The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-04
Fish Inspector.

10 We EultOT o. Mo FTeSS.
An article appeared in the Aduertiser of
March 31st, under the title of Fish Inspectors
from which parties reading the same and not
being familiar with the business would receive
decidedly wrong impression, as they would
infer that the Inspectors of Fish are in favor of
abolishng the present law by which they are
governed. But such is not the case. One or
two fish buyers are opposed to the law, and
they are anxious to have it repealed, and those
acquainted with the fish business can easily
understand the motive by which they are
prompted. The fishing interest of Portland is
of vitnl importance and should be protected,
and every honorable influence brought to bear
to encourage fishermen living east of Portland
to bring their fish here for market; but if the
views of some of the fish buyers should be car
the east would pass this port, but vessels thIt
are owned and pack their fish here
would be obliged to seek another market. All
the regular deputy inspectors of fish in this
city have presented a petition to the Gov
ernor praying that the present manner Of con-
Quoting the business under general inspector
may be continued, and that the present incum-
bent who has served so faithfully and impair
TALLY may be reappointed for the regular term
OF five years, believing that it IS the best and
buyer and inspector. The old system, as i: is
termed, has been tried and failed to give salts
faction. Under the present law a general in
spector is appointed to take the
entire charge, and he appoints his
for the faithful performance of their duties
Massachusetts has the same law, and we hear
no complaint. TIE writer states "bv the old
system deputy inspectors were appointed who
were, generally speaking, connected with the
SShh uo AVID flo,,1 H.
rested, and at that time Portland fish stood
very high" ULder the present law, all of the
deputies are directly interested in the fish bust
ne-s, and they know that if their fish are not
put up according to law that the responsibility
rests with them. Whom else can they throw
the responsibility on? They inspect the fish
and brand them, and have given bonds as the
law req Tres. The writer says he would not
imply there is deterioration in Portland fish,
but yet the equities have been inclined to be
careless as he charges, yet the fish are up to the
standard, therefore fail to see any good rea-
son for complaint
i am inclined to believe that the writer of
the article referred to was either misnformed
in relation to the subject on which he was
writing, or else he wishes to abuse the public
mind with the impression that the general in
spector has an exorbitant salary, and that his
chants are obliged to pay. TIE General In
spector's salary last year was about three hun
dred dollars, aud it was paid by his deputies,
who are assessed one cent per barrel for all
the fish they inspect. So far as regards the
quality of the fish there is a law which def
lnitely states what is required to constitute the
different grades of fish so that the inspector
has his instruction from the law. and we can
assign 20 reason for the deputy packing any
other way than as the-law directs, for surely he
has nothing to gain, but everything to lose pro-
viding the fish are returned to him.
We hope that the law will remain as it is and
that the Governor will be pleased to reappoint
for General Inspector NJ d. I. Fernald of
Camden, who is soon to become a resident of
this CITY. - x IL.