The Wrangell sentinel., 1938-07-08


 much less authority, and responsi- bility than a pavement pounder in the states.
 Nolan Praised
 l have nothing but praise to offer for the work MT. Nolan has done in this case. With his hands and feet tied and strapped by the red ] tape of the Jaw enforcement agency l in Alaska, he has gone so far as to enlist the aid of governmental bur eaus outside of the Department of Justice.
 l I wish to offer my thanks at this l time to those fishermen who have gladly volunteered to keep a sharp lookout for the missing outfits. l The apprehension and conviction of these criminals should be para mount in the minds of all fishermen. A clean get away for these culpries is nothing more than an invitation to others, so inclined. to help them selves Now that they are well aware that the law is working hand and hand with them, even our pow CT boats are not safe.
 Harbor Thefts Frequent
 In the last few years thousands of dollars worth of fishing equip ment including skiffs, oars, trolling gear etc., has been stolen from our harbor. None of this loot has ever been recovered. In the past five years I have had two dingys and one complete trolling outfit taken from my boat
 So far as have been able toI learn there has been little or noth-I ing done on any of these thefts , chiefly because of lack of support from the head office to it's District Deputies. The thieves have gone about their business unhampered by the law.
 I am indeed surprised that big time criminals have not taken ad- vantage of our laxity in law en- forcement Even the most amateur ish of thieves would find a bank robbery here a cinch. By the time headquarters decided whether orI not the loot was worth while run-1 ming down, the fugitiyes would be we'll on their way to Chicago orl Montreal or Singapore.
 Protection Not Available
 l believe the time has come when the fishermen and citizenry in general should demand a shake down in the present method of po- licing the Territory Under the pres ent system the taxpayers dollar is going for protection that is not available when needed.
 Isaac Brood. a family man of about 60 years, was the other vic tim of this outrage. Due to exist ing conditions in the fishing indus try this year, he is deprived of his means of livelihood for the season. The cost of replacement of our gill; net outfits would be of small con- cern if conditions made these re- | placements possible. But there is no web on hand with which to make up a new net. There. is no skiff material available. By the time these items were shipped here from below and assembled the fishing season would be so far advanced that the cost of replacement would be inadvisable.
 All gillnetters are prepared for fishing far in advance of the open ing of the season. Our earnings dol not permit us the ownership of a spare outfit in the case of loss or theft. Third Gillnet Theft
 A third gillnet and skiff belong ing to Willis Hoagland was report ed stolen from a float or scow atI Green Point on the Stikine early Thursday morning. This theft was duly reported to the Deputy Mar shal. But so far as obtaining ac-l tion on the case is concerned itI might just as we'll have been re- ported to some five year old child. The Deputy Marshal has only one alternative; wire Headquarters tor aid. But he knows long before that message reaches Juneau that aid is not forthcoming from that dir ection. The logical conclusion them is self-evident WE HAVE NO ACT ING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCE-l MENT AGENCY IN ALASKA. OTTO ENGDAL