VOL. 3.
PETERSBURG, ALASKA, JANUARY II, 1929
NO. 26
Past Year Was Good
For Fisheries
The fishing year just closed has
been one of the best the Pacific
coast has enjoyed for some time. Ole
established companies made consul
enable profit and this will be reflect
ed in a greater effort to increase
iheir 1929 output. New companies
will be encouraged to enter the field
This will be especially notieable
in the canned salmon industry, tlie
pack being +he second largest evei
made on the Pacific Coast. Study
of known factors leads me to be
lieve the coming season's pack will
be smaller. Probable shortage in
Western and Southeastern Alaska
packs will l'kely be made up in
central Alaska and Puget Sound. In
Puget Sound 1929 will be the quad
rennial big year, and the pack will
likely overtop by 500,000 cases
that of 192S.
In the mild-cure salmon field
there was a short pack. Prices are
high and fish in demand. Other
fishermen ave complaining of the
operations of trollers, and 1929 Leg
islative sessions may see a curtail
ment of operations.
The halibut industry is faced
with the necessity of reducing its
fleet owing to a falling off of the
supply of fish on the northern
oanks. Herring packers had an ex
cellent season and will doubtless
outfit on a large scale in 1929. Salt
cod fishermen have been in the
dumps for several seasons.
Report of Commercial
Club Activities
During the year 19 2S, a number
of new projects were sponsored by
the Petersburg Commercial Club as
well as the continuation of effort on
those previously instituted but not
completed. The matters of the
Dredging of the Petersburg Harbor
is still pending and may not be ful
ly completed so far as the Club ef
fort is concerned for many years to
come. The matter has been further
ed by the adoption of resolutions
and a request that the Seattle Cham
ber enlist the Washington legisla
tors in behalf of the bill pending in
Congress providing for a survey of
the project.
The conservation of herring ques
tion has been completed as far as
t.ie matter of securing the petitions
of residents of this Division of the
Territory of Alaska is concerned
ai d members are gratified to find
that the theories they have advanced
have support of government investi
gators, as shown by reports publish
ed.
The Club has been able to secure
p iblicity in the following periodi
cals, Alaska Travelgraph published
bv the Alaska Steamship Compasy
and the Alaska Daily Times Year
book, Cordova. The publication of
another article in The Alaska Week
ly is expected at any time. An at
tractive pamphlet which is being
widely circuated,
Tn the matter of Fishery the Club
secured a change in the regulations
as to salmon in favor of those fish
ier steelhead varieties. The Club
also secured and planted 12,000
trout fry in Crystal Lake. Blind
Slough.
The Club has requested aids to
navigation at Point Mitchell and in
Duncan Canal. The former is be
lieved to be certain to be realized
while the latter is still under invest
igation.
The Club took its usual interest
in the celebration of the Fourth of
July and sponsored the efforts of the
Council in securing a fire truck for
1
Will Build Large Hall
-o
The Alaska Native Sisterhood and
|: Vi Alaska Native Brotherhood
imps of Petersburg are joining for
with the idea of building a hall
'table for every purpose in Peters
| irg. Plans are underway to fin
ee the building so that work can
' commenced early in the fall.
In the past they have had difficulty
i securing suitable hall to put on
| • '.eir social stunts. Later on they
; were able to secure the Pioneers’
Nall. However, during the past
■ summer the Presbyterians purchased
i that building and are using it for
! their chapel. Believing it a dese
! oration to dance in their chapel the
Native people have discontinued that
social diversion for some time past.
Another reason for the plan to
build is the need of a gymnasium for
the future basketball player. The
toys are unable to secure any prac
tice of any kind unless they pay a
prohibitive rate for the use of a hall.
I’o help them prepare for future
starring on Alaska teams, the two
Camps believe it will be to the best
interest of all to build the hall large
enough for a standard basketball
floor. The building will be on the
Hogue lot next to the City Power
House.
The first drive for funds will be
at an early date when the two Camps
will put on a play at one of the
iheartres. The play has been secur
eo, distributed and practice on it
will be begun very shortly.
Mrs. Nick Martinsen ,pioneer
dairywoman is taking a few days
tacation visiting friends in Wrangell.
The America First arrived this
morning with four passengers and
some mail.
|the local Fire Department.
| The Club was instrumental in
<
j having the Collector of Internal
j Revenue send a man to Petersburg
| luring the time of reporting on in
icomes last spring.
