The record-union., 1891-03-01
WHY SALMON ARE SCARCE.
DR.. Hardness Says 1t is Due to the
Canneries.
Some Facts that Should Have Bear
ing on Bills Now Before
the Legislature.

The following letter from DR.. II. W.
Harkness. President of the California
Academy of Sciences, will be found of
interest in this connection:
Upon re-examing the subject, with
the view of determining the cause for the
scarcity of salmon in our rivers, we find
that the principal agent engaged in their
destruction is man. He accomplishes this
in various ways-by the fouling of the
rivers by manutactories, by dams and
other obstruction, and chiefly by seine
fishing.
THE modern appliances are so perfect,
and the pursuit of fish so active and per-
sistent, that we are convinced that should
the fishermen comply with the law in
every. particular, even then the salmon
would disappear altogether from our
waters but when we take into consider
alton the fact that all unfair means are
resorted to for the purpose of increasing
the catch, we are no longer at loss to
account for their scarcity.
If our fishermen would but pay a
decent respect to the laws, and further
more would capture only sufliciency
for the supply OF the market with fresh
salmon. our river, with assistance from
the State in the way Of restocking at in
tervals, might still continue to be pro-
ductive for an indefinite period.
There Is one source Of waste, as we
look upon it, however, which should be
prevented by the authorities, viz: the
canning interest From time to time the
Government has expended large sums of
money for the purpose of stocking our
rivers with salmon. This is the act of a
paternal Government with the sole idea,
as we view ii, OF furnishing to all of the
inhabitants of the State, so far as it is pos
sible to Go so, an opportunity for supply
ing the table with cheap, nutritivo ar
ticle OF food.
The taxpayers at large are called upon
to pay the cost, and allnre alike to share
In the benefit Let us examine for n
moment, to see if there is a fair distribu-
ton of the results of this outlay. If, as
has been previously stated, after the
stocking OF the rivers, fishing: was con-
Quoted in accordance with the laws (tish-
ing being prohibited during certain days,
IN order that percentage of the breeding
fish might escape); also, that the close
season should be strictly observed.
and further, that the exploration of fish
should cease under these conditions, we
believe that our rivers would. for an in
definite period, continue to furnish sal
mon in quantity sufficient to meet the
home demand.
mo sooner, however, does the salmon
appear III tolerable abundance than the
Gamer begins his work. Either by hiring
boats or fishermen himself, or by offer
my tempting EcWdIuS 10 Ilo fisherman
for his catch, he is enabled to cover the
river with boats in such numbers as to
capture large proportion of the product
OF the stream before they can pass his es-
tablishment.
If the fish so captured We're distributed
as canned provisions among our people,
there would be some slight excuse: but
when we come to learn that all, or nearly
all, are shipped away to foreign sountries,
we begin TO realize that the people are be-
ing defrauded of their Just dues.
The Gamer may claim that he is real
1zlng but small percentage of profit, or
he may affirm that he has met with ma
terial loss, yet this has nothing to do with
the subject. lie is responsible for the in
crease of the price of fresh fish, and he is
to be blamed for the final exhaustion of
the rivers. There is no river, however
rich 1t may be i'll salmon, but must event
ually become impoverished if the Gamer
is to be allowed to pursue his vocation,
even when under limited Government
surveillance.
During one year, some time back.
| there We're two thousand men and one
| thousand boats engaged III the salmon
| 1lsherIeS OF the Sacramento River alone.
| How many of these We're EMPLOYED by
| the Gamers we are unable to determine.
AS his means of canning fish are practi-
cally unlimited, and he has the world for
|
| his fishermen until the stream is so far
exhausted as to be of no further value.
In our judgment, the business of the
Gamer should cease, or else the Govern
ment should abandon the plan of stock
ing the rivers when the results are so un-
satisfactory.
''We feel that this is a question of the
greatest Importance. and that the atten-
ton of the authorities should be called to
it, and that the facts should; be set forth sc
| clearly as to induce them to take steps to
remedy the evil.
ITO illustrate the case still more fully.
we will suppose that our rulers should.
while acting in the capacity Of paternai
| Government, determine to set aside a
large tract of land for a deer park, where
| large bands Of these animals might be
cared for with the view ultimately that
| venison should be furnished cheaply al
certain seasons to the people of the State
| What would be said of the economy OF
| such proceeding if the Governments
| during the hunting season, should permit
individuals to kill the deer without him
derance for the purpose of canning the
flesh so secured and sending it away to d
| foreign nlarket?"