The daily progressive-miner., 1918-06-06
SECRETARY OF THE ALA SKA BUREAU, SEATTLE CHAMBERO. COMMERCE AND
 COMMERCIAL CLUB STAND WITH US

J. L. McPherson, secretary of the Alaska Bureau of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Commercial Club, whose study and devotion to the well fare Of Alaska, may be said to be in class by himself, stands with us squarely for the protection of Alaska S fishing industry for Alaska and the American people. His statement re- ceived in the mail this morning fol- lows:
 The great fishing industry of the North Pacific has been conducted alcng lines of economic waste that ave resulted in the use of only the more valuable varieties of fish, in- creased cost to the consumer and no commensurate return to the producer.
 It has been shown that from one half to two thirds of the time of the fishermen is wasted operating from bases at Prince Rupert or at Puget Sound ports, while the fishing vessel is transporting the catch to it's base of operations. With the present need of food it would appear imperative that we conserve the valuable time of the fishermen and his equipment in a more economical handling of this in dustry. This can only be secured by the landing of the catch at the nearest port to the fishing banks, where it can be frozen or otherwise prepared and transported by freight carrying steam CTS to a railroad terminus. If the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, through shorter distance to the principal markets of the east or due to other economic conditions is enabled to se- cure greater part of the transporta- ton of this industry the only regret of the Alaskans will be due to their pa- triotism
 The Alaskan does, however, strong Iy protest against any condition, nat ural or otherwise, which may have the effect of centering the producing part of this industry in Prince Rupert, as such condition can only result in a continuation of the present wasteful method of operation; the gradual loss of our principal fish industry to the United States; and the loss of an in- dustry to Alaska that would, if eco- nom:cally developed, result in the building of many prosperous fishing communities along the coast of Alas ka.
 This industry is now predominant ingly American, due to the fact that it has been developed with bases at San Francisco and the ports of Puget Sound. If the present methods of op- eration are continued, without re- striction, the base will shortly be Prince Rupert, and the fleet and in- dustry will become Canadian, just as surely as the Glouster banker fleet be- came Newfoundlander, and the United States will lose the cnly extensive fisheries it possesses, the great need of which is now known to our people, both as valuable source of food SUD- ply and as training ground for the seamen, which this nation will require for it's Navy and Merchant Marine.
 Nature has richly endowed Alaska with these fishing banks adjacent to her shores and their rational delvop- mant, from the standpoint of the fish ermen, the people of the United States and the people of the great terri tory of Alaska requires the centering of this industry at the nearest ports on the coast of Alaska to the fishing banks. This would result in more la rorable conditions and greater profit to the fishermen, reduced cost to the consumer and the building of prosper ons fishing communities along the