The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-19
RUN OF SALMON IS SMALL
DISAPPOINTMENT PREVAILS AMONG
PUGET SOUND PACKERS.
Genes the silver, Then the Skovv-
its-tseorke r. Myers Esttmates the
Seasons Yield at 100000 Cases.

The sock-ye salmon run is about oyer.
and feeling Of greas Disappointment pre-
walls among packers at the scarcity Of
that most highly priced FISH. The run
usually lasts about six weeks, but was
stretched into seven this year. owing 20
the small numbers that were taken Next
comes the silver salnnon. and y ~ them
the skow.sx-
George S. Myers. the pioneer packer q
this section. and owner OF the Myers can
merry. OF this city. said yesterday 10 q
Posf-InteiIgencer reporter that the yield
for the season just closed would amour, 10
about eia.ooa cases. as against Ssl.no last
yea1, and would foo. tie historians wao
had figured on a big run.
The sockeye salmon season is thing
of the past" said he. "Ali packers. from
the largest 10 the smallest, consider II a
dismal failure for tbs year, although none
OF LIS expected tho run would he as great
Is II was n 1881. 1t has disappointed ev-
eryecdy. Al the beginning % the season
nearly all the caaEeries contracted for the
disposal Of amount that hey thought
would represent only a part OF their cut
pat. and now they can't possibly AL their
orders. Some did no, get ,wo-thgds OF
their sales. Others failed 10 come up to
their orders by oae-haf. OWING 70 THAR
having contracted az a certain figure. the
advance in prices consequent upon the
scarce production viii be 10 advantage 10
the Gamer, az he could not begia 10 fl
his contracts. much less TO keep ca hand
a surplus stock.
TIE merchant can now sell 20 his Gus
toners al an advance Of 70 per cent. and
even 10 other merchants. who viii be glad
price.
May Of the packers viii have TO pay
on their deficit the difference between tina
contract and market prices. and this Will
fan heavily on those who have dropped
behind by big percentage.
The condition Of affairs down here viii
make the Alaska red fish sell we'll We
learn that The Alaska Packers Association
ar Blaine ana Point Roberts has not sold
any Of its products. consequently 1t VIII
be able TO take advantage OF the increased
price and will find this a profitable sea-
son
The next run viii he the Cahoe or sill
YER salmon, which commences between
Angus: . and September 10. and contin-
ues about six or seven weeks. After the
Conoe follows the Skowitx run, beginning
about the 18th Of October and extending
well into the last of December"
The quality Of the FISH is, OF course.
about the same. the red sockeye being al
ways of the finest order but this year
their method of running has puzzled ev-
cry one familiar with their pecul.arities.
They came systematically, some days only
a few being taken in the nets. On others
quantities sufficient TO make the Gamers
believe the run would improve and attain
lis usual size, bat now IL is demonstrated
beyond doubt that ii is a dad failure.
Many Of the packers are disposed to think
that the day OF the sockeye is about over,
and that It will be a long time before
they are taken In numbers as great as
preceding years have given. The total
catch this year Will not exceed % per cent
OF last years yield. and even with good
seasons for the silver and Skowitz salmon
the canneries are going TO feel the dirni-
nrtiye sockeye run.