VOL. I
PETERSBURG, ALASKA JANUARY 21 1927.
NO. 28
The catch of food fish in terri
torial waters of the United States
has increased from 1,600,000 000
pounds annually in 1880 to 2,300,
000,000 in 1926, according to O, E.
Settc- of the Bureau of Fisheries in
an address before the Conserva
tion Conference held at Washing
ton.
In those 46 years the fisheries
on the Atlantic Coast have de
clined while those of the Pacific
have grown steadily, until now the
ocean yields seven times the
amount of food fish that it did in
IS SO.
Dr. W. H. Rich of Seattle re
viewed the Pacific Coast Fisheries;
Dr. Charles H. Gilbert of Stanford
University spoke of “Salmon Inves
tigations; George A. Rounsfell of
Seattle spoke on “Herring”; and
several other doctors spoke on mat
ters pertinent to the industry.
F. W. Wallace, editor of the
Fishing Gazette of New York de
clared that the outtsanding prob
lem confronting the fishing indus
try today is that of providing a
profitable market for all that the
fishermen catch.
“The prosperity of the industry
rests upon two things: (1) Larger
markets and (2) utilization of ed
ible fish and fish waste.”
At this Conference for the Con
servation of Fisheries were six doc
tors speaking on well chosen topics
and NOT ONE PRACTICAL FISH
ERMAN to give a thought to the
human side of the fisheries ques
tion.
Conservation Conference!! Con
servation bunkum for the con
sumption of such men as Congress
man Free and other tourists who
paid their own way through Alaska
s6metime since.
The American Legion Auxiliary
is rapidly completng plans for the
big Hard Time dance they are go
ing to put on February 5th. They
are planning several innovations for
tue evening, one of them we hear
is to be a Chinese Raffle. Every
one who does not comply with the
rules of the evening will be fined,
so get out your oldest clothes, and
remember “times are hard.” Here’s
your golden opportunity to put the
f-nishing touches on that old suit
you wore out the other night.
t
Representative Kirk, of Paints
viile, Ky., has introduced a bill in
tne House which provides further
aid to disabled veterans of the
V'orld War. The bill proposes that
any disabled veteran whose income
is less than $75. per month, shall
be entitled to compensation provid
ed by law, whether the disability
was of service origin or not.
The snow plow is being dragged
jver the streets to make easier
walking for pedestrians.
J. C. Sauers, arrested reecntly li
Los Angeles on warrant alleging
“fish piracy” was returned to Alaska
and will be tried on that charge be
fore the next term of court. Val
Klernm and W. W. McCall were con
wted on the same charge last fall.
Clarence Edwards, another membei
of the crew was arrested on the
same charges recently in Portland
and will be tried also at the next
term of court. McCall is serving
a three year sentence while Klemm
is endeavoring to appeal his case.
Edwards who was returned some
time last month is out on $2,500
bond pending trial.
Prohibition Director Andrews,
Wayne B^. Wheeler, Mr. Birgfield of
Alaska’s “prohi” force, nor even
former prohibition director Means
and his Lordship ex-Marshall
George Dr Beaumont were never
so successful in making Petersburg
as arid as the Sahara Desert as
Old Man Winter did this week.
Late Wednesday night, men, boys
and even the ladies were seen rush
ing the growler in buckets, cans,
boilers and tubs. Various houses
did a land office business in«o -the
wee hours of the morning. Those
who waited till morning to get
water were without coffee and some
did not get their usual home shave.
The bath houses were deserted, but
one could get a shave.
In spite of the inconvenience, the
people took the matter in a happy
go lucky way and made the best of
things, going back into the swamps
chopping into likely places and
bringing back enough to get by with
The need for adequate fire pro
tection was never so forcefully em
phasized as this week, If a fire
once got started and took a hold in
spite of chemicals, losses would go
up in astonishing figures.
There is not sufficient pressure
on the main to keep a two inch
hose going very many minutes. The
cld bucket brigade would be out of
luck if a fire started while the tide
were low.
Some of the other towns have
a salt water auxiliary fire protection
fine.
We again call attention to fire
craps around town without any
<i* o protection. An ounce of pro
tection is worth a pound of cure;
it is useless to be sorry after calam
%
ity has struck us. Being sorry
will not pay insurance.
The measure calling for $2500.
for permanent repair of the dam
is a matter worth giving serious
thought. In the summer we can’t
fix up the dam on account of the
need of water service to the can
nery and in the winter we just don’t
think of it. Let’s go.
.. BRONSON RECOVERING . ..
