The San Francisco call., 1910-05-28
DEALER DISCLOSES THE
COMBINES EARLY SCHEMES
PaIadini, Now a RingIeader in
Monopoly, Formerly Under
sold Trust and Refused
Its Presidency
EXPOSES ATTEMPT TO
BLAME THE RETAILERS

n EW evidence came to light yes
~ tcrday showing that the West
ern fish company carly after the
FIRE planned the big fish trust on am
bilious lines and later carried out its
plans.
This evidence was given TO Call
investigator by A. Castro. retailer
Of 342 Devisadcro street, who is ready
10 offer himself as a witness TO Dis
triot Attorney Fickert when the trust
goes 10 trial for criminal conspiracy
on June o.
The Western increased It's capital
stock from 100000 to S250,oo0 in
August, 1906. in order to absorb 10
wholesale firms. About six months
after this Castro had a conversation
with A Paladini, the millionaire fish
man. by whom he formerly had been
employed for more than eight years.
Offered the Presidency
we were talking about the busi-
ness" said Castro. when Paladini
told me Of how he just had been asked
by the Western 10 join in "a corpora
ton that would take in all the re-
manning firms. Paladini said that in
order to get him TO join they offered
him the presidency of the corporation
But he said he refused, and added that
if it were not for him the retailer
would have to pay much higher prices
for fish. He said he wanted to sell
cheap to the men, 50 they could make
profits.
At that time Paladini used to send
z peddler around to the Western TO
price the fish, particularly soles and
sand dabs. and then he would make his
price cheaper. used to trade with
Paladini right along then.
Later began TO find fish was going
up. ] couldn't see much difference be-
tween the Western and Paladini. After
the Independent trawling company
failed all the firms had the same price
and I traded with the small firms be-
cause 7 thought they had been forced
into the trust and didn't make so much
profit"
Castro IS secretary of the newly
organized san Francisco retail fish and
oyster dealers association.
Force Fair Treatment
This is the first retailers union yet
formed and originated in an effort to
get fair treatment from the trust in
regard 10 Friday fish. This point has
been won since The Calls exposure
and the trust has promised not to dis
eriminate against the retailers in favor
Of the meat and vegetable men. who
handle FISH only on Friday and yet
were given q rebate on unsold fish.
But we are going TO stay together
now" Castro explained. "as we are
ready 10 buy Of the new independent
deep sea fishing company, which starts
in a few weeks"
Attorney n. N. Madden, counsel for
the Western fish company, who win
defend the entire trust in the courts.
has said that no understanding exists
between the indicted dealers and that
the retailers are the ones who made
the profits. These statements were
put to Castro. who answered:
he can't tell that to me. for I was
as long in the wholesale as in the re-
tail FISH business. Before the fire Pa
Isdini used TO get rid Of his left over
fish at any price. It always dropped
IN price in the afternoon. II peddIers
didn't want it he would tell me to take
il Up TO Chinatown and take what
could get.
Profits Vanish
When 7 started into business here
year before the FIRE ] used to buy
whole salmon at this season of the
year for 25 cents. ] would then retail
il at about three or four pounds for
25 cents, which was cheap for the
consumer and brought me a decent
income. Now I scarcely make ex-
penses. and every retailer in town will
tell the same story sell as cheaply
as can. because fish is too high for
most people. Even IS per cent profit