The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-05-12
PROTECTION OF
RED SALMON IS
PLEA OF AUTHOR
Extinction of Red Salmon IN
Streams Near Haines SAID
to Be Imminent.

That something must DC done i'm
mediatcly to protect the red salmon
spawning grounds of the Chilkat and
Chilkoot Rivers, from which, it is
declared are supplied the red salmon
that run in Lynn Canal and in most
part in Icy Strait, or the supply will
cease is the contention Of Hjalmar
Rutzebeck. author, homesteader ami
fisherman, of Haines. Mr.. Rutzebeck
is convinced that if proper methods
were followed out, if the fishing on
the spawning grounds were stopped,
the salmon trout nettcd and de-
stroyed, other enemies killed off, the
distractions to the ascent of the
streams by the salmon were removed
and propagation aided by scientific
methods, these streams would pro
duce enough red salmon to supply
many canneries on Lynn Canal and
Icy Strait
Mr.. Rutzebeck, who is juneau
visitor. discussing the situation and
the efforts of the people of Haines
and vicinity to get the aid in con
servation needed, in an interview
with The Empire, said:
According to E. p. Walker of the
Biological Survey, M. j. O'Connor
If the Bureau of Fisheries and 9th
9rs the Chilkoot, Chilkat and Taku
Rivers are the most important red
salmon streams in Southeastern Al,
aska. The salmon run in at least
two of these streams. the Chilk9t and
Chilkoot, are in grave danger of be
ing completely depleted.
after receiving petition from
he citizens of and around Haines
and these salmon streams for aid in
conserving the salmon runs and re
stocking the lakes and creeks tribu-
tary to them, the Territorial Fish
Commission made preparations for
commencing work in this section dur
ing the coming season--to extermin-
ate the salmon trout and other nat
ural enemies. and to clear the
streams Of distractions and adopt
other protective measures.
However, soon after receiving this
petition, another petition, signed by
no less than 20 natives (men and
women) arrived at the Governors
office. This paper graciously re-
quosted the Territorial Fish Com
mission not to commence any work
n these rivers along the lines of
salmon conservation, because of the
following stated reasons: Govern
ment work carried out on the lakes
would interfere with their fishing for
themselves, their hunting around the
lakes. their traffic in winter and
their blueberry picking in summer;
in other words, they represented that
they felt that they would be deprived
of all sustenance if any action was
taken by the Fish Commission to
build up the depleted salmon streams
Because of this unreasonable OPP
position and because the Fish Com
mission had not enough funds to
carry on work in all the districts I'M
der it's Jurisdiction, the money for
the Improvement which was intended
for Chilkat and Chilkoot was appor-
toned elsewhere, and as conse-
quence the Indians scored over the
white people and the cannery inter
ests of Lynn Canal and Icy Strait.
at might seem strange to the peo
Pile Of the Territory that the natives
should take this stand against prog
ress and development, but on deeper
inquiry it is found that many of the
natives on the Chlkat and Chilkoot
make their living by Illegally fishing
salmon on the spawning grounds of
these rivers. They have the right,
according to our present laws, to
fish for their own use in the rivers
and lakes-rights gained for them be-
cause of the helpless condition of
some of the old people who depend
entirely on the salmon for susten-
ance. These rights, it is the common
knowledge among the people OF
Haines and vicinity. are being sue
lcessfully violated by a great many of
the natives who unlawfuly fish sal
mon on the spawning grounds for
the canneries.
"When the government officials
come around to investigate, they are
shown the deplorable condition of the