VOL. I
PETERSBURG, ALASKA JUNE 10. 1927
NO. 48
SALMON THOLLERS ALL ALONG
SOUTHEAST ALASKA ON Sill
The sudden drop of prices for
mild cure king salmon, from 23
cents to 1G cents for mild cure
size, was the cause of trollers tie
ing up their boats and refusing to
put any more fish on the market.
The strike oripinated at Cape Ol
many and was soon followed on the
West Coast of Prince of Wales af
ter the fishermen there learned
through delegates from Port Alex
ander that a strike was being car
ried on.
At Noyes Island a meeting was
held last Friday afternoon at Hole
in-the-Wall and was attended by ■
about fifty members of the Alaska,
Trollers Association and 170 other j
Salmon Trollers D
Rolling in Money
Chronicle and Empire Report
The following taken from the
Empire of Juneau and a simiar ar
ticle published in the Chronicle of
Ketchikan point out in screaming
letters that the king salmon troller
is not the poor laborer but a roll
ing plutocrat.
“King salmon trollers in the vi
cinity of Sitka are reaping a rich
harvest, taking advantage of a
heavy run of that variety of fish,
according to Captain M. J. O'Con
nor, agent in charge of the U. S.
Bureau of Fisheries, who returned
here today after spending several
weeks around Baranoff Isand. The
boats, he said, are averaging $1,000
per trip, at the prevailing price
of 20 cents per pound.
One troller alone sold his fish
taken in two trips, in about two
weeks time, for $470. This fisher
man was putting out halibut gear
when the run struck him. He took
in 120 large kings on halibut gear
and v these combined with the hali
but taken brought him $286. He
returned with this fare to Sitka,
outfitted with trolling gear and
his first trip resulted in a catch
which brought hib $184.
"The run, Captain O’Connors
said, is very heavy, and the fish
themselves are unusually, large.
Many fish were caught in the vi
cinity of Biorka Island.”
The Chronicle in another issue
point to the fact that one of the
reasons set forth by the trollers
for the present strike, is the per
centage of small king at 8 cents
does not permit of any profit to
the troller.We are prone to believe
that someone had a pipe dream or
took a guzzle too much of the nec
tar that makes one loquacious.
One trip one thousand dollars!
Ten trips, ten thousand dollars.
A hundred trips a hundred thou
sand dollars. These swivel chair
"experts” and "lawmakers” for the
salmon industry know as much
about the industry as a hog knows
about heaven.
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
HART PUTS IN RESIGNATION
Announcement crimes this week
J. H. Hart was accepted by Dis
trict Attorney Harding, as of June
15th. Mr. Harding has not made
known his selection of attorney to
succeed Mr. Hart.
Watch for the Humming Bird!
power trollers which wrere not in
the Association.
Opening prices this year were 16
for large, 8 for small and 4 cents
for whites, with a 15-pound limit
mild cure size. As an alternative
to these prices they ask 20 cents
10 cents and 5 cents with the 16
pound limit.
Late report Thursday from Port
Alexander was to the effect that
the fishermen were standing pat
and refused to go out under the
scale as the run of salmon gave a
predominance of under mild cure
size and they could not operate un
der the prices at any profit.
“HERE COMES THE BRIDE”
“Big, Fat and Wide”
A miscellaneous shower which
was given at the home of Mrs. C.
O. Parks on Tuesday evening, in
honor of Miss Ellen Hill, caused a
great deal of excitement among the
younger people of the town this
week. The “shower” was in the
form of a mock wedding and those
who got wind of the affair, assum
ed that a real wedding was being
performed and turned out in full
force to charvari the bride and
groom.
They were greatly disconcerted
when they discovered the “blush
ing bride” was none other than
Mr. Leon Hasbrouck while Mrs.
J. A. Mendenhall appeared as the
groom.
The ceremony was performed
ay Mr. Jack Hasbrouck who read
he lines of the marriage service
:rom the Sears, Roebuck, Catalog.
(Special summer bargains.) The
aridal party approached the altar
preceded by Mr. Guy Skyman, the
iainty flower girl who scattered
;he aroma of skunk obtained from
Lhe cabbage of the swamp, before
the bride while the sonorous notes
af the Lohengrin Wedding March
were tooted by Mr. Jack Menden
hall on his recently acquired sax
ophone. The 3-layer wedding
aake was the only reality of the
evening, but before the party
broke up it was no longer tangible.
Drill Scow off Grids
This Week
The drill scow was taken off
the gridiron this week and is back
to its moorings in the Narrows.
The tap-tap-tap of the hammers
tell a story of holes being drilled
and before long we may expect the
roar of the powder blasting away
rock for the new channel.
OPENING OF THE GRANDE CAFE
The Grande Cafe held its formal
opening to the Public of Peters
burg on Saturday evening. A fine
crowd enjoyed dancing throughout
the evening and a delicious lap
lunch was served about midnight.
Arrangements had been made
for a regular orchestra but owing
to a conflict of dates it could not
appear to furnish the music. How
ever the management was able to
secure other musicians to satisfy
the most critical.
