The Ketchikan miner., 1908-03-07
ALL AROUND ALASKA

ALL AROUND ALASk A
 --tf the recent report of the U. s. grand jury at Valdez, as given by. the Prospector, is true, it relates condi- tion of affairs which if not altogether startling, certainly requires further and more searching investigation "Your grand jury find that the new law relating to the rebate of license money to canneries operating hatch cries, provides for 10 cases of salmon equal to 10 cents for each thousand of red salmon fry liberated from such hatcheries. The law places the duty upon the clerk of the court of issuing certificates, which are redeemable in money for the payment of the former license. In other license matters, which are not of such importance this the court is called upon to pass upon them in this case, the most im- portant in many ways to the interests of the territory, the court has no voice whatever. The first year of the operation of this law the Alaska Pack ers' Association alone shows the re- lease of about 90, GOO, 900 of fry. For the past year this same company shows through its paid agents the lib- eration of 80, 6S0, GOO for the First and Third ivisions, and under the law the clerk was compelled to issue cer- tifcates at 40 cents for each thousand of red fry liberated to the fishing company. These certificates are then turned into the clerks office in lieu of cash for the payment of their license tax on thelr output of canned salmon. The amount of their taxes for the past year, according to their sworn state ment of their output, was S32, 272. 32. Of this amount certificates were turn ed into tho clerk of this court for the entire amount with the exception of 32 cents. The facts stated plainly are that last year the Alaska Packers Association alone, took over 800, GOO cases of salmon from the waters of the Third judicial division. That they paid into the clerks office the sum of g cents in currency, and certificates to the amount of S32, 272 for an alleg- ed amount of fry liberated, of which no adequate proof has been made, that any court would admit as sufficient evidence of the fact. The clerk of the court has no authority or oppor- tunity to investigate these statements as to the liberation of salmon fry and no check on the production of these private hatcheries is provided for. Thus the Alaska fund that was form erly received from the canneries for the maintenance of schools, care of the insane and the construction and maintenance of roads for the benefit of tue people of Alaska. is re- duced by thousands of dollars, to-wit !; over $50, GOO for the year 1907 and about $40, 900 for the previous year. '
 Judge Reid can now draw his own contract of the difference between an Oklahoma cyclone and an infantile Alaska earthquake. The Prospector of the l5th ult., thus relates his hon. or's rst experience with the latter : "The earthquake Friday morning started a race for outdoors at the court house, wi'h Judge Reid, Clerk Wells, cat and dog as entries. No time was wasted on prel .minaries. The travellers simply hurried 70 see which could get out of the building first. Mr. Wells won the race by q nose, with Judge Reid such close second that he claims it ought to have been declared a dead heat. The cat and dog Were badly distanced and the earthquake didn't have time to let go of the building before the occupants were all out.
 The earthquake busted the cable, says the Valdez Prospector, but like as not when tue wireless system is installed cyclone will come along and knock holes in the air currents so they can't be mended m a week.