| Summary: | DANGER SIGHTED IN JAPAN’S MOVE : Invasion Of U.S. Salmon Industry Forecast. DANGER SIGHTED IN JAPAN’S MOVE Invasion of U.S. Salmon Industry Forecast Washington Senator Calls Attention to Plans for Big Operations OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Washington, March 8-Invasion of the salmon industry on the north Pacific coast by the Japanese "contains potentialities which may more seriously threaten the peace of the United States than any other on the immediate horizon," declared Senator Schwellenbach of Washington in a speech in the senate today. The Washington senator, explaining that in the past ten years $16,101,270 has been expended in maintaining these fisheries, reviewed the various wars which have resulted from one nation invading the fisheries of another. Senator Schwellenbach's speech, fortified with detail, confirmed the alarming report of the Oregon state fish commission in its recent report to Governor Charles H. Martin. Necessity of regulating fishing by international agreement is apparent, said the senator. In addition to the threat from Japan to the salmon industry, Senator Schwellenbach announced the proposed invasion of the halibut banks by Norwegians, financed by English capitalists. Halibut Being Depleted The halibut of the north Atlantic, Iceland and Greenland are rapidly being depleted and motherships are planned for cruises to the waters of the Pacific coast and Alaska coast. One ship was to sail from Norway January 15 for the Pacific coast, to catch 2,000,000 pounds, and purchase a similar amount from the operators of halibut boats on the coast. The canned fish industry of Oregon, Washington, California, British Columbia and Alaska represents a value of $97,159,000 a year and employs directly 77,026 people. Eighty per cent of the salmon pack comes from Alaska. Japanese have practically exhausted the salmon off the coast of Siberia, catching the fish in nets three miles long, and virtually "corking" the streams where the fish spawn. Petitions have been made to the Japanese diet for license to fish for salmon in north Pacific waters, and a study is now being conducted by Japanese scientists to determine whether fishing so far from home is economically feasible. Action Held Necessary Senator Schwellenbach believes the Japanese have decided it is feasible, and that in two years the Japanese will be operating in waters off the coast. The senator held the position that salmon belong to the coast states, Alaska and British Columbia, as the fish spawn in the streams and lakes of that area; that but for the protection and propagation provided the salmon industry would be wiped out. The senator predicted that the same policy of offshore fishing as conducted in Siberian waters, would catch the fish at sea and prevent their return to the spawning beds, thus destroying the industry. Something must be done, asserted the senator, as the fishermen along the coast are becoming apprehensive, and in retaliation a boycott may be launched against Japanese products. The Washington senator suggested that the United States and Canada join in a declaration that the north Pacific continental shelf shall be construed the exclusive fishing area of the United States and Canada and that the regulatory power of the two nations shall extend over the entire area. This would require new rules of international law. Wars Fought Over Fish There is more potential trouble in fisheries than might occur to the average citizen for, as the senator cited, wars have been waged from 1400 down to date over invasion of fisheries. In the three Pacific coast states 32,910 persons were employed in fishing in 1934, said Senator Schwellenbach; the value of the fish caught to the fishermen being $18,289,000, and the value of the canned products $41,243,000. This exclusive of Alaska and British Columbia.
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