The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-07-17
THE FISHING SITUATION.
Men Hold LARGE Meeting and Wnl
Meet Again To-day.

| The memters OF the FishSrmen's Union
held large meeting yesterday after
noon at Ericksofs hall Af,er some
! discussion, a committee Of i've was ap-
pointed to confer with the board OF
directors OF the Union Cooperative Fish
ermeu's cannery at o'clock today for
the purpose Of discussing the sttualloa
a arriving at some solution OF the
question OF providing for all OF the men.
II this cannot be accomplished, /, Is
proposed to lay no restrictions upon the
men, each being left to exercise his own
pleasure Many of the mes luit work
yesterday, most OF them boat-plllers.
who are going 10 the. Sound. California
demand for labor, 1t WIS reported asst
night that the wages OF the boat-pullcrs
az the Union cannery had beal cut 10
the basis OF three cents for fish. and
that many OF the men quit work. Re
ports from up-river are to the effect
that Hume. Hapgood and Harrington are
still paying four celts, Ash being scarce.
In conversation with MIR. Thomas
Quinn, one of the most Intelligent FISH
ermen on the river. he said to an As
roriaa representative yesterday:
The men realize that under present
conditions four cents Is too nigh for
fish. but the great difficulty is how TO
adjust matters so that we won't starye.
The trouble is. there is too much high
priced gear OF all kinds on the river
and too many men h the business.
TO come out losers. Only those who
take the greatest risks get many hsh.
Some. under the best conditions. are sure
The men would De perfectly willIng 10
fish for three cents II at the same time
the can Jeryulen would reduce .he cost
of gear. or largely reduce the amount
OF gear. a canneryman asked me why
the nlon did not thin out It's members
and get rid Of the undesirable ones. OF
whom many do not live here. but only
come TO the Columbia for the season.
We cannot do this as long as they are
furnished with outfits by the calnervmei
and are willing TO pay their dues IN the
union. j know there are many men
from many nations who can hardly speak
a word Of English. who live on salmon
heads or the cheapest foods. with whom
we American and Americanlzed men
have to compete, ard we cannot support
our families in the face Of such com
petition. II the canneryInen would re
uEeiucated and undesirable element, the
Of the union would quickly
adjust itself The cannerymen might
control the situation. but we cannot
The best thing we can do IS to go on
and finish out the season and see what
can be doe another year"
An employe Of one OF the large can
Deries also said:
"A great many Of the men IRE quit |
ting-mostiy the boat-puiiers I think a
of our fishermen viii keep at |
work, making the best Of situation
that is hard o. all Of us. can see
only one way to regulate the business on
the Columbia river. That is TO form an
association like the Alaska Packers As
and place limit on the gear
and the output The Columbia has been
A snap for several years aad has attract
81 here many outside fishermen, who
only stay during the season, pay no taxes
And have no interest in the town or
,ou7try. The canneries. In their eager-
ness to outstrip outside competitors.
have stumbled over each other to get
gear IN the river and capture all the
ish. The throat-cutting extended down
the line. and the men are now all affect
ID by the competition all around. u1til
Ii hands now feel the effects of having
Alaska end the Sound 10 contend against
n the markets. A strong ard compact
alone can adjust matters 10
hat all can live. | understand our men
Who have left are getting employment
N the souid in California and the in
erior, where labor is in demand"