The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-15
PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES.
Shipping Pacific Hahbut and Salmon
to Eastern Markets.

The Pacific coast has long been
looked to for the worlds supply of
canned salmon. the annual catch for
this purpose averaging more than
100000 tons. But within the past ten
years another industry has been estab-
hshed in several cities of the north
west coast that may one day rival SAL
mon canning, which for SO many years
furnished revenue to Oregon and
Washington that tided them over until
men came with money to develop their
matchless timber lands and their fer
tile farming country. This is the ship
ment of fresh fish TO the great eastern
centers.
vertised in Boston. New York or Chi
cago. it Is, nevertheless, true that more
than 80 per cent Of all the fresh SAL
mon now sold in these markets is
caught in the salmon rivers OF the Pa
cifc coast. Salmon is now seen in the
big fish markets of the east every day
in the year, yet the annual catch Of
this fish along the New England coast
hardly exceeds 100000 pounds. The
catch is made during the three sum-
half the demand OF the city Of Boston
alone. Although this condition has
existed for many years, the Boston
fish dealer still labels his salmon
"Penobscot," not only from June to
August. but from August to June
again-out of respect to those loyal
Yankees who couldn't think of eating
salmon that did not have New Eng
land ancestry. It would take more
than Puritan courage for a Boston fist
dealer to admit that his salmon was
caught 5000 miles away-and west at
that
Nor is that all. While larger per-
centage Of the entire amount Of fresh
ped there from the Pacific coast. a
vastly greater quantity Of fresh hall
but is shipped from the same sources
to the same markets. This industry
has grown SO fast within the last few
years that today 80 per cent Of the
amount of halibut consumed in the
populous centers Of the Atlantic coast
Is caught on the banks Of the Pacific.
This means not less than 25,000.00O
pounds a year. This fish is rushed
through on fast passenger trains from
Tacoma, Seattle and Vancouver to
Boston and Gloucester for distribution
to the various fish markets, where it
sells the year round on par with
chusetts the price never falls below
rs cents pound. But for the guam
tity shipped from the Pacific coast.
these smaller towns must do without
the North Atlantic would all be con-
sumed In Boston and New York alone,
and even there the season would
necessarily be restricted to certain
months of the year. whereas now 1t
can be had at all seasons
The center OF this great fresh fish
industry Il on Puget Sound, whose
cities are distributing points for sal
mon and haHbut caught all the way
from the Straits Of San Juan de Fuca
to Behring sea. Portland and Astoria
come in for share OF the salmon
shipments. but In these cities the fresh
fish industry is greatly overshadowed
by the handling Of the canned prod
uct. In this connection. it is interest
ing to note that the Sacramento river,
the birthplace of the salmon-canning
industry, which has moved steadily
the market on canned salmon. has.
after q lapse OF years, regafned some
thiu6 o. III 1ogmoe importance ~ =
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