The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-02

The attention Of the liritish Colnm.
bia canners Of salmon l. called by the
Canadian commercial agent at Manehes'
Ter, England, to the fact that consider
ale deception In labelling canned salmon
!. practiccd BY INSCRIPTIONS English
dealers. The agent states In hi. report
o. the Canadian department Of trade
and commerce, at was stated TO me
that h very large percentage, more than
Zoo percent, Of British Columbia canned
salmon reaches this country without
labels, aud labels are affixed here. A
large dealer viii buy 10000 eases OF
most reliable canning, and 10000 cases
Of inferior quality and Of Alaska fish.
lie will get authority to have printed
for him In this country the necessary
labels for the best quality. Instead OF
aiilxing these labels to the latter grade,
he will have them put upon the lower
grade. and on the fine quality he puts
a fancy brand Of his own. The words
packed by are carefully eliminated
from the fraudulent labcl, aud all else
remains except the quality Of the con.
tents.
"The price of Alaska salmon j. In
the ncighborhcod Of ~ shillingS, or 81.
~, per case, while the British Columbia
III tall tins realizes 25 shillings, or s6oi
per ease, aud this difference excite- the
the cupidity oithe fakir TO practice his
rfarious trade by substituting labels OF
well known British Columbia canning
factory. In thi. way Alaska salmon Is
thrust upon the dealers, and the lesser
price asked than fo genuine British Co.
lumhia, though leaving large margin
90 the sub-ti,or, helps it, sale but when
the consumer. tries u few times, and
find. Il hard aud not such as he used 10
got, he discontinues the Use Of canned
salmon. In this way the consumption
j. materially lessened, and II Is l. the
dit Of British Columbia Gamers 10
adopt radical means 10 prevent this,
"Why should not all tins be branded
with the initials Of the canneri A
large United States canner Of fruits
adopts this plan In addition 10 label.
The honest dealer fights this condition
Of trade occassionallySin the press, and
trade journals devoted 10 produce warn
the public and expose the frauds, but
unfortunately the great mass Of con.
sumen never hear Of, or zee printed
these exposes.
II herewith give eSccpts from lead.
Ing article Of recent date bearing on the
subject;
"'If canned salmon Is 10 continue TO
occupy such favorable position both
among the trade and the public rs IL has
done in the past, grocers and consumers
klikc must have implicit faith and conf.
dencc that they are getting the best
value for their money. Should there be
any suspicion or trickery played upon
them-and II may he revelation TO
many TO hear that there is then II Is
possible that will loose that all.essential
confidence, fact which might serious.
ly threaten the industry. IL might be
argued that both the trade and the pub.
He are critical enough TO recognize when
any attempt Is being made to deceive
them with inferior qdality, no matter
under what guise of attractive label, or
well-known brand II may be offered
them, but II Is within our knowledge
that several familiar "labels" are not
giving the satisfaction they formerly
did, and this has caused no little an.
noyance and disgust in many quarters.
There is now too much working on
the old brands" and the packing of an
inferior Kind Of fish, and this, II we are
not mistaken, will eventually have
tendency to divert the course Of public
favor for salmon
at Is beyond dispute that great
deal Of manoeuyering is done in the Ia.
bor or rather, re.labeling, of the
goods, with the result that the British |
public are misled. Not only are the Gus. |
toners deceived, however, but certain
sections OF the trade are consequently |
placed at disadvantage. One well. |
known importer points out that certain
brands of salmon are coming TO this
country as II they were of the British
Columbia type. when, they are nothing
of the kind, and he adds the addendum
hat III retailers prefer a cheaper arti.
lie, let them buy the Alaska brands of
'riginal labels, as there Is surely no reas.
IN why they should pay for similar
FOODS under re.labeling conditions,