REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [150] 



officer, and these fees are divided between the general inspector and his 

 deputies. 



Pickled fish and smoked fish intended for consumption within the 

 State, and fish packed in kegs of less than 10 gallons, require no in- 

 tvpection, but they must be properly cured and packed, under the same 

 penalty as inspected fish. 



The existing inspection laws of Massachusetts provide for the ap- 

 pointment by the governor of an inspector-general of fish, who shall 

 hold office for five years, and who shall he sworn and give bonds to the 

 treasurer of the commonwealth in the penal sum of $10,000, and who 

 shall have no interest, directly or indirectly, in the cure or packing of 

 pickled fish. The inspector-general appoints deputies in the various 

 seaport towns, and takes bonds from them with sufficient sureties. lie 

 is responsible for their official conduct, and may remove them from office 

 at his pleasure. The deputies are, iu most cases, members of firms that 

 are engaged in packing fish, and receive fees lor inspection that are di- 

 vided with the inspector-general. 



The fees of the office of the inspector-general will be seen in the fol- 

 lowing extract from the Cape Ann Advertiser of April 16, 1875: 



" General William Cogswell, inspector general of fish, has submitted a 

 statement to the joint standing committee on fisheries of all the fees he 

 has received from the office for the past eight years. The total receipts 

 of that period have been $_!3,305.00; total expenses, $4,400; net re- 

 ceipts, $18,903.06. During the eight years he has made some twenty- 

 eight different seizures of packages of mackerel, valued at $5,781.75, 

 from which he received, after paying expenses, $1,446.44, instead of 

 $5,781.75, which he might have insisted on had he carried out the 

 strict letter of 'the law, or an average of about $160 a year. Average 

 net salary per year, about $2,550." 



As these fees are paid entirely by dealers in fish, the office of inspector- 

 general is of no expense to the State. 



It is provided further that "under the supervision of the inspector- 

 general and his deputies, respectively, all kinds of split pickled fish and 

 fish for barreling, except herring, and all codtish tongues and sounds, 

 halibut tinrf and napes, and sword-fish, whenever said articles are intended 

 for exportation, shall be struck with salt or pickle iu th£ first instance, 

 and preserved sweet and free from rust, taint, or damage; and when 

 the same are found in good order and of good quality, they shall be 

 packed either iu tierces containing each 300 pounds," &e. 



Smoked herring and alewives are also to be inspected, and the size of 

 the boxes for smoked fish, as well as size and material for barrels used 

 for packing pickled fish, are clearly defined. 



Fish are divided in various grades, and only one kind allowed to be 

 packed in the same package. Of mackerel there are five grades, deter- 

 mined by their length and quality. Other fish are divided generally 

 into two qualities, and so branded. 



