The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-30
WHY MR.. REED COMPLAINS.


1t is very evident from the letter of Mr.. F. c
Reed, ex-fish commissioner, that his antipathy TO
c. W. Fulton is responsible for his protest to the Ore
gonian against the violation of the fishing laws thi
fall His argument against the violation is ver.
lame and he is frank enough TO admit that he reall
does not offer it as an excuse for his writings,
We desire to assure Mr.. Reed that the utterance
of The Astorian are not influenced One Of the frs
men to put himself record against extension of tn
fishing season was the gentleman whom Mr.. Rec,
intmates was responsible for The Astorian's expires
sion. The Astorian at first opposed violation of tn
law, but when it became positively known that th
season was backward this paper withdrew its OBJ
lection.
From Mr. Reeds letter one might suppose tn,
packers had robbed the fishermen that the canner
were the sole benefeiaries. Any fisherman will tel
Mr. Reed, if he should take the trouble to ask, that
the past season has been one of the very best fol
gillnetters in the history of the salmon industry
Can Mr. Reed recall the year when the minimum price
Of salmon was cents? We think not Mr. ReeC
asserts that the price would have been reduced tC
this as in nearly all of his other statements he i.
mistaken. Salmon packers prevented reduction OF
the price When the heavy runs came the question
of reducing the price was brought up at meeting
OF the packers Some of them positively declined tC
agree to any reduction. 1t was matter for then
maintenance of the price.
The Astorian has all along contended that laws
should be observed 1t is even willing to admit that
it regrets the recent violation of the fishing regula
tions-not for the reason, as Mr.. Reed erroneousy
contends that the industry was liable to suffer- but
because the precedent was dangerous one to estab
Iish 1t may lead to further violations, during sea
sons when conditions are not the same as those exist
ing this year.
Mr. Reed fails to clear himself of the charge that
he is lacking in home prde-in fact, rather pleasant
ly acknowledges it. He seems elated at the oppor
tunity presented to do some knocking, and cheer
fully admits that he hunted up the best method
available of extending the scope of his antagonstic
spirit. The length of time of the residence in this
city Of the editor of The Astoran is scarcely point
at ISSUE although for Mr. Reeds benefit it might be
stated he has lived here as long as he could.
The violation of the law this year will not hurt the
salmon industry Personal examination disclosed the
fact that the fish this year were ate-that salmon
caught in August were far from maturity. The fish
that came into the river late in the fish
which nature intended as food for man. If the
Oregon fishing laws had been rigidly observed, ma
oir how afo1 Mn PoaJ Sy,
sists that the fish should have been permitted to
ascend the river where they might have been caught
by other violatOrs of the law Mr.. Reed was once
fish commissioner and perhaps may have discovered
during his tenure of Office that salmon retrograde
they ascend the Columbia. 1t may also have come
under his observation that fish are best of quality
when they first come in from the ocean. In consd.
Grafton Of these facts it is evident to the reasonable
man that salmon should be packed at Astoria
Perhaps if Mr.. Reed had not been fish commits
soner in 1900 and 1901 fish would have been plenti
full enough this season to have permitted of a re
spectacle pack within the time allowed by law anC
the necessity for extension of the season have beer
done away with The credit for the scarcity Of sal
mon this season rghtfully belongs to Mr. Reed anC
it is pleasing to note that he demands it. Enforcin!
the law and providing supply Of salmon, it is t.
be observed are two different things.
Concluding his letter to The Astorian, Mr.. ReeC
asks whether or not there is any good reason VIII!
the attorney general should not proceed against tn
fish warden and his bOndsmen for permitting tn
violation of the law, and if it would not be prope
for the encouragement to keep right on down tn
line until he has made every packer who violated tn
law pay the full penalty therefor We suppose Mr.
Reed would take in all the vioators and have tn