The daily Alaskan., 1918-06-11
DISCUSSES 1.o..F|SHERIES
 TREATY

8ll the AlhShdn COdSL anu tHSlT uh told wealth to become absorbed by Canada" was the declaration of E, c. Hughes. vice president of the Alaskan bureau, at the members council luncheon of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Sommer cial Club, held in the Masonic Club Friday noon.
 In answering the question "Shall our fisheries be absorbed by other nations?" MT. Hughes saii that the people of the United States have learned of the folly of depend ing upon other nations merchant marine. and that they must also learn not to depend upon other ma tions for their food supply, especial ly sea food. MT. Hughes further said the treaties to be made follow ing the war must protect the fisheries of the Northwest; that Al aska fisheries last year were of the value of s5O,OOO, ,OOO, and this year would reach $60, 0,000,000.
 When you consider that now on ly ten or twelve varieties of edible fish are sought and that there are more than 125 varieties in existence you can realize that the potential value of our fishing possibilities is inconceivable," said Mir. Hughes.
 eff the United States reserves and develops our fishing industry what has been done is but a be- ginning to what the fisheries mean. The world's supply of fish food, lies north of the forty fourth parallel latitude. Fish are found in shoaf water. The 5000 miles of shoal water around Alaska makes the largest fishing field in the world.
 '"The utilization of Alaska fishing commenced with San Francisco as headquarters. Later came Puget sound, because the center of opera tions was found to be nearer. The district nearest the fishing shoal is an economic advantage which as sures the fishing business there. Recently Prince Rupert established subsidized cold storage, rail roads and other essentials to the fishing industry and from that point made arrangements to bring fish across the line to the United States.
 "The inevitable result will be the centering of the fishing resourc- es st Prince Rupert Advantage has been found for those fishing under the Canadian flag. Many or our fishermen as a result have transferred their fleet register from the United States to Canada We consume in the United States eighteen pounds of fish per capita. The entire Uniten States and Al askan production barely meets the consumption.
 "The great war has shown the people of the world the necessity of becoming eaters of fish. The necea sity for the use of fish win continue for future years. We must, of ne- eessity, control our fishing in dustries as FngIan1y has controlled hers in the past.
 'cNoY the attitude of Canada has entirely changed. She wants to put down the bars and let us fish in her territory, but she wants us to do the same. Our secretary of commerce has mada 1t plain that he thinks Ee should do Likewise. He says we are a common people tn- volyed in .he sams struggle and all boundary Dara should be let down an0 that all industry should be con trolIed by national economy, that Is that business and work should be conducted in the country which can do 1t the 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 en- gagged in a common cause we must serve as nations without boundaries but we must never again be depend ent upon any nations for our com meree on the seas or our fish foods
 This industry Is now centering a Prince Rupert, as the Grand Truns l Pacific railroad furnishes The short est railroad route to the great East
 n markets. Unless We can cen ter this industry along the shores of Alaska, where 1t belongs econom' cally, the centering Of the industry at Prince Rupert will ultimately re suit in 1t becoming Canadian, as oul great New England fishing indus try became centered in NeWfound'