POSSIBILITIES OF FOOD FROM FISH 
79 
The fish that are most useful as food are taken by hooks, 
nets, and seines, under certain restrictions. Those like brook 
trout which are caught as much for sport as for food can be 
taken only by a hook and line and in certain seasons, the 
season of the year depending upon the time of spawning. 
The brook trout spawns in August and September, while 
the rainbow trout does not spawn until February or March. 
66. Possibilities of Food from Fish. — The United States, 
including Alaska, takes from the water about 2,000,000,000 
pounds of fish, annually. Alaska produces about one fourth 
It is very destructive in its food habits, eating the highly prized food-fish. 
How will the use of this fish for food help the fish industry ? 
of this total. The hatcheries of the United States have an 
output of 4,500,000,000 eggs, fry, and small fish. 
Some of the fish have been caught in too great numbers so 
that they are growing less in number. Some are holding to 
their normal numbers and a few others are increasing. In 
the last class belongs the carp, kingfish, whiting, Pacific 
shad, and Pacific herring. Many edible fish are not eaten 
merely because people do not know about them or perhaps 
are prejudiced. Examples of such fish are sharks, toadfish, 
skates, grayfish, burbot, and menhaden. 
The Carp. — This is one of our most abundant fishes in 
the lakes and inland streams. About 43,000,000 are sold 
