The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-03-05
new FISH CODE
BARS SERVICE
men, He SAYS

tFt tN S w.
Editor The Star / want 20 take
exceptions 60 the article OF l.. II. /
Darwin In Tho Star Of Feb. 2Sth, /
"that the purse aelncra are the real
fish trust" This article IL miHlcnd /
ing 10 nay tho least First want
to state that I am not "A purse Heinor.
and never have been. nor do | eH
pect 20 bc. neither am an alien
enemy am an American born cit
i1cn, and my ancestors for ifb years
are American born, don't think
Mr.. Darwin can beat that himself
But hero is where take cNcep.
tiun to hiE statements set forth Ia
said article. First. hc states that
the greatest fraud ever perpetfa.ed
upon tho prvHa of this state was by
the Austrian allen enemy lobby at
the present session Of the legislature
at Olympia.
Mr Darwin does not state that 20
per cent OF the great lobby aro not
purse noinarH. nor we're they here 20
fight for the purse HeinerH. and they
are not alien enemies. they are troll
ofa from Scah hay. GrayH harbur
and tho Columbia river. also gill net
tiers from ali parts Of Puget sound
and GrnyH hhrbor itcul dealers,
independent eanuericn. and all
branches OF the fishing industry Eek
ccpt tho traps" which Nh Darwin
has failed 20 restrict IN amy way To
his new fish code. Mr Darwin has
niandcrod every branch ~ the fish
ing industry that ia carried on BY
the independent fisherman.
Mr.. Darwin would make IL appear
that this great lobby were all alien
enemies. which II about AZ far from
the truth as he could get lie men
| toned Mr. Trevor kincaid as assist
| ing him Go fight the purse nvinors
/ This h what fcincaid did; lie came
here to Olympia 10 fight IN" troilers
that troli in open SEA beyond ihe
three mile limit. hc never mentioned
the purse ncinefs or the fish they
caught. he made his whole plea
against the trolirr and naid all fish
caught Ia the traps were mature.
altho the finh caught by the troilcrH
were larger than the average Of
thos. caught Ia tho traps. he simply
said that a small per cent Of them
were immature. tina, II about all he
had TO say.
What II Proposes
Mr Darwin does not tell you that
| his proposed nAh code would destroy
/ tho trolling fleet that fish with hook
land limo Tor salmon IN open SEA-
Trolling il tho lnaat destructive
method Of catching salmon Saving
tho salmon for the Americans Is ali
right, and a naturaiirod citizen
should have the same rights AS
/ native born eitizea n he ~ "a true
| American. But I object 10 the vicious
statements In AIR parwin'H fish code.
that all fishermen who oppose him
are alien enemies.
This article Is not 20 oppose or
defend the purse srincrn. MIR. Oar
win would lead the reader 10 believe
that this new fiah code was aimed
at the purrs Heiners only aA alien
enemies. lie IL canouflnKing. Here
ar. few things he does not men
tom First. that this fish code would
put the troilcrA out Of business. acc.
nnd. Il would put the salmon fishing
industry nearly all In the hands Of
the traps. "HsId traps being owned
and controlled BY tho big canning
| trust third. that u would throw
thousands Of American citizens out
Of employment and conflscatc their
fishing gear. fourth. Il would perpet.
uato the fish commission in office.
Il fa.N.
commissioner authority 90 hire aA
many assistants aA he saw fit. and
To pay them whatever salary he
wished
Under such code. any future fish
commissioner could hire ali hts
friends. his wife's friends. and pay
them any salary he wished. If the
fisheries fund held out
The clause against tho trolicrH IL
the most absurd and unjust law
ever saw proposed. I have been fish.
Ing on the coas, for n years. a Erea,
part OF time on Puget sound. with
three seasons of Cape Fla,tory. and
wish 20 say tina, I have seen tho fin.
est and largest salmon. both silver
and springs. that ever saw. were
caugh, of Cape Fiattcry. Alaska
not excepted"
Saving II for Soldiers
Mr.. Darwin states he wishes 90
save the salmon for the soldiers and
sailors. How does Mr. Darwin cx.
pcct his new fish code to benefit the
returned soldiers and sailors. when
It completely destroys trolling and
nearly destroys Rill.netting. II this
proposed fish code becomes "A law.
there can be no more purse seine or
trap licenses granted In excess of
what were I'm force on January 1.
1913. The present holders and their
heirs can renew their license nj will
II appears that Mr.. Darwin expects
the returned service men who wish
TO enter the fish industry 10 buy out
some license holder and then put in
a trap which would cost at least
$4,000. Perhaps the soldier boys
that have that amount would not
care about fishing for living. What
Mr. Darwin really means ~ he wants
90 save the salmon for the large In.
lterests that own the traps. and 10
save the fish commissioners office
with It's fat salary for MIR Darwin
and his friends. The rest IL camou.
flnge
/ In conclusion I Will say | believe
In saving the salmon for Americans.
native born or naturalized citizens.
But why all this talk about saving
the salmon for American ritizsua