Table Of Content

Cc5 a 0 o+ = *la n «u desmu!iA ba Me_e ei aB RaV ee aO S”ie S R=e icvi e arveteantaenrye °e : a“aG eSre ei ed lEe aleWMA eoe‘ t 2 Y. a oe oe ASTORIA REGATTA SCENE, 1903 August is the month of Astoria’s Annual Regatta. See Stories on page 8. Sally the Columbia River Update Salmon Says... By late 1999, the Clinton Administration (National Marine Fisheries Service) has said that it will choose a long-term plan to restore Columbia Basin salmon and M, President - Listen steelhead. The 1999 decision will include how many salmon and steelhead are to to the 200 scientists be left in-river versus transported by truck or barge. Variables to be considered who have urged you to could include dam removal, reservoir drawdown, dam modifications (including breach four lower Snake adult passage improvements), and juvenile bypass improvements (including spill- River dams. This is your ing the fish over the dams). chance to go down in history as my Savior. Conservation groups contend that fish barging is a proven failure over the last 20 Disregard the many years, and the scientific consensus for restoring salmon is more natural river con- f special interest groups and ditions. The Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association (NSIA) endorsed dam removal on October 15, 1998. According to Buzz Ramsey of the Luhr Jensen and politicians before it is too late. Sons fishing tackle company and NSIA President: We can’t solve this problem Happy Birthday! with harvest restrictions alone. We need to reform the largest harvester of salmon and steelhead in the river, the federal dams, which kill up to 90% of young salmon The Columbia River Gillnetter and up to 40% of the adults. publication is 30 years old this issue! With over 60 editions of On the other side of the issue, industries that depend on the Columbia River’s the local gillnet fishing specialty electricity and transportation system say that the spill program is doing more harm newspaper under his belt, Don, than good, that harvest rates on Idaho chinook are too high, and that the benefits now 81, is ready to keep tackling of barging fish are underestimated. the challenges thrown at the Two events recently took place that may have significant effects on the future commercial fishing industry. You can help too! Just call Don at (503) 325-2507. continues on page 4 meen ERT SE EO EL EN TE TS DE TEL SARE COLUMBIA RIVER ty Bei Columbia River Gillnetter}* | Columbia River Fishermen’s Protective Union Associate Membership 1999 One of the Oldest Conservation Unions on the West Coast—Since 1886 EDITOR Don Riswick Post Office Box 511, Astoria, OR 97103 Edwin L. Luoma, CPA Hunt’s Home Furnishings 503/325-2507 2703 Marine Drive 1535 Commercial Street PRESIDENT Bill Finucane Astoria, OR 97103 Astoria, OR 97103 463 Jerome, Astoria, OR 97103 Hump’s Restaurant, Inc. Mr. John Karamanos FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Alan Takalo P. O. Box 1136 Sunshine Dairy Foods, Inc. Route 4, Box 354, Astoria, OR 97103 Clatskanie, OR 97016 801 NE 21st Avenue Conestoga Corporation Portland OR 97232 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Chns Doumit Post Office Box 342, Cathlamet, WA 98612 P. O. Box 1109 Martin Knutsen & Son, Inc. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Jack Marincovich Clatskanie, OR 97016 Insurance brokers & Agents Route 2, Box 67-A, Astoria, OR 97103 or West Coast Propeller Service 968 Commercial St 322 10th Street, Astoria, OR 97103 827 East Harbor Drive Astoria, OR 97103 Office Receptionist Secretary Arlene Graham P. O. Box 190 Link’s Outdoor Warrenton, Oregon 97146 1254 Commercial CRFPU Board of Directors Sundial Travel Service Astoria, OR 97103 DISTRICT I 750 Marine Drive Ralph Ennis 14141 NE San Rafel, Portland, OR 97230 Astoria, OR 97103 §03/253-1559 Ver Forsberg 28811 NW Main, Ridgefield, WA 98642 The following individuals have made a 360/887-4089 DISTRICTS 2, 3 cash contribution to the Columbia River Jack Fowler 6349 Willow Grove, Longview, WA 98632 360/425-4662 Gillnetter Publication, which will be used DISTRICT4 to continue the publication and mailing of John Kallunki, Director 79806 Blackford Road, Clatskanie, OR 97016 $03/284551 this free informational newsletter. Greg Mustola We thank them for their support! 