The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-14

George T. Myers. the pioneer salmon
oanueryman and father OF that industry
ON Puget sound. arrived at the Rainier
Grand yesterday from Portland. AL
though many years have elapsed since he
put up the first can Of salmon In this
state, then a territory. he is stu engaged
In the same business and owns large
plant in this city, the management of
which calls him here frequently.
''The canning business during the past
year has been very satisfactory" he said.
sxrhe market has been good and prices
throughout the entire season have been all
that could be desired. The stock on hand
1t the present time Is very low. as COM
pared with other years. do not believe
fhere are more than 10000 to 100000 cans
in FIRST hands. This is an unusually
small amount. These will all be cleaned
up before the next pack begins.
There is no doubt but that there will
be large demand for canned salmon
during the coming season. probably
Puget sound pack. as nearly as can be
estimated, will be about the same as last
year. 1t will be as large. at any rate, and
1t . good price
speaking Of the progress Of the can
merry business ON Puget sound. might
been truly wonderful That hardly ex-
and no matter what new industries
result in greater financial benefit to Sc
attic and the Sound country than that of
packing fish; Each yea. year J, witnesses sss;, a
owing to the new markets constantly be-
ing opened up. to what dimensions the
business VIII grow; It Is already worth
There was q time, however. In this
section. when the cannery business did
not look SO bright, and that was not
than one such time. as many who en-
gagged IN the business in early years
ut viii always be a source of pride to
me that had the honor Of putting up the
t1rst can Of salmon ever sealed on Puget
sound When I look about and see the
''It was back IN 1877 that decided to
Introduce the business here. and ac-
c0rdingly put up what was then q modern
plant at Mukilteo. put up 10000 cases
that year and met with Indifferent sue
cess At first I had to introduce my
product, which was q slow and uphill
business. but finally I got rid of most of
"The next year. 1878. however still
pack that year was 1913 cases, and ii was
plenty. From that time on l learned not
to overstock myself. In 1878 put up
'For the six years ending 1899 there
was squirt In the business and saw
ten good sized canneries opened up on
there were but two left, my own and an
other. The others had fallen by the
wayside. Two were closed out by the
sheriff several were paid for by the in
surance companies and others retired
from what had been a losing business.
'In 1888 moved to West Seattle and
increased the capacity of my plant. In
1880 was burned out there and moved to
the site now occupied by Ainsworth &
Dunn, where was located an abandoned
plant which secured. remained there
q year and then moved to the present
location of our cannery.
"Since 1880 the demand for canned sal
mon has steadily increased. 1t was not
until less than five years ago that we be-
gan to pack sockeyes. The demand for
fall fish was not large and had to be
worked up, but In 1895 our Seattle plant
put up 5000 cases of this variety. which
Is the largest of any single cannery on
the Pacific coast.
''There is no longer any doubt about
. the cannery business on Puget sound Its
infancy Is past, and it Is fast becoming a
giant"