PROBLEMS IN THE FISH BUSINESS 23 



decent supply. I thank Mr. Byrne and congratulate him on the very 

 excellent paper he has read to us this morning. 



Mr. Lepurgey : With regard to the question of the local consump- 

 tion in Canada, I think there is a great chance for improving the mar- 

 ket in that regard. I know that in nearly all the small centres, in the 

 Maritime provinces anyway — and I think that the people who have 

 lived in small towns there will bear me out — the consumption of fish 

 is comparatively small. Right in the Maritime provinces, in many 

 towns, it is almost impossible to go down to the market, except occa- 

 sionally, and get fresh fish. I do not know where the fault is, whether 

 or not it is on account of the lack of education among the people as 

 to the value of fish as an economical food. Possibly an improvement 

 in the education of people in this respect might very well remedy that 

 condition and possibly the local condition of the trade might be im- 

 proved, so that dealers would be induced to deal regularly in fish and 

 keep it in proper condition. I think that is a point that might help to 

 increase the consumption to a large extent. The fish from Prince 

 Edward Island is shipped straight through and does not reach the 

 small centres regularly, so that the people of the community cannot get 

 a regular supply of fish. In many instances the local dealers handle 

 it without even a proper ice box, and it is impossible to handle 

 fresh fish and deliver it in good condition after it has been kept for 

 four or five days under such conditions. There is a field for a vast 

 increase in the consumption of fish in Canada. If in the first instance 

 we could educate our people to the value of fish as a food product 

 and encourage the local dealer to keep a fresh supply on hand, getting 

 it in at least twice a week, undoubtedly there would be a greatly in- 

 creased consumption and our people would receive a better food pro- 

 duct. There are very few people in our communities who have been 

 properly educated as to the value of fish as a diet, say two or three 

 times a week, as an article of staple food consumption. I think a 

 great deal can be done in this way, much more than we can possibly 

 hope to accomplish by the foreign exportation of fish to meet English 

 orders. 



What would be the difference in the cost of sending our fish to 

 the EngUsh market as compared with the cost of fish caught in English 

 waters ? 



Mr. Byrne: This question involves several others. I think I am 

 quite safe in saying we could not compete with the British product for 

 fresh fish. The British Isles use vast quantities of fish. They are pro- 

 duced and run to market quickly and we could not produce them nor 



