The Wikipedia entry (yes, I donate $ to W.!) for Ketchikan
shows some beautiful setting!
And contains this note : “Ketchikan’s economy is based upon
government services, tourism and commercial fishing.”
It would be good if your contact can learn and provide
insight to the practical knotting & cordage usage of the
Alaskan commercial fishers --which might take well outside
of anything ABOK shows. (And, he might by some
personal contact be able to garner some discarded cordage
for his own uses, practical & otherwise.)