The Alaska daily empire., 1922-07-28
FISH AND GREED.
49,

Imposing duty of two cents pound on
fish caught by Canadian fishermen is looked
upon a measure of good government by
American fishermen having boats plying in
Northern British Columbia waters. But
when the duty is imposed on fish
caught by American fishermen and shipped
to market through Canadian port the Am
erican fishermen are CALLED by the tyranny
of government Their gentle demand is to
have Canadian fishermen put out of business
by prohibitve tariff. so that they, the
American fishermen, will be the only pur-
chasers of herring bait in Northern British
Columbia harbors, and the only shippers OF
fish to market the Canadian National
Railway from the Prince Rupert Terminals.
Nothing stands between Canadian fisher
men and business determination except the
Canadian law that bait should be sold in
Canadian harbOrs except to vessels which
ship their catches through Canadian ports.
This law really puts Canadian and Amer-
fishermen equality of competitive
business in the fishing industry because
Prince Rupert is the only northern port
having rail connection, and there is no other
means of sending northern fish to market ex-
cept via Prince Rupert. Also there is no
place to buy bait except at British Columbia
harbors
The American fishermen want to
British Columbia bait and ship to market
the Canadian National Railway, and to
shut Canadian fishermen out of the same
market by prohibive tariff duty This
would to be the most graphic illustra-
tion of greed unrestrained and greed
ashamed by which even the greed-stained
80 policies of vote-buying, tariff promising pol
iticians have been defaced. Vancouver
World)
One would think that a newspaper published at as
important fishing center Vancouver would try to
ascertain some of the facts before permitting such
editorial the foregoing to appear in its columns.
unless it is trying to start smoke to allow
a discussion the facts may be lost to sight
DO trua hot tbaro han N
buy bait except at British Columbia harbors" There
dozen places in Southeastern Alaska
scattered all the way from Juneau and Sitka to
Ketchikan where herring is being caught and may be
secured for baitwhere herring is actually being sold
bait.
There is no desire to put Canadian fishermen
out of business long they fish the Canadian
markets. American fishermen denied by Canada
the right to fish for Canadian markets. The two
cents pound tariff is designed to American
markets for American fishermen just Canadian
markets reserved for Canadians.
The Alaskan fishermen have desire to be the
only fishermen that may purchase bait in Canadian
ports. If the proposed tariff on foreign halibut and
the provision that fish prepared in Canada ship
ping be construed to be foreign fish accomplishes the
purpose it is designed to accomplish the American
fishermen will have no interest in British Columbia
bait at all. The American fishermen would not want
get bait in British Columbia ports they marketed
their products in American ports.
The attempt to raise the bait question in the
fisheries controversy between Prince Rupert and
Alaskan ports is mere camoufage 1t is not involved
in the slightest degree The whole question is
whether or not American fish may be taken to a
foreign port, there prepared for the American pack
ers and shipped back into the United States duty
free, whether the American fish caught for Ameri-
can markets must be prepared at an American port
In considering this question it should always be
taken into account that Canada permit Amer
lean fishermen to take fish Canadian ports for sale
10 the Canadian trade
Alaskans more anxious to ship their fish
railroad than the Canadian railroads are anxious to
get the tonnage. Railroads make their earnings by
carrying tonnage and passengers. They would get
pay for all the Alaskan fish they would carry.
Those who threaten that the Canadian Goyernmen
would refuse to permit Canadian railroad carry
American fish put in cold storage at Ketchikan
some other Alaskan port, in bond through Canada.
to an American point in the East ought not ITO
forget that there is strong sentiment in the
United States against permitting Canadian railroads
to American freight of any through Canada
between American points and that it Alaska
Delegate to Congress who prevented the passage OF
an amendment to the interstate commerce law that
was intended to prevent it. considerable portion
other Canadian railroads is traffic between American
points. Canada would stand 10 lose far than
The would gain by refusing shipment American
ish from Alaska to American points in the East