The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-08-09
WHERE rs CREDIT DUE
Fish Commissioner Little Says Wash
lngton Haicherles Produced the
Big Run.

coma Ledger reporter and has asserted
the recent heavy run Of salmon was
attributable entirely 10 the work of the
Washington hatcherIes. The Interview
ls appended:
The presen, large run OF salmon In
the Columbia river Is due entirely % the
efforts oi the state Of Washington and
the United states fish commission" said
Fish Commissioner A. c. Little ye5ier-
day Il have noticed a disposition on
the part Of the Oregon newspapers %
take all the credl; for the large increase
In the run this year to the efforts at
propagation made by he officials Of that
state. Without any desire 20 cast any
reflections on the recent Or past fsh
commissioners Of Oregon. In justice to
the state OF Washington am compelled
10 contradict this statement. and do %
emphatlcally."
Recent issues Of the oregonlan have
contained articles laudatory Of the ef-
forts Of the late Fish Commissioner Nc
Gulre TO propagate salmon, and which
assume that 70 him Is due all the results
that have been obtained. As a matter
Of fact. the salmon now running Ia the
Columbia were propagated In 1897, when
the state OF Oregon had no hatcheries.
, The United States fish commission was
operating the Upper claekamas hatch
cry the. only one on the Oregon side.
The Oregon legislature had not made
any Appropriation for fish propagation
prior to 1898. and during The years 1899
and 1900 operated the Clackamas and
Sandy hatcheries but. owing to the lin
iteI funds. obtained none too good re-
suits.
/ The first Washington hatchery was
established in 1895. and has been added
TO since until the state now has eigh;
hatcheries on the river ami its yribu-
tarles. In 1897 the state had two hatch
cries In the territory tributary 10 the
Columbia river. and turned out a large
number Of fish. and Mr. Little Is conf
dent that 1t Is due 70 other various legis-
latures Of the state OF Washington that
the salmon are 80 plentiful in the Co
lumbIa river today, >.
I'VE have more money invested ln one
o. our secondhand haichsries," said
Mr. Little yesterday, Than the state OF
oregon has in both OF hers. Yet, in
spite OF the fact that three-fpurths OF
the benefits derived from our artificial
propagation on the Columbia accrue TO
oregon. the people OF that state are not
generous or honest enough TO admit the
truth. Nearly all OF the salmon caught
in the Columbia are canned on the Ore
gon side; Oregon capital Is invested and
oregon workmen are employed. We fur
nlsh the fish and do no, even get the
glory
Il do not say this because l am dis
posed to crliicise the oregon officials.
Mr.. Van Dusen, the present commits
sioner. Is a capable man, and so were
his predecessors, Mr.. Reed and Mr. Nc
CURE, Blu; they were handicapped by
the legislatures, They could no; build
hatcherles without funds. Politics has
retarded the growth Of the fish industry.
Here In this s;a;e We have been Grip
Piled to some extent by political influ-
ences. bu, only on a limited degree as
compared with Oregon. There are two
factions in that state on the fish ques-
ton. They are engaged is bitter war,
aud in my opinion they will never ac-
cOmplish anything. The origin OF the
trouble seems 10 have been that the gill
meters on he lower river want TO drive
the fixed gear out OF the river. They
have union and lot of votes, ard al
ways command the attention Of politi-
clans. In he OregonIan Of sunday l
note that state Senator c. W. Fulton is
quoted as saying that wheels would
have oeen abolished by the last legisla-
ture had I; no; been for the senatorial
contest"
The output Of the Washington hatch
cries has been On he increase ever since
the establishment Of the first plant Mr..
Little esd mates tina, they will run out
$1,000 900 fish this year II they have no
bad luck. This is the largest undertak-
Ing that he state has ever attempted
but everything now points to success,
A large number Of improvements have
been male a: Al D. the plants except
the L'tae Spokane and Klickitat hatch
cries. waicn are not being operated on
account Of the lack Of runds on Wind
river the plan; has been moved across
the rlver and an old spring dug out. II
was the original intention to locate the
hatchery on that side Of the river. but
the necessary land could not be OBJ
;alaed at that time. At the Lalaml
station a new water system is being in
stalled to obvia;e pumping, and nur-
sery ponds are also being built. At the
Wena.chee and Me;how hatcheries racks
are being placal in the streams. Al the |
Noosack station a gravity water system
will be installed and as cycling station |
has been put in on the skykomish.
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