, 1890-09-04
LIFE IN THE WEST.
The Fishing Industry OF
Washington.
HIGHWAYMEN IN PIPESTONE PASS
The Oat Forests of This State
The Seven Devils Mining
District.

State Fish Commissioner James
Craw ford is In Tacoma says the Ta-
coma Globe, on his way home from
two weeks trip through the east
ern portion of the state, visiting
Spokane, Little Spokane, Yakima
river and tributaries, the Columbia
as high up as the Little Dalles, fif-
teen miles from the British line, and
other creeks aud rivers, endeavoring
to secure strict enforcement of the
fish law throughout the state. He
found n general disposition to COM
ply with the law, although he had
occasion to cause the arrest and fin
ing several violators of the law. AT
Spokane Falls, he found that only
one mill of half dozen was vlolat-
ing the law by running refuse into
the river. That company, the largest
there, was fined 800 and allowed
thirty days to get burners for their
sawdust, the other mills already
having them. The city, however,
IL as openly violating the law by
jumping ito Bsti uhSV hheo VIZ A.N't
creating o vile odor and assuring
the destruction of the fish. This
not only affects the fish In the Spo-
kane river, but it is very liable to
kill all the salmon spawn in the
Columbia river, where the Spokane
enpties. MIR. Crawford put u stop
10 this and appointed IA deputy
without pay to see that there are no
"a, Il. xsi,,Intinna Of tho Ipxty Thn
Rod and Gun Club at Spokane Of
and cooperation.
On the Little Spokane he found
fishways mt all the dams and no Sc
rious violations Of the law. The two
coal companies at Wilkeson have
put in filters which prevents the
pollution of the river by coal dust.
One large company has not yet
complied with the law, but Mr..
Crawford expects to bring them to
time.
On the Columbia river Mr.. Craw-
ford says the law has been observed
to the letter this season, the arrests
and fines having u salutary effect.
There were over 450, 900 cases, val
ued at over $1,000, 900, packed this
season, which shows how imror-
tant en- industry would he destroyed
by the continuance of such opera
tions as have been going on at Spo-
kane and otherplaces.
Mr.. Crawford is quite pthusiastic
over the Idea of fish hatchery at
Kettle Falls, in Stevens county, on
the Columbia river, about thirty
miles from the Bri ritish line. Here
II fine site has been offered for this
purpose. Although the salmon
season on the Columbia did not be-
gin until late this year on account
of the strike, May II, more fish were
packed than ever. This abundance
of fish Is ascribed to the operation
of the government hatchery on the
ClacknInas river and should make
the value of n state hatchery appar-
ent. Loon lake and some other
lakes are to be stocked with black
bass sent 10y the United States fish
commissioner.
One evil Mr.. Crawford found,
which is beyond his power to reme-
dy, is the running OF mill refuse in
to the Spokane river at Post Falls
and other points in Idaho. There
is some possibility of the Idaho leg
isluture passing fish law this win
ter, which alone can remedy this
trouble. Mr. Crawford seems well
satisfied on the whole with the OBJ
servance of the law, and believes it
will accomplish good deal in the
preservation OF our food fish.
The Butte Miner calls the atten-
tion of Sheriff Lloyd to the alleged
condition of affairs on the remote
confines of the county in the i'm
mediate vicinity of Pipestone pass,
where, during the past few months,
half dozen audaciOus robberies
have bee n perpetrated. Ten days or
two weeks ago Henry Brooks, a
ranchman living on the opposite
side of the range, while en- route to
Butte with load of produce. was
halted on the roadway and robbed
OF SIS, all the money he had. Tho
robbers were armed with Winches-
ter rifles, and their faces con-
cealed by masks improvised from a
piece of blue overalls, with holes
cut for the eyes. One of them kept
Brooks covered with q Winchester
while the other hurriedly ransacked
his pockets and relieved him of his
money, after which he was told to
drive on, tho robbers disappearing
meantime in n dense thicket OF
quaken asp. Since the robbery of
Mr.. Brooks two other ranchinen,
whose names could not be learned,
have met with similar experiences
at almost the same place. In one
instance the robbers secured $l75
and in the other $50. The people
residing in that section and having
occasion to cross the range to do
their trading In Butte are thoroughly
aroused over the outrages per-
petrated upon them, and last even
Ing A. II. Sperry, residing near
Pipestone pass, called Mt the Miner
office and asked to whom the people
of his neighborhood should look for
protection. "1he robberies have all
occurred on this side of the range
and within the line of Silver Bow
county," said Mr.. Sperry, 'and we
have been undecided to whom to
apply for protection. Some think 1t
devolves upon the state authorities,
while others hold that the sheriff
should look after the matter. The
robbers are two small men who, we
think, live somewhere In the vicin-
ity of the pass. However that may
be they have so successfully con-
cealed their identity that no one
knows whom to suspect. One thing
is certain, these highway men should