The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-20

after the time appointed BY natu
for their entrance to fresh water
few quotations should convince,
"Bar net fishing should be prob
bited below a line inside and near Il
mouth OF the river,
| The prevention OF gill-nets tishin
near and on the bar would result in
saving of life, some twenty to sixt
fishermen are drowned there eae
yca."
chas, +. Powell. Captain OF Eng
ineers, 1887.
"A restriction should be place,
upon fishing too close to the entranc
from the sea. The fish should be al
lowed to get well inside before At
tacking them"
Major Jones Report to War De
partment 1887.
Il think il is essential for the wei
fare Of this industry, that no fishing
be allowed at or near the mouth o
the river, and the salmon be given al
the opportunity possible OF gettins
into the river before it is lawful tc
take them"
Oregon Fish Commissioner, 1905
Il am also OF the opinion that fish
ing should be prohibited below Sand
Island at all times"
Senator Chas. w. Fulton, Jan. 1907
Restrict Gear.
Shorten the length of all fishing
gear. Marshall Mcdonald, U. S.
Fish Commissioner, 1894, says:
1T is indeed, matter OF surprise
that any salmon have been able TO
elude the labyrinth OF nets which bar
their course to the upper Columbia.
II is hardly an exaggeration to state
that the entire volume OF this great
river is strained through the meshes
of the innumerable nets which occupy
and obstruct every passageway to the
spawning grounds
The Washington Special Commit,
tee, 1890, says; NETS must be regu-
lated
The Joint International Committee
and British Columbia
agreed that $50 fathoms should be
he extreme length.
The U. S. Fish Commissioner in a
etter OF Secretary Strauss written
'anuary 10th, 1907, says: "No one
amiliar with the situation can fail to
the menance TO the perpet-
iity OF the industry that is furnished
,y the concentration OF a tremendous
mount OF fixed and floating appara-
us OF capture in and near the mouth
IF the river
The apparatus comprises about
100 pound nets or traps, over 80
ong sweep seines, and more than g.
100 gill nets, the last having an ag-
'regate approximate length OF over
10 miles"
Digest these recommendations and
hen go measure off $50 fathoms,
100 feet, 4 and one-half city block and
5 feet deep. Does that seem long
nough to allow? Perhaps when you
lgure that after all gear is limited as
and you realize that over
10 miles OF it is still left, you will
gree that the request is not un-
easonable.
Channel Fishing on the. Columbia
River.
In river varing in width from
me to eleven miles the reservation OF
channel from one hundred to four
hundred feet wide, from one hour
Ifter sunset to one hour before sun
Use, is asked. When there is such a
vide expanse of river remaining, is
his narrow strip too much to ask
:lther for the preservation Of the fish
,r for the still more paramount safe
y to navigation? If you don't care
| rap for the fish, would it not be well
o relieve the lives and property, con-
tantly afloat, from the chances OF
lelay and destruction offered by the
lightly invasion Of navigation courses
" miles of fishing gear? Refer to
he report of Capt. Chas. Powell, U.
J. Engineers; read what the Special
senate Committee, State of Wash
ngton, 1899, says OF look over the
of ship-masters whose
'ilot houses bear the marks of intim-
dating bullets fred by fishermen oc-
upying the channels, or ask the Cap
aims whose vessels have drifted help
ess for hours with nets in their
wheels. Bear in mind, however, that
he purpose of this bill is the protec-
ion of salmon by keeping this mar
ow channel open for free passage of
almon between four and six hours in