The Seward gateway., 1923-01-27
sUTHERlAND'S CHARGES

If Delegate from Alaska Dan A. Sutherland is reliably informed Alaska is due to be robbed of her fishing in terests by a gigantic trust, under the suise of conservation. Despite the statements of the Bureau of Fisheries that canneTy packs must be limited and that certain waters would be set aside as reservations, the fact re- mains that the large interests who who have the chief spawning grounds bottled up, are preparing for larger pack this year than ever.
 Alaskans must more closely sale yuard the interests of her fisheries O." it will soon be too late. Too many canneries are already operating i'll our waters. The fish are being systemal- cally taken from the mouths Of the rivers before they have a chance 10 reach the spawning grounds; Tar too many fish are wasted.
 These fish belong to Alaska ana Alaskans just as much as the fish ln Puget Sound or the Columbia river be- long to Washington and Oregon resi- dents. How far would cannerymen ot Oregon O. California get in Washing ton if they practiced the waste and methods pursued in Alaska? How long would a cannery company run that ih- formed the residents to "get on the earth and starve," when they appheu at the cannery for work. what sta'e in the union would tolerate the abuses of the Chinese contract system? "ha' state would allow the canneries to dump their criminals and insane on It year after year? How long would the residents of a state tolerate the hisn- handed methods of Alaska cannerles' vb;ch refuse to allow a deputy mar shal to interfere with their la"oreah-
 Alaska gets very little in return TOT ;+s millions of dollars worth Of sal mon supplied the packers each year. Ii is true that this is not the canhelS- mems fault; as they are compelled to bring up from the states, crews sup plies and gear, as our total popuiatloh would not supply help for one cannery oorononv Rut these companies are un taxed on personal property, they are allowed to conduct merchandising and trading establishments, and they Vlo- late the narcotic and prohibition laws with impunity.
 The small companies are more of help to Alaska than the large ones, from a labor standpoint, as they hire much of their help here. They also buy more O. less supplies here of To- cal merchants.
 Alaska has no desire to run neces- sary capital from the territory, but we believe that the canneries bottllng up the spawning streams should be made to suspend operations at least every other year until the fish supply is re- nlenished, We believe that the small hacker should have the same rights to fish the large combines have and wee versa. We believe that a closed sea- son should be established and adhered to. The present laws are jokes, as the canners can pay the fine and make thousands of dollars by fishing.
 If the cannery interests were barred entirely from Alaska for per1od or two to four years they would make more money in the long run by reason of higher markets and more fish.
 Delegate Sutherland's fight to save the salmon will call the attention or our Washington bureaucracy to eVlls existing, but we believe the remedy must come from the Territorial legls- latures. It must provide penalties for violating the laws, of so drastic na- ture that cannery combines will fear 10 violate them. It should arrange a system of taxation covering boats and gear of outside companies, giving the Alaskan companies preferential treat rnent. If Outside firms are compelled 10 maintain a residence in the Terri tory why not a cannery firm.
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