The Cordova daily times., 1923-01-03
ALASKA SALMON DEALT WITRBY
 THOMPSON
Fairbanks NeWs-Miner)

killing the fish that lays the golden spawn.
 Years of prodgal waste of this great natural resource by the cannery men l have resulted in startling decrease in the species, and this year the eyes 1 of both Alaskan and Federal Govern ments have been turned in alarm to- ward situation they no longer ig- nore. There is even talk in some of flcial quarters Of closing the salmon fields entirely for period of four years.
 The salmon industry on the Pa cific Coast, starting in the Sacramento River, has gradually followed the "easy pickings" northward. Puget Sound, Southeastern Alaska, Central Alaska and finally the Behring Sea and Bristol Bay have all made their salmon millionaires.
 Product of 50 Per Cent on Investment
 With the general policy of the Bour- bons, who remarked After Us the Deluge," these packers have skinned the cream and left the milk, with the result that this food of wonderful food properties is likely to follow the buff falo, the sea-otter and the whale into limbo.
 Salmon canning has paid. By the use of the cheapest labor, by impress ing into service antiquated wind tanners that no other industry has use for and by general make-shift policy, the salmon packers have built rp an industry that is very attractive to capital It is quoted from a report of the Territorial fish commission of 1922:
 For many years the value of the annual production (salmonj has been more than 50 per cent of the invest ment and at time as high as 70 per cent
 A Harvest Without Sowing
 Although serious losses have oc- cured at times the net profits have been attractive"
 In 1920 there was invested $63, ,483,- 399 in the salmon industry in Alaska, and the value of the product was $36,- 641,S36 or about 60 per cent of the investment.
 The Swedish fishermen have re- minded me that the salmon game is a game of harvest reaping without the expense of sowing time.
 Instead of conserving this natural mine of wealth, the packers have laid to and have been as wasteful as were the timber barons and oil kings be- fore them.
 They use fish traps and purse seins, they have destroyed countless numbers of good food fish and de- spite anything they can say to the contrary they have wasted right and left. The natural result is that Alas ka, the great grab-bag for American capital, is gradually becoming empty of her "gold fish"
 Catch Is Falling Off in S. E. Alaska
 In the Bristol Bay region the salmon mothers are holding their own in the face of this waste, but in Southeast ern Alaska the catch has been falling off so fast of late that the canneries are either closing down or are mark ing time financially.
 The total catch of Alaska salmon last year was 37,905,591. In 1920 it was 65,OSO,539.
 This is a decrease in a single year of approximately Al per cent.
 Similarly in 1920 the pack was A. 429, ,463 cases, valued at $55 ,602,S a decrease under 1919 of 154,32 cases and falling off in revenue of $7,662,- 549.
 On the first of April of this year a commission, headed by Gov. Scott c. Bone and including c. D. Garfield, of Juneau, J. H. Davis of Ketchikan, H. E. Ellsworth of Seward, and Cal win Hazelett of Cordova, realizing the need of some action in face of the diminishing "silver horde" filed a re- port following careful investigation.
 Over-fishng Is to Blame
 "A review of past operations and a careful survey of the present situ- ation brings a conviction that the won- derful struggle of the species for maintenance has failed here as it has elsewhere, when exploited beyond the limit of endurance" says the re- port of the salmon industry.
 "This conditions brings squarely be- fore us the necessity for drastic ac- tion stopping everlasting and con- lining operations to the limit of visible