VOL. 3
*
PETERSBURG, ALASKA AUGUST 31, 1928
NO. 7
Dan Still Westward
-o
Delegate Dau Sutherland was re
ported as having made a speech rt
Nome early part of this month, in
which he supported the Controller
Bill which failed of passage at the
last Legislattire because of the de
fection of Senator Dunn and the
broken promises of “poor” Bartley
Howard. Dan declared himself tV.‘
t>’e bill, first, last and all the time.
He also reviewed his legislative re
cord during the past two years wita
that of George Griggsby during lus
(Griggsby’s) term of office at the
national capital.
ivdn is somewhere in the Yukon
R;ve country and will be in An
ehoiage and Fairbanks shortly. It
will be some time before he will be
able to cover this section of the
territory.
|
Undesireable Aliens’De
ported Last Year
-o
Immigration officers deported 11
6.5 “undesiranles” aliens during the
year ended June 30, Commissioner
Hall announced recently.
In June alone, 1,309 persons were
S‘-ut back to foreign lands.
“Willie the bulk of these entered j
without proper documents—sur-|
repitious entries—the bureau rid I
the country of 1,211 criminals, 959
insane, epileptic or mentally de-j
ficient. and 563 immoral persons,”
Hull said.
“Europe, with 5021, received the
laigest number of the year’s de
ported.
“Some Observations on
Herring Fisheries"
We quote some observations on
the Alaska hearing which is print
ed in the July issue of the Pacific
Fiserman. The claims of depletion
of this fisheries by Alaskans is
pretty well substantiated by the au
thor of this article who is engaged
in herring research for the Govern
ment. A little more investigation
and report as to the true condition
oi this fisheries and The Alaskan
prophysies that the investigator will
be pulled oft' his investigations for
fear that his reports will hurt'the
in dustry.
“A number of questions have
la ely been raised by Alaska herring
packers concerning the possible de
pletion of the fisheries and other
facts in the biology of herring.” We
call attention to the writer of the
anicle that Hon. Charles Ferguson,
Hon. William L. Paul of the Alaska
legislature and fishermen along with
the Wrangell and Petersburg Cham
bers of Commerce have been raising
a considerable number of questions
relative to the depletion but the “in
vestigations” were being held to
show up Alaskans as being mere
bags of wind and without knowledge
of their fisheries.
“It is true that the herring fish
eries in Alaska are depleted or are
in danger of depletion?” “That
there has been a decline in abun
dance in certain regions is a well
known fact, but whether this has
been due to depletion or to natural
causes cannot be stated because no
scientific observations were made
during the time that the decline
took place.”
‘ In Kachemak Bay the first her
ring fishing was conducted in 1914
with gillnets of 3^-incites mesh
(stretched measure), which yielded
ar abundance of herirng. Now the
site of the herring population HAS
BEEN SO REDUCED THAT NETS
OF 3ya-INCH MESH ARE WORTH
LESS, AND NETS OF 3-INCH MESH
ARE EMPLOYED.” Although al
first herring were taken in abun
dance, the fishery has gradually de
Limiting of Catch Asked To
Protect Halibut Fisheries
The halibut fisheries on the Paci
fic Coast are in a “very serious con
dition,” according to the Interua
lional Fisheries Commission, and ad
ditional restrictions must be taken
it* the halibut are to be saved.
This was stated by the Commis
sion in a report made public by the
Department of State on June 7.
The Commission was established
after the signing of the United
States-Canadian halibut treaty Oc
tober 21, 192 4, at which time it was
t
also decided to prohibit halibut fish
ing on the Pacific Coast during three
winter months, November 15 to Feb
ruary 15, each year.,
More Restriction Sought
This restriction, however, tlm
Commission finds is not sufficient,
since the winter season was always
an expensive one in which to fish,
ai d during the more profitable sum
mer months. As a result the num
ber of halibut caught has increased
rather than decreased.
Due to the fact that halibut re
quire for 12 to 25 years to ma
ture, the Commission finds that the
species is in serious danger unless
i further restrictions are imposed.
Accordingly it recommends that
two areas known as “nurseries'
near the Timbered Islands, Alaska
and Massett, British Columbia,
should be closed to fishing.
The Commission also recommends
that certain areas be established
within which the total catch may be
reduced by a predetermined figure.
