The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-05-26

encouragement 10 lds old tlme friends
afsi cosMnrkefa.
SAN FRANCISCO, taL, May ", 1907,
Alr Nh Rosenberg,
seclvtarya1'rrasircE
United Fishermen ~ The Pacific,
astoria, Ore,
near Gomfadrt
A friend Of mine coming down from
astoria informs me that you afe busy
trying 10 get the Columbia River fish
ermen together. am sorry, though,
II II be true what he says, that quite a
number III them are holding back. so he
clalms, from feeling that II IA no use.
They have tried the strike, and At that
time did not succeed They have tried
hut small, and 40 they are discouraged.
While do not blame them, II was
among them. ! should urge with all my
might, first, get together, second, ap.
peal to the people of Oregon 10 do 40
By the initiative aud referendum what
The Legislators have up 10 thla time 70.
fnsed to 10, namely, preserve The sal.
mon fishery nf tho river as means Of
employment for the fishermen and
food supply for the people.
Columbia river was Ike vein IL gold,
and Astoria like 4 mining city. when |
tlrst saw II III the eighties, Everybody
was optimistic, everybody had money.
and everybody wNA spending II freely.
The second time | saw Il III the early
ulneties, II was d very much do.
pressed town. Fisheries had decfeascd
through the Inalscrlmnatc nsa Of aclnes
and traps, and the pernlcinnA use ~
the fish AeatFoyInp wheel ON the Upper
river When we frat organised the On.
Ion, some Of IA appealed 10 the cltlsen'
ship for the preservation of the fishery,
later on 10 The iishermeni neither would
take heed. The tFapmen aud seincrs
wanted money, now, the fishermen
wanted money, now, few cared for the
future, hence the steady downward
trend II Il not too late 10 save the
salmon ashery II can be done and II
oagh, to be done. hat u Il IL 10 be done
N all, the fishermen must organize.
They must get together, They must
together DO what they slngly cannot
attempt TO do, They need not expect
any assistance from the politicians,
they should not expect any. Oregon has
tho initiative and referendum, Let
scientific. clcaf.cut law bs drafted and
submitted TO the voters of the State.
Tho people, at least many of them, win
remember that the nsh gave tham their
startl they were fishing during the Ash.
Inc season. cleared their piere of Land
on either side Of the river during the
fall and winter, and fixed their nets
while the weather was too bad 10 he out
nf doors, And IA each year rolled
along, the flah SUSTAINED them AMI their
families while the land was cleared and
their homes built, Nothing but the
greet Of tTappers and wheel men could
destroy that ever recurring harvest
from The salmon. II II mp 10 the men
who are gIll'nettlne along the river 10
got together, save the fishery. and With
Il their own independent means OF live.
llhool. | cannot believe that the Ash.
ermea who have been for years on tht
river can have lost courage TO such an
extent a. TO be willing that the fishery
should be destroyed. or, II no. willing,
then despalritg Of their own powers OF
preventing II. They should have but
one motto. Together we can save the
fishery
You ought 10 te able to impress tais
idea sufficiently upon the fishermen,
With best wishes TO yourself and Mr..
Lorntsen. and with firm faith In the
Columbia River fishermen. am
Fratcrnally yours,
ANDREW FuRNsETH,