Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-02-25
THE FlSHTRAP BILL.
Nature Of the Measure Passed by Wash.
ington's Lower House.

tIlc Stdtc Vi OIeSbll are greatly INTEREST
ed in the bill now before the legis-
lature in Olympia, which relates di-
rectly to the fishing industry of the
Columbia river, Puget sound and other
waters within that state.
The bill has already passed the lower
branch of the legislature. 1t proposes
to abolish fishtraps, and wheels, pound
nets, weirs or other fixed appliances,
as proposed by Governor Rogers in his
message to the legislature.
The bill, in addition to abolishing
traps, wheels, etc, changes the present
law by putting local licenses annually
of $50 for each seine, $40 for each gill
or driftnct, and $l.50 for each setnet.
1t also provides that it shall be unlaw-
full to catch salmon between Saturday
noon and Sunday evening ut O'Clock.
The bill by sections, follows:
"Section /. 1t shall not be lawful
for any person or persons to use or
operate any poundnet, trap, weir, wheel
or other fixed appliance for the purpose
of taking fish within the public waters
over which the state of Washington has
exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction;
provided, that setnets, gillnets or drift
nets and seines may be used for such
purpose at any time that it may be law
full to take fish in such waters and
streams.
"Sec. 2. Any person violating Sec
ton shall, upon conviction, be fined
not less than 500 nor more than $500,
or imprisoned in the county Jail not
more than 60 days, or both such fine
and imprisonment, and all appliances
used in violation Of this section shall
be seized, and declared forfeited to the
state.
'Sec. 3. The size OF the mcshes of
all seines used shall not be less than
four inches, stretch measure in the
bunt or sack and any person violating
this section shall be fined not less than
800 nor more than $500, and in all
seines and other appliances used in
catching fish otherwise than herein pro-
vided shall be declared forfeited to the
state.
"Scc. 4. The fish commiss Toner
shall issue all license under this act to
each and every person authorized to use
the appliances herein mentioned, and
shall issue separate license for each
appliance; provided, that he shall not
issue to exceed two licenses to one and
the same person or persons for seines
and gillnets; and shall not issue to ex-
coed two licenses to one and the same
person for setnets; and any person u.s.
ing any of the above named appliances
without having first obtained such IL
than $50 nor more than $500, or i'm
prisoned in the county Jail for 60 days,
or both fine and Imprisonment.
"Sec. 5. No one shall fish except by
rod and line in the waters of this state
from 10 O'Clock M. Saturday to 6
o'clock p. NJ. Sunday. Any one violat-
ing the provisions of this section shall
be fined in any sum not less than $50
nor more than 500.
"Sec. 6. Any person or persons to
whom license shall be issued shall ap-
ply to the fish commissioner, who shall
collect for each license issued under the
provisions of this act an annual sum of
$50 for each seine, $40 for each gillnet
or driftnct, $l.5 for each setnet, and
shall pay all sums SO collected into the
fish hatchery fund.
"Sec. 7. No seines shall be used
within 1000 yards from any point in
any direction whatever from an imagin-
AIRY line drawn across the mouth of any
river or stream in Washington, and
the points between which said line
shall be drawn shall be fixed by the fish
commission.
";ec. s. No seines shall be of great
err length than 1 800 feet, and no drift
net shall be of greater length than
1900 feet, and no setnet shall be of
greater length than 100 feet.
",;ec. 8. Amy person owning,
operating or using any sctnet, seine,
gill or driftnet shall cause to be placed
in a conspicuous place on the buoys
thereof, and also upon the seining
boats, fishing boats and sails OF the
same, the number designated by the
fish commissioner at the time of issuing
the license; and any person violating
any of the provisions of sections 7, 8
and of this act shall be fined in any
sum not to exceed 500.
"Sec 10. The term person or per-
sons, when used in this act, shall be
taken to include partnerships, associa-
tions and corporations.
"Sec. II. All moneys collected for
licenses and fines and for the sale OF
any and all appliances used in viola
ton of any of the provisions of this act
shall be turned into the state treasury
and placed in the fish hatchery fund,
and the surplus, if any. of such fund
shall be turned annually into the gen.
eral fund of the state treasury.
"Sec. ~. This act shall take effect
and be in force from and after the LIST
day of January, 1898.
"Sec. 10. Nets or other fishing APP
pliances shall not be used so as to OBJ
of any river or stream or any branch or
channel thereof, and setnets shall be
kept apart at least 800 yards. And no
fishing by any appliances mentioned
herein shall be carried on within three
miles of any state fish hatchery or
natural spawning ground. Any person
violating this section shall be fined not
less than $50 nor more than $780,"
A minority bill was prepared and
signed by six members of the commit
tee. The bill changes the present law
but little, although it increasesthe an