The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-08-13
Leading Cannerymen Advocate a
Change In the Law.
RUN OF FISH GETTING LATER
AtLeast Five Days Should Be Added
and More Fish Canned at the
Mouth Of the River.


precision relative to the 1899 pack al
published Friday morning. and in ad.
dition. TO get concensus OF opinion as
20 the feasibility Of extending the
present open season. an Astorian rep
resentative was detailed to interview
some Of the leading cannerymen yes
terday. One OF the first encountered
by the reporter In his quest was the
genial governor OF Oregon. who. in
company with his father, Mr. II. ].
Geer. is visiting friends in Astoria and
vicinity.
Although you are not a cannery-
man, l am going to ask your opinion
Of the fishing situation. GOVERNOR"
the reporter said.
Il am pleased that you have put
that question" was the answer.
There is a rumor current that came
here TO personally act in enforcing the
closing law. whereas there could be
nothing further from the truth. The
Fates facetiously decreed, l suppose,
that l should arrive In Astoria at the
Identical period when the shut down
was on The truth is, came with no
object other than 10 whiff the ocean
breezes, and find some relief from
the broiling sun in the inland. Con-
cerning the extension OF time beyond
August 10th, you may quote me as
being most heartily in accord with 1t.
talked with the members Of the Push
club last night. and really, for the first
time. was afforded an insight into the
prevailing condition. They tell me
It Is an indisDutable fact that the
salmon are annually making a later
run. Such being the case. the law by
all means should be amended. In my
capacity as the states chief executive,
would support that proposition in
every possible manner"
Would your interest in the subject
prompt you to summon the legislature
In special session to accomplish it?"
1t is true" replied the governor,
that another fishing season viii
elapse before the state legislature
again convenes. Stll to answer that
question with due regard to its grave
Importance would require much
thought and serious investigation. 1t
should not be forgotten that another
season may find conditions more fav-
orable and the Columbia exempt from
a prolonged freshet."
c. II. Chutter. local manager OF A.
Booth 4 Co. said; Il have noticed the
published estimate of the 1899 pack,
and while in few Individual instances
there may have been inaccuracies, l
think, in the aggregate. the figures
were reliable"
With reference to the time extern
sion, judging from the prevailing con-
ditions OF the last two or three years,
l think, FIVE or even ten days should
be added to the present closing date"
Mr., Clutter was asked whether, in
his opinion, the fish now coming into
the river would move beyond the
dalles before the opening OF the fall
season. ~.
Il very much doubt It." he said.
Questioned as to their canning con-
dition there as compared TO this point,
he replied: "The nearer to the ocean
the fish are caught, the better they
are. The longer they remain In the |
river, the more nearly worthless they !
become. AS to the closing period. l |
might say definitely that believe Au-
gust 10th would meet any general
emergency, However, the state OF
the river would still have a great |
deal to do with 1t. For instance, IL |
the freshet should hang on, as it has
this year. and which, in my mind. is
the direct cause Of the current late
run, | believe the fish commissioner
should be empowered to extend the
season in keeping with the exigencles /
Of the occasion. AS matter Of fact,
the freshet has continued this year
later than has ever before been
known. At least that is my impress
sion. This has been the immediate
cause of the fish not making their or
binary rum"
"Are they stin fishing on the WASH
ington side. Mr. Chutter7"
tlrr1. -, .,,o,.. anht.,. -.
ing grounds this morning, and [ be-
lieve It is generally recognized that
those grounds are on the Washington
side. At the same time, I understand |
that Mr.. Taylor has deeds from both
the state of Oregon and the state Of |
Washington. don't know how the
concurrent jurisdiction law would af-