The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-19
A CHANCE FOR THE OFFICERS.

II various reports that have reached
The Astorian from private sources be cor
rect, and there rs no reason to doubt that
they are thoroughly reliable, Fish Com
missioner Mcclure and the officers of the
newly formed Association of Columbia
River cannerymen for the propagation OF
flsh Will have their hands fuli for the
ne.st few months. Seemingly dead to all
sense Of the Importance OF a fish hatch-
cry, fishermen, Indians and, in some in
stances, capitalists, have looked on
streams where such contrivances are To-
Gated as the legitimate field for their
unluwfth operations. We spoke at length
yesterday on the subject OF Mr.. Cross
and his dam in the Clackamas river,
and we wish to call the attention of the
authorities today to other impediments to
the free spawning OF fish which abound
in the same locality and do comparative
ly just as much harm.
Poor Lo, the unsophisticated and mild
eyed Indian, as he exists within a con-
Siderable radius OF the Clackamas, is a
good subject for watching Notwth,
standing his dense ignorance Of the Ma,
poleonic fad and the silver question, he
knows thing or two and Is generally
quite smart enough to take matters easy
no matter where he takes them from.
These Indians are in the habit OF swoop-
ing down periodically In bands OF three
and four hundred at a time, and snarIng
the largest salmon just as they reach
the spawning grounds. Mounted on cay.
uses, the whole band then get away to
convenient distance and salt the fish
down. After a while they send scouts
out to see II the coast Is clear and then
return to rob the spawning sands Of more
fish. Over and above what they utilize
from this stock for their winters eating
they have considerable quantity OH
hand which is readily bought up by In
terior Indians, In the course OF bartering
operations which take place at regular
Intervals
Along in the vicinity of the new spawn
Ing grounds, where the big hatchery Is
now being completed, are several white
men, or rather white Indians, who do even
more damage than their black-skinned
brethren, and who need just as much
watching. They seize every possible op.
portunity TO poach on the forbidden
grounds and have regular system OF
spying by which they keep themselves
informed OF the movements OF whatever
officers happen to be around to trouble
them. They use very short nets which
can be quickly handled, and. we are sorry
to say. find ready market in various
localities for whatever they catch.
It certainly does not, cannot, need any
statement OF ours however strong, to |
Impress upon men so intelligent and SO
alive to the Importance OF the new salmon |
hatchery as those who have charge of
the enterprise. the vast responsibilities
lhee oaey HoNo ohOuauoreu UT the mag |
nltude OF the trust that has been reposed
in them. That they have to combat In
the fulillmenb of that trust the evils
that we have enumerated from time TO
time, seems to be In the nature of things,
for no great enterprise that the world
ever saw has been brought to success
fla complexion without a constant dis,
play OF vigilance and hard and bitter
battle against obstacles In Its path.
Whatever action these officials in their
wisdom see at to take against the men
who continue to threaten the life of Ore,
yon's greatest industry, should receive
ne moral support OF every citizen OF the
tate.