THE TRAGEDY OF THE
SOCKEYE
-o
been recovered. But such was
not the case. THE AUTHORI
TIES, AND THE FISHERMEN
AND THE CANNERS on both
the warning in the reports of
sides of the line did not heed
1913. No additional protective
measures were enacted and the
fishermen and the canners spar
ed no efforts to capture every
last sockeye in the run of 1917
with the inevitable result that
the escapement of that year was
no greater than it had been in
recent small years and, in con
sequence, the spawning beds
produced no greater returns.
The catch four years later—
1921—produced a pack of 142,
596 cases.
“Washington State Refused
Cooperation”
The sockeye salmon fisheries
'of the Fraser River System
were not destroyed by the part
ies in interest without vigorous
protest from fishery authorities
oil both sides of the line. As
early as 1905 a joint commission
representing Canada and the
State of Washington, after a
full investigation of conditions
unanimously recommended the
cessation of all sockeye fishing
in the system in the small years
1906 and 1908. The Commis
sion expressed the opinion that
by so doing the runs in the fol
lowing cycle years would be ma
terially increased. The closing
was to be an experiment; the
runs at that period had not
been reduced to a low level. The
government of Canada accepted
the suggestion and passed the
necessary enabling act. A sim
ilar act was denied by the Legis
lature of the State of Washing
ton and Canada repealed her
act; and EVERYONE CON
CERNNED WENT AFTER THE
FISH HARDER.
In 1908 an international com
mission was created to study
conditions. Following its unan
imous report and recommenda
tion, Canada and the United
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States drafted a treaty provid
ing for the preservation and
propogation of sockeye in the
Fraser River System. The gov
ernment promptly ratified the
treaty. The President trans
mitted the treaty to the United
States Senate. After two years
delay the Senate refused to con
cur and the treaty was with
drawn.
Then came the disaster of
1913 and renewed efforts to se
cure international intervention.
In 1918 Canada and the United
States again appointed a second
international commission head
ed by the Chief Justice of New
Brunswick and the Secretary of
Commerce of the United States.
In accordance with the unani
mous recommendations of that
commission a second treaty was
drawn which provided for “the
times, seasons and methods for
sockeye fishing in the Fraser
River System.” and “for the
conduct of investigations into
the life-history of the salmon,
hatchery methods, spawning
ground conditions, and other
relative matter.
Continued on Page 13
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The House that Quality Built
Ketchikan, Alaska
DR. L. P. DAWES
Physician ami Surgeon
First National Bank
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Phone 2602 Juneau
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