80190 Alston Mayger Road, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503/728-2248 Jim Hogan 1998-1999 P.O. Box 324, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503/728-3473 Jeff Lumijarvi Lawrence Newell, Portland John Wahl, Lynwood, WA Post Office Box 606, Clatskanie, OR 97016 Bill Leahy Jr., Yorba Linda, CA A. Rautio, Carmichael, CA 503/728-2841 Peter Ettro, Astoria Robery Conyer, St Louis, MO DISTRICT5 Marvin Moore, Naselle, WA Fred Lloyd, Seaquim, WA Kent Mantin, Chairman John & Vivian Jarvi, Clatskanie, OR John Kerns, Salem, OR PO Box 82, Skamokawa, WA 98647 360/795-3920 Gladys Halsan, Astoria Anna Baker, Astoria Courtland Smith, Corvallis, OR Bob Selover, Astoria Mark Laukkanen Robert Friedrich, Mesa, AZ Leland Westley, Astoria 205 N. Welcome SI., Cathlamet, WA 98612 360/849-4466 Vic Albertson, Astoria Ray Krum, Hanford, CA Leroy Laine, Portland Lloyd Smith, Hillsboro, OR DISTRICT 6 Dean Radger Kent Johnson, Astoria Amold Anderson, Skamakowa, WA PO Box 35, Grays River, WA 98621 Emest & Helen Alne, Hemet, CA Fred Korhonen, Astoria 360/465-2325 Lloyd Smith, Illwaco, WA Harry & Joyce Thomberg, Naselle, WA DISTRICT 7 George Anderson, Hillsboro, OR W. R. Osborne, Chinook, WA Mike Barendse The Nygaard Family, in memory L. J. Pardee, Astoria Route 4, Box 343, Astoria, OR 97103 of Orville Nygaard Ralph Ennia, Portland Rich Evans Nancy Haglund, Portland David & Gail Wahlstrom, Astoria Route 6, Box 1020-A, Astoria, OR 97103 Heb Johanson, Springfield, OR Harry Larson, Astoria 503/458-6152 Earl McGuire, Jackson, Mish. Don Stensland, Wilsonville, OR DISTRICT 8 Robert Pulliam, Sarasota, FL Viola Williams, Portland Stan Johnson Route 2, Box 136, Astoria, OR 97103 503/325-0883 Please make your contributions to Abby Ihander Columbia River Gillnetter Route 3, Box 150, Astoria, OR 97103 503/3254865 P.O. Box 511, Astoria, OR 97103 Support the ccditorial Columbia River Gillnetter publication! The Corps of Engineers: The Columbia River Gillnetter is the only remaining publication on Dredging and dam removal the west coast devoted exclusively to gillnetting. We have been In 1938, Bonneville Dam went online. making a difference for 30 years, but our continued existence is In 1941, Coulee Dam went online. threatened by increasing production and mailing costs. Now more Neither dam had plans for fish than ever, we need a voice to represent our side of the issue, and ladders. Colonel Welch, head of the US the Gillnetter is our only contact with fishermen, lawmakers and Corps of Engineers, when asked about the general public. fish ladders said “I haven’t time to play nurse-maid to a bunch of fish” If you would like to help, send donations to — he lived to regret that statement. Columbia River Gillnetter The CRFPU, headed by Charles P. O. Box 511 Knapp of Astoria, gathered a group of Astoria, OR 97103 503/325-2507 fishermen who petitioned the Corps of Engineers to knock out one end of Your help is greatly appreciated Bonneville dam and make temporary Columbia River Gillnetter adjustments for the giant August Publishing Crew salmon run. Until permanent fish ladders were in place, many fish did EDITOR Don Riswick not survive the make-shift passage upriver. Now, what if there had been PRODUCTION Tom Wynn Tamara Walker no fish ladders at Bonneville dam? Can you imagine the slaughter? The Columbia River Gillnetter is The Gillnetters saved the day! published seasonally for the Columbia River Fishermen's Union. Coulee Dam had no ladders and Articles, letters and photographs are wiped out 40% of the entire Columbia welcome for submission. River fish spawning grounds. In that massacre, we forever lost the big June “Hogs” (50 Ib salmon) and Sockeye deepening will aid the Northwest how blasting rock at the bottom of runs. commerce, and particularly the Port the river will affect deep river fish Now that the dams are in, the public of Portland, by increasing the river's populations such as the sturgeon? has begun to realize after all these ability to accomodate newer, larger Do they care that the sloughs along years that it was not the Gillnetters cargo Ships. Allinall, this is an the river will probably be drained? who were depleting the fish runs. Many excellent piece of legislation — good Do they care about the impact of sport fishing clubs, especially the for the economy, good for the dumping dredged sediment on crab Northwest Steelheaders, for years, environment, and good for water beds at the mouth of the river? have tried to eliminate our fishing nets resources across the United States” I think not! And thinking ahead, what and our livelihoods because they Several