Morning journal and courier., 1886-09-01
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Salmon Industry of the Colum bIa -AstOria-Back to the East Side of the Rocky MOuntains-New Haven- CTS at Manftou-Eastern Colorado Blooming.

CTS at Manitou-Eastern Colorado Blooming.
 TRINIDAD, Col, Aug. 24.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Although our journal is sadly behind in the posting, and our present camp two thou sand miles from our lest review, yet pleas- ant thoughts of Astoria and the salmon in- dustry of the Columbia force themselves to the front, and a brief account of our visit there seems not out of place at this time.
 The salmon indust1J is on the decline on the Columbia; the total pack for this season be- ing al out four hundred and thirty-six thou sand cases against five hundred and sixty
 five thousand last year and six hundred and twenty-six thousand in 1884. The main cause of this falling off is owing to the greed of the fishermen. In former times the fish were caught the entire length of the river as far as the cascades, but by the wheel system in the rapids and the entrance at As toria completely blocked with nets, traps and seines, not enough get through to the spawning grounds to keep up the supply. So persistent are the gill net fishermen that
 boats go far out from the mouth of the riv- CT, and as consequence many are lost in the breakers on the treacherous sand bar, which is a terror to all navigators even in the calmest weather. Fifty men have been lost this season in this perilous business.
 
 wheel, the trap (called pounds the New England shores) the seines, which are hauled
 by horse Eower in the middle of the stream at low tide, and the gill net, the latter being the largest in men and catch. Through the kindness of an old acquaintance formerly from New York, we board tugboat and ex- plore the harbor and river, which latter at Astoria is twelve miles wide, following the unfortunate fish from the net until he is safely packed in pound cans and securely cased ready for the Portland steamer. The men engaged in this comparatively new in- dustry is estimated at twelve thousand; about one third in the river and the balance in the canneries. Of the latter fully three thousand are Chinamen. The labor societies it is said will demand the expulsion of An Sin next year, which if successful, my infor mant said, would compel the major portion of the packers to close their canneries. The perfection to which the art of preparing this wholesome food for market has attained is | the admiration of all who inspect it's work | ings in detail. In all of the packing houses | cleanliness is enforced from the dressing to | the last act of filling the cans. Hence no | one need fear to eat canned salmon if packed | by reliable house under the factory label. l As matter of course there are tricks in this trade like all others, and not a few packers put up what are called seconds, which may be poorer grade of fish called steel heads, or fish too long out of the water. These | price and put on to the market as genuine Columbia river stock, but under the label of someone not packer. There are thirty nine canneries on the river, but the number of brands on the market is legion. The packers near the mouth of the river are in the best position to furnish good stock, as owing to nearness to the fishermen they can receive the fish within few hours from the catch; yet not few have been twenty hours dead before John Chinaman ranges them on the dissecting table. There are but two can- neries out of the thirty-nine that do in fact pack the fish fresh from the water, one of which is the Aberdeen Packing company, whose label is the bear brand and we'll known in the eastern markets for it's superior qual- ity.
 Astoria is cool in summer-hot weather is being built on bridge, so to speak, has cleanly streets and no demand for sewers. We review the history of this quaint and old time city with the skipper of our boat cast glance at the spot where the elder Astor built his fort eighty years ago; view with regret the British vessels awaiting their cargoes of American products; regret that the stars and stripes are so largely limi- ted to land duty, and leaving behind day well rounded out with business and pleasure, again pay tribute to the o. R. and N. com pany by embarking on one of their we'll ap- pointed steamers for Portland The princi. pal landings are at cannaries, the last one being the oldest on the river at Eagle Cliff, and operated by one of the best known men in the business, William Hume. We find