EASTERN CLACKAMAS u Devoted to the Interests o f Eastern Clackamas County V olume 11, N umber 25 FISH TRAP REBUILT IN EAGLE CREEK Steel-Heads To Be Butchered Public Deprived Of Fish Food The opposition, which for the past years has been steadily growing among the sportsman and residents of Eastern Clacka mas County, against the present system employed by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries in the con duct o f its hatcheries in this ter ritory, about reached a climax last week, when it was reported that the rack and fish trap is agai* being built across Eagle Creek near Alspaugh Station. The original rack was washed out by the floods of last winter and it was sincerely hoped no further barriers would be built in that stream. But the founda tions are now in and the rack should shortly be in operation. As the name implies, this rack and trap are installed to stop and catch all steel-heads or salmon in their attempted ascent of the stream to their natqral spawning beds. So successfully does it ac complish its purpose, that but a very small proportion o f the to tal run of fish ever reach the up per waters. According to the principles ad vocated and given publicity by the government employees, but a fair portion of the fish are cap tured, these being but tempora rily detained in their annual pil grimage. To the uninformed it is also supposed these fish are humanely treated while the eggs are being removed and fertilized, with the parent fish finally re turned to the stream and allowed to enjoy many more years of life, returning each year from salt water, as is the habit of steel- heads, to reproduce in the fresh waters of its natal stream. In reality, at the Eagle Creek rack and probably elsewhere, fully ninety percent of the steel- heads ascending to that point, which is less than two miles from the stream’s mouth, are caught in the trap. These beautiful fish, ranging in weight from three to a dozen pounds each and in fine condition for eating, are handled like cord-wood and thrown into nearby muddy pools and packed in like sardines in a can. These captives are kept in these dirty pools from a day to a few weeks, dependent upon their so-called “ ripeness” . Then instead of be- » I E stacada , O regon , Boy Scout Corps’ T hursday , M arch 7, 1918 E. C. C. F To Issue Finances Are Assured Premium Lists Early Thanks to the liberal response given the Estacada Boy Scouts in the sale of “ Tags’, on Saturday last, the perpetuation of that use ful organization is assured for two years at least. The local corps’ quota was $45. payable in three yearly install ments o f $15. and Saturday’s campaign netted between $35. and $40., about $10. of which was received from private contribu tions, other than the sale of tags. At a recent meeting o f the directors o f the Eastern Clacka mas County Fair, it was decided to immediately set about having the 1918 fair premium lists pre pared and printed, to be ready for distribution this Spring. This action is a sensible one, allowing exhibitors to plant agri cultural products with a view to conforming to the exhibit re quirements and the production of livestock and poultry accordingly. The custom, has been general among m od fairs to issue the premium list too late to be o f value in preliminary preparation, in many instances being distri buted too late to save samples of grain from the threshers. But the E. C. C. F., like everything in this hustling portion o f the state, is not afraid to tackle new things and get out o f the rut of tradition. ing carefully stripped o f their eggs and milk and as carefully placed back in the parent stream, their necks are broken with a club, the eggs and milk taken and the carcases tossed into the stream, for craw-fish food and water polution. The hatchery employees will tell you that anyone is welcome to a fish after they are done with it. But by the time they are fin ished, a hungry bear or a Digger Indian wouldn’t eat it, covered as it is with sores, fungus and other parasites, incident to the congested pools and unnatural propagation. Statistics and investigations o f the past few years clearly indi cate that the steel-head and sal mon a r e diminishing in the Clackamas River and tributaries, this condition being due in part to the two dams at River Mill and Cazadero, but largely to the e f fective barriers maintained by the U. S. Bureau o f Fisheries at Clackamas and Alspaugh. Together with this condition is the injustice of the enforcement of the federal law prohibiting fishing, even with a hook and line, within two miles of a fish rack. From the standpoint of the public there is no argument in favor of the present hatchery system along the Clackamas Riv er, for natural reproduction would assure at least as many fish as the artificial system and would also allow the public the right to fish for food purposes, whereas at present no one is being bene fited. The people of Eastern Clacka mas County do not need the hatcheries or the government supervision, but they do need the food supply and are rightfully entitled to their share conse quently well signed petitions will shortly be forw arded to the pro per authorities in Washington, D. C. and elsewhere, which it is hoped will result in some relief. Lumbermen To W ork For Terminal Rates Apparently the New s struck a popular note in its recent article on “ Terminal Rates” for Esta cada. Already, a number o f the ship pers from this community have volunteered their cooperation, even offering to finance the fight for a square deal if money is need ed. In the case o f the Horner-Mil- lard Lumber Company o f Viola, Mr. Horner states that a charge of over $40. is made on every car load of their product, between Estacada and Fairview or Esta cada and Portland, whereas the Willamette Valley mills are able to ship as far as Portland, free of charge, on shipments bound east o f the Montana line This handicap o f $40. on a car load o f lumber is a serious one for the local mills, materially de creasing their profits and direct ly hurting the industrial growth o f this outlying section. T h e O r e g o n Development League and nearly every booster organization in the state is con stantly urging and working for the upbuilding o f the rural and slightly developed portions o f Oregon and their cooperation should be obtained in this fight for equal shipping rates. Any aiguments or suggestions that will aid in this important cause will be welcomed and given full publicity by the News. $1.50 P er Y ear C O M ilN IT Y AUCTION WELL ATTENOED Implements Find Ready Sale But No Demand For Livestock Despite the g o o d plowing weather and tin* Orange meetings on Saturday, the community auc tion sale held on the Broadway pavement in Estacada was a big success and well attended. About one hundred articles were disposed o f in the sale, ranging in prices from 10c t o $85., with tin* demand and prices paid being the L>est for implements and household goods, with vehic les and harness going at lower prices and no call whatever for livestock, excepting a horse and colt. Due to the high cost o f feeds, no one was in the market for cat tle o f any description and the one prize boar offered brought no bids A few complaints were made because some owners, either per sona ly or through representa tives, finally bid in their goods, paying the 1 0 commission, rath er than having them sold at a price far below their value. Even then many articles, especially good harnesses, sold for but a fraction o f their value. From t h e general business standpoint of the community and town much good was done, with many dollars going into circula tion among the people and mer- chants and many supposedly use less articles getting into the hands o f parties needing them. The splendid cafeteria dinner served by the ladies o f the C. I. C. in the former Adams’ restaur ant was well patronized and net ted the sponsors about $16. The sale of tags by the Esta cada Boy Scouts on that, day met with a hearty response from the public, with the l>oys disposing o f about $28. wort h. Many parties from Portland and distant parts o f the county were in attendance and a large number o f people from outlying sections o f Eastern Clackamas were present. Many Buying New Cars Even the H. C. o f L. is not in terfering with the purchasing of new automobiles in this commun ity and the outlook is a bright one for the dealers this Spring. Within the past two weeks, the Cascade Garage reports the sales o f Chevrolet cars to T. .1. Dolan o f Barton. .John Moger and Jas. Folsom o f Springwaier and J. F. Fournier of Boring; with a Dodge car sold to Ray Keith o f Faraday and a Ford to George Saw telle of Eagle Creek. Smiley Lovelace o f Springwater is also driving a Dodge, which he purchased from the Cascade peo ple a few’ weeks ago.