An appreciation of the historical perspective of a subject is useful in assessing future trends and possibilities. In particular, a study of the developments of the past is a salutary corrective to the discouraging attitude that as things have been they remain. Our grandfathers were pioneers who would have repudiated such an outlook.

This book concentrates on the techniques of preserving fish as food. The technicalities of catching fish and fishery statistics as such have been avoided, except when they have a bearing on the main subject. Inevitable the emphasis has been placed mostly on the experience of the English-speaking world. However, until the standard history of fish technology comes to be written by a combination of historian and fish technologist, it is hoped that this attempt may be of general interest as one important aspect of mans continuous campaign against nature for his material necessities.