156 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Norway, however, the Government requires that the herring which are 
found to have in their stomachs certain kinds of food shall be keptative, 
inclosed in the nets until this food is absorbed, as otherwise the fish 
cannot be preserved for any length of time, thereby affecting their 
quality as food. Still more generally is there an inspection of fish by 
the State after they have been put up, the packages being marked by 
Government officials, who are supposed to be beyond danger of any 
corrupt influence in making the distinctions as to quality. 
There is, perhaps, no nation in the world where there are fewer reg- 
ulations and restrictions in regard to the sea fisheries than in the United 
States, no response having been made either by the General Govern- 
ment or by the State to the numerous appeals to take the subject under 
their jurisdiction, and to prevent whatis claimed to be improper methods, 
or unseasonable times of capturing fish, or undesirable modes of pre- 
serving them. 
There are, however, in several of the States, especially of New Eng- 
land, State inspectors of fish who brand the packages, in accordance 
with the quality of the fish, these marks guiding the purchaser in his 
selection and in the price to be paid by him. 
Although the propriety of maintaining such restrictions has been 
questioned, on the ground that all these matters should be subject to 
the general law of demand and supply, and to individuai reputation, 
yet it is not likely that any change will be made. While it is compara- 
tively easy in many cases to enforce regulations in regard to fishing 
and the treatment of fish near the shores and under the jurisdiction 
and supervision of officers, it becomes a much more difficult matter 
when the fishing is presecuted at a distance, as in this country on the 
George’s Bank, the Grand Bank, &ec. It is, of course, possible to send 
Government cruisers to accompany the fishing fleets, to see that the 
fishermen obey the laws in this matter, and this is done to some extent 
by the Norwegian, Dutch, English, and French Governments, the two 
latter maintaining a sea police, more to prevent encroachments by the 
opposite nation upon the fishing-grounds, or injury or outrage upon 
their own vessels. Great Britain, too, has during some years main- 
tained a certain number of armed vessels within her dominions in North 
America to prevent the encroachments of the American and French 
fishermen. The United States, however, has never had any provision 
of this kind, but has allowed the sea fisheries to regulate themselves 
entirely. Some of the States supply armed protection to their oyster 
fisheries, both Maryland and Virginia having now, or until quite re- 
cently, such a provision. 
The propriety of international agreement in regard to certain modes 
of fishing has not unfrequently been urged, and more particularly it has 
been proposed that the United States and Great Britain have an agree- 
ment to prohibit the use of the traw] or long-line on the Banks of New- 
foundland and in other portions of the high seas. Apart. however, from 
eo 
