Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-01-01
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY /, 1902,


Et uSutiA0o VI OhAhd fVAy AnNsy
yield a larger annual output than
those Of any other cocntry. There
are no statistics Tor the Chinese fish
cries, but it is certain that they EN-
ploy several times as many men and
vessels as those of any other nation.
The United States is far ahead of all
other nations that sum up the results
OF their fisheries, aud, in proportion
TO population, the Newfoundland and
Norway catches take the lead. IL is
interesting TO compare the varying
fortunes Of the industry ON both sides
OF the Atlantic.
The cod fisheries on both the east
and west sides of the ocean are now
showing some striking contrasts. Our
cod supply has recently exhibited a
very gratifying feature of improve
ment. For years the inshore fisheries
from Maine to New Jersey declined
In Importance, but there is now UNI
gnistakable evide nee of a renewed
abundance OF cod in these coastal
waters. The yield has increased
about so per cent. in ten years, the
improvement being attributed wholly
to artificial propagation centering at
the stations of the Fish Commission
at Gloucester and Woods Hole
The Norwegians may derive use
ful lesson from American success i'll
renewing shore cod fisheries. While
the greater part of our cod comes
from the Grand Banks, that of Nor
way is derived wholly from quieter
shore waters in the lee of the islands.
The Norwegian Yield has been very
slowly declining for nine or ten years,
with the result that the number of
small boats engaged in cod fishing in
1899 was about $4,000 less than ten
years before, and the remarkably poor
year OF 1900 brought great hardship
to the fishermen. Practically all the
Cod fisheries of Europe are inshore,
except on the Dogger bank in the
North Sea and around a few islands
too far away from the mainland to be
-Cfsssed as continental.
The reports from the Norway and
Baltic cod fisheries make it evident
that Europe must give greater atten-
ton 10 artificial propagation il the
Yield is to be increased. The long
narrow areas of The cod fisheries have
been overworked, as was the case
along our own coasts, and the results
have been the same.
Our cod industry is being differ
entiated from that of Norway in one
important respect. Nearly all of the
Norway cod is cured on the islands
around which the fish are caught, four
fitths of the dried and salted catch be-
ing exported to the large fish eating
countries of Europe. Until within
che past Fix years our sat cod AWAY S
exceeded the fresh supply, but since
1896 the reverse has been the case,
and In 1899 our sales of fresh cod tx
ceeded those of the sailed product by
80 per cent. This is the result of re-
frigeraiion and the enormous home
demand for fresh fish, while Norway's
markets are mainly abroad.
The lobster product of Norway,
small as compared with ours, is hold
tng its own or slightly increasing,
while our catch has decreased nearly
one third in twenty years. The fact
that orr fish commission planted
over 500, DOC, 600 young Holsters along
Our east coast in the five years end
Ing in 1899 dues not seem as yet to
have arrested he decline. IL is con-
sidered very important that the state
fishery authorities should supplement
the efforts OF the national commits
sion in behalf OF an industry that has
OCCA ttFftiy W OhCA hoblhS ah0
wasteful methods. 1t is noteworthy
that the supply of mackerel and her
ring in Norway waters has not been
subject TO such fluctuations as we have
Experienced i'll recent years.
II is a curious fact that large part
of the fishery products which we i'm
port, to the value of about $4,000, 900
a year, are identical with our own
products, but are prepared by diff
ferent methods or have some qualities
that specially commend them to our
trade The picked herring and cod
liver oil we buy from Norway and the
canned salmon imported from France
are conspicuous among these pur-
-Chases.
On the whole, our fisheries are in a
very prosperous condition and their
prospects are brighter than ever
under the present enlightened
methods of fostering and safeguard
! Ing them. IL is worth mentioning
that the varieties of fish whose prop
agalion is now artifieially stimulated,
yield more than one fourth of the
total annual value of our fishery in
Y. sam.