The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17

nish an endowment in natural wealth. pro-
ducing resources to this much Favored
state of Washington of which any state or
country might we'll 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 devel-
opment when it can be said to be at
least one of the most important as
wealth producer in the state, is still in its
very infancy and contains possibilities for
future development, the vast proportions
of which can at this time be but family
conjectured.
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
full, painstaking intelligent energy of our
people who devote their attention to the
business of fishing before the industry will,
or can be made to reach that high state
of development of which its very capaDlll-
ties are deserving. To my mind, among
the many things necessary to be done Tor
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 on eur statute books are
good so far as they go, but are in some re-
Spects inadequate to the proper protectlon
and growth of the industry; and speedy
remedy in the way of additional and more
efficient legislation is not only oeslraple
but necessary.
The laws of the states of Washington
and Oregon should be uniform with re-
spect to the industry on the Columbia
river, the desirability of which Will, ap-
prehend be apparent to all, especially to
those familiar with the difficulties encoun-
tered during the past season by reason OF
the non-concurrency of the laws of the
two commemorative. The question Of jur-
isdiction over the Columbia has been de-
cided by the United States district court
of Oregon to the effect that where there is
concurrency of laws there is a concurrency
of Jurisdiction, but unless such concur
rency of laws exists neither state can ex-
tend it's jurisdiction beyond it's boundaries.
The statutes of the state are wholly de-
ficient in legislation bearing upon the
gathering of statistics ro~+o'~ing to the
fishing industry by the state fish commits
sioner, and in my annual report to the
governor this year I have called especial
attention to this defect and urged the en-
actment by the next legislature of laws
similar to those of other states, making 1t
OBLIGATORY upon owners and operators of
canneries and others engaged in the fish
ing industry to furnish the commissioner,
when called upon, such statistics as may
be at their command, and fixing a suitable
penalty for noncompliance with the same.
Another matter in this connection which
has quite recently been brought forcibly
to my attention, and which is OF more
than ordinary interest and Importance to
many persons engaged in fishing in Puget
sound is the question of the states juris-
diction in the Gulf of Georgia. Owing to
a decision rendered by the superior court
of Whatcom county, TO the effect that 'the
Gulf of Georgia is not a portion of Puget
sound" the state has been deprived of
considerable revenue which would other
wise have been derived from fishing licens-
es, besides causing considerable annoy
ance to persons DESTROYS of fishing in those
waters, and to the fish commissioner.
While cannot agree with the decision of
the honorable court, I have recently re-
fused applications for licenses on those
waters in consequence of which manda-
mus proceedings have been commenced in
the supreme court of the state, and it may
now be confidently expected that the mat
ter will be adjudicated before the begin
ming of another fishing season. 1t is my
opinion the law will be held to apply to all
the salt waters of Northern Washington.
By this I Of course do not mean the salt
waters of the Pacific in any sense.
In regard to the important matter Of ar
tificial propagation Of fish, considerable
has already been done in this direction
with highly satisfactory results. At the
last session of the legislature an appro-
priation of 1000 was made for the pur-
pose of the artificial propagation of sal
mon. The act also created a board of fish
commissioners, to consist of the governor,
state treasurer and the state fish commits
hioner. whose duties are to select sites for,
erect and operate salmon fisheries. The
management Of the hatcheries after their
construction is placed in the hands of the
state fish commissioner. This law pro-
yides that the first hatchery shall be on
the Columbia river or one of its tributaries,
and am gratified to state that this pro-
vision has already been complied with.
An admirable site was selected by the CO