[389] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



law governing the same. Two different bills have been before the legis- 

 lature, both of which failed ; we remonstrated against both, as they dis- 

 criminated against us. Under one section of the law as it existed until 

 1874 any man in a bordering State could pack goods any weight he saw 

 fit and sell them in Pennsylvania. No local law will remedy the defect. 

 The only way to correct the abuse is by a general law requiring the 

 weight and grade stamped on each package, and failure thereof to be 

 punished by penalty. This would require no inspector, as a violation 

 could be tried and determined before a justice or United States com- 

 missioner, the same as any misdemeanor. Such a law would be hailed 

 with delight by every honest dealer, and leave no argument for the dis- 

 honest ones. From the passage of the law, in 1860, until the repeal of 

 the same, in 1868, our house had their smaller packages put up down 

 East, rather than encourage the inspector, which was only in name, no 

 inspecting being done. He would walk into the counting-house, ask 

 how many packages had been made, take what you gave him, and move 

 on. In conversation with a merchant on this subject he told me of an 

 instance where the inspector collected $3.50 fees, and the firm after- 

 ward admitted to packing 2,700 packages." 



We give below the law as it stood on the statute-books of Pennsyl- 

 vania at the time of the abolishment of inspection laws, in 1874 : 



Appointment and qualification of inspector and his deputies. Act of March 

 27, 1860, sections 1, 2. 



1. The governor shall appoint, for the term of one year, an inspector of 

 pickled fish in and for this commonwealth, who shall give a bond, with 

 sufficient sureties, to the treasurer of the State of Pennsylvania, in 

 the penal sum of ten thousand dollars, who shall have all and singular 

 the powers and authorities and be subject to all and singular the 

 duties and liabilities of such office. 



2. Said inspector may appoint deputy inspectors for the city and 

 county of Philadelphia, and in such other cities or towns in this com- 

 monwealth where pickled fish is packed or repacked, and shall be an- 

 swerable for their official conduct, and shall take bonds from each of 

 them, with sufficient surety, in such sum as shall be judged sufficient, 

 and the said deputies shall be sworn, either before the said inspector 

 or* some alderman or justice of the peace, to the faithful discharge of 

 their duty. 



When pickled fish need not be reinspected. Ibid., section 3. 



3. Pickled fish which shall have been duly inspected in the State or 

 country in which they were packed shall not be subject to reinspcction in 

 this State: Provided, That such fish are sold or exported in the original 

 packages, without being repacked. 



