232 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



or has been followed by financial results in proportion to the amount 

 of money expended, or by results of general importance. It is abso- 

 lutely certain, that in those very countries which have for the longest 

 time and most energetically labored to increase the quantity of fish in 

 the open waters, by the artificial production of young fish, confidence in 

 the economical importance of artificial fish-culture has been thoroughly 

 shaken. * * * j n fact, it must be said that in Europe fish-culture 

 has left nothing but disappointed hopes, and in many eases has caused 

 serious financial losses/' The importance of fish-culture is, therefore, 

 far from having been proved ; and the fishery expositions have not fur- 

 nished a solution of the greatest difficulty, viz, the care of the young 

 fry. All that fish-culture, an industry the value of which is openly ques- 

 tioned, can gain from an exposition, is a comparison of the various ap- 

 paratuses. But as regards the manner in which these apparatuses are 

 used, and in fact in all other respects, the necessary knowledge must be 

 obtained in the place where the fish are raised, where fisheries are car- 

 ried on, and where fish are prepared. As regards the care to be taken 

 of fish, the fisheries, and the preparation of fish, but little knowledge 

 can be gained at an exposition, as Professor Smitt himself seems to 

 think. If this had not been his view of the matter, he ought to have 

 produced more proof, especially with regard to the Berlin Exposition, 

 of the benefits of such expositions, than the introduction of " Japanese 

 traps" in Sodermauland. All this only goes to prove the correctness 

 of my assertion, that the Norwegians act wisely in only granting a 

 small appropriation for the London Exposition, whilst care is taken that 

 many persons who have made fisheries a specialty are enabled to travel 

 to foreign countries to gather knowledge, the results of their observa- 

 tions, as well as those of the commissioners sent to the exposition, being" 

 published and spread broadcast over the land. It should not be for- 

 gotten that my remarks in the lower house were aimed at the way in 

 which fishery expositions have hitherto been managed by our commis- 

 sioners, and at the coudemnable habit of spending more than necessary 

 for this purpose. 



During the long controversy regarding the Boimslan herring fisheries, 

 I have repeatedly maintained, in opposition to Professor Smitt, that 

 the first condition for flourishing fisheries is a well-organized fish trade 

 and a regular and rapid sale of the fish. Particularly, as regards the 

 herring fisheries, it will be evident, even to a superficial observer, that 

 if herringcau be prepared as a valuable article of commerce, and in such 

 a manner as to keep a long time, and bear transportation to distant 

 countries, the market for them will extend, thus enabling tin 1 fishermen 

 to get better pay for their fish ; and the fisheries in general will be 

 benefited thereby, for a high price of fish encourages the fishermen, 

 and enables them to get better and more expensive apparatus, and to 

 introduce new and improved methods. With this view I have always 

 urged that it was of primary importance that the Government should 



