VOL. I
PETERSBURG, ALASKA FEBRUARY 4 1927.
NO. 30
Petersburg, Alaska
February ft, 1927
Editor
The Alaskan
Petersburg, Alaska
Dear Sir:
Mr. Johnson, more generally known
us The Herring has replied to my
letter of recent date, but he sent
his reply to Ketchikan for the
Cnronicle to print. Was the Press
afraid to publish it after inviting
the controversey or was it for some
other reason. Any way, I would
not have known a thing about it if
someone had not sent me a clip
ping of the article.
Herring Johnson had a reputa
tion as quite an authority on her
ri: g but since reading the article I
have com© to the conclusion that ft
wa3 only reputation that he has.
He shows himself as being very ig
norant of the most fundamental
phases of the herring industry.
First he goes to some length to
state that Norway has been pack
ing herring for thousands of years.
The first salt herring packed was
by the Dutch in 1416 and not until
ai<er this date did the Norwegian
salt his herring in commercial quan
tity. So the intensive methods of
destruction now in vogue were not
known many "thousands of years
ago.”
Speaking of the number employ
ed by the packers—312 persons is
the number given in 1024 the latest
data I could secure with my limit
ed means. If the Pacific Fisher
man is prejudiced in our favor then
they must have just gotten religion
for their bread and butter is furn
ished by the packers.
Mr. Johnson states that “the
trouble with the fisherman is, few
it any, have ever kept track of what
has gone in the world regarding
fisheries. True enough—that’s why
we have the problem of depletion
today. When the fisherman began
to awaken to what was going on in
the industry, he started to demand
that It stop.
He has said that herring spawn
afteT one year and continue to do so
until they die. The Norwegian in
vestigators of herring tell us that
herring do not spawn until after
tbe3' have passed the fifth year and
they continue to spawn until they
are 13 when they di^. *Can Mr.
Johnson show otherwise?
Why don’t I mention the Prince
Wiliiam Sound Pack? The press
laat fall told of the failure of the
entire pack in that district. What
n ore comment should I make. Ev
ery where, where the intensive
packing and wanton waste of this
food fish continues there is plenty
evidence of depletion.
It is quite possible that the Am
erican Consul to Norway does not
know as much about herring as
Mr. Johnson, but his evidence of
depletion “due to reckless fishing”
is a matter of official record in the
[.archives of Norway as well as the
j United States. The Department of
Commerce, Food stuff Division is
sued a series of trade notes last fall
which declared in no uncertain
terms that the fisheries/of the North
Sea were being threatend with de- j
struction by said “reckless fishing.” (
Johnson does not get the import t
of my reference. Everything being j
eqaul as to food value sardine and f
herring it is just as wasteful to de
stroy herring as sardine. The waste
ful practices in the, sardine industry
were removed by decision of the Su
preme Court of California. The
Court did not consider whether or
not the packers were making or
losing money—the point at issue
was Is too much good foodflsh be
ing destroyed. And that is the
issue in Alaska.
I cannot feature herring oil as a
popular food after going through
the various canneries and seing the
fithy, unsanitary manner in which
they are put up with silme turning
green and live maggots crawling
on the fish and floors. Make good
paint oil and no doubt W. P. Ful
ler gets the most of that fine food
oil.
When he states that the herring
fishermen operating for the packers
do not pond their fish he is telling
a mistake. Who had that pond at
Whale Bay, Baranoff Island two
yers ago when dead herring flloat
ed out the bay by the several thou
sand barrels? If these fishermen do'
not destroy herring tell us who^
caused the destruction of the mil
lions of herring at Larch Bay in
1924 when dead herring floated out
of the bay bp the hundreds of thou- :
sands awing to the destructive man
ner of Heining them. Will Mr. John-1
son ask fo ra Federal investigation 1
of these statements? I will be glad
to furnish him a hnudred or two
nr even three hundred witnesses to
these destructive practices. I will
furnislh many witnsses to the fact
that the packing of these food fish
is but a fraud in that only enough
send thousands of barrels through
for fertilizer and oil to the few
hundred of cases that they put up.
