Court Opinion

ID: 4925078
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-23 21:36:50.333481+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:17.547596
License: Public Domain

Finley, J.
(concurring in the result) — I have signed the concurring opinion written by Judge Rosellini and join in the views expressed therein, but wish to add the following brief comments:
Considering their length and depth, the modern nylon nets used by defendants, if placed in the river and left there, as in the instant case, unquestionably would constitute a hazard to the escapement upriver of spawning salmon and steelhead during certain periods of the year. The extent or the degree of the seriousness of the hazard in terms of conservation and rehabilitation of fish life is a matter that would be subject to proof, as in any other case.
In this connection, it should be noted that the instant case focuses attention only upon defendants and their nets. Considering the matter of conservation and the equally, if *536not more, important matter of rehabilitation of the fish runs in the rivers and streams of this state in relation to reasonable police power regulations, the problem posed would seem to involve not only the question of the use and effect of the modern nylon nets of defendants, but the use and effect of such nets by numbers of other individuals, including other Puyallup Indians.
The majority opinion states that the constitution of the United States and the treaties enacted or promulgated pursuant thereto unquestionably have been held to constitute the supreme or controlling law of the land. With this I agree without any reservation whatsoever. But the constitution and the treaties enacted pursuant thereto are basic documents of government. They do not in and of themselves spell out and govern specifically the myriad details and day-to-day implications which may and do arise in relation to such documents of government. Such definitive enunciation normally falls within other areas of social control; i.e., within the proper ambit of the legislature or the judiciary. Under our system of government, there should no longer be any doubt as to (1) the validity of the doctrine of judicial review, (2) the supremacy of the judiciary in this respect, and (3) that interpretation and clarification of constitutional, statutory, or treaty provisions by the judiciary are acceptable and established principles. The problem in the instant case must be viewed in this light, and I think the fundamental question is the reasonableness of the police power regulation attempted by the state of Washington.
Setting aside, merely for the moment, any discussion or consideration of constitutional and treaty provisions, there should be little doubt that reasonable police power regulation as an abstract matter would be desirable when, as, and if, necessary to prevent the depletion or absolute destruction of fish life in the rivers and streams of this state. This should be true from the standpoint of the Indians, as well as of other residents of the state. Now, if we turn back several decades, in view of the then overabundant quantities of *537fish in the rivers, streams, lakes, and other waters of the Pacific Northwest, it is unlikely that the parties to the Indian treaty contemplated any necessity for scientific conservation and rehabilitation; but what would the attitude of the makers of the Indian treaty have been, if they had considered or had been confronted with the problem of conservation and rehabilitation? As to this question, the majority opinion would attribute an abysmal ignorance and lack of intelligence both to our constitution makers and to the signatories of the Indian treaties. The assumption inherent in this, I think, is unwarranted.
As to the validity of the state regulation here involved, I think the inquiry of the court should be directed to the intent and purpose of the treaty makers in the same manner that judicial inquiry is made respecting intent and purpose in the process of interpretation and application of any provisions of our state or Federal constitutions.
The basic purpose of the treaty was to preserve, not to destroy, the fishing rights of the Indians. As I see the problem in the case at bar, it is simply one of approach or orientation regarding (a) the interpretation and application of constitutional and treaty- provisions and (b) the nature of the judicial function in relation thereto. If even one judicial eye is kept open respecting the fundamental purpose of the treaty to protect Indian fishing rights, and if this purpose is evaluated intelligently in terms of the settlement and the development of our state which has taken place most significantly in the last fifty years, then it seems to me that the state of Washington, as a matter of constitutional right, should have at least an opportunity to prove by competent factual data that the police power regulation here involved is a reasonable one, not inconsistent with the purpose of the Indian treaty but in furtherance thereof, from which the courts might or might not conclude that the regulation would be valid. In other words, as Judge Rosel-lini suggests, the problem is one of proof.
It may be suggested, and if so it is certainly true, that the Puyallup Indians did not encourage or sponsor, and are *538not to be held morally or legally responsible for, the increase in population and the development of the state of Washington. However, this significant increase in population and the development of the state were not prohibited by the terms of the Indian treaty. Even if not contemplated, the changes that have taken place were perhaps inevitable. In any event, the changes have taken place and are now with us and the Indians as well.
Judicial recognition of the fundamental purpose of the treaty (i.e., the preservation of Indian fishing rights) and judicial recognition of the facts of life relative to conservation and rehabilitation of fish are not inconsistent. Such judicial action is not in derogation and in violation of the Indian treaty, but is in furtherance thereof. In his concurring opinion, Judge Rosellini states that the only question in this case is whether the state has proved by competent evidence that regulation of fishing nets in the river is reasonably designed and necessary for the preservation of fish life for the benefit of the Indians, as well as for other residents of this state. I agree. For the above reasons and those stated by Judge Rosellini, I concur in the end result reached by the majority opinion — namely, that the decision of the trial court should be affirmed.
Addendum by Hill, C. J. The eight judges who heard the En Banc argument on this case on February 13,1957 (Judge Weaver being incapacitated at that time), are agreed that the order of the trial court dismissing the charges against the two defendants should be affirmed, but they are in disagreement as to the reason for the affirmance.
Three judges have signed Judge Donworth’s opinion, and three judges have signed Judge Rosellini’s opinion, and there is no majority opinion. It therefore follows that the cases which Judge Donworth’s opinion states are overruled, are not in fact overruled, and nothing is decided except that the order dismissing the charges against the defendants is affirmed.