The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-03
Good Runs the Feature of the
Past Week.
LOWER RIVER WELL AHEAE
Preparations Are Being Made at All
, the Outside Points for Fall
Fishing Operations.


1S95.-In one week more the salmon sea-
son of the Columbia river will have
closed and all speculations as to the prob
able size of the pack will be set at rest.
At the present writing 1t seems to us,
with the record OF the past ten days
as a guide, as II the estimated shortage
Of 100000 cases can now be considered
too large, and in all probability 1t. will
not exceed $1,000 cases. If the run dur,
ing the next week continues as good as 1t
has been since our last report the figures
will stand still greater reduction. The
lower river to date is certainly ahead of
its record last year, notwithstanding the
stagnation that existed for three weeks
in June-July. Last Monday the Gamer
les received magnificent deliveries of fish,
and the run of that day reminded us of
old tit1es. All the appliances alike
shared in the hauls, ard by midnight
fully 1900 cases had been packed on the
lower river. Tuesdays work was in la
mentable contrast. 1t was one of the
poorest days of the season and the cry
Of mo fish" was heard everywhere. On
Wednesday matters picked up consider
ably and from that time up to date the
returns have been extremely good. Most
Of the canneries are working aate
cleanup, and altogether 1t looks at pres
ent as II the run will continue good for
some days. We note that several can
ners have all along predicted mo fish in
August" Things do not seem TO be turn
ing out that way. 1t seems more probable
that the season will end In the midst Of
as much hustle and hard work as there
Is now. Without O. doubt the fine runs
of the last two weeks have saved the
Lower Columbia from what looked like
certain shortage. Next week, with the
assistance of our correspondents, we will
be able to give a very close estimate
Of the total pack. The British ship Sierra
Parma Is now loading $4,000 cases OF
salmon mt Astorlas wharves for ship
ment to the United Kingdom, and wlll re-
ceive dispatch probably towards the mid
die of the present month. This cargo.
with that of the Rathdown, makes nearly
10000 cases bound to foreign ports. We
quote today as follows:
Spring catch straight Chinooks A.35 to
$1.431a for tails and $3.50 to $1.571s for
flats. Two-pound regular tails with key,
$210. Bluebacks-market bare. Chinook
ovals-market bare.
Tin plate both here and In San Fran
cisco exhibits u considerable shortage and
ship Sokoto, which reached San Fran
cisco Monday with 10000 cases OF tin plate
aboard win to some extent relieve the
condition Of affairs. Cannerymen here
are going about their preparations for
fall dishing In a very perfunctory man
ner, which Is the strongest proof that
this side of the business Is gradually be-
ginning to be looked on by packers with
disfavor. Fishing will start at Gray's
harbor, Shoalwater bay and the Sulslaw
river on the 10th inst. and at most OF
the other outside points operations will
be begun ten days later. The outlook
Is not very brilliant and In all prob
ability the fail pack will be lighter than
1t has been for many years. In reality
most OF the cannerymen acknowledge that
late fishing haS never paid them as 1t
should. The low price of goods and the
heavy expense of preparation, transporta-
ton of men and machinery to outside
points, etc., cut down profits to the
very narrowest margin. Our Victoria
correspondent says, "Cannery operations
are now IN fun blast in the North, and
the packs reported to date are as follows;
Mas River canuery, $500 cases; Mill Bay
1900: Inverness, 5000; North Pacific, 1000;
July %, Balmoral, 1000; b. "A. p. Com
rany $500; Cunningham, $500; July "a,
Carlisle, 6,5OO Claxton, $500; Standard
5000: loves Inlet, 5000; July 20, Manu-,
1000; Wannock, 10000; Rivers Inlet, cam
rery, $4,000; Good Hope, 10000, and Alert
Bay, $500; a total Of 126,7OO. Fishing on
the Fraser River is proceeding as usual
but no large runs have been experienced
during the past few days. I do not think
the pack on the Fraser will come to much
more than quarter OF O. million cases.
There is every indication that cannerymen
here will obtain good, firm prices consid-
erably In advance OF last years quotas
tions before they get through the season.
Already offers from Eastern Canadian
centers show an upward tendency" This
Canadian Grocer says OF affairs in To-
ronto: Demand on spot for canned salm-
on Is very active. While stocks of sock
ego are running very low there are plen-
ty of cohoes to be had. Offerings are
lrm at from $3.50 to 4.75 per case on the
coast for good, red fish, but there Is rlot
much disposition on the part of whole-
salers to buy at these figures. Not that
they have not faith in the market but
the truth Is, they are not disposed to
speculate. We hear Of some futures be-
ing offered by wholesalers. Rumor gives
some rateh low figures, in view of the
present condition OF the market, for fu-
lures, but the only authentic quotation
we have been able to got on sOckeye fish
Is $1.45."