House members, including about the fact that the river will have wanted all the fish for themselves. Reps. Greg Walden, R-Ore., and to be dredged again and again to They too are just beginning to realize Brian Baird, D-Wash., cheered the maintain the channel? And if newer, that Gillnetters are not the problem. Columbia channel-deepening deeper cargo ships are build, do we We have been the most regulated of authorization, saying it would boost deepen the channel even more? any industry, and we have been the river commerce through much of the The corps of engineers own studies people who have been trying to tell Northwest. The project would deepen indicate that dredge operations kill everyone what is the real cause of the the river from 40 to 43 feet from the both salmon and sturgeon, but problem. Breach the dams and do it river's mouth to Portland and apparently, this is not a concern of quickly! Vancouver, WA. Because wheat theirs. Now something new is coming growers and much of the interior There is a simple solution to down the pipeline. The Corps of Northwest s commerce also depend on prevent further destruction of the Engineers wants to further ruin the the river, the project was cheered Columbia River: build a deep-water Columbia river with a new inland as well. “It’s real positive news port at Tongue Point, just east of multi-billion project to deepen the for the eastern part of the river,” said Astoria, where the water is as deep as river from Portland all the way Jerry Simpson, commission chairman 100 feet already. The communication down to the ocean. While this is for the port of Umatilla. links betwecn Astoria and Portland partly based on the Corps’ theory that Do politicians care about what could easily be enhanced (there is deep-water habitat is not important, happens to the fish and the river already a rail line), and a lot of this will ruin the Columbia forever ecosystem? Do politicians care that taxpayer money could be saved in the just so that the Port of Portland can be 18 million cubic yards of spoils process. If anyone still cares about a deep-water port. (some toxic, as discoverd in the the fate of the Columbia River, now As for the politicians, here is what Willamette) dredged from the river is the time to do something, because Rep. Peter De Fazio said: bottom will have to be disposed of once the dredging begins, there will “The Columbia River channel somewhere? Do they care about be nothing left to save! COLUMBIA RIVER — Columbia River Update Dear Don Riswick, Continues fre mM page l the Snake River dams, and the agree- Fox Guarding The Henhouse of keeping the fish out of turbines or reg- ment by the Governors of Idaho, Ore- ulating water flow for the fish. The three gon, Washington, and Montana to Federal appropriations are granting $140 are not compatible; you either fund fish continue to pursue Columbia River million for fish recovery efforts in this recovery, electricity, or agriculture. Give management issues through a forum. fiscal year. It is ironic that the U.S. Army the Federal funds directly to the fishery Also, comments are now being ac- Corps Engineers will receive $95 million organizations to balance the financial cepted on the “Multi-Species Frame- of the funds to protect the fish. This is clout with the Electric Power Corpora- work Process.” the same U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tions. that builds dams, dredges rivers, dumps Scientists Back Snake River Dam dredge spoils on crab beds or makes an The Army Corps of Engineers commit- Removal: A recently issued report by ideal habitat for terns that eat most of the ment to further stir up toxic setement by the PATH scientific review panel* smolts that the Corps is supposed to pro- dredging the river is another step in the entitled “Conclusions and Recom- tect. