WALLEM ON AMERICAN FISHERIES. 99 



oppressive summer lieat; and, finallj^, tliey were constantly surrounded 

 by a dense circle of spectators, especially children and ladies, who felt 

 themselves very fortunate to see them, admired them, and in their delight 

 gave them rare dainties. Nearly as much attention was bestowed on 

 the fishes cast in plaster and painted with great skill. This collection 

 (the cost of which is stated to be $27,300), was larger than that, and had 

 a place in the Government Building, where also a collection of photo- 

 graphs (with the scale of measurement attached) and color sketches of 

 all sorts of fishes were exhibited. Here was found a great variety of 

 implements, hatching-apparatus, and the requisites for the transporta- 

 tion and planting of young fishes. 



The products of the fresh-water fisheries were also exhibited in great 

 abundance, chiefly all forms of preserved salmon. In a couple of refrig- 

 erators were shown fresh fish, which, in spite of the oppressive heat, 

 kept their fresh, delicate appearance many months. This was both an 

 exhibition of fish and of a mode of preservation, and the two parts com- 

 bined were an illustration of the advanced development of the fish- 

 traf&c. Beside California salmon lay pompano from the Gulf of Mex- 

 ico, always equally fresh and sweet. The great prominence which they 

 had thus given the fresh-water fisheries must naturally excite one's in- 

 terest in them ; but since, as before remarked, no detailed statistics of 

 the fisheries are to be found, one is cut off from access to an easy mode 

 of furnishing himself clearer information on their extent and imi)ortance 

 as a public industry. At the same time there are found so many local 

 statements respecting them, and also copious individual estimates con- 

 cerning this and the proportions of the fisheries in other directions, that 

 oneVith their help can form a tolerably good conception of the part 

 they play. 



In a more detailed account of the relations of the great lakes it is 

 seen that the whole fishery-traffic here is entirely similar to tlie great 

 coast and sea fisheries. The author, one of the esteemed functionaries 

 of the Government of the United States, had visited most of the great 

 lakes and procured statements regarding the scientific as well as the 

 practical interest in this connection. The annual supply of fresh-water 

 fishes which fifteen cities alone take near the borders of the lakes, is 

 found to amount to not less than 32,250,000 pounds, of an aggregate 

 value of $2,184,000, the local expenses not included. iSTearly two-thirds 

 were furnished in the fresh state, and consisted of 1-4,000,000 pounds of 

 salmon, trout, pike, whitefish, and fresh-water catfish ; over 4,000,000 

 pounds (or 20,000 to 25,000 barrels) of fresh-water herring were supplied, 

 but of these 10,000,000 pounds more were delivered salted, 



Tlic prices were not stated for the individual kinds, but the total of 

 $2,184,000 for 32,250,000 pounds gives an average price of 27 cents per 

 English pound, or about $2.73 for 36 Danish pounds, and this must be 

 called a good price. But if one take properly into consideration that 

 here are mentioned fish so fine and well flavored as sahnon and trout 



