.liiicricaii I'tslu-rics Society. 119 



useless offal be bunied, either elieniieally or with tire. L should 

 thiuk that there could be ehcap furnaces made of rocks and 

 stones, and the fires once started could be kept up by the judicious 

 distri!)Ution of the refuse. Would it not pay to consume or other- 

 wise decompose the matter that will assuredly injure the verv 

 young" and delicate food fishes, the flavor of which is their chief 

 attraction to the consumers? 



That California has its profitable fisheries, that Mexico has 

 opened the Pacific coast of Lower California to the world of 

 fishermen, that Alaska and British Columbia teem with millions 

 of salmon and other fish does not say that there need be no more 

 thought of economy or protection. A g'lance will show that 

 both are now more absolutely requisite than ever, for the tide 

 of the .Atlantic will turn to the west in colonies of disappointed, 

 heart-sick men who know nothing- but how to take and cure the 

 food productions of the sea, They will flock toward the fishing 

 grounds as do the gold seekers to the new Eldorado. It will not 

 do to wait until their migration happens. It would be ungen- 

 erous to let them go and then supply laws of which they know 

 nothing. Instead, let the conmiission carefully prepare schedules 

 of the regulations tliat they know to be required for the protec- 

 tion of the fishes, and through that for the longevity of the fish- 

 cries, and follow this by presenting" them to the proper authori- 

 ties for inspection, consideration and legislation. Follow the 

 matter so tliat it must be put through (piicklv. Include every 

 kind of fishery in this — that is. the oyster and sponge and pearl, 

 as well as well-known fish from whale, seal and walrus, down to 

 the tiny, delicious smelt. If this is done now while these fisheries 

 are in comparative infancy, there will be no danger of extermina- 

 ti( n. no cry from men wlio have lost their legitimate business 

 through ignorance or carelessness. 



There is. and will be. increased demand for canned fish, as 

 they are now included among the stores for armv and navy, but 

 there is great fear of over-production, particularly if the war is 

 soon ended. Then it becomes again necessary to warn, not only 

 against over-supply, but also against using any but the best man- 

 ner of preserving fish, so that no one can be injured when the 

 goods are cheapened and sold to the people. 



As food, fresh fish well preserved and carefully canned, is 

 desirable both for health and variety of menu. Rut diseased, 

 decomposed or chemicallv tainted fish is ncH onl\' an abomination 

 but an active poison. 



When preparing the new fishing laws, this phase of protectio- 



