o 



28 BUI LETIN OT THE UNITED STATES FTSH COMMISSION. 



Captain Drevar's narrative of a long-necked sea-monster which captured 

 in its folds and took down a sperm whale was a little exaggerated, 

 though he and his mates swore to the truth of the story before a mag- 

 istrate, and he himself was most unfairly punished by his employers for 

 telling what he had seen: he was, in fact, ruined for life. ("I would 

 not tell about it," said an old salt to Captain Drevar, "if I saw five 

 hundred sea sarpints.") But I no more believe that these men would 

 have invented such an animal if they could, or could have invented it 

 if they would, thau I believe that an utterly ignorant man could have 

 devised the famous lunar hoax — the clever story respecting a powerful 

 '.elescope showing liviug creatures in the moon. Yet that story did not, 

 as was alleged, take in Arago; no one acquainted with optical laws 

 could have been deceived by it for an instant. To imagine that sadors 

 could accomplish the far more difficult feat of inventing a new kiud of 

 animal without immediately exposing their ignorance to every one ac- 

 quainted with the laws of comparative anatomy, is to imagine the im- 

 possible. 



112 PROPOSED REMOVAL OF FISH-TRAPS FR«M»3 COL.IJMRIA 



RIVER. 



By AUG. C. KINJVEY. 



[From a letter by Prof. S. F. Baird.] 



The State of Oregon has petitioned Congress to have the fish-traps 

 here removed. A petition will be forwarded to-day by citizens of this 

 place asking the Secretary of War to do this. The State of Oregon 

 has not the right to remove them. There is i\p doubt that these fish- 

 traps, projecting out into the channel as they do, have caused the loss 

 of the lives of many fishermen who were fishing by the ordinary means 

 of gill-nets, and that they obstruct navigation very greatly. I hope, 

 therefore, that the Secretary of War will investigate the matter inline 

 diately; and if found as stated, have them removed. 



There are other considerations favoring the removal of these traps 

 which I need hardly mention, but which should have force in causing 

 their removal. The fish caught are mostly those that run in shallow 

 water, near shore, and nearly "ripe," and hence unfit for food. Next, 

 a great quantity of other fish are caught, quite a number of shad with 

 others, which we are desirous shall remain unmolested for a few years, 

 also a great number of " steel-heads " — a large trout. 



I cannot see any other way of avoiding a bloody conflict between the 

 fishermen and the trapmen. The fishermen are very much enraged at 

 the loss of the lives of fishermen who are dragged into the traps with 

 their nets. 



Astoria, Oreg-., March 25, 1885. 



