Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-08-12
FISH PROPAGATION.


the Astoria Progressive Commercia
association have prepared fish bill
which will be introduced In the mex
legislature, and 1t would be advisabl,
for the people Of the interior Of tho
state to inform themselves, and make
their wishes known to their repre-
sentatives beforethe legislature meets
The bill provides for an annual ap
preparation by the state of s25, 900 fol
the purpose OF carrying on the artific-
ial propagation OF salmon, a thing
that is done, only much more exten.
sively, by every other other state In
the Union that possesses within Its
borders fisheries OF anyl commercial
value. This bill also makes provis.
ion for the raising Of large amount
Of revenue, fully $4,000 per year, by
way Of licenses. 1t provides that
every canncry and cold storage plant
shall pay tax according TO the
amount OF fish handled, that every
trap, seine, wheel and glllnet shall
pay license as we'll as every man en-
gagged in the work OF fishing on any OF
the waters OF the state.
II the people of Oregon wish to tax
themselves s25, 900 a'year for the bene-
tit of Astoria, and some other points
along the coast, they have perfect
right to do so; but there Is no good
reason why the fisheries should be
favored above other indurtries.
There Is no good reason why the
fishers OF SALMON should be fayOred
above the fishers OF trout. There are
number OF streams within a days's
travel OF Salem In which fine sport
could once be had. but which haye
been "fished out" as the Columbia
Is being tished out. Artificial propo-
cation of trout would afford many
a dainty dish for people all over the
state. Why not have trout factory
The Russian thistle has found It's
way into Eastern Oregon and is
spreading with alarming rapidity. IL
is estimated that 1t would now cost
$4,000 TO extermlnate the pest, and |
the people OF that section are pro-
posing torasc money among them
selves for the work. Why don't they
call on the legIslatureY
There are many sections of the
state where the deer have been hunted
for their hides and extermlnated or
driven off. Why doesn't the state
establish deer farms and replenish
the woods with game? The hide
hunters we're no more destructive of
their owu industry than are the
traps and seines OF the Columbia,
which take any fish larger than
four inches In length.
There are in Oregon tens OF thou
sands OF acres OF land which has been
denuded Of It's timber by the lumber
men. State tree planting would
furnish material for the wood cutters
OF the Immediate future and the saw
mills OF our mere remote posterlty.
Let's have an appropriation for the
retlmberlng OF our hills.
IL Is even said thatSome OF our older
farms need fertilization. Why doesn't
the legislature encourage the bone
and sinew or our com mon wealth by
renewing the fertility OF the soil
from which the state derives its
greatness
But TO come down TO business, why
should the state appropriate .money
paid by the state at large, TO bolster
up an industry which by It's own ac.
count is not self sustaining II there
Is not profit enough 10 the salmon /
Industry 10 pay for its own preserya-
tion, why should the state pay the
dehcit9 Ia nutshell, n the salmon
fishers want artificial propagation,
Why shouldn't they pay for itY