ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 415 



of such rivers or streams," such an inhibition or prohibition will tend to cause incal- 

 culable injury to the salmon industry, as well as to those now engaged in the same, 

 who. by reason of their large interests, are endeavoring to promote the progress and 

 prosperity of the Territory. 



In this connection it will not be inappropriate to detail one of the peculiarities of 

 the iish in their ascent of the streams or rivers for the purpose of spawning. 



It is the nature of the aiiadroinous species to enter a stream or river and follow 

 the eddy formed by the juncture of the fresh and salt water. This habit is better 

 illustrated by an examination of the accompanying diagram. 



c c represent the outflowing fresh water from the Karlnk River, which, by reason 

 of the rapids near its mouth, gives it a tremendous impetus for the last 300 yards of 

 its descent. 



b represents the eddy of salt water formed by the outflow of the fresh water from 

 the river, on the Alaska Packing Association's side, the current of said eddy having 

 a trend toward the latter's beach. 



a represents the eddy of salt water also formed by the outflow of the fresh water 

 from the river, on the Alaska Improvement Company's side, the current of the eddy 

 in this instance trending away from the latter's beach. 



d c represent the directions in which the fish " stand" inshore on their way to the 

 river and spawning grounds. 



It will be readily seen that the entry of the fish in the eddy 011 the Alaska Packer's 

 side is in the direction which necessarily brings them closer to the beach; while the 

 opposite is the case on the Alaska Improvement Company's side, the fish in that 

 instance, and on account of the offshore trend of the eddy, are compelled to "stand" 

 inshore on a line parallel to the fresh- water current. 



If we are prohibited or prevented from hauling our nets within the proposed pro- 

 scribed distance of 100 yards of the mouths of such rivers and streams, we will 

 practically be legislated out of existence, and the salmon-fishing industry will be 

 ruined. 



The gist of the whole controversy, developed within the past year, and consequent 

 on the abuses of the salmon-fishing industry, is that the salmon which enter the 

 rivers and streams and sport about in their natural playground should remain 

 unmolested and free from any avaricious motives on the part of those unprincipled 

 fishermen who, in order to further their own selfish interests, would conduct this 

 industry in a way such as would very soon cripple if not completely destroy the 

 species of fish which now frequent Alaskan waters to spawn. 



Section 2 of the proposed act provides, among other things, for a weekly close sea- 

 son of thirty hours, or in the language of the section, "from noon on Friday of each 

 week until 6 o'clock postmeridian of the Saturday following." 



The number of fish entering any of the rivers or streams during the close period 

 of thirty hours each week is augmented by the number of salmon that will "run" 

 into said rivers and streams before the "laying out" or hauling of the nets, as well 

 as during the interim of these acts. 



About one-fifth of the entire fishing season is stormy, during which time it is 

 impossible to "lay out" or haul a seine or net; but the storms do not prevent or 

 obstruct the entrance of the fish in the rivers and streams after the " half tide," and 

 consequently the number is thereby enormously augmented also. 



Under these various conditions a sufficient number of salmon will have entered 

 the rivers and streams to render extinction of the species impossible. 



Special attention is called to the fact that it is above and not below the mouth of 

 the stream or river that it is essential, important, and necessary to protect the salmon. 



It can not surely be the desire or purpose of the Government to injure or destroy 

 the fishing industry of Alaska an industry which is indissolubly connected with 

 the future progress and advancement of the welfare of the Territory. 



I desire further to call your attention to the fact that the Alaska Improvement 

 Company was the one that forced its competitors at Karluk to fish the ocean beach, 

 as against the former practice of fishing in the river, and against the dam erected 

 therein, and it is the purpose of that company to aid the Government in any way 

 possible in the enforcement of all laws which have for their object the perpetuity of 

 the chief industry of Alaska, viz, the salmon fisheries. 



\\ hile as a matter of fact the Alaska Improvement Company has no objection to 

 urge in opposition to the weekly close season of thirty hours, it is manifest to any- 

 one \\lio knows the conditions at places in Alaska other than Karluk that Bach a 

 provision to a greater or less extent may bo a hardship and an injustice to many 

 other companies whose plants are not as favorably situated as is that of the company 

 which I represent. 



The operators at Karluk have the advantage of their competitors in having a much 

 longer period in which to operate in the line of their business. Some of their com- 

 petitors are restricted, naturally, by reason of the fact that the "run" of the salmon 

 embraces a period of from thirty-six to forty-five days only, a period less than half 

 of that enjoyed by the Alaska Improvement Company. 