The Club overcame the seemingly
unsurmountable obstruction to the
continuance of the Mountain Point
Extension of the highway by secur
ing funds to purchase a right of way
over property of Myhre Hofstad, of
Scow Bay. The road has been ex
tended with the exception of sur
facing of a part which is to be finish
ed in the spring.
The Club is actively supporting
a movement to have an industrial j
School for Native Children establish
ed at the Mason Place at the South
end of the Narrows. A committee is
now out to secure funds for the pur
chase of the site.
The matter of securing air mail
service has recently come up and
a committee is actively working on
that matter at this time.
Additional Steamer service has
been secured by the Club from the
Alaska Steamship Company.
The Club has recently adopted a
resolution asking for $50,000 for
predatory animal control work in
tl. 3 Territory.
i During the year the Club has en
tertained as its guests, the members
of the Petersburg Band, The High
i School Basket Ball Team and a num
i her of individuals who have visited
(the Town, among whom was the
i Governor of Alaska, Mr. George A.
j Parks, who visited Petersburg on an
j inspection of this division and who
was given an informal reception.
Preparations were made to entertain
the Young Men’s Business Club ex
cursion but the steamer schedule was
changed and that pleasure had to be
foregone.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert M. Allen
President
Fishery Regulations For 1929
The Bureau of Fisheries has given
cm advance information relative to
legulations for the operation of the
fisheries in Alaska for the year 1929.
Some very drastic changes have been
effected especially in the operation
of seines, closed areas and trolling.
1. Length of gillnets shall be limit
ed on any salmon fishing boat to
250 fathoms in length.
2. Stake and anchored nets (gill
oeis) to be operated in a sthaight
line.
’ o. Distance between traps to be not
less than one statue mile.
4. Floating traps shall not exceed
900 feet wherein the waters are
more than 100 feet deep. Length of
trap to be measured from high water
mark to outer face of the trap.
0. Only one seine shall be carried
or operated by any one seine boat.
No additional net of any kind per
mitted. The carrying of additional
net is prohibited. A depth of not
icos than 175 meshes and not more
ihan 250 and a length of not less
than 150 fathoms and not more than
25 0 fathoms on cork line will gov
ern size of seines. Measurement de
termined by stretched measure be
tween knots; extension to seines in
‘•vay of leads not permitted.
(i. Commercial fishing except by
irolling prohibited prior to 6 o’clock
antemeridian July 5, each calendar
>ear, from 0 o’clock postmeridian
August 10 to G o’clock antemeridian
October in each year, and for re
mainder of each calendar year after
G o’clock post meridian October 15.
TROLLING CLOSED SEASON
Commercial fishing for salmon by
trolling excei-t by hand power from
small boats, prohibited prior to
April 1 in each calendar year. Opera
tions to be in boats not propelled by
machine. Not more than six line shall
be operated from power trolling
boats.
Reach seines are prohibited.
Boats operating seines shall not
be more than 50 feet.
• Closed season to trolling for sal
mon in Biroughs bay on Revilla
Island for remainder of each year
after August 16 PROVIDED that
; rohibition shall not apply to period
from G o’clock antemeridian October
J to G o’clock postmeridian October
15 in each year.
STEETHEAD FISHERY
Commercial fishing for steelhead
t’out shall be subjject to the provi
sions of law and regulations applic- !
ppcable to commercial fishing for
salmon: Provided, that, except in
respect to v. eekly closed periods,
this regulation shall not be effec
■ive in the period from March 15
to April 30 both dates inclusive,
in waters south of 58 degrees
r.orth latitude.
HERRING FISHERY
During the period from July 1 to
"Home Rule” Gaffney
-o
Thomas Gaffney, the Irish mem
ber of the last legislature and ex
ponent of the Vampire Home Rule
was defeated in the last election and
u ill not return to Juneau to blarney
the electors of any Division.
In a statement which he gave the
Lomen paper in Nome he declared
that his defeat was due to his "con
scientious and virile opposition to
I hat pernicious measure called the
Controller Bill.” His stand against
Lhat measure he believed alienated
the support of many "well meaning
citizens and friends.”
Tom declared he would go to the
[hectors on the issue. He did. Good
bve Thomas Tory Gaffney.
