Evening journal., 1921-03-08
EVERYBODY EATS
FISH TOMORROW
Fishing Industry, Oldest in
Land, TO be Given Ma
tional Boost
SUFFERED AT END
OF THE WORLD WAR

Tomorrow will be observed as Ma
tional Fish Day. The government
has designated il as a day for a diet
cf fish. and to stimulate interest IN
the fishing industry. probably the
oldest known industry in the land:
For many years before and after
the landing Of the Pilgrim Fathers
fishing was the foremost industry
Of this new land. IL formed a sim
pie and efficient means OF earning
the daily bread, as It provided at
once a food for immediate consump-
ton and material for barter both in
domestic and oversee trade.
In its fundamentals the industry
Is the same today. but due TO many
Influences. the fishery Of this coun-
try no longer holds the Importance
attached TO it in the early days. nor
does it receive a modicum OF the at
tention still accorded the fisheries in
other countries
Tho change came with the migra-
ton away from the Atlantic sea
board Until that time the bank
fishing fleets called not only the best
BOYS Of New England, but boys from
distant points answered the lure Of
the sea and went fishing.
Then came the development OF a
new fishery on the Pacific coast. and
salmon became a competitor OF the
sacred Goldfish" OF New England.
Lake fisheries were developed. and
likewise those Of Southern Califor-
MIA and the Gulf Coast, and a va
riety is offered today beyond any
thing that was possible in colonial
days.
Inland development occurred be-
fore the days Of refrigerator cars.
so II was impossible TO deliver fresh
fish. Immigrants sought FISH from
their homeland. and a wonderful
trade grew up in shipping. for with
few exceptions. every fish imported
can be found in domestic waters i'm
abundance. American fishermen
would not pack to suit foreign re-
Quircments. and the newly arrived
citizen refused TO buy any cure but
his own. This condition with some
variations remained until during the
recent war. when many foreign
packers. being unable to export to
the United States, established plants
here and overseas methods were
successfully introduced among our
own fishermen.
The World War brought home
with sudden emphasis the need for
fighting. merchant and fishing fleets.
Before the conflict was month old,
& was seen that England's fisher
men. in the naval reserve. by keep
ing the channel clear OF mines. and
helping TO man the war ships. had
made Il possible TO put an army on
the continent. a little later thu
value OF FISH as food was brough
home as never before and then cam'
f the spectacle OF America catching
up over night as Il we're in thing
. that had been neglected.
Merchant ships we're built regard
less OF expense and ashing boats
likewise. Operation costs leaped
and so did the price Of fish.
BY the fall Of 1918 great progress
had been made and vast quantities
Of sea food were in the warehouses
Then came the armistice. and with
Il cessation Of "meatless days" and q
stoppage in the big sales OF fish.
Only at great financial loss wal
this fish disposed OF and hundreds OF
thousands Of pounds which coul5
not be sold at any price was dumped
overheard or reduced TO fertilizer
We went back TO our meat eating
But it was not all a loss. Fish ha,
been introduced in many localitie
as a necessary item in a well bal
anced dict Distribution facilitie
had been increased.
In other words the potential re
quirements necessary 10 put tn
American fisheries back in thei
proper place in world commerce ar
az hand. Boats and men are avail
able TO produce more than the mar
ket can consume. Cars are avail
able for transportation Only re
tail distribution is short, and this
natural for not until an Increase
demand is felt for fish will loca
dealers make arrangements to carr
added stocks.
This bfrfhSatc should awaken ner