This Cafe is a big asset to the
town and one that the community
has long felt the need of.
U. S. Coast Guard
Seizures Are Legal
Court Delares
The Supreme Court has declared
legal the Coast Guard’s seizure of
American vessels on the high seas
beyond the 12-mile limit. The de
cision was made In the case of the
steamer Underwriter which was
captured 34 miles off Block Island
The Coast Guard found 811 cas
es of whiskey on the vessel and it
was taken to New London, Conn,
where it was turned over to the
the jurisdiction of the United States
when libel proceeding to forfeit the
vessel were started.
Assistant Attorney General Ma
bel Willebrandt handled the case
for the government and her conten
tions as to the jurisdiction of the
Coast Guard in this case upheld.
New Homestead
Act is Beneficial
A number of homesteaders have1
been interested in and made in
quiry about the homestead act
passed by the last Congress. The
following is a resume and is ex
planatory of the law.
Any citizen of the United States
tweny-one years of age employed
by citizens of the United States,
associations of citizens, or by cor
porations organized under the laws
of the United States, or any State
or Territory, whose employer is en
gaged in trade, manufacture, or
other productive industry, and any
citizen of the United States 21
years of age who is himself engag
ed trade manufacture, or other pro
ductive industry may purchase one
claim, not exceeding five acres, of
unreserved public lands, such tracts
of land not to include mineral, coal,
oil or gas lands, in Alaska as a
homestead or headquarters, under
rues and regulations to be pres
cribed by the Secretary of the In
terior, upon payment of $2.50 per
acre.”
The purpose of this statute is to
enable fishermen, trappers, traders,
manufacturers, or others engaged
in productive industry to purchase
small tracts of unreserved land in
Alaska, not exceeding 5 acres, as
homesteads or headquarters.
The use of land's authorized to
be purchased, for unlawful pur
chases, is therefore inconsistent
with the intent and purpose of the
act; and care will be taken in all
cases before patent issues, to see
that such intent and purpose are
made effective.
Additional information may b,e
had by making application direct
to the U. S. Land Office, Anchor
age.
Miss Ellen Hill has been visiting
at the home of Mrs. C. O. Parks
this week. She went to Sitka at
the close of school to visit her
uncle, and expected to return on
the Queen, but due to the ships
disability, Miss Hill was forced
to go to Ketchikan on the Farra
gut and then return to Petersburg
on the Watson. This delay short
ened her visit a few days as she
had to leave on the Rogers in or
der to reach Seattle in time to en
ter the summer session of the Uni
versity of Washington. Miss Hill
wil again be a member of the local
‘teaching staff next fall.
Miss Hedvig Mjorud
Leading in "Miss
Liberty Contest"
. .The “Miss Liberty” Contest is
still holding the attention of the lo
cal citizens. Hedvig Mjorud was
in the lead at the last count, but
[ it is rumored that a number of
votes are being withheld until lat
er. The Committee has announced
that the contest will close on mid
night of June 30. The business
houses have been generously con
tributing to the fund and the com
mittee feels quite encouraged with
the results. Owing to pressure of
other business two of the mem
bers of the Committee have been
unable to give their attention to
the Celebration work so Mr. Swan
son named Mr. Havens as chair
man in place of Mr. Frye and Guy
Skyman was substituted for Sam
Gauffin.
Petersburg Band
Will Give Concert
The members of the Petersburg
Band are making arrangements to
put on a concert program in the
near future.
The Band has received two new
instruments, a baritone and an al
to, both instruments being attract
ive looking and the boys are well
satisfied with them.
Owing to the fact that the two
new horns are not fully paid for
the boys hope to raise money to
make final payments and also to
secure other new musical numbers
Already the Band has demon
strated to the public that it can
furnish good music on occasion and
is a musical asset for the entertain
ment and enjoyment of the Town.
The only thing tnat the boys
hope and ask for is the generous
turnout of the people of the town
to boost along the good cause. A
number of local musicians have
promised to render musical num
bers on this program.
The boys have been working
hard to make progress with their
music and have succeeded in mak
ing wonderful improvement under
the leadership of Mr. Patrick Ver
Dey.
Support the Band that it may re
main an integral part of the civic
life of Petersburg.
N. P. RAILWAY ADVERTISING
ALASKA PRODUCT IN STATES
A Postal card advertising Alaska
reindeer meat, by the Northern Pa
cific * Railway, was received by
this week. This card, a feature of
the Company’s menu shows a pic
ture of a fine reindeer. The card j
reads “The reindeer served on]
i
Northern Pacific dining cars are
fine young steer animals, selected
from the largest herd in Alaska.
Our chefs have specialized on the
tempting meat dishes. You will
enjoy them.” Sounds tempting
enough to eat. The advertising
facilities of this big railway com
pany, will make reindeer meat just
as famous as the “Great Big Pota
to.”
