The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-01-02
THROW OUT FISH
AS PRICES SOAR
Boatmen Waste Food as Market
Sets Losing Figure.
REFUSE TO SELL AT PRICE
Fisherman Explains That He Would
Have to Pay Out Money If He Sold
His Cargo at Figure Offered-New
York Pays Fancy Price for Storage
Fish While Fresh Fish Are Being
Thrown Away.

York Pays Fancy Price for Storage
Fish While Fresh Fish Are Being
Thrown Away.
If dealer were to take fish and
throw it into South street, New
York, and repeat the performance
twenty or thirty times in minute, and
were to keep 1t up for fifteen or more
minutes without even an attempt at
rest, there would be something doing.
The dealer would be held as maniac.
Thousands Of freshly caught fish are
thrown away at Block island each sea-
son. To New Yorker there is some
thing horrifying about the perform
ance. To the islander it is simply mo-
notonous. Ever since he can remem-
Der he has seen fish thrown away. He
expects to see them thrown away.
The fisherman always knows New
York prices. If the figure given by the
dealer is much lower than New York
prices the fisherman will decide to ship
his fish to New York.
Sometimes he makes money by ship
ping to New York, but again he will
lose by so doing. Fulton market prices
have a way of rising and falling that
is beyond the calculation of the wisest
fisherman.
The schooner Susan tied up with a
cargo in the main butterfish.
Refuses to Sell at Price.
AS the price for the Susan's cargo Of
butterfish was too low, the captain re-
fused the dealers offer and made de-
mand for barrels.
The sorting of the fish was done with
almost incredible speed. The sorter
held a short baton, on the end of
which was a sharp, curved hook. He
stuck this hook into everything but
butterfish. He made only two motions
With one motion he jabbed fish
With another motion he flung 1t into
far corner or overheard. The fish flung
into far corner were whiting, bone
less fish that makes good eating. The
fish flung overheard were hake, and
not bad eating either. The sorter made
no mistakes, though ne jabbed into a
solid pile of fish, and his motions were
swift as thought.
When a large part of the surface of
the New harhor was covered with bake
thrown overheard from the Susan an
Onlooher said to the captain:
"Are not these hake good fish and
good eatin'?
"rhey be-" he answered.
"Then why throw them overboardT
he asked.
, "Well." replied the captain, "wha'
else is there to Go with them? TEl OF
fered 2 cents a pound for them. After
I've paid for barrels and ice and pack
irg and freight and commissions, what
do you suppose I'd get?"
"What would you get9" asked the
inquisitive one.
'Td get bill and request to remit
at once"
Fish as a Fertilizer.
"But fish," it was suggested, lis a
fine fertilizer, and the farmers would
be glad to have that fish,"
II don't doubt It," answered the cap
tain, "but I'm fisherman and I don't
own cart, and wouldn't be allowed
to leave this fish on the dock"
"What will become Of these fish," I
asked.
"Most of them will SINK" said the
captain, "and the rest will be cast
ashore"
"What will you do with the whiting?"
mot sure" said the captain. IF I
can get any kind Of a price, a price
that will pay expenses, I'll sell. If not,
overheard they CO."
New York is about one hundred and
twenty miles by boat from Block
island. A fast boat will cover the dis
lance in daylight. A slow sailer will
make the trip in less than twenty-one
hours.
In New York people are paying all
sorts Of prices for storage fish. They
are throwing away freshly caught fish
at Block island. There is certainly
out Of gear in the fish bust
ness.