The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-02-23
WEATHER PLAYS
IMPORTANT PART
IN FISH TRADING
Custom of Eating Fish Only on
Friday Taxes Resources
of Dealers.

| '"There is no evidence that the fish
business Of Boston is subject to- any
| combinations unfairly controlling
| prices" said Edward F. insolvency,
| Of the recently appointed High Cost
of Living Commission Of Massachu-
sets, when he finished a special in
quiry into the fish business.
The commissioner went on further
| to praise fish as a food, and to indi-
cate the great part it's use should play
| in lowering the cost of living, saying
! in part:
while the consumption of fish has
increased during the last few years,
it still amounts each week to less than
one meal out of the 81. Less than s.
per cent. of the average family food
budget in New England is spent on
| this most important article of diet,
| while meat runs from 80 to 40 per
| cent. This is due largely to the habit
of combining the use of fish to Friday,
and to the timing of supply and trans
portation to meet the demand on this
one day. The predominance of one
| day in the week as fish day taxes sup
ply and distribution facilities to the
limit.
"The food value of fish is now ac-
cepted as being equal to beef as
source of nourishment in the daily
diet, and in some respects is more
healthful
| "Of protein, the body-builder and
| repairer, the average human being
requires about four ounces day. At
the average price of fish, it will cost
| about Is cents to get this amount Of
| protein, which would cost go cents, or
| four times as much. to obtain from
! meat.
mo place in the world equals New
| England in variety and amount of sea
food. There are scores Of varieties of
available fish in this market regard
| ing which the general public knows
little; hake, pollock or Boston blue
| flesh, grayfsh, cusk and squid are
eaten extensively abroad and enjoyed,
| but are only beginning to find sale
here.
Operating against ore general use
of fish are local prejudices against
| various kinds. Skates, regarded as Of
little value in the Boston market, are
eaten freely in the West. Sturgeon
and cells were formerly not eaten in
this section, but are now beginning to
be much priced. Dogfsh and many
of the varieties until recently thrown
away, are now accepted as palatable
and good articles of food.
1.-THE Immigrants coming to this
country during the last generation
ihave taught the people of the United
States not only the value and cheap
ness of fish as a food, but they have
shown the American housewife such
| variety Of ways of preparation as to
make it the most delicious article on
the daily menu. The United States
government, the Boston Fish Market
Corporation, the directors of the port
and other agencies, during the last
few years, have shown that fish is not
only a nutritive and less expensive
article Of diet than meat, but also ex-
tfemely palatable.
"Due to the predominance of Fri
day as the principal day for the con-
sumption of fish, and the efforts Of
vessels to land their catch to meet
this one-day demand. there is no in.
dustry in which production is so corr
pletely controlled by the elements ais
the fresh fish trade. Bad weather
may stop the sailing vessels and boats
from fishing altogether. If they can
not get to the grounds in time to
make a catch and return to meet the
Friday demand, they often remain in
port. Due to the element of uncer-
tainty and of hardship and exposure
during the winter months many fish
ermen give up their work altogether
if they can procure temporary jobs
elsewhere.
Eat the present time, the scarcity
of fish is due to the fact that fishing
boats, which command high prices as
cargo carriers in other businesses have
been sold; to labor troubles and other
causes which have made it difficult
to get crews; there are now SO sailing
and 16J steam vessels sailing out Of
Boston, as against Is sailing and 1 3
steam trawlers at this time a year
ago.
Fish caught 100 or more miles
from shore, when placed in the holds
Of the fish vessels in finely chopped
ice, brought speedilY 10 port and prop
erly frozen, are yuvt IS good fish to
eat as those not I<acaA in coaSsst0xaR~