Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-04-27
sowsRs DsFINEs re sARpINE
Tells the Agricultural Department
What They Are.
special Corresnonae nee.

Special Correspondence.
Washington, u. @. April ea-All
sorts Of trouble has been experienced
hy the department OF agriculture in
trying to determine, officially. what 4
sardine is. 1t was necessary. under
the pure food law to obtain an exact
answer to the question for, CONNER
cially, the sardine is an Important ar
ticle, and the trade In the succulent
linny morsai Is enormous.
Secretary Wilson and Or. Harvey
w Wiley, Of the Bureau OF Chemistry.
wrestled with the problem for several
months They held meetings and lis
tened 10 learned statements from
many Of the sardine experts Of the
country When they had concluded
their inquiries they were no nearer 10
a determination 81 the question than
they We're when they began. AS a
last resort. Secretary Wilson rtquestea
United States Fish Commissioner
Bowers department to pass upon the
question aud, II possible, give him a
definition Of sardlne that would stand
the test Of the law. Here Is the result
OF Commissioners Bowers experts
consideration;
Commercially, the name esardne'
has come to signify small, canned, clu-
peoid FISH, The methods of preparation
are so various that II Is impossible to
establish amy absolute standard Of
quality 1t appears to this depart
ment that the purposes OF the pure
food law will be carried ont and the
public fully protected IL an sardines
bear a label showing the place where
pgoduced and the nature OF the ingre.
dents used in preserving or flavoring
the fish"
In ruling made by the department
Of agriculture, based substantially on
the definition Of the fish commission.
1t Is held Il at the term "sardine" may
be applied TO any small fish prepared
as Indicated by the fish commission:
but it Is required, In addition, that
the box or package containing the
sardines shall bear on its label the
name Of the country or state In which
the product is put up" and rne names
of the ingredients used either in the
preservation or cooking OF the fish.
Years ago, when one ate sardines he
was certain that he was enjoying a
product Of Sardinia The fish used in
that product We're genuine sardines. It
has come TO a point now, however,
where the name "sardine'' is used In
generic .ense to describe a class of
fish products. A half dozen different
varieties Df small fash are used in
the making Of the sardines OF COM
MERGE that are made in France, in
Germany, in Great Britain and in the
United States. Large quantities OF
them are canned in this country. The
packages containing them are beauti-
fully emblazoned with French labels
and heretofore 1t has been felt by
most of the people OF this country
that they were being RECALLED with the
French product.
Thereafter, there will be no such de-
ception. Secretary Wilson proposes
the people shall know just what they
are paying for when they buy sardnes
or anything else in the line of food
products. The labels on the boxes or
packages will show precisely what the
contents are and. practically, how they
are prepared. The sardine Gamers OF
this country as making wry faces over
the prospect Of having to be specific
in their declarations on the labels, bat
the law is clear and they win have to
obey it..