...Casper continued...

Caption from photo Morro Bay Sun--100 tons

Commercial fishermen, driven in by rough weather, delivered more than 100 tons of albacore to cannery buyers here since Tuesday.

It was the second fleet catch sold here within a month, but the over-all albacore picture remained dark with the season’s catch off as much as 50 per-cent compared with last year’s take.
Albacore are selling here for $275 a ton. The value of this week’s load tops $28000.

Albacore sell for $325 a ton in San Pedro, but a trip there would cost fishermen perhaps as much as a week of fishing and prove unprofitable in most cases.

Most of the fishermen were leaving or already had departed this morning after unloading their catches, re-icing their holds and stocking up with groceries.

BILL CASPER, branch foreman for the Regal Seafood Co., that sells to Starkist, said many of the albacore were caught in Oregon waters. Casper loaded 25 tons Tuesday.

Bic (sic) Lyndwall of Morro Bay Fisheries, which supplies Van Camp, reported 60 tons of albacore loaded over the two days.

Lyndwall said northern fishing ran out and rough weather drove the fleet south. “They’re drifting back now,” he added.

Both firms reported hopes for bigger catches during October. Casper said he hoped the season might last another six weeks or two months. Albacore didn’t begin running until the middle of July this year, Casper added. He said the season normally starts in June.

An earlier season start resulted in a successful year for Japanese fishermen, but the outlook is still dim for albacore along the Pacific Coast.