Civilized Salmon

Among the fabulous projects instigated by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, none has been more controversial than the $7,000,000 system of elevators and staircases installed at 170-foot Bonneville Dam for the convenience of fish. Object of the system is to enable Columbia River salmon to pursue their four-year life cycle: hatch in gravel beds in the river's upper tributaries, grow several inches, drift down to the ocean tailfirst, get to weigh anywhere from 10-to 60 lb., swim back up the Columbia River to spawn and die exactly where they started. The system, consists of 1) two separate "stairways" (of one-foot waterfalls separated by pools 16 ft. wide) for fish who feel like climbing to the headwaters under their own power; 2) four "lifts," somewhat similar to ship locks, for fish who prefer a free ride up. For several years controversy has raged between Government engineers, who said the system would work, and Oregon's $10,000,000 salmon industry, which faced ruin if it failed. This spring Bonneville's fish ladders were put to work. Above white "flash-boards" set beneath the shallow exits of the ladders, Government agents poised themselves to count the salmon that swam past in the annual spring run.

Last week, the answer to whether salmon would use their Bonneville facilities finally became known. It was Yes. During April, Bonneville's fish census-takers grew increasingly nervous. Only a small number of salmon went by each day. Last week the fishways looked like a subway in a rush hour. This year's run was smaller than usual but an average of 1,600 salmon a day were using the ladders and there was no indication that fish had difficulty finding their way. Since the number of salmon who used to go up the river to spawn had never been counted, the census figures did not provide accurate comparisons. Most of the salmon who used the stairs did so as though they had been climbing ladders all their lives. Effete salmon who wanted to be scooped up by the lift were disappointed. Lifts will not start operating for another two weeks.

One question remained to be settled: whether fingerling salmon that are swimming downstream now can get past the dam uninjured. It is hoped that even if they fail to find the exits provided, they will pass unharmed through the turbines revolving at 75 r.p.m.

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