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers elimination of the salmon. The river isn't mendations from the PATH Weight is more the cause of the fisheries prob- big enough to coordinate water flow to of Evidence Workshop” could play lem than the solution. satisfy all organizations. It is beginning an important part in the 1999 decision to appear that fish are the odd man out. on long term Columbia Basin salmon The Corps spends millions of dollars on recovery strategies. The PATH inefficient programs like barging fish Fred Korhonen Weight of Evidence process was de- and for electricity or agriculture, instead Astoria, Oregon veloped to “provide scientific input to decisions regarding actions to restore endangered stocks to Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon**.” (© sKIPANON BRAND® Oregon Ocean Seafoods The actions considered by the review DELUXE HANDFILLED 225 SE Galena panel were: Warrenton Oregon 97146 1) Current management (some — SMOKED SALMON — (503) 861-1434 salmon and steelhead smolts transported, some left in river); packoeOd RbyE GON OCEAN SEAFOODS,,, or Toll Free at (888) 738-8910 2) Maximize transportation of Est. Cash, money order, VISA @ MasterCard smolts; and 3) Natural river drawdown (includ- Hunt’s Market ing dam breaching) of the four Snake North Coast River dams (The PATH report ana- Tubby Texaco lyzed one drawdown which is imple- Chiropractic mented in three years, and one in - FRESH MEAT & PRODUCE + which is implemented in eight years.) - VIDEOS+ BEER« ICE: ONCe nter *PATH (The Plan for Analyzing and Testing Hypotheses): PATH tests - CARHART CLOTHING + ra hypotheses underlying key salmon - WESCOE LOGGER SHOES + Appointments: (503) 861-1661 management decisions in the Colum- Fax (503) 861-1662 bia River Basin with scientists/ Rt 2 Box 610 managers from BPA, NPPC, NMFS, rertsr IDFG, ODFW, WDFW, and the Svensen-Astoria, OR By 679 E Harbor Dr, Suite C 503-458-6288 P.O. Box 279 CRITFC and their member tribes, as Warrenton, OR 97146 well as independent peer reviewers. Open 7 days a week The PATH scientific review panel is ee composed of Carl Walters, University of British Columbia; Jeremy Collie and Saul Saila, University of Rhode Island; and Steve Carpenter, Univer- sity of Wisconsin. **Snake River Chinook were listed -. as “threatened” species under the En- dangered Species Act in 1992. Conclusion: The review panel found ™VINCE that natural river drawdown has a WILLIAMS Or BRING IT BACK! ate much greater likelihood, under a 48- year time period, of recovering 861-342 spawning stock, than either current mtaatinoan.g ement or maximizing transpor- AUTO & TRUCK BROKERS - ALL MAKES & MODELS HWY 101 S.- WARRENTON Dear Don Riswick, ages (2) Cadkllac I was given a copy of the Fall 1998 about the overall fishery situation or edition of the Columbia River Gillnet- there will probably be no fishing for @) CH ter to read and was disappointed in anyone. I believe though, that that BUICK IaAsmMmabie the general comments about "Sport can best be accomplished by working Fisherman". Specifically, in the sec- together to find a solution rather than ARNE JYLHA ond paragraph of your editor "Politi- blaming each other. 1 am sure that Sales Representative cal Management by Fisheries People there are "Sports Fishermen" that do 426 14th Street Eliminate Fall Commercial Fishing not speak very kindly about Gillnet- on the Columbia Rive", where you ter’s, but that isn't right or going to Astoria, OR 97103 say, "The sport fishermen and the In- solve the situation either. We need to 1-800-460-3856 dians are getting all the Fish". work together to come up with some- (503) 325-2711 thing that will work for everyone. Maybe I do not understand your defi- nition of Sport Fishermen". Do you I would hope that we could find a lump those of us that like to go fish- way to work together to solve the ing once in a while in with the Indi- problem, increase the fish runs so ans and Charter Boat group? that there would be plenty of fish for each group. I am disappointed in the polarization of the "different groups". I would Editors Response..... think that it would be far more affec- The Gillnetters have tried to work tive to Seek the support of the differ- together with sport fishermen for ent groups rather than blaming them Gasoline / Diesel / Lube Oil years, but to no avail. You are for the Gillnetter’s problems. Call for Delivery one of the sports fisherman who Plant and office, port docks 325-1972 I recognize that there is a problem sounds reasonable, there is anew and that we need to do something bill in the legislature that wants PO Box 989, Astoria, OR 97103 to eliminate our livelyhood. COAST TRUCK Quality Truck, Marine & Hydraulic equipment CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS NOW STOCKING LIGHT TRUCK PARTS 610 Eighteenth Street *Astoria, OR 97103 AND ACCESSORIES 4X4 TRUCKS AND S.U.V (503) 325-5102 FAX (503) 325-0438 757 W Marine Drive, Astoria Across from Youngs Bay 862 Broadway *Seaside, OR 97138 Open daily 8 to 5:30, Sat 9-noon 325-3111 i a Sl ae a a rs et ~ Ee a OEE