Methyl gallate isolated from bark of the tree Rhus verniciflua Stokes has significant antimicrobial activity against the fish pathogenic bacteria Edwardsiella tarda and Vibrio anguillarum. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of gallate derivatives, eight alkyl gallates were tested. Ethyl gallate and propyl gallate had the highest activities, with MICs of $15.6-31.3{mu}g/mL$ against E. tarda. For V. anguillarum, propyl gallate and butyl gallate were highly effective, with MICs of $7.81-31.3{mu}g/mL$. When used in combination with antibiotics, methyl gallate exhibited synergistic effects with oxytetracycline against E. tarda and with norfloxacin against V. anguillarum. These results suggest that short-chain alkyl gallates can be used as alternatives to antibiotics against the fish pathogenic bacteria.