The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-08
Upper Rivers Opinion Of Tide.
water Fishermen.
TRY TO HOLD ASTORIA DOWN
Van Dusen and His Conclusions Made
the Subject Of Some 'vitrolie
Comment by the Salmon
Packers.

That Columbia river fisheries have
forfeited all claim on the legislatures
OF Oregon and Washington for protec-
ton against the ruin that Is impending
Is the sentiment OF F. A. Seufert, mayor
and canneryman of The Dalles. And
Mr.. Seufert threatens to tell the legis-
lative committees so in plain English.
The greed OF fisheries and their de-
fiance Of law. Mr.. Seufert says, war
rant the legislatures In turning a deaf
ear to their plants and in hardening
only to the general interest in perpe-
tuation OF the salmon species. He
hopes that the lawmakers will ascertain
why the closed season has not been
enforced and win take means to drive
the fish wardens to their duty here
after.
Laws have been passed" he ex-
claimed last night, but where are the
fish wardens to enforce them and the
fishermen and cannerymen to observe
them2 Money has been appropriated
for hatcheries. but where are the eggs
to keep them busyts
Effect Of Law.
The immunity Of Columbia river fish,
ermen from punishment, he said, has
become an example for prostitution of
law on every salmon stream In the two
states. The bounty Of the two states
has been abused brazen-facedly and
liberal appropriations for hatcheries
and wardens' salaries have gone almost
for naught on account Of the greed
and lawlessness of the fisheries.
Mr.. Seufert operates below The
Dailes form OF gear which lower river
interests desire to drive out Of exist
ence by egislation-wheels. Less than
6 per cent Of the Columbia river pack
is caught by wheels. while the other
- per cent is caught by seines, traps
and gillnets, the last named of which
take between SIS and 70 per cent at the
mouth of the Columbia and on the bar
Mr.. Seufert says that he has fought the
lower river interests in the legislature
and is not afraid OF them again He
points out that 95 per cent of the fish
taken by wheels and at hatcheries bear
marks of nets, showing how clean the
nets sweep the river Of fish.
In the legislatures Of the two states
this winter he and other wheelmen will
fight for regulation Of all gear and abo-
lition Of none; for continuance of the
present closed seasons and for short
ening of the summer open season. Low
er river interests will contend for abo-
lition of the spring and fall closed sea-
sons and substitution therefor Of the
closed Sunday and for prohibition Of
wheel fishing between June 1 and July
/. The busy time for wheels is June.
The Early Runs.
Early runs Of salmon which were to
have been perpetuated by the spring
closed season between March 1 and
Asrii Is. Mr.. Seufert said. have been
almost exterminated. and the late
schools which come In from the sea
during July and early in August are
practically all that are left, because.
In spite Of the destructive work Of fish
ermen, they have been propagated by
hatcheries, while June and July fish
have nearly perished from the waters
OF the earth.
Now that the late hatchery salmon
are all that remain. Mr.. Seufert says
the fisheries are greedy to amend the
law amended so they may not be hamp-
cred In catching what are left. Lower
river interests. he declares. should not
saiy fall to have the August closed
season abolishea. bat should be al
LEVIED only 10 days ashing In that
moath. ss was the case up to passage
sf the present law in 1898.
'Tidewater fishermen" he remarked.
have been catching salmon in season
aad out, Just as they pleased, and have
deffed the law and held fish wardens
In contempt. On August is 1t was the
sworn duty Of the wardens TO stop fish
ing. Did they do It? Not they. Mr..
Van Dusen was gentle as usual and
said softly it was no use to save sal
mon after that time. because they would
not reach the hatcheries anyhow.
The Big Run.
But how does he know that? Can
he not remember that I'm 1903 the big
run entered the river July 20, and seven
days later reached Cello, one-third Of
the distance to the hatchery on Snake
river? II the fish Travelled one-third
the distance to Ontario In seven days,
might they not reasonably cover the
while distance in one mouth or two
months? Mr.. Van Dusen's own reports
show that the salmon are ready TO
spawn at Ontario two months after
the open season ends on August Is.
"Year by year the early runs have
been diminishing until the stock is so
nearly wiped out that hatcheries would