Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-26


than is sixty million dollars in the United States
Nevertheless, the fish industry is big thing with
Americans and something that in way or another
affects every citizen of the country.
Unless it be that of hunting, fishing is generally
acknowledged the oldest of industries. Primi-
tive living along the waters of the sea or river
naturally looked to that element to supply him with
large part of his food and the taking of that rooo
from the water became less difficult accord
ing to the fish selected and the means within his
reach the beginning. he derived nourishment from
those which were the shore or were easily
within reach in the shallow water. AS his ntelh-
gence increased. he built boats and devised fishing
implements that enabled him to capture larger inner
fish from deeper waters. With this progress came
also taste for the adventure and sport which has
always played large part in the lives or hshermen
In thu United states fishing probably the ear
industry put into operation by the settlers the
rivers times full of fsh. which could
be shared caught at times when the nearness
of Indians rendered the noise of hunters rife lr
advisable. far back 1924, the American COLO
nists bac' to England ships laden with choees'
and earlier Dutch traders dealt in fish from
their first settlement Of the country. The Indians
themselves had depended largely upon the streams
their fish supply, but it the early settlers
who brought with them tie knowledge Of the value
of the deep food products
The vast territory of the United States, including
it does varying climatic and geographicai
conditions renders its fish products more varied ana
of greater value than that of any other nation ana
each year develops better understanding OF the
methods adapted to the utilization OF these nat
ura advantages In the northern parts of the coun-
try both upon the eastern and western sea coasts
the American fishing industries equip and man Yes
sells which far beyond the confines OF tner own
waters In the inland territory the Great LAKES a.
we'll as the numerous rivers offer variety OF rresh
water fish food Along the southern coasts, in add
ton to pscatorial supplies found upon their own
borders the fishing trade is extending to the West
Indian Islands is coming to include sponges'
coral pearls and other articles of commercial value
aside from the regular FISH products
The total value of the fish products produced in the
United states last year Appropriated $6OoOO'0eO IN
value, aside the articles manufactured from
them which last constitutes the basis of a number
Of growing industries There are 6ssS large vessels
and about 10000 small boats engaged In hshlng' the
value of this equipment alone amounting to $ZS'Ooo'
OOO This with the apparatus of capture, accessory
nronertv and cash capital brings the total value OF
lie equipment fisheries industries In the cou-
try to almost $6OO0OOOO which is about equivalent 20
the annual value of the products About OF
the value of the products is from the sat water
fisheries The balance secured from the MISSISSIPPI
river and tributaries the Great Lakes and the minor
interior waters
The most valuable food FISH is not fish but shell
fish, 1t is the oyster The annual oyster crop Is now
worth more than $2OOO0OOO The oyster Is Iou.
most abundantly along the coast or the mlauie ~.
lantic states the New England states coming seconu'
the Gulf states and the Pacific coast fourth n
the production of this popular ovaIve Next 70 uls
extensively in IL New England fisheries althoush II
is also supplied in smaller quantities by the hshi
of the middle Atlantic and Pacific coast
,h+ Two hundred thousand persons engaged
in the 6shing in suetries this country in addluon
to a large number Of men and women ehsaseu -
canning and packing the fish, which Is peihs .7
for future use is difficult to estimate coIiecets
the number of persons engaged in canning hsn' pc
cause 1T varies in different seasons In NUMBER %
establishments canning oysters and other hsh
is
engaged in canning fruit and vegetables during us
summer The girls who pare peaches or tomatoes "
their season can easily shuck oysters aurlhs tn
,+ar and the economy of this utilization OF the
same plant for both vegetables and hsh Is an I'M
portant advantage
The real work of catching has many dan
erous features and yet that appeals to thou
sands of strong, healthy who willing to run
risks for the the freedom and outdoor life 1t
provides There has been fearful loss or hie con-
nacted with the deep sea fishing in the past In
single decade around Gloucester, Mass as many as
125s men and lat vessels been lost at sea- One
reason of this of life has been the shaliowness
of the dories which carry the travis Often these
dories which hold from to five men, become sepa-
rated from the vessel to which they belong and the
men drift around in the open sea ana perish rum
lack of food and fresh water. There has been
great change fishing methods during the past re"
years, however and every precaution is taken 70
check the loss of life dories are built deeper
so they will not upset readily and they are kept
stocked with certain amount of food and water.
one of the ever developments Of the fishing in
dustry along the American is the trawl-net,
which has used extensively in Europe for some
time 1t is opposed by the line fishermen of New
England upon ground that it depletes
by indscrminate capture of many understood fish.
The matter brought before congress at it's last
session by the introduction of bill prohibiting the
landing of trawlcaught fish upon American shores
There was a lengthy hearing of both sides the
question: before the house committee merchant
marine and hsheries after which referred by
a Joint resolution of the house and the senate
federal investigation which should supply
sary facts upon which intelligent legislation might
be based.