REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 139 
comparatively recent date at which lobster-culture was taken up in 
this country, it is worthy of note that as early as 1859 M. Guillou, 
in conjunction with M. Coste, began his successful lobster-rearing 
experiments. The writer was privileged to examine the collection of 
artificially-reared lobsters (ranging from the newly-hatched larvee to 
examples 10 years old) for which the French government made an 
award. 
MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN INQUIRIES. 
While in Europe the writer investigated a number of fisheries and 
fishery industries, primarily with a view to possible improvements 
in similar industries in the United States. The fisheries to which 
special attention was given were the herring, the sardine, and the 
lobster. A number of other subjects had been assigned for investi- 
gation, but the time available did not permit their consideration. 
Immense quantities of the sea herring are imported into the United 
States annually from England, Scotland, Holland, and Norway, and 
meet with a ready sale at prices that are uniformly higher than those 
commanded by the same fish prepared in the same manner on our own 
coasts. The Commission was in receipt of communications from fisher- 
men, fish-packers, and wholesale dealers in the Eastern States, asking 
that it investigate the methods of the herring trade in Europe and 
determine the factors which give to the foreign herring their supe- 
riority over the native-prepared fish. 
Visits were made to the most important herring centers of England, 
Seotland, and Holland; and through the courteous assistance of gov- 
ernment fishery officials and United States consular officers, much 
valuable information was obtained. Acknowledgments for assistance 
are due especially to Mr. Charles E. Fryer, of London, one of the gov- 
ernment inspectors of fisheries for England and Wales; Mr. James R. 
Nutman, of Great Yarmouth; Mr. W. F. Robertson, of Edinburgh, 
secretary of the Fishery Board for Seotland; Mr. James Ingram, of 
Aberdeen, one of the Scotch fishery inspectors; Col. S. Listoe, United 
States consul at Rotterdam, and Mr. E. A. Man, United States con- 
sular agent at Schiedam. The observations on the herring fishery 
of the countries named will be incorporated in a special report now 
in preparation. 
In view of the large consumption of imported sardines in the United 
States and the relatively high prices commanded by them, the sar- 
dine fishery of France and the canning industry dependent thereon 
were made the subject of a special investigation for the purpose of 
determining the factors which underlie the general superiority of the 
French sardines over the native ‘‘sardines” prepared from the young 
of the sea herring. The French sardine industry centers in the 
province of Brittany, in which one of the most important fishing and 
‘anning towns is Concarneau. In this place some time was devoted to 
a study of the natural history of the sardine, the fishing methods and 
