Congressional Serial Set

Table showing, by States, the quantities of each of the more important food fishes and other aquatic species taken, etc.-Continued.

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOSTON FISH BUREAU, JANUARY, 1884.

REPORT.

OFFICE OF BOSTON FISH BUREAU,

Boston, January, 1884.

Our last annual report mentioned the year 1882 as having been a successful and prosperous one to those engaged in the fishing business as producers or dealers. With the opening of the present year a good demand and satisfactory prices continued until the large catch of the previous year was exhausted, leaving the market in a good condition for the anticipated catch. With considerable addition of new vessels and better equipped fleet, and in a better financial condition than for several years, a prosperous season, with a large catch, was predicted.

Our report of large stocks and catches on page 15 will show that the expectations have, in a measure, been realized.

The catch of codfish by the Grand Bank fleet was the largest for years, the fleet returning with full fares, without loss of life, and only slight damage by storms.

The mackerel catch, in quantity or quality, has been only fairly satisfactory. A much reduced catch has met with an active demand, at prices higher than for the two previous years, which has largely compensated those engaged for the decrease in the catch; and many large stocks have been made, a few of which we have recorded.

The year closes with a sad record of losses of life and property. Numerous and severe gales on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, Georges Banks, Massachusetts Bay, also on the Western lakes and in the Chesapeake Bay, have all added to the long list of disasters and loss of life to the fishing fleets of the United States. In the severe gales from August 26 to the 30th on the Grand Banks a number of vessels, with 75 men, were lost from the French fleet and vessels of the Provinces. The New England fleet escaped with small losses. October 30 a severe storm in Massachusetts Bay caused the loss of 8 men, and in property of 30 seines, numerous seine boats and dories, with other damage amounting to $55,000, all belonging to the mackerel fleet. The storms in November proved the most disastrous, and were mostly confined to the Georges Bank fleet from Gloucester, the total losses for the year being as follows:

The losses of life include 54 from dories, most of which were lost in the fog, many of them no doubt dying from starvation, when, with the expense of a few dollars for providing each dory with water and sealed cans of food, many lives and untold suffering might have been prevented. The Cape Ann Advertiser of July 13, in regard to the subject, says: "These kind of losses are becoming as familiar as a twice-told tale, and attract far too little attention. Forty-two men in all went astray in a fog in May and June, a dozen of whom are known to have been lost and most of the others suffering all the pangs of death for many hours. Is it not time that some better scheme was devised for communication between the men and the trawls and their vessel and for supplying the necessities of the men while lost in the fogs?" As in the case of passenger vessels, a little legislation may be beneficial and save many lives. The large loss of life and property that is almost sure to follow winter fishing on Georges Banks also calls up the question, Should it not be discontinued during the inclement season of the year?

The number of vessels from each port will be found on pages 17 and 19. These represent vessels only engaged in the salt-fish trade. Boston and several other ports having large fleets engaged in supplying the country with fresh fish-of them we have no statistics, either men, vessels, or catch. During the past year Massachusetts has added 37 sail to the mackerel fishery, 28 to the cod fishery; Maine, 14 to the former and 8 to the latter; total, 87 new vessels to the New England fleets.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

For the first time in our reports this State does not appear. Her single port, that for so many years was largely interested in the fisheries, is now only represented in the fresh-fish trade, in which quite a business is carried on.

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

Of late years not only this country but most foreign countries are paying increased attention to this industry. This will be noticed through the press and numerous publications, as well as the numerous exhibitions or fish fairs. The Dutch appear to have started the movement of fish fairs by holding one at Amsterdam in 1861. This was followed by others as follows: Bergen, Norway, 1865; Areachon and Boulogne, France, 1866; Hague, 1867; Gothenburg, 1867; Havre, 1868; Naples, 1871; London, 1878; Berlin, 1880; Norwich, England, 1881; London, 1883. These fairs have no doubt been of much value to the industry. The United States has been ably represented at the Berlin and late fair at London, through the management of the United States Fish Commission, receiving a large share of the honors, a large number of which came to exhibitors from this city; our dealers also receiving numerous prizes at Aalberg, Denmark, the past season. We trust the day is not far remote when we shall have a world's fish fair in this country, and Boston is the place for it.

