The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-07-29
THE FRASER SALMON FISH.
ERIES.

NEW WESTMINSTER, July Is There
are eight canneries on Fraser river en-
ploJing about 1000 men and requiring
an investment of from $4,000 TO
$500, 900 capital. In wages an sggre-
gate of 5000 Is paid out daily. The
works are very extensive. the buildings
in some ios auces covering more than
an acre of ground. A great deal of
the labor is necessarily Chinnse, but
where this class are employed in large
bodies they become saucy and mutin-
Gus upon the slightest provocation.
This year the canpery proprietors have
drawn heavily upon the Indian populs-
ton for assistance; many of the fisher
men who man the small boats and
manage the nets are Indians, and it is
no uncommon thing to find Indian men
and women a. work IN the canneries
side by side with Chinese. The dcdht
courier of the sockeye salmon run en-
tered the river on Thursday evening
last. A Sockeye 10 from 16 to Is
inches in length. On Friday the ran
largely increased and on Saturday,
Sunday and today the boats have been
bringing in the fish in large numbers
The principal fishing - done at the
mouth of the river aud the sand heads.
Small boats with nets remain out day
aud night, relays Of crews being OBJ
tanned from the camps which line the
river banks at favorable points. Every
canuery has a st amboat Connected
boats visit the camps and gather fish
caught during the Intervals on Sunday
night The Reliance brought to this
town nine thousand fish, which were
speedily cleaned, cut mp and placed in
cans, or simply steamed. beheaded and
placed in huge watts for picking. The
def manner in which the tish are
handled by the cleaners 10 surprising. At
Lai laws cannery there Is . Chinaman
who opens, behesds, Details and betins
tw } Thousand salmon IN day of ten
hours. This is at the rate of two fish
an hour or three and third g minute.
Patent soldering machines have been
introduced into Adeir 8, English's, Fin
layson's and Even & Haigh's cannery.
and they effect great economy In labor;
but at Haigh's the Chinese objected to
the use Of the patent because it made
work scarce. The firm have about
thirty white boys at work. and will
take more If they can get them. At
English's cannery preparations have
been made for pack OF twenty-five
cases, which is the largest. Adair's
cannery is situated at the confluence of
Canoe Pass and the main Fraser river;
1t will pack $4,000 cases. This fra
owns 1900 acres Of the finest land in the
Province. At the Delta cannery. Mr.
Frank Page. manager, all the modern
appliances for the speedy packing of
salmon have been introduced; 10000
cases will be packed by the Delta Co.
Brodie's cannery is the only one that
adheres to the old method of boiling
fish in huge tanks after having been
put in cans, believing it to be the best.
This csnnery will pack $4,000 cases.
Finlayson's cannery. b @ Packing Co,
will pack 10000 cases. Here are new
fashioned rstorts. sailing and soldering
machines. Even & Co.'S cannery is at
Westminster; their buildings cover
two. thirds of an acre. They have
900, 900 cans which represent about
81 900 cases Above New Westminster
one mile is Liidlaws csnuery, where
5000 cases will be packed. This es-
Enlistment has all the latest improve
ments in operation. aud the scene with
in aud without the walls is very ami
mated. Nearly opposite New West-
minister, b F Eoglish & Cos extensive
works are situated. They have patent
retorts, solde.ers, salters. and in fact
everything necessary to success. Last
year their pack was light. but this
year it will meet their expectations.
The insides OF the cans filled by this
firm are soldered with pure tin. Above
New Westminster three miles. stands
Haigh's cannery. On Saturday these
works received too many salmon.
They have oil the modern improve
ments, and when patent refrigerators
shall have been put in, the salmon will
not have to wait on the Gamers as at
present This cannery will pack 20.-
900 cases ut New Westminster. Every
one is jubilant at the prospect of fair
run OF salmon, aid business is already
feeling the quickening influence of the
sneeaas nf the cannars Golonisf