The San Francisco call., 1901-12-07
PACIFIC coDFIsHERIEs.

L
which at this time needs from the Govern
~ ment an assistance it can readily give, but
which no other power can adequately provide is that
engaged III codfshing In the industry there have been
invested many thousands of dollars, and it employs
many hundreds OF men. 1t is capable, under proper
supervision, OF continuing indefinitely as a source Of
wealth, and consequently merits such protection as
the Government can bestow.
AT the present time the industry has right to
pect from the Government two services. The first is
diplomatic, and involves the settlement of the right
Of American fishers catch cod in certain portions
of Okhotsk Sea, over which Russia claims control
The second is that of providing for the propagation
of Goldfish certain stations along the Alaskan coast
where the conditions for the propagation are most
favorable
The Manufacturers and Producers Association
have taken the subject up and have prepared an in
structive memorial upon it 1t appears from the
statements of the memorial that within the last few
years codishing industry has expanded as to
enable us not only to supply our own market but to
place our product Chicago in competition with the
Atlantic cod to compete on the west coast of South
America with goods from Norway, in Australia and
New Zealand with the ling cod from Scotland, and
TO replace in a great measure with our Goldfish the
dried fish from Japan, in Hongkong the Philippines
and the East generally far the Straits Settle
ments Statistics compiled by of the fishing COM
panies show that since 1870 there have been brought
into this port Pacific Goldfish to the wholesale value
of S5,I3oooo.
1t will be conceded that an industry OF such mag
nitude and with such possibilities is worth preserving
1t threatened however by the interference of Rus
sa with American fishers in Okhotsk Sea and by the
diminishing number Of fish along the Alaskan coast.
Concerning those difficulties of the industry the
memorial says: I'm former years the greater por-
ton Of supply OF Goldfish came from Okhotsk
Sea, where the fishing banks much extensive
than those of Berng Sea, but ruling OF the Rus
sah Government imposes license on all vessels fish
ing within thirty miles of the shore and in 1892 one
Of vessels narrowly escaped seizure for getting
within the prescribed zone at time when the ex-
istence OF the regulations was not known here
Being driven from the Okhosk all the fishing vessels
compelled rendezvous in the restricted fishing
grounds in Bering Sea, where the supply is notably
growing less"
Upon that showing two things are asked: First,
that the Department of State make an early deter
mination of our rights on the fishing banks of
Okhotsk Sea, thereby if possible enabling our craft
to operations ia those waters Second to pro-
cure the establishment and maintenance on the coast
OF Alaska of one hatcheries for the propa-
cation OF cod, similar to those maintained by the
Government on the coast of Massachusetts,
The requests are not excessive It is only fair that
the Government pay as much attention to Pacific
fisheries to those of the Atlantic 1t is gratifying
to have energetic body as the Manufacturer
and Producers Association at work in promoting
the interests of this well as other Pacific Coast in
dustries, and delegation in Congress should CO.
operate in the work and urge the matter upon the
immediate attention of the Government