The Alaska daily empire., 1916-01-21
KETcHIKAN HALmUT INDUSTRY

For some time Leslie'a Weekly, of New York. has been publishing series of articles entitled The Truth About Alaska" which were written hy John A. Slecher It's editor In It's October issue appeared the follow ing with regard to the hallbut m dustry of Alaska:
 Alaska has the finest hablt industry in the coun- try It wants to keep it It Is in danger of losng it unless the government fights to retain 1t as loyalty and vigorously Canada is fighting to take it away found the habut fishing question live one espeoai at Ketchikan. center of the industry The Grand Trunk Pacific has been completed to the northwest cor ner of Canada terminating at Prince Rupert, Few miles from the international boundary lines between British Columbia and Alaska. Alaska has no drect rai connection with eastern markets These conditions with the present American shipping regulations are throwing an volume of rade-the catching icing and shipping of fish caught on the Alaskan banks for the market of the United Satesinto the Canadian channel thus building up and supporting Canadian towns with American resources and capital
 Alaska asks for legislation that VII require vessels engaged in fishing for the American market to dis charge tho fish at an American port that If Canada wants our fish the Canadian railroad can establish fer ry service from Prince Rupert across to the nearest Alaskan port which Is Ketchikan distance of ninety niles This can be traversed in few hours. Seattle interested in procuring this trade The completion of the Grand Trunk Pacific railroad to Prince Rupert brings t 500 miles tho fishing banks than Seat
 e Prince Rupert with rail connections with the east ern markets of the United States has an advantage over Seattle because requires two or three days for the steamer trip from Kechkan to Seattle long jour ney for fresh fish by water when refrgerang reque ments are not provided in transportation by rail-
 Heretofore. millions have been disbursed Tn outfit
 ting boats wages and percentages paid to crews of fish, ermen but Prince Rupert Is taking this business The fish taken rom the Alaskan banks for the American markets are shipped to the Canadian sde There the officers crews and fishermen paid off and the yes el is outftted for her next voyage back to American waters the Canadian port being the only one touched at The money to pay these bills comes from New York Boston and Chicago and the fish come either from inland waters Alaska the high seas. Thus we are pouring money Canada and losing not only our trade put fishermen. as many of them are now moving 70 the Canad an side.
 Alaska asks the pertinent question: How long would Canada permit Montreal corporation. operating British vessels engaged in the taking of fish from the waters of British Coumbiad to operate these vessels out of Seattle making the port their Pacific headQuar CTS buying their supplies and hiring and dscharging their fishermen at the American port and then to ice and box the fish at Seattle for shipment to Montreal over an American railroad?" Secretary Redfeld at Washington Is taking up this question. It will give him
 splendid opportunity for constructive. helpful work Nor should he overlook the vital fact that the Canadian government will permit boats to compete in ths market This is the policy of Great Britain always On " recently the suggestion made in the House of Commons by Sir Edward Cornwall that in giving war orders for speter in America there should be dscrim nation In favor of metals made in the United States from ores produced in Canada, that even in the ur gency of securing supplies Great Britain never Tor gets to discriminate n Canadas favor and against the United States.
 Governor Strong is his annual report to Washington expressed hope that this question be settled so far as 1t could aid Ketchkan by the granting of terminal rates by the Grand Trunk Pacific railroad