The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1927-04-23
FISH HEARINGS
ARE CONTINUED
BY COMMITTEES
Divergent Views Given Last
Night-Burckhardt APP
7 pears as Witness.

of the House Ways and Means and
Fisheries committees last night, fish
cries taxation measures were opposed
by two witnesses and approved by
a third. c. A. Burckhardt. President
of the Alaska Consolidated Can
neries, and Tay Bayers, local fish
erman, appeared in protest and
Charles w. Johnston, pioneer fish
erman. urged abolition of fish traps.
After the session had lasted two
and one-half hours, Representative
Scott broke it up by asking Mr..
Johnson if he subscribed to the
theory that a big crop of salmon
berries foretold big salmon run.
The motion to adjourn was barely
audible amid the laughter that foi-
lowed the question
Urge Decisive Action
Mr.. Burckhardt. like other cannery
operators and Independent trap opera
tors, appearing in earlier sessions,
was positive in statement that the
Gamers could not operate under the
proposed taxation bills. Either pass
them as they are written and put
us entirely out of business, or forget
them. Don't keep us hanging on, and
kill us by degrees" he said.
He said his company had lost
more than S1000,000 in 1920 and tn
following year dropped another $34C-
900 i'll depreciation alone, the can
neries not operating. The following
three years it made a little net
operating profit all of which went
back into maintenance and plant re-
pairs. Following a reorganization in
1925, there was loss of more than
100000 and in 1926 about $40 900
He submitted figures showing plant
investment, operating profits and
other statistics regarding the oper
ations of this firm.
Refuses to Critcisc
While he said the effect Of the
closing of bay areas. and the order
prohibiting fishing by seines within
500 yards of mouths of spawning
streams curtailed the efficiency Of
seines by at least 25 per cent. nc
was not willing to express an opinion
Or criticise the Bureau of Fisheries
policy. He objected to questions
along this line as embarrassing" and
was not pressed for answers to them.
when the Territory takes over the
fish cries I'll put all my cards on the
table Until then | have nothing to
say" he declared.
Mr.. Burckhardt told the commit
tee it was his policy to employ as
many local seine boats as he could
get to fish. The seinerS, however,
had not been making much money
and there were fewer fishermen now
than in the early days of the in
dustry. II would be impossible 10
maintain cannery operations on seine
fish alone. he said, adding he believ-
ed both seines and traps were neces-
sary for successful conduct Of the
industry. He introduced marked
map of Southeastern Alaska showing
restricted areas and described gen
orally fishing conditions as relating
TO seine and trap operations.
Traps Used Elsewhere
Traps, he asserted. are used in
Washington, Oregon and British Co
lumba. Questioned regarding British
Columbia, he said he had seen traps
last year on the south end of Van
couver Island and in Portland Canal
He cited British Columbia tax rates
as compared to those in Alaska, shO"
ing the former to have $75 trap
tax, $50 on purse seines and Si5
on drag seines. no tax on raw fish.
four cents per case on pinks, four
cents on all other grades with an
additional four cents Dominion tax
on sockeyes.
He reviewed marketing conditions,
commenting on British Columbia
competition and the development of
the Siberian fisheries. The latter. ho
said; are increasing rapidly and max
ing heavy in roads in the English
markets. The Soviet Government he
added, was offering sockeyes deliver.
ed to floating canneries at 20 cents
per fish, free water, and labor at
$50 per man for the entire season.
Pinks were being offered at actual
cost of fishing operations.
He was questioned at some length
by members of the Committee on
various phases of his statement. In
regard to operations of his firm since
1920. he declared they had been ac-
tually salvaging. that it had taken
every effort that could be put forth
to save the plants. He pointed out
price limitation in pink salmon and
said efforts are being made to Off
set this by extensive advertising
which was having some effect
He commenced on the elasticity
of British Columbia regulations and.
in answer to question, said the
local situation might be improved il
local regulations were made along
similar lines, more power being given
to men in the field
eayers on Stand
Capt. Bayers, who preceded Mr..
Burckhardt. said putting the trap
ont nf hnQinocc uyOn11 hoctrOv vorx,
largely the present salmon canning