The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-26
GOOD OUTLOOK FOR SALMON.
REVIEW OF THE PRESENT srTrA-
TIoN ON BELLINGHAM BAY.
Sockeye Run May he Smaller Than
Last Year, but Increase in NUM-
Der of Traps and Improved Pack
ing VIII Bring Output to 1890.


ing the fact that this is due TO be an OF
year in the run of Puget sound salmon,
the prediction is freely and generally
made among the cannerymen of this sec
ton that the total sockeye pack of the
Sound will be fully equal to that OF last
year. Not one cannery or trap man,
however. thinks there will be as many
sackeyes in the waters of the Sound as
last year but they base their hopes
on the greater number and more nearly
perfect fishing appliances there will be
in use this year. Each year has seen
an improvement in the methods of driv-
ing and webbing traps. and 1t is the
opinion Of Assistant Manager Robert A.
Smith. of the big Pacific American Fish
cries Company, that to these improve
ments was largely due the immensely Of
the pack of last year.
Increase in Traps.
In number the trap locations that will
be fshed this year will exceed those Of
last year by an increase estimated at be-
tween thirty and fifty. Seemingly every
nook and corner Of this section of the
Sound has been investigated as TO Its
fishing possibilities, and wherever there
were indications Of salmon there the
three location piles were driven, and now
piledrfvers are busy putting IN the traps.
This greater number OF traps, IL Is an
ticipated, will counteract any shortage
|
Some Of the cannerymsn and trap men
are also anticipating noticeable results
this year from the Baker lake hatchery,
which has now been In operation four
years, The Fraser river hatchery Is also
expected to have its effect. Though prac-
tically little Is known regarding the gem
eral habits OF salmon except during
the spawning season. II is an accepted
belief among fishermen that the salmon
returns TO his native spawning ground
In the fourth year of his existence The
first years output of the Baker lake
hatchery are therefore due TO run this
year
These matters concern only the sockeye
pack. which Is the largest and best por-
ton of the Sound salmon pack. Last
year was the humpback year, and the
'humpies" formed about one-third OF the
total pack. They are a fish inferior TO the
sockeye and run every other year. The
absence OF them from the fishing local.
tiles this year. therefore, must be reckon
ed as likely 10 reduce the amount OF the
total pack. As a partial offset, however,
a good run OF cohoes or silver-sides Is
expected.
High Prices for Fish.
The opening price of salmon this year
Is the highest in the history Of the in
dustry on the Sound and the cannery-
men do not anticipate any reduction as
tue season advances. Last year the niHn-
est contract price paid for salmon at
the beginning of the season was IL l.,
cents. This year as high a contract price
as q cents Is 20 be paid. The Puget
sound Packing Company has Just closed
contract at this figure with the North
American Fisheries Company for the
salmon caught in what are commonly
known as tho Johnson 4 Anderson traps.
best In this section. The price held up
and went even higher last year. and the
h prde q K s. yssr svs This
eellens idea OF the growth OF the indus
try. Three years ago salmon were con-
son at 5 cents, and at even lower figures
and sold before the season ended at IL
cents per sh. The run of that year
number Of fsh caught hardly exceeded
that Of last year when the price went
UP TO 20 cents and over after the season
huted solely 70 the increased facilities
Pacido-American Fisheri t"'' Company Com ny
years ago, can pack 1900 cases every rs
day, which means the putting into cans
OF over 10000 sockeyes.
Price of Cnse salmon.
The price OF case salmon IL also hold
Ing up well and In proportion to the
price OF salmon at the traps. Case sal
mon last year sold In the beginning OF
the season at 81. 10 per dozen, and sold at
- 81
There Is no Puget sound cas. salmon In
the market now, but Columbia river sal
mon has opened at 81. 50. Cannerymen here
say the difference between the Columbia
river royal chinook grade and the Puget
sound sockeye Is seldom more than Is
cents. They look for the market 20 open
at about SIS and continue sttff through
out the season. This price. II maintain
ed, Will allow the cAnnerymen a profit
about the same az that they received last
year the propoFtionato advance In the
raw and canned salmon being practically
There Is some talk tina, many OF the
traps Will not be ready In event OF an
early run OF fish. This is undoubtedly
fact with some OF the traps, as work
has been delayed by bad weather. A
run OF sockayes as early as that OF last
year. vhica was stretched along over the
last days Of June, would catch the trap
locations with some big leaks.
Number of Traps.
The Pacific American Fisheries is one
Of the most advanced in tire work They
have about twelve traps ready and have
eiSht piledtivers At work driving the
others as fat as possible. The company
expects TO have about forty traps ready
ing Company will fish twenty-four locs-
tons and expects 20 be ready for the
nrss rAn unless y e exceptionally early.
r. onrroys new com6inei has fourteen
locations, besides the Johnson q And~r-
son tIsps, which they resenuy pGrchas-
on the lakt-nAned locations and will he
ready for the nr.i run. officer. OF the
company admit that some % their loca-
lions viii not be ready for an early run
snd perhaps some will not be driven this
ycAr on account Of the imposslolli,y ~
srcuring piledrlvers The Fairhaven
haps seven locations Three are takfne
ssh now. which are shipped fresh. a.
The number taken does not Justify can
ming. The PA. = Company Is canning
= tev FISH, hus the largest number n
hand he any one day yet this season was
only T. Sc
An Gown the line % the cannerfe. tie
increase IA tFaps y noticeable, ana In
several instances the Increase "a car
mag facilities shows that faith n what
the nsw locations WtA do IL net lsr.inr
The Puget Sound Psekins CompAry.
burned cannery .; the Ibsrdeen Paek ir,s
Company in Foishevsn. = rebuilding ne
The number % traps hss been largely
augmented. Last year this canrerv
packed 8 ~ eases, aud President 3 4
SeAborE SAYS tire company has SCI the
mark "a; taA ~ this year.