The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03

1As wasiaagton hshsrfss, taking into
ns.tsraeion the amount OF their produc-
Moa It's value. the number or men 10
whom. directly or indirectly, they give
employment and the amount annually
paid 10 them In wages. rank next 10 lum-
Der among the industries OF the state. IL
would surprise many people who have al
wars considered that the New England
states have q monopoly OF the fsh basi-
aass Of the country 10 learn that oo.ee0 90
pounds Of hsh are annually handed by ths
Axh dealers OK this state. Although this
10 smaller than the total product OF the
cid established Eastern houses. Il must be
borne In mind that II represents but little
moro than Xix years development, and
that during ne present year ths PROBABLE
de- are that more capital will be Invested
and the business generally greatly ex-
banded.
Seven new canneries were opened during
shs past year and tho aggregate amount
Of business done greatly exceeded thai or
1896. Besides those actually established
and operated. two new concerns are ex-
pscsing TO be In business IN time for the
spring run and the capacity OF another
Wi be trebled. i, Is. therefore. not TO be
wondered at that eannery men are well
satisfied with the results for 1856 and are
uoeshdent that the revival in business
throughout the country during the coming
year viii cause their Industry 10 increase
- 1897 In an unprecedented manner.
The Columbia river was early selected ~
Q favorable place to establish salmon can
aOsies. and has grown TO be the greatest
canning center on the Pacific coast As
enc importance OF this industry became
0Anifest, and IL became apparent that
lAsre was practically an unlimited market
los the product. the attention OF capital
isas generally was attracted and q number
Of eanneriss were built On Gray's harbor
and Puget sound.
Over twenty years ago the nrst Puget
sound cannery wa put In operation near
Mukilteo. followed by others near samIsh
and At West Seattle. but for one reason or
another these were removed. and I'm 1880
George r. Myers cannery was the only
one In operation on Puget sound. until
about the same time the Drysdals can
nery was opened 81 Point Roberts The
success OF this institution was such that
IL was sold two years ago TO the Alaska
Packing Association. which established
three canneries In the vicinity. These
were followed by six new concerns IN 1926.
all OF which are In rourIshing condition.
some OF them even having arranged to
greatly increase their capacity for the en-
suing year.
On account of the abundance and diver
si,y OF nsh within her borders and the ad-
.
needs OF vast inland territory. as well
as being = distributing center for the
Alaska FISH trade Washington already
stands ~ the head OF the Pacific states so
far as hsh shipments are concerned. and
bids fair soon 10 rival Massachusetts, IN
this respect. Goals were brought TO New
castle. as II were. by the shipment OF Pa
cIfio coast halibut TO Gloucester. Mass.
This caused great CONSERVATION among
the Eastern fishermen and LED 70 a heated
controversy OF the respective merits Of the
Pacific and Atlantic fish. In the course OF
which Il was established by competent au-
ehority that the former were In every way
the equal OF the latter. AS the country
east OF the mountains becomes more
thickiy settled and the increase Tn business
causes a stili further decrease In frelgh;
and express rates, Washington dealers
viii be enabled 70 supply dsh at such low
prices as 10 be within the reach of every
one. thus doubling or treblIng their pres
ent market
The business OF smoking and sailing Est
has only recently begun TO attract the a.
ssrtion that Il deserves but az its present
rate OF increase bids fair soon 70 hold rs
ews with the other branches OF the indus
try. II IL greatly 20 the credit OF the state
that q large proportion OF the capital in-
~sstsd In al branches OF the flsh business
came from within the state. many Of th'
noes important concerns having begun iF
Q ecmpsratively small way snd expanded
sh&r business from year 70 year.