nation such privileges of sharing in what is naturally and properly an American resource: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the California State Federation of Labor, That the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States be requested to take whatever steps are necessary, even to the extent of authorizing the President of the United States to declare a complete embargo upon the importation of fishery products of any type, or other commodities, from any country which violates or nullifies the fishery conservation laws of the United States resulting in the depletion of a valuable natural resource, destroying the American standard of living for our workers and causing great and unnecessary suffering to those workers and to the people of Alaska; and be it further Resolved, That the Federated Fishermen's Council in convention place itself on record as strongly opposed to joint operations in extraterritorial waters adjacent to Alaska by American citizens or American corporations with Japanese fishery concerns, and appeal to the Federal Government to immediately take effective measures to prevent such joint operations, as being against the public interest; and be it further Resolved, That no negotiations looking toward any treaty on this subject should be considered; and be it finally Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States; to each Senator; each Congressman of the United States House of Representatives; to the Governors of the States of Washington, Oregon, and California; to the Governor and Legislature of the Territory of Alaska; to the Secretary of State; the Secretary of Commerce of the United States; and the Secretary of Labor. IDENTICAL RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY SEATTLE BRANCH, ALASKA FISHERMEN'S UNION, JUNE 20, 1937; AND BY ALL-ALASKA LABOR CONVENTION, JUNEAU, ALASKA, NOVEMBER 18, 1937 RESOLUTION Whereas the Japanese invasion of American fishing grounds in Bristol Bay, Alaska, is destined to accomplish the destruction of the salmon fisheries of Alaska, the value of the pack bringing a return of thirty to fourty million dollars a year; and Whereas the fish in Alaskan waters constitute the most important resource of the Territory in point of the vaue of the annual catch, and provide the principal source for the collection of taxes to meet Territorial expenses; and Whereas Japanese methods of fishing make no provision for an escapement of fish sufficient for propagation, and are ultimately destructive of the species; and Whereas the results of Japanese fishing methods in the Anadir River and off the coast of Siberia, where important salmon fisheries once existed, have proved that their methods bring extinction to the species, and sound a warning for the future of Alaska's fisheries; and Whereas careful provision has been made by law for the preservation of the fishing industry in Alaska, restricting the catch, and providing weekly periods for escapement and closed seasons and areas, where fish may not be taken by resident fishermen and those within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, all of which laws and regulations are violated by the Japanese who fish from "mother ships" off the coast of Alaska with contacts only at the home port in Japan; and Whereas the laws governing fishing which provide for the preservation of the species and restrict the catch of Alaska fishermen, provide a bounteous harvest of fish for Japanese fishermen who claim to be exempt from their operation; and Whereas the protection of the fish which are hatched in the streams and inlets opening on the Alaska coast, and which are nurtured and protected by Federal laws (the Territory being denied the right to legislate) is a problem for the Federal Government, and one which is fraught with grave consequences if the fishermen of Alaska are put to their own devices to protect the industry which provides a living for them: Therefore be it Resolved, By Igloo No. 15, Pioneers of Alaska, that the State Department, the Department of Commerce, and the Congress of the United States are called upon by this igloo to at once take such measures as may be necessary to protect the fishing industry of Alaska, and to secure to the thousands of Alaska fishermen the right to continue to pursue a lawful occupation which provides a living for themselves and their families and is the source of a valuable food for the people of the United States, and to insure that no foreign invasion of Alaska's fisheries shall destroy one of the principal resources of the Territory. That a copy of this resolution be sent to Alaska's Delegate in Congress, to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, and submitted for approval to the convention of the Grand Igloo Pioneers of Alaska convening in Cordova, February 22, 1938. Authorized by Ogloo No. 15, Pioneers of Alaska, at Anchorage, Alaska, February 4, 1938. Jos. P. MCMAHON, President. CLERK OF COMMITTEE, MARINE AND FISHERIES, KANAKANAK, ALASKA, Old House Office Building, Washington, D. C.: Continued existence of Bristol Bay's prosperous settlements depends on passage of bill H. R. 8344 or equivalent measure. Strongly recommend passage. ADOLF OSTERHAUS, Dillingham, Alaska, Bristol Bay Fishing Area. CONGRESSMAN BLAND, SEATTLE WASH., February 1, 1938. Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Washington, D. C.: The Federated Fishermen's Council Executive Committee representing all organized fishermen on Pacific coast and Alaska have considered H. R. 8344 and wish to go on record as favoring passage. This bill will definitely exclude foreign powers from fishing industry in Bristol Bay and along Pacific coast. We urge you use your good offices in favor of this important legislation. Should H. R. 8344 fail passage maritime unions as a whole prepared to take other action to stop Japanese interests from encroaching on American Fishing industry. Hon. A. J. DIMOND, MARTIN E. OLSEN, JANUARY 17, 1938. Delegate in Congress from Alaska, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. DIMOND: I am in receipt of a copy of your circular letter dated December 21, 1937, with enclosed copy of your bill, H. R. 8344, which you introduced in the House of Representatives on November 15, 1937, and which was referred to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. In your letter you are calling attention to the fact that a public hearing will be held in the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries commencing February 1. Though I would like to be present at this hearing, it will be impossible for me to do so, owing to the fact that urgent business demands my presence on this coast. I may, however, state that I have studied your bill and arrived at the conclusion that the passage of this bill is about the only sure method by which foreign powers can be stopped from encroaching upon the fisheries of Alaska. Particularly is this true of the salmon industry in Bristol Bay. It is with deep gratitude and sincere appreciation that I hereby, on behalf of all organized fishermen on this coast, extend my thanks to you for your splendid effort in aiding all fishermen as well as the industries involved in particular and our people in general in protecting our natural resources, which rightfully belong to our own people. To negotiate a treaty with the foreign power involved in this issue I feel would be both impractical and useless, since any such treaty agreed upon by said power, unless it allowed for the taking of a large amount of salmon and other species of fish from Bering Sea and Bristol Bay, would not be abided by. On the other hand, if a treaty was negotiated satisfactory enough to be abided by by the said foreign power, it would have to allow the taking of salmon and other species of fish in a quantity that would eventually deplete the fishing industry both in Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea as a whole. Therefore, I heartily concur in your bill and feel sure that if our people had a chance to decide on the passage of this bill by a referendum vote, it would carry almost unanimously. Again thanking you for your splendid effort in an attempt to safeguard our natural resources for our own people, I am Very sincerely yours, MARTIN E. OLSEN, Secretary-Treasurer, Federated Fishermen's Council. FISHING VESSEL OWNERS' ASSOCIATION, Inc. COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: The Fishing Vessel Owners' Association is an organization representing the operators of fishing vessels employed in the North Pacific halibut fishery. There are 300 vessels engaged in this fishery, employing approximately 2,500 men, and ranging from 6 to 70 tons in size. These vessels are all independently owned and operated. This organization is strictly opposed to any policy on the part of our Government which will permit Japanese fishermen, or fishermen of any other foreign country, to exploit resources which the conservation efforts of this country have succeeded in preserving, even though such resources lie outside the limits of our country. Two such resources particularly fall into this classification. The salmon fishery in Bering Sea has been preserved by the efforts of our own Government. If our fishermen in the past had been allowed to fish without restriction in the rivers emptying into Bering Sea, there would now be no fishery there for the Japanese to exploit. The halibut fishery on the Pacific coast, likewise, exists today due to the joint conservation efforts of the United States and Canada. If Pacific coast fishermen had been allowed during the past 15 years to fish without regulation there would now be no halibut supply even for our own men to exploit. We therefore have a proprietary right in the salmon and halibut fisheries. We believe we should simply serve a notice to this effect on other counrties and then protect these fisheries such as we would a resource that existed solely within the boundaries of our country. We are opposed to tampering with Territorial limits as a solution to the Bering Sea salmon fishery problem, as such action would only be followed with similar action by other countries and would lead to endless confusion. Our fishermen have fished for many years in international waters off the coasts of Mexico and Canada. Any action by our country in extending our Territorial limits would only lead to similar action by Canada and Mexico, thereby putting many fishing craft out of business on fishing grounds on which these vessels have operated for 50 years. The foregoing views represent our opinion on the Bearing Sea salmon question and are intended to apply to H. R. 8344 insofar as they are applicable. Very truly yours, FISHING VESSEL OWNERS ASSOCIATION, JOHN W. JONES POST, No. 8, AMERICAN LEGION, Cordova, Alaska, August 14, 1937. CHAIRMAN, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: Attached hereto you will find a letter of protest to the Honorable Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, from the John W. Jones Post, No. 8, American Legion, of Cordova, Alaska, together with affidavits supporting the allegations of the said letter. We trust that your committee will interest itself in the subject matter of the said letter, which is the encroachment of the Japanese fishing fleet into the waters of Bering Sea and Bristol Bay, Alaska. Very truly yours, WARREN A. TAYLOR, JOHN W. JONES POST, No. 8, AMERICAN LEGION, Hon. CORDELL HULL, DEAR MR. HULL: The John W. Jones Post, No. 8, American Legion, Department of Alaska, of Cordova, Alaska, hereby protests against the continued invasion of the water of Bering Sea and Bristol Bay, Alaska, by the Japanese fishing fleet and the unrestricted taking of food fish in those waters. This invasion of the above-mentioned waters is of recent origin. Three or four years ago a Japanese vessel with a large number of fishery students made a survey of the waters of Bering Sea and Bristol Bay. Following this survey, the Japanese began