The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-09-14
The Fish Trap Evil.

come tefore the next session of the
legislature will be that of the fish trans.
Until quite recently, the seine fisher
men and the people of the upper
Sound who could appreciate the effect
OF the traps from personal knowledge,
stood alone in opposition to the trap
interests. However now tn. people OF
the state, not directly interested in
fish traps, are coming to realize that
the wholesale taking of fish by means
OF the traps will soon ruin the fishing
industry altogether, as it has already
ruined the small fisherman, The fol-
lowing articles will show the trend OF
sentiment.
The FISH TRAP EvIL.-The forth.
coming legislative assembly of Wash.
lngton should certainly enact legis-
lative safeguards to foster and to pro-
tect the great salmon industry irom
the ayaricioHs encroachments OF the
fish trap evil, else the people of the
state will witness similar condition
which exists on the Columbia river.
The character Of the remedial legis-
lation is a subject requiring thought
ful consideration, deep research and
patient examination to intelligently
and adequately understand the requir-
ments of the industry. One impera-
tive safeguard is the limiting or re-
striction of the trap-lead to at least
1000 feet. In the waters of the San
Juan archipelago is trap built with
lead over 5000 feet in. length. And
at the point where the trap is located
it almost, because of the great length
of its lead, obstructs the passage of the
sockeyes in their annual pilgrimage
from their ocean home to their native
spawning grounds for the purpose OF
reproduction. Another important
remedial provision would be the cre-
alton of an open day, say Sunday,
during which period all fishing oper-
ations should be suspended. On the
Fraser river all Sundays during the
salmon run are rigidly enforced as
closed season, and which experience
has shown to be wise and beneficial
provision.
The costly penalty the Columbia
river cannerymen are paying for the
destructive methods with which they
have well nigh exterminated the sal
mon industry, should furnish timely
warning to Puget Sound. Through
the Incorporate employment of those
destructive devices, the fish-trap and
the fsh-wheel, the peerless tyee, the
largest and most valuable food fish of
'tlle salmon species, has almost entire
ly been exterminated in the Columbia
river. In fact the evil has reached the
magnitude that the people of Oregon
are demanding pledge from all the
legislative candidates, that they will
enact law providing for at least the
temporary abolishment of the fish-trap
and fish-wheel; for an increase of
hatcheries, and for any other legis-
lative safeguard necessary to the pro.
lection of the salmon industry.-Clal-
lam County Courier.
OPPOSED TO FISHTRAPS.-The abOli-
shmentof the fish traps on the Sound
is now being agitated to a consider
able extent, and seems to meet with
approval. The result of the present
operations has demonstrated pretty
thoroughly that the gill meters have
the advantage of the argument in
more ways than one, and that the
bereft 20 be derived by the commun-
ity be largely increased should All end
be put to the fish traps. They have
proved since their adoption to be of
little benefit to the locality in which
they are situated. They are even said
to be determinal to one of the greatest
industries on the Pacific coast.-Skag-
it County Times.