The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-07-27
They Will Probably Continue
Good Till Season Closes.
A SHORTAGE OF srEELHEADs
Many Eastern Buyers Are Begin
ming to Purchase More Rap
idly Than Before.

matters In connection with the size of the |
pack begin to assume slightly more
healthy appearance. Since our last re-
port the run has remained exceptionally |
good and comes very nearly. If not quite,
up to the record OF the same week last
year. This run has now lasted for very
nearly three weekc and must compensate
the packers considerably for the unpre-
cedented slackness OF the three weeks pre-
ceding It. Steelheads have fallen off con-
siderably and the pack of this variety
of fish as well as that of bluebacks will
be very short. The most remarkable
records made during the week have been
shown by the seining outfits, some Of
which have sent In to the various can
neries daily catches that have never been
known before the present season. The
gill net boats are doing well, but there
has been a stacking up in the catch OF
traps. Fishing is to a great extent being
done at night, on account Of the unusual
clearness of the river, which makes day
work impossible. This night fishing will
continue to the end OF the season. An
other two weeks will see the closing up OF
all operations on the river, and as that
time draws near 1t becomes apparent
that the Astordans estimate Of a shortage
of from 10000 to 100000 cases will be
40 "A
in from most OF the commercial centers
with increased rapidity and movements Of
carload stock from this end continue
: extremely brisk. During the past week
fully so carloads containing over 5000
cases have been sent out for delivery.
Competing railroad lines continue to give
better service and quicker receipt than
at the beginning Of the season, a state of
affairs that Is much appreciated by ship
pers. Several of the local cannerles are
already making preparations for fall fish
ing, both here and In q number OF outside
Oregon streams, and there is every pros
pect of fair fall catch. Salmon continue
excellent In quality with a perceptible
average increase In weight, which runs
now fully 80 pounds. A large number of
Eastern houses are rousing themselves to
the fact that their orders, much longer
delayed, cannot possibly be fully filled
and In the last few days telegraphic and
other instructions from leading jobbers
and wholesalers have made It apparent
that the closer the tenth OF August draws
near the bigger will be the rush for goods.
We quote today as follows:
Spring catch, straight Chinooks Sl.SOI
to s1.4219for tails, and $3.50 to $1.b7h for
fats. Two-pound regular tails with key,
$2.1O; Bluebacks. 1-pound tails. sl.S2h:
1-pound fats, $50; Chinook ovals, for ex-
port-market closed; for home consump-
tlon. s1.s7h to s1.s5.
Our Victoria correspondent says: "The
sockeye run on the fraser River up to
the time OF writing. has been fairly good,
although the run has, SO far, given no
reliable indications OF what the season
may be expected to be. During recent
years the run has commenced later and
later, but this season has seen return
to an earlier date, such as was formerly
expected. and generally without disap-
polntment. Now 1t seems to fbe question
as to whether or not a resumption OF
the earlier dates OF running may not be
anticipated. A few fish were seen In the
river about the first OF the current month.
from which date up to about the 10th
there was very encouraging increase in
their numbers. AS there were compare
lively few boats out the fish at first ap-
peared more plentiful than when, later,
the main body OF fishermen got to work.
Under ordinary conditions, taking into
account the fact that the run commenced
earlier, the packing season should be at
Its height today, but since the fish fell
off In numbers after the 10th inst. this
is not the case. However encouraging
news comes from Point ROBBERS, which
seems to indicate that next week, at the
latest, there should be plenty of fish In
the river. It is not anticipated though
that this seasons pack will be heavy
one, some experienced men thinking It
unlikely It widl attain to much more than
one-half the proportions OF last years.
So far the canneries operating have han
died from 1000 TO 1000 cases of sockeyes
each. and on the 18th inst. the first ship
ment of this seasons fish was made by
Even & Co., who got away about 1,25OI
cases. consigned to the English marlFT.