174 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



It is suggested that as soon as convenient, in connection with the 

 other investigation previously referred to, a systematic inquiry be made 

 in all the important fishing regions with a view to determine the 

 extent to which waste products are utilized, the methods employed in 

 so doing, the value of the secondary products, and to ascertain what 

 other waste material not now employed might be rendered of value to 

 the fishermen. Much information bearing on this subject is already 

 in the possession of the office, but it is only in a special investigation 

 that the matter can be thoroughly considered. The issuance of a report, 

 in which the value of the various secondary fishery products is pointed 

 out and the methods of preparing them for market shown, would be of 

 great benefit to a large part of the fishing population. Dr. J. Lawrence- 

 Hamilton, in a paper 1 presented to the World's Fishery Congress, at 

 Chicago, in 1893, estimated that upwards of £2,000,000 ($10,000,000) 

 annually is lost to the fishermen of the United Kingdon owing to fail- 

 ure to work up the waste fishery products; and it is known that in the 

 United States an immense loss results from this cause which could be 

 easily averted. 



FISHERIES INTELLIGENCE BUREAU. 



The success which has attended the establishment of a fisheries 

 intelligence service in Canada suggests the advisability of having a 

 similar bureau in the United States. There seems no reason to doubt 

 that great advantage would thus accrue to the coast fishing interests, 

 and that such a service would be almost unanimously welcomed by 

 fishermen, dealers, outfitters, and others. 



The idea of a fisheries intelligence office seems to have first taken 

 practical shape in Norway, where the service has attained great per- 

 fection and is recognized as being of inestimable benefit to the fisheries. 

 The intelligence bureau of the Canadian fisheries department is organ- 

 ized on the plan of the Norwegian service, and is likewise regarded by 

 the fishermen as an extremely valuable aid in their work. 



The following brief outline of the organization and functions of the 

 Canadian bureau is sufficient to show the scope and importance of the 

 work: 



The headquarters of this service is at Halifax, Nova Scotia. About 

 40 observers in the principal fishing centers of the maritime provinces 

 communicate with the main office by means of a telegraphic cipher- 

 code. The information conveyed consists chiefly of news concerning 

 the weather; the movements of the fishing fleet; the presence, move- 

 ments, and abundance of fish; the presence and abundance of bait, 

 and other data intended to facilitate the operations of the fishermen. 

 From Halifax the reports are sent out by telegraph to newspapers in 

 the fishing towns, and to local agents, by whom they are posted in con- 

 deforms and improvements suggested for the fisheries of Great Britain and Ire- 

 land. Bulletin United States Fish Commission, 1893. 



