FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 59 
Ketchikan. Much apprehension has been felt by residents of Alaska 
and by the fresh fish interests of Puget Sound that unless the Govern- 
ment afforded relief through proper legislation the halibut fishery 
with its attendant incidental trade and benefits to American labor 
would be almost wholly assimilated by Canadian interests. It has 
also been felt that along with this would go the loss of American 
fishermen and their families who would take up their residence chiefly 
at Prince Rupert, and that most of the fishing vessels would soon be 
transferred to the British flag. 
It has been said that there has been a well-studied effort upon the 
part of the Canadian authorities to effect this assimilation of the 
American halibut fishery. It is a matter of official record, as clearly 
set forth in the Canadian order in council of March 9, 1915, one part 
of the preamble of which in referring to fishing vessels registered in 
the United States says that under certain conditions a considerable 
number of such vessels “ would transfer their base of operations from 
Seattle to Prince Rupert and would probably later transfer their 
vessels or boats to the Canadian registry and permanently operate 
from Prince Rupert.” 
Inasmuch as the full text of this order in council (P. C., 468) of 
March 9, 1915, has not heretofore appeared in any of the Bureau’s 
publications, it seems proper in order to make it a matter of permanent 
record to reproduce it at the present time. It is as follows: 
Whereas by order in council, dated 10th December, 1914, it is provided that for as 
period of twelve months, from the Ist of January, 1915, foreigners or foreign corporations 
bringing fresh fish in vessels registered in the United States of America to any port in 
British Columbia shall be permitted to land such fresh fish at such port without pay- 
ment of duties, and transship the same in bond to any port in the United States 
(without the right, however, to sell in Canada any of such fresh fish so landed), and 
foreigners and foreign corporations bringing fresh fish in vessels registered in the 
United States of America to any port in British Columbia, shall be permitted to 
purchase supplies at any port in the said Province of British Columbia, the whole 
under such regulations and conditions as the minister of customs shall determine; 
And whereas the said privileges are restricted to foreigners or foreign corporations 
bringing fish in vessels registered in the United States of America and shipping such 
fish in bond direct from the vessels; 
And whereas this prevents smaller vessels or boats, the catches of which will not 
make up a carload, or the owners or operators of which may not be in a position to 
themselves ship their fish to the eastern United States markets, from availing them- 
selves of the privileges; 
And whereas the minister of the naval service is informed that in view of the fact 
that Prince Rupert is several hundred miles nearer the fishing grounds than is 
Seattle, and as the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway is now operating, so that fish can 
as readily be shipped to the eastern United States markets from Prince Rupert as 
from Seattle, if such boats and smaller vessels were permitted to go to Prince Rupert 
and sell their catches to some person or corporation which would in turn ship them 
in bond to the United States, and if such vessels or boats were then permitted to 
purchase supplies for their fishing operations, a considerable number of them would 
transier their base of operations from Seattle to Prince Rupert, and would probably 
oie 17-19 
