The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-01-16
FISHING WITH rHE SALMON WHEEL.
11ae Elazfesf scheme Ever Invented for
Captnrfns the Ffnny Tribe.


The man who invented the Column
bia river salmon wheel wss genins
The laZfeSt fisherman who ever halted
hook could ask no easier Way of
landing fish. And only the fact that
II can only be used at certain points
on the stream prevents this machine
from exterminating the salmon in one
season. Imagine q common under
shot wheel, with the buckets turned
wrong way about. This is set IN a
high narrow flume near the bank Of
the eriver, where the current is very
swift. From the down stream end of
this fiume. extended outward at an
angle of forty-five degrees. are twoup5
right fences, formed by pickets driven
closely together into the bottom of the
river, and wired to keep them from
washing away. Just above the wheel
at the up stream end, is a platform,
from which a box hume runs to the
shore seq
Now let us see how it works. When
the salmon are running, as every
body knows, they come up in the Coz
lumbia river by millions. The stream
is very deep, and a large percentage
always succeed in getting to the breed
ing grounds in safety. When salmon
are running up river they are COM
stantly ON the lookout for small
streams in which TO spawn. !. Also.
where the current Is very, swift. they
are unable to make 6ead~ay. in the
center of the stream, and consequently
seek the more quiet water near the
bank OF these two instincts the in
ventor of the fish. wheel took q mean
advantage. AT the Cascades, for in
stance, where the water is very swift.
he sets his wheel. Here come the
fish, hugging the bank by thousands
great black fellows, from two 20 four
3cSSStt 3cSSStt long, heading rcsoHtely. up
stream. Nothing can turn them back
ward. That wonderful instinct of ma
ture which insllres the preservation Of
species is nowhere better developer
than In q salmon. Now they are Just
below that widespread fence. The cur
rent. which is rushing through the
fumes, and turning the big wheel
at lively pace, attracts their at
tention. The upper fence, which sets
nearly square across the stream, nalsC.j
! quiet water there, and tllis; flow seems
| to come from the bank. Thfs, to tho
! salmon's mind. is evidently the mouth
OF shallow creek. Here is a spaiefii-
ing ground to our liking, and up this
little stream we go. So they crowd
up between the two narrowing fences
toward the fatal wheel. The first fish
reaches IT, goes With rush TO over
Come the current, is caught by a
bucket, and up he goes high in the
air, while every bucket brings up an
other and another till there is a pro-
cession of ascending fish. AT the top
tho velocity throws the fish violently
upon the platform, from which he
shoots down the iiume to a great tank
on the shore. Here come the fish,
crowding each other forward TO the
busy wheel. None can go under nor
to ono side. None viii go back. And
once n school Starts for wheel the
owner can consider that he has a title
deed to the entire lot.
One wheel will run a cannery. Day
and night, while the run lasts. they
come Lying up the wheel and shoot
ing down the Aume in a continuous
stream. Fortunately there are but
few places ON the river where the
wheels can be worked with this result
Where the fish can keep In the middle
of the river few can be caught IN, this
way. But the men who control these
points are making fortunes. AS It is
salmon arc rapidly disappearing from
the Columbia. -Liyernfore Herald.