REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [156] 



The following* communication, signed W. S., appears in the same 

 paper as the preceding, under date of February 12, 1875: 



" There seems to be a hitch in mackerel — an honest, clever fish — but 

 by the haste of somebody to overreach somebody else they fail to reach 

 the cook South and West under an accurate denomination, and this cur- 

 tails their consumption. If adulteration was chargeable to Massachu- 

 setts inspectors, a capable, efficient, and honest general inspector could 

 remedy the evil, but we apprehend that the bulk — we will not say all, 

 lest our communication be worthless — of the actulteration is beyond the 

 precincts of our State. 



"It appears to the writer that there are two ways to improve the 

 mackerel trade, both within easy reach of the merchants engaged in fish 

 commerce. First, install a general inspector familiar with fish by a prac- 

 tical education; and next, to go for his duty as unerringly as a bullet 

 would, and call for tbe cooper and a pair of scales, and confine his busi- 

 ness to the said cooper and the said scales. If criticism is demanded, 

 let it be with a note that makes one deputy less. But it is remarked, 

 'This is all very well for Massachusetts; we have no control beyond the 

 limits of the State, where the chief mischief lies.' This we admit, and 

 it is a feature that can't be remedied except by national legislation. 



"A remedy we offer, that avoids necessity for State or national 

 laws, general and deputy inspectors, as follows: Pack mackerel as they 

 do other merchandise, by any weight or style packages, and brand hon- 

 estly on each head as follows — the grade, the weight, and the owner's 

 name, and do it in such manner as to prevent repacking without de- 

 stroying the trade-mark. Buyers will demand original packages of 

 all such names as cover fish that correspond to the mark on each head, 

 and packages that have been tampered with will be rejected. There 

 seems to be but one objection to this plan, namely, a large buyer inland 

 might find it necessary to repack for better preservation, necessitating 

 the breaking of the original seal. But this we apprehend is not seri- 

 ous. As at present conducted, we learn from our most intelligent and 

 reliable fish merchants that the office of a general inspector is of no sort 

 of benefit to the fish interest, and ought to be done away with, or place 

 in the office some one who will execute the laws of the Commonwealth 

 without fear or favor." 



On the same date as the preceding article we find the following 

 editorial : 



"A petition is in circulation in this city, and has received a large num- 

 ber of signatures, for the repeal of the law providing lor an inspector- 

 general of fish. The petition sets forth that ' said officer is no benefit 

 or advantage to the fishing interests of Massachusetts, and that the fees 

 as at present paid to said inspector-general is a tax upon the busiuess 

 from which the fish-producers and dealers receive no benefit.' 



"Once was the time when a deputy fish-inspector's brand on mackerel 

 had some significance, and the buyer could rely upon it in the purchase 



