The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-02-09
Letter From Washington.
Mussels as Food. The Shipping Bill to be
Deferred. "Summer Constituents" The
Inauguration Festival.

Mussels as Food. The Shipping Bill to be
Deferred. "Summer Constituents" The
] Inauguration Festival.
Correspondence of The journal
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb 6. In replying
to an inquiry from one of his constituents
on the Maine coast, Representative Burleigh
has been able to furnish some interesting
information about new food product of
possible consequence. This is the mussel
that abounds all along the shores of the
Islands and mainland of the Pine Tree
| State 1t was only few weeks ago that
| Gov. Burleigh received this inquiry as to
the food value of mussels. The matter was
presented to W. II. Wiley, chief chemist of
the Department of Agriculture, and by him
.. referred to United States Fish Commission
or George M. Bowers. Mr.. Bowers has had
the matter investigated, with the result
that ne has encouraged Gov. Burleigh to
write his constituent about the uses to
which mussels can be put
hnd, said Commissioner Bowers today,
mat mussels are extensively utilized for
lood In many of the older European countries
like England, Germany, and Italy. They
are made into most excellent soup. see
no reason why they should not be utilized
On the Maine coast. They exist there by
Inc millions. Why" added Commissioner
bowers, who has made many trips to Maine
ana made extensive studies of the propaga-
tlon OF fish in Maine waters, "you know
they attach themselves in great punches to
every object In the salt water. Throw a
SUCK Into the water and let it lie there a
lie" months and it will become encrusted
Win the mussels. Of course, one of the
obstacles to the utilization of this food
product Is the difficult work of gathering
the mussels. They are very small, each
pelng about as large as the hard portion of
an oyster If they could be easily gathered
anu assembled there would be more of an
opportunity for making money in the
manufacture OF mussel soup, delicacy that !
1t Is. l have no doubt that, as cur popula- !
ton Increases and the demand upon our
supply of food fishes grows, there will be :
more OF disposition to use the mussels /!
along the Atlantic coast. That has been |
the experience of foreign Countries
Representative Burleigh has simply for
waraed the report of Commissioner Bowers
to his constituent, for whatever it may be
worth. He undertakes to express about it
no opinion of his own, as he makes 10
claims to being scientist.
Some friends of a bill for paying subsi-
dies to American ships are urging that
bill be passed at this session of Congress.
Some friends of the sailing vessels, wherein
lies most of Names interest in the meas
ure, have taken that view. 1t is, however,
practically impossible to bring about such
legislation until the next Congress. Then
it will be comparatively easy, it is believed, ,
to reach vote in the Senate. A good ma
jority is assured in the House, as matters
look now. The shipping bill has been made
ready for the consideration Of both houses
and is now on their calendars, favorable re-
ports having been made from the CON-
merce committee of the Senate and from
the House Committee on Merchant Marine
and Fisheries. Members of the Maine del
esation. including Gov. Burleigh, are all |
prepared to vote for the bill, but at the |
same time it is recognized that measure |
scrutlnized and debated in detail for the !
purpose of perfecting its provisions.
Gov. Burleigh has coined d new phrase in
Congress which is being discussed in the |
cloakrOoms. 1t is the phrase Summer con-
stituents.' Members are having lot of fun |
over summer constituents" because it is |
new to them, Of course it is only a COM
pact but readily comprehensive phrase,
describing the summer residents along the |
Maine coast, who have established them
selves iu Maine to the extent that they are !
more or less identified with various COM
munties. The more they 90 to Maine for |
the summer, the more they feel lively in |,
terest in the State. They look upon them |
selves as part of the summer communities in |
sorts Of questions and look after all sorts of |
matters that happen to be of mutual inter
est to them aud to the people who dwell in
Maine the year aroand. Gov. Burleigh |
finds "a constantly increasing number of
these Summer constituents" in his dis
trict, not few of whom spend the summer
months at Belfast and along the coast in
that vicinity. Some live i'll New York ;
some live here in Washington but where
ever they happen 70 hail from they write to
their Maine Congressman in preference to
the Congressman from the district that hap
pens to include their winter home. Not
long ago a New York lady who passes
the summers down near Isle au Haul
came to Washington to urge the dredging Of
Isle au Haut thoroughtare. Ii was d Wash
ington resident Who makes his home along
the Maine coast that took up with Gov.
Burleigh the matter Of utilization Of mus