The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-09-21
The Alaska Salmon Going.


the Columbia River presents serious
problem, the destruction of the salmon
in Alaska waters is even more serious,
lecausc even more extreme measures
are rcsortcd TO in those waters that in
the streams of Oregon and Washing
ton. Tn the one case the fish have to
contend with nets, fish-wheels and the
like; in other they have in addition to
these foes the deadly and effectual
barricade, which absolutely prevents
any fish ascending streams so SO off,
and does not allow any to reach the
s. awning grounds. In the former in
stance there are state authorities who
strive in way TO preserve the feb,
but in the latter the packers assume
full sway, disregard law and order, and
go in with free hand looking not to
the future, but only to the present.
This matter has hcen taken up and
quite fully discussed in special re-
port made 10y Commander Jefferson F.
Moser of tho Fish Commission steam
er Albatross. Referring to the matter
of barricades, Commander Moser says:
"When a person interested In can
merry is questioned regarding the de-
crease of salmon in Alaska waters, he
is likely 10 assure you at once that
there are just as many salmon in tine
streams as thee ever were, and begins
his proofs by citing years like 1896.
when there was a large run of reddish
in Alaska but any disinterested au-
thority on the subject will say that the
streams will fail entirely within few
years, there is no doubt that the aver
age runs show fewer fish year by year
and If the laws are not amended and
enforced, the time will come in the
not very distant future when the can
neries must suffer through their own
actions.
"The causes OF the depletion are the
barricading OF streams and everlasting;
in other words illegal fishing"
After citing statistics to prove very
ef1eclually that the streams are being
depleted, and that it is only a question
of time when the canneries will be
rendered useless by their own hands,
he continues:
at was u matter. Of great surprise
to discover the large number of streams
which were either actually harricaded
or which showed indications of having
been harricaded, Notwithstanding the
strict law forhidding such distractions
The maximum penalty being $1,000
fine, three months imprisonment, and
u fine of $3.50 per day for every day
the obstruction remains.
"When the attention of those known
to have an interest in keeping the sal
mon streams Ill n normal condition
his been called to the existence of bar
ricades, with the expectation of hav-
ing them join in protests against their
construction, it has been surprising to
hear some defend barricading as right
and the belief has been inevitable that
it su Oh. persons were not directly con-
cerned, they at least encouraged these
practices. The statement was made
in certain localities that it is impossi-
bic to obtain sufficient fish to compete
with other canneries without barricad-
ing. This is very true, but the argu-
ment is absurd, and needs no comment.
Equally absurd defense of barricades
was made in other parts of Alaska.
.'The effect OF barbados can bc
readily appreciated. Salmon come to
the streams to ascend for spawning at
certain dates, from which there is lit.
tie variation. At first few straggiers
appear, then small schools, and the
schools grow larger and larger as the
the season advances. AT the mouths
OF the streams the fish accustom them
selves to the new conditions in brack
ish water, and If the river is open tt
their passage they soon ascend to The
lakes and thence to the spawning bed;
A whole school has been known to as
cend in one night. If the stream il
barricaded. preventing their ascent
they school around in the bay or inle
at the approaches of the streams, ma,
apparently leave the vicinity Tor 8
short time, and then return and re-
peat this process many times. While
thus schooling in the salt water they
do not reach spawning condition sc
rapidly. and continue suitable for can
ming a longer time. Some of the fisl
that are more advanced toward The
ripenlng period. in their frenzy to ge,
to the spawning grounds fairly attack
the obstruction, and have been known
to dash themselves against the timber
with such force as to be killed or did
OF exhaustion caused by the repeated
attacks. Briefly, the barbados CORA
the fish, and thus permit the fisher