FOREIGN FISHERY-TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES. 



493 



FRESH HERRING, FOR BAIT AND FOR FOOD. 



During each year a quantity of bait fish is imported for use in the 

 winter bank fisheries. All of it is received from the British North Amer- 

 ican Provinces, chiefly from Newfoundland, and consists almost entirely 

 of frozen herring. The following statement shows the quantities and 

 values of bait herring imported during the last four years. The small 

 quantities of fresh or frozen herring imported for food during the same 

 period are also shown in this table. 



39. Statement of fresh or frozen herring imported for bait and for food by foreign vessels. 



The foregoing table does not include all the herring received in this 

 country from the British North American Provinces during those years, 

 but only those brought in by foreign vessels. It has been the practice 

 of the customs officials to admit free of duty the frozen herring brought 

 in by United States vessels as product of the domestic fisheries. All the 

 frozen herring used in this country are received from foreign countries, 

 and about one-third are used for bait. The receipts of frozen herring 

 from the Provinces range from 5,000,000 to 15,000,000 pounds annually. 



SMOKED OR CURED HERRING. 



Balance of trade in smoked herring. — During the last eight years the 

 exports of smoked or cured herring have about equaled the imports. 

 During the seven years ending June 30, 1894, the exports amounted to 

 25,277,958 pounds, worth $068,237, while the imports during the same 

 period were 31,80G,495 pounds, worth 1732,029. The imports for con- 

 sumption during that period, however, were but 21,626,128 pounds, 

 worth $508,855. The terms of the Washington treaty had a very 

 depressing effect on the smoked-herring industry of the United States. 

 During 1885, the last year of that treaty, the imports for consumption 

 of foreign smoked herring amounted to 10,441,355 pounds, while in 

 the year following they were but 4,246,970 pounds. The imports for 

 consumption have continued to decrease up to the present time, the 

 quantity in 1894 being only 852,480 pounds, the smallest for twenty 

 years. The exports have shown a correspondingly large increase. In 

 1888 they were but 2,948,620 pounds, worth $79,539; while in 1894 the 

 exports of domestic smoked herring were 5,118,025 pounds, valued at 

 $123,882. Table 40 shows the imports for consumption and the exports 



