The Wrangell sentinel., 1939-11-10
New Book Issued
DiscussingA Alaska
Fishing Industry

The first published author
itatiye discussion of the economics
of the North Pacific Fisheries has
just been issued BY the Institute of
Pacific Relations in New York City.
The book is North Pacific Fish
cries and it is the work of Pro
fessor Homer e. Gregory of the col
Iege of economics and business. Uni
versity of Washington, and Kath-
leen Barnes of the research staff,
American Council, Institute of Pa
cific Relations.
Reviewing the book this week,
Edward W. Allen, noted authority
on fishery matter and chairman Of
the International Fisheries Com
mission writes:
First in romantic interest and a
runner-up in economic Importance,
the fisheries of Alaska and the Pa
cific Northwest find their intima-
cies laid before the public in a book
just off the press,
Japanese threats, labor troubles,
practical conservation, gear fights
transportation problems, taxation
and finances, prices and marketing,
economic hazards, competition yer
sus monopoly, International cooper
alton, and the somewhat ominous de-
pendence of Puget Sounds best and
most reliable customer, Alaska, upon
the prosperity of the fishing indus
try-these are some of the sub
jects dealt with in North Pacific
Fisheries.
without attempting themselves
to solve the legal problems involved
in protecting American fisheries
against ruthless foreign exploitation,
authors demonstrate the absolute
necessity for such protection. They
review the history and effects of un-
restricted fishing, show how govern
mental regulation based upon scien-
tific knowledge and effective en-
forcement is essential to the preser-
walton of fisheries such as the sal
mon and halibut; how control con-
fined to three miles from shore
would be wholly inadequate; ac-
cordingly that protection of some
kind beyond such narrow range
must be secured if these fisheries
which mean so much to the people
of this region are to be maintained.
1.-The Alaska fisheries alone re-
present an investment of about one
hundred million dollars with an an
nual production of 60 to 70 per cent
of that figure, and directly or in
directly give employment to about
$4,000 persons. The Pacific North
west, including British Columbia and
Alaska, has an annual output OF
one billion five hundred million
pounds. Alaska, Washington and
Oregon produce about 40 per cent
of the canned fish and by-product
of the whole United States.
"An interesting sidelight on the
canned salmon industry is that al
though some nine leading companies
have resulted from mergers, there
apparently are definite limits to the
economy of large scale production
there is no monopolistic control ant
numerous small concerns compete
side by side with the large ones.
For Alaska the fisheries not only
represent the biggest production
(more than half of the territory's
production of every kind and the
biggest payroll and tax support, but
they are the basis for transportation
service for every resident of the
territory regardless of his vocation
for they alone furnish sufficient
freight and passenger traffic to jus
tify adequate transportation facili
ties.
1.-THE authors again emphasize thu
necessity for the preservation of thu
fishery resources of this coast from
uncontrolled exploitation. They poin
with admiration to the remarkable
restoration of the halibut banks al
a result of the intelligent coopera
ton of Canada and the United
States. They urge that this serve no
friendly American nations but TO
only as a pattern for these tw,
all the world"