The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-03-31
THE SALMON SUPPLY
Some Practical Suggestions as
to Artificial Propagation.
ACCOUNTING FOR THE DECREASE
Extensive Fishing Believed to BE
Almost the Sole Cause of the
Diminished Supply.

The following letter will be read with
interest, not alone by Gamers, but by
the public generally:
State of Connecticut, Fish Commission
of Inland Fisheries, Lime Rock, March
22, 1S94.-Mr. Samuel Gilmore, Astoria,
Ore.-Dear Sir: have been watching
with very deep interest the reports of
the dlmunition of salmon in the Column
bia river, and have been told by Hon.
Marshall Mcdonald, the United States
fish commissioner, that the supply has
fallen off within the last year to such
an extent that they were not able TO
get enough to breed from at the United
States Fish Commission stations. have
both given the subject of restoring sal
mon 10 their former abundance thought
and discussed it with some of the lead
ing fish culturists of the country, and
all agree that the diminution which has
taken place within the past few years
can be entirely overcome by artificial
propagation. Your river has not been
ture changes to any great extent. The
whole cause must be due to extensive
fishing, and unless artificial propagation
Is resorted to on large scale the result
is obvious. To my mind, the Columbia |
river and its tributaries afford the
greatest and grandest possibilities for
practical salmon culture in the world. |
1t is certainly high time that this very
important work was begun, either by
the canncries or state fish commission
ers Of oregon and Washington, or by
joint cooperation of all the United
tates fish commission. If some plan
hatcheries could be built on the prin-
cipal tributaries of the river, and great
numbers of eggs collected at different
points, the Matching and shipping of
eggs and planting of young fry in these
days being so thoroughly understood. it
is no longer an experiment, and the ex-
pense connected with the same so tri-
fling compared with the profitable re-
suits derived therefrom, by this method
of cultivation, 1 am sure the river
should produce many times more fish
than by natural production. I should be
very glad to undertake such work.
under the direction of the fisheries or
state commissioners; my nine years of
practical fish culture, during which time
L have built three large hatcheries and
nearly all of which time having been
devoted to the study of the salmon idea
from choice, makes me believe / am
competent and well suited to undertake
this work My appointment as state
commissioner in Connecticut was made
year ago, but L served as superinten-
dent of fish culture under the former
board three years previous to my ap,
pointment. At present, in connection
with my state duties, l am superinten-
dent of the Taghkonic Trout Preserve
which I built and organized and which
has now developed into the finest trout
fishery in the country. Last year we
Matched over 100000 of brook trout,
brown trout, lake trout and Atlantic sal
mon, and shall hatch a greater number
of each kind this season; also a large
of lake whitefsh ! hope the
project which L propose will be favor
ably entertained by the different can
ming companies to whom / have
sent copy of this letter, and should
they desire my services l will resign my
here and gladly undertake.
the work as soon as possible. AS to
my adaptability, reference may be had ;
by writing our present governor. Luz {
zon b. Morris. New Haven, Ct; Dr.
William M. Hudson, eX-F'ish Commits
5ioner, Hartford, CT; Hon. II. c. Rob /
nson, Hon. L. A. Cooke Mayor w. w.
Hyde, Hon. Lyman b. Jewell, Hartford, I
CT Hon. J. M. Hail. Vice-President N. !
Y, N. H. & II. r. r., New Haven, CT.
Hon. Nicholas Staub, State Comptroller,
New Milford, CT; Hon. John S. Hunter,
CT; Hon. NJ. j. Houlihan,
Newtown Ct: Hon. VIM. d. Bishop,
CT, and E. II. Moulton,
Esd. Windham, CT Yours, very truly
RICHARD Il. FOLLETT.