The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-04


 There was shift of scenes about some of the local fish stands yesterday as far as grouper was concerned.
 Grouper were grouper and not snap per.
 The federal pure food law says that articles of food must be sold only under the proper name. Hence the imposition of selling grouper steak for red snapper is unlawful Besides the public is tired Of being hoodwinked.
 I dropped in at the Motion and had a nice chat with Allen Bell, who rep resents the bureau of fisheries for Uncle Sam.
 I'm glad you insist on calling a spade a spade" said MT. Bell as he shook hands. Your grouper story this morn- ing put the proposition straight up to the consuming public ana put it wise as how to buy this fish-and also not to have grouper banned off as snapper. This new fish that I am pushing for the government is a fine one, and when properly skinned and the fins removed is tender and appetizing, and the restau- rants have promised to observe Tuesday and Friday as Grouper Days and dis play placards about their places of busi- ness.
 Fish portions in Birmingham eating
 
 than in other southern cities, even those in coast towns.
 LOSS IN CLEANING
 "Getting back to the grouper question. I want to state that the skinning and filming of this favorite fish calls for considerable loss Take a barrel of 200 pounds, for instance. The loss is about 60 pounds. So you see this fish, even if it only costs 1S4sc wholesale, cannot be sold and compete with the cheaper grades of uncleaned fish. The grouper is one of our best ocean foods, and once tried calls for comeback.
 The government furnishes card to be posted on menus for the asking, which reads as follows: Try tenderloiR of grouper or grouper steak. Recommend ed by United States bureau of fisheries This strikes the eye of the patron, and thus the campaign is pushed along.
 Right here I might say that the snap per is to a fish merchant what sugar is to a groceryman-a necessary staple. Cut up into steak, this fish cannot be sold except at high price. Its whole sale cost is 20c, and counting off the trimmings, you can readily see what profit there remains
 Keep up your fight on grouper."
 Most of the restaurants have signed the following pledge, and have posted it where their employees can readily observe it:
 NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
 The United States bureau of fisher ies has interested itself to the extent of putting on a southern stat -Wlde campaign, the purpose of which is to increase the production and consume ton of a fish known at grouper. The proper utilization of this fish will give employment to returning service men, furnish our custom with very apfe- tizing fishery product and in the end secure for us this fish, dressed ready to cook, atSconstantly reducing prices as the volume of business upon this item increases.
 'T have signed a petition with the commissioner of fisheries at Washing ton, which has been circulated amonS the best restaurants of this city, and pledged myself and the employees Of this establishment to the government along the following lines:
 ITO observe the two weekly 'Grouper Days Tuesday and Friday.
 "To attach the 'Tenderloin of Group err and 'Grouper Steak cards furnished up by the bureau to all menus prompt ly each Tuesday and Friday morning.
 "ro keep in prominent display on the walls and front windows the large placard picturing the grouper.
 "To create opportunity to praise this fish. rather than wait for the change. Suggest 'tenderlo1n Of grouper or 'grouper steak directly after a pa tron has taken his or her seat.
 ITO constantly remember that this fish is a delightful food recommended by the government fisheries and that each of us are helping to educate the public to that fact.
 ITO keep in adequate supply suffl cient grouper for our trade on Grouper Days
 "Eyerybody push srouper from the
 NTTTN YTTITO NTIT