The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-08-13
THE SALMON PACK.

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The 0regonian regrets that II seems
TO have been imposed upon in its AS
toria dispatch Of yesterday morning
concerning the salmon pack Of the
season Just closed. II hopes to have
trustworthy figures to give cut in a
day or two. Meanwhile. the statement
that salmon now in the river cannot
reach the dalles for thirty days, and
then only in a deteriorated condition,
Is sufficiently preposterous to deceive
no one.-Yesterday' Oregonian.
II reference is here made to the es-
innate Of the salmon pack sent out by
the Associated press. and printed in
both that paper and the Astorian Fri
day morning, the oregonian is in
formed that it was not imposed on and
its charge involves a grave injustice
10 the painstaking man who prepared
that estimate. 1t is TO be presumed
that the Oregonian seeks only the truth
and would not wilfulIy publish any
thing else relating to the important
matter Of the salmon output Yet here
IL an opportunity presented some ma
licious or incompetent person to so i'm
pose upon II. and the way plainly
pointed out, by furnishing that paper
with pretended data on the salmon
pack which will tend to discredit the
statement 1t has already published.
The estimate in question-of course, 1t
was only an estimate. since few can
nerymen care to have the exact figures
as to their pack published and almost
invariably refuse to make any state
ment-was furnished The Associated
Press by a competent man in a posi-
tion to keep the run Of the pack. but
who Is wholly disconnected from the
fishing industry and can have no bias
for or against any eanneryman or group
Of cannerymen engaged in the busi-
ness. The estimate is based upon the
l-pound can standard Of case meas
urement, the accepted rule among all
cannerymen. and the one under which
they pay their labor and contract for
supplies and material In the interest
Of the truth. and for the sake Of pre-
serving reliable statistics for future
comparison. 1t is hoped the Oregonian
VIII now make a fair and thorough in
Yestigation OF the question. and that
Il will have the honor to take back its
unjust aspersions on the Associated
Press agent who sent out the original
statement.
As to whether 1t is Judicious to APP
point close season Of but one months
duration at this time Of the year, in
the light Of what is known OF the sal
mons habits. the Astorian readily ad-
mits is a question which grounds up
on decided difference Of opinion be-
tween the upper and lower river can
nerymen. In Astoria the opinion is
unanimous that the lapse Of thirty
days between August 10 and Septem-
Der 10 not only tends In no way to pre-
serve the industry, but ls a positive
detriment to the reputation OF the Co
lumbla river salmon. The Oregonian
must know such is the view OF large
majority Of the men engaged In the
business and 1t must be also familiar
with the reasons why they hold this
opinion. Now II is not only natural
that any citizen OF Astoria, newspaper
correspondent or otherwise. should
stand with his section Of the river on
this controverted question, but 1t Is
just as unnatural that the oregonian,
which belongs no more to the upper
than the lower river fishing regions
should be partial to either side
Of the contention. It is or it is not q
fact that the fine run Of Chinook SAL
mon which had just entered the river
at the close Of the season will be oc-
cupled for a month or more in making 4
their way to the head waters. Ger
tsinly this Is matter for dispassionste
elimination and judgment and I'll