the exploitation of this area, claiming that they were fishing for crabs only. Comparatively few vessels were engaged in this business until 1936, when they appeared in increasing numbers. This present year saw their numbers multiplied, until in June when the U. S. Coast Guard cutter Haida was envoyage from Unalaska to Naknek with the floating court, 26 Japanese vessels of various sizes were counted. Some were large steel ships equipped as floating canneries, while others were of the trawler type, being from 100 to 136 feet in length. In one place six of these trawlers were noticed pulling on one immese trawl which must have been at least a mile wide. The shallowness of Bristol Bay and parts of Bering Sea readily lends itself to this type of fishing gear. During the fishing season, an airplane was dispatched from Naknek to investigate the Japanese fishery ships. Several ships were seen at close range from the plane with a great number of salmon on their decks. As your Department is aware, many safeguards have been thrown around the Bristol Bay fisheries to prevent the depletion and ultimate extinction of the salmon run in that area. During the salmon run, which usually continues for about 1 month, there are two closed periods each week totaling 60 hours. Inclement weather usually allows further escapement of the fish to the spawning grounds. Fishing is also limited to small sailboats, motors being prohibited by the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Fisheries, Department of Commerce. But the Japanese do not observe any rules or follow practices which would tend to conserve the aquatic life of these waters. Mile-long nets in the water for 24 hours of the day during the entire run is the rule with the Japanese which will certainly deplete the run of fish which was already being fished to the limits consistent with a policy of conservation. We cannot rest assured that the Japanese will confine their activities to Bristol Bay and Bering Sea. It is only a step from there to the southern shores of the Alaska Peninsula, Shumagin Islands, Kodiak Island, and the mouth of the Copper River. Fishing is the greatest basic industry of Alaska. The maintenance of our schools, the payment of pensions to aged pioneers, the relief of widows and dependent children, and the greater part of our Territorial expenditures are derived from the taxes levied upon the salmon packing industry. We further protest against any treaty or agreement whereby the Japanese will be allowed to build canneries on the mainland of Alaska and granting them the privilege of packing a certain number of cases of salmon each year. We recommend that the waters of Bering Sea lying east of longitude 170° W. be declared inland waters of the United States and closed to alien fishing. Trusting that this protest and recommendation will receive favorable consideration from the Department of State, we remain, Sincerely yours, JOHN W. POST, No. 8, AMERICAN LEGION, By WARREN A. TAYLOR, JNO. S. LEFEVRE, C. CHESTER CARLSON, AFFIDAVIT OF WARREN A. TAYLOR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Territory of Alaska, ss: Warren A. Taylor, being first duly sworn, upon his oath says: Committee. I am the assistant United States attorney for the third division of the Territory of Alaska with my headquarters at Cordova, Alaska; that on the 17th day of May 1937 I left Seward on the U. S. Coast Guard cutter Haida as a member of the court party making the court cruise along the Alaska Peninsula and into Bristol Bay and Bering Sea; that we left Unalaska for Nanknek, Alaska, on the 2d day of June and on the morning of the following day I saw a number of ships, which, upon closer observation, proved to be Japanese fishing vessels; 26 vessels were counted; some of these ships were large steel ships, while others were trawlers of steel construction and some motorized boats; these vessels had an immense amount of nets hanging about every available space; I saw thousands of glass floats in the water which, indicated that the Japanese had a lot of gear out as the glass balls are used for floats for their nets. On the large steel ships many people were seen, both men and women, which indicated that these ships were the cannery ships. At one place I saw six trawlers dragging one immense trawl which I estimated to be at least a mile or a mile and a half wide. WARREN A. TAYLOR. FRANCIS A. JONES, Subscribed and sworn to before me this 14th day of August 1937. [COURT SEAL] United States Commissioner for the Territory of Alaska, AFFIDAVIT OF C. CHESTER CARLSON UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Territory of Alaska, ss: C. Chester Carlson, being first duly sworn, upon his oath deposes and says: I am a fisherman and resident of Cordova, Alaska, and also president of the Copper River and Prince Williams Sound Fisherman Union; that in June 1937 I went to Bristol Bay to fish at Koggiung; that on or about the 7th of July 1937 I was requested by H. B. Freile, of the Nakat Packing Co., to accompany he and several more in a plane to investigate the encroachment of the Japanese fishing fleet into the waters of Bristol Bay; we left from Naknek and put out over Bristol Bay; we sighted three ships at one place; these ships were approximately 130 feet in length; they were carrying a great amount of fishing gear and on the decks of these boats I could see a great number of salmon; the plane circled over these Japanese vessels for several minutes at a very low altitude and the fish on the decks could be plainly seen; although the specie of salmon could not be distinguished, but as the run of salmon in Bristol Bay is practically all red salmon with very few pinks, I would believe that the salmon on the decks of the Japanese vessels were red salmon. C. CHESTER CARLSON. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 14th day of August 1937. [COURT SEAL] FRANCIS A. JONES, United States Commissioner for the Territory of Alaska, Third Division, Cordova Precinct. |