Mr. THOMAS EARLE (Victoria, B.C.).

Before the Orders of the Day are called, there is a matter which very seriously

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affects the salmon canning Industry of British Columbia to which I would wish to direct the attention of the government. Of course, as we know, the canning industry of my province is one of the most important industries on the Pacific coast. I express my regret incidentally that the Minister of Marine and Fisheries (Hon. Mr. Prefontaine) is not in his seat this morning. However, X would ask the Minister of Finance, who is now leading the House, to call the attention of tlie Fisheries Department to the matter which X am about to mention, and to urge upon the minister immediate action in the line which is indicated by the following telegram, which I received from the Canners' Association of British Columbia :

Vancouver, B.C., 26th.

Thos. Earle, M.P.,

Ottawa.

Following message sent to-day to Hon. R. Prefontaine. The Fraser River Canners' Association, in view of the lamentable short run of sockeyes on the Fraser river and the entire absence of salmon from the spawning grounds, respectfully pray that your department will prohibit all fishing on the Fraser river_ from August 29 to September 12 inclusive, in 'order that the balance of sockeyes remaining outside may be enabled to reach the spawning grounds, and the hatcheries get some supply of spawn. If close season not ordered future of industry seriously threatened. Immediate consideration and favourable reply by wire is earnestly requested in the interests of the canners and fishermen. Your energetic support most earnestly requested.

When we find that last year the output of salmon was not much over one-half what it was the previous year, and that this year it is scarcely one-third of last year, it is evident that there is reason for the canners becoming very greatly alarmed that the Fraser river may be depleted of its fish. The canners make the request contained in the telegram in the hope that if their prayer is granted the fish will have an opportunity of getting up to the spawning grounds, and thus the supply of fish maintained by increased opportunities for breeding. This is becoming a necessity to the existence of the industry. I take this opportunity of calling the attention of the Finance Minister, who now leads the House, to the matter, and I ask him to bring it before the proper department with a recommendation that the Minister of Marine and Fisheries should see his way clear to grant this request for a close season, which I believe to be in the interest of the salmon industry of British Columbia. If there is anything in the idea these gentlemen have in regard to tlie breeding of the salmon, it certainly will be in the interest of the industry to grant tliis protection, and it can, at ail events, do no liarm, because it will indict no injury upon any class of the community.

Mr. It. I,. BORDEN (Halifax). Slight I be permitted to say a word in connection

with the same matter. A telegram of the same purport as that read by my hon. friend (Sir. Earle) has been placed in my hands, and I have ibeen asked to draw the attention of the government to the matter. This telegram is very much on the same lines as the telegram received by my hon. friend from Victoria (Sir. Earle), and it reads as follows ;

Vancouver, B.C., August 27,1903.

Fraser River Canners' Association have petitioned department for close season from 29th instant to September 12 inclusive. Situation here extremely critical, as I can certify. Fu-lure of industry absolutely threatened, as no salmon have yet reached spawning ground and the run is practically over. Act'with British Columbia members and senators, urging upon the 'department imperative necessity of prompt action. A few days now may save the industry.

This telegram was handed to me by my hon. friend from Hastings (Mr. Porter) to-day, as he was obliged to leave to catch a train, and it is at his request that I bring it to the attention of the government. If the situation is as disclosed in the telegram, then the Minister of Finance, who is leading the House will no doubt admit that it should demand the immediate and earnest consideration of the government.

I shall call the attention of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries to the matter. I assume, from the terms of the telegraip, that the subject has already been communicated to the (department, and I have no doubt that It is engaging the attention of the minister.

Mr. ATJDAY MORRISON (New Westminster, B.C.).

I think it is very reprehensible indeed that bon. gentlemen should, as it were, get hysterical over a matter of this kind. My hon. friend from Victoria has read one telegram, as has also the leader of the opposition, from the same parties.

Mr. SPEAKER.

It would appear as if there were going to be a discussion oh this question, and there is no motion before the House.

Mr. MORRISON.

I shall conclude my remarks, Sir, with the usual motion to adjourn. The hon. member for Victoria has read one telegram which only gives one side of the case. It Is only from one concern interested in this vast and important industry In the province of British Columbia, and it asks that all fishing operations shall cease because, in their opinion, there are no fish getting to the spawning ground. That is a matter which is almost impossible to determine, because the fish, in any event, cannot and do not get to the spawning ground until some time in the fall.

Mr. BORDEN (Halifax).

My hon. friend (Mr. Morrison) has stated that these telegrams are from the same person. They are not from the same person. .

