The Portland daily press., 1882-08-08
EvADIN THE FISHERY LAWS.
The Fish Exchanges Answer to MIR.
Noah Mayo.

To the Editor Of the Press
In your issue Of the 7th we notice an article
"Evading the Fishery Laws"-and what MT.
Noah Mayo has to say about it-and we ask
space in your columns TO reply to the same. 1t
matters little whether Mr.. Mayo is wholesale
dealer in fish in Boston, or packer in fish, so
far as regards this question. The facts are that
he is doing business in Portland, and has VIC
lated the law, which he admits without any
controversy. We have nothing to say in re-
gard to his business position or reputation in
Boston. Those who have known him the long
est know him best. He makes false state
ment when he says that this complaint made
against him is simply an effort, on the part OF
the Portland Fish Exchange to drive him out
of the business The facts are that the fish
dealers of Portland are anxious to still further
increase the business here, land will use their in
fuence to that end providing parties engaging IN
the business are willing to execute the business
according to the laws of the State, and preserve
the high standard that our fish has reached
What are the facts in regard to Mr.. Mayor
How did he propose to do the buslnessT ne
proposed to buy mackerel direct from Inc
fishermen and then ship them, without Delng
inspected and branded according to the laws
of this State. He took legal advice IN regard
to tie matter, and was informed that he could
not do it without violating the law; but, being
determined to carry out his plan, directly in
the face of the law, he had the schooner Vision
hauled into his dock, and, late in the day, be-
gan to load her with mackerel, putting In some
that was regularly inspected, and smuggling In
others-about 100 barrels-that were uninspect-
ed. Now what is the object of shipping mack
erel to Boston without being regularly inspect
ed? Boston depends largely on Portland for
supply of mackerel, and dealers there prefer
to have the mackerel direct from the fisher
men, thus saving the packing and inspection.
This, Mr.. Mayo, in the interest of Boston par
ties, proposed to do, and if allowed to practice,
would take SO much of the business directly
belonging to this city out of the State. The
fishing interests of this State, and especially
of this city, is of vital Importance, second to
no other here Last season $1,000 barrels of
mackerel were packed here, iand we believe
that it is the duty of those interested in the
business to protect it, and not to allow 1t to
fall into the hands of parties who will abuse 1t.
The fishing business has. SO far, been satisfac-
torily done by parties here, and we presume
that it will continue, and the "toilers OF the
sea" receive their just dues. We know sof no
section of the country where Portland macker-
ell are not shipped, although Mr.. Mayo states
states that he ships fish West, where Portland
mackerel are not known. He says that before
the Fish Exchange was formed, Portland deal
ers bought out of pickle, which is true, and
this was one of the practices that caused the
forming of the Fish Exchange. 1t was ascer-
tanned that the brands of our fish were being
lowered, and SO the Portland inspectors deemed
it advisable to form an association and come
under an agreement not to buy mackerel out OF
the pickle, or ''fshermen's CATCH" but have
them regularly inspected. And the result is
to-day, that our business has increased, our
brands of mackerel stand high, and western
BUYERS seek our market, while other markets
and mackerel are neglected. Therefore, the
stateme Mt of Mr.. Noah Mayo that the packers
found out that the fishermen, in many cases,
were too smart for them in the sale of their
fish, the tars got the whip end of the bargain,
is simple and without truth. Mr.. Mayo claims
to be true friend to the fisherman, because he
buys their fish out of pickle. He expects to
make profit on his purchases. Now, 1t the
fishermen should land their fish and have them
regularly inspected, they would realize more
than they would by selling out Of pickle. Still
he is the isherman'S true friend, and when he
ships these mackerel direct to Boston without
being legally packed, hs takes away so much
labor that should be performed here. How
much money has Mr.. Mayo invested in fishing
vessels for the interests of the fishermen? He
does business in Portland for three months, and
then moves all to Boston; while parties here
engaged in the business ara here permanently,
and build up and increase their business by
building and buying in vessels. Mr. Mayo is
correct when he says that the packers went to
Gov. Plaisted with their story. They had
heard that he intended to ship mackerel with
ont being inspected and asked merely for pro-
lection. In regard to the appointment OF Mr..
Simpson as inspector, we have only this to say
that when he applied for a commission, no
stronger remonstrance could be presented to
the Governor or Council than the one present.
ed in this case, signed by every salt and pickle
fish dealer in this city, on the ground OF IN
competency, and his connection with this al
fair may Justify the remonstrants in the course
they took. Mr.. Mayo says he is no laE-breaker,
but if he did ship uninspected mackerel IN the
schooner Vision he certainly did violate the
law, and has paid $40 for packing the seized
fish, instead of $15, and the suits will follow.
Saturdays Boston Journal made grave mis-
take when it said that vessel with mackerel,
consigned to his Boston house, put into Port
land through stress of weather." The vessel
was chartered here to, take these mackerel from
Portland to Boston, at fifteen cents per barrel,
and furthermore, Mr.. Mayo, being citizen OF
Boston, was not solicited to become member
of the Fish Exchange.