I This is aimed to prevent the redoubt
ling of activity on the part of fish
ermen and the using of a larger
amount of gear.
It is also recommended that cer
tain destructive types of gear be
prohibited, that the present closed
season be extended by aa additional
two weeks at its beginning, and that
all vessels fishing in treaty waters
must be licensed.
'Hie report of the International
F Tileries Commission, made public.
b\ the Department of State, follows
in lull text:
The treaty between Canada and
the United States for the preserva
tion of the halibut fishery of the nor
them Pacific Ocean including Belt
ring Sea, was ratified on October 21,
1924. It is remarkable from tin
double standpoint that it is the first
treaty entered into by Canada as a
nation and that it is the first effec
tive one anywhere having for its ob
ject the conservation of a threaten
ed high seas fishery.
It, therefore, serves as a preeed
ent for international cooperative con
trol of sea fisheries, where such is
necessary. This forms an important
additional reason why success should
be achieved under it.
The treaty provides an entire ces
sation of halibut fishing for three
months each year. This was regard
ed, at the time it was entered into, as
an essental minimum of protection.
It also provided for the appoint
ment of an International Fisheries
Commission, the duties of which art
to make recommendations regarding
the need for modification of the clo.- s
season, to make a thorough investi
gation into the life history of the
Pacific halibut, and to make recom
mendations as to the regulation of
the fishery preservation and develop
ment.
The specific provisions of the con
vention dealing with these phases
follow:
“The nationals .and inhabitants
and the fishing vessels and boats of
the Dominion of Canada and of the
United States, respectively, are here
by prohibited from fishing for hali
but (Hippoglossus) both in the ter
ritorial waters and in the high seas
off the western coast of the Domin
I ion of Canada and of the United
States, including Behring Sea* from
the 15th day of November next after
the date of the exchange of ratifica
tions of this convention, to the 15th
day of the following February, both
days inclusive, and within the same
period yearly thereafter, provided
that upon the recommendation of
t:ie International Fisheries Commiss
ion hereinafter described this close
season may be modified or suspended
at any time after the expiration of
three such seasons, by a special
agreement concluded and duly rati
fied by the high contracting parties.
Close Season Provided By
Terms of Convention
“The high contracting parties
agree to appoint within two months
after the exchange of ratifications of
tl is convention, a commission to be
known as the International Fisheries
Commission, consisting of four mem
bers, two to be appointed by each
party.
“This commission shall continue
t' exist so long as this convention
shall remain in force. Each party
shall pay the salaries and expenses
of. its own members and joint expen
ses incurred by the commission shall
be paid by the two high cntracting
parties in equal moieties.
“The commission shall make a
thorough investigation into the life
jhistory of the Pacific halibut, and
such investigation shall be undev
, taken as soon, as practicable. The
■ commission shall report the results
of its investigation to the two gov
ernments and shall make recom
mendations as to the regulation of
the halibut fishery of the North Pa
cific Ocean, including the Behring
Sea, which may seem desirable for its
preservation and development.”
The undersigned having been ap
pointed commissioners under the
Continued on Page 2
creased until the past two years hav$
been failures.”
‘‘In Prince William Sound herring
were taken in large quantities dur
ing the first few years of the indus
try, but only small quantities have
been taken during the past four
years IN SPITE OF INCREASED
EFFORT AND MORE FAMILIARI
TY WITH THE FISHING GROUNDS.
‘‘In southeastern Alaska some evi
dence of depletion rather than the
effect of natural fluctuations is
found in the shift of the fishing
grounds. Where each area is oc
cupied by a local stock of herring,
it ia of great significance that the
fishery should be continually forced
to seek hitherto unfished areas at
greater distances from the plants.
THERE IS A RAPIDLY AP
PROACHING LIMIT TO THE NUM
BER OF NEW FISHING GROUNDS,
AND WE HAVE NO RECORDS OP
ANY EXTENSIVE RETURN OF
HERRING TO GROUNDS ONCE
“ABANDONED.”
Study of the rades of herr ng
shows “conclusively that no migra
tion occurs” between western and
sjutheastern herring and the west
coast* of Vancouver. The conclusion
reached that separate races of her
ring abound in certain areas and
that they are not of a migratory
character whereas the Norwegian
herring is o fa different specie gen
erally and of a more migratory
character otherwise depletion there
would have been more general.
