The San Francisco call., 1910-05-19
TRUST SCALES
THE WHOLESALE
PRICES OF FISH
Retail Dealers Follow With Cor
responding Reduction of
Cost TO Customers
Combine Apparently Fearful of
Furnishing More Evidence
for Grand Jury Net

AS one result apparently OF the grand
jury's investigation. the wholesalers
composing the fish trust have ma
terisuy reduced their prices this week.
The rates prevailing at the Western
and Paladini companies yesterday,
compared with those in force before
the inquiry. show as follows:
SoIes. So for an so pound box
as opposed TO $3.50 and 81 during
the previous week.
Founders. $3.50 for the same
sized box as against So
Halibut cents pound, reduced
from or 10.
is one or two cents less.
The supply Of the fish named has
been practically the same as during
the past week and leaves no economic
reason as TO why a reduction should
be made. With smelts and sand dabs
the case has been otherwise, for smelts
are getting out of season, while sand
ds bs are freaky fish AMI often hard
10 find. These two exceptions are there
fore kept at their old figures in spite
of general lowering of prices down
the line among other varieties.
Retailers over the city have been
making corresponding reductions in
their own rates. They think the trust
Is now irving to create evidence in its
own behalf for future use by show
ing more moderate ploflts.
The moral effect Of the investigation
has also reacted strongly on fisher
mems wharf, where there has not been
so much free buying since the whole
saIers put Nicolo Storlesi, agent and
wefgher for the men. on their payroll.
30 sgasr,
firms now in the trust from shutting it
out Of the wharf market was brought
as far back as June, 1897, so that Stor-
lesis tyranny is an old one
Besides the fear Of furnishing the
grand jury newer evidence, the trust
suffers the antagonism of the fishers
themselves II was only last Saturday
the trust offered through Storlesi to
settle for q weeks catch OF rockcod
at 5 cents and of cod at ,. for which
the retailers had to pay, respectively. S
and 3 cents. Because of this trick the
men are ready TO sell Independently in
defiance Of the trust. They traded
openly with retailers appearing at the
wharf yesterday.
The retailers do not fear the trust
viii attempt its usual blacklisting
tactics at this time
ANOTHER ABUSE STOPPED
AnOLneT dDlSe stopped DN the IN
vestigation is the open and notorious
way the Western and Paladini had Of
keeping up prices by limiting the mar
ket- The " Western has not been send
ing its excess FISH TO the y. L. o. grease
factory in scavenEer wagons this week
and Paladini has not been taking his
unsold supply to his trawling tug at
the foot Of Filbert street to be dumped
at sea-at least not in the daylight
These practices were kept up last week
until The Call exposed the case that is
made against them.
Meantime the new Portola fishing
company is making ready TO bring the
price OF fish within the means of the
mass OF people. II viii begin TO COM
pete with Paladini and the Western
early next month The tugs Annie and
Blsnco are at Anderson's shipyards.
where their conversion into trawling
steamers is IN progress. Their deck
houses have been removed and frames
strengthened. Derricks have been set
up for the handling Of the nets and
steam winches installed for pulling in
the lines.
The grand jury viii meet this after
noon in a double session. lasting into
the night. More evidence as to the
blacklist and boycotts maintained by
the trust viii be heard and new wit
nesses put on record. District Attor-
ney Fickert intends 10 make the in
restigation as complete as possible