The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-24
R|II O. aEATYES Is OVER
Haseherles the OnIy Way - Re-
vive Fish Observation-Disclosures
Expee4Dent-e1lver salmon Now.

There seems little room left for doubt
that the socksye salmon run tor this year
IL comparative failure. Up TO the present
time the numbers .aieer have been 90 much
iess than fer preceding years that many
packers have been led 10 believe that the
run of this particular FISH has practically
become . thing OF the past. 80 .ar as its
benefit 10 the cannertes Is concerned This
Idea, however, Is based upon the SUPPOSE
upon natural propagation for its increase,
and does Rot take into consideration the
Interference Of the fish hateneries 20 keep
the salmon up to their former prolific STAN
dard.
e. r. Thomas. editor Of the Northwest
Republican. OF Whatcom. has made
study OF the fis., industry, and gives some
Interesting facts in this connection
II have read the articles recently pub
llsaed In the Post Iateligencer on the iish
business with much interest," he said. last
night, and from some Of its interviews
with prominent packers see that a general
apprehension prevails that the sockeye run
ID not only small this year. but will con-
tiaus 10 diminish and eventually cease 70
be valuable as regular. steady product.
I do not share this fear. although admit
that the run has been q practical failure
up to the present time this season. In the
first place the peculiarfties of salmon are
not generally understood. except among the
old packers who have gained their knowl-
edge by long experience.
The run may be said to occur in a
four years series. First. a Tong heavy
run. second. not quite 80 heavy but SINH
lar 10 the farst: third. a short, heavy run.
and fourth, . short light run. This Is the
second year and should give long ruin of
fish, but 80 far they have only come In
spurts. showing that something IS wrong
and giving rise TO the faars mentioned. I
think this Is simply an or year. We have
had these disappo.ntments before and they
have come out all right the next season
an general thing.
The work Of the fish hatcharies has
demonstrated their efficiency and TO my
mind, settled beyond question all doubts
as to the future of the salmon production
The Fraser river hatcherles have been
established about thirteen years and in
that time have deposited ~ 00.0Oe fry In the
waters Of that section. white in the same
period only about D.u0 GEO have been
caught. This leaves q large balance to be
accounted for. which has not yet been
satisfactorily done. hence, / say that the
fish is not yet understood in all its habits
and pecuiarities 1t has been proven by
~ PR cent. will survive, as against only
/ per cent. OF the natural propagation. This
OF course. IL the result OF keeping the fry
until they are large enough TO care for
themselves before turning them loose For
the last few years. until this season, the
runs OF salmon have been comparatively
steady, as compared TO what they We're
before the hstcheries were established. and
this is directly attributable 10 the work OF
artificial propagation.
There is now a movement on foo. TO
establish an international Matching station
borne equally by the United States and
Canadian governments. The site of this
plant will probably be chiliwack lake, IN
Whatcom county. one-iasf Of which is on
each side Of the boundary line. The outlet
OF the lake flows into the Fraser river,
and IL II is found that the salmon run up
to the lake II will De an ideal spot for the
hatchery. The Wha.com board of trade
will meet next Saturday to conslder the
question and a commission from the gov
eminent station is expected TO arrive very
soon for the purpose OF making thorough
investigation.
1.-The production for this SEASON on Puget
present time. OF which Blaine has put up
sockeye run is not over yet, nasing their
claim on the Immature condition OF the
spawn deposited. II Is true that the eggs
ara very much understood. probably not
being one-half as large as usual; but. In
my estimation. this i the regular deposit
and there will be nd revival % the run
Int "a DgX s.eufare.l ,tupn he silver