New-York tribune., 1905-02-27
NEWFOUNDLAND BAIT LAW
Effect of Its Enforcement on NezC-
England Fishermen.

Boston. Feb. IS (SpeciaD.-Fishermen Of New
England. particularly those sailing out OF GIoucss-
ter. Boston and ProvincetoUn TO the Grand Banks.
view with concern the movement in Newfoundland
to enforce with strictness the bait law in that
province and the proposed legislation looking 70
eOoed restrictions upon the Newfoundland fisheries.
The amount Of money dependent upon the fishing
industry Of New England without even considsring
the Shore fishing, lobster catches and canning fac
tories, reaches far into the millions and the fish
cries may well be considered one OF New-EngIand,s
most vital industries
They are increasing from year TO year. too as ths
Following figures for the fiscal year ended June CO.
1903, viii show. For that period there were lauded
at Boston and Gloucester by American fishing YES
seis an aggregate Of 16s54ST pounds OF fresh and
saIted FISH. having a value to the fishermen OF
ShSfs'e2 an increase of 1s,7s96S4 pounds in weight
ana SZS,0S1 in the value of ,ue products over tha
preceong fiscal year. From the Eastern Banks
IoS4i'o0O pounds were received. valued at sSf7elS
the diference in value between the coast catch and
the banks catch being the difference between fresh
and salted fish. In the season of 1853 IN 10 De-
eember. there was total catch OF cod haIibut and
other ground fish Of 100000 pounds. caught bv
vessels hailing from Gloucester and landing at thar
port Boston. Newport New-York and other ports
With the mackerel and miscellaneous catches. tina
grand total was u7.5sl.000 pounds, or somethfne
more than 5s765 tons
Inc Grand Banks fishery was not so successful
IN 1913 as the year before, owing mainly 10 rbs
scarcity or bait many vessels being able To sec1ra
only one fare where in other years two or three
voyages could be made. If the Newfoundland plan -
OF excluding American vessels from bait privileges
- carried out the Grand Banks fishery viii De
seriously crippled, for the fishermen are only abls
10 carry limited amount of frozen halt and de-
pehd upon buying bait from the Newfoundland
shore hshermen arrival, 20 help out their
caIches- In addition they employ many Of the
Newfoundlanders to help On their travis paving
generally in gold. and adding much to the wealth.
of the island
Denial of the right to Americans Of buvtng win
Ter herring cargOes in Canadian waters will bs
another serious blow. In the winter when dshin.
on tne Banks Is impossible TO any extent, the New
England fishermen make frequent trips 10 New
Ioundland and return with heavy cargoes OF her
ring, which landed In Boston and Gloucester
and bring large profits. To say that the New
foundlanders Will benefit In the long run by pro
hibiton OF this export trade or the Ievving OF \
duty upon II Is error, for the Newfoundland
nshermen are dependent to a large extent rpon
this winter herring traffic. Not having the facili-
ties for exporting themselves to the extent that
the Americans have. nor the capital TO equip a
meet. they now depend upon the Americans to buv
trip. As American fishermen are not permitted TO
engage eng IN the herring fisheries the Newfoundland
erS nave no competition.
What the @ @New1Englanders fear most is that some
and the Dominion government whereby the great
EoV1 ~ SSoIIa neess Of fishing vessels are admitted
mus cut them out OF vast business in winter car
duty they could land In 1ne staIeg no Export m
pI pTlces under those Of American fishermen. In ad-
americans FOR the valuable West Indies trade and
eventually cut out the Yankees altogether. Cana
ga mas long viewed with jealousy the favOrabis
terms accorded American fishermen by Newfound-
~
The New England fishing trade IS one great ex-
ample or profit sharing that has been highly sue
cSsIui 1roT1 ITS inception The industry requires
Sz0W9,UO0 capital is combined in the Industry
which taking all branches including canRiDl-
packing, etc. yields income OF at least &7G.S-
w annually some $50 persons employed
Gii9ucester IN putting up 'bOneleSs'' FISH alone.
Ihis IS the age of neat packages. and new meth
Ods or doing business IN the fish trade are con-
Stantly being brought out The result Is the
doubling and sometimes the trebling in value Of
old days of the trade salt fsh was merely a salt
flSh, and went straight from the curing flakes TO
the grocery store where It was hung up in bunches
oy the tail or thrown about like much cord
Now salt fish becomes manufactured articles
before II reaches the dealer Alter being freed
from bones It IS hbred Clipped, wrapped in
glazed paper placed in decorated paSteboard
package and sealed One large house engaged IN
putting up fish IN Boston gets out a catalogue
quoting prices thirty different kinds Of pack
ages of salt fish. Nearly every style OF package
bears a distinctive trade name for the grade is
contains.
The demand for FISH put up IN this way is stead
fly increasing, the public becomes familiar
with its value. At first the trade was chiefly n
New-England. but now 1t extends all over the
United States, and millions of dollars spent In
advertising IL.
A valuable by-product now is the glue obtained
from the skin and bones OF the prepared fish In
the early days this waste sold low
% cents cart load but when IL found that the
waste made excellent glue. the price advanced rap
idly TIL now cart load sells for $50 ton. Sew
eral factories in Gloucester keep a large force OF
men busy IN this branch alone.