The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-15
500 and 802 First Ave-, Seattle.

nish an endowment in natural wealth pro
ducing resources TO TINS much favored
state Of Washington of which any state or
country might well be proud. and than
which certainly no other state in the
Union is more richly favored.
The fishing industry OF the state, which
has already. through the energy and thrift
Of the people. reached that stage or deNei-
opment when it can be said 20 be at
least one Of the most important as a
wealth producer in the state. is stili in It's
very infancy and contains possibilities Tor
future development. the vast proportions
of which can at this time be but family
coujectnred.
But Rome was not built in a day our
fishing industry, like our fair state. Is yet
young, and must receive years Of the care
ful. patnstakfng intelligent energy OF our
people who devote their attention 20 tire
business OF fishing before the industry viii.
or can. be made 10 reach that high state
Of development OF which its very capabili-
ties are deserving. To my mind among
the many things necessary TO be done for
the proper development OF this important
industry in our state there are two which
are perhaps OF more vital Importance than
all the others These are proper and eff
cient laws and artificial propagation The
laws at present Oh our statute books are
good so far a. they 80. but are In some re-
spscts inadequate To the proper protection
and growth OF the industry, and speedy
remedy in the way of additional and more
efficient legislation is not only desirable
but necessary.
The laws OF the states OF Washington
and oregon should be uniform with re-
spect 10 the industry on the Columbia
river the desira bility Of which will. ! APP
prehend. be apparent 80 an, especially 20
nose familiar with the difficulties eucoun-
tered during the past season hy reason ~
the nou-concurrency Of the laws OF the
two commemorative. The question Of jur-
iSdiciion over the Columbia has been de-
cided bv the United States district court
Of Oregon 70 the effect that whore there is
concurrencv Of laws there is a cOncurTeucy
OF Jurisdiction. but unless such concur
rrrcy Of laws exists ueithor state can eX-
tend its jurisdiction beyond IS boundaries
The statutes of the state are wholly de-
flclent in legislation bearing upon the
gathering of statistics -----'-'~~ - the
fishing industry hy the state fish commits
sioner. and in my annual report 10 the
governor this year ! have called especial
attention 10 this defect and urged the en-
arfmeut bv the next Legislature - laws
similar g. those ~ other states. making IL
obligatory upon owners and operators Of
canneries and others engaged IN the fish,
.ng industry 70 furnish the com missioner.
when called upon such statistics ns mHv
be al their command. and fiNing a suifan bic
penalty for uon-comp liancs wffh the same
Another matter Ia this connection which
has quite recently been brought f0rrihlv
% my attention. and which is ~ more
than ordinary interest and importance 70
many persons engaged 10 fishing In Puget
sound IS the question ~ the states iuris-
airtlon in the Gulf ~ Georgia owing 90
q decision rendered by the superior court
~ Whafcoul county. 80 the effect that "the
Gulf OF Georgia Is not portion % Puget
has "a. earfr of
considera hle revenue which would other
wise have been derived from fishing liceus-
&C. besides causing considerable annoy
ance a. persons DESTROYS 81 fishing in fhose
waters. and 20 the hsh commissioner
While T cannot agree with the decision %
the honorable court. ! have recently re-
fused applications Tor licenses on those
waters. fn consequence ~ which nanda-
mus proceedings have been commenced ia
The esn-erns court OF The state and ~ may
n1W b. conadentEv expected that the mat
ter will fs- a8iu8irafet before abe ha gin
ming ~ another fishing season. IL is nv
orinfsu Tho laN W.fIJ e. held 10 apply 70 AT
ere sa4t waters ~ Northern Washington
rv thls ~ raars- so rot mean the salt
waters az me Pacific aHy sense
In regard - The important matter % ar
tf@-fa4 uroro1aticn og fish. cons. la-4 f,ie
has already aeen done 30 tals direction
with hlEalv satisfactory results AZ the
tas+ SESSION I'tt A4tr a4l 4sA'I1-
u-st5on ~ F2' 's was made Tor fhs 9Hl--
rsose % tre artafvsad propagation ~ SAT-
mon. The act also created "a board ~ FISH
Commissioner. - consist - tae governor
state treasurer ami the state fish cornmiE-
.rnrer whose dag.es are 60 select sites for.
erect and operate salmon nsaeries. The
resrassensent ~ tbs hateheF1eS after their
construction Is plarsd in the aan1a ef t1e
e.ste fish comm isssoaer. This Law pros
vf5es thaf the arsI hatchery sua@ r. on
tire Columbia river OF one al Sc Tributaries
and am Erstt3ed 90 state th5t thia pro-
VISION las aireaGy heea complied with
Az admirable site u ~ sele1te1 - tie eoLs4-