The Wrangell sentinel., 1944-02-18
TBIlR0UGIH TH1E SEN IFINiSLb
 PElRIgCOPE

Alaska soldiers probably won't get a chance to vote at this years election, unless they happen to be in their home precincts, even with national legislation. Canvass recent ly made through the Governors s office of members of the Alaska Legislature as to their feeling on a special legislative session to take up the subject got a very cold shoulder. not because the lawmakers are a. gainst soldiers voting but because of the great expense of such a ses- sion in the Territory; and Ia good point for statehood) votes in Alas ka mean nothing in the national picture.
 
 pr. Ira N. Gabrielson. Director of the U. s. Fish and Wildlife Ser vice will be in Alaska the latter part of next week, coming north from Seattle on the fisheries vessel Crane to attend the annual meeting of the Alaska Game Commission and to check up on fisheries program for the year. With him will be W. E. Crouch, who was in the Territory two seasons as fisheries coordinator.
 Incidentally, here are some in teresting remarks Dr. Gabrielson made recently at a hearing on fish cries in Washington:
 At the request ofthe industry as we'll as of labor organizations, we are now preparing similar plan (similar to last year), changed in accordance with our experience and varying conditions, for this year. Briefly. it will allow the op- eration of a few more plants, and will provide a slight increase in the labor supply. And naturally, the problem of transportation and sup plies will be more easily solved this year than last "
 The production goals for last year were based not on what it was expected the industry could produce but on the amount of fishery pro- dcts which the War Food Admins tration thought could effectively be used The ppundage set as goal was, of course, greater than any ever taken by our fisheries even vixen there was plenty of equip I'll. Tt and all the manpOwer needed. It was natural that the industry sh 5uld be able to meet only two-I thirds of it's quota. Still it was able to show an increase of about ten percent for the year, as against 1942-a very appreciable gain un-I der the circumstances. Had we not had such a disappointing run of pink salmon in Southeastern Alaska last summer and if we had not had adverse weather conditions in the pilchard fishery we would have come very close to a normal pro- duction total as far as overall poundage is concerned.
 Fortunately, the nations food supply during the year was ade- quate not only for its own armed services and its civilian population, but sufficient for us to send a con- siderable amount to our allies whose normal means of production and supply have been cut off or re- duced because of the war. We have had a healthy diet and as far as can see will continue to do so Had the nation been in a tigher spot in regard to food and had the necessity warranted the extraordinary effort and expense involved in providing a large amount of new craft and equipment and manpOwer for the fisheries the industry could have produced the six billion pounds asked for. The fish are there. They will be there this year and next year if the nation needs them"
 As anticipated, the Alaska spruce logging program is going out the window. Charles G. Burdick of the Forest Service, who has been direct ing the work, officially confirmed this week what Washington's U. s. Senator Norman forecast last week. Bur lick says Alaska spruce demand has tapered off. Senator Norman de- ,clal ed rather strongly that Oregon and Washington have sufficient timber to take care of all the needs 1t could be that WashingtOn-Ore- gon lumber interests are not highly enthused about Alaska spruce cut ting in on their market, and both Washington and Oregon have, oi