FOREIGN FISHERY-TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES. 



447 



Brine-salted fish constitute the most important class of fishery prod- 

 ucts imported into this country. Herring and mackerel are the most 

 important species, the others being salmon, cod, etc. Of the 5,054,554 

 barrels of brine-salted fish imported for consumption during the twenty- 

 six years ending in 1894, as shown in Table 10, 50 per cent were herring, 

 37 per cent mackerel, and 3 per cent salmon. However, the herring 

 only slightly exceeded the mackerel in total value, the imports of the 

 former being worth $10,978,802, and of the latter $1G,401,4G2. The 

 imports of pickled fish vary somewhat from year to year, yet the gen- 

 eral increase is quite noticeable. 



The rate of duty on herring and mackerel during the period herein 

 reported has been uniformly $1 and $2 per barrel, respectively. On 

 salmon, previous to 1884, the duty was $3 per barrel, and since then 

 only $2 per barrel. The rate of duty on other pickled fish was $1.50 

 previous to 1884 and $2 per barrel since then. These tariff rates, how- 

 ever, did not relate to the imports from the British North American 

 Provinces during the operation of the Washington treaty. 



10. Statement of the brine-salted or pickled fish imported for consumption into the United 

 States during each year from 1S69 to 1S94, inclusive. 



oFor quantities and values of pickled cod among "Others," see p. 476. 

 b On basis of 200 pounds to the barrel, see p. 510. 



The quantity of each form of sardines imported is shown in Table 49, 

 on page 504. 



The "other canned fish and shellfish" comprises all in oil exclusive 

 of sardines, and fish and shellfish canned without oil, the latter including 

 canned lobsters, herring, mackerel, salmon, eels, etc. A classification 