TTT RL TOT a TT Eo Mike Soyser 6 FISHHAWK AUTOMOTIVE FISHERIES, Inc. SERVICE Salmon for All Member | UNION SHOP PROCESSOR OF FRESH & FROZEN SALMON | SPECIALIZING IN TOYOTA AND CHRYSLER ASTORIA NEWPORT, OR Foot of 4th & Water 875 SW Bayshore Blvd 209 7th Street 503 325-5252 503 265-3638 FAX 325-8786 Call 325-8811 \S\ R Ea2aaAL LASALEPRR EIELESLE LLELLL ELEhLAEnLD ELLL L LEeLaL nLL E SLEEEE ESEa r EnEoE LLS SEE LcLlL EEe lE LLa AlAnS p EEL EtsML LenEcM a ELLAoe EILE LPL LP ELALP AE LAELELA EBLE LEAL E LE PELE LE oh COLUMBIA RIVER. Historic Downtown CRFPU Office Moves To New Location Come down to visit us. One of our fishermen is there for a while in the early morning, if not, Salmon for All Office Manager, Robin, is in the office next door Monday through stishermans Rp aN Thursday, and she has been a lot of osN SA e A r: e help for me. ORGANIZED i884 Our new mailing address is: Colum- bia River Fishermen’s Protective Un- ion P.O. Box 56, Astoria, OR 97103 Phone number: 503-325-2702 Respectfully Submitted, Jack Marin- covich, Executive Director Columbia River Fishermen’ s Protective Union. Historic Highlights of CRFPU Office... The Columbia River Fishermen’s for years previous at 322 10th, with Protective Union has moved from the understanding that we would pan- 322 10th Street (pictured above, John el the office, which our President, Bill The closing of the doors to the Colum- Westerholm) to a new location at the Finucane was kind enough to do. We bia River Fishermens Protective Union East End oft he Red Lion at the Port had a lot of stuff to move, some was office, at 322 10th Street last Decem- of Astoria. The union was at the old sold, most brought down to the new ber 31st, ends another chapter in the location for over 60 years. The new location. Items which had years of long history of the organization repre- owners of the building gave us until history behind them will be on dis- senting Gillnetters and Cannery Work- the end of December to move out or play at the Clatsop County Historical ers in Astoria and the Columbia River. pay the new rent that they were ask- Society for people to look at in future ing, which was five times what we years. At the turn of the century, in the year were paying. There was no way we During the 60 odd years at the old 2000, it will be either 125 or 116 years could afford that, so when we had our office we were fortunate to have the old, depending upon which organiza- annual meeting the last part of De- office work in good hands with ladies tion you wish to use. It is said to be the cember, we had to make the decision. such as Harriet Engblom, Ruth Has- oldest Commercial Fishing Union of its Close the doors for good or try to find tings, and for the last several years, kind on the Pacific Coast. anew office. The members thought it Arlene Graham. These ladies, I know, was still important that C.R.F.P.U. had to stretch the dollars out a long It was organized in 1875 as the Colum- continue to have a voice so we started way at times to keep the lights on, bia River Fishermens Beneficial Aid looking for a new office. The Port of and we all thank them for that. At the Society. Its name was changed to Astoria was good enough to rent us a new office we will run on a small CRFPU in 1884. For all those years it small space in between the Salmon budget with no salaries, paying for has represented the Columbia River for All office and Bob Eaton’s Pacific just the rent and telephone. We have Commercial Fishing Industry at Feder- Marine Conservation Council. We good neighbors who leave their doors al Congressional and State Legislative hearings, price negotiations with Pack- pay the same rent we had been paying open so we get free heat. RAYMOND JAMES JP PLUMBING FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. Co. Member NASD/SIPC - & SHOWROOM 903-325-2830 MARK HEDEEN Financial Advisor Repair - New - Remodel Commercial - Pipe Welding 905 Commercial St., Astoria, OR 97103 Phone: 503.325.0677 155 11th St, Astoria,OR 97103 ers and Processors, and Oregon- Washington Bi-State compact meet- ings, as well as Conservation and Agency group conferences around the North West. Having survived for some 60 years at the 10th Street location, after moving there from the Labor Temple shortly before WWII, it will now move West to a new Office location at the West End Mooring Basin, Red Lion, next door to the Salmon For All office. At the same time all of the historic books, papers, and