The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-01-30
SALMON REVIEW.

The San Francisco Herald of Trade
has the following editorial on the
salmon situation:
In our review of the market for gro
ceries, provisions, etc, we present the
latest tabulated statement of the salm-
on pack on this coast. AS will be
seen 1t is the largest on record, but
large as it is, the pack has gone into
consumptive channels ON a very lib
eral scale. Indeed it can be said that
the distribution has been freer than
ever before recorded, leaving in first
hands on January 1, 1895, a smaller
quantity than for years past. Consid-
ering the strong trade depression in
this country and also in Europe, COM
bined with labor strikes and lower
scales of wages and net earnings of all
classes, the freedom with which salm-
on has been taken augurs we'll for
the future. 1t gives color to optimists
opinions that the taste of consumers
for this article of food can be culti-
waited so as to bring the consumption
up to fully double that of even the cur
rent seasons. That there are causes
leading up to such a condition can not
be denied and these unquestionably
have basis in lower range of values
bringing canned salmon within the
reach of the masses. That this has
been brought about largely through
the Alaska Packers Association is cred
tied by the trade. This association is
in the business as producers, not as
are content with a good fair profit on
money invested and for the wear and
tear of machinery. If the Columbia
river Gamers would form similar
association, it would be conducive to
their interests and of general benefit
to the trade and consumers. BY such an
organization a more uniform grade of
fish would be packed, fuller weights
given, and fish only fit for the "swill"
would not be canned. England, as
heretofore is our best customer, but
that country wants the better grades
packed by the different sections, and
when it gets this at a fair valuation
the consumption is large. That the
price has much to do with it is seen in
the following comparative figures for
thai country at the beginning of each
year of the visible supply spot and to
arrive) and carry over; 1890, 95S,OOO,
cases; 1891, 100000; 1892, 100000; 1898, J
91O, 900; 1894, 81, 300. According to B.
Collin G. Sons, of Liverpool, latest salm-
on compilation of the United Kingdom,
last year that country consumed 7i0,- ,
SIS cases. In reviewing the salmon
trade of Great Britain for 1894 the |
London Grocer of January says: "By |
reason of strikes and other causes, |
inquiries from consumers have not been |
without interruption as in preceding |
years, and the state of trade in salmon |
has not always been everything that |
could be wished; but the regular |
course of operations has not been in,
terfered with by speculatiors, and no
excitement has been introduc-
ed as a foreign element in the transac-
tions between the importers and deal
ers. Wide and unnecessary fluctuations |
In prices have thus been avoided, and |
the sale and delivery of salmon of near
ly all kinds have thus been unimpeded |
by outside influences, such as those
brought into play by parties bent only
ON using dealings in the article as
lever for raising quotations above what
Is reasonable and safe-apparently for
getting that the commodity referred to
forms an important branch of our food
supply for the million, and that to in
tercept the same is only to create an
artificial scarcity and foster high prices,
which are detrimental to a sound and
business in any sort of pro-
luce. The bulk of the fish of the va
rious brands reported sold during the
year now closed have been at from
lis to 2Os. per case for common to de-
cent Wholesome qualities, which rates
have admitted of the retail grocers
getting a little profit on their sales,
and have besides aided in no small
in the free4 distribution of salm-
N among all classes of the population"