'October 15, both dates inclusive,
commercial fishing for herring, in
cluding . bait fishing, is prohibited
in all waters closed throughout tho
year to salmon fishing.
2. Commercial fishing for herring,
except for bait purposes, is prohibit
ed from January 1 to May 31. both
dates inclusive, and from October 1
o December 31. both dates inclus
ive: Provided, That this prohibition
shall not apply to the use of gillnets
of mesh not less than 2 and one
fourth inches stretched measure be
tween knots, in the period from Oc
iooer 1 to December 31. both dates
inclusive.
rf. Commercial fishing for herring,
! except for bait purposes, is prohibit
ed from ti o’clock postmeridian of
•'turday each week until o’clock
antemeridian of the Monday follow
ing.
4. Commercial fishing for herring,
m 'hiding bart fishing, by means of
any trap is prohibited.
5. No herring fishing boat shall
carry or operate more than one!
seine of any description, and no ad
ditional net of any kind shall be
carried on such boat. The carrying
• !' any additional seine or net of any
•Cnd on a boat towed by any herring I
fishing boat is prohibited.
Commercial fishing for herring,
including bait fishing, by means oi
any purse seine more than 1200
meshes in depth, more than 180
tathorns in length, or of mesh less
than one and a half inches stretch
ed. between knots is prohibited:
Provided, That any purse seine may
have in addition a strip along the
bottom not to exceed 30 meshes in
depth and of mesh not less than 4 i
niches stretched measure between
knots. No extension to any seine
in tbe way of leads will be permit
ted.
ao one snail place, or cause to be >
placed, across the entrance to any
lagoon or bay, any net or other de
\ ;ce which will prevent the free
passage at all times of herring in
and out of said lagoon or bay.
All commercial fishing, including
bait fishing, for herring is prohibit
ed throughout the year in the wa
ters of Kanalku bay.
Seines used in commercial fishing,
including bait fishing, for herring in
Klawock harbor within a true east
and west line passing through the
r.vthern extremity of Klawock Is
land shall not exceed 90 fathoms
hung measure in length nor 500
meshes in depth. For the purpose
cf determining depths of such seines
measurements will be upon the ba
ns of one and one-half inches
stretched measure between knots.
No such seine shall have a mesh of
snf.h hdnee llessth aooinae n-. .
less than one and one-half inches
stretched measure between knots.
"Stonewall Crisco"
. -o
Commissioner of Fisheries Hen
ly O’Malley replying to Ketchikan
C 'inmercial Clubs petition for modi
fication of the orders closing Behm
Canal to further fishing declared
"You are advised that leaving the
east side of Behm Canal open to
t ’aps is considered as inimical to the
proper conservation of the salmon
fisheries of Southeastern Alaska.
Therefore, the change in regulations
v/hich you have requested cannot be
made.”
.1 Leon Ensch, chiropractor who
has been in Petersburg the past
year is leaving for Anaeortes the
latter part of the month. He says it
will be more than just au revoir.
An Appreciation
Sitka, Alaska
December 25th, 1928
The Alaskan,
Petersburg, Alaska
Gentlemen: i
The People of Petersburg wen
very generous in contributing to th<
W. D. Gross Drive for the 1928 Pio
neers’ Home Christmas Cash Funt
and in some way I want to thank al
the Good People of Petersburg or
behalf of the Old Boys’ of the Homt
and I am going to ask you if yoi
will convey this thought to the peo
ple of your Town through the col
»mns of the ALASKAN.
I am enclosing a list of gifts re
ceived by the Pioneers’ Home tc
date and also a list of the (103) in
mates of the Home who received
? 21.35 Christinas morning.. It would
day’s night meeting when nearly 50
r e very nice of you if you could pub
josh both of these lists so the people
who contributed to this fund could
see who this money went to.
The Old Boys’ had one of the
best Christmases that they ever had
and there was nothing of course,
that could have pleased the old
Boys’ more than the Cash. I think
1 lat Mr. Gross deserves a great
deal of credit in devoting so much
of his time in getting behind this
cause and he assures us that he is
going to see/to it that the Boys’ is
going to have a little cash every
Cnristmas if he can possible get it
for them.