(Ed. note: Reports by fishermen
who have recently come from Nor
way indicate a process of deple
Continued on Pago 4
Lost-More or Less
Last Friday night James K. Grant
of Kake was last seen by his friends
Not showing np in his rooms nor
taking any clothing other than what
he was wearing and not notifying
anyone of his intention to leave
town, they became much alarmea
when by Monday morning he was not
found. Various concoctions contain
ing intoxicants were blamed and that
he was probably drowned and it wa=
even rumored that he was done a
way with.
Cablegrams were sent hither and
yon, and the aid of the U. S. Commis
sioner askjed. However ^Tuesday
word was received here that James
boarded a craft bound for Pybus
B? y whither he went to collect his
check and then returned to Kake
where he was unconcernedly walk
ing the streets of that town while
his friends were tearing up heaven
and earthvin a search for him. His
reason for not notifying his friends
of his intention to leave was a little
toe much “shine” so that he was un
able to tell anyone of his intention.
Capt. and Mrs. Charles Newton of
the Kake Salvation Army after
spending a couple of days in Peters
burg went over to Wrangell for a
visit. They returned here again
Wednesday.
-o
Even the “old moss-backs” step
ped out of doors a couple of nights
this week to take in the artistry of
the Great Architect who made won
derful figures in the sky with old
Aurora Borealis.
Odds and Ends
-o
Senator Hiram Johnson of Cal
ifornia will be Republican nominee
xi (3 Minor Moore of Los Angeles
Democratic nominee for a seat in the
Un'ted States Senate in the general
election next November. In the pri
mary election Johnson secured al
most 200,000 more votes than did
his opponent Charles Randall, form
er representative.
q
Russia wants nothing to do witn
the League of Nations arms limita
tion plan. They assert that the
league has done nothing toward sol
ution of the problem of real disarm
ament
-o
Kodiak herring fishermen made a
run of 500 miles to King Cove to
get their herring this week and the
report says that they have picked up
15,000 barrels of herring.
-o
Oertrude Ederle came in 'fourth
in the third Wrigley Marathon, held
at Tronto, Ont. Not many yards se
parated first from fourth place Miss
Ethel Hertle of New York taking
first place.
--
Senator Charles Curtis, vice-presi
dential nominee on the Republican
ticket in an address at Syracuse on
the 29th, declared for a tariff revi
sion to provide increased protection
for agriculture as well as industry
and labor. He is on a campaign
speaking tour.
N. Radovich has an order for fi,
000 cases of king salmon eggs for
southern markets.
Mack and Collier Will
Meet Soon
Freddie Mack of Ketchikan and
Joe Collier of Juneau at 160 pounds
are slated for a mix with gloves in
Ketchikan. Collier made short won:
of Wade Krauklis last Fourth of
»
July in Juneau and has been the ne
mesis of Joe Manila the Fillipino
tighter of Ketchikan. Mack is sanl
to have had three mixes with Young
Harry Willis of San Diego getting
one decision, losing one and getting
ore draw. Both are able to take
plenty of punishment and both
pretty handy with their dukes. How
Joe compares with State fighters wil1
be measured by this slate which is
attracting a lot of attention from
Ketchikan fans.
Canneryman Charged
With Assualt
Jim Koosk and crew of fishermen
were arrested, taken to Juneau or
a charge of illegal fishinfe. They
were fined $500 for their alleged vio
lation.
The Commissioner did not assess
a tine' against the seine but advised
Kooshk to hold same until the can
nery manager paid half of the fine.
Mr. Manager refused to pungle up
his ohare so Jim held the net. Up- j
on appealing to the prime minister
oi A- White—Doctor Caswell at Ket
chikan, so the manager states, he was
advised to demand the net and if
return was refused, to use force to
get it
During the past week the manager
of the Pillar Bay cannery boarded
Koosnk’s vessel and started to take
the net. When the crew remonstrat
ed a*nd demanded that he pay his
share of the fine, Mr. Manager got
real peeved and started a rough
house. He tackled a spritely young
fellow as easy pickings and met a
Tartar. After mopping up the deck
with the manager, fore and aft, tne
youth looked for other pugilistically
i retired gentlemen and found the
skipper of the tender, deck wop.
engineer and cook coming with bare .
fists and he met them but with re-!
infer cements from his own crew, j
Even Jim Kooshk, old a man. as he j
was enjoyed the Irish tango on the
deck of the Woodrow and partici
pated. The manager having had
a plenty of the “had Injun hombres”
returned, after a severe drubbing,
tc his own craft and got him a real
blunderbuss which he brought on
deck and pointing it at the fishing
crew demanded the return of his net
[Or he would blow them to the land
of their forefathers—happy hunting
grounds.
