The Alaska daily empire., 1915-09-23
s-it si--is WILL SEATTLE HAVE TO HUNT FOR NEW HALIBUT GROUNDS!


 landing fish in tho east But Che fish Is just as good and the price Is the same.
 There is not a fisherman in tho busi- ness but would rather make Seattle his headquarters. But like an com mercial business one must go where he can receive the best Personally, the various supply houses in Seattle have always given the fishermen the best of treatment. When we have had short trips and after our catch was sold and we stiu owed for our outfitting the supply houses extcnd- ed us credit for return trip and we paid all out of the next profitable trip.
 Mind you. I do not state that all fish companies have given us short weight but you win remember sever al years ago when one of the largest companies discharged number of their employees whom they found had been short weighing the boats, sell ing the overs and making themselves wen-to-do.
 There is now pending case in court against all of the Seattle fish companies which have been designat- ed the 'Fish trust" The fishermen complained to the federal authorities that they were not being dealt with fairly. The evidence submitted re- suited in several arrests of officials, if remember correctly.
 The fishermen alone can say whether Seattle will continue to se- cure the bulk Of the halibut trade. But the fishermen will certainly re- ceive the best price. That is purely business. The buyers of the various companies who do the bidding on the local exchange are as fine Q set of men as ever judged a halibut but they do not attend to the other de- tails. No blame should be attached to most of them. they are employees, and do as they are bid by the higher ups.
 I could cite case after case where we have been done" in Seattle. For instance. several months ago @ boat arrived with 6O,OOO pounds of halibut. The boat went to one dock and the company took out say about 25,O00 pounds. Then the hoist quit working, the company stated they had taken enough to fiu their orders. or the amount taken from the hold about 2.00O pounds were left on the dock flood. That taken was graded. if remember correctly into five differ ent grades The amount received ow- ing the grade was most unsatisfac- tory. The boat left the overs on the dock. went Co another dock and dis charged 10000 pounds of seconds. No other offers being received the boat went to the middle of the sound and threw overheard the remainder of it's catch in the hold. That was one in- stance of justice in Seattle. And at that time the market was not over stocked
 do not believe you will print what have written because the facts are known to other papers but no fisher man has even seen them stated out boldly The trust is powerful. They alone have killed the halibut business. we believe. All companies have their own boats. on the banks and what do they really care about the independ- end fellow Practically all of the fish, ermen are married and the majority of them have their families residing in Seattle and have their homes there There are other fishermen who like those in other lines of business get their pay. blow it in and are broke back to the boat borrowing from their shipmates. The majority, however belong to the study put.by-for-a-rairy day bunch. Den reason why do not believe that the port commission cold storage plant will pay in Seattle is for the reason that the fishermen are re- ceiving splendid treatment in Prince Rupert and they will take their trips there. disposing of their catch i'm mediately. If brought to Seattle the fishermen must do their own ship ping and then perhaps receive every blow possible, administered by the large companies in various ways For reasons. you can readily see. ! will simply sign this
 A SEATTLE FISHERMAN.