The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-26
FISH HATCH[RIFS
COST TOO MUCH
This ObjectionIs Made to Prop
osltion to Conserve Alaska's !
Salmon Supply.
Globe Special Washington Service,


1417 G Street.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 25.-
There is a good deal of danger that the
present session of congress will end
without any action looking toward the
establishment of salmon hatcheries in
Alaska, or the enactment of any other
important legislation to protect the
fisheries in the territory The PROPOSE
ton to establish hatcheries is a gov
eminent measure, pure and simple.
some OF the cannery men would like to
have the measure carried through. of
course, and all of them are Interested
In the matter because they would
probably be relieved of the legal pro-
vision which requires them to plant
lot of salmon fry in the Alaskan
streams every season. This provision
is, however. almost dead letter; at
least it is physically impossible for
the cannery men to comply with the
letter of the law.
The administration therefore. is
chiefly interested in the plan for gov
eminent hatcheries. The administration
is looking to the future of the Alaskan
salmon supply, and all the experts are
agreed that the stock will become Sc
rlously reduced unless artificial means
u 1CPiCl1ISulIlS tic streams are re-
sorted to. President Roosevelt made a
strong recommendation in the matter
IN his annual message to congress, and
the department of commerce is urging
the legislation.
Some Of the house leaders, however.
are opposed to the passage of such
legislation at this session on account
of the large appropriation required.
In the annual estimates prepared by
q rVy Of lob
and transmitted to congress by the
secretary of the treasury, an appro-
priation amounting to 1924 $50 for the
purpose of protecting the Alaskan SAL
mon was called for. Of this amount,
$152,000 is for the establishment of
fish cultural stations or hatcheries,
and the balance is for maintenance,
for the payment Of superintendent
and employees, and for the purchase Of
two steam launches.
But $S24,S60 is a large amount of
money in a session of congress when
the most rigid economy in expenditures
is the rule with the leaders in the
house. A beginning could be made on
a smaller appropriation, but when the
estimates were submitted it was ex-
planned that the whole amount was
imperatively needed. The estimates
were based on the Investigations car
ried on in Alaska by the Jordan COM
mission last summer.
A measure quite as important as the
hatchery appropriation is the bill plac-
ing further restrictions on the fisher
men. This bill was prepared in the
bureau of fisheries by DR.. Everman
and was introduced in the house some
time ago by Representative Hum
phrey. According to it's provisions the
salmon will be protected on their
spawning grounds, and the experts be-
lieve it would be a long step toward
solving the problem of conserving the
foolish supply of Alaska. This bill
may possibly pass, as no expenditure
of money is involved.
The measure providing for fish
hatcheries, however, is included in the
sundry civil BILL and the point Of order
against new legislation may be raised
in the house. The department of COM
merce, however, maintains that this is
not new legislation, but is merely an
increase in the amount usually asked
for to protect the salmon. Chiefly on
account of the proposition to estab-
lish and maintain hatcheries in Alaska,
the total appropriation asked for to
carry on the work Of the bureau of
fisheries has been increased to $1,O66,-
$40. Last year the estimate was only
s56s,440. Walter e. Clark.