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THE FISHING INDUSTRY OF LAKE ERIE. 353 



reach their natural spawniug-grounds, and so reproduce their kind in the natural way. 

 I believe that the State and Government fish hatcheries are doing a good work in 

 stocking the waters of our lakes and rivers; but the natural way is surely the better 

 way, and any practical law looking to that end should certainly have the hearty support 

 of all who are interested in this industry. 



The States undoubtedly have certain control over our inland waters, and are in the 

 main endeavoring to properly regulate by law the fishing and fisheries, but by reason 

 of the great diversity of interests of the different States in connection with this industry 

 it is the opinion of many of our best thinkers that the General Government may yet 

 be asked to assume more control of the inland fisheries than has hitherto been con- 

 sidered advisable or within the scope of its powers. The fisheries of our inland waters 

 furnish the people with a very valuable article of food, and any legislation on this 

 subject should consider the rights and necessities of the consumer as well as the pro- 

 ducer. The consumer has the right to be protected by law in this, that the fish shall 

 be taken in such a manner as to warrant their being marketed in a wholesome condition. 

 Inspectors or wardens should be appointed, with full powers to condemn all fish offered 

 in our markets that are unfit for food, made so by the manner or season in which they 

 are caught, or for any other cause which may be properly remedied by law. It is 

 estimated that 8,000 tons of herring were taken from the waters of Lake Erie during 

 the months of June, July, and August, and of that part of this product marketed in a 

 fresh condition during this hot period undoubtedly a very considerable proportion 

 reached the consumer in a stale or unwholesome condition, and very much of it was 

 utterly wasted. 



The State of Ohio has a closed season from June 15 to September 10, but Penn- 

 sylvania has not, and so the great slaughter and waste of herring goes on during the 

 summer months, when this fish is of the least value as a food product, and by reason 

 of the hot weather can only be sent in limited quantities fresh to the consumer, and 

 then only to cities that have large markets, supplied with refrigerators for keeping 

 them. Large quantities of young or half-grown whitefish are also taken in the summer 

 months by gill-net fisherman, operating their nets in the deep waters of the eastern 

 end of the lake, and are thrown away or sold as herring. The fish product of the 

 great lakes has become such an important article of food to the vast population tribu 

 tary thereto that laws prohibiting unreasonable waste or destruction of this valuable 

 commodity of commerce should be enacted and enforced. The people generally look 

 to commercial fisherman oidy for their supply of fish food, and, in a way, are as much 

 interested in making commercial fishing a successful industry as are the men operating 

 the fisheries. 



Our law-making bodies, then, should pass laws that will not only foster and 

 increase this great industry, but will also compel dealers and shippers to produce and 

 send to the consumer, wherever he may be located, this valuable food product in the 

 most perfect and wholesome condition possible. The people have a right to this pro- 

 tection and should enforce their just demands through the medium of their respective 

 legislators. This industry should not be hampered by laws based on the fanciful 

 theories of the fish-culturist or influenced by the arguments of the fish vandals who 

 operate on the plan that all are fish that come to their nets; but the best interests of 

 the whole public should be considered, and in the end such a system of laws would 

 be to the best interests of the producer and the consumer alike. 



F. C. B. 1893 23 



