FISHING DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23148, 21 September 1938, Page 12

FISHING DISPUTE

JAPAN AND AMERICA TENSE SITUATION HIGH-POWERED RIFLES'SHIPPED [FROM OUR OWN c6RRF.SPOXDK.VTr VANCOUVER, Aug-cat 3o delations are strained between J apan arid the United States in Alaskan waters. In spite of assurances givon'-b Japan America last March, several Japanese canneries, with their attend ant fishing fleets, were detected operat! ing in Bristol Bay, the main source of Alaska's fishing wealth, valued „ 4 £10,000,000 a year. | at

The Japanese were setting huge sea. drift nets, three and a-half miles l otlcr " along the route of the famous. red salmon and trapping the bulk of the run before it could reach the in ner waters of the American fishing grounds Under American regulations nets are limited to 900ft s jn length.

One master sent a radio message to his headquarters in Seattle that the Japanese were operating fishing vessels thicker than ever, and had so much gear strung out that it was impossible for him to set his own gear. Another reported: "Behring Sea covered with Japanese boats and nets. No Ameri. can revenue cutters in sight, therefore we have God-given instinct to shoot straight. Please ship high-powered rifles and plenty of ammunition." Clash Narrowly Averted The guns were shipped. Subsequent!, it was stated that all fishermen going to Alaskan waters were being armed A clash appeared inevitable. The partment of State intervened, . and ordered five patrol ships, carrying aero, planes, to traverse the sector. The Jap. anese vessels left.

Prior to- their departure, a seaplane carrying a cannery superintendent, flew low over one of the Japanese mother ships, and estimated it had on board 20,000 fresh-caught salmon. "We caused quite a disturbance," he said. "The Japanese were running round'and seemed to have lost their heads' then, all of a sudden they stood still and just gazed at us." Last season, Japan sent the manag.* ing director of a Government-subsidised cannery tq Seattle, urging a JapaneseAmerican combine, under which Japan would supply the ships and labour and the catch would be shared. The offer was rejected. American Defence Works Japan cites as precedent for her policy toward Bristol Bay salmon, the fur seals of the Pribiloff Islands, in the Aleutian Group. Prior to 1911, Japanese, Russian and Canadian vessels hovered off shore and killed the seals as they migrated. In the Pelagic Sealing Treaty of 1911, the United States and Russia agreed to pay Japan and Canada 15 per cent of the value of the annual catch. The United States patrols the waters, does the killing and markets the furs. Canada, as well as the United States, is protesting against the activities of Japanese fishing fleets on the Pacific Coast. -The United States proposes to build an army and navy base in Alaska, and an air base near the British Columbian border, and to strengthen the anti. aircraft batteries along the North Pacific Coast.