356 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



packed at Gottenburg, Sweden, during the preceding February. The 

 contents of this package were found to be very offensive and consider- 

 ably decayed. Some of the specimens were moderately hard, but wholly 

 unfit for food or bait. 



28. The Pursell process.— On May 28 a keg of about 8 gallons capac- 

 ity, filled with split haddock (finnan baddies), which had been pre- 

 served by the Pursell process about 3 or 4 months previously, was 

 opened at Central Station of the U. S. Fish Commission in the presence 

 of Dr. J. H. Kidder, Mr. W. P. Seal, and myself. The top layer of fish 

 was covered with a white mold, but had no offensive smell whatever ; 

 the remainder were bright, sweet, and firm in flesh, and apparently in 

 good condition. Specimens were given several persons for trial, who 

 reported that the fish tasted strongly of the acid — so much so as to 

 render them unpalatable. 



It is very possible that the result might have been materially differ- 

 ent had this package been opened in about a month or 6 weeks after 

 it was put up. I believe that the contents might have still retained 

 much of their original flavor and value for food purposes if they had 

 been subjected to a shorter test. 



29. Experiment with bait. — On May 11, 1888, I had the opportunity to 

 be present, at Gloucester, Massachusetts, when an experiment was made 

 by Mr. C. H. S. Schultz to preserve bait for sea fishing by the Roosen 

 process. The object was to determine if bait preserved by that method 

 could be utilized by American fishermen with good practical results. 

 This is a matter in which the U. S. Fish Commission has taken more 

 than ordinary interest, since success in this direction would be a matter 

 of the greatest importance to our sea fishery. For this reason I gave 

 Mr. Schultz what assistance I could and noted the chief points of inter- 

 est in connection with the experiment. The following extracts from a 

 memorandum, which I sent to the Commissioner on May 26, contains 

 information relating to the obtaiumeut and packing of the bait on this 

 occasion : 



.Sea herring aud squid could not be obtained, as it was not the season for them to 

 approach the coast, and on May 10 I went with him [Mr. Schultz] from Gloucester 

 to Essex to secure some alewives, which was the only bait fish then obtainable. Al- 

 though the town statutes prohibit the capture of more than fifty fish by any individ- 

 ual, the authorities were very kind and considerate when learning from me the pur- 

 pose for which the fish were required, and offered to supply what Mr. Schultz needed 

 for his experiments without charge. This they did on the following day, and Mr. 

 Story, with whom I am personally acquainted, very generously voluntered to haul 

 them to Gloucester without any expense to Mr. Schultz. The fish were put into the 

 preservative on May 11, and I understand that they are to be practically tested some 

 time during the summer or autumn. 



I am informed that after being kept about a month the bait was put on 

 board of a cod fishing vessel going on a short trip to the banks. When 

 opened the alewives were found to be in excellent condition — sweet and 

 sound. Nevertheless the fishermen say they were totally unattractive 

 to cod, and therefore wholly worthless for bait. 



