PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 25. 73 



GLOUCESTER FISH MARKET. 



Among the successes of the banner year of 1916 for the 

 Gloucester fisheries a particularly gratifying feature has been 

 the great increase in the demand for the salt-fish products for 

 which Gloucester has long been famous. So great and so 

 insistent has been this demand during the past year that the 

 entire home fishing fleet was absolutely unable to supply the 

 necessary amount, and, in addition to the catch of the vessels 

 of the New England fishing fleet, 28,353,748 pounds of "green" 

 and cured fish, mostly cod, not the product of American 

 fisheries, was obtained from Newfoundland, N. S., and the 

 shores of Gaspe, Que. In addition to this large amount, which 

 was all received by water, 21,000,000 pounds also were received 

 by rail, largely from the Maritime Provinces. 



The importance of salt fish as a good staple article of diet 

 cannot be denied, and the future is bound to see an ever- 

 increasing market as the public comes more and more to 

 realize its food value. The reason for the excessive demand 

 during the past year is perhaps due to certain underlying and 

 contributing causes. Chief among these are the following : - 



(1) The extensive advertising campaigns conducted by the 

 various concerns which are placing salt fish on the market, 

 resulting in broader field for its sale, - - another instance of the 

 triumph achieved by modern publicity methods. 



(2) Hand in hand with the advertising goes the neat and 

 attractive packages, prepared under sanitary conditions, which 

 especially appeal to the fastidious housewife, and invariably 

 prove good drawing cards. 



(3) The labor-saving motto "no bones"- likewise presents an 

 attractive feature, and is an important factor in influencing 

 the selection of a dish which can readily and easily be prepared. 



(4) However, the present demand can largely be attributed 

 to the simple fact that fish is cheaper than meat, and as a 

 satisfactory substitute serves as a very effective weapon with 

 which to combat our old arch enemy, the high cost of living. 

 To all practical purposes it will continue of increasing service 

 in the future. 



New Crafts, - - The following summary of shipbuilding opera- 



