FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 21 



was imposed against each. Hendrickson. a local fisherman, also 

 pleaded guilty and was fined SIOO. Wiseman, a prospector in 

 Alaska who sometimes earned a grubstake by fishing, demanded a 

 trial by jury. The case against liim was di-opped, as it would have 

 been difficult to hare found 12 men in that section who could qualify 

 as jurors. This is the second time that any prosecutions have been 

 made in the Bristol Bay district. The fii-st occurred in 1914. 



FISH PIRACY. 



In the fishing season of 1019 southeast Alaska was the scene 

 of an attempt by a lawless element to carry on salmon-trap piracy. 

 Some traps were raided and robbed during the absence of the watch- 

 men, or through their intimidation, but these depredations were 

 mainly unsuccessful, though one company reported the loss of 60,000 

 salmon from tliis cause. The situation was sufficiently serious to 

 occasion the operators no little concern and also to engage the active 

 attention of the law^-enforcement agencies in the Territory. Vessels 

 of the Navy, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Forest Service, and Biu-eau 

 of Fisheries were authorized by the several departments represented 

 to take summary action in dealing with the caiI. The governor of 

 Alaska and the Department of Justice, tlirough the United States 

 mai-shal and his deputies, took a large part in the suppression and 

 punishment of this lawlessness. Some prosecutions were made and 

 convictions secured, but piracy was brought to an end chiefly by an 

 organized patrol imder Federal and Territorial authorization and the 

 cooperation of several packing companies. 



It would seem that the companies operating traps mi^ht evolve a 

 plan of self-protection to prevent a recurrence of this disorder, for 

 the theory is fundamentally correct that if the salmon obtained 

 through })iracy can not be sold or disposed of at a profit, the raiding 

 and robbing of traps wiU cease. 



TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION. 



By an act approved May 1, 1919, the Ledslature of the Territory 

 of Alaska amended sections 1 and 2 of tlie Territorial revenue act of 

 May 3, 1917. chapter 74, Laws of Alaska, 1917. The changes include 

 the imposition of a tax on the out|)ut of clam canneries, heriing 

 canneries, and whale-oU plants; an increase of 1 cent a case on afl 

 species of salmon canned and in addition a tax on the net income of 

 salmon canneries; and increased rates on various salted products. 

 The act as it applies to fisheries is as follows: 



Section 1. That any person, firm, or corporation prosecutini;, or attemptine; to 



f)ro8ecute, any of the followini,' linos of hasinesa in the Territory of Alaska ahali apply 

 or and obtain a lic;euse, and pay for said license, for the respective lines of business, 

 as follows: 



6th: Fisheries: 

 (a) Clam canneries: Two cents per case: 

 ^b) Herring canneries: Two centa per case; 



<c) Salmon canneries: Five and one-half cents per cafle, on Kinps and Reds or 

 Soclceyea; three and one-half centa per caae on Medium Reds; and three cents per 

 case on all others. 



In afldition to the above tax, ."almon canneries shall pay one per cent of their net 

 annual income. By "net" income is meant cash value of the pack of the cannery, 

 less operating expenses, and repairs and betterments actually made. No deduction 



