The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-11-25
Norb Nathe
Told Rotary
About Alaska
Trouble With japanese Fish
ermen Expected Unless
Poaching Is Stopped
WAS INTERESTING TALK
Outlined Matanuska Valley
Project-Said Alaska Can
Use Products Raised

Trouble with Japanese fishermen
is expected by most Alaskans I'M
less measures are taken to stop
their "poaching" in Alaskan wat
ers, Norb Nathe, recently back on
the Outside" after two and one
half years in Alaska, told members
of the Rotary Club at their noon
meeting Tuesday.
Expectations for open fighting
between Alaskan and japanese
fishers is expected unless the Or
ientals keep without the three
mile limit. Norb said they come in,
poach Alaskan fish, and then with
canneries aboard their fishing fleet
make off with the catch.
Generally, he spoke Of the Ma
tanuska Valley project which got
its impetus from Government
sponsorship. OF the 200 original
families who pioneered the valley,
he estimated, half have returned to
their native states of Minnesota,
Wisconsin, or Michigan. "But there
are no vacancies now" he added.
The population Of the Valley, that
was once just cumberland, is now
about 1000 he told them. OF the
Colony, he said, 1T will work. It's
pioneering just as this country
went through, but in the end it will
prosper" ALL it needs is to get the
soil in productive shape and the
obstacle is overcome, he pointed
out.
While many have wondered about
Alaskan markets, Norb said, Alaska
can use all the Valley will ever
raise At present the supply Of
home grown Alaskan produce is far
short of the one to two million dol
lar demand of the Alaskan popula-
ton. Now it is necessary to import
these staples from the outside at
great cost.
When the pioneering project was
begun it was understood that the
cost to stake out each family in
the Colony was not to exceed $1,000
The average debt of the colonists is
about $4,000, however. One enter
prising fellow took his several
acres and in raising garden vege-
tables alone made $4,000.
There are other reasons, Norb
pointed out, why growing grains
and produce is made possible.
While the growing season in actual
days is shorter than here in Min
nesota, the longer hours of day
light actually make it longer. All
during the night in midsummer,
one can snap pictures, Norb said.
The sun sets about II 80 p. m, and
is back UP again at p. m. There is
little darkness. In the winter days
are from one to two hours shorter
than in midwinter in Minnesota, he
said. And, he added, the climate is
much milder in both winter and
summer. Anything grows there ex-
cept corn and the absence of sum-
mer heat makes for that condition.
Naturally, hunting found great
favor with his audience. Hunting
is hard work in Alaska" Norb said.
But from his account it is a para
disc for the man with the gun as
we'll. All grub, equipment must be
packed on back for ten to twenty
miles into the woods across noun
tains and fording streams, he said.
And added to that the game the
hunter gets must be packed on the
return. Norb said that the quarters
of the moose he got averaged 142
pounds apiece, all toted back by
hard work. But a ray of light was
his revelation that the hunting
license is only one dollar for any
game except bear which requires a
trapper's license of two dollars.
There are no deer in Alaska as we
know them here. But caribou roam
tContinued On Page 10. Col. u