The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-06-02
THE EARNINGS
AT FIVE CENTS
Comparisons From Both Sides Made
Prom the 1898 Salmon
Pack.
THE BUSINESS COMPETITIVE
Experts Make AOney--All Lines Of Trade
Depressed. rriees and Wages Re-
dnced. and Fishing Industry
No Exception.

In conversation with Mr.. John Mattson
few days ago, that gentleman, who IS
one OF the best known and most success
ful fishermen on the lower Columbia riv-
er. stated that he had been making some
Investigations Of the earnings OF the men
on the pack Of 1896
The average catch per man was tons
400 pounds during the season. The aver
age Indebtedness Of each man TO bis can
merry Is $50 The gross earnings average
per man was $50, OF which the boat
puller recsivsd one-third. or s2zs. leaving
the fisherman sii7 gross. or. yisl net. after
ded1cting his cannery Indebtedness or
course he has his net left. but this is
usually worthless. This represents six
months hard work. and you cannot
blame the men for wanting better wages.
Why. after deducting hts board he would
not have enough left TO buy his winters
food and clothing"
"Mr Mattson. how much did you make
in 1857"
"Oh, made sl1o or more, but you see
I was one Of the lucky ones. There were
others who made nothing. and on top OF
that. lost their gear"
isn't the fishing business something
IKE the dry goods or grocery merchant.
and IS 1t not fact that competition rules
in all lines Of trade or the mechanics. the
best man always being the most success
fulg'
Il do not think the cases are parallel"
A careful investigation made by FIVE
different canneries Of their books. showed
the average Indebtedness for 1SS Of the
men ashing for those ozaneriss to b.
about $751; At one cannery the figures
were as high as si75. the Others all rang
ing lower. Taking this average as the
basis. and figuring on seven tons as the
average eaten for the men which these
eannarIes found was nearer correct.
and the following result appears; Aver
age catch 500; boat puller. s2sss1; value
OF net. 500; total. s5ss.s7. earned or to the
credit of each fisherman az the end OF the
season. from which deduct sl5l indebted
ness. leaving sslss5 cents net. or ss9.27 on
an average per man per month, or about
SIS per month for the entire twelve
These figures include all OF the unsuc-
cessful fishermen. inexperienced men, as
well as the good ones. and it would prob
ably be very hard to show any other line
OF business paying as well to all engaged
in 1t. including all of the good. bad
and Indifferent. as the Columbia river
fishermen earned last year. Other lines
Of trade have been reduced. prices or
commodities have been reduced, and it
would seem. from disinterested stand
point that those engaged in the salmon
business, both fishermen and packers,
would have to take their share OF the
general reduction. This at least, is the
Interpretation put upon the matter by
many people.
About sixty Cinnamon are engaged in
Kinney's cannery manufacturing cans,
and yesterday afternoon the men were
rigging up the plungers. 1t is understood
that Mr.. Kinney's seines will be operated
in the near future, but just when is
problem which could not be solved yes
terday. Mr.. Kinney stated that he had
no intention Of fishing at five cents, but
from all that could be CLEANED in that
and other quarters there seems to be
some expectation that fishing will be done
before long.