Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-25

waters.
The most valuable food fish is not a
fish but shellfish. 1t is the oyster. The
annual oyster
Oyster Most Valuable crop is now
Of All Fish Family. than $4,000.
900. The oyster is found most abundant
along the coast of the middle Atlantic
states. the New England states coming
second, the gulf states third and the Pa
cific coast fourth in the production of
| this popular bivalve. Next to the oyster
in value is the cod. which is produced
most extensively in the New England
fisheries, although it is also supplied in
! smaller quantities by the fisheries of the
middle Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
About 100000 persons are engaged in
the fishing industries in this country in
addition to large number Of men and
women engaged in canning and packing
the fish which is being preserved for
future use. 1t is difficult to estimate cor
rectly the number of persons engaged in
canning fish, because it varies in differ
ent seasons. In a number of establish
ments canning oysters and other fish
products the same force is employed in
fruit and vegetables during the summer.
The girls who pare peaches or tomatoes,
in their season can easily Shuck oysters
during the winter. and the economy of
this utilization of the same plant for
both vegetables and fish is an important
advantage.
The real work of catching the fish has
many dangerous features. and yet it is
one that appeals to thousands of strong,
healthy men who are willing to run risks
for the sake of the freedom and outdoor
life 1t provides. There has been fearful
loss Of life connected with the deep sea
fishing in the past. In single decade
around Gloucester Mass, as many as
1, 253 men and LAT vessels have been lost
at sea. One reason for this loss of life
has been the shallowness of the dories
which carry the travis. Often these
dories, which hold from one to five men.
become separated from the vessel to
which they belong and the men drift
around in the open sea and perish for
lack OF food and fresh water. There has
been a great change in fishing methods
every precaution is taken to check the
loss of life. The dOries are built deeper.
SO they will not upset SO readily. and
they are kept stocked with a certain
amount Of food and water.
One Of the newer developments of the
fishing industry along the American coast
is the trawl-net. which has been used ex-
tensively in Europe for some time. 1t is
opposed by the line fishermen OF New
England upon the ground that 1t depletes
the fisheries by indiscriminate capture of
many understood fish. The matter was
brought before Congress at its last ses-
sion by the Introduction Of bill prohibit
ing the landing of trawl-caught fish
upon American shores. There was a
lengthy hearing of both sides of the ques-
ton before the House committee on mer-
chant marine and fisheries, after which
1t was referred by a joint resolution of
the House and Senate for federal inves-
tigation. which should supply the neces-
sary facts upon which intelligent legisla-
ton might be based.
X X
Within the past quarter Of a century
great attention has been given by all civil
lized ma
Governments Make Study tons to
of Worlds Fish Products. ane eco =
advantages to be derived from greater
world. and number of prominent scien-
tific societies are giving the subject con-
sideration from their standpoint, while
men actually engaged in the fishing in
dustry are keeping records Of conditions
affecting fish which were unnoticed a few
years ago. A number of organizations
have the welfare and Improvement of fish
as their direct object and most of these
are united or in some way affiliated with
the International Fisheries Congress.
This is another bond between nations
which it's adherents think especially calls
forth an interest in universal peace. At a
recent meeting of the congress attention
InA 70 60 f hot fhnro No,