Douglas Island news., 1918-03-22

ing q UdNIN 'All lil'uEu liN "lllu'N Nii'i thc gamt wolf of starvation pokcs his pry- ing nose through the door The love is a theory. the wolf condition.
 Theory and conditions are just what the fishing interests of this portion of Alaska are facing at present. The theory is that f~hcuncu should continue Co bring their products Co the markets of GaStiucau Chan mel. which are near the fishing banks, in preference to making long trips to distant markets. The condition is that, owing to thc uncertainty of. shipping their pur rha>cS to the outside markets and landing them there in good condition, on account of tbc unsatisfactory schedules of tho steamers plying between GaStineau Chan. mel and Seattle the recognized fish markc. ror this portion of the Territory the tisl buyers have no assurance that they will bc able to realize ou their transactions tC their profit, but ou the other hand they win stand a chance to lose money on theu shipments owing to spoilation. The result
 is that when there is to bc mo steamer sail ing for the south for a week or ten days and especially after the weather become, warmer, the fish buyers will be compelled to say to the fishermen. We are not in tn, market today for yoW fish. We can ac- commodatc three OF five days or a week hence, but not today" Are fishermen go- ing to take chances ou such unstable mar kctS as that Ask them.
 Now this paper holds mo brief for any transportation company. An look alike to us md we have nothing but kindly feelings ror an of them Naturally. however Ann cricau food products. and especially now when we are confronted ou every hand with thc motto, Food Will Win the War should bc marketed at American ports and carried to those ports in American bottoms But when American bottoms can not oI win not SO arrange their schedules as toI carr for thc business offered, shall a milk and water sentiment of patriotism be ad hrrrj to to the ruuation of about the one great industry left Co this portion of Alas ka just now and during the life of the pres ut war OF shall the spirit of Sclf-prcscr vatiou bc asserted and efforts be made tC protect these interests which are now SC | vital to us by advocating arrangement, | that will enable foreign bottoms to come tO | our rescue and carry away our fish tho same as being done at present on the Great Lakes
 Within a period of ten hours last Sun day morning three local steamers were iH| and out of Douglas harbor all sailing fol the south. Two of them, the Spokane and Seattle, are owned and operated by thc| same company, both of them valuable and esteemed in the local trade The Spokane took scvcty-cight boxes of fish from this port, one of the biggest fish shipments forI months But the same steamer will be theI next SO far as known at present, availableI carrier leaving this port for the south on| which fish can be shipped. She is adver- tiscj Co arrive here on March 9 and hcrI southbomd sailing will be one or more days later, leaving am interim of several days inI which the buyers would be taking chance. in buying fish at any price. The same con-. ditious obtain an over this section of Alaska
 There are two important, highly inn pormt, things to be considered in con- ucctiou with the fish interests in this sec ton of Alaska. The first is that our com- try needs every pound of fish that can be. caught and marketed, and fish must be had fresh OF not at all. The second is that the fishing industry, now so nicely established through efforts put forth by the business men of Gastineau Channel, should be fos- tered and encouraged by every possible. cudcavor Both these can only be attained