The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-04-06
TIE SALMON SITUATION
J. X ARMSBY ON PROSPECTS
rOR COMING SEASON.
Worlds Pack viii BE Larger Than
Ever Before by IL Million
Cases

James w. Armsby. head Of the Arm
~ j. X. Armsby 4 Co. OF Chicago. was
In Astoria yesterday In conference with
Columbia river packers regarding the
prospects for the coming seasons pack
Mr. Armsby's trip 10 the coast at this
time was made for the purpose Of talk
ing the salmon situation over with can
nerymen operating on the Columbia and
other Oregon rivers. He Is at the head
of the largest commission house In the
world handling canned salmon. and dur
ing last year the firm handled 600 900
cases calued at nearly i3,0000O0. In adj
dition the house makes a speciality OF
California products and Eastern canned
goods.
Probably there ls no better Informed
authority on the salmon market In the
country than Mr.. Armsby and what he
has TO say ~ the situation and ite in
1icaii0ns carries weight. Mr.. Armsby
secuted the truth OF the story OF a
s3O,000000 cannery trust which Is bslng
foa,e1 in eNw York by J. Pierpont
Morgan as detailed In vagrant dis
patches and news items which have ap-
peared from time 10 time. He stated
70 an Astoriln reporter yesterday that
which his firm is the sole agent In the
United States. was not In the cOmbl-
nation. that he had received assur-
ances from people In authority that the
Pacific Steam Whaling Company. Of
San Frlncisco. had given no options
on their plants, and Mr.. Cudahy has
denied the rumOr on behalf Of the Pa
"i'ic- American Fisheries Company. Of
During the coming season" said Mr..
irmsby yesterday. the worlds pack
win be the largest ever known. I
would say that the total pack will ag-
gregate 100000 cases. an Increase OF
1000 On0 cases over last year. The rea-
sons for this increase are that this is
the fourth year on Puget sound when
4 heavy run Of sOckeves nay BE- cx-
pected there and IN the Frazer river. and
the additional fact that a large num-
Der Of new fishing expeditions have
hean sent 10 Alaska for the coming sea-
son"
1T has been said. Mr.. Armsby. that
the reason back 0f 'he recent announce
mrnt Of low prices by your firm for
IN coming pack was a desire 10 dis
courage new fishing expeditions being
sent to Alaskan
The report is absolutely false Our
reason was simple one-the prospects
of an extraordinarily large pack. We
expect a bigger run OF sOckeyes than
erer before and the prospective supply
justihes us in making the quotations an
nounced. The prices have not been
Withdrawn and We are still booking all
the orders that come to us"
In AfrIr
tive market sor Columbia river salmon,
and what will be the ruling prices?"
Columbia river salmon quotations
win probably open on a basis Of $50
dozen Cor tails. and al that price will
he only n fair seller. The reason for
this is he great difference in price be-
tween the Columbia river salmon and
he Alaska fish and sockeys While the
fish from the Columbia and other choice
rivers are the finest hacked. the product
will not stand a difference Of 50 to the
case over the Alaska pack and he a
free seller. The conditions here from a
raw fish standpoint may warrant high
prices equal TO those of last year but
the ra 1ical difference in price will have
it5 effect and the prices at the close
" last years season win have 10 be
."N W 'hdNS Nhc tuiuHlOld pIuuuCl Il
free seller.
Regarding the general situation the
season for spot goods will probably open
the latter part of 'Iay or the first Of
June. Generally speaking the markets
II the world are well supplied with fish.
The consumption of salmon is increas-
ing every year Of the worlds pack in
the past years. Europe and America
anh tal 81 4
annually and the remainder of the pack
has been divided among the other coun-
tries, Salmon Is becoming decidedly
popular In the Philippines. the govern
ment having purchased large quantities
for the cOmmisslry department. The
Alaska Packers Association furnished
Gn,0OO cases ,ast year and additional or
ders were placed with other dealers" 4"