The Ketchikan miner., 1908-05-30

The 6ght now being made in Ore gon against the use of fish wheels in the Upper Columbia River, gives promise of being successful. For years past, those interested in the preservation of the industry have en- deavored to have this destructive agency to the natural propagation of fish removed. The wheels are so con- structed and situated that not only the full grown salmon are caught, but the young fish that have not reached the stage of development desired when they return annually to the ocean after the spawning season, are also entrap. ped. They are too small to be utilized commercially, and their useless slaughter has prevented the work of the hatcheries from becoming effect i've. In the past, it is claimed by those interested in the protection of the fish, the wealthy interests back Of the fish wheel intere sts have succeed ed in baking protective legislation, but at present the demand for the re- moval of fish wheels has become so general and has reached such propor- tions that the matter has been taken from the hands of the Legislature and given to the people for a direct vote under the referendum law of Oiegon. The following taken from paper published in the fishing district graph ically decribes this death-dealing mechanism:
 "F. A. Seufert, the trap-wheel magnate, talks glibly about the terms and effect of the referendum bill of the Columbia River Salmon Protec- tive Association No. (332), declaring that,its passage by the people of Ore gon means deliberate and wholesale contiscation of private property, his property that of his colleagues; and fol once and during the season of this grave contention he has told the plain and simple truth. The passage of that bill does mean the legal, timely, pop ular and just confscation of the most nefarious device ever constructed to ruin a fixed industry; it so clearly means that and nothing else, that no man with an honest concept of the honest stake at issue, will dispute him for single instant.
 "The fish wheels of the upper Co., lumbia have all but ruined the salmon industry of the great valley by the wanton staying of the fry, spawn, eggs, fngerings and the unmarketa- ble young of the gamey and beautiful fish; the big, cormorantic machines were never built to discriminate be- tween the helpless babyfsh and the grown and salable catch and their hideous quality of absorbing every thing that comes their way has been skillfully and most adroitly enhanced by the devious channel building that permitted the young to go nowhere else than into the nav of these de- structive things; and Mr. Seufert is a master-nand at the construction ot these death-dealing waterways.
 "Confiscation Of course it is con- fscation; absolute, justlfiable. right eous and wise, from every standpoint of humanity. every rrooop. of dooont commercial expediency, all cardinal rules of industrial traffic. It is that phase of confscation whereby the peo- pie save to themsl Ives ard their heirs the potent interests that belong to them and may be preserved to them by even graver penalties than mere con- l fscation.
 Ut is high time the people of Ore gon and Washington were conlscallng the wretched, ruinouus, mechanical, murderous cont ivances that have put l a dozen hatcheries in both states out of business because the salmon seeking their spaw ming grounds have been trapped and slaughtered on their way there. This is the ciulcal charge and arraignment against the fish wheels and their owners: and if the effort to save these magnificent tishries to the States at interset, is confscation, then in the name of all that is wise and honorable and expedlent. let the peo- pie (Mr. Seufert ct. al. make the most of it. .''