The crew left for Juneau to lodge
complaint against Mr. Manager and
ho no douht will learn something
about assault with dangerous weap
ons.
CHANGE OF FISH REGULATIONS
-o
C. A. West during the past week
received the following telegram:
Dated at Juneau, Alaska, August
25th, 1928.
Following from Washington Aug
ust twenty-fourth quote Acting Se
cretary Commerce today promul
gated supplementary fishery regu
lation southeastern Alaska area
quote no purse seine shall be less
than one hundred seventy-five mesh
es nor more than three hundred
meshes in depth nor less than one
hundred fifty fathoms nor more than
two hundred fathoms in length
measured on the cork line unquote
give appropriate publicity.
O’CONNOR.
The mesh standard in. this regula
tion by later advice is that it shall
be three and one-half inch stretch
Jed measure.
Ask Bounty on Brownie
More than 1500 signatures weio
signed to a petition for presenta
tion to Secretary of Agriculture \\.
Jardine, by the people of the West
WMd section, asking for a bounty
on brown bear and changes in the
game laws. The petition stated that
the bear are raising havoc with the
sheep and cattle and are a menaea
to I11 is infant industry. It is said
that more than 500 sheep and 10'*
cattle have been killed by these bear
Reports from Admiralty Island
in this Division are to the effect
that the brown bear are a menace
to anyone venturing a wee bit too
far from the immediate vicinity of
the canneries. Berry picking a^
Tyee by the women folk was taboo
this summer and children could no
longer play on the beaches a shor4
distance from the cannery.
\ representative of the Game
Commission advised the folk at that
place to beat on tin cans to drive
the bear away rather than to kil.
the pesky brutes.
Tin cans. ! The people who ha»
to Ave there talke dof hiring a re
presentative of the Game Commit
sion to collect cans and to beat ’ei
morning, noon and night to driv .
the bear away.
Hunting Wild Injun
-o
\ renegade Indian, Lutak, upper
waters of the Nushagak river,, is
the obiect of a manhunt according
to the Seward Gateway. Lutak i3
alleged to have killed five men who
ventured into his domain. Three
others are reported missing in that
section and it is being presumed Lu
tak did away with them.
Proper Boat Equipment
Is Advice
Frink R. Havens, U. S .Customs
collector for this port calls attention
of all boatmen to Act of Congress
approved June 9, 1910, and regula
tions thereunder which are as fol
lows “The words “motor boat”
where used in this Act shall include
every vessel propelled by machinery
and not more than 65 feet in length
except tug boats and tow boats pro
polled by steam.
Class one less than 26 feet in
length.
Class 2: 2 6 feet or over and less
than 40 feet.
Class 3: 40 feet or over and no';
mere than 65 feet in length.
Sec. 3: Every motor boat in all
weathers from sunset to sunrise
shall carry the following lights, and
during that time no other lights
which may be mistaken for these pre
scribed shall be exhibited:
Boat owners other than outboaru
owners seemingly are aware of the
regulations. For the unknowing at
tendon is ailed to the following:
“The act defines the words “moto
| boat” (i.e., the class of vessels sub
ject to its requirements) as includ
ing every vessel propelled by mu
chlnerv and not more than 65 feet
ir length, except tugboats and tow
boats propelled by steam. The term
therefore, includes boats temporari
ly or permanently equipped with de
tachable motors and such vessels,
when so equipped, are subject to
tni3 act.”
Class 1. not carrying passengers
for hire should have following
ecmipment: Combination light for
ward, white aft; whistle; life pre
servers orfl life saving devices pre
scribed by act; approved fire extin
guishers. (Any liquid extinguisher
will pass test but sand and gravel
oi powder extinguishers will meet
with instant disapproval.
The penalty for failure to carry
proper lights is $100.