The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-09-29
THE FISH OF YESTERYEAR

serted, that the f1Sh1ng 1nOuStIy OI AldSkd lo in its infancy There is probably reason for the statement inasmuch as only few kinds of fish are now being caught for commercial purposes It is equally true that the salmon canning branch of the industry is declining steadily.
 The cause is to be found in the laxity of regulations and the practical non-enforcement of those which we have. Juneau and vicinity was greatly concerned over "fish pirates' during the past season, meaning by the terms persons who were robbing established traps making raids on cannery property. The real fish piracy, however, is being carried on to- day by established companies, concerns, which, for the sake of immediate financial re- ward, are systematically exterminating the salmon tribe.
 The case of the cannery on the lower Yukon river is illustrative of how it is being done Located near the mouth of the Yukon and according to a statement made Ill Fair banks by Field Manager Hawkinson last spring fishing even outside the south mouth of that stream, it's fishermen can almost shut off the salmon run from the upper river, giv- ing them no chance to reach their spawning grounds The Carlisle cannery on the Yukon last season packed 5000 cases of fish, large ly king salmon, according to employees of that company who recently arrived here. From above the cannery to the headwaters of both the Yukon and Tanana rivers, in the Koyukuk region the fishermen are feeling the effects of the cannery and hundreds of natives are in destitute circumstances on its account In all the land there is a serious fish shortage, while the packers are shipping sufficient quantity Outside to more than supply every need.
 Employees of the Carlisle company say that it plans to repeat the operations of this year next season. And judging from present conditions, we may expect similar fish shortage next year. The packing interests claim that the shortage is due to other req sons than their operations But they do not dispute the fact that they can, if they so de- sire, block the stream to the salmon rtn They control the channels thru which the fish must pass. Their power over the supply is prac- tically unlimited And this power is too great for any set of men, no matter how benevolent ly inclined they may be.
 The situation faced by interior Alaska is prevalent in Alaska generally. "Alaska's dwindling silver horde must be built up at once if the salmon industry of the north Pa cifc is to continue, according to Dr. C. H. Gilbert, zoology professor of Stanford Uni versity, who has long been recognized as world authority on the salmon. Dr. Gilbert recently arrived in Seattle from the North where, as a special assistant in the United States bureau of fisheries, he spent the sum- mer studying conditions.
 Silver wanderers of the sea- the sockeye, the king and the other salmon, are simply be- ing fished out, Dr. Gilbert reports. "With every canner eager to prevent the fish from returning to their fresh water spawning ground and fishermen and gill netters catch ing tons of salmon trout, which were only half grown salmon, the salmon simply hasn't chance for survival" he asserted.
 Stringent protection laws are needed, Dr. Gilbert believes. "Man destroyed the salmon horde and it will be for man to build it up again if the salmon industry is to continue, he said recently. "Only strict legislation that will close the principal fishing grounds to trapmen and nets for years to come will pre- vent the extinction of the salmon. Today rivers that once supplied the largest number of fish furnish but handful compared with their former amounts
 "There is nothing that can take the place of the salmon This summer in many places I saw only thousands of fish where years ago millions used to swarm.
 "It's all an old story. We have preached our tale for years and we cannot convince these men who make money enough in the big