TTENTION is called to paragraph
four
of
the
pamphlet
containing
‘‘IN-
STRUCTIONS
FOR
THE
USE
OF
THE
TELEPHONE”,
i.
e.
‘‘Subscrip-
tion
is to be paid for monthy in advance.
If the subscription
fee
is not
dulv paid
within
2 days after
it has become
due,
the Manager
is entitled
to sever
the
con-
nection
and
remove the telephone,
while
the
subscriber
is
liable to pay the
sub-
seription
till the end
of that quarter
to
which
lawful
notice
could
have
taken
plaee’’.
According
to above regulations,
instructions
have
been
issued
to
the
Foremen
to disconnect,
on
the 9th
day
of eachr month,
the lines of all delinquent
subscribers.
MUNICIPAL TELEPHONE
SYSTEM.
H. BERG,
'
Magr.
St. Croix, March 22,
1920.
EDITORIAL.
In
this
issue
there
will
be
found
a
communication
from
one
of the leading
fishermen
ai this end,
Mr.Philip Tuatein,
a
respectable
and hardworking man who has
followed his
profession
for a number
of
years
and
whose opinion
on matters
per-
taining
to
the
fish
industry
is
based
upon con<iderable
experience.
Mr. Tutein
takes
exception
to editorial- and
contri-
buted
comment
in this paper
on the
con-
dition of the fish
market
where
the pri-
ces
of raw
fish
have
soared
beyond
all
reasonable
proportion and
have naturally
called
forth
ecriticism
just
as has
been
advanced
where
occasion
called for it in
other
lines
of fondstuffs.
As
a
matter
of sac.
when
this
paper
referred
edito-
rially to
the high
prices
of
fish
it
was
not
contemplated
to
offend
any
parti-
cular
fisherman
or
class
of fishermen,
and
men
of
Mr. Tutein’s
type
were not
thought of
when commenting
upon
the
ruthless
profiteering
which
goes
on
and
is still going on in the
retail fish-market.
If all
the
fishermen
and
those
dealing
in
that
particular
line
were
like
Mr.
Tutein
it would
probably
have
been
un-
necessary
to
write our article of the 16th
instant
and
the puablic would
not
bhe
dis-
satisfied.
Everybody knows
and
agrees
that
the
cost
of
materials
for
all
purposes
has
advanced
considerably
and
where
such
mat=arials
are used
in manufacture,
or in
the running of any business
or industry,
the
products
have
gone
up
proportion-
ately;
w~
say
proportionately
because
that
is what
it ought
to be, but in
nine-
teen
cases
out of twentv goods have
gone
up 50,
60,
in some
instances,
100
to
200
per
cent in
excess
of
theincreased
cost
of production.
his is
what
people
are
kicking against,
and
they have
a
right
ST
CRU
1LX
AV S
to kick and kick hard
if necessary
to get
things
®n
a fair
and
proper
basis.
It
may
be quite true
as Mr. Tg'tein contents
that the price of fish can
not be
what
it
was fornserly.
But then Mr. Tutein does
not go around selling fish himself,
nor is
he in
a position
to
say
what
those
who
do
so charge
and
to
what
extent
they
“‘freeze’’ the
public.
When
it
was
in-
stapc2d
in
this
paper
that
twenty
cents
was
asked
for two tiny ‘‘gizard
doctor:””
we
know
what
we
are
mlk-
ing
about,
and
the
information
on
this score
reached
us from
good author-
ity, like
i
most
cases
where
we
have
found
it expedient
to
take
up
public
matters
of
this
naturer
Naturally
the
editors
o papers
do
not
have
to go in
the
fish
market
or for
that
matter
in
any market
at
all to get
first
hand
in-
formation
about
prices
and
conditions
vhich will elicit
no complaint
from the
public
unless
they
work
a hardship
in
their application.
Itis a positive fact that
the fish sold
nowadays
is
so
much
more
expensive
than in therecent
pastasto
ad-
mit of no room
for comparison.
It
is a
general matter
of comment
and
on more
than
one
oceasion
convincing
evidence
of the
injustice
to
which
the
public
is
subject
has
been
submitted
to us,
not to
speak
of
numerous
requests
to
treat
the
matter
in
publie
print.
It
would
appear
that
the
loudest
denun-
ciation
is
against
the
small
fishers
who angle
or set
out
pots
in the
harbor,
a
business
which
does
not
come
under
the hading of the larger
seale
of fishing
to
which Mr. Tutein
confines
his
argu-
ment.
