VI.-REPORT ON THE AMERICAN FISHERIES* 



By Fredrik M. Wallem 



Note by Traxslator. — The prices of fii<h given in section VI are in large jjart incorrect. 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



In the United States of !N^orth America the traffic in fresh fish is of the 

 greatest importance, whereas in salted and dried fish it is of compara- 

 tively secondary importance ; and the development in all fish-trafiic in 

 the Union augurs that this condition will strengthen and advance till 

 fresh fish to a greater extent than now will become the chief product of 

 the fisheries and will employ the greatest capital. The American fish- 

 dealers enlarge their field of operations with remarkable energy and 

 ability. They extend their fishing-grounds along the east coast both 

 south and north, so that in a twinkling they pass from the Gulf of Mexico 

 to a considerable distance up on the Greenland coast, traversing a 

 coast-stretch of COO to 700 geographical miles. At the same time they 

 extend their field eastward by going farther to sea and employing 

 steamers for fishing- vessels ; while the catch inland in the great lakes 

 and streams takes a decided advance, which result is based upon sys- 

 tematic protection and artificial propagation. Halibut, for instance, 

 they fish for off the Greenland coast (since the year 1870), and sell in 

 the fresh state some hundreds of miles inland after having been sent in 

 ice by rail from the landing-place ; nay more, the American fishermen 

 have attempted to bring halibut from tlie Iceland coast.t It will soon 

 be attempted to send salmon caught in California to markets in Europe 

 in a fresh state, just as American oysters in the shell have been, for 

 some time already, to a few in England. The Americans will soon catch 

 fish a thousand miles from home, if they continue to be eaten fresh as 

 latterly ; they will buy fish on one side of the globe and sell them on the 



*0m de Amerikanske Fiskerier. Indberetning til Departementet for det Indre fra 

 cand. jnr. Fredrik M. Wallem om en af ham med offentligt stipendium foretagen 

 Reiee til Philadelphia-tidstillingen i 1876. Udgivet efter Foranstaltning af Departe- 

 mentet for det Indre. Christiania. 1878. Eeport on the American Fisheries, by 

 Fredrik M. Wallem, of a journey undertaken by him at the x»Tiblic expense to the 

 Philadelphia Exhibition in 1876. Published by direction of the Depari:ment of the 

 Interior. Christiania. Bergh & EUefsen's printing office. 1878. Translated from 

 the Norwegian by Tarleton H. Bean. 



tXhe first attemjjt at haUbut-fishing off Iceland -was made in 1873, but failed, it is 

 Baid, on the ground of a bad choice of season ; it was the experimenter's purpose to 

 repeat the attempt. 



