THIRTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 



71 



Court action is in process in a number of cases. Every effort is 

 made in both screen and fishway matters to have installations made 

 without recourse to court action, but when these efforts fail the bureau 

 recommends prompt legal action. 



Progress is being made in bringing data on dams in the state up to 

 date. The first concern is to obtain a complete list of all dams so that 

 a determination may be made as to wliat, if anything, will be required 

 of the owners. This work will take considerable time and effort as it is 

 of some magnitude. 



In 1926 publicity appeared in the press regarding the alleged satis- 

 factory operation of a fishway and mechanical lift at the Baker Dam, 

 on the Baker River at Concrete, AVashington. This dam at that time 



Pig. 20. Natural conditions utilized in the construction of a fishway. 



steelhead ascending- in foreground. 



Note 



was 200 feet in height and intercepted a large salmon migration. In 

 December, 1926, the International Pacific Salmon Investigation Federa- 

 tion passed a resolution condemning the publicity as not being war- 

 ranted by the facts. It is now generally admitted that the operations 

 at Baker Dam are a failure with respect to protecting the salmon run. 

 It is possible that means may be devised for passing fish over or around 

 high obstructions and the safe return of the seaward migrants, but 

 such means will be accomplished only when a very definite and active 

 cooperation exists between the biologists and engineers, the former in 

 the main being or representative of the conservation agencies and the 

 latter in general being representative of the owners of the structure. 

 From present information the construction of fishways is limited by 

 height and possible other factors and hence a study should be made to 

 see if present data on the subject may be accepted as final. The prob- 



