The Alaska daily empire., 1916-10-03
FISH QUESTION
 ONE OF SHIPS
 TO GARRY THEM
Mooted Matter Would Set tie Self if Fish Could
 Be Shipped.
AMERICAN MARKET BEST
Fishermen Do Not Want to Ship to Prince Rupert
 but Must.

N Nelson, agent of the Glacier Bay Fish Company at Petersburg, says that the fresh fish problem would in large measure solve itself iit the American steamship lines would make arrangements to handle all of the fish that is offering for shipment to Puget Sound. It is said that the Seattle market is now bet ter than the Prince Rupert market, and that if adequate means of ship ping the fish to the American ports were provided, there would not be nearly as much fish shipped to Prince Rupert and that the American towns of Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchi' kan would still be the headquarters of the fishing fleet.
 Writing in the Petersburg Report, Mir Nelson says:
 "We find it almost impossible to get space on the steamships south bound for shipment of fresh fish.
 
 Tt is not a fact that the fisher men here want to 30 to Prince Ru' pert. but it has become case of have to. The gasbOat Star of Pet ersburg left here September 26 for Prince Rupert with haljDut from the gasboats Rolf and Pecge, in ad' dition to her own fish, This was also the ease with the gasboat Dol phin. which left the same Hay, and the gasboat Dick, which left Septem- Der 27 with another load picked up from other boats moored here. There are still 1S,OOO pounds of hail. but left yet that will have to be shipped the same way, This condi' ton is caused entirely from the in ability of the steamship companies to handle the fresh fish offered.
 "NDw, as to the proposition of prohibiting the shipping, except in bond from an American port, of fish through the Canadian port of Prince Ru2ert. If the Seattle Chamber of Commerce would look into the sit. uation and find suitable means of handling the fresh fish from Alaska, there would be less fish shipping by way of Prince Rupert. Under pres ent conditions, no one can blame the fishermen for going to the Can adlan city to dispose of their catch os. It is made necessary by the lack of steamer accommodations for fish shipping. And the necessity for making the trip at this season, with prevailing storms from the southeast, works a considerable hard. snip on the fishermen.
 q have been an American citizen for 24 years. and a resident Of Alas ka since 1887, and have certainly done everything I could in working to maintain our trade and commerce. I have taken this matter of shipping up with the steamer companies time and time again. l should thing it would be to their own interests to remedy conditions. Some of the companies have assured me they would take care of the fresh fish after the canned salmon season is over.
 "The day is past for shipping fresh fish on consignment to Seattle, as far as Southeastern Alaska is con cerned. If American buyers cannot be assured space on the boats southbound by the American steam ship companies, they cannot buy and the fishing boats will, of course have to 80 to Prince Rupert to dis pose of their catches or quit fishing AS these fishermen each have from two to five thousand dollars invest ed in their boats, they will natural fly be disinclned to pursue the lat ter course when prosperity" is SC near at hand.