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Attachment 1 



Boating In Hells Canyon, Its History and Management to Date 



The following summary covers the history of boating in Hells Canyon, the HC- 

 NRA Act of 1975, special regulations promulgated for the HCNRA, use figures, eco- 

 nomic impacts, the University of Idaho study, background of the Hells Canyon Alli- 

 ance, differences between Hells Canyon's power boaters and floaters, management 

 plans and planning efforts, and the current proposed legislation. 

 Ilistorical: 

 ' • Steamboats to Jet Boats 



Hells Canyon has a long and rich tradition of power boating that spans more 

 than a century. In 1865 Captain Tom Stump took the 1 10 foot Colonel Wright 

 up river into what is now the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area 

 (HCNRA), turning around at a point 25 Miles above the Salmon River (Snake 

 River of Hells Canyon, pg. 30). Five years later (1870) Captain Sebastian 

 Miller brought the 136 foot steamboat Shoshone the full length of Hells 

 Canyon, from Southem Idaho to Lewiston. In 1895 Captain William Gray 

 followed the route blazed by Bas Miller in the Norma, a 165 foot stem wheeler. 

 The steamer Imnaha ferried supplies to Eureka Bar in 1903, followed by the 

 Mountain Gem in 1904 {Snake River of Hells Canyon, Pgs. 52-54, 58 and 59). 



The many homesteaders and miners who called the Hells Canyon area home 

 in the early 1900's needed transportation for people, supplies and produce. The 

 Snake River was a ready highway for them to use. One of the first to provide 

 that service on this navigable river was Ed MacFarlane in 1910 with his 36 foot 

 gasoline powered Flyer. In 1912 he added the 65 foot Prospector to his fleet. 

 MacFarlane began the first power boat tour business operating out of the 

 Lewiston area, charging $1.50 for a trip to Wild Goose Rapid. In 1914 he 

 braved the rapids to Granite Creek with 19 passengers in the Prospector {Snake 

 River of Hells Canyon, Pgs.. 61-63). Many boat Captains and craft took their 

 place in the traditions and history of the canyon over the years. These include 

 characters of legendary dimensions such as Press Brewrink, Kyle McGrady , 

 Oliver McNabb and Dick Rivers. Their large and sturdy propeller driven craft 

 included names like the Chief Joseph, Let's Go, Clipper, Idaho, Florence, 

 Wenaha and Idaho Queen. 



The first Snake River Route mail delivery contract was awarded to Press 

 Brewrink in 1919. Weekly delivery of the mail from Lewiston to Johnson Bar 

 continues today. The boat goes up on Wednesday and retums on Thursday, 

 providing a valuable service for canyon residents. For tourists the ride up river 

 into Hells Canyon on the mail boat was an adventure of a lifetime. 



Although the idea had been around for many years, a New Zealand sheep 



