CHAPTER 10 



The Sardine, Mackerel, 

 and Herring Fisheries 



SvEN Lassen 



The Sardine Fisheries 



The sardine industry of the United States is centered around the indus- 

 trial utiUzation of two species of fish; namely, the pilchard {Sardinops 

 caerula) and the small sea herring (Clupea harengus). The word '^sardine/' 

 according to predominant and official views in this country, is a generic 

 term identifying a canned product made from several species of the 

 clupeoid family. This definition is not in conformity with that of several 

 other nations. France and Portugal, for instance, claim that the term 

 sardine is a proprietary name reserved exclusively for the species Clupea 

 pilchardus (Walbaum). 



This divergence of view which has been in existence on the inter- 

 national stage for almost a hundred years, and has resulted in several 

 famous court cases, is still unresolved. Many hold the view that the word 

 "sardine" has reference to a style of pack of certain species of small fish, 

 rather than identifying the species themselves. Under the official U.S. 

 interpretation, small herring, brisling sprats, and pilchards may be packed 

 and sold as sardines because they all belong to the clupeoid family of 

 fish. Anchovies, on the other hand, though available in commercial 

 quantities and making an excellent canned product cannot be packed 

 as sardines under this U.S. definition. 



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