REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 15 



increase in price at sucli stations. This is, however, a falhicioiis 

 ari^ument, as the market is regulated by the rates obtainable in 

 the centers of supply rather than elsewhere, and the local prices 

 necessarily must correspond." 



This does not entirely account for the advance in prices over 

 former years, when there was no such thing as a fish market and 

 the fisherman sold direct to the consumer from his boat landing, 

 or from a wheelbarrow at the street corner. 



Now all is changed ; the fisherman ships direct to the wholesale 

 dealer, or to the retailer, who have large markets and heavy rents, 

 quantities of ice, and help to clean, and teams to deliver, besides 

 long book accounts, and losses. The retailer fixes his prices and 

 makes his margin to cover all these contingencies, and most of the 

 fluctuations of the wholesale market, and maintains a quiet, uni- 

 form price not much affected by the degree of plenty or 

 scarcity of fish. 



The second convention of the Fish Commissioners of the New 

 England states occurred in Boston, November 16th, 1892. These 

 meetings offered the means of interchange of views of representa- 

 tives of the different states that cannot fail to be of profit to all. 



The subjects discussed chiefly, w^ere relating to the protection of 

 fish and game. 



A proposition was favored limiting the size that a lobster could 

 be taken to lOj inches. We believe that a uniform rule is gen- 

 erally desired by the fishermen and to some extent it may help 

 the fisheries. 



But we feel sure that in order to be effective it should include 

 those states that furnish a market for the great bulk of the pro- 

 duct. 



The lobster business has grown to be of much importance, they 

 furnish a delicious and healthy food, and the taking of them is the 

 means of livelihood of a large class. 



Experiments are being made to propagate them, and it is with 

 deep interest we watch for favorable development in this line. 



