The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-13
SALNON-C CANNING.
Tho Outlook for the Present Season Less En-
couraging than Heretofore.

The Outlook for the Present Season Less En-
couraging than Heretofore.
The fishing season of 1885 does no
give any promise Of activity. The bust
ness of canning salmon on the Colum
bia has been carried on at great dis
advantage during the last two years
and several cannerymen are now un
decided whether they will or will no
run their establishments next summer.
The last season was SO disastrous tt
nearly everyone connected with the
business that probability Of similar
conditions in 1885 causes many to hes
itate.
Lack of common purpose or settled
unity of interests among the Gamers
is not the least among the causes that
operate to unsettle the business.
There are about as many different
ways of looking at the matter as there
are canneries on the river. One man
is now paying 224 cents fathom to
white men for knitting nets; another is
employing Cinnamon to do the same
work for 8 cents; another firm is try
ing TO set the price of salmon for the
coming season at 60 cents, while
fourth insists that combined action
will bring the fish to the price that he
proposes to pay, IS cents.
There seems to be sort of division
of interests this season that will result
In separating those interested IN the
business into three classes, those who
furnish money and take almost abso-
lutte control of the manufactured
goods; those who get money advanced
to them and work on the cooperative
plan, and those who are what may be
termed independent cannerymen. To
the last-named belong such establish
ments as that of Mr.. John A. Devlin,
J. o. Hanthorn,J. G.Megler, A. Booth;
to the second belong such establish
ments as the Columbia Canning COM
pany, West Coast, Union, White Star,
Fishermen's, Scandinavian, etc. j;
among the first mentioned may be
enumerated w. L. Coleman & Co., d.
L. Beck & Sons, Allen & Lewis.
Among these last-named firms there
scenes to be mutual objection this |
year to advance money to purchase |
supplies, and among the companies
who usually obtain advances there also
seems a mutual desire to get money
elsewhere and in a different way from
heretofore. There was so much litiga-
tion and misunderstanding between
agencies and Astoria factories in 1884
that whatever is done this year will be
greatly restricted. Each side has its
own story, and is confident that the
other side is in the wrong. Viewing
the matter with an intent to be i'm
partial, it would appear that on the
effort to improve on good thing and
impose little moro than the business
would bear, desire to get two fingers
n the pie; and on the other hand dis
rust against capital thus employed
hat makes men ready TO believe that /
J transaction that they cannot exactly
understand involves swindle. ,
The present situation seems to sug- :
,est that the season of 1885 will be {
by several features differ 1
ng from some former years. There !
will be fewer boats by five hundred |
N the river; there will be fewer can {
lerles in operations; there will be a I
over price paid for fish; there will be s
ever ''outside" boats; fishing will {
lot begin much before May Is, and not I
ntil June l will there be anything r
Ike the old time activity; effort will t
e made to induce unanimity of senti- t
lent among all interested in the bust o
ess, and the struggle for supremacy {
n the part of rival agencies" will il
OF be characterized by such liberal a
as in the past. a
The business must sooner or later il
title down to legitimate basis. 1t D
IS been butchered and overdone, and h
N not for some years assume the d
it did in 1882, 1888, and o.
IA. Sooner or later the buyers of re-
W material will tire OF paying high
rices to the swarm of men who swoop in
'wn here every summer, stay for Ii
1elve or thirteen weeks. and then lie
vay with the earnings. In This con- w
ctipn it may be said that the CO. m
erative companies have the best ex
ance for survival, if they can only tb
llize that where their interests as co
tchers of fish and sellers of canned MI
mon clash, the greater profit lies in hi
ting less price for the raw material, "a
It they may make more on the goods
The case.-- Washington Territory DIS
ian.