The Wilmingtonian., 1886-05-29
Our Fish-foOd Supply.


are naturally enough indignant over the at
tempt made in the House of Representative
to kill the mackerel fishing industry of thi
State.
The practical intention, primarily, of tn,
bill, was to prohibit mackerel fishing for ;
term Of five years fiom March to June Isl
along the shores Of the country, or their i'm
portation here.
The very specious argument made by the
promoter Of the bill, Representative Reed, oi
Maine, that the season, indicated in the bill,
between the commencement of March and
June 1stis the spawning season for mackereI,
and that fact, in connection with the asserted
impending depopulation of mackerel on ac-
count of the practice of using purse-seine
nets for their capture, was urged in advoca-
cy of the bill.
The alert representatives in Congress from
the States of New York, New Jersey and
| Delaware leaped to their feet and successive
ly revealed the ingenious speciousness of its
| advocacy. 1t was demonstrated seriati m
that there was little of dsinterestedness in
the attempted legislation. That the asser-
tion of fish depopulation was entirely un-
founded, that upon that fact there was no
existing data in the hands of man, either
scientists or practical men or the most ex-
perienced fsh-dealer and fishermen. 1t was
demonstrated that the record of the macker-
ell catch has been gradually increasing in
volume and that its possible decrease in the
future is only surmise. The most interest
ing facts in physical nature were adduced
inferring rather the impossbility of a
mackerel famine, the main argument being
the intinitesial ratio of ths largest seasons
catch to the size of mackerel schools wit
messed by credible men in the fishing bust
ness. One witness was quoted who had
seen ''this year school of mackerel seven
miles long and two miles broad, and packed
so density that it seemed to him that the
water could find no place among them"
Mr. Hewitt, of New York said tbe mackerel
fishery of to day is more productive than it
ever has been in any previous period. When
you remember the spawn of a single macker
Ell produces five hundred thousand eggs you
will understand how small quantity is ne
cessary to produce the number of mackerel
we take in single season /; it is safe to say
less than five hundred thousand mackerel
would produce the entire catch of twenty-five
millions of mackerel, supposed to be taken
in single season.
But the main point is this that great and
cheap source of food supply will by this bill,
be taken from the poorer classes. who as
stated by Mr.. Lore, who is naturally inter
ested in this prominent industry Of his ma
tive state -
''All we want is to have the privilege of
catching few of these fish as they pass us.
Seriously, this is question of cheap food
and it is cheap food for the people who live
along the Atlantic coast. There are at times
70, 900, aye, 100, 900, barrels of fresh mackerel
caught off the coast and taken into the city
of New York, into the city of Philadelphia,
and other cities, which sell all the way up
from five cents bucket or basket full. The
poor woman can take her arm and carry
to her home large supply for her family
at one or two Or three cents pound. BY
this bill you would take away that supply at
this season when the people need Just that
kind of food, when they have come through
the winter and have not got the vegetables
of spring and summer. Just at that time
nature has provided this bounteous inflow OF
food from the ocean. And yet we are told,
''Do not lay your hand upon il; keep off
and let it get up to Maine and Massachu-
setts."
1t was also shown that the advocacy of
this bill revealed a most ingenious attempt
by the fishing people of Maine and Massa-
SuuoOtbo w bouop III bue Wupl6 OF Jle
mackerel fishing industry of the United
States. 1t was clearly an ingenious ring
speculation worthy almost of Jay Gould.
"Why," said Il prominent fish dealer of Sec
ond Street, in this city, 'it is an outrage
upon Wilmington !" He added, Indignantly
''all it means is that if you want mackerel
you sha'nt get them No fresh mackerel will
be obtainable under this law, and the Maine
men will max us pay just what they choose
be fish plenty or scarce p
This gentleman, who is one of Wilmington s
oldest and most extensive fish Geaers sail
"Mr Lore is right 10 showing this up as a
speculation on the part Of New England. If
other men, he added in an emphatic growl
Of honest stress, 'in Congress were as indie
pendent watchful, and alert as he is over the
interests of Wilmington it would be better
| for us and them Y
Another dealer, added, "you can buy them
much cheaper now than you can in two
months tine. What do we want with salt
mackerel.when the fresh fish are so Plentiful /?
They can sometimes be bought for dollar