The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-04-10
BENEFITS or HATCHERY
WARDEN VAN DUsEN REPLIES
TO MR.. REED.
Says Salvation OF Future OF Fish
Ing Industry Is In Artificial
Propagation.

Misfer Fish Warden II. g. Van Du-
sen differs with w. II. II. Reed. Of Cor
bett. oregon. as 10 the value Of arti-
fetal propagation TO tht fishing indus
try. In an Interview with an AstOrian
reporter Mr.. Reed declared that all
that was necessary for me replenish-
Ing Of the streams was the rigorous
enforcement OF the closed season. He
stated that the FISH would then seek
their natural spawning grounds unmo-
Tested and that young fry born amid
natural surroundings would be more
capable Of self-prOtection than would
FISH turned out from a hatchery where
they had been fed and cared for.
Master Warden Van Dusen, in an in
terview yesterday. said: There II no
denying that something rs diminishing
the annual run OF fish and some plan
Is necessary to replenish the streams.
Personally believe that the salvation
OF the industry lies In artificial propa-
CATION. As nearly az can be estimated
one and one-half million fish are taken
from the Columbia each year. Last
year the Washington hatcherics turned
l6,625,OOO young fry into the Columbia
an1 tls tributaries. oregon turned in
100000 and the government hatcheries
had an output OF 5.5ss 900. making
total Of 25.SS3. 900. Experts have found.
as the result Of careful experimenting,
that ten per cent Of artificially propa-
gated fish live TO attain maturity, and
this ratio would insure a desirable
yearly increase In the annual run.
"The artificial hatchery OF salmon is
still in an experimental stage but GER
tain facts have been demonstrated so
often that they must be accepted as
truth. About Ave per cent Of the eggs
spawned in a natural state are hatched
whereas In the hatcheries fully nisety-
five per cent are saved. As 10 the lat
ter fish being devoid OF instincts Of pro-
lection there IS difference Of opin-
ion and experts are watching young fry
with a view 10 arriving at a more def
mite understanding Some declare that
the fry should be turned into tire riv-
er al the time they begin 10 feed. 9th
ers are positive that the best results can
be gained by keeping them in tie hatch
cries until six months have elapsed, by
which time they will have reached a
growth OF from four 10 six inches.
IF the six months plan was gen.
orally adopted II Is quite possible that
the fish would have lost self-protection
without exertion However, these are
mere details Of the methods which
meet the dlsapproval Of Mr.. Reed.
There can hardly be any doubt but that
artificial propagation has been OF much
benefit to the fishing industry. and it's
potential importance must necessarily
receive a great deal OF attention Dur
ing my administration Of the office Of
master fish warden | will pay particu-
lar attention 10 the hatcheries and at
the expiration Of year expect TO have
figures that will prove beyond contra
diction the value OF artificial propaga
tion.
II think that with adequate hatchery
facilities the annual run in the river
can be increased to a considerable ex-
tent. We shall use every effort to en-
force the laws OF the closed season. so
that the fish may reach their natural
spawning grounds. In regard to the
hatchery work for the coming year the
most important action of the state
board Of fish commissioners will prob
ably be in agreeing TO the transfer OF
| the Wenatchee hatchery from Wash
| ington TO Oregon. We expect to turn
into the Columbia during the coming
| year from twelve TO fifteen million fry.
and under exceptionally favorable con-
dtions the aggregate may reach twenty
million.
I Warden Van Dusen received a letter
yesterday from Representative B. l..
Eddy, of Tillamook, stating that he was
taking steps TO gain desired informa-
| ton as to the most desirable site in
| the vicinity for the location of hatcn
| cry. Mr.. Van Dusen will probably
leave shortly for trip 10 Tillamook
and will inspect the various sites Of
| ferred. A letter was also received from
Deputy Sheriff f. c. Greenman, Of Ore
gon City, who has been employed by
the warden to aid in enforcing the
laws affecting the closed season, in
which the writer said that there was
no attempts made during the last days
| of the closed season and the deputy
is preparing for a vigilant patrol of the
river and all violaters will be prosecut-
ed to the fullest extent of the law.