 RENAULTS
THE R-8: Plush big-car comfort with compact car economy.
THE DAUPHINE: Roomy 4-door sedan that’s tops in the
economy field with up to 40 mpg.
SEE ’EM — DRIVE ’EM
«
FOREIGN CAR SALES
(Across from Kraft’s Supermarket)
Bill Bennet has pointed out that
the Kodiak Pack will be unabie
to continue to function without
increased adult participation and
interest.
NOTICK
The United tannery Workers
elect'on on the Ballot has been
changed from Oct. 1 to Oct. 16*17.
□ Kodiak deserves more than
talk. Vote: Nelson for Mayor.
Norman’s Photo
(Across from the
Orpheum Theatre)
Portraits By Appointment
Phone 486—5282
In Alaska, people have a
taste for good living and
Alaska’s fastest growing
bourbon is part of the scene.
86 PROOF KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY DISTILLED AND
BOTTLED BY THE JAMES B. BEAM DISTILLING CO., CLERMONT, BEAM, KY.
So much can be accomplished with effort, time and determination
The following items are a few of the progressive
moves I have participated in or originated for the
progress of Alaska and Kodiak.
1. The Boat Harbor
The federal government offered a boat harbor
for Kodiak if we would provide the financing of the
inner facilities. This came up at the time I was on
the City Council. Some of the members of the City
Council advocated a sales tax of 1 per cent to the
boat harbor facilities and 1 per cent for new road
construction. After two tie votes, Mayor Johnson had
to break the tie in favor of a sales tax election and
it was put on the ballot. This-tax passed by THREE
votes. The very people who opposed this tax now
are benefitting the most at present. Also at the
time of the construction of the boat harbor, I could
not generate interest in the construction of a park
ing lot for Kodiak. Mr. Poland negotiated with the
dredging contractor and made possible our much
used city parking lot. What would Kodiak do without
it?
2. The Alaska Ferry System
For years in Southeastern there had been talk
of a ferry system and two surveys had been con
ducted. In the 1959 session of the legislature I dis
covered that twenty thousand dollars had been
allocated for a third survey. I demanded that Kodiak
receive six thousand dollars of this money for a
survey for a Kodiak ferry. At this time I became
aware that Alaska had no ferry transportation act
to allow the state or private enterprise to operate a
ferry system. I then became the author of the Alaska
Ferry Transportatiin Act Ch 189-59 Session Laws
of Alaska. This was just the start, we then had to
write a eighteen million dollar bond issue and re
ceive voter’s approval state wide. This bond issue
only passed by 2,500 votes. In one night here in
Kodiak I begged five hundred dollars, from local
citizens, for TV time in Anchorage. Did this five
hundred determine the success of the ferry bond
election? We will never know. We do know that the
Southeastern ferry system is successful exceeding
all expectations. In July of 1964 Kodiak will have
350 miles of Marine Highway connecting Kodiak,
Homer and Seward.
3.
Years ago we in the Kodiak area depended
on salmon fishing for a living. A poor year meant
almost disaster for all of Kodiak Island. Then
came the King Crab industry in Kodiak. Small at
first and I can well remember I peddled crab from
store to store and sold them fresh to the Navy Base
and other towns in Alaska.
Many of our fishermen didn’t make enough to
pay for gear and fuel, but they experimented, im
proved their gear and explored new grounds. After
three years of this then blossomed the start of the
now flourishing crab industry the life blood of
Kodiak. Then started the rape of our resources,
the King Crab population. In 1954 research was
conducted to show that for every one crab taken
to market almost four crabs were killed outright or
damaged. The only control we had was to close the
season. This condition continued until otter trawl
ing for King Crab was made unlawful. The rape
of our King Crab industry continued until 1960.
The vessels had only to go beyond the three
mile limit and fish by any means with no thought
of conservation. The landing law made it possible
to enforce a law that made it unlawful to fish by
means, methods and at times beyond the three mile
limit, when it was unlawful in state waters. In
1960 I wrote and the legislature passed the landing
law, H.B. 300. No longer could these greedy individ
uals with no thought of the future continue this
wanton destruction of our resources. This legisla
tion was opposed by the Anchorage Times and
subject to many editorials, and two full time lobby
i
ists spent much time in Juneau and money to defeat
this legislation. There is no doubt that without this
law our King Crab population would be depleted
and what would Kodiak be without the King Crab
industry?
I have explained what I believe are my major
contributions for Kodiak. After my defeat in the
1962 election by some of the very people I helped
and who have prospered due to my efforts, I have
continued my efforts for Kodiak.
If elected Mayor I will continue my efforts
for a better Kodiak and not again suffer the almost
financial ruin that faced me after four years in the
legislature.
A VOTE FOR DEVEAII AS MAYOR IS A VOTE FOR PROGRESS