164 INTRODUCTION TO THE CLASS OF FISHES 



seemed most logical and reasonable. In order to conform to 

 this time-honored custom, I have elected to do likewise. 



AVith the subdivisions of the Orders, we are not at pres- 

 ent seriously concerned, our main object being to block out 

 the larger groups only. The arrangement of Orders set 

 forth on pages 172-173 is called a "practical arrangement" 

 because it can be understood, and is available for practical, 

 every-day use. 



THE FISHERY INDUSTRIES AND FISH PROPAGATION 



At the present date (1914), the commercial fisheries of 

 the United States, including Alaska but excluding our insular 

 possessions, employ about 225,000 persons and 7,500 vessels, 

 with an aggregate capacity of 217,000 tons. The total 

 amount of capital invested is about $65,000,000, and the initial 

 value of the various fishery products is about $76,000,000. 



Although the price of nearly all fish products, including 

 oysters, clams, lobsters and crabs, has greatly increased dur- 

 ing the past ten years, the fishes of our waters still remain the 

 cheapest of all good and wholesome meat foods, and are almost 

 as vitally important as coal and wood. 



Naturally, the onslaughts of the commercial fishermen on 

 the visible supply of food fishes is terrific, and with the alarm- 

 ing decline now apparent in the supply of beef cattle, the value 

 of the food fishes will be further increased. To-day the 

 United States Bureau of Fisheries, as the propagator and 

 preserver of fishes, is engaged in a hand-to-hand struggle 

 with the fishing industry to maintain the available supply. 



There are comparatively few laws which are intended to 



