VOL. 2
PETERSBURG, ALASKA JULY 22, 1927
NO. 2
Alaska Packers Show
Large Profits 1924
ALASKA PACKERS SHOW
LARGE PROFITS—REPORT 1020
In what financial papers term a
surprisingly good annual report, the
Alaska Packers’ Assiciation an
nounced a profit of $548,480 for the
1926 cannery season as against
a deficit of $176,026 for the pre
ceding year.
The good showing is attributed
an exceptionally favorable market.
The company resumed a $2 extra
dividend in addition to the $2 quar
terly dividend, both payable on Feb
ruary 10. The company’s surplus
has been increased from $294,769
at the close of 1925, to $1,084,823
at the present time. In addition to
these cash resources the Association
has three plants, terminals, and a
fleet of fishing vessels valued at
$6,747,000.
TOM GAFFNEY AND BEN GRIER
REFUSE TO TAX NON-RESI
DENT FISHERMEN
LETTER BELOW DESCRIBES
NON-RESIDENTS
Interbay P. O. Seattle,
March 18, 1927_
Senator Will A. Steele,
Juneau, Al&aka.
Dear Sir: ■
Haring been a resident of Alaska
for more than 20 years 1 feel that
I am duty bound to glre pou the
following information.
More than one hundred Austrian
and Greek owned purse seine boats
leave Seattle (or he Sound) each
year to fish the salmon and herring
seasons In Southeast and Southwest
Alaska. They are rapidly helping
to deplete one of Alaska’s richest
asaest, for which they pay practic
ally nothing. Hundredes of the
fishermen (illiterate Bohunks)
laugh and joke at being able to
beat your school tax law.
A few years ago these fishermen
had 40 to 5g foot small powered
boats, but today, through Alaska’s
riches, they hare 65 to 78 foot
heavy-powered, up-to-the-minute
vessels, costing from 817,500 to
$30,000 (the old onee cost about
$6,500). Take for lnstanse, the new
motor “Valencia,” Marcob Le
gas, owner; hull 78 feet long, 19
feet beam, 8 feet, 6 inches depth;
185 horsepower Diesel engine,
speed 18 knots, cost $28,500. Two
years ago Leg&s owned the Georgia,
$6,500 old type boat. In 1925 he
built the “Ansonia,” $19,000, and
in 1927 the “Valencia.”
Only about 3% of the crews that
man the boats are citizens of the
United States. Many of the vessels
are owned by Austrians and Greeks
who never go near their boats.
They own oyster houses and cafes
and they get goo dreturns on their
investments. That la, the boats are
61n the names of citizens, but In
rallty they belong to aliens who put
up the money to build and equip
them. They all have beautiful
homes In Beattie and nice bank ac
counst.
Bach fall when they return to
Seatle they tell of the amount of
each man's share for the season,
from $1100 to $1700, some as low
an $800 (those that fish with the
old type boat). They also tell of
the deer meat they have all sum
mer.
I would suggest a law compell
ing all fishermen, without exemp
tion, to be United States citizens.
Also a law prohibiting all vessels
engaged In fishing from carrying
firearms unless they have a permit
to do so from the Territory; and a
lecense fee from each boat and man
S '
U. S. Deputies
Arrive in Port
Walter B. King, Deputy Clerk ol
the District Court, Deputy Marshals
Sherman and Price arrived in town
this week, proceeding to Port Alex
ander where they found the busy
flah center full of law and order.
Returning by way of Admiralty
they picked up a couple of natives
for violation of the migratory bird
act—possession of two geese—and
assessed a fine of $25 on the vio
lators. Incldently Mr. King pick
ed up several hundred dollars for
the Territory from non-resident
“stink-factories” who were doing
business in the Territory. Other
fertilizer plants, out of 14 on the
Baranof shore, advised the Deputy
Clerk that they would take the mat
ter with their home office.
Marshal Charles Brown of Pe
tersburg made the trip to Port
Alexander with the party.
Frank Right was brought in
from Pybus Bay on a charge of il
legal cohabitation. He and the
woman in question waived their
right to make statement. On evi
dence submitted by Deputy Marshal
Sherman and Brown, Commissioner
Clausen held the couple to appear
before the District Court.
i_
INFORMATION WANTED
Assistance in locating David Ker
sey has been requested of the Gov
ernor’s office, Juneau. Alaska. Hr.