materials, some dating back to the 19th Century, will move East to the Clatsop County Historical Society Mu- mon Sails And.O ars OnT he seum Archives for safekeeping as well Columbia River_ as to create a new public gillnetter dis- Dena Johnson play. Two of the many accomplishments of the CRFPU to help Salmon survival over the years, were to help convince the Corps of Engineers that a fish lad- der was necessary in the construction of the Bonneville Dam, and to carry the early Pulp and Paper Pollution Abate- ment battle in the courts. As we now look back on it, getting Salmon runs safely over the dams and cleaning up the pollution in the Columbia and Wil- lamette Rivers were both critical to anadromous fish survival. There have been seven Executive Sec- retaries to serve the leadership role during the organization’s stay at the 10th Street location. The two with the most longevity were the first, Henry Niemela in the 40s and early 50s and the present secretary, Jack Marincovich from 1976 and continuing now in the new office. In between them Bob Hicks, Charley Henne, William Westerholm, Russ Bristow, and Ross Lindstrom served. Storm Runner Boats “Serious Boats for If you’d like to know about the boisterous history of the the Serious Fisherman” Salmon Fishermen of the Northwest, the Gillnetters whose lives were intertwined with the growth of Astoria, Dena Johnson’s book is a rich source of information, adventure and biography of the Columbia River and the Richard North Salmon, Sails, and Oars which made it famous. Shop 503-325-7520 + Home 325-1124 777 ALT Hwy 101 Astoria, OR 97103 $14.95 —Ask for it at your local bookstore Custom Aluminum Boats Built By: or call 1-800-895-7323. WESTERN Also available at CRFPU Office in Astoria. FABRICATION CO. ATCL TEL ST COLUMBIA RIVER One hundred years of Regatta races A steamship and sailboats cruise the chinook runs were packed, and the sea- waste to the entire downtown business Columbia River during the Regatta of son ran from May through August.) district of Astoria. 1899. In the festival’s early years, water events - especially boat races - were the The Astoria Regatta was the first com- Members of the Astoria Yacht Club focus of attention. Fishing boats, can- munity festival of its kind in the Pacific elected to revive the Regatta in 1932, nery tenders and sloops raced against Northwest, predating Portland’s Rose partly as a high social event and partly each other for prizes of $50 or Festival and other such events by sever- as a general tonic for the ills common to $25.Though the first formal Regatta al years. However, due to the realities most communities during the Great De- was organized in 1894, the annual As- of small-town life, interruptions by two pression. The year following, the An- toria event has its origins in local races world wars, and heavy dependency on chor Club was founded to help organize between skippers of plungers (sailboats volunteer efforts, the centennial Regatta the festival and has continued to be the that carried the mails) going as far back of 1994 does not actually mark the Regatta’s principal support group. as the 1870s. 100th annual festival by that name. World War II was the cause of another The first Regatta was started on a lark. During the early years, the Regatta de- hiatus, begun in 1942. A casual conversation about boat races pended on individual efforts of commu- at the Astoria Athletic Club was over- nity boosters, who seem to have made The Regatta heard by a reporter for The Daily Asto- an annual ritual of calling off the event rian who decided that this sounded like due to lack of interest. Most years, oth- a capital idea. He took the brainstorm to ers stepped in with renewed enthusiasm in John Rathom, young editor of The As- to take over, but the years 1902 and torian, who declared that a regatta (a 1909 passed without annual celebration. fancy name for a boat race) was just The festival resumed again in 1952 and Retrospect what the city needed. has continued to the present. The first Astoria Regatta was timed to As the name implies, early Regattas For 20 years, the annual Salmon Derby coincide with the end of the commercial were organized around water-related was a hugely popular end-of-summer salmon fishing season. (In those days, events. In 1894, four boats qualified for event in Astoria. only the premium spring and summer the fast Regatta race. The starting line was Off Flavel Dock at the