, 1879-09-11
OUR FUTURE FISHING INnusTH

EDITOR ARGUs:-Having read a very
Interesting article on Cod-fshing, in the
Seattle ''Tnteligencer, "allow me through
yourpaper to continue the subject where 1t
left off--which l think will interest the
people OF this Territory, who have an eye
to its future development. n.
Fishing is certainly going to be one Of
the great wealth producing interests of
tile future State of Washington. We
have all the benefits of location near to
the fishing banks, and more desirable
climate in which to cure fish than that of
any OF the New England States which
have become very wealthy by fishing and
its surroundings. In the article above
mentioned it is stated that 500 miles can
be saved in the passage from this Terrific
ry to the Okhotsk or Chemung Islands.
state and think am right, that 700 miles
can be saved in distance; yet that Is not
the only gain this Territory has over Cali
iornia in cod-tishing. The greatest gain
All fishermen know that the longer fish are
left In ''kinches," ie., in bulk, the more
they lose in weight and flavor. The in
shore fish Of New England are worth
more than bank fish, the reason being
that fish long in ''kinch" are apt
to "burn," or get rusty. Another reason
why this Territory ought to be the out
filter Of all cod-fishermen is the climate.
We have tor five months of summer the
cool northwest winds, which prevail about
the time the first and second fleets would
arrive. and would cure fish in five days
equal to the Cape Coo article. Where
am writing this article is the best location
in the world, with ''spit' five miles
long, having room enough for drying all
the Goldfish caught or the N. w. coast.
All fish cured in San Francisco are only
sun-'lricd, but they are often packed and
shipped back as though they had ouly been
taken out of ''kinch' and washed. This
can be proved by comparing them with
eastern fish.
lave no doubt that the fish caught at
the Cheming Islands and Okhotsk sea are
as COOL MS grand bank fish, If cured with
dry wiud as they are cured east. was
one OF y few that tried to inauguratc fish
Ing for cod in this Territory, having fitted
ont and commanded the first fishing
schooner from this Territory before Goldfish
were found Afterwards, with Others,
buying the schooner Shooting Star and
fitting her out for the Chemung Islands,
where she got full catch but owing to
the small patronage We got 1t was fail
ure, Waterman Il Katz, of Port Town.
send. afterwards fitted out Schooner
Alaska, which was also failure, owing
to the want OF patronage. When both
vessels were here, with full cargoes of
good fish, parties bought all their fish in
San Francisco, and eventually the very
fish that were cured in Port Townsend
had to 20 to San Francisco for market,
and were afterwards brought back as San
Francisco productions.
What we want is men of means to inau-
gurute the cod-flshing business in this Ter
ritory, who will not be forced to sell at a
sacrifice to settle with the crew.
When our fish are brought in competi-
ton with San Francisco the difference
will soon be noticed and Washington Ter
ritory fish will be quoted side by side with
Eastern ashland the capital now invest
ell in California will find its way here and
all those fine vessels quoted in the Forth
Atlantic will hail from Port Townsend.
If we could only induce those parties
who are largely interested in cod-flshing
to come here and investigate for them
selves, / Iam satisfied they would see all
the benefits that would accrue from max
ing Port Townsend, or Port Angeles, or,
in fact, any port on Puget Sound their
headquarters. Like the Arctic whaling
fleet now seeking San Francisco as head
quarters instead of the Sandwich Islands,
as heretofore, our geographical position
eventually willmake us the grand entrepot
for not only the Goldfish business, but for
that fast rising trade just looming up In
the eastern hemisphere. Your small eff
forts in Port Townsend and Seattle, to
draw attention to the many advantages
this Territory affords to capital hereto
fore drawn into unnatural channels, will
be soon appreciated by the crowded mil