﻿12 The Philippine Journal of Science 1914 



found in the Philippines that could undoubtedly be canned with 

 profit and sold on their merits. 



However simple the process of canning sardines seems to be, 

 I strongly advise against anyone entering the business without 

 first securing the services of an experienced canning operator; 

 otherwise failure would probably result. 



In this connection, the following note is of special interest: T 



The sardine packers of France have of late, as a consequence of the 

 very poor catch in the last few years, decided to close all their factories 

 along the coast of Brittany and Vendee. 



This decision is partly due to the poor catch owing to the lack of fish 

 and the antiquated fishing implements used by the Britton fisherman. It 

 is noticed that in past years the fish which abounded along the coast 

 of Brittany seem to have almost disappeared therefrom, or at least the 

 sardine shoals are no longer to be found close to the shore as formerly 

 and seem to be now in the offing. The fishermen being poorly equipped 

 can not go too far off from the coast, and the consequence is that their 

 catch is very trifling. They are unable to supply the factories with a 

 sufficient quantity of fish, and when they secure a good catch try to sell 

 it at very high prices. The manufacturers claim that the Spanish and Por- 

 tuguese fish caught in large quantities are, on the contrary, sold at very 

 low prices, and thus the Spanish and Portuguese manufacturers are en- 

 abled to favorably compete with French manufacturers. 



Over 100 factories were closed on January 1, 1913, and many others, 

 it is said, will close before the end of January, 1914. It is also said that 

 several manufacturers will reestablish their works in Spain and Portugal. 

 It is, however, hoped that their decision is not irrevocable, and that if 

 the fishermen are enabled to improve their fishing implements the closed 

 factories may perhaps be reopened before the next fishing season. 



The manufacturers' decision affects quite a number of industries, such 

 as tin-can factories, olive-oil manufacturers, etc., and in Brittany alone over 

 50,000 people will thus be put out of employment. If the matter is not 

 arranged between the canners and the fishermen, French sardines will be 

 very scarce in the markets of the world. 



PRESERVING FISH BY LOW TEMPERATURE OR REFRIGERATION 



The preserving of fish and fish products in the tropics by 

 means of cold is of sufficient importance to merit the most care- 

 ful scientific observation. The subject is one of primary 

 importance not only to the people of Manila, but also to the 

 inhabitants of every city situated within the tropics and to all 

 transoceanic vessels. 



It has no doubt been the experience of almost every one who 

 has traveled by sea that on some vessels all of the fish and fre- 

 quently the meat and game from the cold storage were as dry as 



'Daily Consular & Trad* Rep.. Washington (1913). 



