The Republican journal., 1882-07-06
London Fish Commission.

Chairman Williams, of the House Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, has submitted
to the House a report on the Joint resolu
tion recently agreed upon by the com
mittee proposing an appropriation $50
600 to furnish an American exhibit at the
London Fish Exhibition to be held in
May, 1888, The report in referring to the
advantages to be derived by the government
OF the United States from participation
in the exhibition, says:-"One of the
immediate results Of the participation by
this government in the exhibition at Bcr-
lin in 1880, was the establishment ofagen-
cies for the sale of American fish products
in nearly every country in Europe. AS
another result American boneless Goldfish
has been adopted as a standard article of
food by some seventeen Or more OF the
regiments Of the German army, and its
introduction into the cOmmissary depart
ment Of the naVies Of Germany and Russia
is seriously contemplated. The foreign
trade in this commodity has but just be
gun, and its possibilities for the future are
almost without limit The Commissioner
states that the value of the products of
the fisheries Of the United States in the
census year, 1880, was about $l5, 600, 600.
! ms was the estimated price paid to the
producer: but the value Of the same prod
uctS at wholesale rates would not be less
than 800 000,000 The export trade ow-
ing to Il strong home demand III the year
l0eO amounted to only -, IA $50. Pro
tessor Baird states that under the pro
rpGSpG NOW hpinr SIIrraSct,lll,- ar,plny al
the resources of the waters Of tie United
States available for this purpose may be
made to produce a quantity of useful
products at least ten times as great as
they now produce, which would amount
70 the enormous sum OF 5000, 600 600 per
dnnum. tie also estimates that at the
rate at which oysters are now being con
sumed ten years will exhaust the natural
supply in this country, but states that
under artificial methods now employed
the supply will soon be restored In view
ot the growing scarcity and high prices
tormeat food these things become Of vital
importance. Tne exports of oysters from
the United States to England has risen in
value from S:3,66l in 1870 to 24O3, ,G29
in ISL This country eXcels ali others in
the preparation of the cheapest and best
qualities Of dried cod and pollock
"lhe consumption of picked fish in Eu-
rope is known to be immense, and vet
American picked fish, the finest in the
Wolld, is scarcely known there, The pro
Iurtion Of this article last year in the
United States Is said to be the greatest ever
knoNu. Muckcrel, salted in New England
alone, amounted to Sll7 800, 600 Also
canned fish, including salmon, Holsters,
CLAIMS, oysters, crabs, shrimps. Goldfish,
andnumerous grades of picked and spiced
fishes, as well as sardines.
"Thr consumption of these is constantly
on the Increase in England, France and
Germany. The export ofthese goods from
the nited States to EurOpe in 1869
amounted in value to $l3l,7S3 and in
tN~l - l,902, 100. This can and should be
MrrpasrJa lundredt0ld. lour committee
ulN " the opinion that the proposed eNhi-
bltIon is one oi prime Importance to the
nltcd states. This country, though al
lowed but a short time for preparation.
took the first prize at the Berlin EXhbi-
liun in l~SO, and il is confidently believed,
If not actually conceded, that no country
N inc world can compete with it i'll its
tsh producing resources"