Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-06-13
RECORD CATCH OF
SALMON Is MADE.

Il
made the record catch OF the season,
bringing in AGO pounds of dressed
salmon that will be shipped to the
Portland and Sacramento markets
where it is now selling for nine cents
per pound.
The boat operated by Cole & Mil
ner made the best catch last night,
taking SIS pounds from its nets,
though all of the men made satisfac-
tory hauls. Another boat will COM
mence fishing tonight, making a to-
tai OF IA, and Others will likely be
added within the next few days. The
run of fish is good, and the water,
| sHn at o high stage, indicates that
,hc season viii be good one right
lq 70 ,ho end. The boats are eXper-
icnciug less difficulty from the snags
as the men become acquainted with
the river and get the bad places To-
Gated.
The run of salmon in the Rogue
is now becoming better, the recent
high W. ter having started the big
fellows uI from the lower river in
good shape, and the fishermen are
having better luck, the boats that
were out Friday night having
brought in approximately two tons
of dressed fish. The price is also
growing better, and there is now
considerable competition among the
buyers. Today the union is being
paid 1-2 cents per pound, and the
market shows signs of Strengthening,
with the probability that nine cents
will be obtained the first, of the
week.
The first accident to any of the
boats in the fishing feet occurred
Friday morning when w. c. Bearss
& Son lost their boat and their
nights catch by getting on the rocks
in swift water. The net had become
entangled in a snag, and in attempt
ing to release it the twenty-foot boat
was caught on a rock broadside to
the current, and was crushed like an
egg she'll Mr. Bearss was washed
under the boat and had to swim for
shore, having a hard struggle in the
current loaded as he was with high
rubber boots. Young Bearss landed
on the rock, and made shore with
out difficulty. The catch of salmon,
eighteen fish weighing in the neigh
borhood of 800 pounds, was lost,
though the net was later brought in
by another boat.
Saturday the fishermen in camp
near the fish warehouse all turned in
to assist the Bearsses in the con-
struction of another boat to take the
place of the one lost, and the new
craft was completed in single day,
and the fleet is again complete.
Fifteen boats are now fishing un-
der union colors, giving employment
directly to thirty men in the boats.
Employment is also given to IA men
and teams to haul the boats and their
catch back to town after the nights
drift, 81 being paid to each team
that makes the "Trip. The boats drift
down in the course of the night to-
ward the mouth Of Jump-Off-Joe
creek, where they are met by the
wagons, the boats loaded on, and the
drive made back to town and the fish
warehouse. The catch of royal Chi
hooks and the two tired and sleepy
fishermen occupy the boat on wheels,
and the men gain needed sleep as the
road to town is travelled.
At the fish warehouse, the catch
is turned over to Manager II. E.
Gething, where it is handled in an
absolutely sanitary manner, and is
placed in the cement cooling room
for icing and packing. Uniform pack
ing boxes, each holding about $50
pounds of fish, are provided, brands
on the side of the box announcing
that it contains Rogue river salmon
shipped by the Rogue River Fisher
mems union of Grants Pass. These
boxes properly iced go forward by
express to fill the various orders, the
demand being much larger than the
supply.
For so early in the season the
run is considered good, and with the
water at a much higher stage than Is
usual at the date, a prolonged sea-
son is anticipated Legal fishing
closes August LIST, July ordinarily be-
ing the best month Of the year with
the heaviest run Of salmon. Later
than July the fish in the upper river
are spawning, and many Of them are