The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-04-11
THURSDAY. APRIL IL, 1901.
THE FISH REFUSE QUESTION AGAIN

Mention was made in the ISLANDER
last week of petition to the board OF
commissioners, signed by number OF
citizens, requesting the boards CO.
operation i'm an effort to induce the
Pacific-American Fisheries Company
here 10 'adopt some other and more
effectual method of disposing of the
offal resulting from the operation of
the cannery." A method of disposing
of the refuse was suggested which it
was thought would be ''simple, mex
pensive and effective" and the COM
missioners were merely asked to give
the matter their endorsement, If it
should meet with their approval, and
bring it to the attention of the COM
pany's managers. AS will be seen by
the record of the commissioners pro-
ceedings, this is what they did and all
they did, and they took exceptional
care to do it in a most courteous mani
ner, expressing the hope that their let
ter would be received in the friendly
spirit in which it is sent" and observ-
ing in conclusion that they would re-
joice to see the company's operations
here so remunerative as to induce it to
largely increase the local plant.
~
In view of the friendly attitude
which the officials of the county and
the people of this community and the
county generally have continuously
and consistently maintained toward
the cannery enterprise from its incep-
ton, it seemed inconceivable that
either the petition or the communica-
ton of the commissioners could be re.
ceived by the manager in any other
than the most friendly spirit" He
seems, however, judging from his letter
i'm reply to have attached to it a degree
ofimportance and significance that was
never intended, and to have looked
upon it as evidence Of a hostile public
sentiment, which most certainly does
not exist.
Without assuming to "speak as one
having authority" in this matter the
editor feels that he is sufficiently con.
yersant with the facts and the senti-
ment of officials and citizens generally
to justify him in assuring the manager
of the PA. F. Co. that if he has
formed the impression that the attitue
of the people here toward the cannery
and its general or local management is
otherwise than exceptionally friendly,
he does the community an injustice. 1t
is doubtful if it would be possible to
find anywhere else in the state desir.
able location for the operation of can.
merry, or any other enterprise connected
with the fishing industry, where the
people as whole would entertain to.
ward it any more cordial feeling OF
good will, or appreciate more fully its
advantages, than they do right here.
~
From the ISLANDERS point of view
there would seem to be no good reason
why the relations between the county
officials and local citizens on the one
side and the cannery management on
the other should not be sufficiently
frank and friendly to admit of the
courteous offer of suggestions or ex.
plantations from either side without
giving offense.
The local superi ntendent, Mr.. Burke
understands the situation thoroughly
and he knows very well that the com
pany has nothing to fear from public
sentiment here. In regard to the sug
gested manner of disposing of the can
merry offal, he says that while it seems
:simple" and would undoubtedly be
defective" 1t would not be "inex
pensive," but, on the contrary, as the
cannery is now arranged its adoption
this season would involve quite large
outlay and occasion no little inconven
fence. When certain contemplated re-
pairs and alterations are made, how
ever, he says there will be little diff
Guilty in arranging it. In the mean
time it is his opinion that the condi
lions complained of can be considerably
improved for this season in another
manner without necessitating much
expense. 1t is 10 be hoped that his sug
gestion will be acted upon and that i,
will be effective, not only in lessenins
odors that are at times unpleasant, but
IN aiiaying criticism that was never In
tended to contain single note o.
menace.