118 BULLETIN 8, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Portugal show a slight increase during the last three years over the 
first three years of this period. The value of the sardines imported 
from Italy shows a notable increase during 1914, 1915, and 1916, 
while little change in the values of the fish imported from Spain is 
seen until 1915, when there was a decided decrease, followed in 1916 
by a marked rise. 
The total importations from all countries reached, in round num- 
bers, a value of $3,000,000 during 1914 and 1915. The total value 
for 1915 was a little below that of 1914, owing to the great decrease 
in the value of the French sardines imported in 1915. During 1916 
the importations of sardines fell off over $1,000,000 in value. Nearly 
90 per cent of this decrease was caused by the diminished importation 
ot Norwegian sardines. The embargo placed on the exportation of 
Norwegian sardines by the Government of Norway at the close of 
the year 1915 and the war conditions in the French sardine industry 
practically eliminated these goods from this country. The price of 
foreign sardines resulting from present conditions is practically pro- 
hibitive for the domestic market, and only small quantities are 
available at any price. 
TaBLE 43.—Importations of fish packed in oil} 
Value oi imporis. 
Country. | 
| 1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 1915 1916 
— RE" 
iPrnince= 3-2 eS 1, 317 940 | $707, 644 | ae ; 903 Pers $634, 162 | $700, 984 | $445, 434 ' $359, 701 
NGiAy. > eS es $61,944 | 1,034, 946 7,431 | 1 , 199, 850 | 1,427,318 | 1,662,609 741, 697 
Portugal "2. -s 2 346,036 | 303,565 313 ,420| (477,310 | °536,451 | 517,407 334, 467 
Redly 232 es ee ee 165,903 | 191,983 | 143, 541 | 154,451 | 255,589 | 251,383 340, 000 
Spaiies see ei ae e 50,943 | 40,427 39, 025 39,025 | 42, 262 42,962 | 42,369 | 23, 145 50, 573 
Poi c 258 ee 2, 2, 742, 766 | 2, 278,585 | 1,939,320 | 2,508,035 | 2,982,711 | 2,901,978 | 1,826,438 
Total from Europe (in- 
cluding all other coun- | 
GES) 5-2 2S 2 2 OR ATS eas 2, 079, 002 2, 659, 074 | | 3,178,000 | 2,996,596 1,911,346 
ee 
1 For the years ending June 30, 1910 to 1916. From Annual Reports on Commerce and Navigation of 
the United States, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic C ommerce, U. S. Department of Commerce. Duties 
under the present tariff are levied on a class of goods packed “‘in oil. 3? While it is recognized that there 
are a few articles, such as anchovies, etc., which would be included in the statistics gathered from this 
source, it is believed that by far the greater part of the values reported is due to oil sardines. The table 
is eben for the purpose of indicating as closely as it is possible to do the business done in foreign sardines 
in this country. 
OUTLOOK FOR THE MAINE SARDINE INDUSTRY. 
The volume of foreign sardines handled (Table 43) indicates the © 
possibility of increasing the business in grades of domestic sardines of © 
a quality capable of giving them an entrance to this market and hold- 
ing the greater portion of it now that the supply of the foreign 
article is practically cut off (1916). The trade and the consumer 
should not expect a domestic sardine of exactly the same excellence as 
the French article, for several factors mitigate against it. 
In the first place, the pilchard, from which the French sardine is 
made, is generally conceded to be the most desirable in point of size, 
