on every cruise because of the
low price of salmon, according
to the fishermen.
The move to force a higher
price is spreading to all parts of
the Pacific Northwest and a 100
per cent tie-up is threatened.
Three delegates representing
the fishermen of Grays Harbor
were in Seattle conferring with
representatives from Puget
Sound, Quillayute, Neah Bay and
other fishing centers in regard
to the strike, which is expected
to include fishermen as far south
as Eureka.
The fishermen are demanding
7 cents a pound, claiming they
cannot operate their boats for
less. The price a few days ago
was as low as 4 cents.
-x
TROLLERS MAY REDUCE
FLEET TO AID PRICES
-x
Members of the Trolling Ves
sel Owners’ Association and fish
Buyers at a meeting m Seattle,
discussed the advisability of a
curtailment of fishing operations
as a means to raise the price of
salmon and lower operating ex
penses.
About a dozen trolling vessels
were idle in Seattle, their own
ers awaiting developments.
Several trollers left Neah Bay
for the fishing grounds, but the
entire Grays Harbor fleet is tied
up. The fishermen say the lowest
price under which they can op
erate without loss is 8 cents a
pound. The fish now are bring
ing between 3 and 6 cents a
pound. Prices quoted at West
port are 3 to 7 cents, making a
possible average price around
4 cents a pound. The fishermen
say no strike has been declared,
but conditions are such that they
are unable to operate.
-x
The time of the singing of
birds is come.—Song of Solomon.
* * »
It is better to be alone than in
bad company.
“THE FLEET STARTS NORTH”
-X
California Packing Corporation
Cable Address Calfruit
San Francisco
Calpack Code
Postings No. 7016, April 7, 1932
TO OUR BROKERS:
The Fleet Starts North
Across San Francisco Bay, at
Alameda, the shipyard of the
Alaska Packers’ Association is
bustling with activity. All winter
a considerable force of men has
been working in the machine
shops* making necessary repairs
and improvements. Twenty
Salmon gill net fishing boats
were also built for use in Bristol
Bay, where fishing is carried on
entirely by nets. The fleet of
steamers is having its final over
hauling in preparation for its
run to Alaska.
On April 1, the cannery tend
er “Alitak” led the fleet on its
annual trip North. The ‘Arctic”
left the next day, loaded with a
contingent of approximately five
hundred men and five thousand
tons of materials for the can
neries at Kodiak Island in Cen
tral Alaska. Six additional
steamers will follow until a total
of 2,700 men from San Francisco
and a widely diversified cargo of
supplies will be transported and
distributed among the ten can
neries located on Bristol Bay
and Central Alaska. In four
months the fleet will return to
San Francisco Bay with the
year’s pack of canned Salmon.
The heavy consuming period
for Salmon is here. Prices listed
in Circular No. 64 are competi
tive and are guaranteed against
our decline until July 1, 1932.
Our brands are firmly estab
lished, and you also have the
opportunity to sell for buyer’s
labels. Shipments can be made
in straight cars or in less than
carload quantities with other
canned goods without assembl
ing charges.
We expect every broker to
thoroughly acquaint himself
with the Salmon situation in his
territory; to post us on competi
tors activities and especially to
secure new business for us on all
grades of Salmon offered. Your
particular attention is required.
Yours truly
California Packing
Corporation
-x
REDUCE PRICE OF CHUM
AND PINK SALMON
Canned salmon brokers and
packers who have been pricing
Alaska pink tails at $1 a dozen
end chums at 90 cents, recently
reduced the prices to 85 and 60
cents respectively.
It was explained that the re
duction was made to check the
invasion of Japanese salmon re -
cently offered at about those
prices on the Atlantic seaboard.
-x
C ANCEL SALMON
FISHING LEASES
The United States War De
partment has canceled all fish
ing leases on Sand Island on the
Columbia River. The leases were
held this year by the Barbcy
Fxsh Company and have been
the root of considerable contro
versy between trap and gillnet
interests and between various
canning companies.
Last year it was held by the
courts that installation of traps
could not be permitted as they
interfered with the free drifts of
gillnets. The decisions establish
ed as law the contention cf
fishermen in Alaska that the in
stallation of traps in Alaska
waters are without the pale cf
the law.
The special privilege granted
to vested interests is detriment
al to the welfare of the people
cf Alaska—no class cr group ex
cepted. For the time being,
perhaps, some special interests
will benefit from the operations
of the traps but in the end they
too will succumb to the greed oi
the privileged class.