Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-04-14
ne RESTOCK Our STREAMS.

Commendable efforts to restore harmony between ~discordant
factions Of sportsmen and conflicting commercial interests are
being made by the new Fish and Game Commission, but to secure
the restocking Of our streams drastic action will be necessary In
the establishment of closed seasons and basic changes In the
present inadequate laws which are daily proving an effective
agent in the determination of the trout.
One of the first essentials for intelligent protection is a
scientific survey of each of the main streams and its tributaries,
the native fish, their food supply, habits, and spawning seasons,
the approximate finny population and the causes for extermina-
ton. This survey should be made jointly by the scientists OF the
federal bureau of hateheries and the fish culturists of the state
and would supply data requisite for intelligent action. Inadequate
results for money expended have been secured because no sclen-
.tifc plans could be followed to meet divergent existing conditions,
on account Of lack of data.
The present closed season, November to April, does not afford
much protection for trout. 1t is an inheritance from eastern
states, designed for the eastern brook trout, which spawns in the
late fall and early winter months. The native Oregon trout, both
rainbow, including ~stee-heads and ~red-sides, and cut-throat or
back-spotted, spawn in the late winter and spring months and the
season opens, April ], in the midst of the spawning period. Prac-
ticaly all the fish taken in April are either spawning or spent
from spawning, lack vigor and flavor and offer poor sport and
poorer eating. In the larger streams, the spawning period is
earlier than in the colder waters of the snow fed mountain streams
and lakes, where spawning occurs as late as June.
Moreover, the present laws are something of a joke, as they
permit an open season the year around for salmon trout" and
there amt no such animal" The salmon trout is a name applied
to any sea-gong trout during its sojourn in coastal waters. The
salt water changes the form and color Of the brook habitant and
the lack of a closed season permits their determination during
the spawning period. Moreover, a fool law for years kept an
open season on trout over 10 inches in length-and except in
mountain streams, the spawning fish are all over 10 inches in
length.
Our game and fish laws are largely the result of local demands
upon Legislators by hunters and fishermen who are looking after
their own pleasure and big bags and full creels rather than the
of game or trout. Every. effort to close a stream
during the spawning period brings a vigorous protest from some
coterie of ~fish-hogs and the legislature follows the lines of least
resistance. The result is that there is little real protection.
Experience has proven that the hatcheries are unable to keep
the streams replenished with intensive fishing permitted during
the spawning period. This period is not the same in all streams
and the closed period must vary with the necessities of the situa-
ton in different localities. 1t is possible to restock the streams.
ii the depletion is controlled, and despite local protest, this must
oe done if we are to keep the trout from determination.
The public is slowly awakening to the fact that our wild life
faces determination and public sentiment will sustain the COM
mission in any program initiated along scientific lines to check
the slaughter and repenish the supply, for our out-o doors re-
sources are recognized as a valuable asset to the state. both for
the recreation of the people and commercially in the attraction
of money-spending tourists.