Douglas Island news., 1918-06-21
GREATEST ASSET
 IS THREATENED
Alaskas Fishing Industry Must Be Clo..,y Guarded or Canada
 Will Absorb It

ada" was Che declaration ot B. C.. Hughes. vice president ot Che Alas ka bureau. at Che members council luncheon ol Che Seattle Chamber ot Commerce and Commercial Club. held in Che Masonic Club. Friday noon
 In answering Che question. Shall our fisheries bc absorbed by other uatiouse" Mr. Hughes said that Che people ol Che United States have learned Che folly of depending upon other nations merchant marine and that they must also learn uot Co de- pend upon other nations for their food supply. especially sea food. Mr. Hughes further soid Che treaties Co bc made following Che war must proc tect Che fisheries of Che Northwest; that Alaska fisheries last year were of Che value of }5o.UUU.UoU. and th.s year would reach Etu.O0o.Uuo.
 "Wbcu you consider chat now only ten or twelve varieties ot edible fish are sought and chat ,bcre are more than I25 varieties .n existence. you can realize Che potential value ot our fishing possibilities Is iucon- cciyublc." said Mr. Hughes
 "It Che United States reserves and develops our fishing industry. what has been done Is bur a beginning Go what Che fisheries mean. The worlds supply ol Gsh food lies north of Che forty-.ourth parallel latitude Fish arc found u shoal water The 5000 miles of sh0al water around Alaska makes che largest fishing field iu Che world.
 "Thc utilization ol Alaska fishing commenced with Sau Francisco as headquarters. Later came Puget Sound. because Che center ot opera uons was found Go bc nearer. The district nearest Che fishing sholI is an economic advantage which as- surcs Che fishing business thcrc. Re gently Prince Rupert established subsidized cold stoggc. railroads and other essentials to tbo fishing industry and from that point made arrangements to bring ush across Che line to Che United States
 "Thc inevitable result win bc Che ccntcriur of Che fishing resources at. Prince Rupert Advantage has been found for those fishing under fhc Canadian aaE. Many ot our fisher men as a result have transferred thicr fleet register from che United States to Canada. We consume iu Che United States eighteen pounds of nsh per capita. The entire United States and Alaska production barely meets Che consumption.
 "The great war has shown the people of Che world che necessity ot becoming caters or Ash. The ucccs- sitv for thc use ot fish win continue for future years. We must. ot ncccs- sitv control our fishing industries. as England has controlled hers in Che past
 "Now Che attitude oi Canada has entirely changed. She wants Co put down Che bars and lot us fish m her territory. but she wants us to do the same. Our secretary Of conn mcrcc has made it plain that hc thinks we should do likewise. He says we are common people in- volvcd in Che same struggle and all boundary bars should bc lot down and that an industry should bc cou- trolcd by national economy that is that business oud work should bc conducted In Che country which can do 10 Che cheapest
 'I reminded him that SO long as we are separate nations. when peace comes our country must protect its own people. While we are engaged in a common cause we must serve as nations without boundaries but we must never again be dependent upon any nations for our commerce on the seas or our fish foods.
 "Thls industry is now contcrinE nt Prince Rupert, os tho Grand Trunk railroad furnishes thc short- est railroad route Co Che great East ern markets Unless we can center tbis industry along che shores ot Alaska. whore it belongs cconom- Icallv. the centcriuE Of Che industry at Prince Rupert win ultimately re- suit i'm it becoming Canadian. as our great New England fishing industry became ccntcrcd in Newfoundland.
 "No plea of economic law can pre- vail iu thc Alaska situation. as this industry rightly and economically should be ccntcred along Che Alaska coast. where it extends a distance of over 5000 miles. from Kctchikan Go Kotzebue Never again win this na- ton be dependent on foreign vessels Co carry its commerce. nor can it permit ot any ot its great food re- sources being diverted from its com troll"
 Tn conclusion Mr. Hughes said. "I have discussed this problem In the way lt should bc covered. ! have