So ] will leave it with you to
make up a little appropriate letter
wn he’ To
ot thanks to the Citizens of your
r\ own. Thanking you again I am
very truly yours
THEO .KETTLESON
Superintendent, Alaska Pioneers’
Home.
THE W. 1). GROSS FUND
Pioneers’ Home, Sitka
Ketchikan
Wrangell
Petersbu rg
Juneau
Seattle
—$549.25
176.10
175.55
629.10
646.50
Total- 2,176.50
Ladies Auxiliary Pioneers’
Anchorage No. 4 (cash) 25.00
Total $2,201..50
Their were other subscription
consisting of fruit, cigars, books
ai d magazines from various individ
uals and organizations.
To Remodel Church
-o
At the Annual meeting of the Lu
theran Congregation, held at the
Church last Wednesday evening, it
was unanimously decided to remod
el and improve the church build
ing as soon as adequate finances are
at hand. A Finance Committee con
sisting of Thomas Lando, John Ot
ness and Mrs. George Nicholson,
was appointed together with the
pastor to take full charge of the
laising of funds. The building Com
mittee'. Jacob Otness. Thomas Lan
do and L. J. Israelson, elected a
year ago, have been busy during the
past, year, considering plans for new
churches and remodelings, have
found a plan for remodeling and en
larging the present church building
as most practical and economical.
When completed this will give the
Community, at moderate cost, an
attractive church plant equipped for
greater and better service, both in
the Sunday School work and other
wise. )
Officers of the congregation for
the coming year are: Trustees, S.
Special Fur Sale Was
A Good One
-o
Friday, December 23, a special
auction sale was held by the Seattle
Fur Exchange, which attained very
, good results.
> The mink were principally a lo
. cal collection from Northwestern
[ States, and brought an average of
[ j 10.35; best lot brought $29. Very
i few Alaskan mink had arrived up
s lo (late> but advices on hand indicate
there will be a very large collection
ot them for the next regular sale.
iced fox proved to be in excellent
demand at very strong prices. Best
lot brought $61.50, and the average
'or the entire collection was $48.08.
• be wolves offered contained some
very fine lots from best Northwest
ern Districts, and brot an average of
$15.97 for the entire collection and
nest lot bringing $30.25.
Marten proved to be strong in de
mand. The best bringing $40. each
v*ith an average of $28.25.
Blue fox developed a strong de
mand. The lot consisted in the
main of pelts taken from animals
raised in the Northwestern States
end brot an average of $47.45. Top
furs going at $72.
The next sale, January 23rd
promises to be exceptionally good
es choice offerings are said to be en
route to the Seattle Fur Exchange
Industry Facing Crisis
——o
The Fishing Vessels Owners’ As
sociation is facing a crisis in the
halibut industry due to recommend
ations of the International Halibut
Commission.
Of the recent recommendations,
t:ie fishermen object to the sugges
tion establishing areas where the to
tal catch will be reduced by a pre
determined percentage and the re
quiring of vessels to clear for cer
tain stipulated waters.
Over 2,50C men are employed in
this fishery with an investment of
$2,000,000.. Virtually every coast
town will be effected by the pro
posed regulations.
“It promises to tie up vessels,”
'clearing for stipulated areas) “and
annihilate the industry. It is a case
>f fight or die” was the declaration
of Capt. Jacob H. Engdal, vice presi
dent of the Association.
Admitting that there has been a
general decline of that fishery, Capt.
Engdal refuses to admit that the de
cline has been as dangrous nor as
great as pictured in the reports of
the International Halibut Commis
sion.
CHAMBER ACTIVITIES
Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce
favors a high traiff on halibut in an
effort to close the port of Prince Ru
lert. The bourbons are at work
night and day in their effort to se
en'e greater profit at the expense
of the fishing class.
In this they are asking the sup
I pert of other chambers of commerce.
I The regular meeting of the local
Chamber of Commerce has ben post
| poned. Election of officers for en
suing year require full attendance
of membership. j
Cero, John Otness, and George M.
Nicholson; Members of the Board of
Trustees are L. J. Israelson. John
Grebstad and Anton Noreide. Sec
retary, Jacob Otness; Treasurer,
Mrs. Thomas Lando and Auditing
Committee: Mr. S. Klebo and O.
Rosvold.
Several friends were present and
after the business meeting, a social
hour was enjoyed with refresh
ments served.