The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-04-22
Seal Destroy Large numbers ol
Salmon and Nets.
DETERMINATION PROPORTION
Scheme on Foot Raise q Fund for the
Purpose Of Employing Two Good
Hunters TO 90 to the Seal Rendezvous
and Kill OF the Salmon Destroyers

The presence of an unusually large
number OF seals in the Columbia river
this year Is occasioning much trouble
for the fishermen. both gillnet and
trappers, and there is movement on
foot to devise some means of killing
off the pests. The seals make their
headquarters OF the rocks near Tilla'
nook head and follow every school of
salmon in the river, Not only 10 they
destroy thousands of salmon every
year. but they destroy nets. 1t is a
common occurrence for fisherman,
when he picks up his net to find one
or more seals in it, with number or
salmon partially eaten, rendering them
useless. A seal win invariably eat the
best part of the fish. and what is left
mas TO be thrown away. They are
strong enough tc 80 through the nets
and when found in them the fishermen
have to pull up and put their nets on
the rack for repairs,
Efforts nave been made to secure a
bounty on seals by legislative enact
ment. but has always been a failure
Some action will have 10 be taken in
the matter Immediately in order to
protect the industry from wanton de.
struction. but also the property Of the
fishermen. A proposition has been
suggested that a meeting be held OF
all interested in the fishing industry
to devise ways and means 10 destroy
these pests. A fund can be raised and
one or two men employed to go down
to the breeding place of the seal and
kill them Off. 1t is believed that two
months faithful work by good gun
ners would destroy the seal to sucn
an extent that they would be practl-
cally exterminated
In order to carry out the expense OF
this plan it will have to be done By
personal. contributions among the cam
nerymen and fishermen. One plan is
suggested that the fishermen contrib
ute. say ten cents a day to a fund, and
that each cannery and cold storage
Tlant contribute a certain amount, and
merchants be asked to contribute some
small amount to assist the movement
in this way a sufficient fund can be
raised, it is believed to completely ex-
terminate the seals.
One thing is certain, some measures
must be adopted and that at once. The
cost Of determination Of the seals win
be but a drop in the bucket compared
to the benefit to the industry. 1t is a
difficult matter to determine just the
extent of the damage inflicted, but it
will go up into the hundreds Of dol
lars. Every salmon destroyed by seal
is just so much money taken away
from the fishermen, and although II
may seem like small number of sal
mont destroyed, those who have fished
on the river for a number of years esti-
mate that at least 50 salmon are de-
stroyed every day. This means, at an
average Of 20 pounds to the fish, 1000
pounds Of the value Of $50, or $500
a month and about $1,000 for the sea-
son.
Fishermen who are interested in the
matter have expressed themselves fay-
orable to the proposition herein out
lined and the employment of two good
hunters, believing that it will be a
matter u but u short time when the
seal are exterminated. The question Of !
paying bounty would not be satisfac-
tory and would probably result the |
same as the scalp bounty law formerly |
In operation in the state. when coy |
ote and wolf scalps were not only pre-
sented several times for payment. but |
were shipped in from Idaho and neigh
boring states, and which cost the state |
over 100000 with no beneficial results |
This is a matter that should receive |
the attention Of every merchant, fish |
erman and all interested in the salmon |
industry and seems to be about the |
only feasible plan that can be sug-
gested for the protection of the salmon |
industry on the lower Columbia river |