The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-11-09
Washington Hatcheries.

pOrClOn Oh CnOSe engaged IN the lnuus
try fees which were placed in a. hatch
cry fund for the purpose of later build
ing hatcheries for the artificial propa
CATION of salmon. By the time The
Legislature of 1895 met in session.. 8
considerable fund had been secured
from this source and an appropriations
of SIC, 900 was made for the building
of these institutions. Tile first station
was built on the Kalama river, a tri.
butary of the Columbia about fonrand
one-half miles from the town of kala
ma. During the same season, another
station was erected near the village o.
Chinook on Chinookcreek, tributar,
OF the Columbia river emptying into
the Bakers, bay. The following year
the third hatchery was built on Baker
Lake on the head waters of the Baker
river, tributary of the Skagit river
which flows into Puget Sound.
The Legislature of 1897 made mum.
Der of changes III the law of 1898, in
creasing the license fees somewhat
and taking in several classes of fishing
gears not before licensed. This law
largely increased the receipts from
this source and the hatchery fund con
tinued to grow. The Legislature oil
1897 appropriated $1,000 for the con-
structiOn of the fourth hatchery cree
ted by the state, to be built on the
Chehalis river, tributary to Gray's
harbor. This hatchery was erected in
the fall and winter of 1897, but not in
time to be operated until the season OF
1898.
The Importance of the salmon in
dustry had become so great and the
needs of the industry so apparent that
the Legislature of 1899 treated this
question in very liberal manner.
The license law from which the fund
is obtained to build and maintain the
fish hatcheries was again changed, the
fees in some instances being more than
double; and other branches of the in
dustry were taken in and compelled to
bear their portion OF the burden. The
Legislature also made large appropri-
atoms for the erection and mainten-
ance OF 16 new hatcheries covering all
of the principal streams IN the state
The amount Of the appropriation was
$44, 600 for construction. In addition
to the above. there was appropriated
the sum of $4,000 for improvements
on the hatcheries already in operation
and the further sum of $47 $50 for the
maintenance of the new batcheries to
be built and the sum of $15 900 for the
maintenance of those already in oper-
alton, making total appropriation
| for the construction and maintenance
of hatcheries for the years of 1899 and
1900 of $1OS,75O.
Six of the hatcheries authorized by
the last Legislature have been con.
structed and are now in operation and
arrangements have been made for the
construction of two more this season
making eight new stations for the
year 1899. The last Legislature auth
orized the sale of Baker lake station
to the United States government
which was turned over to them on
July l, 1899. There are now in oper-
alton understate control nine hatcher
les. the two yet to he built making IL
more than three times as many as has
any other state in the United States
No other state has ever approached
such appropriations for purposes OF
this character.
While the above seems a large sum
Tor this purpose, no part of these ap-
preparations comes from any source
except the license fees; the new law
has fulfilled every requirement that
was expected of it and the operation
has been most satisfactory. From
Jan. l, 1899, to August over $4,000
has been collected in license fees. This
large sum will undoubtedly De in
creased for the year 1900, giving ample
funds to construct and maintain the
eight hatcheries authorized by the
Legislature and yet to be erected
With the completion of the number
, above stated, the state will have Is
salmon hatcheries operated by .tb,
state and two operated by the nationa
, government, making total of 2.
!. stations in this state with capacit,
, of 13O,OO0,OOO fry per annum, costin,
the state and government over SCI ,OO
for construction and an annual outla,
OF over $50, 600 for maintenance. Thi
, viii not be more than necessary {
|, keep up the supply for the enormou
catch Of the present year, careful Ell
Inmates placing the output of salmo
alone for the state of Washington a
over $5,OOO,OOO.
The future of this industry depend
very largely on the successful operatio
OF our lhatcheries, fact now so we
u understood by our citizens that ther