The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-07-31
Fish and Fish Products Out bound from Alaska Last Year Worth ,97l, FOG GOVERNOR STRESSES
 IMPORT OF INDUSTRY
Salmon Packers Pay Ap- proximately 70 Cents
 of Every Tax Dollar
By GOV. JOHN w. TROY

Alaska's most valuable resource is her fisheries. Last year the total value of fish and fish products out bound from Alaska was $51,97l, ,206, according to the official report o1 the Collector of Customs at Juneau Of this record value, $46,l73,176 was in Canned Salmon. Approximately 60 percent of the total value of the Territory's exports to the Outside during 1886 was accounted for by Canned Salmon Other salmon pro- ducts such as mild cure, salt and fresh salmon are also an important part of our commerce.
 While these statistics are of in- terest, they indicate only a phase of the value of the Canned Salmon Industry to the Territory. The true value of any industry or business to the section in which it is located cannot be measured by it's finan- cial net return alone, but must be computed on the basis of the indus trys contribution to the community life of the section. The social con- tribution of an industry, it's eco- homie place in the life of the peo- ple of the section, and it's relation chip to the other industries in the area make up the important cri- teria for judging the value of any industry.
 Employment Furnished
 The Canned Salmon Industry fur nishes employment to more Alaska residents than any other. It has been estimated that more than 11,000 AL aska men and women were em- ployed last summer in fishing and packing salmon. The great value of this industry to those 11,000 resi- dents is certainly beyond question.
 But the Industry's relationship to other important economic activities in the Territory is also to be con- sidered in establishing its employ ment importance. The salmon pack ing industry is an important cus- toner of Alaska's logging and lum- Der business. The Territory's de- veloping coal mines find their chief outlet in the salmon canneries Seventy-five percent of the revenue of steamship lines serving Alaska is derived from cannery cargoes and passengers. Our merchants find good customers among the canners and their employees.
 The development of rich natur- al resource, like our fisheries, pro- vides jobs for a great number of people. But the favorable influence does not stop with the job itself. The employee must spend his income for food, lodging and incidental com- forts. These expenditures create more employment in other indus tries. The money, which the can ming of salmon brings into Alaska, spreads out through many other of our activities.
 Tax Support of Territory
 An important conSlderatlOn III measuring the value of any econom- ic activity to the Territory is the extent to which that industry sup ports our community life. Approxi- mately seventy cents out of every dollar paid into the Treasury of the Territory of Alaska comes from tax es levied on the salmon packing industry. This money supports variety of our community activities. A large part of the money for the operation of our Territorial schools comes from taxes thus raised.
 Another important part the sal mon industry has played in Alaska is sometimes overlooked by the resi- dent Alaskan who perhaps takes this great industry too much for grant, ed This is the service salmon can- ming performed in pioneering AL aska and developing a permanent industry which has brought so much to the Territory through its history.