The Alaska daily empire., 1922-04-17
THE PRINCE ERT-ALASKA FISHERIES
CONTROVERSY.


There should be the most friendly rela-
lions existing between Alaska and this port,
for each can be of service the other. If
it is found, however, that the Alaskans
forever trying to legislate against us, it will
be for us to take the offensive and induce the
Dominion Government to protect our inter
ests. If the Alaska people make it difficult
to carry the fishing business here
might the abrogation of bonding
privileges and insist that all business be
done by Canadian fishing boats. 1t is certain
that If hostile action is taken against it
will be necessary for to be hostile
We do not think, however. that the Am
erican fishermen to make their business
with this port difficult. We do think
the people of Alaska generally opposed
to Prince Rupert There is why
they should be. Some of them are being
led away by powerful real estate interests
and imagine they benefit themselves
by injuring u.s.
There is any real gain from OBJ
structing the course of trade. The people
of the Eastern States fresh halibut and
they want it in the best possible condition.
They can best get it by having the fish land
ed at this port and rushed through in refrig-
orator to the fast trains In
order TO facilitate this, the railway company
is now trying to arrange for daily evening
train out of Prince Rupert that fish auc-
tiOns may be held here every day and the
hsh carried on the passenger trains, thus
reaching the consumers quick as possible.
people getting good fresh food when it is
available is not only bad business but is
positively immoral Prince Rupert is the
natural shipping port for fish, and the fisher
men want to ship their product from here.
IN They know that if they forced ship
~ from any other port they will get less for
their fish and the market will be injured
by the product reaching it in poor condition
d -(Prince Rupert News)
While do not wonder that Prince Rupert is
lat rpin cd Kat
chikan to have tariff tax placed on fresh fish that
is put into cold storage and prepared for shipment
III foreign port we do not see where it would harm
either the fishermen of Alaska or the fish consumers
OF the East. 1t would not necessarily deprive the
Canadian National Railways the haulage 1t would
make 1t necessary for the railway to establish term
inal facilities in American territory. That could be
done by carrying their cars into Ketchikan for in.
stance, via ferry service. That would be a good
move on the part of the railroad, anyhow. for it
would make 1t SO Alaskan consumers could get their
goods shipped from American points in the East via
the Canadian line to ketchkan where they could be
picked up by American steamers and distributed
among consignees. Likewise freight originating in
Alaska could be delivered to the Canadian line by
american steamers at Ketchikan 1t would alleviate
the hardship caused by the Jones Act far as the
Prince Rupert railway is concerned Eventually it
would nnquestionably develop a large traffic for the
Canadian National Railway.
40 i"i as tHe cohsumefS OF the East concerned
lhey would under such arrangement get their fish
,ust as fresh as though 1t put cold storage
~ frhce Rupert. The transportation mileage would
not be greater. The difference would be that the
railway. would have ito haul the fish some 30 miles
farther and the fishermen would have that much less
Instance to carry It.
~ AS Tar as the marketing of the fish is concerned
u Is absurd 10 assume that those people who pur-
chase hsh at Prince Rupert would go out of business
"heh II would be easy for them to proceed to the
new terminus OF the railroad at Ketehikan and buy
y mere The Alaska fishermen would unouestionably
continue to have an opportunity to sell their catches
fhe difference would be that they would meet them
~ hetchlkan-9O miles the fishing grounds
ana right there is where Prince Ruperts local in
eresa comes In Such an arrangement as that under
scpssion would transfer considerable business that
? new transacted at Prince Rupert Ketchikan and
,erhaps, other Alaskan towns
= great deal has been said for the purpose of
reauhg the impression that the Prince Rupert fish
Market is responsible for the better returns Alaska
shermen get for their catches now than they got in
ne DAYS OF long ago Even il that were true II
you'd not change the situation if the Prince Rupert
markets We're removed to Ketchikan But It is not
rue Prince Rupert buyers not in business for
he benefit OF the fishermen. They purchase fish as
heapy as they can. The price OF fish has advanced
seryWhere cot because certain buyers are located
Prince Rupert instead OF elsewhere but because OF
ne increased demand for fresh fish, The increased
emand is not only for fish. but other food stun