The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-12-08
OREGON'S GREAT
FISH INDUSTRY
Commissioner NcGuire's Pull Report
for Year 1897.
PROPAGATION THE QUESTION
Hhat Mas Been Accomplished by the Unitsd
States Fish Commission Needs
Of the Future.
PROPAGATION THE QUESTION

The failure Of the state to make pro
vision for the artinctal propagation 0
salmon on the Columbia river at the sev
eraa sessions Of our legislature In iga
1886 and 1881. would cerdiinly have prove,
4 calamity had not the United States nsi
I commission. Railing how largely IN,
great salmon tishery OF the ColurnbL.
river depended upon ARTIFICIAL ptopaga
| ton. decided 10 take up the work the stat,
had neglected 20 provide for. That rht
national commission must have consId.
cred the future OF the Industry as seri.
ously imperiIiei by the failure OF the
state 20 make provision for the work. IS
ciear1y apparent from the fact that only
a little over two years ago the United
States fish commissioner. by direction OF
congress. made an Investigation and re-
port 10 the senate on the condition OF the
Columbia river salmon fisheries. in
which report ne recommended r1at no
steps be taken to Increase the fish cul-
turai operations Of the government on
that river Until the states bordering on
It should enac; laws absolutely necessary
In the opinion Of the commissioner to the
successful prosecution OF the work. l
quote from the United States fish COM
missioher's report to the United States
senate.
The necessity Of concurrent action on
the part Of the states occupying the Co.
lumbia river basin and Of their cordial
cooperation IN measures necessary to
n'hintain the salmon fishery Of the Co
lurnbia river and to improve It. is evident
from a consideration Of the facts pre-
sented. The investigations Of the United
States FISH commissioner in the Columbia
river basin made under the instructions
Of Congress, clearly Indicate that there
Is a serious deterioration in the product
and value Of the salmon fisheries OF the
river. that this deterioration is TO be
attributed in large part II not entirely.
to the exclusion Of the salmon from their
spawning grounds by uhe operation OF
the net fishermen. and that artificial
propagation on an adequate scale to COM
pensate for the waste OF the fisheries. is
no longer possible under existing condI-
tions OF the fisheries. - Tue use OF
pounds. Sill nets. traps and seines in the
lower river from the Cascades to the
mouth. should be strictly limited To the
months OF May, June and July and the
wheels should not be permitted to take
salmon prior 10 the middle Of May.
should the policy above outlined be
adopted by these states and requisite
measures to carry it into effect be en-
acted and enforced. It will be possible for
the United States fish commissioner and
the state commissioner to greatly enlarge
their fish cultural operations and to prose-
cute them under much more satisfactory
and economical conditions than at the
present time Until the states interested
adopt measures TO restrain fishing so as
to permit a portion at least Of the sal.
mon entering the river to pass up to their
spawning grounds. It is not deemed wise
or expedient to attempt to increase or
extend the work OF artificial propagation
OF the salmon. All efforts will be disap-
pointing and Improbable and negatory
so long as uhe fisheries continue under
existing conditions and would recon-
mend therefore. that no further steps be
taken at present looking to the estab-
lishment OF additional salmon breeding
stations in the Columbia river BASIN.
The commission must certainly have
the future OF our salmon fish
cry seriously menaced when our legis-
lature adjourned in 1895 without enact
ing into law any Of the recommendations
for the betterment of our fishery laws so
strongly urged by This office and the ma
tional commission, for, Notwithstanding
the recommendations quoted above. Com
missioner John ]. Brice, during the past
two years has made every effort possible
to increase fish cultural operations in
the Columbia river basin, and, although
hampered by inefficient laws, the effort,
I am happy to say. has been crowned
with phenominsl success, Not only has
he taken all the eggs possible TO obtain
in our own waters, but he has had several
million eyed Chinook salmon eggs sent
here from Battle Creek station. Cali
rornia, which were Matched at the clack-
amas hatchery and the resulting fry
turned into our waters.
To Illustrate the Importance Of this
great work II is only necessary to com
pare It with what has been accomplished
here in fish cultural opeutions In former
years. Last year there were 1882 900
eggs taken in the Columbia river basin,
Of which over 100000 fry were success
fully Matched and turned into our waters,
this being double the number ever propa-
gated in any previous year. The present
season has proved to be the banner year
in fish cultural work on the Columbia.
The national commission, evidently en-
couraged by the success achieved during
the season Of 1896. extended its operations
with the commencement of the present
year, operating four stations; one at the
hatchery on the lower Clackamas river
and the Salmon Packers Propagating