Redwood History Basic Data

J. CANNERIES COME to the KLAMATH

In May 1887 R. D. Hume of Gold Beach, Oregon, took a light-draft steamboat over the bar and anchored in the Klamath. Aboard the ship were a number of Oregon fishermen. Hume proceeded to establish a floating cannery. The Yurok complained bitterly that this was an intrusion of the worst sort, and they went to see Captain Dougherty. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs hesitated to take action, unless he could get a ruling from the Attorney General as to whether he had jurisdiction over the floating cannery. The Yurok were dissatisfied with this reasoning, and they threatened to resort to violence to drive off Hume and his people, provided the United States courts failed to take action. [57]

As soon as the fall salmon run on the Klamath was over, Hume's vessel hoisted anchor and returned to Gold Beach. The courts, as the Indians and agent feared, failed to act, and Hume's floating cannery was back on the Klamath in 1888 for the salmon run. Hume's craft was now seized by a United States Marshal and the case taken into a Federal court. After lengthy litigation, the case was decided in Hume's favor, and he proceeded to build a cannery ashore.

Meanwhile, the Yurok had entered into a partnership with John Bomhoff of Crescent City. Bomhoff supplied the Yurok with boats, nets, etc. A cannery to compete with Hume's was soon in operation at Requa. Bomhoff's enterprise gave employment to all the Yurok at Requa "and for some distance up the river." During the autumn salmon run, the Indians employed by Bomhoff made $200 per day, in addition to their subsistence. [58]

Commercial fishing continued on the lower Klamath, with Bomhoff and his Yurok allies in competition with Hume's cannery. In June 1889, the commandant at Fort Gaston recalled the troops manning the outpost at Requa, and on October 1, 1890, Capt. Frank H. Edmunds relieved Captain Dougherty as agent-in-charge of the Hoopa Reservation. In November, Edmunds was replaced by a civilian, Isaac Beers. For the first time since 1877, an employee of the Department of the Interior would be responsible for the Hoopa and Klamath River Reservations. [59]