Title: "Japanese Fishermen Barred From License," Seattle Times, 6/30/1908, (ddr-densho-56-129)
Densho ID: ddr-densho-56-129

JAPANESE FISHERMEN BARRED FROM LICENSE

Attorney-General Gives Opinion Which May Keep Sons of Mikado Out of Local Waters.

OLYMPIA, Tuesday, June 30. -- The attorney-general has given an opinion, which, if sustained by the court, will put the Japanese fisherman in this state out of business.

The legislature of 1907 passed a law providing that no license should be issued to any person who is not a citizen of the United States unless such person has declared his intention to become such one year prior thereto.

Several Japanese have been endeavoring to obtain licenses by filing a statement of their intentions to become citizens. The attorney-general holds that this is ineffective as under the federal laws Japanese are not entitled to naturalization, and therefore are not entitled to fishermen's licenses in this state.