On motion of Hon. A. K. Maclean (Acting Minister of Marine and Fisheries) the House went into committee on the following proposed resolution.-Mr. Boivin in the Chair:
Resolved, That it is expedient to amend the Fish Inspection Act, chapter forty-five of the statutes of 1914, and to provide that the said Act shall apply to pickled herring, alewives, mackerel, and salmon other than mild cured salmon, and the containers in which such fish are packed and marketed; that the Governor in Council may order that the provisions of the said Act shall extend and apply to any other kinds of fish, whether pickled or not, and the containers in which such fish are packed and marketed; excepting, however, fish packed in cans or other hermetically sealed containers, and fish packed by fishermen or others for their own use and not for sale or intended to he used for any other commercial purpose; that regulations may be made prescribing the size and make of such containers, and the manner in which and places where they shall be inspected and marked, and also prescribing how fish shall be graded, packed and inspected, and the place and manner and by whom fish are to be inspected, and other provisions relating thereto ; that no container shall be used unless inspected and marked in accordance with the regulations, and all fish shall be graded; that all fish imported into Canada from other countries shall be packed in containers of a similar character and equal quality to those required under the proposed legislation; and shall be clearly marked with the kind, grade and weight of fish they contain, and with the name of the country of origin, provided that when such fish are imported into Canada for exportation it shall only he necessary that the container in which such fish are packed be marked with the name of the country of origin; that with certain limitations an appeal to the minister may be made in case of disputes between an inspecting officer and the packer, owner or other person: that inspectors shall have the right to enter upon any premises, vessel or boat for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the Act as amended ; that penalties may be imposed, and containers and fish forfeited and seized for violation of the Act or regulations ; and that the proposed legislation shall come into force with respect to fish caught on the Pacific coast on the first day of November, 1919, and with respect to fish caught on the Atlantic coast on the first day of April. 1920.
