The Ketchikan miner., 1909-03-06
Alaska Hatcheries
 Discussed in Detail

Some critical articles have appeared in the Alaska papers during the past few months regarding the Alaska salmon hatcheries. With view to clarifying the atmosphere of misin- formation which seems to surround the subject; the following article has been prepared.
 The general policy of the United States Government is to hatch food fish of various varieties and thereby maintain and increase the supply. The best scientific authorities hold that under the natural spawning con- dition of the salmon % per cent of the eggs are lost. while under artificial methods about 95 per cent of the eggs are saved. Therein lies the great val lue of salmon hatcheries as an aid in maintaining the supply. In Alaska. the government has done nothing in this line of work until very recently, when it established it's first salmon hatchery at Mcdonald Lake. Yes Bay. and commenced operation ID 1906. It Is also finishing the construction of a hatchery at Afognak Lake. Private salmon hstcheries were established in pursuance of an order of the Bn- reau of Fisheries requiring alll par ties fishing for salmon in Alaska to re- turn to the water ten young salmon for every mature salmon taken.
 The following very pertinent state- ment and recommendation of the sec retary of Commercs and Labor is con- tained in his annual report for 1905 ::
 Under the act of March 3, 1899. a tax of four cents per case is levied and collected on canned salmon and tax of ten cents per barrel on salted sal mon. The total revenue lnot includ- ing that of the current year) has been si29. 7sl. 52. while the expense to the government during the same period for enforcement of law for the protec- tion of these fisheries has not exceed ed s35, 000. Whatever the govern ment may do in the line of artificial propagation. it is desirable that per sons engaged in the business of salmon packing in Alaska be encouraged to build and maintain hatcheries. To accomplish this it is probable that a rebate from this tax. based upon a proper ratio of the annual pack, to the fry liberated by persons maintain
 ing hatcheries, would afford the most satisfactory method of dealing with the question. Such private hatcheries should be under the supervision of this Department. which would have power to make all necessary rules for their conduct.
 This recommendation resulteed ip the adoption Of a general fisheries act for Alaska, approved June 26tb, 1906. by the terms of which canned salmon is exemped from taxatioon to the ex tent of ten cases of salmon for each one thousand red and king salmon fry matched and liberated by the canners who operate pivate salmon hatcheries.
 Private salmon haicheries operated in Alaska in lgD7-l9tS W re the kai- lux Hatchery. at Kariuk. and Fort mann Hatchery. on Naha Stream. both owned by the Alaska Packers Association, the Klawak Hatchery, on Kliwak Lake, CIV led hY the North Pacific Trading and Packing Company, the Yes Lake Hatchery. On Mcdonald Lake iGovernmenil, and the Hetta Hatchery. on Hstts Lake. owned by the Northeastern Fisheries Company.
 The Salmon hatcheries which are owned and operated by private parties are absolutely under the control of the government. They must be in- -pected and their efficiency and pro- ductiveness approved by the Sec, etary ol Commerce and Labor and reports must be made 10 that Department.
 From reports 10 the government, il is shown that the disbursements by the Alaska Packers Association for the Karluk and Fortmann salmon hatch cries amounts 10 approximately s3S2, eco, while the tax exemptions allowed on account of fry liberated were only SIP, ,010. The surplus expenditures fur salmon matching, made py the Alaska Packers Association, amount to s270. GOO. The allowance made to other private \ iaska salmon owners by the government only partially reimbursed them for their expenditures. and it is of the utmost interest 10 the Alaska salmon fisheries that every encourage ment poss bic should he given to gov ernment ard private hatcberies. The cost of matching salmon at the statse salmon hatcheries of Washington and Oregon is aiso greatly in excess of th- forty cents per thousand allowed by the United States Government to pri- vate salmon hatchery owner in Alas ka.
 Jn no other place than Alaska does the government tax the output of the fisheries. In Alaska tax is imposed on the finished product of four cents