The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-07-28
WHAT MCDONALD SAYS
About Salmon Hatcheries In
Oregon Streams.
IN REPLY TO SENATOR MITCHELL

II 10 UssIsss Ussil the stsas WIN Psss
Lave Giving the Fish Real Prstee-
tion-Does Not Ravss . Hatchery -
the Csianabis River.
WAsHIxo5ox, July 2l.-Senator Mitch
ell has been sending to the Fish Con-
missioners numerous petitions and 10
quests which he has received from differ
ent persons and organizations in Oregon,
asking that something be done to prop
agate the salmon in Oregon streams.
Recently Commissioner Mcdonald sent
70 Senator Mitchell reply TO those sug-
g-stions in which he points out some Of
the reasons why efforts to establish SAL
mon hatcheries by the United States
government are not always successful.
The requests were that there be estab-
lished in the Columbia basin hatchery
which would turn out lOO, 600 900 salmon
Try each year. The most pertinent por-
tons of the reply OF the Commissioners
are here given:
Under the present circumstances
there 10 no location on the Columbia
river or any Of its tributaries where we
could count upon obtaining 5000, 600
egge, much less loo, 600 600, unless poe
sibly in the neighborhood OF Astoria.
where it would be necessary TO utilize
the fall run of fikh for the purpose of
obtaining eggs. At this place no effective
work could be done except by the hearty
cooperation OF the fishermen and the
definite agreement with them in advance
as TO the aid that they would render.
Under the existing regulations OF the
fisheries both in Washington and Ore
gon il is possible at any time for men
fishing TO obstruct completely any river
and catch all the salmon which NAV
enter it. To incur any expenditure OF
money for q hatchery under these cir
cumstancs would in my judgment be
unwise.
I'VE have u hatchery on the Clacka-
mas. and ii this stream were unobetruct-
Ell by nets or dams, we would have
obtained by diligent use OF resources
probably 1900, 600 or $1,000, 600 eggs.
The present season We have had to aban.
don work on the stream for the reason
that q dam has been erected which is
practically impossible for salmon and,
furthermore, the net fishing below il is
70 exhaustive that the entire run of
salmon is taken. This condition will
arise on any river where there lie any
considerable run of salmon sufficient TO
make il an object to undertake il, and
as We can only contemplate the estsb-
lishment oil hAtcheriee upon rivers where
there IL q considerable run of salmon, il
IL evident that at any time, under the
State laws Of Oregon and Washington rs
they now stand, the usefulness of the
hatchery may be entirely DESTROYED.
:" fully realize the urgent necessity Of
taking proper steps to improve the
salmon fishing OF the Columbia river.
The preliminary work which would jus
iifv expenditure by the general govern.
ment must first be done by the States.
The season OF net-fshing must fret be
restricted. No net-fshing should be
permitted and no distractions in the
way OF dams allowed on the tributaries
OF the Columbia where the government
may establish hatcheries"
The Commissioner saye that the man
who would be employed on the Clacka-
mas has been sent 10 the Sandy river to
hold the salmon and collect the eggs, but
he has found that fisherman has erected
n wheel at a point where it is desirable
to work. which renders it entirely i'm.
practicable. The control of the stream
can only be obtained by paying the per-
con with the wheel TO take il away. Mr..
Mcdonald continues:
"Such interferencee will arise wher-
ever we attempt to 60, and parties will
be found everywhere who will make it Q
business to interpoee distractions il the
- -
them. ! should advise that any appro-
priation made by the government for the
erection of salmon Matching stations on
the Columbia river should be accom-
panied by the proviso that no expendi-
ture is to he made on this account until
the States OF Oregon and Washington
have established such regulations in re-
gard to the fisheries and such exemption
in reference to the streams o. may be in
the Judgment Of the United States Fish
Commissioner necessary. 1t is probable
that We might be able to select certain
streams tributary to the Columbia in
which there is At present . sufficient run
OF salmon for our purposes, and should
the States by Law absolutely prohibit the
use of nets in such streams, or the
erection Of any distractions Whatever,
We could ut . comparatively moderate
expense in the establishment OF stations
for the collection Of engs do an immense
and productive work for the Columbia
river. l should say that An appropria-
ton Of &25 900 would be sufficient for the
establishment OF such stations, but do
not think il wise to incur any such ex.
penditure until the States interested
have done their duty in the matter, and
by the exemption OF certain streams
rendered it possible to make such an ex-
penditure productive when incurred"
Union Faciac's May Showing.
BosroN, July e0.-The receivers Of the
Union Pacific system this afternoon L.
sued their statement OF the condition Of
the road for May. The showing is:
Gross earnfngs SIS n IS
flSe - u
supus. SsSSls "
s,SA -
For five months
Sros esrntnes ,xs.&. s.
Expenses, including taxes a,Ss,,7 rs 81
SHrPut ,.....-.'-s.s'....-. 2,Nl W. ~
pecFesse--......-........... S.lS,sS ~
Two Coanterfeisers Sentenced.
Los ANGELES, July 3.-Joe Trieganni
and Juan Duiglinuo. Italian counterfeit.
ers captured in this city two weeks ago,
pleaded guilty before Judge Ross, and