166 NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



mackerel imported into the country increased to several 

 times the amount imported previous to its passage. During 

 the four fiscal years ending June 30, 1846, previous to the 

 introduction of the new schedule of duties the imports of 

 dried fish were 1,358 quintals, valued at $10,120; the im- 

 ports of pickled fish were 74,634 barrels, valued at $561,593. 

 For the four years from 1847 to 1850 the same items of im- 

 port were : 42,332 quintals of dried fish, valued at $88,781, 

 and 204,358 barrels of pickled fish, valued at above $1,- 

 000,000.* 



The estimated amount of duty collected on imports of 

 fish into the United States from the British North Amer- 

 ican possessions from 1850 to 1855 was $884,974.20, which 

 represented a market value of more than $4,400,000 worth 

 of fish. 2 Our fishermen became thoroughly aroused at the 

 state of affairs, measures for remedying this condition of 

 the fisheries were advocated, and the general discussion of 

 the question that followed was one of the principal causes 

 of the Reciprocity treaty of 1854. 



The course of trade of the dried, smoked and pickled 

 fish exported during this period shows an increasing pro- 

 portion being sent to the West Indies and a falling off in 

 exports to European countries until the latter amounted to 

 almost nothing. The total exports of dried and smoked 

 fish for the year 1821 were 254,947 quintals. The West 

 Indies took 214,018 quintals, or 84 per cent of the total ex- 

 ports. In 1825 they took 251,034 quintals, or 88 per cent 

 of the total exports; and in 1832 the amount was 233,247 

 quintals, which was 96 per cent of this kind of fish exported 

 from the country. The export trade to Europe diminished 

 from 21,184 quintals in 1821 to 3,042 quintals in 1825; in 

 1832 the quantity of exports had fallen to only 450 quintals, 

 while the following year there were no exports to Europe. 



1 Andrews' Report, p. 636. 



2 Elliott, The U. S. and the Northeastern Fisheries, p. 148. 



