102 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



along, and to it should be added G times its weight of pure spring water. 

 During the journeys from Trieste to Berlin the change of the salt water 

 has several times been made at Vienna. For transporting marine ani- 

 mals artificial salt water is to be preferred to the natural salt water. 

 The latter contains organic matter, especially a large number of animal- 

 cula belonging to the copepods, infusoria, &c, which soon die and make 

 the water turbid and impure. No such danger need be apprehended if 

 artificial salt water is used. I therefore strongly recommend the use of 

 artificial salt water for transporting marine animals. 



FISHING AND CONSUMPTION OF FISH IN 1VEVVFOUIVDLAIVD. 



By M. HARVEY. 



[From letter to Prof. S. F. Baird. ] 



Eegarding the local consumption of fish of course it is only possible 

 to form an estimate, as there are no returns. I have consulted with 

 two or three persons well acquainted with the fisheries and the habits 

 of the people, and taking their opinions into account, and what I myself 

 know, I should judge that the consumption of codfish here might be 

 safely estimated at a quintal and a half per head of the population, 

 which is now about 180,000. This would give 270,000 quintals as the 

 local consumption of cod. 



As to the consumption of other kinds of fish it is so small as hardly 

 to be worth taking into account. The salmon season lasts only six weeks, 

 and in St. John's during that time there is a certain amount used fresh 

 among the middle and upper classes, but the working people hardly 

 ever use it. Where it is caught, which is only in comparatively few local- 

 ities, a certain amount is used fresh by the catchers, who are few in 

 number. Hardly any of it is used pickled ; all is tinned or salted and 

 exported. 



Herring are not much used. The Labrador fishermen generally salt 

 and bring home each a keg or half barrel for winter use. The whole 

 does not amount to much, but I could give no estimate of the consump 

 tion of either herring or salmon. Cod is the favorite food. 



The seal fishery of this year is one of the very worst on record, owing 

 to the enormous masses of heavy ice and prevailing easterly winds, 

 driving it in on shore, so that vessels could not move about. The num- 

 ber of seals brought into St. John's was 139,222. All the returns are 

 not in for other places, but the whole catch will not exceed 149,222. It 

 is fortunate in one way, as it will help to save the seals longer from 

 extermination, which on the present system is inevitable. 



The increased value of the export of cod in 1881, arose largely from 

 enhanced prices caused by failure of the Norwegian fisheries. 



St. John's, Newfoundland, June 13, 1882. 



