THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 151 



of our actual catch, but failing to secure what is in other countries con- 

 sidered a source of national wealth. Apart from tbe increase in quan- 

 tity of the well-established preparations of fish by drying, salting, sinok 

 ing, &c, there is a large field open in putting up fish in hermetically 

 sealed cans, either in oil, pickle, or spices. 



The Centennial Exhibition of 1876 afforded an opportunity for the 

 presentation of vast numbers of preparations of fish, as made and con- 

 sumed in large quantities in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, which 

 could be readily imitated in the United States, and find a market either 

 here or in foreign countries. Indeed, almost every fish of the Mediter- 

 ranean in the various preparations, notably the mullet, the mackerel, 

 the tunny, the perch, bass, &c, and even squids or cuttlefish, were 

 found to constitute no inconsiderable item. 



Of herring there are many preparations greatly in demand in Europe 

 of which we know nothing. A reference to some of tiiese will be found 

 in the Report of the TJ. S. Fish Commission, Vol. Ill, page 183 (Wide- 

 gren on the Herring and its Preparation as an Article of Trade). 



The carcasses of sharks, skates, and other now refuse fish could be 

 converted into food for dogs, poultry, and even used in feeding young- 

 trout or salmon, &c, in piscicultural establishments. Even if they 

 could be sold at from 1 to 3 cents a pound for the dried meat, in the 

 large demand that could readily be developed for the various purposes 

 mentioned, a satisfactory profit could be derived. The meat could be 

 chopped fine or converted into meal, as with the well known fish-meal 

 of Norway. 



IV.— MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF FISHERIES. 



CONSIDERATIONS RELATIVE TO THE BEST MODE OF MAINTAINING 

 AND INCREASING- THE SUPPLY OF THE SEA FISHERIES. 



This subject may be best treated under the following heads : First, 

 legislation in the way of regulation and prohibition ; second, the in- 

 crease of the absolute number and variety of fish ; third, equalizing 

 the supply of fishes and bringing them from distant points within easy 

 or convenient reach of the fishermen. 



1. — LEGISLATION. 



The history of the fisheries for many centuries past has been largely 

 a record of attempts either to give monopolies to favored individuals 

 and companies, or well-meant, but in most cases ill-judged, endeavors 

 to protect the fish from destruction and to secure the rights of the peo- 

 ple in their capture. The tendency, however, of later years, has been 

 materially to relax and in many cases to abolish these regulations, and 

 it is now becoming generally conceded that, so far as the sea fisheries 

 are concerned, the less the obstacles we place in the way of the prosecu- 

 tion of the fisheries the better. It very rarely happens that the enact- 



