The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-08-31
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
The Channel In Front of The City
Endangered by Fish Traps In The Stream.

Endangered by Fish Traps In The Stream.
In the early summer, the attention of
Senator John II. Mitchell was directed
to the increasing number of fish traps
in the river, and, incidentally, the large
number of traps in Bakers Bay.
Upon receipt of sundry letters, Senator
Mitchell, who was in Washington, ID. c.,
promptly brought the matter to the at
tention of the War Department, and
Major w. A. Jones, corps of L. S. en-
gineers, was instructed to make personal
inquiry and examination and submit re-
port.
This he did.
Upon the eve of Senator Mitchell's de-
Parture from Portland for here last Thurs
day night, he received the following,
which is self-explanatory
FROM THE ACTING sEC'Y OF WAR.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON CITY,
August 23rd, 1889.
SIR:-Referring to your letters of May
9TH and June 2lst last, inclosing com
munications from Alex. Sutton, secretary
Columbia River Fishermen's Protective
Union, and J. Ii. ID. Grav, both of Asto-
ria, Oregon, regarding the distractions
in Columbia river and Bakers bay by the
promiScuouS placing of fishtraps OF
pound nets, have the honor to state that
the matter was referred to Major w. A.
Jones, corps of engineers, the officer in
charge of the improvement of the lower
Columbia river, and to enclose a copy of
his report on The subject for your infor-
nation.
Very respectfully,
Il. MACFEELY,
Acting Secretary of War.
Hon. John II. Mitchell,
United States Senator,
Portland, Oregon.
The enclosure referred to, embodies
the report of Major w. A. Jones. That
gentleman, it will be remembered. was
here this summer and made a careful
and exhaustive study of the entire SUBJ
ject.
In previous report based upon a pre-
yious visit he had expressed an opinion
relative to the traps in Bakers bay, and
to which he refers in the report published
below.
Through the courtesy of Senator
Mitchell The Historian is enabled to
publish Major Jones' report on this mat
ter. 1t was enclosed to that gentleman
III bllO lcbbcI puDlloucu dDONO, IGCclNcu
by him last Thursday, and is as follows:
MAJOR JONES' REPORT.
u. S. ENGINEER OFFICE, !
PORTLAND, Oregon, August 10, 1899. {
Respectfully returned to the chief of
engineers:
L have already reported on this matter
(See report dated December 81, 1887
In again presenting it reference is
made to this report and also to the u. s.
g. and q. S. map herewith, which shows
the entrance to the Columbia river, Bak-
er's bay, and the estuary of the river,
which is the principal field of the fish
ing operations referred to within.
Since this report was made many more
traps have been placed, notably those
whose location is shown on this chart.
They are so placed as to rest on the shall
low water on the face of the shore or
shoal and extend out substantially at
right angles into depths varying from II
to Is feet at low tide. The rise and fall
of the tide is fully shown on the chart.
These traps act as permeable dikes,
and cause considerable deposition in
their vicinity. They thus tend to cause
of them. In Bakers bay, however, they
have been SO promiscuously placed as to
prevent the formation of definite chan
mel and hence there has been extensive
over the whole area of the bay.
Further more. as a direct consequence of
the reduction in the volume of water
passing through this bay. Sand Island has
been extensively built up on the north
ward and its limits in this direction are
now substantially as indicated in red on
the chart.
Another effect that may result from
building up the face of shores and shoals,
and the consequent restriction of the
adjacent channels is the diversion of
said channels to other localities.
l consider the channel which passes
in front of Astoria, and forms the har-
Dor of that city to be in considerable
danger from this cause. The water now
flows past Astoria in three main chan
nels, the north, the middle and the south.
The latter being the Astoria channel.
There is possibility that if this should
become restricted, one or both of the
others would become enlarged from addi-
tional scour, a condition that might re-
suit in a considerable reduction in the
depth of the Astoria channel at its pres
ent shoalest portion, opposite upper As
toria. L have formerly expressed the
opinion that the shoaling of Bakers bay
will have a beneficial effect upon the
ship channel across the bar at the mouth
of the river, now undergoing improve
ment. From the foregoing reach the
conclusion that no traps should be al
lowed upon the shoals or islands outside
of Bakers bay. That all such be de-
clared distractions to navigation, and
that the proper legal steps be taken to
protect the navigation interests of the
United States In the matter.
Acknowledgement is here made of the
reference to me of letter of June 2lst,
1889, from Senator j. III. Mitchell, with
incloSed letters from state senator, j. H.
ID. Gray, upon this same subject. These
letters are herewith as an inclosure. l
should have stated before that the trap
on the south face of Sand Island, re-
ferred to in Mr.. Sutton's letter, is not
there now. w. A. JONES,
Major of Engineers.
In a conversation with the editor of
this paper yesterday afternoon, Senator
Mitchell expressed his realization of the
Importance of this question to Astoria.
Elsewhere will be found some editorial
remarks upon the subject.
IN RISpII rnI ne