The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-21
LACK OF HOME PRIDE.

Mr. +. c. Reed, formerly fish commissioner OF the
state of Oregon, has taken it upon himself 10 ven
tilate through the columns of the Portland ore'
conian the situation with reference to salmon rsh
ING Because of the backward season, and out OF a
desire to allow fishermen and packers to reap the
harvest that is rightfully theirs, it was mutually
agreed that the closed season law should be dlsre-
garded and that operations would be permitted iof
few DAYS. The condition this season demonstrated
that the law was standing in the way OF the pros
perity Of the people, and its terms were therefore
mildly violated.
Mr.. Reeds letter comes with mighty poor grace.
He was once fish commissioner, and 1t has beeh
pretty generally agreed that his conduct OF the OF
fee was not unusually successful He charges IN the
Oregonian that c. w. Fulton ''legislated him out
of Office which leads to the logical conclusion
that out of spirit to even accounts with Mr. Fulton
Mr. Reed was prompted to write his letter. When
he determined to give publicity to his protest against
violation of the law will result In ruinaton OF the
patriotic desire to protect the interests OF the fish
cries. else he would have sent his letter to one OF
the Astoria papers. Mr.. Reed knows just how the
Oregonian feels toward Astoria, and he knew his
knock would be gleefully produced by the Portland
paper Apparently, then, Mr.. Reed was moved by
spirit of malice He threatened the state board
that he would send letter to the Oregonian, and,
the board declining to be bluffed, Mr.. Reeds COM
munication appears
The salmon fishing law ought to be lived up to-
just so long it reasonably regulates the industry
When Mr. Reed was fish commissioner he depended
upon nature for his supply of fish Since then, how
ever we have ben able to depend upon our propa-
CATION plants When Mr. Reed was fish commits
sioner there was need for rigid enforcement Of the
law but this season, fortunately for the salmon IN
dustry it is quite within the bounds of reason that
operations should have been permitted for few days
in excess of the time stipulated by statute for the
close of the season.
Astoria is largely dependent upon the salmon in
dlsry The Oregonian' 5 assertion that the present
violation of the law will result in rpination Of the
industry is like everything else the Oregonian has
to say concerning Astoria the sheerest rot The
people Of Astoria know upon what side their bread
buttered and may be depended upon to protect the
industry which sustalns business III their city Thsl
year the salmon season was backward. Female fish
caught yesterday were far from maturity, and the
quality Of the fish now being taken is equal to that
of salmon usually caught in July. Nature has delayed
the fish; the season is peculiarly backward.
For what purpose, let us ask was the fishing law
framed? Surely not with the idea in view of de-
prving the people of the state of the benefits that
accrue from the industry. Then if the salmon sea
son proved to be backward what moral offense has
been committed because the fishermen have con-
tinued operations few days longer than the time
fixed for suspension? The fish now being caught
usually come into the river in July. Nature in
tended these fish for the use Of man. Application
of the law would defeat natures aim, and the state
board has accepted the reasonable view of the mat
ter by ignoring the protest of the former fish COM
missioner, whose lack of home pride is lamentabe.