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FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE
United States Department of the Interior
Washington ,D.C

UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OSCAR L. CHAPMAN, Secretary

COMMERCIAL
FISHERIES

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

ALBERT M. DAY, Director

A REVIEW OF-DEVELOPMENTS AND NEWS OF THE FISHERY INDUSTRIES

PREPARED

IN THE BRANCH

OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES

A.W. Anderson, Editor

R.T. Whiteleather ,

Associate Editor

Wm.H. Dumont and J. Pileggi, Assistant Editors

Applications for COMMERGIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, which is mailed tree to members of the

fishery industries and allied interests,should be addressed to the
Director, Fish ond Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, 25, D.C.

The contents of this publication have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely; however, reference to

the source will be appreciated. The Service assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of material from outside sources.

The printing of this publication has been approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, December |5,1949

CONTENTS

COVER:

USING SPRAYS OF WATER, OFF THE JAPANESE COAST.
TURE ARTICLE IN THIS ISSUE,

JAPANESE SKIPJACK (KATSUWONUS PELAMIS) FISHING METHODS,

RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES
TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS:
BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL
YEAR 1951
ADDITIONS TO THE FLEET OF U. S. FISHING VESSELS ..
BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES EXPANDS COLLECTION
OF FISHERIES STATISTICS
FEDERAL PURCHASES OF FISHERY PRODUCTS ........

GYLF EXPLORATORY FISHERY PROGRAM:
OREGON TRAWLS FOR SHRIMP NEAR MOUTH OF MISSIS-.
SIPPlim (CRUISE ENO’ 4)! Seca incleisteniciacac: 66
HAMPTON MARKET NEWS SERVICE OFFICE TO REMAIN OPEN
INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION NOW
FUNCT 1ONING

FISHERIES PROGRAM | FOR “FISCAL

PLANNED 4
NORTH PACIFIC EXPLORATORY FISHERY PROGRAM:
A|BACORE TUNA EXPLORATION CRUISE COMPLETED BY
JOHN N. COBR (CRUISE NO. 5) ........4. Meleteseie/ate
JOHN N. COBB” TO EXPLORE SHRIMP AND CRAB FISH-
ING IN SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA ......6 AbaOS
PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION MEETS ..
PACIFIC OCEANIC FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS:
EXPERIMENTAL FISHING TRIP COMPLETED BY "JOHN R.
wMANNING (CRUJSE NO. TII) ......0.0- SAnaaG aeSnee
"HUGH M. SMITH” TO FISH TUNA WITH LONG LINES BE-
TWEEN HONOLULU AND THE EQUATOR (CRUISE NO. VII)
PRESIDENT APPOINTS DEPUTY U. S. COMMISSIONER ON
THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION .
PRICES UP ON FUR-SEALSKINS ...e..see
REDUCTION OF ANCHOVIES IN CALIFORNIA NOT APPROVED
BY STATE
SOUTH. PACIFIC FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS:
NO SARDINES OBSERVED BY BLACK DOUGLAS" ON

SERTEMBER/ | GRUISEWverncinelnietetecielerenretien 6
WHALE AND SPERM OIL PRICES EXPECTED TO BE HIGHER.
IN 1950=5i- eves sisjelslofaielsielefatel ace DOUDUGUOCBOOnoCo ds

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES:
WHOLESALE PRICES, SEPTEMBER 1950 ......0.esececee
RETAIL PRICES, SEPTEMBER VQSOD rec sesiererers new eeeee .

28

48
49

BY FRED C. CLEAVER AND BELL M. SHIMADA
* ee we

PAGE

SKIPJACK POLE-AND-LINE FISHING WITH LIVE BAIT AND

(SEE FEA-

P. 1)

TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS (CONT. ):

NATIONAL FISHERIES TRENDS AND OUTLOOK--OCTOBER-

DECEMBER: 11950) v1. ccice cnn ceeee
ECONOMIC COOPERAT|ON ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM NOTES .
ECA PROCUREMENT AUTHORIZATIONS FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS

FORESIGNED {ere cyejclnlslselelclelelel« Dever ere reser eres er er serene
ANGOLA:
PRODUCTION OF FISHERY PRODUCTS, 1949 ...... ec eeee .
CANADA: ’
LOCKED HOOK USED TO TAG ALBACORE ....e.eceserecave
DENMARK:
NEWehhy, PES OFSSTUNAW NEM a aletetatarspata/avelebstenevolsterelstelate eevee
FORMOSA:

DECLINE IN FISH CATCH EXPECTED FOR 1950 .
NUMBER OF FISHING BOATS AND FISHERMEN ...
FRANCE:

FISH IMPORTS RESTRICTED
GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC:
FISHERY FACTORY SHIP PLANNED BY GERMAN FIRM ...0.e
GOLD COAST:

ACTIVITIES OF THE FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ..
| CELAND:

POOR CATCHES REPORTED IN 1950 ICELANDIC HERRING

FISHING SEASON BY ALL NATIONS, EXCEPT RUSSIA ....
|}MPORT RESTRICTIONS MODIFIED ON CERTAIN FISHERIES

eee weer eee e ores

SUPPLIES) vefieiiee Oe reser eee r weer eres e rarer ererere
ITALY:
SPONGE FISHERY, 0: 0 s10\c\e0e0j0 01010 0 010 010 «.0l0)e)s\e sleielejsjoaleiaia
ISRAEL:
TO FISH IN NORTH SEA AND THE ATLANTIC ...seeeee eee
JAPAN:
MOTHERSH|P OPERATION FOR TUNA IN THE EQUATORIAL
PACIFIC OCEAN ...,..0-. SODOOCOUDOOOOOOOOUO OOOO On
MEX! CO:
SHRIMP FISHING OFF MEXICO UNDER CLOSE SURVEILLANCE
NETHERLANDS:

STUDIES TRAWL-FISHING INDUSTRY «..seceererererereee
NORWAY =
RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTAL FISHING EXPEDITION OFF
WEST GREENLAND ..... ones

SOO onan a eee

CONTENTS CONT|NUED ON PAGE 93

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

— a
November 1950 Washington 25, D.C. Vol.12, No.1l
ees eee

JAPANESE SKIPJACK (KATSUWONUS PELAMIS) FISHING METHODS
By Fred C. Cleaver* and Bell M. Shimada*

INTRODUCTION

The Japanese have had centuries of experience fishing for tunas. Because the
fishery developed in a culture much different from that found in other countries,
it differs in many ways from the methods in use in the United States. The urgent
necessity of securing food from the sea has provided strong motivation for the de-
velopment of effective fishing methods. For the purpose of exploitation, research
into the habits and ecology of fish has advanced more rapidly than elsewhere. Par-
ticularly in the warmer portions of the western Pacific, only the Japanese engaged
in extensive exploratory tuna-fishing enterprises.

This report shall discuss only the Japanese live-bait fishery for skipjack
(Katsuwonus pelamis Kishinouye). Personnel of the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investi-
gations of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who visited Japan to investigate
Japanese tuna research and fishing methods, gathered the information in this article
between November 1948 and June 1949 from discussions with fishermen, and officials
of the fishing companies, and to a lesser extent from scientists and translated
writings. Since the fishery was at a seasonal ebb during most of the investigation
and fishing was abnormally poor during the latter part of the reconnaissance, when
good catches might have been expected, direct observations were largely limited to
the vessels and gear while at the docks. Because of the limited time available for
reconnaissance, it was possible to make only one trip to the fishing grounds. The
lack of first-hand observation is partially compensated by an extensive series of
interviews with fishermen at ports fram Tokyo to southern Japan, Although every
possible precaution was taken to get a complete and accurate coverage of fishing
methods, it is possible that errors have been inadvertently included. Such would
arise from two sources, the most important of which is the language difficulty. It
was often evident that while an interpreter understood the meaning of the words in
a question, the thought was erroneously interpreted. Frequently answers were re-
ceived which had no conceivable connection with the question asked. Secondly, Jap-
anese fishing centers are so numerous that it was impossible to examine all of them,
even where differences in operating methods were known to exist.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE PAGE
HISTORY -.. 0% ee en ee a er ererereces 2 CHUMMING AND USE OF SPRAY SYSTEM ... 19
BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY .....ccceeccccceses 2 FISHING coccccnccrccccececccesecvces 20
FISHERY FOR BAIT: wcccrescccccrecessces a HANDLING OF CATCH ...ccrccevcrerves eceees 23
GENERAL wccresecerecerescceveveseres 3 FISHING GROUNDS AND SEASONS: ....0.0+0- 23
METHODS OF CAPTURE .ecercsescvevcces 5 GROUNDS ......e.6- eee eeeeescens eres 23
HOLDING cecccccrcccrececersererccccer q SEASONS occ cccccccrerererererececes 25
SAIT FISHING IN THE SOUTH SEAS ..... 10 SOUTH SEAS .cccreveves ee eeerenes eres 26
FISHING GEAR ..c.ccce-cree eres eeeces vies Lali OTHER FISHING GROUNDS ...-eeesneoees 26
FISHING TECHNIQUES: .....0..% eee eceeee 17 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....-ceeeeees eoccccoess 27
LOCATING SKIPJACK SCHOOLS ......0+6- 17 LITERATURE CITED ..ccccccccccccens veces 27
METHODS OF APPROACHING SCHOOLS ..... 18

*¥ FISHERY RESEARCH BIOLOGISTS, PACIFIC OCEANIC FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE.