CENSUS FISHING REPORT.

In our report of last year we gave nearly a full report from advanced bulletins. As it was not complete, we reproduce a complete report of the fishing industry of the United States in 1880. The report was taken under direction of the United States Fish Commission, and is by far the most complete and reliable report of the fisheries ever made by the Government.

Mackerel. Of the various branches of the fisheries this always receives the most attention. Our chart will be found of interest, as showing at a glance the great fluctuations in the catch and quality. The very small amount shown at the commencement is of historic interest when we recall those years as being unsafe to fish off our shores during a foreign war. The Massachusetts catch the past season amounted to 168,811 barrels against 258,382 barrels in 1882, a large decrease of 89,571 barrels. The southern fleet, numbering 129 sail, as usual of late years, started early, sailing March 12, landing the first catch in New York March 31. The early catch was followed with fair success; mostly being landed fresh accounts for the small amount of cured fish reported as taken south. The fish were found to be abundant and of mixed sizes. As the season advanced the fleet worked off the New England shores, fewer fish constantly being seen. The fishermen, being of the opinion that a large body of mackerel were off this coast but did not show themselves, were not willing to leave the favored grounds of the past few years. About 50 sail went to North Bay in July, returning with poor reports and few fish. Later in the season, the catch not improving and more favorable reports having been received from North Bay, quite a fleet once more went there, returning with fine fares of fish of a fair quality and size. The total number of United States vessels fishing in North Bay during the season was 63, with a catch of 28,666 barrels. The catch off the New England shores amounted to

185,019 barrels; the southern catch, 13,000; total catch of salted mackerel by the New England fleet, 226,685, a decrease of 152,178 barrels from that of the previous year. The schooner Edward E. Webster, Capt. Solomon Jacobs, as for several years, is once more "high line," with the following fine record: Sailed from Gloucester March 15; hauled up November 20; during which time, with a crew of 17 men, caught 2,160 barrels of mackerel that were salted, and 400,000 mackerel were sold fresh, realizing gross $27,440, or net $25,700, the crew sharing $709.75 each. During the season three trips were made to North Bay and 1,100 barrels of the catch taken there. Captain Jacobs adds to his report: "It is my opinion the body of large mackerel will be in North Bay in 1884 and the small fish off this shore." The catch of the Prince Edward Island fishermen is estimated as 10 per cent over that of the previous year, with a slight improvement in quality. The Nova Scotia catch also shows an increase. Of the provincial catch, 75,226 barrels came to this market, against 37.616 in 1882. Ground fish, in which we include cod, hake, haddock, cusk, and pollock, show a large gain over that of 1882, which also showed a gain of 123,877 quintals over that of 1881, the increase being largely of codfish from the Grand Banks. The catch of all kinds of ground fish off the New England shore has been light most of the season. The Grand Bank fleet returned from short voyages with full fares, some of them the largest ever known. A general depression in trade, lower prices of provisions, the revolution in Haiti, restricting the large foreign demand from that island, with a largely increased catch, have all had a tendency to depress the market, which shows the large decline from $5.50 to $6 of one year ago to $3.50 and $4 a quintal at the present time. The total catch of cured fish by the New England fleets amounted to 903,283 quintals of codfish and 156,215 quintals of hake and other cheap grades, against 663,564 of cod and 235,340 of low grades in 1882. The total catch this season is 1,059,498 quintals; gain over 1882, 160,594 quintals.

Pickled herring.-The domestic receipts show a falling off from last year, the shorecatch having been less than the average. This market has at nearly all times been well supplied from the catch of the Provinces, and the receipts have been the largest of which we have any record. Not for many years, if ever, has the market been as well supplied with Labrador herring as at the present. While the size is not as large as the Northeast shore herring, the quality is much superior. The present price is only about half that of the past few years. This fact is of importance to dealers and consumers, especially when the decreased catch and very small amount of mackerel is taken into consideration.

Box herring show a large decrease in receipts, and prices have been much higher than in 1882; a reduced catch and increased amount packed as American sardines account for the short supply during a large part of the year. The fall and winter catch has been fully an average one. Prices are again very low and the supply ample.

