The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-20

SEATTLE. SATURDAY. FEB. 20,



THE only legitimate argument which has
been advanced against ne use OF pound
nets and nsh traps TO Justify the eomplete
suppression OF their use IN catching sal
mon. is that they TOO greatly facilitate me
taking OF salmon and thus In time VIII
tend 10 completely destroy the Industry.
This argument In not well supported by
the facts. however.
Those who have given the habits OF the
salmon the closest attention. assert that
these fish from the time they leave their
native rivers. never return there but once.
They leave tbs river when partially
grown. return when mature to spawn.
and with this their life cycle Is accom-
plished. It being rarely the case that sal
mon which aseends TIE river TO the
spawning grounds ever returns 70 the sea
Any person vho has visited the head
waters OF the Washington rivers during
the spawning time knows that the banks
OF such streams ara lined for miles With
dead salmon IN countless numbers. An IN
stinct seems TO urge the FISH on and on
20 the very headwaters OF the smallest
streams, battered. bruised and dlscolored.
and there they die by the millions.
Following the salmon and feeding upon
the spawn come the multitudes OF fresh
water fsh. principally trout. which latter
fish feast net only upon the salmon spawn.
but the embryo salmon. when first Matched.
The natural waste IN this manner is enor-
NOUS. and while the fecundiiy OF the sal
mon ls also enormous. under the operation
of purely natural laws. and without hu-
man intervention. either in destruction OF
fssh. or in care for their propagation. It is
doubtful whether more than an eqai-
librium ls preserved between those which
perish ia the spawning and those OF their
posterity which survive to seek the salt
water.
The scientific manner OF handling the
fisheries question is TO put stop TO this
enormous waste which goes on under the
operation OF natural laws: not to augment
that waste. As every hsh which aseends
a stream to spawn Is wasted, because Il
dies without returning 20 tide water. there
would DO no waste II every salmon was
caught Immediately upon entering the
strcam, providing that tho stream was re-
stocked annually with artiacially Matched
salmon fry. Herein the operation OF traps
or pound nets would become absolutely
necessary.
Fish caught by Elil nets are drowned Al
once. Those caught In seines are more or
less bruised and injured. A fish enters a
Es~a~
without snoountering anything 10 injure
a.. In the pound II can remain without
injury for days al time. From the
pound they can DC driven into crates. and
flowed without Injury 20 the place where
a hatchery is located. At a properly con-
Quoted hatchery. the percentage OF loss Is
light. Tho spawn and the young fry are
protected from their natural enemies. The
properly iFnpresnated spawn from one sal
mon IN fab hatchery. viii result IN
more young salmon eventually reaching
the size 10 make the trip 10 the sea. than
results from the natural spawning OF thou
sands OF salmon.
The true manner % preserving the sal
mon industry Is by tho constant opera
ton OF salmon batcheries on every stream
20 which the salmon resort. In that man
neF. and In that alone. can the supply be
kept undsminiahed. The hAtchcEles al
ready IN existence receive their entire sup
port from funds raised BY licensing pound
nets and traps. Win these fishing appu-
aaces denied the right 70 continue opera
tion. the fand ceases and The hatcherie
must close. unless they are provided for
by funds raised FROM direct taxation.
The Asking Industry should pay Tor SIS
own protection rs best protection is the
establishment OF nsh hatcher.eS. TIE true
solution % the question II the legislature
really desires % so,ve II. and is not simply
engaged vPan a blied warfare upon capt.
ssi sne Industry. Is the iiecn-inx % al ash
ina appliances. whether traps. pound nets.
seineS or gfu nets. in precise accordance
With their relative sestruetivsaess ana the
utilization OF al TIE funds 80 raised n .he
establishment ara raAIatenance q lisa
hAtoher!es On every stream % wh.-A sas-
mon resSrs-