Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-06-17
FISH AND FISHERS.
Rev. Henry Tucklsy on Those Whs
90 Down to the Sea
In Ships.
The Great international Fisher
les Exhibition In
London,
And Soma Of tho Things to<bs Seen
There---The American
Exhibit.
so.e,a, o,responderoe OF tAe Register.

Soscial Correspondence Of. tAe Register.
LONDON, June 6.-The object of great
est interest to the visitor in London Tor
the next six months will be the great
International Fisheries Exhibition. A
saunter of a few hours through its
multitudinous' departments brings forci-
bly, to mind some features OF our Gen.
tennial Exposition. This, to be sure,
is much more limited in its scope; but
in the large number OF foreign nations
taking part and in the appearance of
permanence and durability presented,
as well as the point of vastness, the
comparison ia very striking. The i'm
portapce of such an exhibition can
scarcely be overestimated when one
considers either the number of people
engaged in this special industry, or
the prominent place which fish holds
as an article OF diet. And these two
considerations together are amply sum.
cient to account for the magnitude OF
the display. To give in a single letter
any proper idea OF what may be seen at
this exhibition, is, Of course, quite be-
yond the range OF possibility. There
are specimens, living or stuffed, OF per-
haps greater variety of the finny tribe
than were ever brought to proper
notice before, and
The Aquarium
where so many Of these disport them.
selves in their native element Is natural
" much frequeHted. But the exhibit
ton is chiefly valuable in the illustra-
tiOns 1t gives of the different methods
of catching, Matching, preserving and
cooking fish, and in the opportunity az
forded for observing the newest inven-
tions for saving the lives and reducing
the perils of "those who go down to the
sea in ships in prosecution OF the bust.
ness of fishing. Well worthy Of study,
too, are the Natural History and Fine
Arts Divisions, for most admirably here
is the aesthetic side of ones nature min
istered to, while if one is fond OF senti-
ment he will naturally linger long
around the craft in which Grace OAR
ling saved the lives OF the people of the
Forfarshire. This historic boat is of
the Coble type, fitted with four thwarts,
very strongly built and looks good yet
for many years of service. About the
ore solitary oar which remains In it
what memories or courage and herolsm
cluster. But, descending from the
sentimental TO the practical, what of
the display made Of the United States?
It is very creditable, let me say, and
compares very favOrably with the dis.
plays made by other counties, but il is
far from being the leading feature of the
show, and is not what, with more care,
and a greater outlay OF money, it could
have been made.
The Sea. Board States
are well represented, and there are
some valuable exhibits from the
interior. 1t would not be surprising If
our country were able to teach the
other nations of the earth few things
even in the piscatorial line, and it is
possible we shall gather some new ideas
from them. In one department, which
has, unfortunately, been overlooked by
the promoters of the exhibition, am
sure We could have beaten the world. i
refer to our well known ability in spin
ming fish yarns. But we may yet have
rection, for this International Fisheries
idea is migratory in its habits, and
having skipped across the North Sea
from Germany to England, it will soon
doubtless find its way to the other side
of the Atlantic, and materialiZe before
many years, let us hope, in an exhibit
ton which shall throw into the shade
not only those held in Berlin in 1S7l-S0,
but this latter and grander one which
is now the special pride of LOndoners.
What interested your correspondent
in connection with this International
Fisheries Exhibition more than the
mere opportunity for sightseeing it
afforded was the Information CLEANED
from it Of the relative extent and value
of the fishing interests in the different
countries, and Of the economic condi-
ton of the large number Of people, who
derive their subsistence from this branch
of industry. In 1880, the number EN-
ployed in the fishery industries of the
United States was 13l, 426, of whom
10l 1854 were fishermen and the re-
mainder shoresmen.
The Fishing Fleet
consisted of 6,605 vessels with a tom
mage of S,297 and 44,SJ4 boats,
and the total amount of capital invested
was S37, 955, $40, distributed as follows:
Vessels S9,357 ,2S2; boats 81 ,465, 1893;
minor apparatus and outfits SS,145, 26l;
other capital, including shore property,
S17,9S3,4l3. The value Of the great
fisheries of the sea, the great rivers, and
the lakes was placed at that time
at S43,046,053, and that of the
New England State, which are the
most important, engage 1902 men,
2,C66 vessels, li,1S7 boats, and yield
products to the value Of l4,37O,393.
Next in importance to New England
are the South Atlantic States, employ
ing 52,4lS men, 3,0l4 vessels, 1881
boats, and returning products to the
value of 50, 602, 1877. Next are the mid
die States and employing In the coast
fisheries IA 7Sl men, l,2l0 vessels, S,293
boats, with products to the amount Of
$, $40, 500. The Pacific States and
Territories employ lG,S0S men, So YES.
sells, 5,547 boats, and show products to
the am punt OF s., iS4,75O. The fisheries
of the Great Lakes employ $3.50 men,
so vessels and 1884 boats, with pro-
ductings amounting to $l,7S4,O50,
while the products Of the Gulf States
fishing interests amount to Sji5,5s4,
employing D, III men, lJI vessels and
,252 boats. The annual products Of
the
British America Sea.Hsheries
are set down at about $50, 000,O O0, an
estimate, however, which is entirely
too small, as the great cost
and seal fisheries of New Foundland
must alone produce nearly that amount.
In France S0,ST5 sailors, manning d.
l25 ships and smacks, with tonnage OF
149, 297 are employed in fishing, besides
which 55, As riparians (men, women
and children practice fishing on the
banks. The total products from the
French fisheries, including the sum de-
rived from the sale OF oysters, amount
to about S35,000,000 per annum.
The annual value of the takes Of fish
in Norwegian waters is little over Sl5,.
600, 900, with from 1000 to $4,000 per-
SONS, or eleven per cent. of the whole
population employed in the fisheries
and about SO 900 persons, or seven per
cent. in the shipping trade. Sweden,
althnuph tho nennIa nf that cnuntry