, 1890-09-25
LIFE IN THE WEST.
Indians Must Become Citi-
zens or Have No Oysters.
CURIOUS FISHING PROVISIONS
Natural Gas at notwithstanding
Time With a Bear at Lost
Prairie.

Under the provisions OF the treaty
between the United States and the
Indians on the Sound, the latter
were given the privilege of fishing
and taking oysters In these waters,
says the Shelton Sentinel. Here
toforo everything has worked
smoothly; but now that the state
has made provision for the sale of
the tide lands, the Indian begins to
see his occupation vanish, and la
much exercised thereat. The white
men are getting in and filing their
claims preparatory to entry of all
the valuable oyster lands of tho
Sound, and soon the luscious BIZ
valves will become private prop
erty, which, of course, shuts out the
guileless, aflectionate aborigines.
The Indian can not enter lands
until he becomes n citizen, and
hence many are seriously consider
ing the question Of severing their
tribal relations and assuming the
duties and privileges of American
citizens. One good result which tho
tide land Is working out.
Natural gas has been discovered
at Astoria and yet most of the peo-
pie are content to sit with folded
hands and make no effort to develop
the prospect, says the Astorian, or
ascertain for n certainty IL can be
found In paying quantities. AT last
1t Is being agitated, and last evening
in the chamber of commerce some of
the live men of Astoria made IA move
looking toward the development of
the well to- find If gas can be had In
abundance. If 1t can, II will prove
of great benefit to all. Several wide
awake men are willing to invest
from $50 to 500 each In order to
sink well and see If gas can be
found. Who are some more live
men who are willing to join them
in the movement? 1t Is worth
spending some money on such
good prospect ms was found Mt War
renton. Captain Gray, Hon. T.. w.
Fulton and Il. Van Dusen arc tho
committee.
Mr.. JefIreys, n sportsman from
Olympia, came back to Kamilche
from Lost Prairie to-day, SAYS tho
Mason County Journal, where he
had very exciting time with hig
bear. Having fired Mt various
game, his ammunition had almost
run out, when he came across the
bear. He fired his renal ming shots
and then came to close quarters.
where he was compelled To Use ia
hunting knife, and by lucky
stroke, succeeded in finishing the
| bear without getting damaged by
the animals weapons. This being
the first exciting adventure with IA
bear, he feels much elated ut the
success, now that 1t ends happily.
He says that next time he goes
hunting, he will go heeled for bear,
with large gatling gun and an
ammunition cart.
The fishing and packing of stur-
geon on the Columbia has grown to
pretty large proportions during the
past four years, greater and more
important than Is readily realized,
says the Astoria Pioneer. There are
now two stations for receiving the
fish In this city, each receiving from
ton and half to three tons day.
The price paid Is u cents for un-
dressed and cents for dressed fish.
John Wallace paid one man alone
81, 100 for his last seasons catch. AS
the season lasts but six or seven
months the return for his labor was
very good. Most of the fish are
caught without bait. "A line Is set
with corks to keep afloat TO which
are attached short lines with hooks
which reach almost to the bottom OF
the river. These short lines are
about three feet apart, and rs the
sturgeon are moving about In quest
of smelt or other food they run into
the hook, aud ~ they have points
like needles 1t takes but slight pres
sure to catch the fish. The fisher
man in his boat can tell by the ac-
ton of the cork If he has n fish.
Almost all the sturgeon caught are
sent East fresh and there smoked
before put upon the market. Tho
trade Is growing very fast and will
soon be of great importance. The
season begins at the close OF the
salmon season and ends with the
beginning of spring.
Now that the immense smelter at
Tacoma Is in full operation, says the
Olympia Tribune, what is to pre-
vent the development Of the min
eral resources OF the country be-
tween Hoods canal and the Pacific
ocean. Chunks of pure copper
Weighing rs high as fifteen pounds,
and gold, silver, iron and lead are in
the mountains in Unlimited guam
titles.
A quarry of stone has been dis
covered on NJ. ii. Tate's place in
this county, says the Asotin Senti-
mel, that is supposed to be of the
magnesia formation. Some parties
have located the cropping and filed
q notice for purchase under the
| timber and stone act. What the
| quality of the stone is we are un-
able to say, but there seems to be
quite good deal of it, and we hope
1t Is the genuine magnesia.
A number of grave questions, ow-
ing to polygamous Indian mar
riages, affecting title to very val
uable property, will have to be met
when the Puyallup Indian reserva-
la A.. H.. T-.x d