BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 41 I 



The roe trade is somewhat of a hazard. We have but few competi- 

 tors in the world's markets, as five-sixths of the 00,000 barrels of roe 

 which were brought to market came from Norway. The market, how- 

 ever, is limited, and insignificent changes in the supply or demand will 

 influence the price. There is no product of the fisheries which varies 

 so much in price as roe; thus, the price of roe at the Loffoden Islands 

 has varied from $3.75 to $12.33 per barrel during the period from 1800 

 to 1884. 



To buy roe requires a certain degree of experience. As roe is a 

 costly article, the aim of the seller frequently seems to be to make it go 

 as far as possible. Positive frauds are perpetrated by mixing with the 

 roe of the common cod (Gadus morrhua) the less valuable roe of the 

 pollock (Gadus virens),* or by placing in the middle of the barrel salt, 

 pieces of ice, soft roe, empty roe-bags, fish-heads, and entrails, and 

 good roe at the top and bottom. As such frauds have occurred, people 

 who buy roe should be on their guard. If a person who buys roe has 

 no chance to examine the contents of the barrels, and buys of people 

 whom he does not know, or who are not trustworthy, it is a good plan to 

 cause the seller to brand the barrel with his mark, a ; frauds are likely 

 to be detected when the roe is repacked for shipping, although the in- 

 convenience occasioned thereby will frequently be greater than the loss. 

 Other means, not exactly unlawful but objectionable, are also employed 

 to give the barrel the appearance of being full. Such attempts at 

 fraud will be made as long as there are buyers to whom roe can be sold 

 to advantage, and as long as there are persons who have not yet found 

 out that the best and most profitable results are obtained by careful 

 treatment of the roe. We shall have occasion again to speak of these 

 tricks of the trade. 



In cutting open the fish care should be taken not to injure the roe- 

 bag, as in opening the fish the knife is very apt to cut the roe. The 

 person who takes out the roe should also be careful not to remove at 

 the same time portions of the entrails, as is sometimes done. The tubs 

 iu which the roe is gathered should have holes through which the 

 water can run off, as thereby salt is saved and a better article of roe is 

 obtained. Whenever it is possible to let the roe stand for half a day, 

 so that the water can all flow out, this should not be neglected. Ron 

 would better be salted in perforated barrels so that the brine can run 

 off freely, as the brine makes the roe soft and less liable to keep. Gen- 

 erally twelve holes are made iu the sides of the barrel, and four in the 

 bottom. If roe is to be laid in brine t either it should be put in per- 

 forated tubs and salt sprinkled over it, or it should be dry-salted 

 for from eight to fourteen days before it is put up in tight barrels. 



* The grains of roe of the Gadus virens are, as a rule, more pointed and of unequal 

 length. This roe also has a dark color, and becomes darker with age. 



t Roe laid in brine, of which formerly a good deal was used on the south coast of 

 France, tiuds scarcely any sale at present. 



