The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-02-06
AsroRIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
A PROBLEM FOR FISH EXPERTS.

Fish experts, who have solved the great and Won
derful problem of artificial propagation-who have
literally supplanted nature in the spawning OF sal
mon-haye another incidental problem for solu
ton and until some definite conclusion is reached
regarding the matter we may expect to be more OF
less in the dark regarding the benefits which are
being derived from artificial propagation.
What percentage of the output of the hatcherles
reaches the sea in safety and thereby becomes avail
able for marketable purposes?
We know that the hatcheries are doing great
work. This has been positively demonstrated In
1901 the marked fish turned out of the Cacka.
mas hatchery by the lamented Fish Commissioner
Mcclure returned to the river. They represented a
certain percentage of the total hatchery output for
the year 1896 From the number of marked fish
taken in 1901 we were able to determine just what
percentage of the catch was Of hatchery fish. In
1901 about 100000 salmon were caught in the
Columbia, and mathematical computation showed
that practically the entire catch came originally
from the hatcheries 1t was logical to presume that
the percentage of unmarked fish returning to the
river was the same as the percentage of marked fish.
Our knowledge of conditions at the present time
is sadly less than in 1901. Now we know only that
great runs of salmon come into the Columbia every
year blocking the canneres and codstorage plants.
As to whether or not the fish are of the hatchery
nfh hath fich
represented in the great runs, are more or less
ignorant We believe that these fish were propa-
gated at the hatcheries. We know that they come
to us every year, and most of us are satisfied with
the condition. and concern ourselves mighty little
as to the theory But the theory is what is getting
us the fish, and it must not be lost sight of, nor
carelessly ignored If the product of our salmon
fisheries was $10O0O0000 yearly, we should strive
just as diligently to increas it as if it were but
$1000.000 To be slangulary plain, we want all
the fish we can get and then we want more.
Formerly the hatchery fish were turned out when
very small. They proved an easy prey for the
vicious salmon trout and other natural enemies, and
naturasts reckoned that not more than 3 to per
cent Of the output reached the sea. The fish which
succeeded in evading the elements Of destruction
within the confines of the river doubtless returned
after reaching maturity On this point fish cultur
alists agree Once the young fish reach the ocean
they can be depended upon to return four or five
years later.
But Of late years the hatcheres have retained the
fish until they became much larger and therefore
better able to protect themselves The diminutive
little salmon two or three inches in length, could
easily be deveured but the fish five to eight inches
in length is not such easy prey He is able to put
up pretty stiff fight and he is altogether too large
to be devoured. Fish Of this size ought to reach
the sea in vastly increased numbers It is the opn-
ion OF The Astorian that our hatchery officials have
erred greatly in not providing retaining stations
where the fish might be kept for some months and
turned out when nine or 10 inches in length. It'll
IS contended that such retention would tend to stunt
the growth but properly arranged stations, such as
was recently suggested by Representative Carnahan
ought to obterate any possibility Of objection on
this score. It would be much more profitable to
propagate 100000 fry, practically all of which
would reach the sea, than to hatch 50,00000O of
which only or per cent would succeed in reach
ing the ocean.
Apart from this phase Of the matter, however,
It would be interesting in the extreme to know lust
what proportion of the hatchery output is now rem
dered available for marketable purposes Certainly
the percentage has been increased but to just what