The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-05-26
THE SALMON HATCHERY
Magnificent Site Selected By
Protector Mcguire.
THE UPPER CLACKAMAS
IE UPPER CLACKAMAS
Affords all Ideal Spot for PrOpa-
CATION of the FinDy Tribe--AstO-
ria's Plans Feasible.

ria GldHS ftdblUle'
The Oregonian of yesterday makes the
following report on the proposed salmon
hatchery:
Fish Commissioner Mcguire returned
yesterday from trip Of inspection to the
headwaters of the Clackamas, where 1t is
proposed to erect salmon hatchery, and
he is fully prepared to make a most IA
vorable report on the project to the asso-
citation of packers which is to provide the
funds. He was accompanied by Super
intendent Hubbard, of the Lower Clack-
amas hatchery; Henry Medium, ex-sur-
veyor of Cllckamas county, who acted as
guide for the party, and King Spurgeon,
a young man who knows all about salm-
on and fish culture. The trip required
seven days. including three spent in act
ual exploration, and survey, and the
explorers have returned home thoroughly
convinced that the plan for a hatchery
in that region is perfectly feasible.
1.-THE point selected as a suitable loca-
tion for hatchery is about 55 miles from
the mouth of the principal tributary of
the Willamette, and right in the heart Of
the Cascade range. There the Clackamas
comes tumbling clear and cold from its
sources in the snow-capped mountains,
and spreads out over broad plateau in
deep pools, shallow gravel bottoms and
gentle rlffles-an ideal spawning ground
for the Royal Chinook. The Clackamas
there carries almost as great a volume
of water as 1t does at the government
station, and 1t is beautiful stream. Be-
low, from North Fork to Eagle Creek,
stretch of many miles the stream runs
through deep canyons in sefits OF cataA
racts, and whirlpools, that are inaccessi-
BILE even to the most daring fishermen.
"The site selected for the projected
hatchery is in the wilderness, and may
now only be reached by a tortuous and
dangerous Indian trail which, at one
point, runs along the bank Of a precipice,
with the Clackamas 1900 feet below.
While the explorers were creeping along
the treacherous trail at that point, one
of the paclHhorses slipped over the edge,
and started for the river. Fortunately a
fallen tree about 100 feet below stopped
his progress, and he was rescued, with
some difficulty, unlnjured except for few
scratches and bruises. This was the
only really exciting experience the party
had, although they were nearly lost on
several occasions. Mr.. Meldrum, however.
proved an excellent guide. While coun-
ty surveyor he subdivided all that Sec
tion, and he left a sufficient number of
blazed trees and other marks to enable
him to pick his way through the wilder
ness The trip in was mostly up hill work
and required three days, for riding was
out of the question most of the time, and
the explorers had to walk.
"That portion of the river explored by
the party has been favorite rendezvous
for Indians in the early summer for many
years. An old settler told Protector Nc
CURE that the Indians in former years
packed out on horses thousands Of pounds
of the finest Chinook, dried and smokt d,
These fish were easily taken from the
shallow gravel beds, which make the fin
est natural spawning beds. During the
past four or five years. salmon have be-
come scarcer, as Mr. Mcguire thinks, be-
cause of the distractions In the lower
river. Still, in the opinion of Mr. Hub
bard, there are enough salmon there now
to make 1t profitable TO establish a prop
agating station In that vicinity. The ex-
plorers did not see any salmon, for they
-. ixrtn In ba
the heat of June and July to come out
upon the spawning beds.
The hatchery building is to be located
at the mouth of stream of clear, cold
water. where everything needful can be
easily secured. Close by, racks can be
put in at a comparatively small cost,
for the conditions are all favorable. The
only difficulty will be in securing lumber
for the buildings To get 1t there 1t will
be necessary to cut about four miles
of road up the mountain side, and from
10 to Is more along the ridge. Mr.. Mel
drum is now working on an estimate
of the cost, which will probably not ex-
ceed $1,000.
After making a thorough exploration
and survey OF the section. visited, the
party started for home last Wednesday,
arriving here about noon yesterday. 1t
was hard trip and the party had to
put up with many hardships, but all
were thoroughly satisfied with the result,
and feel that they have been amply re-
paid. Mr.. MCGUIRE will forward his re-
port to Astoria as soon as he can get II
in shape, and he thinks that the packers
Interested will not be long in taking
action upon 1t, for the spawning season
is fast approaching. II anything is to
be done this year, It must be done at
once.
Upon his return, Protector Mcclure
found waiting for him a letter from
United States Fish Commissioner Mar
shall Mcdonald, in which that official
again expresses desire to assist In
every way in the protection Of the salm-
on Industry. and its restoration to the
place It held In past years. The letter
closes with the following characteristic
utterances:
" I can only repeat that propagation at
present and proper legislation on the
part OF the state are far more important
than the building OF an additional hatch
cry. You may spend 10000 in the con-
structIon Of hatcheries, but, under the