2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vole 12, No. 11

HISTORY

The regular capture of skipjack for use in Japan as food cannot be traced in
prehistoric times as is the case with some of the other tunas (Imamura 1949). How-
ever, regulations mentioning the use of skipjack as food were promulgated in the
eighth century A. D., so it may be assumed that fishing began some time previously.
Because this species has been highly prized as an article of diet since early times,
considerable thought and energy have been devoted to increasing the catch.

In the earlier days, when fishing was conducted near land, only those schools
that could be reached in small vessels powered by hand or sail were utilized. The
fishermen rarely ventured as much as 10 miles from shore. In spite of equipment
limitations, the industry was quite productive even at that time. The season was
short. Fishermen were unable to follow the seasonal migrations, but had to depend
upon schools which appeared within a few miles of shore. Despite the high value
of skipjack, only minor changes occurred in the fishing techniques for hundreds of
years e

With the advent of powered craft during the first two decades of the twentieth
century, the fishery began to expand rapidly. At first explorations extended in an
eastward direction, but after 1920 a southerly expansion began which continued until
1940. Just before the outbreak of World War II in 1941, the Japanese skipjack fish-
ery extended eastward from Japan to 700 miles offshore, and southward to equatorial
portions of the-western Pacific Ocean. This latter area not only included the for-
mer Mandated Islands area and adjacent island chains, but also embraced the Sulu,
Celebes, Java, and South China Seas, as well as other portions of the Indo-Austral-
ian Archipelago. To fish in this vast area, it was necessary that changes be made
in equipment and techniques. The vessels became larger, and more powerful engines
were installed. The southern extremity of the fishery pushed into areas where cli-
matic conditions varied so greatly from those in Japan that methods peculiar to the
South Seas were developed. Because these were in some respects quite different from
methods found in the northern fishery, they will be described separately where nec-
essary.

The trend of Japanese skipjack production in home waters and abroad has been
presented by Shapiro,1948. Total annual catch of skipjack from inshore waters since
1908 and for offshore waters since 1915 are also contained in a previous statistical
report issued by the Natural Resources Section (Espenshade 1947). The 5 years from
1936 to 1940, inclusive, represent the highpoint in Japanese ‘skipjack production.
During this period, annual catches (including those made in both inshore and off-
shore waters) averaged approximately 238,000,000 pounds. The average annual pro-—
duction prior to 1936 was about 190,000,000 pounds. About 42,000,000 pounds were
also caught yearly in the former Mandated Islands area in the years immediately
preceding World War II. Statistics for this period for catches made in other colo-
nial waters and for the Indo-Pacific region (where a skipjack fishery was known to
exist) are not available. Catches in these areas were probably nominal, but indic-
ative of the commercial abundance of skipjack. In 1936, 3,625,000 pounds of skip—
jack were brought to Formosan ports as contrasted to landings of 271,935,000 pounds
and 31,455,000 pounds for the same year in Japanese and South Seas ports, respec—
tively °

BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY

The skipjack is closely related to the other tunas and mackerels. Remarkably
streamlined in form, it is one of the smaller tunas. While it reaches a maximum

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3

length of about 40 inches with a weight of approximately 40 pounds, the greater part
of the Japanese catch is comprised of fish weighing less than 10 pounds. It is a
warm-water species which may be found throughout the Pacific Ocean wherever suitable
temperatures exist. Traveling in schools that may in some cases extend for miles,
this species feeds upon various smaller marine animals, which in some instances in-
clude juvenile skipjack.

Although not conclusively demonstrated, it is generally accepted by the Japa-
nese that skipjack caught in homeland waters are members of two general stocks, each
including both migratory and resident populations. One stock, believed to originate
in the region near the Celebes Sea, is thought to enter the Japanese fishery by fol-
lowing north along the Ryukyu Islands. Skipjack which are caught throughout the
year near the shallow banks of the Ryukyus are assumed to be fish of this stock
which have lost their migratory urge and have become sedentary. These are called
"resident" fish. The former Mandated Islands are thought to contribute another
migratory stock which moves toward Japan along the Bonin and Izu Islands, and also
by way of the Kinan reefs. Resident fish are caught in these areas at practically
all times of the year.

