The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-10-11
Union Salmon Company.


a,r of the 9th, appears the following:
A brand of salmon has appeared
upon the market. which is in every
respect gotten up to deceive and de-
fraud the public. The label reads as
follows: Columbia River Salmon,
Packed by the Union Salmon Com
pany. Fidelity Brand, Anderson ~
Sons, Agents, Astoria, Oregon. The
cut upon the label is that OF two
clasped hands. The Union Salmon
Company is fgment of the scheming
brain of some packer, who cannot re-
alize money fast enough by legitimate
means. The firm of Anderson X Sons,
Astoria, are of the same fiimsy mate
rial As the Union Salmon Company,
and are too unsubstantial To- cast
shadow. In other words there neither
exists such a company as the JnIon
! Salmon Company, nor such hrm at
( Astoria as that of Anderson S Suns.
! As for the goods thus labeled, they
are "short weight, which Is probably
the only thing in their favor, and are
known to few people as seconds.
The real packer Of these goods, who
/ has sought tn conceal his identity be-
hind SO shallow an artiiice, is the hrm
I of A. Booth X Co., of Astoria and
Chicago. The reason for not labelling
these goods with their firm name is
too sbvious To require comment. This
firm evidently belongs to that class
which does not hesitate 10 realize
through the worst of trade frauds, It
only toleTably certain of immunity
from detection. We are informed,
from trustworthy and reliable source,
that the fish packed under the "Fidel-
ity" brand are the variety known rs
steel-heads, being neither a salmon
nor sturgeon, hut a sort of BASTARD
lied specimen, combining the undeslr-
able characteristics OF both, being
white in color, dry in taste. Our IN
formant tells us that 1000 cases of
these fish have been packed, and are
being placed on the market, If, IN
deed, they have not already found a
market. 1t is reported that j. X.
Armsby q Co., of Chicago, bought a
lot of Booths Columbia River, for
Sl.05 per dozen, which We are told
Mr.. Booth denies. We have Just ver-
fled the report referred to above, and
are in position to assert positively
that j. X. Armsby & Co., of Chicago,
have purchased the whole of a large
block Of the Fidelity" brand of CO.
lumbia river salmon. We have fur
ther ascertained that they are offering
salmon in the east at SL.32I, guaran-
teeing it Columbia river, but refusing
to name the brand. 1t is almost be-
yond belief that such worthless stuff
could find a market at such figures.
We would advise all those in the trade
to have absolutely nothing To do with
any brand of salmon unidentified with
the name or well-known label of some
reputable packer. This question OF
fraudulent manipulation of food sup
plies has become the nightmare OF
trade. and 1t is a matter of surprise
that reputable houses will lend their
aid 10 enhance its hideousness. Trade
fraud seems to be epidemic III Chi
cago, and in classification, manipulation
and fabrication of food products, un-
tit to fatten the hogs from which they
manufacture their rotten lard, Chi
cago need fear no rival.
The degree of positiveness with
which our contemporary asserts the
above, conveys the impression that
there is something in it, though it is
hardly probable that such awell knowr
and responsible house as A. Booth 4
Co. would descend to such practices
Simply as a matter of policy anC
business shrewdness no Columbi;
river Gamer could afford to jeopardiz
= his reputation by putting inferio
goods upon the market under cover O
spurious label. The Grocer and Can
r ner has called attention several time
this summer to gross frauds in relatio
to the packing of Sacramento rive
salmon, and with every show OF truth
o and in this instance the firm again;
whom the charge is made owes it
itself to fully disclaim the transactio
+. and meet il with an emphatic deniaI