The Detroit times., 1915-10-15
Goldfish Dyed to Repre-
sent Salmon


A New York incident which con-
tributed TO the gayety OF nations
was the recent find OF the health de-
partment In that city OF consign-
men OF Alaskan salmon" destined
10 be sold at from IS cents to 40
cents a pound, but which In reality
was common everyday 10 cents a
pound goldfish dyed a beautiful sal
mon color, The health department
which. In passing. is right on the
job these days, took ten boxes OF
the suspicious fsh to It's labora-
tories. Here by analysis. DR.. Bctz
found that the Goldfish had been dip
ped In or treated with pyroligneous
Geld and had then been treated with
coal tar dye known as Zanzibar
red which gave the fish It's lustruus.
luscious color. Thus the Goldfish arts.
tooracy entered the real millionaire
salmon class.
In this instance the health de-
pattment does not blame the cold
storag, company. II puts the blame
OH the shippers OF the fake salmon
aud Will ascertain just how much
the Ash dealer Offering these painted
fish to his patrons. knew regarding
their identity. Until II Is known
just what part he played in this lit
tie drama Of painted fish. his name
will not be made public.
There are two or three lessons In
this episode. The first is: DO not
become frightened and instantly as
sumo that all hsh sold by all deal
crs are painted. Your knowledge of
the relation OF the flight OF time 20
the processes Of decaying nature
will tell YOU that by the time ship
pers or dealers had tainted the mil
lions of fish sold in our markets, the
fish themselves would be beyond
earthly help. II would require an
army OF dyers or painters to turn
all our Goldfish into Alaskan salmon.
Moreover. II would soon eat up the
profits OF the deal. rs artists In any
line must be paid we'll for their ser
vices
Another reason Why we must not
fear to cat the fresh or the fine
canned fish We buy from reputable
dealer. because the health depart
nient made this Goldfish salmon dis
covery Is that health departments
are out after suspicious foods and
tell Us about these only. They say
nothing about tile millions Of pounds
Of perfect fish. naturally. since there
10 nothing TO say. SO. we hear only
OF a few cases OF suspicious prod
ucts which. like the one drunken
man In a crowd OF perfectly sober
the officers OF the Law. D. not. there
fore, become panicky when you read
OF dyed FISH or painted sausage.
Your health officials will take care
Of them. II you suspect your dealer
OF trickery, change your dealer.
Even IL YOU read that your board OF
health has Inspected and warned a
merchant, he may be working With
them and improving his place to the
utmost OF his ability. Sometimes.
you yourself are caught AT your
worst by company, You may allow
a leaking pipe. a stagnant pool In
your yard. leaking gas pipe 20,
through carelessnesS But you do
remedy things In time or II someone
comes along and makes you see
what a menace these things are. II
Is exactly the same thing with the
dealer. He will put things In COM
pany shape II the board OF health
and II you. his patroness insist.
Another lesson OF the foregoing
episode Is the fact that he deliber-
htely perpetrated the fraud Of the
dyed fish upon the consumer. This