520 



HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



expected, and most of the firms have already given up the idea of utilizing the herring in this 

 way. Very few fish are now put up, and during the season of 1880 the total quantity did not exceed 

 200 barrels, many of these being spoiled in preparation. This business, however, should not be 

 pronounced a failure until it has been more thoroughly tested, and future experiments may prove 

 that under proper treatment the herring may be used for this purpose and that the anchovy trade 

 of the United States may become an important one. 



5. EXTENT OF THE BUSINESS. 



STATISTICAL EECAPITULATION OF THE INDUSTRY FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT 

 TIME. From the time of the first experiments in 1875 the American sardine industry has gradu- 

 ally increased in importance, though, as has just been stated, it was confined within comparatively 

 narrow limits till 1880. At this time many of the Eastport merchants went into the business and 

 canneries were built at various other points along the eastern coast of Maine. By the close of 

 the season there were 18 canneries in operation, with a total capital of $484,950 dependent on 

 the business, including that invested in fishing apparatus by the New Brunswick weir fishermen, 

 who market their catch at Eastport. The business furnished employment to 1,328 factory hands, 

 and to 196 American and 372 Provincial fishermen.* 



The following list of the sardine canning establishments in the United States in 1880, with 

 their location, date of establishment, and city agents, has been carefully corrected by correspond- 

 ence with Mr. Sellmann and Mr. Wolff, who have added a list of some of the new canneries that 

 were to engage in the business in 1881: 



"A petition from the sardine packers of Eastport and Lufoec to the Secretary of the Treasury, praying for relief 

 from certain customs duties, under date of May 23, 1885, states that this industry employs an invested capital of not 

 less than $1,000,000, of which a large proportion is in factory Tjuildings, machinery, fixtures, tools, and implements. 

 There are said to be 18 factories in Eastport and 4 in Luhec now wholly engaged in sardine packing, and employing 

 several thousand operators. A. H. CLAKK. 



