Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-01-03
SALMON CANNING.
How the Work is Prosecuted on
the Columbia and Frazer
Rivers.
York World.

Portland, Oregon, correspondence Of New
York World.I
The salmon fisheries Of this coast
have grown into an industry Of vast
proportions, employing thousands Of
hands and millions Of capital. On the
Columbia river there are twenty-six
canneries between Tengus Point and
Cape Disappointment, a distance of
twenty miles, and of this number
there are twenty-five between the
Point and Astoria, distance of four
miles, on the south side of the river.
There are scattering canneries all
along the river, one as far up as the
cascades, but the best fishing is
generally between the two points
first mentioned. A cannery
will average twenty five fishing
boats, two men to boat, this branch
Of the business probably employing
2500 men on the river. The cannery
owns the boats and the nets, and runs
all risk of less, The fisherman is
hired by the cannery, he in turn hiring
his helper, and receives from the can.
merry two thirds of the market value
Of the catch, which is rated asso much
per fish without regard to size, the
market price varyingin the past season
from sixty to seventy-fve cents per
fish. The fish on this river are larger
than on the Frazer, averaging about
twenty-five pounds each. The season
is fixed by law and extends from
April 10 tc August |, and in that time
one boat will take about 1000 fish
The bar at the mouth of the river is
the favorite fishing ground, and the
work is carried on at night, except
when the water is muddy, at which
time the fish may be taken anywhere
in the river. The fish come in schools,
and it is often the case that all the
boats catch full load in two hours.
The number OF hands employed in
oannery varies from 100 to $50 They
are mostly Cinnamon, only one estab-
lishment on the river employing white
labor; but the fishermen are all
whites. A good seasons work is 90,
600 cases of one pound cans, forty,
eight cans TO case. On the Frazer
river, where the industry is compare
lively new, but very successful, there
seems to be three different varieties OF
salmon, very superior fish, weighing
about sixteen pounds. In addition to
the portions.lwhich are canned, the
bellies are dried and furnish an excel
lent article Of food, being fat and very
delicate. The next run is the soc
eyes" a smaller variety, weighing
perhaps six or seven pounds. These
are by far the most numerous, being
only worth bit t"-l23 cent-eaeh
This bit business is a delusion and 0
snare to the animated, for whose
benefit | wish to explain it. The bit
is a variable quantity. While two
bits are a quarter, and four bits half a
dollar, the value of one bit depends
entirely upon whether you are buyer
or seller. Lfthe 'ormer, it is fifteen
cents; if tie latte on. For instance.
you take d4Ink or / cigar and throw
out quarter AM get back ten cents.
If, however, you should offer ten cents
for cigar or drink, you would receive
from the perfumed and jewelled bar.
keeper a look Of unspoakable disdain
that would make you involuntarily
go down into your clothes for an
other FIVE cents. My advice to tour
ISIS is to come well stocked with
dimes. 1t will save many nimble
FIVE cent piece.
There is another species Of fish
found in the Frazer river at certain
seasons in countless millions called
the candle fish. 1t is small fish.
smaller than our perch, very delicate
in flavor, but so oily that when dried it
will burn like candle. The oil when
extracted possesses medicinal proper
ties similar to cod liver oil, but much
more eficacious, and the people Of
| Victoria and New Westminster, B. G.
| tell Of many wonderful cuges of con-
sumption effected byit. No scientific
method of extracting this oil has yet
been perfected, or at least put in
force, and as the oil becomes rancid on
exposure to the air when dried out by
the ordinary means it is difficult to OBJ.
tain it. A fortune awaits some en-
terprising Yankee in this industry
About Burrard Inlet, and in
fact all the inlets along tn,
British coast, herring are found in
countless shoals. and fishery has re-
Gently been established at Coal Har.
Dor. The salmon fishermen, of course
make large wages during the short
season. The hands from the eannery
scatter, the Cinnamon to San Fran.
cisco and Portland. There are aboui
| 5000 Of them in the latter city, where
| am informed, they have, with trut
; celestial outenese, studied the loca
: laws to the extent Of being able t,
know just what offense to commit il
. order TO fnd home in Jail until thu
next fishing season commences.
TIL Q principal markets for salmol
are in England, France and Germany
r Shippers draw on the consignees wit
/ the bill OF ladins attached, to draf
: for within about ten per cent Of To
market value Of the consisnment, an
pay interest at a rate varying from
: to per cent.