The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-28
Writes Pointed Letter on VIII
IametLe and CIaCkamas
Fish ImbrOgIlO
NO ORDER TO OPEN MADE
Plea Of Up'River Fishermen Still
Pending - Is Set For April 9th -
Charges Blunder to Overzealous
Reporter at Hearing.

The following letter, just at hand
from Master Fish Warden H. c Me-
Alllster, Is very straight and emphat-
ic, and relieves a situation that was
becoming as ambiguous as i. was
unpleasant, The news contained
therein will be welcome at this end
Of the river and, is given broadcast
in that behalf. II speaks for itself,
and reads as follows:
March n, 1909.
THE Morning Astorian,
Astoria, Oregon.
"Gentlemen;--l have just returned
to my Office after an absence Of sew.
eral days and find awaiting me
number Of communications from
some OF the larger salmon Gamers in
Astoria, with clippings cut from the
Morning Astorian, protesting against
the action Of the Board Of Fish Com
missioners' in resembling their order,
closing the willamette and Clacka-
mas Rivers from April 18th to MAY
LIST, to conform with the closed sea.
son period. established on the Co
lumbia River. For the information
OF all parties concerned, beg to ad-
wise you that the Board has not as
yet taken any action in the matter
and the order Is still in effect.
"on Tuesday, March 23d, / receiv.
ed a phone message from Governor
Benson, asking me to go to Salem.
there, ! found a delegation
Of Oregon City fishermen, who, with
their attorneys, Senator Hedges and
Representative Campbell, Of Clacka-
mas county had gone to Salem for
The purpose Of protesting against the
order Of the Board in closing the
aforementioned rivers. They claim |
q that the act of 1901. giving the
Boacd Of Fish Commissioners the
powe, to close any hatchery stream |
tor TIN purpose of propagating sal
mon ant protecting same, was only
intended or hatchery streams, and
that whilst Shey were not interested
in the CiaeksNas river, they were
sure the Boardhad no jurisdiction on
the Willamette'Ns that river is not
hatchery stFeam'Nnd that the fisher
men could not prevented from,
taking salmon in saS river. excenting
by a special act ofNhe T.sg;sIatnrs
They further called a,ention 10 tbe
notices that the AssistAt Attorney
General drew up, at the fouest of tbe
Board, and which have bSn npbIisb.
ed in the different newspabrs as ,bs
law requires, and pointed our SSe a.,
that they are faulty and do /, con-
form with the intent Of the os
1901 inasmuch as they state thSoh.
ject Of the closing Of the riverS,u
question was for the purpose Of PIX
viding an additional closed season.,
and does not speak Of the protecting
of salmon for hatchery purposes as
the law requires II should do,
"After the delegation was dismiss
ed, the Board and myself discussed
the situation with Attorney-G General
Crawford, who was of the opinion
that the contentious of the fishermen
we're correct and that the notices
would not hold, but asked for few
days to look it up before giving his
final decision. From this you will
notice that the published reports to
the effect that the Board had rescind-
ed It's order were, to say the least
premature and, no doubt, was the
fault Of some reporter on the Port
land papers, want to say that !
have used every endeavor to have
these streams closed and the Board
has also given the question great
deal Of attention, and | can safely
say that they are just as anxious to
close themas |, or any Of the fisher
men on the Columbia as they realize
the necessity Of protecting the sal
mon and fully understand that unless
the Spring seasons on the Willamette
and Clackamas conform with the
Columbia, the protection desired Is
not secured.