This card, according to Mr. Karl
K. Katz, passenger traffic agent of
the N. P. line, is being given wide
distribution throughout the States.
New York is planning a grand
ovation to Charles Lindbergh suc
cessful trans-Atlantic flier.
At a special meeting of the City
Council last Thursday evening, it
was decided to temporarily secure
a scow to haul garbage into the
deep waters of Frederick Sound
until such a time as other suitable
arrangements can be made. This
action was necessary upon the ad
vice of Mr. Williams of the U.S.
Road Commission as the dumping
of garbage along the Scow Bay road
was not sanitary nor pleasant to'
residents living in that vicinity or'
to traffic on the road.
Paul Owens put in a bid for the j
dumping of the garbage in Fred
erick Sound, and it was accepted by
the Council.
NEW DRUG STORE OPENS
FOR BUSINESS THIS WEEK
The People’s Drug Store, located
in the Mercantile Building opened
for business this week. Their form
al opening was delaying by steam
ers not bringing supplies ordered
for the opening.
The store has been fully stocked
with a complete line of drugs and
sundries, handled in such a store
and also with a first class soda
fountain.
The new company with its man
agement has the welwishes of the
citizens of the town and is another
mark in the progress of its devel
opment.
Flood Donations
Made
Disabled World War veterans en
angaged in making Memorial Day
poppies, at a poppy workshop main
tained by the American Legion
Auxiliary in Minneapolis, Minn.,
took up a collecton for the relief
of flood sufferers when the appeal
for aid f°r the thousands driven
from their homes along the lower
Mississippi was made in that city.
Although they earn only a very
small amount and many have fam
ilies to support, the disabled vet
erans contirbuted $18.75 to the re
lief fund.
KIRBERGER OPENS .FUR AND
CURIO SHOP-JUNEAU
Ernest Kirberger businessman of
Keke, has opened a fur and curio
store in Juneau and will operate
it under the name of the Gacier
Fur and SCurio Company. The com
pany will be ocated in the Valen
tine Building and will speciaize in
furs, Alaskan curios, old ivory,
Mr. Kirberger has been in Alas
ka for 30 years and is conversant
with legends, customs and language
of the aboriginee of the First Di
vision. For many years he operat-j
ed a store in Kake and was burned
out last summer when fire destroy
ed a large section of that town.
The many friends of Petersburg and
other towns along the line wish Mr.
Kirberger the abundant success he
deserves for his friendly square
dealing with all men
Gus Lehners left this week for
the Lynn Canal country where he
will gilnet this summer. He rath
er expects the Bureau of Fisheries
to close up that section when it is
learned that he has made enohgh
to supply his bare needs of the next
winter. He has already been chas
ed from three sctioncs by the order
“for the conservation of salmon.
On the recommendation of the
Light Committee, the Council pur
chased a 10 h.p. gas donkey engine
tor the work contemplated at
Blind Slough. The engine has al
ready been towed to the Slough
and will be used to clear the
ground for the new power unit to
be installed and also pipe line.
A B .Holt made a petition for
a sewer on F Street along block
64. stating that the property own
ers were wiling to do the work of
putting it down if the City would
furnish the material. This was
authorized.
Eric Ness was appointed City
Assessor by. Mayor Swanson
New Photograph
Studio in Town
Mr. H. Oyama returned this
week from Seattle where he has
been spending the past several
weeks. He brought back with him
such modern equipment as will fit
up ' a first class photographic
studio. A fine large studio camera
with special lenses, high power
lights and other paraphernalia to
give to the town of Petersburg a
studio of which it may well be
proud. While in Seattle Mr.
Oyama spent several weeks in a
modern studio studying the new
methods and equipment of the pro
fession. Mr. Oyama has turned out
in the past a lot of, most excellent
work and will now, with his re
cent observations produce even
more artistic results.
Mr. Oyama stated that he plan
ned to fix up a studio in his build
ing at a nearly date so that he can
give first class service to the trade.
“GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE
ME DEATH’*
So said the famous Patrick Hen
ry, when speaking just before the
signing of the Declaration of In
dependence.
So said also his erstwhile name
sake from Port Alexander, but the
Judge said “eight months” for
violation of the Alaska Bone Dry
Patrick Henry Was brought in by
Marshal F. D. Price of Juneau Tues
day of this week.
J. E. Southard was tried on the
charge of insanity. Evidence sub
mitted was not sufficient to send
him to Morningside so he was re
leased from custody. • Conrad Bow
man appeared as attorney for
Southard.
Charley Schuck received a fine
of $100. and costs this week for
having a bottle of white mule” in
his possession.
MANY SEAL KILLED THIS YEAR
Reports coming in from Sitka
state that this has been one of the
banner years for the seal hunters.
It is reported that 424 adult seal
and 30-odd unborn pups were tak
en. Four boats were out on the
sealing grounds this year as com
pared with one last year . The
number killed ast year was only
42.
Opening prices weer $12. but a
drop of $2. the pelt was reported
so a number of the hunters are
holding the pelts for offering later
in the season. —