PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 91 



feet of the mouth of this ladder. Up to 1915 there was a second 

 deadline, 600 feet from the falls, beyond which no commercial fisher- 

 man could operate nets, but the Oregon Legislature in that year 

 closed the Willamette to all net fishermen from the Clackamas rapids 

 to the falls. 



The salmon in the spring run on the Willamette will average about 

 25 pounds each, but examples weigiiing 50 pounds and over are not 

 uncommon. 



In 1914 the Salmon Club of Oregon was formed of anglers who 

 desired to encourage the use of light tackle in the taking of large game 

 fish, in place of the extremely heavy tackle heretofore used. The 

 f ollo'w'ing rules were adopted : 



The rods used may be made of any material except solid bamboo cane. They must 

 not be less than 5 feet in length and weigh not over 6 ounces. 



The line must not be heavier than the standard nine-thread linen line. 



Any style of reel or spoon may be used and the wire leader must not exceed 3 feet 

 in length. 



The angler must reel in hie fish, bring it to gaff unaided, and must do the gafiing 

 himself. If a rod is broken at any time during the struggle with the fish it will dis- 

 qualify the catch. 



As a reward of merit the club awards bronze buttons to all anglers 

 taking, on light tackle, salmon weighing 20 pounds or over; for a fish 

 weigiiing over 30 pounds a silver button is given, and for anv salmon 

 over 40 pounds the luck}- angler receives a gold button. Numerous 

 additional prizes are also given by public-spirited citizens. 



Tne season for light taclvle on the Willamette River and all other 

 inland streams of Oregon has been fixed by the club from January 

 1 to July 1 . 



In 1915 the first angler to win a gold button on the Willamette 

 River did so on April 18, when he took a 42i-pound salmon. On 

 the same day this same angler also won a silver button for a 32A- 

 pound fish and a bronze button for a 26-pound fish. 



DANGERS TO THE INDUSTRY. 



_ Man is undoubtedly the greatest present menace to the perpetua- 

 tion of the great salmon fisheries of the Pacific coast. When the 

 enormous number of lishermen engaged and the immense quantity 

 of gear employed is considered, one sometimes wonders how any 

 of the fish, in certain streams at least, escape. High water or low 

 water, either of which will prevent certain forms of apparatus from 

 fisliing to any extent while such conditions prevail, storms which 

 impede fishing, and the hundred and one small things which in 

 the aggregate are of considerable importance, how'ever, all aid in 

 assisting the salmon in dodging the apparatus and reachin<r the 

 snawning beds in safety, while, unless the stream is completely 

 blocked by a tight banicade, an indeterminate number of salmon 

 will escape all the pitfalls man and animals may sot for them. 



In some sections an almost idolatrous faith in the efficacy of arti- 

 ficial culture of fish for replenishing the ravages of man and animals 

 is manifested, and nothing has done more harm than the prevalence 

 of such an idea. 



While it is an exceedingly difficult thing to prove, the concensus of 

 opinion is that artificial culture does considerable good, yet the very 

 fact that this can not be conclusively proven ought to be a warning 

 to all concerned not to put blind faitli in it aloue. 