Kersey is about 57 years old, 6
feet or more in height, brown eyes
and hair. He was last heard of in
Oregon and started for Alaska dur
ing the rush to the Klondike.
Assistance in locating Thomas
J. Irvin (colored) has been request
ed of the Gofernor’s Office, Juneau,
Alaska. He uas last heard of in
Cripple City, Alaska June 30, 1916.
Any data regarding the above
would be appreciated.
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
n board engaged as crew or fisher
man as follows: $150 on a 50 to
59 foot boat; $200 on a 60 to 9
Soot boat, and $250 on all sizes of
boats up to and Including 100 foot
boats. The above laws to apply
only to non-resident boats, crews
as the ZR-3, the Rosamond, Azalea
Salmon King, La Merced, Donna
Lane, and a score of others rang
ing from 500 to 4,000 tons should
hare to pay a license fee for any
thing from 200 tons to 750 tons
regisetred measurement, and $1,000
from 750 tons up to 4,000 tons.
Remember the boats are built
here, engined here, equipped and
outfitted here in Seattle, and every
one of them carries a full load of
freight to their various destina
tions in Alaska each year, thus de
priving the docks of a certain
amount of revenue (wharfage) and
the resident frelghtboat owners
who should get some protection, and
the regular steamshipl ines lose
considerable, as 100 boats carry an
average of 30 tons each, 3,000 tons
of free freight just to make good
fellows of themselves with the can
neries and salteries they work for,
or are chartered by.
1 have been among the fisher
men each spring and fall since
1920 and I am quite intimate with
them and their boats, and I think
that you should act now and not
wait until it is too late.
t am, Sir I
Yours respectfully,
ARVID PRANZEN
(Continued from last week.)
Hoover Reports
“Amazing Increase”
The following abbreviated report
of Alaska fisheries, made by Secre
tary of Commerce Herbert Hoover
last fall is again brought to the at
tention of Alaskans:
“The tentative estimate (of the
salmon pack) is 6,300,000, as
against 4,459,937 cases for the en
tire previous season. When final
figures for the fall pack this year
become available, it seems probable
that the total Alaska pack in 1926
will be about 46 percent larger than
that of last year and will be ex
ceeded only slightly by the pack of
>918, when 2,828,830 cases were put
up and which was the largest in the
history of Alaska salmon Industry.
(A comparison of packs by spe
cies followed).
“The foregoing shows the strik
ing increase In the packs of pink3
and reds each of which totals over
1,000,000 cases more than in 1925.
Most of the increase in pinks oc
curs in central Alaska, although
southeast Alaska shows a very sub
stantial gain. All three general dis
tricts 3how an increase in reds, but
the chief expansion this year was in
western Alaska, where the pack of
reds was approximately 1,360,000
case3 in 1926 as against 554,250
in 1925! central Alaska, 2,069,000,
as against 1,052,593 in 1925; and
southeast Alaska shows a total of
2,828,0000 cases, as compared with
2,802,414 cases in 1925.
“The NOTABLE INCREASE IN
THE PACK even to August 25 of
this year, is IN THE FACE OF
FURTHER RESTRICTIONS upon
fishing BY THE DEPARTMENT’S
REGULATIONS, which have been
deemed necessary FOR CONSERVA
TION PURPOSES IN CERTAIN
PLACES. It indicates THE EF
FECTIVENESS OF SUCH REGULA
TIONS, the broadening in scope of
which has been possible under the
pew Alaska fisheries act of June
6, 1924.
“The RESULTS of these regula
tions are shown in the INCREASED
pack of pink salmon in 192 6, for
this species matures in two years,
and the fish returning in 1926.
are THE PROGENY OF THE
BREEDING HUMP BACK SALMON
THAT ESCAPED IN 1924, the first
year the regulations went into ef
fect. As a matter of fact, the pack
of pink in 192 6 is much large*
than that of any previous year in
the history of Alaska, the largest
previous pack beeng about 2,600,000
cases.” (of pinks).
