18 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
those belonging to the salmon family. Allusion has been made, in the 
body of the report, to what has been accomplished on the Columbia 
River in the case of the sturgeon, and there seems to be no good reason 
why similar results may not be attained in other directions. 
Halibut may some time become an important factor in the fresh-fish 
trade of the west coast ; and it is worth while to call attention to the 
fact that this species can not be successfully handled in a frozen state. 
It might prove advantageous to have the means of keeping it in a tem- 
perature a trifle above freezing, but when frozen its flesh becomes so 
flabby and flavorless as to render it practically unfit for food. 
Artificial ice . — The difficulty of obtaining natural ice throughout the 
region embraced within the scope of this report, namely, from San 
Diego to Puget Sound, is a serious drawback upon the market fishery. 
As it is entirely feasible at present to manufacture ice at a moderate 
cost, plants for this purpose should be established at a few of the fish- 
ing centers along the coast. This is an enterprise in which the fishing 
interest itself should be concerned, that it may not be subjected to over- 
charges for ice. The extent of the market fishery and market trade of 
San Prancisco would seem to warrant the establishment of a plant 
capable of furnishing all the ice required in the fish trade of that city, 
and perhaps even to supply fishing stations near it. Astoria, Portland, 
and Seattle would seem to be other points where the manufacture of 
ice may be made profitable. 
Canning of halibut . — It seems possible that canned halibut might be 
introduced in the markets of the United States or other countries. In 
view of the comparative cheapness of the raw material on Puget Sound, 
it might be worth while for parties interested in canneries there to pack 
a few cases, in order to introduce this article of food in the markets of 
the world. 
Markets for cod , etc . — In the chapter on the cod fishery, attention 
has been called to the possibility of establishing new markets in South 
American countries, and also to the feasibility of curing cod in a special 
manner for exportation. It is not necessary to discuss this matter at 
length here, but simply to refer to suggestions made elsewhere. 
Handling market fish . — ^o matter connected with the fishery of the 
west coast seems to demand more earnest attention than the subject 
of properly caring for and distributing fresh-fish products. Attention 
has been called to this in the chapter on the market fishery of San 
Prancisco, and the remarks made there are believed to be equally ap- 
plicable to many places on the Pacific, where fish are sold in a fresh 
condition. There can be no question that it will be to the advantage 
of producers and consumers alike if the most improved methods are 
adopted and the most intelligent care is exercised in the matter of 
marketing the products sold for daily consumption. It seems pertinent 
to say that nothing improves the quality of fish more than to kill them 
by a blow immediately after they are caught, and, if practicable, to 
