New-York tribune., 1907-10-20

striped bass, when it is dear. they are indulging
III luxury. Dealers couldn't create artificial
?. tes and keep them up lonr enough to make 1t
prohlaple. As for cold storage fish there isn't
an mGucement to pay storage expenses and
IeezlhS bills unless the fish IS cheap enough at
the time Of storing to give a chance for a rea-
sonaole profit later. The fish market is regulated
by natural causes. So I suppose if a Lousomans
dis for fish are too high for him It is because
ne Is buying the expensive and scarce sorts Of
sea food"
Despite Mr. Brophys belief in the normal con-
dltIon Of tho business. several Others were nor
quite 50 optimistic. although they explained they
aiu not want to get. into print" Said one:
The number of pounds in storage here and the
prices do not explain the situation The big
dealers have interests in shore fisheries all along
the Atlantic and on the Pacific Coas. Nobody
knows how much is stored away in those freez-
erS near the ports, where their own fleets bring
IN the catch. OF course I don't want TO get
into a dispute, but it seems that the fish bust
ness can be pretty highly organized and the
largest part of it operated just systematically
as any other business Therem be plenty OF
fish for everybody this winter just as there 5
plenty of meat, but the prices are what they
are, even though they do vary occasionally"
Another man. who has followed the fish mar
ket for many years. but for personal reasons
did not care to be quoted said: 1T seems to
me that the best reason for the advance Of
prices of fish is that the people will pay IT,.
Fish does vary in price, but you'H notice that
these variations usually on the fish sold in
large quantities. Just in all products of the
sort there are dull seasons and duh days Still,
TO the consumer the cold storage preserved sup
ply does not seem to have a regulating effect on
the market. Also the cost to the consumer has
been higher than it last year.
CANNED FISH EXPENSIVE
The greatest increase has been in the cost
OF canned fish, such as sardines and salmon.
The Gamers say that the cost of tin has gone
up. together with oil. and that the fisheries
have not been as productive in former years
Still, the raise was made just canned meats
became more expensive Take Alaska red tails
that were quoted year ago this month at 81 O5
a dozen cans. This year they are selling at
from 81 % to 81 80. Columbia River salmon
brought 81 25 dozen cans last year and now
have gone up to 81 20. Puget Sound sockeyes
that were 81 % a dozen last year are now 81.
Domestic sardines Of the standard Eastport
pack are quoted now at S3 10 and So l., while a
year ago they were sold for s. -. French and
other imported sardines have been advanced
from s. to SO more a case than they were last
year"
And while this condition prevails in preserved
fish, the retail prices Of fresh FISH this week have
been in most cases as high in proportion. In
uptown markets hluefsh and halibut were sell
ing al - cents "A pound. At the retail stands in
Fulton Market they ranged from one to two
cents less, according TO quality. Cod was
marked at Is cents a pound in the retail mar
kets away from the waterfront. and even weak
fish was at the respectable figure of II cents
Although usual wholesalers avoided