The Alaska daily empire., 1922-02-27
NO NEED FOR PESSIMISM.

Recently the manager of cannery In this vicinity in a statement in The Empire expressed surprise at what he termed the optimism he found locally over the outlook in the salmon industry. he argued that it was largely unfounded preparations Were being made by those engaged in the industry for a banner year. This is fact that has been realized pretty generally in Southeastern Alaska at any rate in other sections of the Territory No who has been keeping in touch with the situation has be- lieved that the pack of 1922 will be record one, or anything like approaching those of record years.
 It has been held, however, the basis of reports received here from virtually all that more would operate this than did last and that the market outlook for their product is more encouraging than has existed for many months It is also pretty generally realized that many of the ners still confronted by financial difficulties which will prevent renewal of operations by them, but on the other hand not inconsiderable number of plants already assured of money with which to pack. No expects any records to be broken by the canners this In fact, pack materially less than those put up in the of overstimula tion is more to be desired than to further depe tion of Alaska fisheries and a piling up of large salmon stocks which could only result in depressing market which has yet recovered from the shocks of 1920 and 1921.
 The local conception of the coming season seems to be borne out by recent article in the Railway and Marine News, of Seattle. dealing with prepara- tions being made follows:
 Alaska vessels outfttng at the
 wharyes having their annual
 hauling at dry docks ship repair plants
 At winter quarters Lake Unon the fish
 ing schooners and full-rgged ships dry
 ig out their sails caulking the and
 making ready for the campaign
 while the various purchasing agents along
 the waterfront ard heavily stocking up with
 supplies to be shipped to their various
 companies in the north
 The annual migration will be actively in
 swing within the next four weeks and even
 the seagulls beginning wing their
 way northward, all of which be taken
 as evidence that another is about to
 open in the north and there is every reason
 to believe that it will be of the best
 years Alaska has known for quite while
 back In the first place, surplus fish stocks nave been disposed of and this that
 there will be demand for normal catch,
 which in turn means the reopenng of several
 of the canneries that closed last year.
 The herring industry in its infancy is
 forging ahead with greater ratio of in-
 crease than noticeable in any other industry
 Tn the Territory. The copper market is slowly
 but surely advancing to stable foot
 ing and any increase in the price the red
 metal will naturally be reflected in an in
 creased output of the from Alaskan
 mines.
 While the month of January has never
 produced any big results in northern traffic
 and the period of activity does not
 mence until the latter part of February yet
 1t can safely be predicted that there will be
 nat twenty or twenty-five per cent. increase
 in tonnage movement and from the Ter
 rtory this year The totals for the calender
 year 1920 were the lowest since 1916, but
 Tor all that they far greater than the
 calendar year 1913. Even in the face of the
 lower commodity prices ruling this the
 total valuation of the commerce of Alaska is
 expected to run around $80, 100000.
 II these predictions fulfilled in the years commerce, The Empires prophecy that Alaska is al the beginning of new tide of prosperity will be more than justified