434 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



As the fisheries formed one of the principal sources of wealth of the 

 early settlers of this country, it is not strange that for many years little 

 necessity should have existed for the importation of fishery products. 

 But as the wealth of the people increased and the trade facilities were 

 enlarged, the demand for foreign preparations gradually extended. 

 About the beginning of the present century these importations were 

 confined almost exclusively to dried cod and pickled herring from the 

 British Provinces in North America. But the demands of the domes- 

 tic markets have so increased that, notwithstanding the remarkable 

 resources of the United States and the extensive development and ener- 

 getic prosecution of the fisheries, the foreign preparations during recent 

 years have unduly competed with the domestic products. During the 

 fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, for instance, the value of the fishery 

 imports for consumption was $6,270,903, while the domestic exports 

 were worth but $4,258,300, an excess in favor of the former of $2,018,597. 

 In 1893 the excess of imports over exports was $2,166,811, in 1892 it 

 was $1,283,859, and in 1891 only $769,458. In 1890 the exports exceeded 

 the imports by $1,646,825, and in 1889 by $1,698,994. It thus appears 

 that during the last six years there has been a constant increase in 

 the dependence of the United States on foreign countries for fishery 

 products. 



As a suggestion of the practicability of increasing the fishery exports 

 of the United States, in addition to more actively competing with for- 

 eign fishery products in the domestic markets, this paper is presented, 

 comprising a general review of the principal features of the trade. 



Sources of information. — The data on which this report is based have 

 been obtained from various sources. The figures showing the value of 

 the fishery imports and exports since 1820 have been compiled from 

 the custom-house returns as published by the United States Treasury 

 Department in the Annual Keport on Commerce and Navigation. The 

 United States statutes have furnished the rates of duty exacted on the 

 products imported into this country. The present rates of duty imposed 

 on fishery products imported into foreign countries have been compiled 

 from the International Customs Journal, published by the International 

 Customs Tariff Bureau, Brussels, Belgium, and from the publications 

 of the Bureau of American Bepublics. 



The writer acknowledges with much pleasure the suggestions received 

 from Dr. Hugh M. Smith in the preparation of this paper, and the 

 assistance rendered by Mr. John N. Cobb and other employees of the 

 division of fisheries in comparing and verifying the tables. 



