The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-05-21

OF The BIueback
Salmon Packer Expresses The Be.
lief That The Supply VIII
Soon Be Exhausted.

An upriver salmon packer, writing to
a friend in this city. expresses the
opinion that. unless radical steps are
At once take TO protect the blueback
salmon. this variety Of fish VIII soon
entirely disappear The blueback ~
the finest Of all fishes that are suitable
for packing purposes and bring high
price. The flesh ~ rich and much Of
the rivers fame has been brought by
,he bhieback, the determination Of
which would be a serious blow 10 the
saImon industry.
The gentleman who expresses the
eoncsrn for the future OF the blueback
has long studied the habits Of the sal
mon. He attributes the deciins in the
supply OF bIuebacks to the failure Of
the states OF Oregon and Washington
to properly protect their fIsheries In
teres;s. and be Is Of the opinion that
the bluaback may never agan be a
plentiful fish. In part his letter says:
Il do aot think that we viii ever
again see the day that we coula pack
2oC9 or 5000 cases Of bluebacks as
haIf-pound cans to the casel. Under
our present system Of protection, the
bIueback is becoming thing Of the
past. This class OF fish does not enter
the river until late In April. and by
July Is the run is over. As we have
no closed season during this time, 1t
is impossible to secure supply by
means OF gear for propagation purpos-
es. Unless this defect is remedied. ex-
termination Of the blueback must en-
sue.
"As an evidence Of the decline Of the
supply Of bluebacks. 1t Is only neces-
sary for me to say that we have not
packed In excess OF 1000 cases yearly
for the past four years. BY a case !
mean four dozen half-pound cans.
''The blueback salmon swims closer
to the surface Of the water than the
chinook salmon and steelhead, and con-
sequently is much more easily fished out
am OF the opinion that the blueback
will surely be exterminated unltss pro-
vision Is made for its protection. |
a malso Of the belief that unless clos
ed seasons are provided for. your low
or river canneries like those of the up
per river, will soon be for sale as old
lumber. Under the present system the
supply win not last more than 10
years.
The blueback has had no protection
whatever; no attention has been paid to
them nor have they been spawned. Their
decline furnishes evidence OF what will
become of your chinooks and steeiheads
without protection for certain time.
In my estimation, the refusal of the
states OF Oregon and washington to
pass strict Sunday closed law. with
provision in It to burn every piece OF
gear found in operation and another
provision tkat would place the owner
of such gear in the penitentiary every
Sunday during the season, was the
greatest mistake ever made by those
with whom the protection Of fishing
rests"
Fish Warden Van Dusen recently
stated to a representative of The Astor.
ian that he contemplated installing q
blueback hatchery at wallowa lake.
Every year millions of little fish are
seen making their way out Of this
lake, and it is believed the fry are blue
backs, The location is an ideal one
and win unquestionahly be utilized
If so, the supply Of this desirable fish
may be increased to its former proper
tions.