1190 EEPORT OF COMMISSIOXER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [6] 



M'liere ordiuary aud express traius carry enormous quantities of fish 

 and other products of the sea in suitable ice-cars for enormous distance*, 

 and bring these wholesome and cheap articles of food within the reach 

 of the masses in the interior of the country. It is not to be supposed 

 that the American railroad companies transport fish at a loss to them- 

 selves merely to please the great public; and if such a thing is possible 

 in America, it can certainly be also done in Europe. Complaint is also 

 made in England, where thousands of tous of fish are regularly shipped 

 by railroad, that the freight rates are exorbitant, the Great Western 

 Eailroad, for instance, charging eight times as much freight for fish as 

 for coal, while other English railroads charge at least three times as 

 much for sprats and herring as for coal. Fine fish, such as salmon, 

 sole, &c., which are eat-en only by the wealthier classes, can stand a 

 high freight-rate, which is not the case with the more common fish 

 which are to serve as food for the masses. If, as is frequently the case, 

 the freight charges exceed the value of the fish, the inland towns will 

 have to do without fish, while on the coast, after the local demand has 

 been satisfied, enormous masses of fish are either not caught at all, or, 

 if caught, are used only as manure. 



Preserved fish. — TLe manufacture in Germany of preserved fish, 

 by which its original cost is greatly increased, leaves much to be desired. 

 There was in Loudon a very full exhibit of fish preserved in various 

 ■ways. The progress in this direction made in some coast-towns of Schles- 

 wig-Holstein and Pomerania, especially in the m^ter of smoking and 

 pickling fish, should be an encouragement to our entire coast population ; 

 and we would urge our manufacturers to make a careful study of the 

 many difierent articles in this line prepared in foreign countries, so as 

 enable them to offer a greater variety to our German public. In all 

 these factories special attention should be given to a rational use of all 

 the refuse for oil, glue, and guano, whereby not only the running ex- 

 I)euses are covered, but which also frequently yields a considerable 

 surplus. 



Dangers to FiSHERiiEN. — Mechanicians emulate each other in the 

 most commendable manner in protecting fishermen against the many 

 dangers which threaten them in their difficult calling. Thus, a large 

 number of machines for hauling in nets was exhibited, which, worked 

 by hand or by steam, easily aud rapidly do a work which was otherwise 

 both laborious and dangerous. These machines are in general use in 

 England, and will undoubtedly meet with universal approval among 

 those of our fishermen who have to handle large nets. 



Eegard for the easy handling of the nets requires that the fishing 

 vessels should have as low a railing as possible, which cannot afford 

 shelter to the men who are employed on the deck, so that in a rough 

 sea they often have to move on their knees and elbows, in spite of which 

 men are frequently washed overboard. Even in calm weather, if the 

 deck should be covered with ice, the mere slipping of a foot may cause 



