The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-10
THE FTsuEnIE. TROUBLE.

Regularly with the cperlrg OF the salmon
fishing seasen On the Columbia river, there
recurs the old trouble between the men en-
gaged In me fisheries on the Oregon side
OF the river and Nose on the Washington
AIDE. This year the trouble geems 10 be
particularly aggravated by reason OF the
strike OF the seine fishermen and their at
tempt TO &c. highsr prices for their hsa
than the cannerymsa viii pay. Last year
the trouble took the form Of a ridiculous
attempt to extend the sovereignty OF Ore
gon and the Jurisdiction of her laws over
the entire river. and to compel the Wash
sngton fishermen to follow the fishing reg
ulations OF oregon. Men from this side,
who had violated no law Of their own
state. were arrested By the Oregon author
tiles. who came within The borders Of this
state for the purpose. were taken before
an Oregon court and fined for violating
an Oregon statute. They were released
On habeas corpus by the Federal court as
q matter Of course.
The Oregon seine fishermen are partien-
larry hostile to the FISH traps in Washing
ton waters. especially in the neighborhood
of Sand island, off Bakers bay, at the
mouth Of the Columbia They claim with
o considerable show Of reason that the
traps. from their location. are q constant
menace and annoyance to the men using
seines particularly at night time. The seine
fishermen drifting down the river with
their nets. come into collision with the
piles around sns traps. their seines become
entangiee therein. not infrequentiy their
boats are capslzed. and In more than one
instance lives have been lost. An add
tional. bit hardy legitimate cause OF
complaint AGAINST the fish traps urged by
the seine fishermen Is that their existence
renders the success OF the present strike
extremely probiematioaI The fishermen an
nounee their determination TO prevent the
Gamers from getting salmon from any
source unless their demands are complied
with.
As o result OF all thi, the fishermen from
the Oregon side have already destroyed
come OF the FISH traps located in Washing
ton waters. built and constructed In strict
accordance with the law Of the state. and
have announced their determination OF de-
s,roylng all others. force OF Washing
ton militia has been sent 70 the spot. ana
I, is altogether possible that serious CON
fict may follow.
1t Is about time that some sensible meth
Oh should be determined upon for settling
this annually recurring dispute. Both
states are equally interested IN protecting
and perpeiuating the fishing Industries IN
the Columbia. u is entirely practicable
for them TO take Joint action In the mat
ser. TO ad9rt exactly identical laws Cor
the regulation OF the Industry. ard to pro-
vide for A joint patrol ~ the river during
ihs season hy officers 81 both states to see
that such laws and regulations are en-
forced.
The status OF the Columbia river as a
boundary line between the two states is
ihat the states can exercise concurrent
jurisdiction over It's waters This as the
Federal court has interpreted it. means
that the states ran by concurrent action
PASS laws and regulations affecting the
rivcr which can be enforced hy the author
tiles 81 both or either Of the states
current Jurisdiction Is Concurrent ieglsla-
t',n. and u certainly oush, not 20 De a
difficult matter 20 arrange for such ie-is-
'a,lon. This IS precisely the method
adopted hy the states OF Virglaia ana
Maryland. in regulating the fisheries in
She Potomac river, which Is common
boundary ~ those Two states
Merely ne sugFes'ion IS 20 manner
BE- whlch such q system ~ concurrent reg
ulalloa might he inauFuTa,el 70 wonid
seem that a eoufereace between the gov
ernors % he Two states might 20 had. ana
with the assistance " those who have
made The question 81 fisheries regulation
a study a general law nigh, be framed
Whhch each governor could submit 90 the
legislature ~ hts state A. the uext session.
II the matter Is taken In hand In this
way. the settlement Of the whole trouble
VII be simply matter % detail