The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-03-09
Tuna Fish and Sugar

TUNA tlSh ana sugar would narQly
make q delectable food combination,
yet both serve to illustrate the con-
test which often develops between
the producer and the consumer from
the standpoint Of national policy.
North Dakota produces no tuna
fish but Is q consumer Of the prod
uct. We could get along without It
completely but, since it Is common
article Of diet, we have some interest
in the protest raised by California
tuna fishermen as a result OF the
importation Of Japanese fish.
A heavy tariff has been imposed
on the foreign product but still it
continues to come in and to crowd
American tuna off the market. While
we eat japanese tuna. many boats
lie idle in Southern California ports
and their owners ask for higher du-
ties.
Our natural tendency is to support
American trade, but when 1t cannot
compete on any except very uneco-
nomical basis what are we to do?,
Should the fish-eaters OF the entire
nation be penali2ed for . mere hand
ful OF citizens?
There was time when the Cali
1ornia fishermen could compete with
any others, anywhere. The fishing
grounds were just Oft the coast, the
cost Of production was small and
trade was brisk. The quality was the
best In the world.
Then occurred one Of those queer
freaks Of nature which may handi-
cap any industry. The fish began
to move south. Now they are near
the Galapagos islands, some 1000
miles away. The California fisher
men must now have q boat capable
Of making such . Journey on the
high seas. It must be equipped with
refrigerating machinery to keep the
fish until they can be delivered to
the packer.
Some tuna are found nearer home
but these are not, generally. Of the
best quality. On the other hand, the
japanese have experienced no such
piscatorial migration. Their natural
source Of supply IS unaffected.
Patriotism would seem to say pa
tronize home industry" The facts
are that this industry Is uneconomi-
cal and maintaining it would throw
an unfair burden on the consumers
Of the nation, as well as generally re-
duce the quality Of his tuna fish
salad.
The same situation applies to sugar,
Of which North Dakota produces q
little. The American beet sugar in
dustry has grown up behind = tariff
wall, but it IS not an economical in
dustry. TO provide about $6o, 0o0. 600
. year for the American beet grower.
the nation Is estimated to be paying
some $300, 900 900 q year more for It's
sugar. The reason Is that Cuban
cane can be grown and milled for
much less than sugar beets.
The labor factors involved are more
important than is the case with tuna
fish but these are offset, In part, by
the fact that much Of the Labor used
IN the beet fields Is imported for the
season from Mexico. We have In our
state prison . number Of these indi-
viduals who have gotten into trouble
during their summers here. FOR pur-
poses Of national defense and in Or
der TO produce ct home enough ia
supply our minimum needs, it be-
comes good national policy to con-
tinue some sort Of q subsidy to the
home producer. The question now
before congress Is how big should that
subsidy be.
The cry Is to protect the beet
farmer. How does that set with the
non-beet farmer who has to pay Z
cent or two : pound more to grant
That protectipn7