The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-06-24
TWO MEN LOOKING
FOR TROUBLE
ARE GUARDING THEIR NETS
ARMED WITH MAGAZINE
RIFLES AND HEAVY RE-
VOLVERS.

Armed with magazine rifles ana
heavy revolvers strapped around
their waists, two men are watching
their nets out from Sand Island, and
it is evident they are both looking
Tor trouble and will not run away
from il il il comes, One OF the men
is ]. N. Stensland, a well known hsh-
erman whose residence is at Chinook,
and his companion is the boatpuller.
The two men have set eight nets IN
front OF the seining ground on Sand
Island recently leased by the United
States government TO the Columbia
River Packing Association, and are
apparently resolved TO back up what
they evidently consider their rights
in the matter even il it involves
bloodshed. The facts in the eonten-
tion ay be briefly stated.
1t was the purpose Of the Columbia
River Packers Association to run
their seines out from the leased
grounds. But the two fishermen
have set their eight nets directly in
the way, so that at long as their nets
remain where they now are, It will
be impossible for the association to
use their seines in the waters in
front of their leased seining grounds
The fishermen are said to admit that
company may have perfect right
to the land on the Island which they
have leased from the Federal govern
ment. but the fishermen assert that
the waters in front OF the leased
ground are just as free to them now
as ever, That is, they deny that the
leasing of the land on the island car
ries with it any exclusive right to tht
adjacent waters; and further more
that even il the Federal government
had intended that the lease should
carry with it the right to the ada
cent waters, that such lease woult
be null and void.
| The fishermen are apparently tax
ing the ground that the waters of th'
river are entirely free, and that th'
| United States government or no on
else may claim any exclusive righ
to them. When Ole ]. Settem, th'
water bailiff, ran near the two met
yesterday he observed their makeup
with no little astonishment For
moment he didn't know whether the!
were pirates or not One OF th'
men hailed the water bailiff ii
stentorian tones, at the same time
balancing his rife in his hands. Nh
Settem kept on going, however, il
spite Of the guns and the war-lik
appearance OF the men. They wer
attired something after the name
Of the leading characters in "Th
Sheriff." the Wild West play now o.
the boards Of the Hagar theatre, an
with wide hats and the array o
shooting irons looked formidabl
enough to scare even the tars off
torpedo boat destroyer. The waite
bailiff wanted to know what was tf
The fishermen told him.
| Mr.. Settem pondered for Will
and then came away; he didn't Sc
that he could do anything, for thoug
: armed, the men did not carry cor
cealed weapons as far as he coul
, observe.
Just what the packers association
: can do in the matter appears to b
, somewhat problematical, thoug
their attorneys may know just wha
t move to make. But it is quite ev
dent that Stensland and his CON
panion are prepared to make bite
fight, and it was surmised by som
last night that there is probabilit
r that they are being backed up" b