70 American Fisheries Society 



itself is harmless, but, on account of its odor, gives the impression 

 that the product is spoiled, unfit for food. We have learned by- 

 experiment that in pickle the urea slowly dissolves out, uniting 

 with the salt in the brine, thus tending to eradicate this objection- 

 able feature. Little or no trouble has been experienced with the 

 flesh which has been pickled and smoked or kippered, and the 

 canned, kippered fish is very attractive indeed. 



To some, it may appear that the writer has wandered afield in 

 this discussion, has laid undue stress on the difficulties which have 

 to be met. This has been done purposely, with the hope of 

 bringing about a more complete appreciation of the varied char- 

 acter of the problems and the way in which they may be met. 



It is to be feared that some may be discouraged by the mag- 

 nitude of the task which confronts them in developing markets for 

 these neglected fishes. However, by concerted effort on the part 

 of those engaged in the fisheries, state and federal agencies and 

 skilled technological investigators, it can be done. In fact, much 

 has already been accomplished. By way of illustration, it is 

 estimated that on the basis of the weight of the fresh fish, the 

 following quantities of certain of these neglected fishes were 

 marketed during 1917: burbot, 500,000 pounds; grayfish, 

 4,000,000 pounds; sablefish, 4,000,000 pounds; Alaska Scotch- 

 cured herring, 2,000,000 pounds; tilefish, 6,000,000 pounds; and 

 whiting, 20,000,000 pounds. As yet, no estimates are available 

 as to the results of the campaign in introducing drumfish, eulachon, 

 menhaden, sharks, fish roe and buckroe, etc. The markets 

 absorbed these 35 millions or more pounds of fish in a single year 

 and will absorb increasingly larger quantities. For every time 

 that we create a place in the market for one of these new fishes, we 

 weaken the consumers' objections to trying new fishes. 



Is not this question of marketing the neglected fishes one of 

 the big problems of the commercial fisheries of today, and is it 

 not worthy of our concerted effort to continue the development of 

 such fisheries, observing proper safeguards to prevent depletion, 

 until we have no more waste than in other highly organized 

 industries? My answer is in the affirmative. 



