The Alaska daily empire., 1923-05-18
PASS UP ALASKA

 the fact that United States Customs officers. adr tedly acting within the law, have collected ia taxes on equipment of vessels, fishing gear and fa stuffs purchased in Canada by American fishing bt and brought into the United States. II urges Am can fshing boats to pass up Alaska ports of call to sail directly to the deep fishing grounds fl Prince Rupert and threatens that if they do not that the Canadian port will be closed 10 Ameri fishing craft Writing under the head, Pass Alaska" the News says:
 Pass tip Alaska" is the advice given to good many American fshing boats that bring their catches to this port. This is the result os the efforts of the Customs officers at Alaskan ports to prevent fishermen buying any supplies at Prince Rupert.
 re get down 10 concrete eases the skipper Of the Teddy ]. was about April ,, compelled To pay duty on some fishing gear purchased in Prince Rupert, the duty amounting to fifty per cent or just half much the original price. This done under the Fordney Act. Apparently the |. s. Customs officers have perfect right under the law to make charge of that kind but at the same time il is purely a retaliatory measure and one designed to prevent Am erican boats buying anything this side.
 Already vigorous protest has been made C to Ottawa by interested parties and if con- tinued it the beginning of retalia- tory measures the part of Canadians. IL is abE3utely unfair impost as between two friendly nations.
 The only way in which American fisher men can buy gear here and escape the possibility Of having to pay the excessive duty is 10 clear for the deep sea and return here with their catches without calling at an Alaskan port. In other words if Alaskans are determined 10 treat them unfairly, 1t is for them to give Alaska the go-by altogether and buy all their supplies here. That is the only way 10 bring the authorities at the Alaakan towns to their senses.
 We should like to see absolutely free trade between Canada and the United States and especially between Alaska and British Columbia. f. however, the American duty is going to put Prince Rupert at diaad- vantage, there Is nothing for it but to re taliate. We are forced into the fight. The only way cut lies In the hands of American fishermen. They have the right to clear direct for the deep from Prince Rupert and let Ketchikan and Petersburg whistle lhey nave 10 choose one or the other and if they take all their business to the Alaskan towns, as some of them have been doing they will also have 10 take their fish there and leave the Canadian port for Canadian fish only
 It scene pity that such suggestion az this should have to be made, but self preservation is one of the first laws What we want is fair treatment All last spring United States boats got two cents pound more Tor their catches than Canadians Re- gently the situation has been somewhat ie- versed but the gun is still loaded and next spring leeal fishermen will be under the same disadvantage unless something is done If Tn addition to the market advantage Ameri- can hshermcn are to be prevented from spending any of their money here the port would be better off without them Then canadian boats would have a decided ad- vantage in the markets of the East 1t is said. and the tendency would be for Canadian hsh to sell for higher prices
 We suggest to the [. S. fishermen that they give the Pass up Alaska9 scheme a trlal Let them clear for the fishing grounds instead Of fer an Alaskan port and buy all lher supplies here. Then we shall see what we snail see. 4 club is the only weapon 10 use with some people
 Ihe News should remember that the Amerif nstoms officers are only acting under the law wb hey are under cath 10 uphold It is worth wh lse' 10 recall that 1t was Canada that refused ccept reciprocal tarif arrangement with 'nited States.
 { Tn the meantime great many Alaskans aughing up their sleeves at the proposal to al, ne pofs of Prince Rupert to American nshino hoa ueh action would simply serve 10 compeI Inc ra Sad which has it's Western terminal at pr,, 'upert to ccme to Kctchikan or some other Amaric or' Ter the fish that is now being taken to n Owa. Such aeten would only deprive prn "peft or stieh benefits she gets from inc trado 'nerican fishing craft