The record-union., 1891-02-24
THE CLOSED SEASON FOR SALMON.

ElSeWnere IN THIS issue OF the RECORD
UNION we print paper on the salmon Of
the Sacramento River, which in a trench
ant manner presents the whole question
of the closed seasons for that fish. We
invite especial attention to the paper. An
effort is now being made to have the
closed season for salmon enlarged. It is
now from the Goth of August to the 1st of
October. The Fish Commission say that
it should prevail from the 1st of August
to the first day of October.
A bill to effect the necessary change
was introduced in the Legislature and
should have prevailed as drawn. 1t has
been shorn of half its virtue on COM
promise that may well be supposed to
have been of the half-loaf order. But
even the poor remainder is begrudged
the people by the Unsuitable fisherman.
What the Fish Commissioners recon-
mend in their report should outweigh
offered by the cannery men. These can
ners are really not TO be considered in the
matter. because their interests are not
common with those of the State The
prime purpose of propagating food fishes
and stocking our rivers and lakes with
them is to provide cheap food supplies.
So far as any surplus is concerned it may
be permitted to be taken for commercial
purposes. Really the Gamers are at en-
nifty with the State, for the reason that
that they want the closed season confined
to the month of September, while the.
preservation of the fish demand that the
season should prevail during the months
OF August and September.
IF the Gamers are to have their way the
most industrious labor of the State in
propagating salmon viii come to naught.
We have the authority Of the United
States Fish Commission for the state
ment, that unless more salmon reach the
clear waters of the McCloud River during
September, due allowance of time for the
fish to ascend the Sacramento being made.
than have arrived there during the past
two years, the salmon industry will be
destroyed. Superintendent Williams. of
the United States Commission, which is
furnishing this State gratuitously with
salmon for stocking, declares that the
closed season must be placed back in
August and in September also, or the
salmon will cease to inhabit the waters of
this State.
few years ago the canning interests
secured the passage of the present law,
and the result has been disastrous. The
canning men object to the repeal of this
law upon the ground that it will throw
great many men out of employment for
two months in the year. But suppose it
does: if the old season is not restored the
men will be thrown out of the vocation
of salmon-fishing altogether. Which is
better-that they shall withhold their
hands for two months or go out of the
BUSINESS The Senate bill which treats
of the subject is compromise and makes
August alone the closed season. 1t is not
creditable to the State that any compro-
mise should have been made. What the
State and the United States officers
recommend in their official reports
should be the guide for the Legis-
lature, since it would be the hight of abb
surdity TO take as against them the stories
of the fishermen, who care for the present
only. while the States work in propagat-
ing the salmon and stocking the rivers is
for all time.
But even the month of August the
fishermen and Gamers object to; they de-
sire the law to stand as it is-a law they
! frightened a former Legislature into pass