The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-26

Tho Efforts OF CouGress to Bring Them
Under Suitable Regulations.


Under Suitable Regulations.
WASHINGTON. June 25.-The statements re-
Gently made in Congress regarding the protec-
ton Of the salmon fisheries OF Alaska give
good idea both Of the value Of that industry.
which Is the largest in the Territory. and Of
the imminent danger Of its extinction. Last
year the exports Of Alaska included $685.
cases OF salmon. valued at 50. 153.32S. besides
$500 barrels Of sailed salmon. worth S73. 900.
The canned salmon alone must have exceeded
33.000.OOO pounds. The salmon catching and
canning business gives employment to about
$500 men. and requires 100 steam vessels
and 500 fishing boats
Unfortunately. this industry Is carried on in
way that threatens destruction to tho fish.
The practices spoken of during the Senate de-
bate have now been going on for years The
report OF the Interior Department for 1889
gave this account OF them:
The total pack OF the present season at tho salmon
canneres will not mich exceed 10000 OF four.
pound This is falling of in the catch. al.
though the last years run exceptionally large
One of the assigned for this 10 the dimnu.
tiOn in the number of nsh caused by everlasting and
the barricndng of the streams SO that the fish
go up stream to deposit their spawn Tho Collector to
whom assigned the duty OF preventing tho barri
caGng of the mouths OF tho rivers &c
give the matter attention for want Of transportation
and money TO defiay expenses.
The following year the game department re-
ported that tho Governor had urgently asked
legislation by Congress to protect the fisheries.
" In many places the salmon fishery is over
done. and in many more unwise and dcstruc-
tive methods are employed" 1t was further
pointed out that the methods in vogue were
most unjust toward the natives. by robbng
them OF the sources Of food supply which they
had enjoyed for generations. They are bound
to their local resorts fishing grounds and tho
habits Of their ancestors they know no other
way or means OF subsistence" Capt. Healy
some months ago reported that an Indian out
break was threatened in consequence OF this
action OF the canncries: and certainly IN up
rising caused BY tho destruction Of the food
canneries. although they give employment.
apparently, to about one-iourth OF the regis
tered r1ru!nt,"n OF AlmskH q; ar, unnorul.r 1t
nre brought from Victoria and Portland to do
their work. and arc only, laid Off wnen they
serious trouble wa, recently threatened by IL
Sharp reduction in tho price paid to the In
There is artNall nothing being done" said
Mr. I,ntt in the Senate, TO preserve the sal
requires alloHt four Years after it Is hatchcu to
grow sufficiently 10 return to the stream where
now noing caught out. Earricades and dams
have been erected on tho streams. 80 that It is
headwaters Of the stream where it is necessary
safe to say that in live years time. MS tho bust
enough lett in Alaska to make the business ut
81 ID S"F w9 n it VIII Sc Pa So
belief that Mr.. Plat was not ovtrst,ting the
case. and added that the enormous SALMON in
dustries Of tho Columbia River Were threat
cnrd with ear " extinction. from tn" same
cause. Already." h. said 'on the. Tributary
streams of tn. Column la, Yhrro salmon were
abundant years ago. thcy have almost dlsap-
pcared." Yet there. Of course. the states have
been n,le to enforce thor police reg ulativns to
Il great extent. while III Alaska tho waste goes
Oh unchecked. Tho testimony 81 Mi. pulph
was even more direct and conclusive:
saw last year with my own eyes dams built across
and nets stretched across the small nlets and fresh
water streams which the salmon accustOne ell
Ia that entirely prevented them tom reaching ther
spawning ground; and saw thousands upon thousands
Of salmon thar had been taken ny nets and other APP
piiarres and not canned but thrown hack dead.
boating upon tho waters OF the va ions inles in Alaska
What. then. is to be douc? 1t Ia proposed to
appoint special Treasury agent to look after
THIS matter. 1t must not be supposed that a
subject so i'm portun, has been wholly neglected
10y Congress. An existing law. that Of March
2, 1888. torui!s the placing az Larricndes IN
the streams. and provides for the punishment
OF persons who do this. Tho Collector of tho
Port II Sitka has instructions to EN-. rec that
law. but there IL 10 appropriation for tho ur:
pose. Now 1t il proposed. ut an EXPENSE OF
$4,000. to appoint an agent with means 20
enforce the statute: and certainly the ietts
already recorded Justify this course.