Fred E. Bronson, Wrangell’s gen
ial deputy ollector of customs has
been seriously ill with pneumonia
at Seattle. Contracting the sick
ness sometime last month, he was
ordered south by his physician. He
i3 now under the care of Dr. Busch*
man, his son-in-law, and hopes tc
re Turn north shortly. Mrs. Bronson
nade the trip south with Mr. Bron
son. Hismany friends will be glad
to leam of his gradual recovery.
DEATH AT KETCHIKAN
i
Carl B. Carlson, prominent
Ketchikan halibut fisherman and
fish buyer was burned to death re
cently and another man ven^ badly
turned while they were working
on Carlson’s boat the Virginia.
Carlson was burned beyond re
cognition when he upset a pot of
burning tar while repairing the
seams of his boat.
Through an interpreter Simon
Hanson told his story to a reporter,
on the Ketchikan Chronicle as fol
lows:
“We were just completing our
work in caulking seams when a
pot of tar on the stove burst into
flames. Carlson put a broom-stick
through the handle and rushed up
the ladder. I was right behind him.
The pot slid back and tipped over
v ben Carlson was halfway up the
ladder and the tar spilled over both
of us and on the floor. Carlson fell
down before me. Our clothes were
a>! afire. I tried to help Carlson
but there was nothin I could do.
He was like a human torch. That’s'
all I can remember. About that
time some man came down the lad
der and led me out. They went
back for Carlson—but I guess it
was too late.
I
Carlson was linfted to the deck
by nearby workmen who rushed to
the boat at the first sight of smoker
Firemen arriving transferred
both men to the Kingfisher which
was met at the Heckman dock by
an ambulance.
Carlson remained semi-conscious
until nearly 5 o’clock. His first
words to Rev. Roy E. Olsen were:
‘ Olsen, now I must meet my
God.”
At 5 o’clock, before which he
spoke continually with Rev. Olsen
daring treatment by doctors, the
fisherman lapsed into a coma. He
was unconscious when death came.
'T’he deceased is survived by his
widow, Anna, whom he married
three years ago. A father and bro
ther, in Norway are both ministers.
Another brother, residing also at
Frost, Minn., is also a member of
the clergy. Two cousins, Anna
Hansen and Thor Hendrickson, re
side in Ketchikan.
Carlson came to Alaska from
Minnesota in 1911, residing at
Ketchikan and was recognized as
a leader among the fishermen. He
■was an active member of the
Ketchikan post of the American Le
gion. Some of his “buddies” now
residing in Petersburg will hear of
hie sad death with great regret for
Carlson will be remembered as a
big hearted, friendly and generous
roan and soldier.
According to Territorial Health
officer Dr. J. A. Sutherland at Fair
banks, four cases of scarlet fever
cases develop their school will have
to he closed. The homes where the
sickness has broken out have been
quarantined.
BOU DRIVE
L. J. Palmer, William B. Miller
and Jack Warwick left Fairbanks
recently bound for Kokrines on the
lower Yukon from which point they
will endeaver to driver a herd of
seven head of caribou Up the Yukon
to the Alaska College Campus. The
animals are to be used in experi
mental breeding under the direction
of the Biological Survey.This herd
will later be augmented with other
caribou and deer from northern
pointed.
“FLU” RAMPANT
During the last week almost sev^
vn hundred people, mostly children
died of the flu in Tokio, Japan. A
total of 2,368 deaths have been
recorded since last November.
William N. Gatens, former Cir
cuit judge, Portland, Oregon died
. 1st week while conducting case in
i court. He was rushed to the hospi
, tal where he died without regain
ing consciousness.
t — i. 1.1 ..
i Guy Skyman is under the weath
■ er this week. This is a reaction on
l the operation which he underwent
recently.
On recent advice from Dr. John
T. Tigert, commissioner of educa
tion, Jonathan H. Wagner, chief of
the Alaska Division of the Bureau
of Education announced last ween
ed for work in Alaska.
This appropriation is to be used
for medical relief, education of na- j
tives and for the reindeer industry j
of Alaska. The bill has passed the
Senate and house and it is expect- j
that $639,920 has been appropriat-'
ed that hte President will sign the
measure within a few days.
The “Model Bakery” opened Its
doors for business today. Pete
Jorgenson is well pleased with the
equipment which is electrical and
modern in every respect. After
nixing it with the electrical mixer,
he will be able to raise the “dough”
and bake it in an electrical oven.
A special doughnut cooker has also
been installed. In every respect
the bakery will be prepared to give
first class baking to the trade. John
I.ersten who has cooked and baked
in most of the towns in the First
Division, and woh has the reputa
tion of being one of the best in the
territory will have charge of the
baking and the custom may expect
to have their apetites tempted with
diliracies of first order.
