The morning call., 1894-07-21
FIGHT FOR FISH.
How the Local Dealers
Lost a Point.
Kalibut Is Sold by the IONA De-
preston Among Coal Ships.
Death of a Deckhand.

The carrying of the fish war into the
camp of the enemy by the local fishermen
resulted in very peculiar turn OF the bat
tie and the defeat of the men who claim
that no one has a right to sell fish in San
Francisco but themselves.
The anti-halibut crusade Of the knights
of the net only brought customers TO the
much hated halibut schooner Elwood, and
10! the lone fisherman changed the lines
vi the opera last Thursday afternoon to
Tomorrow will be Friday, but we've sold
no fish to-day"
The Elwood of Semiahmoo. which Cap
tain Eiw ards has the pleasure to command,
has created dissension among the rank and
file of the fishers that may eliminate in
united attempt on the part of the latter to
forever and ever discourage the fetching of
cargoes of fish caught In tie northern
waters to this port.
Like the one who "crept up unbeknown
and peeked in through the window" the
agents Of the clans of Union-street wharf
were sent to take peep at the ElwoOd
when she arrived here last week and
locked at Mission-street bulkhead. They
returned to camp, and there a plan was
devised for killing off the trade that might
go to Captain Edwards and his crew.
Every vender of fish, flesh or fowl who is
in touch with the housewife was quietly
invited to use his influence toward spread
ing the news that the fish sold by certain
schooner at certain wharf were old. unfit
for food and should not be purchased.
The market was flooded with fish by the
combine. Smelt went for nothing and
halibut was sold for mere trlt1e. In the
Western Addition and south of Market
| street word was passed about to beware of
tb yui = 0tfpT.
| ing fish caught in outside waters.
! But the public is queer institution.
| The people listened attentively to what
| the salesman for the local fishermen had
| to say, but instead of buying halIbut from
| the regular sellers they went straight down
to the docks and hunted UP the Elwood.
The union of fishermen found that their
plans had proven disastrous to themselves,
but it was TOO late to stop the rush for
Mission-street dock. So many people came
to buy of the Elwood's cargo that all
could not get on board the vessel at one
time. While the halibut were on sale the
wharf was packed with eager buyers, and
a crowd of spectators always found amuse-
mept in the attempts of some people to get
in line.
1t is said that Captain Edwards, having
disposed of his cargo, intends to return to
the sound and secure lot of king salmon.
This news has fairly set the union conn.,
been made to the Board of Harbor Com
mssioners to order that DO fish except
those caught in California waters shall be
30 Id at the State wharves. OF course the
Commissioners have no jurisdiction in the
matter.
Encouraged by the success Of the Ell
wood, another small schooner is fitting out
at Port Townsend to fetch fish to San
Francisco, and it is said that other vessels
will follow.
There is an ample market for fish at
moderate prices in this city. Halibut used
to sell for % cents per pound before the
Elwood went into the business but now
il retails at cents. There Is big profit
in it at the latter rate.
The price of fish has been kept up by
combination of two or three persons, and
very poor quality o. food has been
palmed off on the people. The importa-
ton of fish cargOes to San francisco
should not be discouraged because 80 many
poor people would be able to purchase
cheap food if the price of fish should be
kept down to where it ought to be.
Individual fishermen would much rather
sell their hauls independently of the COM
binatlon, ana so express themselves.
They say that they are willing to compete
with the schooners from the north if they
can de il on the same footing.
The northern halibut banks are consid-
cred inexhaustible. Local craft could
we'll afford TO fit out for cruises there. Our
northern neighbors have set us the ex.
ample by sending out the ElwoOd.
There is decided dropping off of coal
charters for coal vessels and the coal bust
ness is at a standstill. Several big colliers
are lying idle and mum Der of the regular
coal fleet of sailing vessels have been char
tered 10 carry lumber.
Dealers attribute the depression to
numerous causes. viz, the large importa-
tions of coal from Newcastle, n. S. W..
largely overstocked market and the strike.
The first cause is more generally accepted
than any.
When the steamer T. C. Walker of the
Stockton line was at Stockton last Wednes-
day evening man named johnson, q dis
charged fireman, attempted to assault ED-
gineer Sampson. The latter was too quick
flor his adversary and succeeded in giving
him sound thrashing.
Frank Stone, deckhand on the steamer
Gypsy. fell into the hold of the vessel when
she was at Monterey few days ago, and
received injuries from which he died. His
body was brought to this city and taken to
the Morgue.
The Southern Pacific Railroad Company
that succeeded in putting lob-franchlse
through for usurpng East street for its
Broadway electric line is using mlser-
able grade of red rock in topping OFF the
basalt blocks with which it is paving Its
tracks. Red dust is blown in every direc-
ton, and complaint is heard at every hand.
The Board of Harbor Commissioners have
nothing to say in the matter They are as
quiet as they would be if they were asked
for their opinion of the strike.
The following is tue take Of the sealing
schooners spoken by the Sophia Suther-
land, which arrived from the japan Sea
yesterday, up to June last: Schooner
Bonanza 1900 skins, Beatrice 947, Dora
Steward 1929. Penelope 216. Aurora 262
Anna Matilda 152, Louis Olsen 626, II. G
Walberg 142. Maud S $685. Amanda 287,
LibDie 4S1, Vena 703, Lilly L 81, Mary
Taylor 1888. Otter 772, George Peabody 1877,
Casco 1894, w. L. Seward 500. Kate and
Annie $50. Ainsworth $50. In the month
of May the G. E. Fox was spoken with $40
saalskins and tina AlAxRnhsr with 240