Alewives.-Receipts vary but little from 1882. A slight gain in both domestic and

foreign.

Salmon.-During most of the year the supply was moderate and prices ruled high. This season's catch has been larger and prices are again lower.

Canned fish. The canning of fish to an extensive amount dates back only a few years, yet, contrary to general expectation, the demand steadily increases, the amount packed in New England the past year having only been limited by the catch. Owing to the small and poor quality of the mackerel, factories have been obliged to shut down or pack other than fish products much of the time. Canned goods from the Boston factories received many honors at the recent exhibit at London, and, through that, numerous orders from Australia and other remote countries. The American-packed sardines grow in favor yearly, judging from the amount packed. The 18 factories at Eastport, Me., packed the past season 200,000 cases of 100 boxes each, two-thirds of them being packed in oil, one-third in mustard and spices. Three thousand barrels of Russian sardines were also packed. These factories alone gave employment to 1,200 men and women and 800 boys and girls, and some 500 fishermen to supply them with fish.

Other varieties of fish products are without special notice, this market having been able to fill orders for all salt-water products, dry, pickled, smoked, canned, or fresh, at nearly all times during the past year; also supplying the producers with salt, cooperage, hooks, lines, nets, oil clothing, and all necessary outfit. Of fishing nets, everything needed, from those large and strong enough for porpoises and sharks to the fine linen thread used in the shad fisheries, are manufactured in this city, supplying all parts of the country.

The near termination of the Washington ten-year fishing treaty with Great Britain is of importance, expiring July 1, 1885. The coming year practically closes any benefits either country may receive through it. The table on page 873 will be found of interest as showing the amount of fish yearly imported the past ten years. We trust

some mutually satisfactory arrangement to all interested may be provided ere the termination of the treaty, that the harmonious relations of the past ten years may not be broken. In case no action is taken, the duty on imported fish products from July 1, 1885, will be as follows:

Mackerel 1 cent a pound; herring, pickled or salted, one-half of 1 cent a pound; salmon, pickled, 1 cent a pound; other fish, pickled, in barrels, 1 cent per pound. Foreign-caught fish, imported, otherwise than in barrels or half-barrels, whether fresh, smoked, dried, salted, or pickled, not specially enumerated or provided for in this act, 50 cents per 100 pounds.

Anchovies and sardines, packed in oil or otherwise, in tin boxes, measuring not more than 5 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 34 inches deep, 10 cents per whole box; in half-boxes, measuring not more than 5 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 1§ deep, 5 cents each; in quarter boxes, measuring not more than 4 inches long, 34 inches wide, and 14 deep, 24 cents each; when imported in any other form, 40 per cent ad valorem.

Fish preserved in oil, except anchovies and sardines, 30 per cent ad valorem. Salmon and all other fish, prepared or preserved, and prepared meats of all kinds, not specially enumerated or provided for in this act, 25 per cent ad valorem.

Oils, cod-liver, crude or refined seal, whale, and fish oils, not elsewhere specified, 25 per cent.

It is our sad duty to notice the death of two of our members, both of them men of mark in different branches of our trade.

James Brown, of Brown, Seavey & Co., died July 17, aged 65. For forty years Mr. Brown was extensively engaged in the fish business, his firm being especially prominent in the fresh-fish line. He was chiefly known to his many friends and business associates for his sterling integrity and social disposition. His familiar face will long be missed.

Edward Lyon, of Lyon, Dupuy & Co., died at New York, October 13, aged 44. Mr. Lyon was born and spent his early life in England; after which, for several years, he lived at Haiti; from there he came to Boston and formed the present firm, of which he was the senior member. He also established a house in New York, making his home in that city the past few years. Personally he was not as well known to the trade as his firm, they having for the past eleven years been very large exporters of fish to the West Indies.

In closing this report, we return thanks to our many friends and correspondents that have at all times so freely assisted us in keeping a daily record of the fishing industry. In this report we return the result of the year's business, with the compliments of the season and our best wishes for the future.

W. A. WILCOX, Secretary.

Receipts of fish by Boston dealers from foreign and domestic ports, 1883.