NOTES ON THE FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
243 
A fairly accurate gauge of the sentiment of those prominently interested in the 
industry of the river as to the measures favored for the preservation of the salmon 
supply may be obtained from the following tabulated statement, rejnesenting the 
results of interviews with canners, public men in salmon fishing centers, and State 
fishery officers, chiefly in Astoria and Portland, the canners predominating: 
Favoring extensive artificial iiropagatiou to exclusion of any restrictive 
measures 1 
Favoring extensive artificial propagation and close time throughout month 
of April * 3 
Favoring extensive artificial propagation and close time throughout month 
of August *2 
Favoring extensive artificial propagation and close time throughout the 
mouths of April and August 1 13 
19 
In the case of the apparatus in the upiter river, that is, in the section between the 
Cascades and Celilo, a close time extending to May 10 or 15 in spring and an extension 
of the open season to August 10 or 15 would be a proper modification of the close season 
advocated for the lower river, as the fish which entered the river during the last two 
weeks in April wmuld be given opportunity to pass unmolested beyond the wheels. 
In lieu of such an arrangement, the establishment of a graduated close time for differ- 
ent parts of the river or of a moving zone of protected water has been suggested. 
Wheel fishermen would probably not object to such a plan. Tliose interviewed 
expressed themselves as favoring a close time till May 10 or 15, provided the course 
was considered advisable for the protection of the fish. 
It may be stated that any suggestion of a shortening of the season on the Columbia 
Eiver will probably be opposed by a large majority of the gill-net fishermen and juany 
persons using other forms of apparatus, under the impression that a curtailment of 
the season would mean a reduction in their income, whereas the opposite result would 
probably ensue. 
The prohibition of certain forms of nets has from time to time been suggested and 
advocated. In the lower river the use of wheels has by a few persons been opposed 
on the ground that the fish which have escaped the multitude of nets in the part of 
the river below the Cascades should be allowed to pass unmolested to the spawning- 
grounds. Those interested in the wheel fishing, on the other hand, say that the 
quantities of chinook salmon taken in wheels are insignificant as compared with those 
caught by other means in the lower river, and that if more salmon were allowed to 
pass as far as the wheels the supply would be much better maintained by natural 
means. It can not be said, however, that the desire to proscribe any special kind of 
fishing apparatus is very prevalent, and the entire canning interests would probably 
strenuously oppose any attempt to abolish traps, seines, or wheels, for the reason that 
these a])pliances are largely owned or controlled by them, and afibrd the principal 
means for successfully withstanding what are considered unjust demands of the Fisher- 
men’s Union, which advocates the use of no form of a])paratus save the gill nets. 
* All of these, while preferriug to suspend fishing during only one of the months iu question, 
would probably not be averse to having a close time in both, if deemed necessary or desiral)le by com- 
petent authority. 
t One also favorins abolition of wheels. 
