BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 319 



two and two together. The fish in that case are also washed in strong 

 brine, the heaps are frequently changed, ;ui<1 the iish are pressed. 



The principal difference between the Shetland and the Norwegian 

 method of drying is this: That in the Shetland Islands the Iish arc not 

 pressed so much. The fish which arc culled well dried, are, however, 

 according to my idea, moist and contain too much salt. Those Iish ar< 

 called first-class which, when held against the light or the sun, shine, 

 and which on the flesh side have a line white crust of salt. In Norway 

 such fish would be considered salted too much. The Shetland Bshei 

 men do not use more salt than we do ; but, as the fish are pressed less, 

 more salt remains in them in proportion to the water and the sol id parts 

 than is the case in our method of drying. With us some of the water 

 is pressed out, and thereby also a corresponding quantity of salt, and 

 the superfluous water is removed more by evaporation, while in tin- 

 Shetland Islands the drying is done by having a current of air strike 

 the fish on both sides. 



While the fish are lying in heaps waiting to be shipped they are cov- 

 ered with mats and sails. The packing-sheds are constructed partly of 

 stone and partly of wood. If they are frame, the sides, both inside and 

 outside, are covered with boards. 



Besides cod, ling, and bream, coal-fish are also cured as klip-fish. 

 The refuse is packed in barrels, and either sent to Scotland or to the 

 various guano factories on the Shetland Islands. 



The principal markets for the Shetland fish are Spain, Ireland, and 

 Scotland. Well-dried fish also find a market in London. A consider- 

 able amount of well-dried fish, not too strongly salted, is put up iu tin 

 cans, packed in wooden boxes, and shipped to Australia. 



106.-POUIVD AND NET FISHING AT ERIE, FA. 



By HI. E. DUNLAP. 



Two methods of fishing are practiced at this place. About 200 miles 

 of gill-nets are fished from this port. Eight pound-nets have been 

 fished about 10 miles west of the entrance to our harbor. Over 100 tons 

 of dead fish from the gill-nets have been thrown away annually, most 

 of them back into the lake where they were caught, thus fouling the 

 whitefish grounds. The gill-nets are fished all the year when the ice 

 does not prevent. The pound-nets are set only three months in the 

 year, and all of the fish taken in them are alive and fresh and without 

 spawn, and all of them of full marketable size, none of them having to 

 be thrown away on account of size or because of their being stale. 

 Which of the two methods is best : (1) for the protection of the Iish 

 and the continuance of the supply ; (2) for furnishing good, sound fish 



