412 



BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



UNITED STATES FISHERIES COMPARED WITH THOSE OF OTHER COUNTRIES. 



As a matter of general interest, the following comparison between the fisheries 

 of the United States and those of other countries is presented. The figures for the 

 foreign countries are the most authentic and recent ones available, have been obtained 

 largely from the latest official records, and represent the value of the products taken. 

 Unfortunately, it is not possible to exhibit figures for a number of countries having 

 commercial fisheries, owing to the fact that there are no published reports available 

 relating to the subject; among these are China, India. Germany, Austria, Denmark, 

 Belgium, Turkey, Greece, Mexico, and Australia. 



The prominent position occupied by the United States in the matter of fisheries 

 will doubtless occasion some surprise. It is far in advance of any other country, sur- 

 passing Great Britain, the next important country, by over $10,000,000. 



The table shows the value of the fisheries of most of the principal countries of 

 the world. As a matter of additional interest, columns are inserted showing the pop- 

 ulation of each and the average amount of money resulting from the fisheries for each 

 inhabitant. A comparison of this kind would be much more valuable if it could 

 include other items besides the value of the catch, as, for example, the number of 

 persons employed, the number of vessels and boats engaged, the quantity of apparatus 

 used, and the amount of capital invested; but such information is at hand for only a 

 few countries. It appears that in proportion to the population Newfoundland has 

 more important fisheries than any other country; the average value of the catch per 

 inhabitant is $33.82, while in the United States it is only 70 cents. Other countries 

 having a greater relative catch than the United States in proportion to population are 

 Great Britain, Norway, and Portugal. 



Countries. 



United States. 

 Great Britain. 



Japan 



Kussia 



France 



Canada 



Norway 



Newfoundland 



Portugal 



Spain 



Holland 



Sweden 



Italy 



Approximate 

 population. 



65, 000, 000 



35, 300, 000 



40, 072, 000 



87, 850, 490 



38, 343, 200 



4, 833, 500 



1, 999, 200 



197, 500 



4, 306, 550 



17,206,100 



4, 564, 600 



4, 579, 100 



28, 459, 600 



Approximate 

 value of fish- 



$45, 223, 000 



32, 000, 000 



26, 000, 000 



22, 000, 000 



21, 256, 300 



18, 977, 900 



8, 000, 000 



6, 679, 600 



3,400,000 



2, 500, 000 



2, 225, 000 



2, 300, 000 



1, 216, 000 



Average 



value of 



catch per 



inhabitant 



$0. 70 

 .91 

 .65 

 .25 

 .55 

 3.93 

 4.00 



33.82 

 .79 

 .14 

 .49 

 .50 

 .04 



COMPARISONS WITH 1880. 



Perhaps the most valuable purpose which statistics subserve is the opportunity 

 they afford for making comparisons from time to time between the present and past 

 condition of an industry. In the case of the fisheries this comparison must determine 

 the necessity for legal restriction of certain fisheries, the desirability of undertaking 

 artificial propagation, and the results of restriction and cultivation, besides indicating 

 the actual and relative extent of the industry. 



It is not the purpose to discuss all the details of comparison between the present 

 status of the fishing industry and its condition in 1880, but simply to direct attention 

 to the general features of tlie variations that have occurred and to notice certain 

 specially striking changes in the condition of our fisheries. 



