The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-20
PLAYING WITH LOADED DICE
That Is Fish shipping When Express
Agents Are Competitors.

"For ten years We have had a paying
business in Aberdeen" said E. Chic
peck. of Chlopeck Bros. the we'll
known Portland and Seattle fish
shipping firm. Yesterday, but the
competition OF the Northern Pacific
express agent. who is also in the business.
has driven US from the field. We were
compelled to abandon our property there.
consisting OF gearing and fishing appa-
ratus worth a great deal of money,
many Of the fishermen owe US money, and.
greatest Of all. an established business OF
years, which is in itself big item, was
lost One hates TO give up a business OF
that kind. not considering its cash value.
The location at Aberdeen was especially
favorable one Of the reasons being the
superiority of the Grav's harbor salmon.
AT that place the express agent is al
lowed 10 per cent. of the express charges
on every pound Of express shipped from
his Office. One hundred pounds Of sal
mon, costing $50. goes East at the rate
OF $3.50 and thus he gets sf.25. But 1t
does not end here, for the Aberdeen Fish
Company IS owned By Express Agent A.
P. Stockweli He is a fish shipper. and
as a competitor gets 10 per cent. Of our
profits He also ships his own fish, and
by additional percentage gets nearly dou-
bic the profit we do. He can well afford
and often has sold his fish at cost price,
IS not all Our bills all pass through his
hands. and he knows just what We get
for every shipment, gets the address Of
the consingee. learns of his responsibility
BY our collections, and by Judging OF the
length OF time we have them for custom
ers with these Advantages of knowledge
OF all OF our business secrets, he can &c
along selling = cent under us, and cap
tl4re all Of our trade. The profit TO the
agent often exceeds s2na a month.
at SnnhorIsh we found the same diff
entity. Shaw &, Hodgin being the Northern
Pacific express agents. We have simply
given I'D trying to compete with this class
OF agents The Great Northern agent
called on ne recently and offered 70 help
b,i1d IN A business along his line. but
told him that had no assurance that the
agents Of his company would not go into
the business We do not propose 70 build
IN a business 70 hand over to them as
soon as we have finished II. Our ousi-
ness viii he conducted on different lines
we formerly had men on the road
working up trade, hut have taken theH
off Just on this account
at the recent examination or our
books a shortage Of just SAB was FOUND
and $40 Of that was a hlunder OF the book
keeper. and one o. two POUNDS a week
overweight would make VI the remainder
Tho eompanies in examining the hooks
practically sHspeIl1co 80
week. and then they aid not get enough
out OF II TO pay them for the labor
II vas the Chlopeck firm which got
around the express companies require
meats BY shipping in freight car lots 10
Portland. and thence East by express, or
otherwise as they chose. This NAV be
done on an extensive scale from here &c
head of the express agents who are also
fish dealers The Great Northern agent
AZ Fairhaven and the Northern Pacli'c
ae.r+ a. yvhatcoru are also said 10 be fish
shippers.
Chloreck Bros handle great shipments
Of Alaska Ssst salmon, and instead or the
schooners di.chargtng AT Portland. they
Will come 20 Seattle with their eargoes
hereafter. 20 save the COLUMBIA river
towage. This commerce means much TOT
Seattle as whole train loads uequenuS
20 East A. single shipments