OCT 20 1992 



DIVISION O? FISHES 

 VS. NATIONAL MUSEUM 



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 



BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Economic Circular No. 23 



Issued March 8, 1917 



THE SABLEFISH, ALIAS BLACK C0D.° 



An Introduction to One of the Best and Richest of American Food 

 Fishes, With Recipes for Cooking It. 



To gain entrance to the best society a new fish, like a new neigh- 

 bor, must be vouched for and properly introduced. Cod, mackerel, 

 salmon, and a few other members of old and respected fish families 

 of Europe, which came to the shore of America even before the 

 Pilgrim Fathers, were at once recognized and accepted by the May- 

 floioer immigrants and their successors, and there was established 

 from among them a veritable " codfish aristocracy " of the markets. 

 From time to time other fish have been added to the elite, but their 



number is still far short of the "four hundred," which probably 

 could be included if our available aquatic food supplies were fully 

 utilized. 



Within a few years, however, the democracy of high prices has 

 upset the old exclusiveness and has given to previously unknown or 

 obscure fishes an opportunity to be pushed to the fore and to demon- 

 strate that they are entitled to regard, at least equal to that accorded 

 to those of longer standing in the community. The tilefish has 



" By H. F. Moore, Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Fisheries. 

 81648°— 17 



