44 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



we will onl}' point to the increased use of cotton for fishing ai)paratus 

 since 1865. And as regards the proper treatment, preservation, utiliza- 

 tion, and shipjiing of the i)rodncts of the sea, there is still a vast field 

 for improvement. Fishery exhibitions will finally prove very beneficial 

 to fishing legislation, as they will afford an opportunity to competent 

 and i^ractical men to meet and fully discuss this important subject. 

 There is still so much ignorance Avith regard to this last-mentioned mat- 

 ter, and there are so many different and widely divergent views, that it 

 is extremely desirable, both for the government and those specially in- 

 terested in the fisheries, to arrive at some well-established principles 

 which may form the basis of suitable legislation. There is, therefore, 

 ample reason to encourage and ujihold fishery exhibitions. 



As far as Denmark is concerned (and perhaps other countries), it must 

 be said that fishery exhibitions will prove failures unless a strong and 

 direct appeal is made to fishermen and to fish-dealers, as well as to man- 

 ufacturers of fishing apparatus, to take an active part in such exhibitions. 

 Astonishment has sometimes been exi)ressed that our fishermen do not 

 take a gTeater interest in these exhibitions; but it should be borne in 

 mind that, with few exceptions, fishermen are very conservative, both 

 as regards apparatus and methods, and that it requires a special effort 

 to stir them wp. If this matter were seriously taken in hand by some 

 zealous and energetic men, we would see a great improvement in our 

 fisheries brought about by exhibitions. The better preservation of fish, 

 and the increased knowledge of the best markets for their goods, would 

 certainly be a practical benefit to the fishermen ; gradually improved 

 apparatus, boats, &c., will be introduced, and make the fishermen more 

 and more independent. Until this result is brought about, the fishermen 

 should be assisted by the government, which unfortunately has hitherto 

 done too little in tliis respect. A knowledge of im^) roved methods and 

 apparatus should be spread, practical and theoretical instruction should 

 be given, and money should be liberally appropriated for furthering the 

 fishing interests. Since the fishery- exhibition at Svendborg in 1877, 

 and our fishery exhibit at Paris in 1878, were failures, owing chiefly to 

 lack of interest and the entirely inadequate sums api^ropriated for the 

 purj)ose by our government, a strong effort should be made to be well 

 represented at the international fishery exhibition to be held at Berlin 

 in May, 1880. As Germany will always be the chief market for our fish- 

 ing x)roducts, this should certainly not be neglected. 



In conclusion, the following suggestions are submitted, in the hope 

 that at some fishery congress they may assume the form of definite res- 

 olutions : 



1. The fishery exhibit at agricultural or industrial exhibitions is abol- 

 ished. 



2. In its stead meetings of fishermen and all persons interested in the 

 fisheries are held annually in different parts of the country, where fish- 

 ing products, apparatus, &c., are exhibited. 