foot of 1 Ith It started in 1937 as a way to cap off Street, and the course rounded a buoy a Regatta festivities, but soon eclipsed the mile upriver. The winning entry com- festival itself in popularity - and provid- pleted the course in 25.5 minutes. ed some much needed income to local merchants. The derby continued even in The next race was for double-scull fish- the years during and after World War II boats - the now-familiar “butterfly when there was no Regatta. fleet” of sailing gillnetters and Shoalwa- ter oyster sloops, sails spread wing on With gillnetting banned for the week, wing before the wind. In fact, most pho- sport fishermen aboard as many as tos of the fishing fleet with sails spread 3,500 boats reeled in 15,000-20,000 like the wings of butterflies appear to fish, averaging 25 puonds, between AI- have been taken during these early Re- toona, Wash., and Buoy 10. gatta fishboat races. In 1952, top derby prizes were $1,000 “A Unique Blend of Art, The early sailing gillnet boats used but and $500, with $100 going to the skip- Cafe and Comfort” in Astoria a single sprit sail, but during the Regat- per of the boat with the biggest fish ta, a second sail was spread on a whisk- caught each day. Serving Lite Fare Breakfast & Lunch er pole opposite the main. Many carried Bagel Sandwiches e Bakery Goods Deserts & Salads a jib as well. All of this seemed too good to last for Finest Expresso on the North Coast A careful look at the crews will indicate oAsntloyr iuan’tsil t1o9ur5i7s,t wihndeuns trtyhe - Laengdi sliat tluarset ed three and four people on each boat, banned such events in the interest of Astoria 108 10th Street while the fishing was usually done by a maintaining salmon stocks. crew of no more than two. Astoria, Oregon 97103 503-325-5450 e Fax 325-9712 It may have been just as well. Accord- By 1897, the Astoria Regatta had ex- ing to Bill McGregor, a founder of the panded to a four-day festival, replete derby, cheating had become a serious “Fine Art Gallery & Gifts” with royalty. problem.Astoria Regatta Scene, 1903August is the month of Astoria’s Cannon Beach World War I brought a halt to the annu- Annual Regatta. Miss Frances Thomas 131 W 2nd e P. O. Box 1245 al event, which was not revived during was Queen of the Regatta, and the U.S. Cannon Beach, Oregon 97110 the 1920s, probably because of the ef- lighthouse tender Heather was its flag- 503-436-1253 ¢ Fax 436-1617 forts required to rebuild the town after ship back in 1903, when the front cover the catastrophic fire of 1922, which laid picture was taken. Regatta was then a major event, attracting attention even in San Francisco, and was already several years old. The first formally organized Regatta was held in 1894, but had antece- dents going further back. From the 1870’s, various types of boat races had been held in Astoria, but they then lacked many of the extra events that were added when Regat- ta became a regular annual affair. The 1903 Regatta pro- ot gram lists a varied calen- eae dar of events on August 19-21. The Queen’s Cor- A Steamship and Sailboats Cruise the Columbia River during the Regatta of 1899. In the onation and the Regatta Ball, held that festival's early years, water events — especially boat races — were the focus of attention. year at Foard & Stokes’ Hall, were ma- Fishing boats, cannery tenders and sloops raced against each other for prizes of $50 or $25. jor social events. Special races were scheduled for just about anything that Wanted, Pictures! - For permanent record for posterity! floated: sailing yachts, gasoline launch- es, rowing barges, shells, lifeboats, Old Commercial Fishing Boats, Gillnet boats, Trollers, Seine, Tuna tubs, canoes, sailing gillnet boats, cannery tenders, Shoalwater (now Willapa) drag and Halibut boats or whatever. Bay sloops, punts, and Whitehall boats. An Archive is being made by Jon Norgaard for the preservation of Other competitions included log rolling our heritage. The photos will be scanned into a computer and and greased pole contests, horse races, returned to the owner. foot races, and a shooting tournament. There were also demonstrations by the Point Adams and Fort Canby lifeboat Contact Don Rizwick, P. O. Box 511, Astoria, OR 97103 crews, swimming and high diving exhi- Call (503) 325-2507 bitions, a Chinese dragon parade, a pro- fessional deepsea diver, and a demonstration of placing and retrieving Aluminum Fabrication and Boat Building buoys by a