Douglas Island news., 1917-06-08
FISHERMEN AND
 CITIZENSHIP
mtresting Facts Concerning Those Who Engage in Our
 Greatest Industry

u Che future American citizcu- ship win probably Doc established os fundamental qualification for those engaged m Che fishing industry in tbc United States. Tho government .s awakening Co Che importance Of tac fisheries in guarding and de lcudur thn nation as we'll as n sustaining Che people and thc time has passed whom a function of such significance can be left Co alien hands. Former efforts Co make ciu- lousbip a requisite Co participation m certain activities have seldom cou- ccrucd themselves with Che fisheries; and yet. says che Ketchikon Miner
 there are peculiar reasons why this perhaps more than any other field should Doc kept exclusively m Che hands of citizens.
 Iu che past tho United States has allowed invited people from an parts of thc world Co como here. to enjoy thc many advantages and profit by Che opportunities Of rcsi- doaoc under its liberal Eoyrumcut, com a basts of practical equality with i.s own citizens. lt has rather ur.dcI itself upon offering a home and extending it's hospitality fo strangers from every land Aliens h1yc been free Co come and go. to engage m any business. proc- ucuIy without requirement. or rec sriguon of any sort; and thc point has now been reached where the lo- bor and In some cases the manage mont of certain industries Is largely iu Che hands of foreigners.
 In time of peace this seemed Of little consequence; there was little question of loyalty and an atteu- uou was given Co getting Che work done. tho industries developed. Even iu Che former wars ot this nation Che employment of aliens has been of little significance. Conditions cx- .stiug u thc present war show that tho United States must hereafter eivc closer scrutiny to the activ- iugs of aliens within its borders. The insane devotion Co their native land of many citizens of enemy countries. the treochcrics of which some have been found guilty. show that a compIaccnt neglect of such matters is frought with peril to the life Of thc nation.
 The field offered by the Pacific coast fisheries has been especially at- tactiye Go certain classes of aliens. and a little inquiry into the situ- auon shows that foreigners actually constitute a majority of the fisher men of this district, whose field of operations extends from Che Mexican border practically to the Arctic cir cle. and includes tho Hawaiian isl- onds as we'll as thc mainland. These men. by thc nature of their work. gain a more intimate familiarity with che coast line. currents and tides rocks, shoals and landmarks. than mon of any other calling. They have free and easy access both to ports and Go isolated landing places along the shores: and the audiences of their movements iu following fish. tbe number and small size ot their boats, make it peculi- arly difficult to keep a close watch ou their activities. The possibli- tios for treachcry. for committing dcprcdatious, OF for assisting am en- emmy with supplies and information n tho indiscriminatc possession of such knowledge and freedom by aliens may we'll give rise to anxiety
 There is also to be considered the function of the fisheries as a source of men for tho navy. The conditions of thc industry from this viewpoint is surely ground for bitter dis ap- pointmcnt; and while the British navy has drawn a constant stream of able seamen from the fisheries .utue help can be expected from tho rank and Glc of the industry in America. The country has a right Co expect better performance of thIs fnnriicn hv Ila Rshnrlns md