Mr. MORRISON.

I understood they contained almost precisely the same wording.

Mr. BORDEN (Halifax).

They are not from the same person. I said that the telegram which I had in my hand was along the same lines as the one read by the hon. member (Mr. Earle), but they are not from the same person at all.

Mr. MORRISON.

From whom did the telegrams come ?

Mr. EARLE.

Mine is from the secretary of the Canners' Association, Mr. Burdis.

Mr. MORRISON.

May I ask from whom the other telegram comes ?

Mr. BORDEN (Halifax).

There is not the slightest objection ; it is from Mr. Charles Coi-by.

Mr. MORRISON.

I do not know who Mr. Corby is, and from my knowledge of that industry in British Columbia, I do not know any one of the name engaged in it. We have all received these telegrams from the British Columbia Canners' Association asking that the fishing be prohibited, which means that there shall toe a total suspension of this vast and important industry for a month or so, on the assumption that the fish are not getting to the spawning grounds. Nobody can possibly determine that, because the fish never get to the spawning grounds till the fall, or in a month or two hence ; and although according to these despatches the salmon are not at the present time running in such large quantities as usual, at the same time I have despatches from very reputable people which go to show that the fish are running. For instance, on the 26th of August, the day before these other telegrams were sent, Mr. James Anderson, of the St. Mungo Cannery, on the Fraser river, wires that the salmon are running decidedly good, and that it would be unfair if the department should stop tlie fishing on the Fraser river. We have not heard yet from the fishermen, men who are also affected largely by this. As a representative of the constituency in which the fishing industry is engaged, I have great concern for that industry, but at the same time I think it would be very reprehensible indeed on the part of the department to take cognizance of a despatch which comes from one source alone, however reputable that may be. I may say that there are despatches the other way showing that the fish are running, and that is the statement of the fishermen, who are the people most interested in this matter. I think myself that the department should hesitate, in fact, so far as I am personally concerned, I would urge upon the department not to take any step until they had absolute confirmation of the statement contained in the telegram, and even then I think it would not be a proper policy to suspend fishing. Why should they do so ?

Mr. BORDEN (Halifax).

In my opinion, the department should lend a deaf ear to the suggestion made by the hon. member for Victoria, as well as the suggestion made by the leader of the opposition. There is no material before the minister to warrant him in taking any such step at all. If there is any doubt ; if there is a conflict of evidence as to whether the fish are running or not, then the proper course for the department to take is to let the matter alone, and it will adjust itself. I move the adjournment of the House.

Mr. JOHN CHARLTON (North Norfolk), When I was in British Columbia a short time ago, I made some inquiries into the important salmon fishing industry of the Fraser river. I notice that these telegrams state that there is a very marked diminution in the quantity of salmon caught : that the catch last year was very much less than that of the preceding year, and that the catch this year is very much less than last year. My hon. friend from Westminster (Mr. Morrison) takes objection to the statement placed before the House, and says that it emanates only from the canners. Well, I suppose that the canners, having a large investment there, are more deeply interested than any other class of persons engaged in the business. It seems to me, from a knowledge of the way that nets are placed on the Fraser river, that it "would be utterly impossible for salmon to get up the stream.

Mr. MORRISON.

That is nonsense.

Mr. MACPHERSON.

Nonsense.

Mr. CHARLTON.

Perhaps it is nonsense, but at all events the river is completely set with nets for a long distance up and down, and whether it is impossible for salmon to get up or down as it is alleged, it is evident from the results of the canning of salmon that the run of fish is very greatly impeded thereby. This is a very important industry, and while the government should avoid taking any steps that would be unjust to any of the parties interested, it would be well to preserve this industry for future years. The recklessness of American fishermen on the Columbia river has nearly destroyed a salmon industry on that river, which at one time was one of the finest salmon streams in the world. That has been the result of lavish fishing and the wanton destruction of the fish. The run of salmon is so reduced that I understand the industry is practically paralyzed. The same process is in operation on the Fraser river, beyond question. The "catch is largely reduced from year to year-

Mr. MACPHERSON.

No, no.

Mr. CHARLTON.

It cannot be otherwise ; anl the leaving of that river open for a few days for a free run of salmon in my judgment would be in the highest degree

advisable. I do not think that it is proper to jeopardize that industry in the interest of those wiho want for the time being to make a larger catch. X do not think any suffering will be entailed upon any one by following the course I suggest. It strikes me, from what X know of the matter, from investigation on the ground, that the mode of fishing in that river is certain to destroy the industry in a short time unless some course of this kind is taken.