The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-05-09
THE HATCHERY QUESTION.
Telephone No. 60.


A correspondent writes very senslbly
and clearly as follows on the salmon
hatchery question:
"Al citizens Of oregon, who are directly
or Indirectly interested In the salmon in
dustry have observed with regret the an
nual decrease Of the run Of Qunaula or
Chinook salmon in the Columbia river
and Its tributaries The most important
question among cannerymen and fisher
men Is the cause Of this decline that
threatens the total destruction OF the Co
lumbia river fisheries, and its most eff
Client and practicable remedy A glance
at the official reports will demonstrate
the Importance to the state Of the salmon
trade, as well as its decline. In 1884 more
than 62O00O cases OF salmon were taken
and packed on the Columbia river and its
tributaries, the commercial value Of
which was nearly s4,OOO,OOO. In 1882 five
years later, the same rivers produced
less than $4,000 cases, the value of which
was about 81 $4,000 Last year the Ore
gon output from the Columbia and trlb-
utaries was 100000 cases. valued at $l,OSO,-
400. The above illustrates the urgent me-
cessity OF prompt and decisive action
to protect this important industry. Our
sister state, Washington, waking up to
the sense OF her duty, has appropriated
$4,000 for the purpose of building hatch
cries, and the fish commissioner OF that
state Is looking for a suitable location.
Reliable authorities and personal investi-
cation conclusively prove that the only |
practical method OF fostering this Indus |
try is to establish and maintain suitable |
hatcheries and prolong the close season.
United States Fish Commissioner Nc
Donald, in his last report, urges the ne
.i.n IA
and advises concurrent action OF the
states occupying the Columbia river ba-
sin TO protect and develop the salmon
trade"
The legislature of this state having
failed to make an appropriation for the
building Of hatcheries. Fish and Game
Protector Mcclure has undertaken the
iaudable task OF raising by private sub
scription fund sufficient to build a
hatchery near the headwaters of the
Clackamas Our leading and most enter
prising cannerymen have expressed q
Willingness to contribute literally to this
fund, and Mr.. MCGUIRE hopes to secure
the consent of United States Commits
sloner Mcclure to have the hatchery OPP
Grated at the expense Of the government
Every person interested in the salmon In
dustry in this part of the state should
deem It privilege to contribute to this
enterprise, and II all will unite in giving
Mr. Mcguire the support he reasonably
expects he will be in position to build
hatchery which will not only be
great beneft to the salmon trade. but
credit to the state.
The people of this city, perhaps more
than In all the other states combined,
are vitality interested In this question Of
the preservation and breeding OF the Col
umbIa river salmon. The industry is the
very foundation stone Of our existence,
and without It our progress would be
infiniteslmal. This much conceded, and
certainly no business man OF standing
would attempt 10 deny so obvious a
fact, we should let It be known through
out Oregon, that the people at the mouth
OF the river intend to lead Off the sub
list and boom II along till the
necessary amount has been procured,
Perhaps the best locality in the state
for the erection OF this hatchery Is the
river, but the very best care
should be exercised to remove every OBJ
,truction that this stream contains, and
beyond all II should be insisted on, be-
fore one cent is subscribed to the fund,
hat no fishing Of any character shall be {
carried on within a very large radius
II the locality where the hatchery is lo-
,atod. Mr.. Mcclure, however, has made
his question careful study, and we /
believe that he can be relied on to bring \
iis own knowledge and that Of the can
ierymen and others prominently ident-
led with the industry to bear on this Inn
,ortant matter before any final steps are /
aken The Clackamas possesses condi- !
Ions that pronounce It an ideal stream :
or the spawning OF salmon, the pure, 4
lear mountain water and the nature Of I
he river bed making II splendid local. !
ty for this purpose I
We believe that the headquarters OF q
he Ciackamas would prove much bet $
er location for a hatchery than the one Z
ow occupied. Chinook ealmon are natur, d
.lly inclined 70 go as FAR up stream as 4
ossIbie in search OF spawning grounds.
here would be no saw mills above this
atchery. and consequently 1t would be
rec from the annoyance and damage of !,
awdust and other mill refuse. And in a
dditIon there would be less danger Of c
he fry being destroyed by other FISH. r
he projected hatchery should easily be
Bic TO turn out eight million fry annu-