The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-09

TIE open season FOR fishing n the Co
iunofa river begins Saturday. but that
fact seems 20 bring little toy to ne hearts
OF the cannerymevs. 20 whom the prospect
for selling pack Of any considerable size
Is very gloomy. and who are apparently
IN doubt as 20 the advise billty OF starting
the machinery % their plants
special 20 the f-Entsiligence- yes
te-day announced that the union OF ash
ernen had decided not 20 strike and would
commence operations Saturday. but this
fact alone IS not sufficient encours cement
TO the packers. against whose products
many pretudices have lately arisen.
Last years strike is primarily the cause
OF all the present trouble. ard its effects
appear likely 10 operate against the fishing
industry OF the Columbia, in All its branch
IS. fer some time. For many years the
heavy Eastern buyers have contracted
with the Columbia packers for their entire
output Last year owing to the strike.
the packers were afraid 70 enter into any
sort OF contract. Later In the season an
agreement was reached and the strike de-
clsred OF. bar. in the meantime. the buy
ers had contracted for supplies elsewhere.
and when the FISH began 20 come in pack
ers would take only small percentage OF
the catch 10 put up on speculation
The Eastern buyers have now found new
sources OF supply in the canneries OF Pu-
get sound and Alaska. and the Columbia
packers viii not easily recover the trade.
& Chlopeck. OF the wholesale fish deal
ing firm Of Chlopeck Bros. was inter
viewed by a Post-fntelligencer reporter
yesterday In regard 70 the situation. Mr.:
Chlopeck's firm IS in business both on the
Sound and the Columbia river and he Is.
therefore. in touch with the conditions.
Mr.. Chlopeck said:
The price Paid by the packers 10 the
fishermen for chinook salmon on the Co
lumbia for the past four or i've years was
entirely too high 70 afford them a profit
on their investment. selling price taken
into consideration. As there has always
been a good demand for choice brands OF
chinook salmon. the high prices were con-
tlnued as a sort OF freeze-out game. and
IL has had the desired effect OF crowding
several of the weaker concerns out OF tho
field.
The Columbia river salmon is not so
popular In the market as IL was at one
time. for the reason that large quantities
OF inferior salmon are packed on the var
io8s Coast streams, In both Oregon and
Washington and much OF this salmon is
branded Columbia River Chinook. and
sold 10 consumers as such. This has had
a tendency TO turn great many people
against all salmon that is branded Co
lumbia River Salmon and they prefer 10
as Columbia river chinook salmon. but
better than the imitation. II Is acknowl-
edged by all epicures that Columbia river
chinook salmon is the finest salmon there
Is. ANY one who can afford TO buy canned
salmon Is willing 10 pay or cents more
for a can OF sweet rneated. rich. fat. steak
chinook salmon. II ne IS always sure OF
getting what he bargained for.
The strike on the Columbia river last
fall was the direct cause OF some OF the
heaviest buyers OF Columbia river salmon
getting their supplies from other sources.
II will be hard 20 get these customers
back unless the prices are considerably
reduced on the Columbia. II all the Co
luubia river packers were 10 unite and
decide upon one brand and pack all their
chinook salmon under that brand and
then advertise the brand. / do not think
they would have any trouble in selling all
their salmon ar good price. AS 1t Is.
there are so many different brands that
II Is hard for any one TO keep track OF
them. as 10 which IS good and which Is
not.
The prospects for the approaching sea-
son on the Columbia are not what might
be called fattering While no strike Is
talked Of az this time, still things are not
In a settled condition, and should the run
OF salmon be light II Ia hard 10 tell what
the fishermen might do before the season
Is over