Japanese Began Tagging King Crab
In Kodiak Waters Over Year Ago
Disquieting evidence that the
Japanese fishing operations had
finally extended to the vicinity of
Kodiak was found over a year ago
when a barnacled king crab cap
tured by crab pot in Alitak Bay in
March 1961 was found to bear a
Japanese tag.
On a red plastic disc attached to
the leg of the crab was a number
and the legend, “Hokuyo.”
The crab was taken to Port
Wakefield where Wakefield Fish
eries flew it to the Alaska Depart
ment of Fish and Game Headquar
ters here for further examination
by Research Biologist Guy Powell,
a king crab specialist for the
ADFG.
Powell promptly wrote the Tokai
Regional Fisheries Research Lab
oratories at Tokyo inquiring as to
when and where the crab was
tagged and released. A quick re
ply from the Japanese fisheries
company, Hokuyo Suisan Co., Ltd.,
revealed that limited king crab
tagging had been done in the Shu
magin and Kodiak Island areas
during September. 1960, when 235
king crabs were released by three
vessels of the Shinvo-Maru fishing
fleet belonging to the commpany
while engaged in an exploratory
research program.
The crab caught at Alitak was
one of these. It had been released
off Kodiak and had migrated 27
miles to Alitak Bay after six
months of freedom.
Powell surmised that the re
leased tagged crabs were taken
incidentally during Japanese ex
ploratory bottom fish ventures
during the summer and that they
were released in the same area of
capture.
The crabs, as indicated by the
one captured, were all tagged in
an unusual manner. The tag was
threaded through a leg near the
body on the underside, instead of
having their mark in a more typ
ical location on top of the shell
or through the isthmus for perm
anent retention. Powell believes
this location was chosen by the
Japanese so as not to conflict with
the crab tagging programs of the
U.S.
During the period between
August 31 and Septembebr 10
Annual
*
M other’s Day
Program
Sunday, May 13th
2:00 P.M.
Elks Nall
A program by the Elk’s Lodge officers in honor of all mothers
on Mother’s Day. Everyone welcome.
Tea served by members of the Emblem Club following the ■
program.
_________.
KNUDS N’S
Mother’s Day Cards
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Jewelry
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ASSORTED DISHES
Mathew Adams — IKORA Wear
Silver On Crystal
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Photographic Supplies
Fishing Gear & License
KNUDSEITS — Where All Kodiak Shops I
1960, 35 male and 1 female king
crab were tagged by the Shinyo
ships and released at four loca
tions in the Shumagin Island area.
All of these releases were within
12 miles of shore.
Between September 18 and 20,
1960, the Japanese released 76
male and 123 female king crab at
nine locations off Alitak Bay. The
locations extended from 9 to 47
miles outside the 3-mile limit.
Japanese records received by Pow
ell gave the tag number, latitude,
longitude, depth, date, sex, width
of shell and weight relative to each
of the crabs released.
In 1961, 4,205,000 pounds of
king crab was imported into the
U.S. from Japan, a figure 227,000
pounds less than in 1960.
Since the ban on import of Rus
sian crab was lifted on March 20,
1961, a total of 600 pounds of
Russian canned crabmeat has been
shipped to the U.S.
1st Lt. Weatherson
Officer Graduate
Maxwell AFB, Ala.—First Lieu
tenant James G. Weatherson, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick W. Wea
therson, U.S. Naval Station, Ko
diak, Alaska, is being reassigned
to Warren AFB, Wyo., following
his graduation from the United
States Air Force Squadron Officer
School here April 13.
The Lieutenant, who received
his B.S. degree from the U. S.
Naval Academy, Annapolis, is mar
ried to the former Joan A. Fyfe of
605 Arlingham Road, Flourtown,
Pa. They have two children, Scott
and Cheryl.
The Squadron Officer School, a
part of the professional officer sy
stem of the Air University, pre
pares young officers for command
and staff positions at squadron
and wing levels. Lieutenant Wea
therson was selected because of
his growth and development poten
tial as a leader in the aerospace
force.
And, Police Chief Bob Cooraugh
of Powell, Wyoming, got a report
that a magazine and encyclopedia
salesman was violating the town’s
anti-peddling ordinance. The sales
man was nowhere to be found. But
when Cooraugh arried home, he
discovered that Mrs. Cooraugh had
a new encyclopedia set.
A little learning is a dangerous
thing, but not as serious as too
vivid an imagination.
WE
have noted the number of fires
recently and we suggest that
you think about your household
furniture coverage. We sure
SELL
a lot of it arid its quite
inexpensive, too. Only $15.60
a year for $3,000 coverage here
in town.
Stop in and get your booklet
free-that will help you decide !
the value of your
FURNITURE.
j Art Brooks at 486—2215
Kodiak Insurance
FOR ALL YOUR
Welding Needs
or Problems
Phone 486—5150
KODIAK WELDING WORKS
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