The Cordova daily times., 1921-10-18
SAYS SALMON
 FISHERIES IN
 GREAT DANGER

Certain steps are necessary, in the opinion of J. k. HeCkman of KetChi- dent of the Alaska Packers Associa- tion, to remedy q situation which ap- parently threatens extermination of Alaska's salmon fisheries. Mir. Heck man recommends the establishment of government hatcheries for pink sal mon, a close season of two weeks at the latter end of the fishing season 1 instead of Il weekly close season, the restricting of the number and location of fish traps, better regulations for fishing with seines and the obsery- ance by cannery operators and their employees, of the present fishing laws and regulations until more satisfactory ones are provided.
 The salmon fisheries are one of the greatest resources of the territory, and the canning of salmon is one of Nllt illoSl HI pOi tdlil VI flC IllAuSAi iSFf representing a large investment in buildings, fish traps. boats and other equipment From the canneries has come about 75 per cent of the revenue for the territory, through taxes on cases of canned salmon and licenses on fish traps. Uutil this year, the sal mon canneries have employed an army of superintendents, foremen, fisher men, trap watchmen, and others most of whom come from the United States, stay only during the fishing season, and are paid off in the United States. The canneries also provided a market for the local sawmills by purchasing lumber for construction work and packing boxes, and for loggers in buy ing piiug for fish traps
 MILLIONS OF CASES UNsoLO
 During the world war, the annual salmon pack of the Pacific coast or the world, which had previously been from 6,0OO.OOO to 100000 cases was increased to over lO,OOO,OOO case and much of this was sent overseas. Prices were good, and a number of new canneries were built aHh old ones increased their output; more rraps were built and more fishing was lone by means of seines. On the siening of the armistice, the government can celled it's contracts for canned salmon, and a large supply of it was thrown on the American market
 Mir. Heckman states that in the spring of 1920 there were approxi- mately 100000 cases of salmon un- sold. and 100000 cases were packed during that season; that the 1921 season opened with abou 3,0OO,oo0 of these 100000 cases still on hand. Many of the Alaskan cannerie- had large sums of money tied up in their unsold packs, and some of them were forced out of business. Only about -b per cent Ol tue tdllutllCS III hta9hd are operating this 5eaaon. puttiuS up small packs, some of them canning only enough fish to fill the caus on hand It is estimated that this sea sons pack will not exceed 4.0ooO00 cases on the Pacific coast or in the world Because of the oversupply of this product, the dropping off Of the foreign market. and the unsatisfactory foreign exchange, the prices for the different varieties of canned salmon have fallen to $1.5O a case less than it cost to pack the fish; but Mir. Heck man believes that the greater part of the 100000 cases will be disposed Of by next spring and that this industry will return to normal conditions
 EFFECTS OF HEAVY FISHING
 Others who have also been studying the situation, insist that there is a