8 Appendices to Thirty-seventh Annual Report 



Improved steamer services are essential to any development of 

 the fisheries of the West Coast and the adjacent islands, but transport 

 is only a part of the problem affecting this area, and the matter is dealt 

 with as a whole under " Development of Inshore Fisheries " {vide 



P . ii). 



As regards the railways, additional rolling stock adapted for the 

 transport of fish, particularly the provision of a large number of 

 refrigerating vans, is required. The construction of these should 

 be regarded as a matter of urgency, and in the meantime steps 

 should be taken to secure that all fish trucks and vans which 

 have been diverted to other traffic are made available for the 

 trade. 



The railway rates on fish have been most unsatisfactory 

 and discouraging to distributors, and revision of them is urgently 

 required. The three ton minimum for reduced rates should certainly 

 be lowered, and it is suggested that for a period of years a flat rate 

 for smaller quantities, with a minimum of say 1 cwt., should be 

 adopted. 



Other measures which would undoubtedly tend to give a great 

 impetus to the consumption of fish in a fresh state in this country are 

 the provision of freezing or cold storage establishments, the erection 

 of municipal fish markets in all the large centres, with refrigerating 

 establishments attached, the removal of the present congestion at 

 Billingsgate by the erection of a central market in the neighbourhood 

 of the railway termini for the reception of all rail-borne fish sent to 

 London, exploitation of the " small parcel " system, which has been 

 developed to such an important extent at fish centres like Grimsby, 

 the encouragement of fish hawkers — who formed a very important 

 link in many country districts with the consumers — and of fish friers.* 

 A good deal could also be done to develop the demand for fish by the 

 formation of an organisation to ensure more regular and equal supplies 

 of fish to fishmongers in the various centres, and to encourage them 

 to more cleanly methods, and the provision only of good class fish 

 in sound condition. A large section of the trade is blameless in this 

 matter, but there is room for improvement in many parts of the 

 country.* 



(b) Cooking. — The teaching of cooking in schools and the selection 

 of skilful cooks to impart instruction to housewives as to the best 

 ways of cooking the different kinds of fish are measures which will 

 undoubtedly yield beneficial results, while as regards the fish-frying 

 industry, which has been largely conducted by Italians, it is suggested 

 that disabled sailors and soldiers should be given practical instruc- 

 tions in the splitting, cleaning and cooking of fish, so that they could 

 engage in the industry with advantage to themselves and to their 

 customers. 



(c) Tinning, etc. — Tinning, freezing, and the making of fish pastes 

 are subsidiary branches of the industry which offer good prospects of 

 development, and it is gratifying to know that steps are being taken 

 to conduct experiments in the freezing of fish, in view of the fact that 

 this has been shown to be a successful treatment with certain kinds 



* Since this was written two excellent organisations — the National Fish Associa- 

 tion and the National Fish Friers' Federation — have been formed to further the 

 objects in view. 



