158 American Fisheries Society 



ally the buyers think it is the whitefish of the Great Lakes. 

 It can be truthfully stated, however, that the catfish is 

 one of the most delicious of all our salt water groundfish. 



In some markets Pacific halibut masqueraded as east- 

 ern halibut, and Pacific salmon as eastern salmon. There 

 is no question here, in these two cases, as to the quality 

 or fitness for food, but the economic value of the new 

 law is emphasized in that the unlawful substitution means 

 from 5 to 10 cents a pound to the purchaser, the Pacific 

 fish costing the dealer less in both instances. 



These few cases are cited merely to show what this 

 law, properly enforced, can do away with, to the benefit, 

 financial and otherwise, of the consumer, and this also 

 without detriment in any way to the honest dealer. 



PROGRESS ALREADY MADE 



It can be asserted here with assurance that already the 

 new law is proving its worth. A campaign of education 

 throughout the state, acquainting dealers and public with 

 the scope and intent of the new law, has aroused much 

 interest and has been strongly taken up by the press. 

 Many of the leading dealers, particularly among the 

 wholesalers, have shown a splendid readiness to co- 

 operate. 



Masquerade titles for fish are being eliminated from 

 the weekly price lists of many large concerns. A smaller 

 amount of number three grade fish is being handled by 

 the splitters and also as a result of this law the great salt 

 fish concerns are already planning to handle little or no 

 third grade fish next season. The importance of this is 

 far reaching. 



Pollock, properly labelled, are appearing in the mar- 

 kets and a few days ago there was observed in the show 

 window of a large retail market, where generally the 

 platter of "Whitefish" was wont to appear, a large cat- 



