PROBLEMS IN THE FISH BUSINESS 19 



fish have been handled by fishermen, their appearance destroyed and 

 their food qualities deteriorated. So, when Mr. Byrne tells us that the 

 methods of handling fish in the first instance have been improved, that 

 there is an approved, a quick and an efficient system, I think it is a 

 matter for congratulation, and it will be a splendid thing if more can 

 be done in this direction, so that the merchant, when he receives fish 

 from the fishing boats, may be sure he has a product that has been 

 properly handled and treated, and with which he can deal with confi- 

 dence that it will reach our tables in good condition. But I defy any 

 man to knock fish about in a fishing boat, ship it a long distance and 

 have it arrive at our tables fit for food. 



The reference to the dog-fish pest also struck me as an important 

 point, and it is of special interest to me because I am chairman of a 

 Committee of the Fisheries Board which, during the last month or so, 

 has gone thoroughly into this dog-fish question again, and we hope to 

 report very soon as to what is yet to be done with this terrible pest, 

 which is such a source of loss to our fishermen and to all interested in 

 the advance of the fishing industry. 



Mr. Byrne's paper was extremely practical and there are many sug- 

 gestions in it we should take to heart. I feel considerable pride in the 

 fact that I have had something to do with some of these movements to 

 which Mr. Byrne referred. Many of the things which are being done 

 now are matters which I urged upon the Government, but which it 

 seemed very slow to take up ; I remember telling Earl Grey, who was 

 active in fostering our industries, that there were two things lacking 

 in our fishing industry, one being organization amongst the men 

 handling the fish, and the other, strong public opinion backing up officers 

 of the Fisheries Department in their work of enforcing the law as to 

 close seasons and other regulations. When such infractions took place 

 it was too often the case that the public seemed to sympathise with 

 the violator. If a man shipped a lot of illegal lobsters, everyone— 

 sometimes even heads of universities were not free from blame, and 

 in this, Mr. Chairman, I am not casting any reflection upon yourself — 

 seemed to sympathise with the poor fisherman, forgetting that he was 

 thereby injuring the public and the public resources. 



I would like to ask Mr. Byrne a question with regard to the ship- 

 ping of fish from the retail merchants to customers in small refriger-' 

 ator boxes. Are they used in sending the fish to its destination ? 



Mr. Byrns: You refer to the method of distribution from the 

 wholesale dealer, who receives the fresh fish in large quantities and car 

 lots, to the retailer. In the city the fish are packed in a box to be 



