Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-16
PISoAT0RIAL.
TIE INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES ExHI.
BIrIoR AT LONDON.
Interesting Particulars and Statistical IN
formation from the Record-Union's"
special Correspondent.
LONDON. May a. 1888.


visitor in London for the next six months
will be the great international Fisheries
Exhibition. A ssunter OF few hours
through its multitudinous departments
brings forcibly to mind some features of
our own Centennial Exposition. This, to
be sure. is much more limited in its scope,
but in the large number of foreign nations
taking part, and the appearance of perma-
neuce and durability presented, as well as
in point of vsstness, the comparison is very
striking, The Importance of such an ex-
hibition 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 considera-
tons together are amply sufficient to &C.
count for the magnitude of the display.
To give in single letter any proper idea
of what may be seen at this exhibition is,
of course, quite beyond the range of posi-
bility. There are
SPECIMENS, LIVING OR STUFFED,
OF perhap5a greater variety of the funny tribe
than were ever brought to popular notice
before, and the aquarium, where SO many
of these disport themselves in their native
element, is naturally much frequented.
But the exhibition ia chiefly valuable in
the illustrations it gives of the different
methods of catching, Matching, preserving
and cooking fish, and in the opportunity
afforded 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 business of
fishing. Well worthy of study, too, are
the natural history and fine arts divisions,
for most admirably here is the esthetic
side of ones nature ministered to, while if
one is fond of sentiment he will naturally
linger long around the craft il which Grace
Darling saved the lives of the people of
the Forfarshire. This historic boat is OF
the Coble ty pc, fitted with four thwarts,
very strongly built, and looks good yet for
many years of service. About the one SOL
itary car which remains in it what memo
ries of courage and heroism cluster But,
descending from the sentimental to the
practical, what of
THE DISPLAY MADE BY THE UNITED STATES?
1t is very creditable, let me say, and
compares very favorably with the displays
made by other countries, but it is far from
being the leading feature of the show, and
is not what, with more care and greater
outlay of money, it could have been made.
The seaboard States are well represented,
and there are some valuable exhibits from
the interior.
What interested your correspondent in
connection with this international Fish
cries Exhibition more than the mere oppor-
tunity 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
condition OF the large number of people
who derive their subsistence from this
branch of industry. In 1880
THE NUMBER EMPLOYED
In the fishery industries OF the United
States was l3l, 426, of whom lOl, 6S4 were
fishermen and the remainder shoresmen.
The fishing feet consisted of G. COS vessels,
with a tonnage of POS, 297 50, and A, SO4
boats, and the total amount of capital in.
vested was S37, 955, $40, distributed as fol-
lows Vessels, So, 357, 2S2 boats, 81, 465,-
1893 minor apparatus and outfits, IS, 49,
PSI other capital, including shore prop
erty, ST., 9S7,4l3 The value of the great
fisheries of the sea, the great rivers and
the lakes was placed at that time at S43,-
DAG, 053, and that of those in minor inland
III A
The fisheries of the New England States,
which are the most important, engage
81 043 men, 2,066 vessels, II, 1877 boats,
and yield products to the value of Sl4,-
$40, 1893. Next in Importance to New Eng.
land are the South Atlantic States. employ.
ing 81. AIS men, 3. Ola vessels, Is, 33l boats,
and returning products TO the value of
50 COZ, 737. Next are the Middle States.
employing in the coast fisheries ID, 9SI
men, l,2I0 vessels, 293 boats, with pro-
ducts to the amount of $S,676. $40.
THE PACIFIC STATES AND TERRITORIES
Employ l6, sos men, Sc vessels, ). SAT boats,
and show products to the amount of ST..
4S4, $50. The fisheries of the Great Lakes
employ 5 $50 men, 60 vessels and !, 594
boats, with products amounting to 81, 1884,
$50, while the products of the Gulf States
fishing interests amount to S545. 5S4, en-
ploying ), l3l men, 1877 vessels and 1852
boats. The annual products of the British
American sea fisheries are set down at
about $50, 900, 600, an estimate, however,
which is entirely too small, as the great
cod and seal fisheries of Newfoundland
must alone produce nearly that amount.
In France so, SIS sailors, manning % l55
ships and smacks, with tonnage of 49,
297. are employed in fishing, besides which
55, Ass riparians linen, women and childrenl
practice fishing on the banks. The total
products from the French fisheries, includ.
ing the sum derived from the sale of oys-
tiers, amounts to about s34 900, 900 per
aunum. The annual value of the takes of
fish in Norwegian waters is little over
SIS 000, 000 with from 20 600 to 90 600
persons, or ii per cent of the whole pop.
ulation employed in the fisheries, and about
$4,000 persons or per cent. in the ship
ping trade. Sweden, although the people
Of thst country fish with great industry,
does not derive from It's sea wealth larger
sum than 81 SIS, 900, while the Dutch fish
cries must bring
AN ANNUAL INCOME OF FULLY SIS, 900, 600.
Russia derives every year large sum of
money from her sturgeon and sterlet fish-
cries, the amount being not less than
$50. 900, COO, while the fishing interests of
Denmark and Iceland each yield an annual
income of $500, 600 crowns. Great Brit
ain claims to realize about $50. 600. 600 an
nually from the fisheries. she has l20, 600
persons constantly or occasionally en-
ployed in fishing, who, with their depend
ants, may be taken at 400 600 Notwith-
standing this, however, fish is compare
lively high priced here, and we are daily
reminded by the papers that one of the
problems to be solved by the present ex-
hibition is how this article of food, so
nutritious, SO palatable, and which nature
is providing in such prodigal abundance,
may be placed on the tables of the people
at cost that will bring it into common