Yours very Truly,
DAN ALSTAN
. .ALASKA TIMBER SALE ...
The two largest timber sales ever
offered by the Forest Service are
new being advertised for competi
tive bids. These are sales of pulp
wood in Alaska, each for 5,000,000
000 board feet. Announcement of
these offerings was made by Secre
tary of Agriculture Jardine. One
sale is in the northern part of the
Tongass National Forest not far
from Juneau, and the other is in
the southern part of the forest near
Ketchikan. The establishment of at
least a 200-ton paper mill in Alas
ka is required as a condition of
each sale, with opportunity to ex
pand to 500 tons. The advertise
ments are in response to applica
tions for timber and water power
permits filed by a number of com
panies or groups of responsible in
dividuals.
V/RANGELL GETS “FLOATER”
C. R. Dobbins who conducted a
crab cannery in Wrangell several
years ago will conduct a floating
salmon cannery at Wrangell the
coming season.
Early' in December Mr. Dobbins
who was then in Juneau, wrote to
the Wrangell Commercial Club re
garding conditions here. The Club
appointed O. Gunderson and L. A.
Olsen to furnish Mr. Dobbins with
a report on present conditions in
this locatlity as they would relate
to the fishing industry. Two weeks
ago when Mr. Dobbins went south
Messrs. Gunderson and Olsen tpok
up the matter with him personally
while the vessel was in port with
the result that Mr. Dobbins has
decided to again locate here. He
plans to put up about 20,000 cases
of salmo nat his floating cannery
at Wrangell the coming season.—
| W rangell Sentinell.
PAPER %()R B. C.
NegotiaJH|l have been completed
between tT B. Patullo, provincial
minister of lands, James H. Law
son, attorney for the Crown Wil
l'amette Paper Company of Oregon
for beginning a 5-year $15,000,000
development program of the Camp
bell river falls, on the east coast of
Vancouver Island. The plans call
for a 200-ton paper mill to be the
first unit. Power sufficient to sup
ply 1,000-ton news print mill is re
ported to be available. Ex.
pany, Hearsts and Zellerback are to
The Chronicle and the Empire
have been midwifing the paper ba
by that Hearsts, The International
and Zellerback * Paper company’s
were supposed to be daddy of. The
great event is still acoming. The
Crown Williamette Paper company,
ni small chicken itself enters into
negotiations with the Canadian gov
ernment without press agents and
without publicity. How come?
The Alaska Game Commission is
ask ng for proposals for the cap
ture of beaver, not to be commenc
ed before the 1st of March and to
end nt later than May 15, 1927.
The proposals will be publicly i
opened February 25th, 1927, at 2|
o’clock p. m. at the office of the!
Came Commission, Juneau ,Alas- '
ka.
SPECIFICATIONS
1. Quantity. Deliveries in units
of not less than 5 animals at one
time, total value of all animals re
el aired not to exceed $1,200. 2.
Animals delivered at one time not
to exceed 5(1 percent males, nor
more than 60 percent females. 3.
Animals to be in sound, healthy
condition, no broken bones, torn or
lacerated skins and shall be fed and
cared for regularly until delivery.
Bidder must state approximate lo
cality where he expects to capture
the animals. Points of delivery to
be designated in the towns of Jun
eau. Petersburg or Sitka. Beaver
presented to the Commission shall
be free from wild island stock, un
less the Commission gives specific
permission for the capture of the
orlier animals. Animals which die
or are seriously injured in the
course of capture shall be skinned
and properly cared for and deliver
ed to the Commission.Animals de
livered in accordance with these
specifications will be paid by vouch
er drawn on the Territory. UO per
cent of the value of each unit will
l>e paid for at the time of deilvery,
the remaining 20 percent to be
withheld pending delivery of the to
tal number of animals contracted
for within the time specified and
thf return of the trap (value-$50.)
ip as good condition as when deliv
ered to the contractor, excepting
icasonable wear. vUpon completion
of delivery of contract and return
o? trap the balance 20 percent will
be payable, otherwise forfeited to
the Alaska Game Commission.
