REPORT OP COMMISSIONER OP PISH AND FISHERIES. 157 



1 am aware that efforts have long ago been made to introduce this lish into com- 

 merce aud give it a permanent place in our fish trade; that prior to the expiration 

 of the reciprocity treaty there was a limited trade in salt whiting with the British 

 Provinces, and that small consignments of this fish have in recent years been sent 

 to Brazil, the West Indies, and other places; but there has probably never been a 

 better opportunity to make profitable use of this waste product than is now afforded 

 by the reciprocity relations established between the United States and various other 

 countries. 



The. Commission has recently had prepared at North Truro, Mass., a quantity of 

 pickled whiting with a view to submit them to the principal dealers in Boston, 

 Gloucester, and elsewhere aud have their edible and commercial qualities deter- 

 mined. It is the intention to continue the inquiries aud to ascertain the value of 

 the fish for smoking, canning, etc. Within a short time an assistant of this office 

 will wait upon you and present to you samples of the fish. Permit me to ask that 

 you will kindly examine them and favor me with a written statement of your views. 



The principal points on which your opinion is desired are the following: 



(1) The commercial importance of whiting prepared like the samples. 



(2) The food value of the whiting in a dry-salted and pickled state as compared 

 with (1) cod, (2) hake, and (3) haddock. 



(3) The commercial value of dry-salted and pickled whiting in the United States 

 and Cauada, aud the possibility of renewing a market for it in the latter country. 



(4) The commercial value of dry-salted aud pickled whiting in the West Indies, 

 Brazil, and other South American countries, and the possibility of establishing with 

 them a remunerative trade. 



(5) The food and economic value of smoked whiting; its comparison with smoked 

 herring. 



(G) The feasibility of preparing boneless whiting to supply a demand for cheap 

 boneless fish. 



Of the large number of responses received and variety of opinions 

 expressed, the following, chiefly from leading firms of Boston and 

 Gloucester, will be sufficient to illustrate the different views entertained 

 regarding the special points referred to in the circular letter: 



[Leonard A. Treat, wholesale fish-dealer, Boston.] 



The rank of whiting, either in a dry-salted or pickled state, as compared with cod, 

 hake, and haddock, would be about fourth. There would be no difficulty iu renew- 

 ing a market in Canada for whiting, and also for hake, haddock, and cod, if it were 

 not for the tremendous duty ou all our goods going into Canada. Give us reciprocity 

 with Canada and there will be no question about a market for whiting and a great 

 many other of our fish products. Smoked whiting would take its place in economic 

 and food value alongside of smoked haddock and hake; it would be better than 

 hake, perhaps not quite as popular as haddock. It is entirely feasible to market 

 boneless whiting. It has been done and is being done whenever the whiting is put 

 ou the market at a lower price than hake. If whiting can be cured aud marketed 

 at a competing price with hake, it will find a place at once iu the various markets of 

 this country. As the years would roll around it would become more and more popular 

 as its value became known, and ultimately would, in our opinion, rank fully up with 

 eusk and haddock, if not equal to medium cod. This fish has but to be known to 

 be appreciated. What might be done with the. fish abroad is. in our opinion, an 

 unknown quantity, a mere conjecture, as the value of our reciprocity relations with 

 the various countries to the south of us has not been of such magnitude as to give 

 it a passing notice. The truth of the matter is that it costs us so much to produce 

 our goods here in this country, as compared with Canada, that notwithstanding 

 the apparent advantage of our reciprocity relations with Brazil, etc., Canada and 

 Newfoundland still hold the trade. Reciprocity in fish has not, so far as we know, 

 materialized to the financial benefit of our salt-fish trade. 



