The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-07
FOR THE HUNGRY
Salmon Packs Decreasing and the Prices
B~eyondthe Poor Mans Purse.
Bakers Complain Of Dull Times and Talk About
Their Industry-Many Articles Of Staple
Food That Rule Cheap to Dealers.

A gentleman from San Francisco, having
business with j. n. PAYERS & Co., was in
the city q few days ago, and in his CONVEX
sation with a Journal reporter salmon fish
ing and supply had q considerable part. He
said the Sacramento river for q number of
years has not been considered, to any ex-
tent, o source of supply, for the reason that
1t has long since been fished out, 10000 to
$1,000 cases now being considered a full
pack. Tho present system of fishing" he
continued. lis having its effect upon the
Columbia river, and. doubtless, within a
few years its condition will be the same as
the Sacramento to-day. and we consider
that any action on the part of the United
States fish commissioners will be almost too
Late to be effective. and in a short time our
largest sources of supply will have been ex-
hausted- The pack of the Columbia in
1855 was &C., 400 Ca Is, and while fully as
many, If not more. boats are and have been
engaged In catching salmon, the pack has
gradually decreased ever since until last
year it was but $3.50 cases, andif the same
proportion follows during the coming sea-
son the pack of 80 will be but O little over
100000 cases"
But can you not turn to Alaskai"
Alaska has Of late become q very profit
able fishing ground for the reason that the
fishermen were not restricted by law in any
way, but were allowed to catch as many
salmon as would come into the streams, if
possible, and in most cases it is estimated
that from % to 80 per cent. of
all the salmon entering the rivers have
been caught and canned. Acting under the
belief that this state of affairs would be
allowed to continue, o number of expedl-
Alasks. causing the belief to become cur
rent that the pack would be largely in
creased this season, on this account, over
previous years"
wh hdi sasr ii.i sS b no restriction to this
In British waters fishing without q IL
cense Is prohibited, and the laws
protesting tho streams are rigidly enforced.
Nothing smaller than a six-inch net is al
mitted except in tlde-wafer. Only one
third of the width of any stream can be OBJ
structed by fishing nets. No fishing of any
sort is allowed from 6 o'clock Saturday
night until g o'clock Monday morning. The
number OF boats or nets In any stream is
entirely under the control of the fish COM
missi0ners. The reverse of this has been
the rule in Alaskan waters heretofore.
There have been no restrictions of any kind.
A$Ot0 ~ u oAloA DACoA Aa1O OCCh
put entirely across the streams, making a
complete fence, enabling the Gamers to
catch all the salmon entering the rivera
complete trap. In case the entire catch of
q day or night cannot be worked up the
following day, the canner simply takes out
of the water as many as he has labor to care
Tor, or capacity to work up into a If
this practice were allowed to continue it
streams are completely cleared of salmon,
for it is a w~ell-known fact that this fish
only returns to streams where they were
Matched, and good authorities state that
four wears is the longest time lime
United States authorities. realizing the
necessity of immediate action for the pro-
lection of the great fishing industry of
Alaska, have had passed and are now en-
forcing o law regulating the catching of
salmon in Alaskan waters which will al
most entirely strip the northern waters of
their attraction as a profitable salmon fish
cry. A notice has been issued, by authority
all persons fishing in Alaska not to con
Btruct or use any dams or other obstruc-
< lions in its rivers, and measures are being
taken to have the fishing grounds patrolled
Dy government vessels to insure a COM
How will this affect the canning in
dustryfn
''Without the use of dams or other OBJ
structions in the Alaskan rivers the salmon
interest wilFhot be profitable or productive,
for the outlay of some $4,000 to $780, 600 fol-
each cannery, supplemented by the risk OF
vending outfits to the fishing grounds. will
make the enterprise so doubtful as to cur
Gail the business. Few will undertake this
work, and fewer still will return with fish.
IT is unfortunate for those just starting out
this year. who have sent their supplies
ahead, that sooner notice was not given
them to direct their e~nergiesin other direc,
lions, for they surely will be unable tc
catch sufficient salmon TO makethe venture
profitable. Undoubtedly the step taken by
same time we regret the prospects are not
better for a large pack. Tn trade should
take advantage OF the present market rates
and order sufficient for full supplies, for il
the Alaska packdoes not come UP to ex-
pectations the supply viii be short and
nigh prices viii rule"