The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-03-20
SALMON IS
CONFISCATED
Deputy Webster Takes Een
While Fishing.
Warden Is Hot After Dealers Who
Cause the Law to Be
Violated.

II Is a recognized fact that the law
regulating the close fishing season is
being persistently violated and Fish
Warden Van Dusen is determined to
bring the culprits to an accounting for
their misdeeds ana IN line With this w
using cyary available means. The
warden himself Is actively engaged to
see ihat-the regulations are properly
enforced and in his deputy, II. A..
Webster. he has an able and tetermin-
ed assistant.
Deputy Webster and q companion
left cathlamet Wednesday at p. m.
In small boat and headed in the d.
rection Of Astoria. On the way down
they visited all the streams and every
spot on the river where violaters were
likely to be and short distance above.
Tongue point their efforts were reward
ed, II was In Prairie channel that
Deputy Webster ran upon two fisher
men who had out their nets and were
doing land office business.
The meeting was rather unexpected
on both sides. for while II was known
that Praise channel Is frequentel by
men who fish out OF season, Deputy
Webster on this occasion had some
thing else On the string. Neverthe-
less, he was prepared for every eEers
gency ana ne acted at once.
The men, on the other hand, were
constantly on the alert for officers, but
were under the impression that they
travelled In launch, which on a still
night as Wednesday could be heard at
great distance. Therefore they were
taken by surprise when the skfff con-
tanning Deputy Webster and his COM
panion pulled up along side Of them.
They were so completely OF their
guard that they did not make the least
effort to effect an escape and submit
ted without any show of resistance
whatever. The fish. 700 pounds, were
confiscated. but the mel were subee-
quently released, after 1t was learned
who they were and proceedings
against them are temporarily suspend
ed. This was done 50 that bigger
haul can he made later The immediate
prosecution OF the fishermen, the dep
uty realized would in all probability
defeat the plans laid to capture the
chief offenders. The confiscated goods
were brought here and disposed of.
Deputy Webster did not reach this
city until late Thursday morning and
was greatly exhausted with the trip,
which being conducted in very round
about way, proved very wearisome.
While the fishermen are in no sense
guiltless before the law for the viola
ton OF a very important statute. 1t Is
realized that the 'chief offenders are
those dealers who by substantial offers
induce them to fish during the close
season. The fishermen only follow
the vocation in response to these offers
and feel justified in making a few dol
lars though 1t is done in an irregular
manner. Intelligent men are not NUN
bered among them. but rather those en-
gagged in the practice have not studied
the situation thoroughly enough to be
aware that they are committing gross
breach of discipline, While this fact
hardly condones their oifense strictly
1t brings out more forcib-
~ the instigators Of the offense and the
officers know that by apprehending The
dealers and dealing out to them their
deserved punishment the root of the
evil will be nipped and thereafter the
evil itself will not flourish,