New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-07
Hartigan Says
Trust Regulates
Prices of Fish
His Agents Conducting In.
quiry; Houston Will
Get Its Results

Agents of the Bureau Of Weights
and Measures and other representa-
tives of Commissioner Joseph Harti-
gan are conducting a sweeping inves-
tigaton of the operations and methods
of the so-csled Fish Trust. The in
quiry will cover conditions in the fish
trade for the last fifteen years.
When the investigation is finished
complete report of the results will
be made to the Secretary of Agricult-
ure, alleging that a combination of
half a dozen concerns has controlled
the entire fish output from Maine to
Florida and has for years forced
prices up by unlawful and artificial
methods.
The facts revealed by his investigs-
ton thus far. Commissioner Hartigan
said yesterday, were so striking that
he believed the filing of the full re-
port with Secretary Houston would
result in government action to bring
this big factor in the food supplies Of
the nation back to a normal basis.
Control in One Man
Zone individual practically controls
the entire fish industry" Commission
err Hartigan charged. This man, who
formerly lived in Boston. but now re-
! sides in the West. owns a controlling
interest IL .he half dozen big corpo-
rations that form the Fish Trust. His
/ is the mind that has developed the big
commercial machine that sends the
price of fish up at will in the Eastern
| markets.
"Not only the retailers and con-
sumers are under the thumb of the
, Fish Trust, but even the fishermen are
at its mercy. The trust fixes the
price to be paid the fishermen for
TO change it. Most of the fishing
smacks are owned by the trust, which
is in a position promptly to stamp
! out any attempt at competition.
1.-THE retail price of fish in New
York City and other Eastern markets
is controlled by the trust through
close regulation of the amount which
! is allowed to come in the Commits
| sioner continued
"The trust is careful to keep the
supply shade below the demand at
all times. to maintCin prices. If the
| fish combine finds it has on hand a
greater supply than the markets can
absorb without lowering the price. the
surplus is deliberately destroyed. In
this way. millions of pounds of food
stufs have been lost"
Commissioner Gives Figures
Commissioner Hartigan's inquiry
shows that fish caught along tho Jer-
sey coast at Cape May. for instance -
cost the trust between 2ls and cents
a pound, delivered in New York. This
/ includes the small compensation given
the fishermen. The fish is sold here
! for from 10 to % cents pound. Olly
small margin Of profit goes to .ho
retailers.
81 have compiled statistics on the
| price of fish covering the last fifteen
( years" said the Commissioner. These
! figures show that il has increased be
tween 80 and 60 per cent. The, rise
in the cost of production has been in
! fintesmal in comparison Labor aud
transportation comprise practically the
entire cost of bringing fish to New
York Under normal conditions fish
should be one of our cheapest food
stuffs.
81 believe that government action
TO curb the operation of the fish trust
and bring prices down TO d REASONABLY
basis would be an important step in
solving the countrys food problem. II
fish were cheaper. people would eat a
great deal more of il. Il would re
duce the consumption Of meat and
tend to conserve the country's food
resources. ! expect to forward nv
completed report 10 Secretary Houston
early next week, and hope the gov.
eminent will take quick action in the
matter"