Kodiak mirror., 1959-09-26
ALASkA'S KING CRAB
 INDUSTRY IN DANGER

King Crab fishing processing increasingly valuable to the State Alaska there major threats to this industry either of which could wipe its potential value to Alaska's economic future
 The Japaneee and Russians moved huge crab fleets Wakefield Fisheries sent it's boat Jeannetfe Bristol Bay investigate these fleets all of them far bigger any fish boat flying American flag There is international restricting the acv ties of these fleets any way long they stay outside the three mile limit It will be very pring units of these fleets working the crab grounds the peninsula Shumns Kodiak and Cook Inlet next
 Only strong US King Crab fishery, united and backed by public support hope to stand against this type of competition the grounds the market Yet proposed Alaska Fisheries Board would hamsng Alaskan fishermen and packers to make them mpotent against the foreign invasion
 Pot string limits no dragging except the of for bait licensing not be justified conservation started with funds jointly contributed by the Alaska Department of Fish Game by Wakefield Fisheries plus work point just any, conservation regulations needed in addition those already the books such the ban tange nets the prohibition against taking female and immature crabs the closure of dragging when the crabs soft during the molting and mating cycle.
 The new regulations proposed will have only one noncoupetve Kacemak Bay has such regulations The average herman earnings there only small fraction of the Kodiak, Sand Point, King Cove average
 Wakefield Fisheries large efficient King fishing boats which based the port of Seattle is at such boats and their pioneers and builders of the industry that these restrictions primarily aimed.
 But fishing regularly for Wakefield Fisheries Aaskaowned Though averaging smaller than the Seattle boats almost without exception they and need far than 30 pots per boat and they and need drag to maintain their earnings The fishermen these boats making The improving their boats and paying off their mortgages have all in adequate crab live tanks Many Alaska boats who have been fishing King Crab for other packers similarly situated Does make to cripple the earnings of ten fifteen AaskanS spite feowctizen from the of Washington?
 grow develop, put the state fOong Alaska needs investment capital plants people from the other 49 states and friends products the other 49 states Can Alaska accomplish this
 trying to drive out those already here? Take processing ship the Deep Sea for example The King fish dates from the first trip of the Deep Sea great many of her nativeborn Aaskans her than ten Her possible Wakefield Fisheries and other growing crab market for Alaska boats Alaska bution to the tax offers Juneau is times crab proceSsed that of shore plant Only future of this Alaska industry could from restrictions which would make difficult impossible for this ship
 Regulations which seriously hamper the American King Crab industry effect turning and fishing grounds the Russians Japanese without fight.
 Wakefield Fisheries confident that the Fisheries Board when shortly rgulatons, will act justly and wisely.