Charles B. Davenport

“ Very small quantities are pickled in the United States, and almost the only species smoked is the haddock. The principal form in which they are cured is by salting and drying. The world's annual product of dried codfish aggregates 600,000,000 pounds, representing 2,500,000,000 pounds of the uncured fish. The chief markets are France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Brazil. The bulk of this trade is carried on by Norway, Newfoundland, and Canada, and it has been steadily increasing in these countries, while in the United States the reverse is the case. ”

“ In North America the most important fisheries are on the Pacific Coast, where the combined annual yield of the United States, Alaska, and British Columbia is about 125,000,000 pounds, with a value of $8,200,000. The most important species is the Chinook or quinnat salmon (see Salmon) ; the next in importance is the abundant blue-back salmon, followed by the silver salmon, steelhead, etc. They are taken during their ascent up the streams by the usual appliances, together with the unique fishing wheel. Salmon are marketed as fresh, smoked, and canned. ”

“ The importance of fisheries in the food-supplies of nations, inland as well as maritime, and as offering a remunerative return for labor, can scarcely be overestimated. One great peculiarity of this source of wealth is that the sea harvest is ripened without trouble or expense for the fisher, who only requires to provide the means of gathering it.
Means of Capture. Lines. The principal means of capturing fishes are nets and the hook and line. The hand-line is much used for ordinary fishing, but where this is carried on extensively at sea, a ‘set’ or ‘long’ line must be used. ”

“ Gill-nets or drift nets are extensively used both in the seas and in inland waters, since they are suitable to any water of sufficient depth to float them properly. They are set or drifted across channels or across the course of migration of fishes. Schools of fishes, striking the net, will become entangled. This is one of the favorite methods for capturing species that move in schools at or near the surface, such as the herring, and which cannot be easily trapped or taken with the line. ”

“ The European catch is usually limited enough to be mostly marketed fresh, but in the United States and Canada large quantities are cured. In North America most of the mackerel fisheries are on the east coast. ”

“ For information as to towing ‘intermediate’ deep-sea nets and dredges, see Deep-Sea Exploration.
Preparation and Preservation of Fish. A matter of great importance to the fishery industry is the proper preparation of the raw product for the market. The markets are generally distant from the point of capture; moreover, the season during which any species can be taken in paying quantities is usually limited. ”

“ For transportation of fresh fish and for their preservation the freezing method is generally adopted. For transportation they are usually simply packed in ice. To preserve them for long periods in the fresh condition they are frozen into blocks of various sizes. ”

“ Pound-nets and fyke nets are fixed traps. Pound-nets consist of a long wing, or ‘leader,’ supported on stakes, and forming a fence which runs from near shore out to varying distances, and terminates in a labyrinthine inclosure forming a trap. ”