William Worth,who went to Ju
neau last week for medical care, Is
reported as having had a minor op
eration performed. Except for a
slight cold he is getting along very
Well.
The regular session of the Town
Council was held on Monday even
ing January 17 with Mayor Lock
es presiding and Councilmen Ohm
er, Allen, Enge and Gauffin.
John Mjorud, Town Marshall, re
ported that the work of transport
ing lumber lor the repair of the
dam was completed. He stated that
he had surveyed the grounds and I
that he thought it would would b I
more economical to build a con- J
-crete dam 150 feet below the pro- j
sent site. He estimated the cost ;
of a dam 60 feet long, 12 feet high i
and 5 feet thick at approximately j
$2,500. He said that at'-this • heig'ht ’
the water would be brought to the j
same level as that of the old dam. !
This proposition was discussed at
length and then laid on the table
for further investigation.
J. L. MacKecknie, Town Electri
cian, reported that the telephone
to Blind Slough was repaired.
The second reading was had of
Ordinances Nos. 77 and 78.
The Mayor reported that certain
citizens of the Town had proposed
an ordinance compelling dances to
close at 12:30 or 1 o’clock. It was
the opinion of some that this mat-1
ter could be controlled by the mu-1
seians and those giving dances so
that no action was taken.
• Hiimer Pederson’s claim for in
jury was taken up and discussed.
It was laid on 'the table till the next
meeting and the Clerk was instruct
ed to request Mr. Pederson to ap
pear Jn person before the Council
and explain certain items of the ex
pense.
I
, The bill to extend the grazing
homestead act to Alaska has not
met with the approval of the Sec
retary of the Interior.
Under this act it would be pos
sible for a resident of the Territory
to secure patent to 640 acres of
gx-azing land. It was thought that
amder the word “grazing”’ could
be included the fox industry.
In his annual report for this
year the Secretary recommended
that the grazing desert land act
should be repealed by Congress.
This of course means that the time
is pjast when title may be obtained
to any larger area than 160 acres
as provided by law.
p. t.Tsogul
A SbCGESS
The local P. T. A. were well
! pleased with the proceeds from
their basket social last "Saturday
evening. Although only 27 baskets
were sent in, they cleared close on
to $190. Some of the baskets cer
tainly showed ingenuity and clever
workmanship. Although they were
compelled to bid high, the men felt
well repaid when they delved into
the delicious interiors.
After the cold snap, snow, after
the cold snap, snow; after the snow
rain will he most welcome to all.
Governor George A. Parks, who is
in Washington on official business,
i nan oral statement, said that one
of the- chief potential industries
in the territory is the manufacture
of pulp and paper for newsprint and
other uses, adding that it could
supply 1,300,000 tons of news
print without depleting the forests.
Cold mining is being resumed
in AI.: ;a and the development of
oil fi. -ds is. progressing in fields
approx;' ;ii ' ■ *00 miles from Ju
• ?t of the government.”
■;•- fu ' " ‘‘The development
o.f pet . rres or. the north
west oaste is being watched with
interest by Alaskans.”
Governor Parks is guest of Se
cretary Work during his stay in
Washington.
.. Prices of silver foxes showed a
50 percent increase over August
sales, at Winnipeg this month.
Host grade s vers and cross fox
brou&hx. SjntlC'. others ranged from
$22. 4> $75.
Weasel once sold for 25 cents the
pelt, sdld for $1.15 to $2.15.
According to information recent
ly. made public by the Admiral Line,
the Admiral Farrugut is to be add
le the„ Southwestern Alaska run
clifri* g dhe summer months.
According to complete schedule
of summer sailing dates the Doro
thy Alexander will make nine round
trips to Skagway. The Evans, Wat
son and Farragut will begin a week
ly schedule to Southwestern points
beginning March 23. Beginning
June 6 the Alexander will make
Rer summer trips to Skagway, The
Rogers and Queen will make their
trips, leaving at 10 o’clock Thurs
daps for southeastern Alaska
•roints. /
The Bureau of Fisheries recently
announced that the fish catch in
November increased - more than 36
por-ent on the New England coast.
The fish catch landed at Boston
and Gloucester during the month of
November increased more.than 36
Percent in quantity and 51.25 in
value ever that of the same month
in 1925. The total catch during
November last aggregated 18,382,
471 pounds Valued at $675,534.
Ti e average price per .pound for
the fish in that month was 3>67
cents per pound as compared with
* "" cents per pound in November
1‘5, ?n increase of 10.54 percent.
Fine Furniture at Worth’s,