The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-14
THE SALMON PACKING IsDUsrKY.


The Chamber Of Commerce of Portland,
Or. has recently memorialized congress.
urging that sn appropriation be made for
the projection and propagation Of salmon
in the Columbia river and other rivers of
the Pacific coast. II is urged that the
salmon packing industry. which has been
a great source of revenue to the people of
the Pacific coast. and has given to the
world delicious article of food, is in
danger of destruction because of lack of
restrictions in regard 10 the catching Of
fish, and disregard of restrictions which
have been made by the several states in
terested.
The industry in the Columbia river has
been injured because of conflict OF juris-
diction between the authorities of Oregon
aud Washington. The Oregon authorities
claim the right TO prescribe regulations for
the entire river. while Washington very
properly insists upon its right to exclusive
jurisdiction to mid-stream. This differ
enee has tended to prevent the proper
execution of the laws, although Fish Com
missioner James Crawford, of Washing
ton, has done his full duty under dis
eouraging circumstances, and has done all
within his power for the prevention of
illegal fishing.
Mr.. George T. Myers, the well known
packer. in urging the adoption of the me-
mortal referred to by the Portland Cham
Der of Commerce. gave the following in
teresting facts regarding the salmon pack
ing industry and its threatened extinc-
ton:
"Until recently the Columbia has been
the greatest salmon-producing river, be-
sides being more famous for the superior
ity and fine flavor of its salmon, than any
other river in the world. On its banks
has been established an industry that
within the past twelve years has produced,
as our statistics show, $4,000 cases OF
canned salmon and Is. 900 barrels of packed
salmon, valued at S3l. 500 900, and at the
same time has given employment To 23.-
coo people, and has been the means of CIV
ing Oregon a reputation abroad for the
superiority of her products.
''Since 1858 the manufacture and pack
ing of canned salmon has been gradually
diminishing, until today the pack is only
little more than one-half of the pack of
1883. Taking an average OF the pack for
the past Ave years would make this aver
age.
I'm 1898 the combined pack Of Oregon,
| Washington and California was only $751;
| 600 cases. From these facts we are natur-
| ally led 10 infer that our grand Chinook
| salmon of the Columbia river will become
extinct.
| Congress should be made to see the
/ serious necessity of at once taking some
immediate action. We are menaeed with
| loss that We cannot recover financially,
| besides loss Of employment 20 thousands
| of our citizens. The duties paid annually
| on tin plate and twines and other matert-
ais used In the manufacture and packing
| of canned salmon approximate about
| 1925 90.
Ar the same time We would ask that
/ our legislatures of Oregon and Washing
/ ton should be appealed 20 to enact such
/ compulsory laws as would protect sal
mon and other food fish at certain times
| from fishing; also eondemning rivers and
/ tributaries In which are established hatch
/ cries.
My experience In the matter convinces
me that had we proper hatcheries and alb
i solute laws for the time of fishing We
/ would have an abundance of Chinook SAL
| mon, without fear of extinction, no matter
| what DEVICES we're employed TO capture
| salmon. such are our laws that there is
not enough propagation and too much
] Illicit hshing and infringement of the fsh-
i ing lass"