A bond in the sum of 10 percent
of the total bid price willberequired
which may be either in the form
of cash deposit or suitable guar
antee acceptable to the Commis
sion.
Animals will be purchased only
fro mpersons operating under per
mit issued by the Alaska Game
HARD Til
The ticket sale for the big Hard
Time Dance the American Legion
Auxiliary is sponsoring for Satur
day night, February 5, has been
marching along rapidly this week.
The community has betn responding
n agnificently In spite of the many
other demands that have been put
upon it, and the committee reported
that over sixty tickets had been sold
on Wednesday.
Although there are only fourteen
members in the organization, each
has done her share and made this
tig entertainment possible.
The proceeds from the affair are
to be spent for charity. The Auxil
iary is planning to use part of the
money to buy materials which they
will make up into garments for the
children in "the American Legion
P omes and part will also go to
help out the work done for the dis
abled soldiers. This is a worthy
cause and the local oragnization
hojjtes to be able to do its share
along with the Auxiliaries in other
Alaskan cities.
The dance will provide a good
deal of amusement, as the commit
tee announces that girts as well as
men will be fined. Those not pre
sent at the first dance, those wear
ing unsuitable clothes or jewelry
cannot hope to escape the vigilant
eyes of the law. The cops say they
’ll be on the job, so watch your
step.
Those “in the know,” say the eats
are novel and “slum^umptious”
and only 75 cents per couple. The
Chinese Rafflle will give you your
moneys worth at a low cost.
fio here’s a big chance for a good
time—Come early and Stoy Late.
mam
Special to Alaskan—A money or
der service will be established at
Port Alexander beinning May 2nd,
next.
The need of such service has long
been felt but little hope was ever
expressed that it would be secured.
This news will be welcomed by the
fishing fleet which centers its oper
ations at Pordt Alexander.
HAS BAD PAIiL
John T. Spickett, who last Satur
day tumbled down the stairs into
the basement of the Palace Theatre
of which he is manager, is getting
along fairly well after a rather se
vere shaking up and will be out
within a few days. He was able
to sit up yesterday, although still
confined to his room.—Stroller’s
Weekly.
KAYHI TEAM IN SOUTH ...
The Ketchikan High School is in |
the States playing against some of
the best on Puget Sound. They are
scheduled to play ten games before
their return. Already they are ty
ing the scalps of coast teams to
their belt*.
| Commission fo rthe capture of live
fur-bearers. Successful bidders will
be grante such a permit.
Further information may be se
cured by addressing the Alaska
Game Commission, Juneau, Alaska.
MAKES REPORT IIS IRK
The Third Annual Meeting of the
Alaska Game commission closed
on January 26, after having been
in session fourteen days. The full
membership of the Commission was
present until the 18th when Dr.
Chase of the Third Division was
called home to Cordova.
During the session careful conisd
eration was given to a large num
ber of written and verbal suggestion
and constructive criticism propos
ing changes Of continuing in effect
game, fur and birds in the Terri
tory,
The Commission does not deem it
advisable to announce at this time
detailed changes which it is propos
ing for the reason that announce
ment of proposed changeswould be
misleading without the full text of
the regulations and act at hand.
Therefore, no announcement of de
tailed changes will appear until the
regulations are published in revised
form about April 1.
