BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 247 



METHOD AND RESULTS OF AN EFFORT TO COLLECT STATISTICS 

 OF THE FISH TRADE AIVI> CONSUMPTION OF FISII THROUGH- 

 OUT THE UNITED STATES. 



BY CIIAS. W. SMILEY. 



Iu July, 1879, it was proposed by Gen. F.A.Walker, Superintendent 

 of the Tenth Census, and Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Commissioner of Fish 

 and Fisheries, to ascertain something of the extent and nature of the 

 fish trade and consumption of fish throughout the entire United States. 

 In consequence there was prepared a three-paged circular with blanks 

 for answers, and containing eighteen brief but comprehensive questions, 

 such as: 



1. Do fish constitute an important article of diet in your town and in 

 the adjacent country? 



2. Where is the supply obtained % 



3. Check on the following list the kinds commonly to be seen in the 

 markets: (list given.) 



4. What is the average retail price per pound ? 



5. What kinds of fish are taken from your ponds and streams? Check 

 on the following list: (list given.) 



S. Are salted and smoked fish sold ? 



9. What kinds I Check on the following list: (list given.) 



11. Are oysters brought to your place ? How are they brought — in 

 shell, in tubs, in cans ? What is the usual price 1 



16. Answer same questions for clams and lobsters. 



18. Is fish guano in its various forms used by your farmers ? 



With this was sent to every postmaster in the United States a circu- 

 lar letter asking the assistance of himself or some one familiar with the 

 facts, and accompanied by a circular from the Postmaster-General, in- 

 structing postmasters to furnish such information as could be given 

 "without prejudice to the duties of their offices." An addressed re- 

 turn envelope accompanied each circular. 



The result of this sending in general terms was as follows : 



Forty-one thousand five hundred and seventeen postmasters were 

 addressed, from whom inside of two hundred days 16,996 replies were 

 received, or 41 per cent. At the expiration of two hundred days it was 

 deemed best to send again, to those who had not answered, precisely 

 the same matter as had been sent before. This was done with a very 

 gratifying result. Twenty-four thousand five hundred and twenty-one 

 postmasters were addressed from whom, inside of two hundred days, 

 13,233 replies were received. In the six hundred and eighty days that 

 have since elapsed, but 155 more replies have arrived. This is much less 



