The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-04-12
G. WEsTERLUNp.
COMMITTEE or INEvEsTI0ATIoN


Tho above communication WAS handed
IN last evening with request FOR It's
publication It shows upon i,s face tina,
the reports circulated yesterday IN re-
Ssrd TO the fishermen having taken steps
to prevent market men from handling
salmon, were untrue.
Captain J. =. A. johnson. one OF the
oldest and best known fishermen on the
Columbia river. and who Is one OF the
paJrolmcn OF the Union. IN an interview
with an AStorinn representative yesIer-
day. stated
My business as patrolman OF the
union IL to attend TO the affairs OF the
union along the river. the collection OF
dues from members located outside OF
the town. and looking after the general
interests OF the union. Concerning our
attitude Ia regard 10 fishing, | will state
that there Ia no intention on the part
OF the union TO intimidAto or forclbly
prevent non-union men from fishing.
We do not propose TO attempt 10 prevent
outsider from fishing. either for the
markets. or FOR oannsriea The only
thing that the union fishermen will do is
10 visit such men and endeayor TO per
Huadc them not 20 fsh for the packers
untll the price is setll'd.
Il noticed In coming down the river
yesterday from Portlpnd on the steamer
Thompson that that boat carried three
boxes of salmon from the upper river
which were delivered to the Eureka
Packing Company. The fish were taken
on board from small boats on the VIII
lows | also saw few boats fishing op-
posltc Humc'A Some whscls are In OPP
GRAFTON up the river. but are catching
little or no hsh.
Il Wish TO make a statement. In ac-
cordancc with your Invitation and assur-
ance that you are glad TO publish the
facts on both sides. In regard TO the
matter Of the traps at Sand Island.
6lancing at the map OF the lower Colum-
bia river, you will notice that the for
nation ot Peacock spit. Just on Cape
Disappointment. has been materially
changed what was once channel
through the middle OF II is now nllcd
with sand. The new channel runs from
the lower end OF this spit In u northerly
direction between the spit and sand Is
land. into Bakers bay. The piles for
the proposed traps which were pulled
the other day by the fishermen. lie Just
to the edge OF this channel TO the east.
extending towards Sand Island. Now
when We fishermen are out towards the
bar with our nets set. and happen to be
overtakcn by one OF the many sudden
squalls TO which that region Is subject.
all we can. do Is TO make run for
shelter around the south end OF the spit
In towards Sand Island The current
h.g - al ID Nt,.-
possible for fisherman TO withdraw his
nets before being thrown against the
traps when there are no traps on the
beach a man can count on being thrown
up on the sand. receiving little or no
injury. or he can cut mis- nets loose. al
lowing them to drift OH the shore. re-
covering them the following day.
THE fishermen have contended for
years for clear possession OF this drift
ing ground. and II is absolutely necessary
for the preservation OF life that no traps
be placed on this particular stretch OF
beach. This drifting place has been con-
ccded 90 the fishermen by majority OF
those Interested In fishing matters. and /
think | am safe In saying We have the
undivided support OF every Astoria can
neryman In our position In this partic-
ular matter From the best OF author
ity. We have as much right to pun piles
driven there as others have TO drive the
piles, and II IL not question necessary
to hc decided In the courts In other
words, there Is no legal authority for
endangerlng navigation In that particu-
lar spot any more than In any other
channel OF the river,
Now as regards the pulling OF piles
opposite Fort Stevens last Sunday, l win
say that In the first place the Pathfinder
has not been engaged In the pile-pulling
busines, II can be proved that her prin-
cipal employment Is that OF pulling snags
which have for many months caused ac-
cidents and endangered the lives OF fish
ermen In and contiguous to the lower
channel, The piles which were driven on
the sands opposite Fort Stevens, and
which were TO be used In the construc-
tion OF traps, were partly in the channel,
and all OF them were in the way OF re-
fishing boats. which, after dark
and with food tide. cannot always keep
In the center OF the channel With
stiff breeze and strong flood tide. II fish
Ing boat driven against one of these piles
Is sure to turn over. and many q poor
fellow has lost his life In this way when
his friends may perhaps have wondered
what had become OF him. l have been
In many accidents myself. and know OF
what l am speaking"
From the best information obtainable,
there was no fishing yesterday at Bakers
bay, and the news was received over the
government wire that the weather was
too rough to permit of the opening Of
operations, The was no fishing by
gillnetters on the lower river with the
few exceptions stated by Mr., Johnson.
The oregonlan says that the Portland
were flooded with salmon. and
no doubt much OF It was put In cold stor-
lge. These fish were principally caught
1t Oregon City and In the Clackamas,
while few were shipped down from the
upper river Tho policy on both sides
seems TO be q whiting one.