272 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
United States that have heretofore been employed in catching her- 
ring from continuing the business, but as the fleet has been small and 
the number of American fishermen employed quite limited, the result 
will not be of serious consequence. American vessels will still re- ! 
tain to a large extent the carrying trade, which is really of greater i 
importance. If, on the other hand, our Government should see fit to 
impose a duty on the frozen fish caught by Canadians, it would result 
in great loss to the fishermen of Canada and would prove a hardship 
which they are not prepared to endure, for the fishermen of this locality 
are absolutely dependent upon this fishery during the winter mouths and 
a very large percentage of their entire income is derived from this source. 
II.— THE PICKLED-HERRING TRADE. - 
The termination of the treaty of Washington and the consequent re- 
vival of duties on all kinds of prepared fish has had a very beneficial 
effect upon the pickled-herring trade of Eastport. As already stated, 
a large number of men are employed during the winter months in net- 
ting herring, which are spread out upon the shore to be frozen, and 
sold to be shipped in that condition to the principal New England mar- 
kets ; but during prolonged thaws in winter, and after the weather has 
moderated in spring to such an extent that the fish can not be thor- 
oughly frozen, these continue fishing for herring, and very gladly dis- 
pose of their catch to vessels from Eastport that visit the different fishing 
centers in New Brunswick and purchase the fish fresh to be carried to 
Eastport, where they are salted and packed in barrels. The Canadian 
fishermen in this way find a market for their fish at a fair figure, when, 
if they were obliged to retain and salt them, the United States markets 
would be practically closed against them, as the duty would be such as 
to bar them out, for at present prices so small a margin would be left 
on salt herring and other low-priced fishes, after the duty was deducted, 
that the fishing would be unremunerative. 
The duty, while seriously interfering with the work of the Canadian 
fishermen, is, on the other hand, very beneficial to the Americans, who 
buy the fish fresh and bring them to the United States, thus furnishing 
employment not only for their vessels, but also to American labor in salt- 
ing and packing them, while the duty, which serves as a barrier to keep 
out the foreign-packed fish, advances the price to such a figure that 
those engaged in the business realize a very fair profit from it. 
The principal supply of herring for pickling is obtained, as already 
stated, after the frozen-herring trade has closed in spring, while ad- 
ditional quantities are obtained in the fall from the vessels engaged in 
netting herring off Grand Manan before the weather has become cold 
enough to admit of freezing the fish, though a very large percentage of 
the herring caught at this time are prepared as bloaters. 
During the year 1886 between 5,000 and 6,000 barrels of herring were 
pickled by the fishermen and dealers of Eastport and vicinity. 
