The Wrangell sentinel., 1927-11-24
QUESTION
 AROUSES INTEREST
 ALL OVER DISTRICT

The Wrangel Commercial Club this week endorsed the herring reso- lution passed recently by the Peters burg Commercial Club. It also or dered letters sent to Hon Dan suth- erland. delegate from Alaska, and Henry o'MalIey. Commissioner of Fisheries Following is the text of one of the letters sent:
 Wrangell Commercial Club
 Wrangell. Alaska
 November q, 1921 Hon. Dan Sutherland.
 Delegate to Congress,
 Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Sutherland
 The herring situation in South eastern Alaska is a matter that has received the serious consideration of the Wrangeu Commercial Club at It's past few meetings This week our club strongly endorsed a resolution, originating with the Commercial Club of Petersburg, which reads as follows;
 RESOLVED; That herring
 fishing in all waters inside thl
 three mile limit, including all
 areas affected by salmon regula
 tions. except for bait purposes
 should be limited to gill nets, vii
 meshes not less than two and one
 quarter inches stretched measure,
 and that fishing for bait witt
 seines of gill netting, be permit
 ted at all times in all waters in
 side the three mile limit, inelud-
 ing all waters affected by salmon
 regulations, providing 1t does not
 destroy or impede the progress 0
 salmon No boat operated by
 for, or in any way connected with
 a reduction plant may be consid-
 cred a bait fisherman.
 There is absolutely no question that the shortage of herring is be- coming more acute each year. When the 1927 fishing season open ed there was no herring for bait and none to be had. The fishermen were out of bait again six weeks before the season closed. During the last month of the haIibut season the fishermen had to depend entirely on Canadian bait, and it was not possible to get an adequate supply of bait from Canada.
 From your familiarity of eondi- tions here We believe that you can readily understand that the future business development of Southeast ern Alaska is dependent primarily upon it's salmon and halibut fisher ies. It is equally true that the sue cess of the king salmon fishery is dependent upon a continuous supply of herring for their food, and the success of both king salmon and halibut fisheries are absolutely de- pendent upon an ample and well distributed supply of herring for bait purposes.
 Under the conditions the only salvation for the fisherman would be some law or regulation which would provide that any taking of herring for other than human food and bait purposes should be so re- strieted that there will be no deple- tion of herring which will affect the suppy for human food, for salm- on food. or for bait.
 The Pacific Fisherman Year Book published last January, contains some astounding statistics regard ing Pacific Coast By-Products. These statistics show that while Al aska produced only 19 percent of the herring and sardine oil for the North Pacific in 1921, her product had increased to 42 percent in 1926; also, that the by-product use of AL aska herring in the latter year amounted to 61,S40 tons, or 900 car loads, of raw material.
 We respectfully request your prompt investigation and consider ation of the matters set forth and urge that you endeavor to secure during the present session of Con gress such legislation as will insure a permanent supply of herring in Southeastern Alaska.
 Yours very truly, WRANGELL COMMERCIAL CLUB,
 By J. ". Pritchett, Secretary.