The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-05-28
WHAT ABOUT
SALMON PROTECTION?

That the food fish n our state need
better protection tnan is Bow tforded
is agreed.
Ycu have slready or doubtless will
receive considerable literature on the
subject, but no matter bow attractive
the argument, stop and consider how
much 1t may be colored by self inter
est.
The United States Bureau OF Fish
cries are the greatest expert auth0ri-
ties on the subject and have no AK to
grind. Read what they say:
Department of Commerce aud Labor,
Office Of the Secretary, Washing
ton, ID. G.
Hon. Chas. W. Fulton, United States
Senate, Washington, ID. Q.
Sir:-The department realizes the
importance OF the various questions
affecting the salmon fishery in the
Columbia river brought up in your
letter OF the 18th ultimo, and has ia
ken this opportunity to max II thor
ough investigation OF the matter.
Theirs can be no question that the
status OF the fishery is unsatisfactory,
aud that under existing conditions
the trend may be expected to be
steadily downward. with the result
that In a comparatively few years the
run OF salmon in that stream will be
reduced to such degree that thous-
ands OF fishermen may be thrown out
of employment aud much capital rem
dered idle. The federal government
Is without any Jurisdiction whatever
r. ha 1ntu nf
serving the salmon supply in the Co
lumbia devolves cn the states OF Ore
gon, Washington and Idaho; but this
department has been charged by con-
gress with important fish cultural OPP
erations in the Columbia basin, and
has felt impelled from time to time
to dIiect attention to the necessity
for giving adequate protection to the
various species Of salmon frequenting
that stream. The department is con-
vinced that the run of salmon In the
Column bia can be amply maintained
for an indefinite period II artificial
propagation is supplemented ty
rational protection; but artificial
propagation alone cannot cope with
the situation, and, as matter OF fact,
the recent experience o; the depart
ment has shown that It's beneficent
laboIs are rendered almost futile by
the failure OF the states to appreciate
this fact.
The department sees no reason for
advocating the elimination Of fish
wheels from the river, as there is no
evidence to show that this form OF
apparatus Is particularly destructive
to salmon. A condition that is spec
tally favorable Tor the passage Of sal
mon-namely, very high water-ren.
ders the wheels unserviceable and, on
the other hand, periods of very low
water, when the fish are much re-
stricted In their movements, are also
untavorable for the wheels. During
the past two or three seasons the
catch OF salmon by wheels has been
comparatively small but even IL 1t
were very large 1t would be fact of
no special Significance In the present
connection.
The Columbia river is, however,
made to yield quantity OF salmon
tar greater than regard for the future
supply permits, aud the drain Ia year
ly becoming more serious, No one
familiar with the situation can fall
to appreciate the menace to the per-
petuity of the industry that 10 fur.
nished ty the concentration of tre-
mendous amount OF fixed and floating
apparatus of capture In and near the
mouth OF the river. This apparatus
comprises about 400 pound nets OF
trape, over 80 long sweep seines and
more than 1900 gill nets, the last
having an aggregate approximate
length OF over $40 miles; and these
appliances capture more than 80 per
cent of the flsh taken In the Oregon
and Washington wat RS of the river,
the figures for 1904 being nearly a.
900, 900 pounds, or 98.7 per cent of the
total yield. Under such conditions
1t is self-evident that but compare
lively few flsh are PERMITTED to reach
the upper waters where the spawning
grounds are located.
The details of the measures neces-
sary to place the salmon industry of
the Columbia river on permanent
basis can not Ee elaborated by the
department ut this time, but In gen
eral it may be said that there should
be ~ a restI lotion on the amount OF
apparatus employed In given sec
tion: (2) en- adequate weekly close
SEASON covering possibly twp days al
first, but reduced later II the oircum.
stances warrant 1t; (3) an annual
close season, preferably at the begin
ming of the salmon run, and a. joint
arrangements between the states, &C
that protective measures may be har
monious Respectfully yours,
(Signed) Oscar s. StIaus,
Secretary
Bill No. 3l8 embodies government
recommendation aud should pass. L