Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-13
HUGE SALMON CATCH
REPORTED THIS YEAR
700. 900 Cases is Pack OF Brit
ish Columbia Fishermen
for 1922.

British Columbus salmon industry
promises 20 come back strongly this
year after a number of light years.
Prospects for a good catch arc excellent,
According 10 a report OF the DEPART
ment Of Fisheries, the catch will total
100000 cases, with several districts still
70 be heard from. which Is an increase of
nearly 100000 cases as compared with
last wear. when the total pack amounted
to COZ 600 cases This years pack "a
made up of these grades and quantities;
Sockeves. 2fs. Sal: red Spring. 3i.s50;
white Spring. 3,5l5; blue backs, 3.629;
cohoes, 20,ss6: pIBks. $50, 459; chums,
%. $40 and steelheads, 65l.
The growth of the Pacific Coast
salmon canning industry mas been r.
markable,' saws a Canadian Pacific
bulletin, ana - typical OF the growth
Of many OF the industries OF the West.
In 1865 there was only one eannery IN
operation in British Columbia. with an
annual pack amounting 10 1000 ca>er,
| Today there are over 800 establishments
canning salmon IN the Province. with
an annual capacity OF well over !, 0o0.On
cases. Buildings and equipments are the
best that can be bought ana represent
an investment of $50 10000. The valle
of production OF these plants has touched
500. 900 900, and employment J. gwen
directly or indirectly 10 a large number
OF people
The sockeye salmon fishery OF the
Fraser River, which now provides the
major portion Of the catch. was famous
/ the world over for the enormous quantl-
/ ties OF fish that were caught there. bat
J IN recent wears the careless and Incl
/ ficient methods of some OF the packer
has nearly destroyed the ventable gold
mine. In order 10 offset the heavy toll
exscted each year from the Fraser
River and Other salmon grounds, the
/ Federal Government established a mn
| hatchery at Bon Accord IN 1885 for the
propagation of sockeye.
Between 1900 and 1907 FIVE more
hatcheries were built on the Fraser
River, having capacity of ll0,OOO,OOO
eggs, and since then two auxiliary sta
lions have bean completed These hatch
cries have done excellent work. but have
been handicapped owing 10 their IN
ability 20 collect a sufficient number Of
eggs. the hatcheFies on the Fraser
having never been filed beyond 80 per
cent Of their capacity SINCE 1905.
During the War the salmon cannerieS
were working 10 capacity and there Was
a ready market for all they could pro-
duce However, at the termination o
hostilitics the market took a slump
which. together with the decrease in the
annual catch, worked hardships on the
industry. For time the industry was
IN n more or less Stagnant position, with
warehouses packed with salmon and a
limited market. At this time the Alas
kan and japanese Gamers were provid-
ing keen competition and the British
Columbia Gamers found II difficult 20
dispose OF their better grades. IN active
campaign in the British Isles advocating
the more extensive use of the BTistish
Columbia salmon has been productive Of
results. and, Judging from reports. the
marketing Of The pack this wear will be
satisfactorily accomplished The move
ment Of the new pack 20 consuming
markets this wear commenced early
some $4,000 cases having been shipped
up 20 the end Of August with space en-
gsgements heavy for the ensuing two
months"