Ed. note. The “amazing increase”
reported by Mr. Hoover is due to
escapement under the law of 1924
Everything being equal—regulations
—escapement—amazing reports, the
run should be even better than last
year. The falsity of the report is
made evident by the run which is
not coming in. The last week of
July and the seiners, under the
hooverized “conservation” are hav
ing a time getting enough salmon
to eat without selling for the win
ter’s supply of food and clothing.
. FISH WILL COME .
All signs of salmon, past, present
and future indicate a late run of
salmon—breed late fish means the
return of the salmon late. The
sincerity of the Bureau of Fisher
ies, Commissioner Henry O’Malley
and Secretary Hoover is challenged
as to their conservation policy. The
urge of real conservation, set forth
by the Regular Republicans of the
Territory, is the only means where
by the run of salmon will be brot
back to normal—cut packs down
and not raise pack limitation.
Additional Fishery
Regulations
PRINCE WILIAM SOUND AREA
Salmon Fishery.—Regulation No
4 is amended so as to prohibit the
use of purse seines, as well as traps
and beach seines in commercial
fishing for salmon in the waters
along the western coast from the
outer point on the north shore of
Granite Bay (known as Granite
Bay Point) to the light on the
south shore of the entrance to
Port Nellie Juan.
W. P. MacCracken, Jr.,..
Acting Secretary of Commerce
BRISTOL BAY AREA
Salmon Fishery —Supplementary
June 23, 1927, extending the week
ly closed period 12 hours in con
tain waters of the Bristol Bay area
is hereby cancelled.
The next big fight will be in Sep
tember when Dempsey meets the
Fighting Marine, in which case the
dopesters and othere on the “in
side" will be wondering how it hap
pened.
LINDBERGH STAMPS
^ ALL OP TEN CENTS
The new Lindbergh commemora
five postage stamp is being printed
in denominations of ten cents only,
and issued in sheets of 50 stamps
each according to a recent announce
ment of the postal department
Purple Bubble Ball
[July 30th !
. . The Elks of Petersburg are put
ting on a Purple Bubble Ball on the
night of July 30. They promise to
drive away Old Man Worry and
Old Lady Care, for they say that
everyone is to forget their worries,
forget their troubles and forget the
blues by going to this dance.
As jollifiers and good fellows the
Elks are without peer and judging
from past dances, this Purple Bub- ]
ble Ball will be a social mark in the
life of Petersburg.
The newly organized Buker Or
chestra will furnish light and phan
tastic music to while away the
hour. From the standard they set
at the Fourth of July dance and
more recently, at Sales’ Inn for the
Baseball Dance, a mo3t enjoyable
time will be had by all.
Tickets are on sale in various
business houses. Refrehments for
the evening will be furnished at
Worth’s which is being completely
renovated for the occasion.
Louis Shotridge of Sitka, con
nected with the Ethnological De
partment of the University of Penn
sylvania is a passenger on the Ro
gers enroute to Juneau with Mrs.
Shottridge who is not in very good
health. ,
Mr. Shottridge is a “real” Alas
habit and customs, he is able to
kan” and has a thorough understan
I ing of the subject which he handles
jat the University.
Wrangellites Get
Sweet Revenge
l
j One of the largest crowds that
j eyer visited our town came over
fijom Wrangell on the Hazel B. II,
last Saturday night. After th$ lo
cal fans were so kind aa to give
them one of the nicest evenings ev
er spent at Sales’ Inn, they were
mean enough to trim the local
team on the ball grounds Sunday
afternoon. Not a very nice way
to do, we think, nevertheless a Jolly
time was had by all.
The Petersburg Band furnished
music and inspiration for one of
the hardest fought battles ever
witnessed on the local diamond.
The score stood two to nothing
in favor of the Glacier Bugs up to
the first of the sixth inning when
an error at second, coupled with
another error and wild throw, al
lowed two runs for the visitors;
another earned run for the visitors
put the score to 3-2 until the ninth
when the local pitcher tired, allow
ing three more runs.
Fabricius, Wrangell southpaw
pitcher, had very little edge over
Miller, local man. If the support
had stayed back of Miller, the score
might have been different.
