The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-07-11
Teleuhone No. &C.
FOR A HOME MARKET.


Statistics show the peculiar fact that
whereas the salmon Of the Pacific coast
are eaten in Great Britain at tie rate
Of one pound per week to every 60 of
the population, in this country, the
home and headquarters OF the Industry,
the average consumption is only one
pound per week for every 2SO Of popula-
tion. To reach an accurate reason for
this condition OF things would, in view
of the circumstances, be hard matter.
The Capitalization OF population in Eng
land and the small distances that sep
arate its big cities from each other would
undoubtedly seem to have something to
do with 1t. Then again the English peo-
pie eat salmon as we eat sardines, and
In many localities among them 1t is the
inevitable adjunct OF beer-the national
drink
II these are reasons at all, however,
they hardly seem to be sufficient to
account for the very great difference in
the salmon consumption between the two
countries. Can 1t be that the men hand
ling the sale OF the product with us are
less energetic than their fellow workers
over the sea? Or Is 1t because the pro-
ducers themselves have not sufficiently
realized the immensity Of their home
market and have left It year after year
cnly half worked? The weight of rea-
soning seems to favor the latter PROPOSE
lions and brings out strongly fact
which we have aways contended-that
the foreign trade has been far more sys-
temat.cally looked after and better work
ed, with the establishment Of a fine
hatchery that gives promise OF exceeding
the most sanguine expectations OF It's
owners during the next few years, and
the almost certain annual increase In the
Columbia River pack consequent on its
operations. It seems to us that 1t is time
for the cannerymen to adopt pollcy
entirely different from the one they have
followed up to the present. Very few
among us, men who, are tied down In
one particular spot for a term of years
least OF all. recognize the immenslty of
the North American continent, and we do
not hesitate to say that there are dozens
of important centers. tapping enormous
and prosperous divisions Of the Columbia
River salmon interests, Mexico, which
we have before referred to In this con-
nectlon, knows no more Of the merits
OF our salmon either by use or hearsay
than It knows OF Polar bear steaks. In
many parts Of the South and the Gar
East, while people may know a little
about canned fish, the word salmon is to
them a generic term and they know no
grades In its quality, They would just
as soon. with their present knowledge
on the subject think OF classifying the
different varieties OF canned elephant.
While It Is a fact that cannlrymen
like most people In harness all ovar the
world are generally very busy men, It
seems that they ought to devote certain
portion OF their time TO the opening up
OF more home markets, and In connection
with that. the persistent education Of .he
individual whose demand 1t is that
makes the market. Such a campaign, II
systematically and HONESTLY conducted,
would result In the quickening Of busi-
ness almost Immediately, would place
that business on permanent and safe
basis. and all worth the expenditure OF
an amount OF money hardly worth talk
ing about
We cannot believe that the Columbia
River Gamers are desirous OF shutting
their eyes to the future and living only
in the success of the present, nor do we
desire to think or have the impression
40 abroad that their horizon is the limit
OF their own cannery buildings beyond
which they have no desire to penetrate
II a suicidal policy Of this nature were
adhered to In times such as these. whsr
every commercial concern In the eountr,
has to be progressive. sharp, vigorous
ana unceaangly vigIlant In order TO live
then no very distant historian will b.
able to say OF oregon's industry, "Dae'
of successive and regular injections o
stupdIty in large doses"