lighthouse tender. And one gg Chinook Marine Repair, Inc. fe must not forget T.J. Arnold’s Oregon, Pacific, & Oriental Carnival, which fea- tured, among other things, a sixty-foot Authorized Dealer Ferris wheel, the Palace of Mirth, the Volvo-Penta, Mercruiser, Mercury Outboards - Duroboat Hindu Theater, the Edison Electric Dale Hughes, owner P. O. Box 61 ¢ Chinook, WA 98614 Show, and (of course) a merry-go- round. (360) 777-8361 Toll Free 1-800-457-9459 Sine eae wiggle 6 lle 2 ie he: a = rochwa ePAR OP-etLnUanB fE e y = eticae ~~. tae G Ticor Title = IL a oe BeSeSSSSSO CNH ANGE CENTER a Title Insurance * and Escrow Service * Full-Time Mechanic Established in 1890 = Brake « Tune-Ups « Complete Exhaust Work We've got you covered at convenient locations 861-1075 3 LS 630 Bond Street, Astoria 7 a L42¢fe year 325-2144 he 232 crew Za ted pee 3 e#tatee noror atZ Mon - Sat 8:30 - 5:30 Sun 9-4 550 Roosevelt, Seaside as One block South of Fred Meyer on Hwy 101 » Warrenton 738-8433 COLUMBIA RIVER 10 Seals: A Historic Perspective Seals and sea lions were a problem be- ate coastline for the northern migration of fore the turn of the century. Visitors to As- fur seal herds. In the far north, Aleut and toria Often witness the playful antics of Inuit peoples depended upon seal meat as a certain clowns of the sea which frequent the staple of their diet. Columbia River in ever increasing num- James G. Swan, in his The Northwest bers, but with mixed popularity: harbor Coast, or Three Years Residence in the seals (Phoca vitulina) and sea lions (Eume- Washington Territory (1853), described topias stelleri and Zalophus californianus). how Chief Toke of the Shoalwater Bay Chi- These marine mammals have returned to nooks hunted seals using a twenty-foot the coastlines of California, Oregon and spear with a detachable head. Entering the Washington in force after being hunted to water naked, spear in right hand, he carried near extinction. For nearly two hundred thirty fathoms of line coiled from his left years commercial sealing fleets pursued the arm and attached to the spear on one end. once immense herds of North Pacific sea el- Swimming just below the surface of the wa- ephants, sea lions, northern fur seals, and ter, with only his face and top of head lesser groups of banded, leopard, and har- showing, he appeared to be another seal in bor seals for their skins and oil. This article the water. He would approach to the lee- examines three different eras of interaction ward of a beached herd, slowly and noise- between humans and pinnipeds on the lessly coming as close as he could Northwest Coast: native subsistence hunt- underwater. Placing himself between the ing, commercial exploitation, and interna- seals and deep water, he would wade tional efforts to protect dwindling seal ashore, then rising swiftly, throw his spear herds. into a seal. Digging his heels into the sand, Cathlamets of the lower Columbia engaged Seal hunting was practiced by most of he braced himself, and played the panicked in "drives to capture and harpoon sea lions the native peoples of the Northwest Coast. animal like a hooked steelhead. Eventually, down to the sea." A seal drive witnessed by From the Columbia River north, leopard he tired the animal enough to dispatch it Alexander Henry of John Jacob Astor's Pa- seals and sea lions were hunted along the with a club. cific Fur Trading Company began near Oak coastline, at low water on the rivers, and in On the Columbia River, seals posed a Point, approximately 50 miles from the the sea caves off the Straits of Juan de threat to ancient fishermen. Anthropologist mouth of the river. The purpose of such Fuca. From Cape Flattery north through Franz Boas, who did groundbreaking field- seal drives was to prevent these aquatic car- Southeast Alaska, seal hunters from various work among Native Americans on the nivores from interfering with fishing efforts groups, most notably the Nootkans and Northwest Coast in the late 19th century, during the yearly salmon runs, which were Kwakiutl, ventured out beyond the immedi- noted in Kathlamet Texts (1901) that the the Cathlamet's primary source of food. Gillnetters! It’s Now Available! New water colored “camouflage” gillnet (US Patent Pending) Water colored Gillnet Web is designed to increase your catch! Made in Japan by Amikan See it at our new warehouse: Jovanovich Supply Co. 15636 DesMoines Mem. Dr. seattle, WA 98148 (206) 243-5991 or 1-(800) 933-5596