REPORT OP COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



127 



In addition to the herring smoked at the sardine canneries in Maine, 

 large quantities are so prepared by the fishermen of the eastern part 

 of the State. In 189-!, 10,495,143 pounds of fresh herring - taken in 

 American waters, chiefly with brush weirs, were consumed in the prep- 

 aration of 5,997,22.") pounds of smoked fish. These were placed on the 

 market in 1,060,320 boxes, each holding- about 5 pounds, and 27,825 

 boxes holding about 25 pounds each, the value of the smoked fish being 

 $130,297. By far the largest quantities of herring are smoked by the 

 fishermen of Eastport and Lubec, who also obtain many herring for 

 smoking from weirs set in Canadian waters. The business is also 

 important in the towns of Jonesport, Trescott, Cutler, Addison, and 

 Machiasport. Between 1889, when the Fish Commission conducted an 

 investigation of the Maine fisheries, and 1892, the year covered by the 

 last canvass, this branch experienced a large increase, as shown by 

 the following figures: 



Comparative statement of the quantities of herring smoked hi/ Maine fishermen in 1889 and 



IS!'.'. 



Items. 



Fresh herring utilized pounds.. 



Herring smoked : 



Regular size boxes. . 



Valu e 



Bloaters boxes.. 



Value 



Total quantity as smoked pounds . . 



Total value 



5, 761, 000 



626, 400 



$98. 031 



6,400 



$5, 008 



3,292, 000 



$103,039 



13,301, 395 



1, 460, 320 



$1(32, 156 



34, 825 



$23, 741 



8, 172, 225 



$185, 807 



Increase 



in 1892. 



7, 540, 395 



833,920 



$64, 12.". 



28. 425 



$18, 733 



4, 880, 225 



I'ci- •cut. 



age of 



increase. 



133 



65 



444 



374 

 150 



80 



The present extent of the smoked-herring business as compared with 

 the conditions ten years ago is one of the most noteworthy features of 

 the Maine fisheries. This branch has steadily increased since the abro- 

 gation of the Washington treaty in 1885. It is not possible to present 

 satisfactory comparative figures showing separately the fish smoked by 

 fishermen and canners and the quantity coming from American and 

 Canadian waters, but accurate statistics may be given showing for the 

 years 1880, 1887, 1888, 1889, and 1892 the total extent of the smoked- 

 herring business. This branch was somewhat less extensive in 1887 

 than in 1880, but since 1887 the business has steadily increased, and in 

 1892 had more than double the importance it had twelve years before. 



Comparative summary of the smoked-herring business of Maine in 18S0, 1887, 1SSS, 1889, 



and 1892. 



