L. Gillingham to G. J. Alexander, 25 October 1944

1422- 15 Street West, Prince Albert, Sask. October 25, 1944

G.J. Alexander, Esq.

Assistant Commissioner,

Department of Fisheries,

Victoria, B.C.

Thank you very kindly for your letter of October 21st and for the booklets you forwarded to me. I am very grateful to you, indeed, for them for they have provided me with very valuable information concerning the fishing industry in your Province, particularly the one written by yourself entitled "Commercial Salmon Fishing in British Columbia".

I have heard through unofficial sources that when the Japanese were interned in the interior of British Columbia that their fishing boats were confiscated by the British Columbia government and that they were in turn sold or rented by the government to anyone anxious to become engaged in the industry. I am keenly interested in making fishing my occupation but being somewhat inexperienced in the business I am wondering if you would please be good enough to write me stating whether the above is correct and, if so, how I would go about purchasing a boat and where I can find out the prices of them.

I understand quite well that possibly it is not your duty to give out the information I am seeking and, while I do not wish to burden you with answering a lot of questions it would be very much appreciated if, when replying you would let me know the prevailing price per Pound being paid to fishermen for the different species of salmon and any other commercially marketed fish so that I will be in a position to decide whether the business would be entertaining from a monetary point of view .

If a favourable reply is received from you and, should the opportunity present itself, if I come to Victoria, I would like to pay you a visit so that I may go into everything more fully with you.

Thanking you for past favours, I am,

L. Gillingham