[13] THE STATUS OF THE FISH COMMISSION. 1151 



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Gloucester, to say nothings of the total loss aud wreck of the fishing vessels 

 and their contents. There has gradually developed in connection with 

 the mackerel and cod fisheries of New England a pattern of vessel 

 which, while admirable for speed and beauty of lines and of rig, is less 

 safe under certain emergencies than the more substantial vessel used 

 abroad, especiallj^ in England aud Scotland. The subject of the best 

 form of fishing vessel has been intrusted Captain Collins, of the Com- 

 mission, himself a most experienced fisherman, and after a careful 

 study of the boats of all nations he has prepared a model which is be- 

 lieved to combine the excellencies of both English and American vessels. 

 An appropriation will be asked from Congress for means to construct 

 an experimental vessel and test its qualities ; but until this successful 

 experiment is made it will be difficult to induce the fishermen to change 

 their present form of construction." 



Since this was written some progress has been made to the accom- 

 plishment of this end. The model of the "New Era," exhibited at the 

 London Fisheries Exhibition, met with the approval of many expe- 

 rienced builders, yachtsmen, and fishermen, and a tendency is mani- 

 festing itself among the New England fishermen to heed the warnings of 

 Captain Collins; a number of somewhat deeper vessels having already 

 been built. It is much to be regretted that Congress failed to make 

 the desired appropriation before their summer adjournment. 



" 4. The fourth object of the Commission is to determine the extent and 

 general character of the old fishing localities and to discover new ones. 

 There is no doubt whatever that there still remains many important 

 areas, even in the best known seas, where the codfish and halibut will 

 be found in their old abundance. There has never been any formal in- 

 vestigation on this subject, and the banks that are known have been 

 brought to light purely by accident. It is believed that by a syste- 

 matic research and a careful survey, the area of known grounds can be 

 greatly extended. There is even more reason to hope for successful 

 results from this inquiry of the South Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of 

 Mexico. These regions, the latter especially, may be considered as 

 practically unknown, the few established localities for good fishing 

 being in small proportion to what must exist." 



A preliminary discussion of the fishing grounds, prepared by Messrs. 

 Eathbun aud Collins is now going through the press, and this will give 

 us a foundation for future expansion. It may be mentioned incident- 

 ally that during the London exhibition, members of the American staff 

 were enabled to point out from their knowledge of the habits of these 

 fish in the Western Atlantic, the locations of what are no doubt excel- 

 lent fishing ground for halibut and mackerel along the European coasts 

 which have never been tried by European fishermen. 



"5. There is also much to he learned in the way of curing and packing 

 fish for general and special markets. The American methods have grown 

 up as a matter of routine, and are adapted to only one class of demand. 



