Douglas Island news., 1918-06-28
BIG INDUSTRY
 NOW IN PERIL
Alaskas Greatest Worker. J.. |. Me- Pberson. Issues Statement
 Conveying Warning

knows more Ot A.lshaE resources than any other individual. % constant booster and consistent worker. has issued Che following s,atcmcuts
 The great fishing Industry oi Ono North Pacific has been conducted alone lines Of economic waste chat have resulted In Che use 0t only Che more valuable varieties Of fish. in- creased cost CO che consumer and no commensurate return Co Che pro- dpccr.
 10 has bccu shown tHl. from one. haIf to tvo-tbIrds of Che t.ma ul che fishermen Is wasted operating from bases at Prince Rupert or at Puget sound ports. while Che fishing vessel is transporting its catch to che bose of operations With Che present uccd of food it would appear imperative that we conserve Che valuable time of Che fisherman and bis cgu.pmcn. iu more economical handling o. th.s industry This can only bc sc- cured by Che landing ot the catch at Che nearest port Co che fishing banks. whore 10 can bc frozen or otherwise prepared and transported by freight carrying steamers to a railroad ter- minus. Il Che Grand Trunk Pacific rafrrulf through a shorter distance Go Che principal markets or Che cast or due to other economic conditions. is enabled Go secure @ greater part oS Che transportation O, th.s Indus try. Che only regret ot che A'usSaus win bc due to their patriotism. The Alaskan does. however. strongly protest against any condition. nat- uraI OF otherwise. which may have Che cncct or ceutcr.ug Che producing part or this industry n Prince Ru- pert as such condition can only result In a continuation ot rbc present waetcuI method 0i opera uou: Che gradual loss of our priu- ,ipal rsh industry t1 che United States. and frc loss of am industry Go Alaska cha. would. 'f economically developed. result n che building up ot many prosperous fishing commuui- ucs along he coast 1t Alaska.
 This industry Is now predominant iurly American. due t1 Che fact that it has been developed with bases ot San Francisco and ports of Puget Sound Il Che present methods o' on- cratiou are continued. without ro- srictIon. Che base win shortly be Prince Rupert. and Che Ge.t and inc dustry win become Canadian. lUs. as surely as Che Gloucester bank fleet became NewfCundIaUder; rbc United States win lose che only extensive fisheries it possesses. che great need og which is now known to our people. both as valuable source of food supply and as training ground for Che scamcu which ths nation win require for its navy and merchant marine.
 Nature has richly endowed Alaska with these fishing banks adjacent Go her shores and their rational dcyel- opmcut. fro mtbc standpoint or Che fishermen. Che people ot che United States and tbe people Of Che Erclt trrcuory of Alaska requires Che contcriur or Che industry at Che near est ports ou Che coast of Alaska Go the fishing banks This would result greater profit Co Che fshermu. reduc- iu moro favorable conditions and ed cost Co Che consumer and Che budding up of prosperous fishing communities along Che coast of AL ask8. from Eetchlkun Co Kotzcbue. distance ol over 5000 miles.
 Alaska today present Che unique spectacle of possessing probably Che greatest fishing resources or any country. and. relatively speaking. no fishing population This condition is resulting in Che greatest economic waste and Che territory ot Alaska is not receiving. in any apprcciablc measure. Che benefit it should from Che development oI its great natural resource. Such a condition cannot fail. as it has In Che past. iu adous- ing resentment from an true pioneers and we'll wishcrs of the great terri tory of Alaska It has been Che earnest effort oI Che Alaska Bureau of Che Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Commercial Club Co bring about change that would result iu Che more economical and rational doycl- opmcut of this industry and build up a fishing population in Alaska that would assure au allied indus trial development. Che value and cX- tent of which would bc far-reaching. There Is no condition. climatic or otherwise. prohibitiyc oi such de- volopmcut Tho winter climate along Che south coast of Alaska Is moro fa- vorahlc Go che building of commun- Ities than Is Che ease along Che New England coast The average temper ature for the month of auuary on the south coast or Alaska is Che same as that of New York.
 It is only natural that the true Alaskan. with the welfare of his country at heart. should feel resent