108 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
no deficiency of supply ; the fishing grounds are believed capable of 
furnishing an unlimited amount of cod. It is apparent that no lack 
of skill in catching or curing the fish militates against their sale. So 
far as domestic markets are concerned, the Pacific cod is at a disadvan- 
tage because of its small size and comparative thinness.* Americans 
usually prefer large thick cod that are white in flesh when cured. The 
cod from the western Atlantic banks excel in these particulars, and con- 
sequently force smaller or thinner fish out of the market. The result has 
been the absolute abandonment of the Labrador fishery by American 
fishermen, since the small cod taken there (which are very similar to 
the Pacific cod) met with so little demand that the last voyages, made 
more than a decade ago, were decidedly unprofitable. 
Previous to the establishment of railroads to the Pacific, the fish- 
dealers of that region could defy competition ; but with the present fa- 
cilities for transportation the only advantage the Pacific cod has over 
its Atlantic competitor is the difference in freight charges to reach the 
consumer. Nevertheless, it is said that eastern fish are placed upon 
the market, even in San Francisco, “ at a figure which seemingly defies 
competition.” A careful observer thinks that the demand for Atlantic 
cod, in preference to those caught in the Pacific, may, perhaps, be to 
some extent due to an indisposition on the part of the San Francisco 
dealers to force their goods upon the interior of the country. u In the 
early days of California,” he says, u the consumer sought the producer ; 
but that day is past. The New England fish-dealer, a quarter of a cen- 
tury ago, could sit in his office and receive by mail enough orders for 
fish to satisfy his most ardent wishes; but to-day, in order to procure 
a fair share of trade, he is compelled to employ men at large salaries to 
canvass the entire country. If the Pacific dealer would compete with his 
Eastern neighbor he must use the same means and adopt a like method.” 
It has been suggested that fish may be artificially dried in Alaska, at 
the stations where they are caught. This is undoubtedly feasible and 
seems to offer a solution of an otherwise difficult problem, the mainte- 
nance of the Pacific cod fishery. It is reasonable to assume that light- 
salted hard-cured cod might find a ready sale among the fish-eating 
populations of Mexico and the countries of western South America. 
These are easier to reach from California than from Atlantic ports, and 
for this trade small cod would doubtless be preferable. As a matter of 
fact, very small fish of the Newfoundland catch, if properly cured, bring 
a high price and m.eet with readiest sale in Brazil. If this trade could 
be once established, so that western South Americans could know 
where to look for supplies of dried fish, there seems no reason to sup- 
*The average seldom exceeds 3 pounds for cured fish. The standard of excellence 
can not be gauged by size alone; in some markets small cod are preferred. It is a 
noteworthy fact that the cheaper grades of the Gadidce, such as hake, haddock, and 
cusk, do not occur in the Pacific as in the Atlantic. Cod alone are caught and cured 
in this industry. 
