66 American Fisheries Society 



advertising. In other cases, the range of our activities will be 

 much broader, but along usual commercial channels, including all 

 phases, from the development of fishing grounds to arousing the 

 interest of the consumer to purchase the product. 



The campaign conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries to intro- 

 duce the tilefish included all these phases. The summary of this 

 work, contained in the Report of the Commissioner of Fisheries 

 for 19 16, is worthy of study here, and illustrates the effective 

 manner in which the Federal Government can co-operate with 

 the commercial interests in this field. "The fishing grounds 

 were found and pointed out to the fishermen ; a regular commercial 

 fishing vessel was engaged to demonstrate the financial yield of 

 this fishery under regular industrial conditions; the wholesale 

 trade was enlisted in the distribution of the fish; the retailer was 

 furnished with attractive display advertising matter, calling 

 his customers' attention to the fact the fish was on sale; and 

 the consumer was told about the tilefish and how to cook it, and 

 his curiosity and interest was stimulated to the point where he 

 wished to try it and asked his dealer for it." 



The problem of creating markets for other species may prove 

 even more intricate. In addition to the lines of development 

 outlined above, it may be necessary to enlist the services of skilled 

 technologists to solve problems of preparation and preservation 

 of the fish for food, to determine by careful analysis the actual 

 fitness for food and to develop methods of preparation of and uses 

 for the by-products. It may even be necessary to overcome the 

 aversion of fishermen to fishing for and bringing the fish to market, 

 and to uproot deep-seated prejudice or actual repugnance on the 

 part of the consumer to using them for food. We may be required 

 to duplicate the work of the meat packing industry, of which it is 

 said that commercial uses have been developed for every part of 

 the hog but the squeal, and that even that is sometimes employed 

 in phonograph records. On our ability, through extended research 

 and a campaign of education to develop such uses and markets for 

 all parts of these neglected fishes, may depend the margin of profit 

 necessary to support the fishery. 



As the development of fisheries and uses for sharks presents 

 such a problem, it will serve as an illustration. In this campaign, 

 it has been necessary to: 