The Glacier Bugs and the Wran
gellites stand even in games now,
land it is probable ttoat there will be
| one more game played to decide
which team really plays ball.
Government Doctor
At Taneatt Drowne
Dr. John W. Huston, physician in
charge of the U. S. Government hos
pital at Juneau, under the Bureau
of Eudcation, was drowned while
travelling on the Yukon River.
Looking back, the captain of the
craft taking the doctor to a point
of duty, he sawthe doctor in the
water some distance behind. The
boat was immediately turned to
pick up the doctor but before they
could reach him, he sank and was
never seen again.
Dr. Huston was an Oregonian,
graduate of the University of Ore
gon and the Oregon Medical School.
He had been in charge of the medi
cal work at Juneau for about a
year, doing most excellent work
and endearing himself in the hearts
of those people with whom he
labored and gave service to. His
loss will be mourned by the many
friends he made and their sincere
sympathies carry on to Mrsi. Hus
ton, his wife who also is thought
of most highly in the work.
Jonathan H. Waggoner, chief of
the Alaska Division of the Bureau
of Education was a passenger to
the North on the Admiral Watson
last week. His passage engaged
was to the westward points but he
got off, presumably at Ketchikan.
It was reported that he would go
on north by one of the southeast
boats and again that he had taken
passage to Nome on the Victoria.
Reverend S. Hall Young, veteran
missioner and preacher of the North
is a passenger on the Admiral Ro
gers, conducting a party of 16
I under the Presbyterian tours thru
the Territory.
He will return to the North on
his third tour this summer on the
Rogers northbound next week,
j In spite of the strenuous days
j and his advanced years the Doctor
| is in the best of health and spirits.
, The Alaskan wishes him many more
j tours to Alaska.
Bristol Bay Area Opens
Benefit Packers
Orders from the Department of
Commerce at Washington la3t week
closed the Bristol Bay area for the
balance of the year, beginning this
week. This was something not de
sired by the Big Packers as they on
ly had 60 percent of last years’
pack put up. Another ruling by
the Department was published in
which the closing orders were re
voked permitting fishing indefinite
ly or until Agent Dennis Winn, now
on the grounds, decides to close
down on account of poor escape
ment to spawning beds in the dis
trict.
Only 90,273 cases are reported
Sound area which is under even the
normal off-year.
Orders New Equipment
Hybro-Eledric
The City Council at its last meet
ing, held on Monday evening, decid
ed that conditons warranted the
purchasing and installation of a new
unit at the muunicipal hydro-elec
tric plant so the new equipment is
being ordered for immediate ship
ment.
The Council authorized the May
or to negotiate a loan at th^Bank
of Petersburg to take care of ini
tial payment on necessary equip
ment.
This much needed addition to the
plant will take care of the power
needs of the town andat the same
time insure the continuous opera
tion of the plant.
Councilman Enge who has over
sight of construction work son the
new addition to the Public School
reported that cement work on the
addition was started. He submit
ted a list of supplies needed for the
building from Seattle.
PETITION FOR IMPROVEMENTS
A petition signed by 23 property
holders, was read, requesting that
the city water main be extended
to the new addition of the city.
This wa3 laid on the table for fur
ther consideration.
Another petition, but for sewer
extension was read. This request
for the construction of a sewer
system commencing at C Street, fol
lowing First and D Streets to the
beach. This petition wa3 granted
I The council again considered the
* matter of disposol of city garbage,
was again brought up and disposed
of by lpanning to extend the road
from the Martinson barn to Point
Prolewy where a dock will be built
to permit the dumping of all re
fuse in Frederick Sound.
This will close this matter, unless
objections are again raised on ac
lount of the tdes aarrying much of
the refuse back to the shores.
CORRECTING A WRONG IDEA
To correct a wrong impression
which prevails that the goods on
our Cash and Carry Counter are
obtained from remnants of stores
now defunct, we wish to state
most emphatically that, all canned
goods on our counters are strictly
fresh and of good quality. - The
prices also are strictly fresh for
Petersburg.
HOGUE AND TVETEN COMPANY
Rev. S. Hall Young, pioneer
preacher of Alaska, was elected
Moderator of the Presbyterian Syn
jod of Washington, Idaho and Alas
Ika, during the past week.