Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-05-11
THOSE FISHERIES.
Their Mercantile VaIue.
Fairly Sized Up.
THOSE BRITISH TRESPASsERs.
Commanders of the Steamers "Bear"
and Orchard Rush" to go
on the Stand.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALDI

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.l
SAN Francisco, May 10. The Senate
Committee continued its Investigations
to-day, into the relations Of this coast
with Canada. A number of prominent
business men were examined, and the
sentiment seemed to be against recipro-
city with Canada. Edward NJ. Herrick,
representing the Pacific Pine Lumber
Company, testified that there WAS an
over production Of lumber. The mills
were running only seventeen days
month, lumber being sold by the cargo
at cost. The capacity of the British Co.
lumbia mills is two hundred million feet
yearly. With ths duty off of lumber the
British Columbia mills could, within q
year, supply all the American demand.
The lands west Of the Cascade Noun
tains, in Washington Territory, are
valued chiefly for their lumber and
coal. There is little real agri-
cultural land in that section.
The timber settlements of the
northwest are important factors in
developing the country and the cities of
the Puget Sound region are chiefly de-
pendent upon the lumber interests.
Touching on the subject of labor, he said
that in British Columbia Chinese labor
is chiefly employed. Mr.. Herrick de-
MED that there was anything in the ma
ture of Combine" or trust" among
the American lumbermen, though such
concert of action, he thought, might be
necessary, should the Canadian duty be
abolished. The fiat condition OF the
market now is due to the Gloom" at GER
tain points on this coast two years ago.
The details of the salmon canning
business were given by E. B. Back, who
is interested in a number of canneries on
the Columbia river and in Alaska. The
British Columbian canneries, during the
past five years, had turned out 100000
cases of salmon, while the American
canneries have packed about 1900, 900.
There would, in his opinion, be no sd-
vantage to the Gamers in reciprocity
with Canada.
There is little or no home consumption
of salmon in British Column ia; nearly
all the local product being sent to the
eastern provinces and to England.
w. 9. Lynde, of the firm of Lynde &
Hough, testified that little except Goldfish
are caught and packed here. The sup
ply of the northern fishing banks is prac-
tically exhaustible and limited only by
the demand, which is chiefly local. Some
cod are sent to Australia, but none east.
On the contrary, this market is flooded
with fish from the North Atlantic fishing
grounds of the Eastetn States, whereas
the shutof codfsheries of this coast could
supply not only the western market, but
the world, if necessary.
There are about seventy-fve vessels in
the trade at this time of the year, en-
ploying many hardy and trained men,
who would be of value to the govern
ment, if required as seamen. In the
Witnesses opinion, the abolition of
treaty duties would work disaster to our
fishing interests.
Senator Hale asked many questions
about the sealing in the Behring Sea by
British vessels, and the Committee de-
cided to call on Captain Healy, OF the U.
s. S. Bear, and Captain Shepherd, OF the
cutter Richard Rush, for information on
! that topic, at some future time.