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

II 10 propose py lnit'atiVe peuuoh
law to protect salmon and sturgeo
in the waters OF the Columbia Rive
and its tributaries, and in the Sand
River, within the boundaries OF tn
State of Oregon, and in all the water
over which the State OF Oregon ha
i jurisdiction, and prescribing penalt
for violation OF the law.
Filed January 9th, 1908, by Mr., II
A. Webster.
Canned Fish Won't Spawn"
Every salmon would not satisfy tn,
greed that pursues them, Some tsl
must escape ii any new ones are t.
take the place OF those in cans.
The Grab Must Cease
else by and by it will destroy the sal
mon. The tale Of the goose and the
golden egg is the point"
"Oregonian,'
In offering this bill to the people
of the State OF Oregon the author
(for many years Officially connected
with the fisheries department of this
State) has striven to embody the re-
suits OF his Investigations and the
recommendations OF the most emin-
ent authorities in the country.
The object OF the proposed law is
to replete dwindling industry by
checking the destruction OF salmon,
wrought by the various appliances.
This bill will place limits on all clas-
ses of fishing gear without discrim-
mating for or against any. Com
mercial greed has brought the noble
Chinook, worth millions to our State,
to deplorable plight. So many fish
are caught that not enough now
escape for purpose OF propagation;
the hatcheries, paid for at big ex
pense by taxpayers, are in some
places closed and in others almost
idle Meanwhile the industry wanes,
At present, there is practically no
protection under the law; the closed
Sunday has been abolished the open
season heightened again and again,
until now salmon are caught just as
ong as the fishermen desire to take
hem. These conditions are selievident;
are agreed; the decline
would prove it were there any dis
Dute. The situation is best express
sed by that great authority DR.. Liv-
ngstone Stone, U. S. Department of
Fisheries, who says:
Consider for moment what the
salmon has done for US, and then
think how mercilessly we have treat
ed them. Our salmon has been to us
a source of natural revenue, enjoy
ment, and pride, and what return have
we meted out to him? He has been
hunted pitilessly with hooks and
spears, with all kinds OF nets and
pounds, with wheels and guns and
dynamite, and there is not a cubic
foot of water in the whole country
where he can rest in safety. The
he comes in from the ocean
he meets the gill nets and the pounds
at the mouth OF the river, the sweep
seines further up, the hook every
where, and at last on his breeding
grounds, which at least ought to be
sacred to him, he encounters the
pitchforks of the white man and the
spears of the Indians"
Relief must now be prompt if we
would have worthy inheritance to
bequeath to our children.
The purpose of the bill are FIVE in
number and five only.
FIRST: Prohibit fishing on the
Columbia River bar in order to allow
entrance OF salmon to
the river. (Section 81
SECOND: Restrict size of all kinds
Of gear so as to diminish their de-
(Section ~
THIRD: Keep navigation channels
in the Columbia River open at night,
so as to afford fish four to six hour
respite, every twenty four hours, in
this immediate narrow strip of wide
river. (Section y
FOURTH: Lengthen closed sea-
sons on the Columbia River so as to
allow more fish to reach hatcheries.
(Section p
FIFTH. Establish closed Sundays
so as to save one-seventh of the sal
mon supply for propagation. (See
ton s.
Bar Fishing on the Columbia River.
Common sense would not prompt
you to drive cattle through closed
gate. Section Of this bill aims to
onen the gates or ar least to leave 4