For Southeastern Alaska no ma
terial changes have been proposed,
ii being found after careful consid
eration of written suggestions re
ceived and personal hearings hedl
during the meeting that the existing
regulations appear to meet fairly
well the game and fur conditions j
as found in this particular section. 1
Any slight changes which have been
proposed for other parts of the Ter
ritory have been primarily to bring i
into harmony open and closed sear
sons as well as to adjust certain !
trapping seasons to meet climatic
conditions. The aim of the Com
mission is to make the least pos
sible number of changes, and
those which are being proposed are
designed to assist in the production
of better quality of furs and will
also facilitate obtaining game meat
v.hen it is in the best condition.
Further attention was given to
the problem of stocking certain
lands in Alaska with valuable fur
bearing and game animals. It is
announced that excellent progress,
especially in the Prince William
Sound and Kodiak-Afognac Island
sections, has been made under the
appropriations by the Territorial
Legislature and the Commission ex- j
pects during the present calendar
year to complete work within the!
limits of funds appropriated. Mem
bers of the Commission state that j
I stock ing of lands with fur bearing
animals is like making dollars grow
where dollars have not before
grown and is virtually establishing
a gigantic public fur farm.
1 hey announce that reports have
n received from various parts of
the Territory which indicate serious
im-rease in wolves and coyotes and
that a very insistent demand has
arisen for the inauguration of pre
datory animal control measures
which have been used with such ex
cellent success in the States. The
Commission does not at this time
have funds available for the pre
datory animal control work but it is
taking up the matter up with the
Secretary of Agriculture in an effort
to obtain funds for the inauguration
ol’ this work in Alaska.
The reports on migratory water
fowl indicate that there has been
no material decrease in their num
ber during the past year. Some
local bureaus report more than the
usual number, geese being especally
plentiful in certain sections.
The caribou herds north of the
Alaska range are gradually increas
ing until at the preesnt time there
is a bountiful supply for use of the
residents of that section of Alaska.
I^oose are gradually on the in
crease, especially north of the Alas
ka range, and are holding their own
or showing a slight increase in the
Kenai region where hunting has
been more intensive during the
past two years.
There has apparently been a
slight decrease in the number of
fur-bearing animals taken during
the past year which, no doubt, is
due somewhat to the shortening of
the trapping seasons, but on the
other hand the pelt value is equal
to or slightly greater than in form
er years.
The Commission appreciates the
hearty interest which Alaskans are
showing in the wild ilfe protection
and the support received from the
public in the administration of the
/laska Game Law and Regulations.
The ,Commission announces that its
policy is that of seeking coopera
tion and support of the people in
this work, for they state they are
merely the custodians for the people
of Alaska o fthe public wild life of
the Territory.
The House of Representatives
passed the Alaska Departmental re
organization bill this week. This
alhorizes the Secretaries of the In
terior, Agriculture and Commerce
to appoint represtentatives having
complete supervision of the activi
ties of theseNDepartments in Alaska.
Word has been nreceived that the
mail contract between Wrangell and
Petersburg now held by Paul Owens
has been extended another two
two months making it possible for
the continuation of better mail ser
vice than therwise.
The Alask&a Road Commission
Boat Highway is in port today.
The halibut fleet is plowing itg|
way to the fishing banks. A num
ber of boats passed through the
barrows this week an dthe local
boats are making effort to geet to
the grounds as soon as possible.
. The Senate Committee on Public
i-ands weuld be authorized in a re
solution introduced on January 24
By Senator Cameron of Arizona, to
investigate the purchase of 890 ')90.
000 feet of timber in the Uni:e<t
States Forest Reserve in Grant
County Oregon.
The resolution charged that Jas.
W. Girard, while in the employ of
the United States Forest Service at
1 Missoula, Montana was instrument
al in getting Fred Herrick of Saint
| Maries, Idaho, to bid on a contract
lor the timber and that shortly af
terward Mr. Girard resigned from
the Forestry Service to enter Mr.
Herrick’s employ in the develop
ment of the project.
The Petersburg Chamber of Com
merce held its usual weekly lunch
but transacted no business of im
port.