These
small
dealers,
whether
directlv
or indirectly,
barter
fish
about
the
town at
unheard
of
crices,
a
mere
fish head oi'ten
costing 20 cents.
At
all
esents
we can
sce
no harm
in suggesting
action
to suppress
profiteering
and
im-
position wherever found,
and
1t seems
t-
us equitable
to
propose
that
the
Food
Commission
regulate
the
price
of
raw
fish in justice
alike
to seller
and
consum-
er,
as the
way to end disputes
and elimin-
ate
unjust
criticism of the prices of fish.
if
the same
be
above
criticism
as
our
correspondent
intimates.
It
will
be
noted
that
Mr.
Tutein
has
essayed
no
comparison
between
the
past
and
pres-
ent prices
of fish, although
he
furnishes
the
figures
on
the
expense
side.
If
known,
these
would
be
interesting
and
snould
prove the most effec
ive mannerin
refuting the
charges,
if charges
there
be,
and
of
substantiating
the
correct-
ne
sos
his position.
We
are
sorry
Mr.
Tutein
takes
offense
at
our
editorial
(we can
hardly be responsibie
for
what
correspondents
have
wrictten),
and
would like
to assure
him
that
the
aim
of
this
paper
is
to
urge
conperation
among
dealers
and
buyers
of all classes
and
in
:11l
ljnes
in
order
to
relieve
if
possible th?
tremendous
strain
under
which
the
foorer people
and
even
the
so-called
middle
ciasses
are
labering.
I'he proposition
to sell fish by
weight
is
in
our
opinion
the
most
equitable
and
rational
arrangement
that ought
to
re-
dound to
the mutual
satisfaction
of
all
concerned,
and it is hoped
that when
the
Food
Commission
devotes
attention
t»
these
vexing guestions,
it will
use
our
suggestion
as
a
basic
ground in ferret-
ing out the trc üble.
Local.
It
is learned
that
the
Food
Com-
mission
will hold
a
me=ating
tomorrow
morning to adjust
the prices
of
raw
fish
and sugar.
The commissionis
understood
to be fully alive to the suiferings
ot
the
community
owing to negd
for
aciion
in
this matter,
and speedy
relief
is
lcoked
for.
The
theatre
was
zs
usual
the
piae
where pleasure
seekers
spent
two
hours
of solid healthy
entertainmert
last night
following
that
eaptivatiag
serial
“‘Thae
Lure of
the Circus’’ whizh
is gaining in
attractiveness
at esch
en:ertainment
and
has
now
grown quite
as popular
as any
of its forerunners.
The two reel
comely
which
wound
up
the
show
took
tn>
sleep
out
of ail eyes
and
sent
tha
aud.
ence away in
2
merry
maogd.
We
have been
asked
'to say
that
thne
time limit witnin which
Hids for furnish-
ing
quarters
for
post
ofiice
purposes
in
this town
will be received,
has
be>n
ex-
tended
to
the
30th
pioximo.
Parties
having
p-emises
to
lease
c¢ia
gat
all
particulars
from the
po
tmas-er
who
is
also
in a position
to
ad‘ise
prospective
bidders
of the estimated
cost
of
equip-
ment
and
other
matters
in
c¢onneection
with
a
proper
understar
ding
of the
re-
quirements.
The
town clock has
been
received,
we
are told, and
will be
‘nstalled
shortly
by
an electrician from St. Thomas.
Editor ‘‘St. Croix Avis’’,
Dear
Sir:-
Allow me
space
in
your
valued
payer
to explain to
the community
in
gene al
the
conditions
of
the fishery
in this
is-
land, as1
can speak
with
the
authority
of thirty-four years
of experience.
It’s
not with the
intention
of rendering
any
satisfaction
to that
most impertinent and
contemptible
of all idiots
cailing himself
oOld Cook,
who most probably
is ashamed
of his own name
or position.
lam proud
of my
name
and position
as
a
fisherman,
as there
is
no
disgrace
attached
to
my
name
or calling.
1 want
to tel! the pubiie
why
fish
cannot
be
cold
as
:ormerly.
Because
the industry
is
practically
dead
for
the
want
of
hands
to
work,
as
well
the
advanced
prices
of
the
ma-
terials
for
the
work.
Formerly
there
were
thirteen
large
boats
working
at