New-York tribune., 1901-07-21
WHERE SALMON ARETAKEN
NEW COMBINATION IN THE FIELD FOR
PACKING THE TOOTHSoME FISH
HOW THE WORK IS DONE.

I"n, steel, tobacco, OIL sugar, and a score of
o1her things manufactured produced in the
East, the Wall Street trust makers are reaching
out for lines of trade which have yet been
pressed into combination. after the new CEN
tUry fashion. The toothsome salmon of the
Pacific Coast, from the Columbia River to Behr-
ing Sea, has for years been the object OF fierce
commercial warfare With the formation of
The Pacific Packing and Navigation Company.
capitalized at SD 100000. this warfare is TO end.
Fighting companies TO the number of least
fifteen, Will be merged into the trust. and the
stockholders Will cease TO worry to cut each
others throats for the possession of markets.
Nearly all of the big companies in Alaska and
washington which not already in the Alaska
Packers Association combination have signfed
their intention Of joining the Salmon Trust.
II is estimated that they Will pack 100000
this year, and that without adding ma
terially to the canneries already in operation
the pack can be increased to 100000 cases by
rext season. Besides the canneries, fish traps, |
wheels and trap nets, the trust absorbs large
feet of steamers and sailing vessels The Pa.
cidc Steam Whaling Company has half dozen
l1rge steamers, to say nothing of a of
cannery tugs. Other companies operating in |
Alaska own steamers and large sailing vessels.
The Alaska Packers Association with head |
C,a1ters at San Francisco and fishing grounds |
al along the western coast is the rival OF the new
trust, and lively competition is expected. ]. X.
trAlsby & Co. who represent the association in
this city, say that with the purchase of a big
aiming plant at Anacortes, which has just been
Instructed, the Packers Association will put
10 20 per cent Of the worlds supply of salmon
his year. A fight between the old and new trust
would be interesting, but Wall Street men be
leve il viii be avoided.
WHERE THE CANNING Is DONE.
on Puget Sound and the rivers flowing into il
salmon fishing and canning have been carried on
successfully for years. Within the last five
years the increase in the number of canneries
has been large and the output has become
enormous. The canner!es are built. a rule,
in the centre of the various fishing grounds
and vary in size according TO the extent Of the
grounds. Nearly every form Of apparatus known
10 be adapted to salmon fishing has been
brought into use. Trap nets were the latest to
be introduced. but have become recognized as
most effective in salt water. and on them the
trust VIII depend for the greater part of its
catch The nets are hung heavy frames Of
permanent construction They are placed in
shallow water along the path taken by the
salmon on their way from the the spawn
ing rivers. There are no trap in the
Straits Of Juan De Fuca because the salmon DO
not skirt the shores Of that channel The nets
are found, however, on the southern end OF
san Juan Island in Deception Pass, Canal Dc
Faro, Rosario Strait, and various bays in the
vicinity. Purse nets which, like the traps
require considerable outlay for operation. are
used further up the Sound for the later run
ming species of salmon The drag seine IS used
10y the individual fisherman who brings his
eaten to the nearest cannery in his boat
and sells the fish for few cents apiece.
The phenomenal abundance Of salmon, the
perfection TO which their prepare ton has been
carried and, above all, the firm hold which the
canned product has secured in the markets
throughout the world, the reasons which
The United States Commissioner of Fish and
Fisheries gives for the wonderful growth and
success of the salmon industry.
SIX SPECIES OF THE FISH.
Six species are recognized-the quinnat sock
eye, silver humpback dog and steelhead sal
The quinnat is highest in quality and
with the steenead stands most in favor for the
fresh trade The canneries would use nothing
except sockeyes could the species be obtained in
sufficient numbers to satisfy their demands
The other varieties used to complete the
pack, and form the cheaper grades. The sock
eye salmon from six 10 twelve pounds in
weight, and is popular with the canneries be
cause Of the depth and stability of its color and
the frmness of its flesh. The sockeye run is at
lf l1