The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-23
SYSTEM or FISHERY LAW.
.Jofnt Commission Of America and Cam
ada Here DevfsiDg It.

---a solr- fish commission for Great
r,~f.a8r and the United States 20 investt-
rate fhA Snerfe9 In waters CONTIGUOUS
~ me houndary OF America and Canada,
has arrived in the city. Richard Rat1bun.
Who for tventy-one years has been a
member OF the United States FISH commits
sion. represents the American govern
r,snt. and DR.. william wakehaTn, Of the
department OF marine and fishifs of Can
ada. represents Great Britain, and c h
Marcy accompanies them as secretary and
stenographer. The joint commission was
appointed 70 serve three years and has
already been in existence for two years.
During that time IL has examined fisheries
on the Eastern coast and the Great Lakes,
and this the last year. VIII he spent in
The West.
The task is a large one. as II Is neces-
sarv 70 inspect the condit6 rs " aa bodies
Of water which in any way louch toe
boundary line and 10 report plan OF joint
action by the two government for the
protection Of the FISH and 20 recommend
some uniform method covering the two
countries and the several states On the
border. In America each state has It's
own laws and in Canada there Is gen
eral law, but for the general good IL
seems to be the plan to make system
uniform in its main features Mr.. Rath-
bun said last evening 10 a Post-ln'elh-
gcncer reporter:
I'VE arrived on the Cast a week ago
and have spent that time in looking into
the conditions on the Fraser river. The
FISH there are principally salmon and we
have not found any scarcity, as the INDUS
try as yet IS quite new. There Is an I'M
mense amount OF fish caught at the mouth
Of the river in seines, but as long as there
Is no apparent shortage no action rs re-
auired The catch or the Alaska Packing
con1pany. at Point Roberts, being entirely
IN American waters, does not come under
our Official notice.
We will spend the next two weeks
down Sound, examining into the condition
on the Straits and will pass out beyond
Cane Fiattery 20 the hahout banks. The
Puget sound fishermen who operate on
Queen Charlotte sound will receive no at
tention as no complaint has been made
OF their having dshed within the three
mile limit
1--WE are examining the conditions from
a scientific standpoint, each of us having
access 10 all OF the information on the
great subject Where there is a decrease
We ascertain the cause end recommend
a remedy If there is any. Our mission is to
devise methods of protecting the FISH. We
also get general information on the fisher
les and ascertain from the dealers at ev-
cry port the amount OF their catch.
Last year on the Great Lakes on the
American side we found shortage OF
white fish. There, as the task was enor-
nous. we employed fifteen men, and we
still have one there TO complete the work.
We frequently have the assistance of col
lege professors and there are four, includ-
ing President Jordan. OF Stanford univer-
sty. who have proven themselves very
competent. and Judge James O. Swan, of
Port Townsend. has a knowledge which is
invaluable. These assistants only receive
81 day. which but pays for the wear and
tear of clothing.
Yes, / was a member of the fish COM
mission when pretty young, but Ii is the
custom 10 select young men who are spe-
cialists from college. and they must pass
the civil service examination"
With an eye 10 ecohomy and good
health cooks on this Coast use Prices
Cream Baking Ponder