The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-06-23
Good Prices For Salmon.

quotations on the Columbia river and
the Strengthening of prices on the
Sound, together with the better feeling
shown by the Gamers. While the
season opened on the Columbia river
year ago with prices OF 4 cents per
pound being offered by Gamers and
a by fresh fish dealers, the quotations
at the opening OF the season this year
were 4 to cents by Gamers and from
3 to 6 cents by fresh fish dealers.
Instances are known where as high as
z cents was offered on Columbia river.
During the latter part of last season
the price was forced up to A cents per
pound at the canneries, but during the
season there were days when as low as
y cents was paid. Instances when
the run was diminishing and the catch
was light were reported last year, when
Columbia river dealers paid and 6
cents a pound for salmon. These were
exceedingly rare.
On the Sound the run has not begun
and prices have DOT vet become defn-
ed. From Gamers comes the report
that they expect to pay better prices
than were offered last year and the
sales which are now being made of the
advance guard of the sockeyes indi-
Gates brighter future. Five cents a
pound has been paid on the Sound for
salmon and this price was heralded as
low figure.
During the last season q and 8
cents per pound was paid generally,
while in few instances five and SIX
cents was offered and accepted.
Pound prices do not prevail much
on the Sound. Selling here is usually
by the piece, and in some cases the
entire output of traps is contracted at
the opening of the season. Fresh fish
dealers are, of course, compelled to buy
largely by the pound.
During last season sockeyes sold
generally for 7@S cents apiece, by
contract, while many fisherman who
had not contracted their output re-
ceived as high as twelve cents apiece.
Silver and dog salmon sold from six
to twelve cents apiece. These figures
are expected to be raised during this
season.
This will be humpback year and the
run of these fish will probably be large.
This may have some effect on the
market, though fishermen and can
nerymen believe if it has any effect I
will be to force up the price of sockey c
and Chinook salmon. Out of SYM
pathy the humpbacks may follow
The humpbacks will be used largely
for smoking and drying purposes
while the other varieties will be can.
ned. The humpbacks do not hold
their color and loose value in GAINED
goods. The meat is as good as that ol
the other varieties. but whenscanneC
will not sell SO rapidly.
The following Whatcom dispatch
| shows the run of salmon will be later
than usual this season. The dispatch
reads: " The run OF salmon promises
| to be delayed this year. A few weeks
1 ago there were quite few sockeyes
taken and it then looked as though
the run might be far In advance this
year over what it generally is. This
has proven to be false alarm, however
and now only a few spring salmon
reward the toilers at the nets for theil
labOrs.
"Should this prove true, it will be a
blessing In disguise, for scarcely any
of the trap men are ready for the com.
ing of the fish. Their traps nave not
been re-driven or their nets tarred in
many cases. This is to be accounted
for by the scarcity of piles. These
necessary articles have been bard tc
get owing in great measure to the
advent of the Pacific American Fish
cries company into the field and theil
demand for the fish trap staple.
srrhe trap men fnd great encourage
ment in the early run of salmon .uI
the Columbia and Sacramento rivers
They see in this the good result Of
hatcheries and think that the same
result are sure to follow hatchery con
struction here" Ledger.
i IT is doubtful If the farmers OF thi
4 r