The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-03
Makes His Annual Report on The
Washington Fisheries.
SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS
The Report OF Fish Commissioner ker.
shaw Of Washington Is the Most
Complete Ever Made-Some
Recommendations

one Of the most confusing questions
that is presented to this department is
the exact location Of the boundary line
between the states OF Oregon and
Washington. and one that causes more
i'll feeling between state officials than
any other matter that arises in the
Columbia river district. officials arc
anxious to collect all the licenses they
can for their respective states. and as
the channel of the river is constantly
shifting uncertainty arises as to which
state should reveive the license money.
and this often leads to unfriendly
feelings between officials. broken
friendships between fishermen, law
suits between neighbors, and in some
cases hloodshed between participants.
n it is within the power OF the legis-
latures of the states OF Oregon and
washington. some step should be taken
at once TO permanently settle this
much-vexed question.
The law provides that 1t shall be un-
lawful to take or FISH for salmon in the
Columbia river or It's tributaries, or
within three miles outside Of the mouth
of the Columbia river. by any means
whatever. in any year, between IL m.
the first day of March and 1em. the
18th day Of April, or between u p. m
the 18th day Of August and IL m. the
10th day Of September. so far as the
closed season is concerned, from March
to April Is there is very little. II any,
complaint, but the closed season from
August l5 TO September 10 is the law
that at the present time is causing the
cannerymen and fishermen alike great
deal Of concern. and II this law Is not |
repealed, or modified In some form.
win throttle the industry on the CO.
lumbia river. This law was first en-
acted in 1895 and amended In a mild |
form In 1901. There were two primary |
objects in the passing Of the act; one
was to allow the fgh to ascend to their
spawning grounds and the other was to
prevent cannerymen from canning fish
after they had deteriorated in flesh
and color. and thus depreclate the mar
ket value of this choice variety of sal
mon, but the conditions on the colum
bia river have changed AMI the ncces-
stiles intended TO be reached by the
actment of that law no longer exisr
to any great extent Ever since hatch
cry fish began TO appear in the Column
bia river the run has come later ana
later every year, until 1t is impossible
for the cannerymen to put up their
pack within the time prescribed by law
There have ben many theories ad-
vanced as 10 the remedy; some suggest
taking the closed season off altogether;
others moving 1t on later in the season; /!
others of shortening 1t up; but there
are objections to all Of these plans,
and 1t can only be settled with any
degree of satisfaction to all by joint
conference OF a committee from the
of the two states who will
thoroughly inquire into all the condi-
tons now existing on the river. My
)wn conclusions are that the best in
.erest of the industry would be served
by extending the open season to the
18th day Of August. allowing Is days
# closed season for the fish to rescn
he spawning grounds.
This year the fish were very late in v