Evening journal., 1919-08-14
FISH PROFITEERS
HAVE sure SYSTEM
Boost PricesIn Instantly When
Supplies Apparently Will
be Below Average
LACK OF COMPETITION
MEANS HIGH CHARGES

PHIL ADELPHIA. Aug ii.-rhere is
heavy proniecrins in ihe nsh business
Wholesaler and retailer agree on that
sut when II comes 10 placing the blame
-ah. that's another question The
Wholesaler. telling YOU in one breath
of an amazing system OF ielephonic tip
sters that enables him 20 play bull
ar bear market TO perfection and helps
,oost the price as he holds back or
unlosds his supply Of ilsh. says In the
1ext breath that the retailer is to blame.
The retailer. found 10 be charg ng in
The case Of some FISH twenty-five cents
more 10 the consumer than he mad TO
pay. pointed the finger Of suspicion at
he wholesaler, whom he suspected OF
charging high prices.
The railroad shopmen's strike, scanty
supply. unfayorable weather and high
vases were a few of the reasons as
sisned by the rival gougers, and then
in a moment Of inspiration both blamed
the fisherman.
Moreover. there was no hope OF the
price Of fsh descending from the pro-
hibtive heights that 10 has reached.
and II would be well 10 prepare for the
worst. meaning stil higher prizes
When Investigators finished talking with
the hsh merchants Yesterday they had
4 sort Of impression that here indeed
were a lot Of philanthropists who got
plenty Of work but no money from
their business
There IS daily telephonic communicl-
fon with the fishermen az the shore
the "nsh contractors but it is. OF
rourse. not admitted that orders 10
jpmp flsh back into the ocean are thus
transmitted when the catches are so
heavy that the price might fall Yet
every one in the lsh trade has heard
1l such dumping
Consistency in prices Of lsh IN ihS
various sections Of the city is un-
known. and where competition existed
the price was comparatively low.
while in sections where that check did
nca exist the sky was apparently the
limit
Calls II n Gamble
a great gamble" one dealer dubbed
the flsh business. and then he told how
ne days each week The dealers and
retailers prepare for the grand cleanup
on Friday when all concerned make
enough on the seafood 10 pay for a
whole weeks business. which made the
gamble appear a "sure ihlng"
Here. indeed, Is one business where
IDEAL working hours prevail Al 81
O'Clock in the morning - bell riuss
snd The wholesale nsh ms, set rp as.
Previous TO The opening 81 the ,a kei
lhe dealers so around into one an
a,her's establishments and attempt 10
aegulsie the prices for the day
But you can't trust them" com
planned one Wholesaler: they agree 10
Z price and then drop below the agreed
lsure
Business is brisk IN the early hours.
and as the supply declines the price
goes up. About 7 o'clock the whole
s1iers begin calling their traps as
the nshing contractors are known. and
'ndoaYor TO be tipped on the days |
catch n II happens 10 be stormy /
d5y or there Is small likelihood Of a
good catch Immediately the market be
gins 10 rise The dealers. no longer
sfrald that rivals will obtain a large
supply Of lsh on the morrow. refuse TO
seil their llsh al the former figure. and
roeular auction sales are held Thus the
price scars. Just this week a striking
OF The system" was en-
acied
on Tuesday weakfish were selling al
10 a barrel Suddenly The news came
That there would be no large supply
available the following day. Immc-.
I ately the price Jumped 20 S2i barrel
Yesterday the storm was assigned as
re2f'n for scanty supply. and then
me price Dit The S2S mark. u was sin