PROBLEMS IN THE FISH BUSINESS 25 



not satisfy the fishing public and, while we have had a Royal Com- 

 mission who have established certain regulations and certain close sea- 

 sons for fishing in many places, I do not think it meets with the 

 approval of the fishermen or the packers, and from personal observa- 

 tion, I do not think that, in some sections, at least, it meets the real 

 requirements of the situation. Different seasons call for different 

 treatment as to the length of time during which fishing should be per- 

 mitted. For instance, on the north of Prince Edward Island the fish- 

 ing season commences fairly early, but there was a period of nearly 

 a month in the early spring of this year, when, owing to ice condi- 

 tions, the fishermen could not get out and set their traps and, on the 

 south side, the fish did not strike in to the fish boxes. Under such 

 conditions the packers, after going to a great deal of expense in equip- 

 ping themselves for a catch of fish and to keep their factories in 

 operation, feel that the conditions at those times should be met by a 

 special regulation, and I think that possibly, if there was an advisory 

 board who would take into consideration conditions of such a nature 

 as that and change the season to suit the conditions arising, the situation 

 would be very much improved. I think it would do away with a great 

 deal of dissatisfaction among the fishermen and would tend to do away 

 with a great deal of illegal fishing that possibly goes on at the present 

 time. If this matter were taken up with the fisheries officials, some such 

 adjustment as that might very well be made and certainly it would be 

 a satisfactory thing to all concerned in fisheries protection. 



Pro?. Prince: Respecting the shipping of fish for long distances, 

 quite a considerable quantity of fish goes to Australia and New Zealand 

 from Scotland. I saw finnan baddies in Melbourne and Adelaide that 

 had arrived in splendid condition from Scotland. The Scotch people 

 are very patriotic in regard to fish and must have Aberdeen baddies. 

 We could send Aberdeen baddies from Canada much more readily than 

 they can be sent from Scotland and there is a possibility in such coun- 

 tries as Australia and New Zealand for quite a business in that direction. 



Mr. Feilding : There is one question I should like to touch upon. 

 We are continually hearing of the cheap food side of the fishing indus- 

 try. I have only been associated a short time with the fishery adminis- 

 tration of this country, but I fail to find what I have always hoped to 

 find, namely, fish put on the market at such a price that the workingman 

 would look to it as he would to meat. I am living at Barrie, forty or 

 fifty miles from Georgian bay. There is an excellent train service to 

 Collingwood. A travelling fish salesman comes around once a week 

 and retails off his stock. He says that he buys his fish direct from the 