Although sufficient data are lacking from morphometric and marking studies to
bring out the exact population relationships of skipjack caught in Japanese waters,
the fact that the center of fishing moves progressively to the north from spring
until autumn is a fairly good indication that the skipjack schools have migratory
tendencies.

To further the exploitation of the skipjack stocks, the Japanese have studied
extensively the relationship of ocean temperatures and currents to the catch of
fish. Temperature ranges for the various species of tuna have been definea and
these serve as guides for locating fish. Skipjack may be found in waters contiguous
to Japan at temperatures from 63° F.-88° F. but occur most abundantly in waters
ranging from 66° F.-799 F, In the South Seas, water temperatures above 820 F. are
considered optimum for skipjack.

Skipjack in Japanese waters are said to be "isothermic." If the first good
catches of the year are made in water of a certain temperature, experience has shown
that water of this temperature will contain the schools as it moves northward in the
spring with the Japan Current (Kuroshio). Large schools are particularly apt to be
found in warm water pockets which have been isolated by masses of cold water. As
the surrounded warm water mass decreases in size, it is believed that the fish are
concentrated because they remain in the area instead of crossing the thermal barrier.
Such "impounded" schools provide excellent fishing.

The decline in Japanese skipjack catches in recent years is provisionally at-
tributed to a change in oceanographic conditions. However, the precise factors
which bear upon the problem are not known, and conflicting views on this subject
are held both by Japanese scientists and fishermen.

FISHERY FOR BAIT

GENERAL: The habits of the skipjack are such that the use of live bait has
come to be the basis for the highly specialized fishing techniques. Consequently,
it is felt necessary to include a description of the baiting procedure. In themain,
the homeland fishery for skipjack bait and the fishery for skipjack themselves are
entirely separate. Exceptions to this procedure in Japan are the small vessels which
operate in a marginal skipjack fishery. These vessels are able to make good catches

4 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW | Vol. 12, No. 11

only when the schools approach land and account for a minor portion of the total
Japanese skipjack catch. The Japanese have found over a period of years that itis
far more economical to employ a smaller number of men and less expensive equipment
to fish exclusively for the needed bait than to cause the fleet to lose fishing
time in search of bait. The advantages entailed are manifold. As pointed out above,
it is not necessary for a fishing vessel to lose potential fishing time in baiting.
This is particularly valuable during periods of good catch. Perhaps more important,
it is possible for the bait fishermen to accumulate and impound a surplus of bait
during periods of abundance of bait-fish schools. In this type of tuna fishing, it
seems, both in the United States and Japan, that often bait-fish schools are scarce
at just the time when tuna schools are most abundant and the need for bait is great-—
est. Since a ready supply of live bait is indispensable in avoiding costly delays
in fishing, it is felt that this feature of the Japanese technique may be superior
to that of the United States, and might be profitably investigated.

Fishing vessels usually purchase bait directly from the bait fishermen by
stopping at the bait grounds before putting out to sea. During the peak of the
skipjack fishing season, however, "bait carriers" (vessels which engage solely in
the transport of bait) supply the fishermen at sea (Figure 1). These bait carriers
(up to 50 gross metric tons in size) are generally operated independent of the bait
and skipjack fisheries and profit by serving the needs of both. The bait fishermen
are assured of a steady demand and the skipjack fishermen are able to save valuable
time by not having to go far out of their way to secure bait. Furthermore, by being
supplied with bait at sea, fishing vessels can load up with maximum catches when
fishing is good. Bait carriers are especially active in central Honshu and ply
their trade between the bait grounds in Tokyo Bay and the skipjack fishing grounds
farther to the north. As a rule, these vessels do not transport fish back to port
on their return trips, because of inadequate preserving facilities.

FIGURE | - JAPANESE BAIT-CARRIER VESSEL TAKING A LOAD OF BAIT FROM LIVE BOX. TOKYO BAY.

November 1950 _ COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 5

Although several other species are frequently used, the most common skipjack
bait fishes in Japan are the anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) and the sardine (Sardinops
melanosticta). The anchovy is said to be the better bait because it may be kept in
the live wells more successfully than the sardine.

Although the size of the bait fish used often depends upon what may be avail-—
able, fish from 3 to 5 inches in length are considered most desirable. The bases
for choice are that the smaller fish are most resistant to death from confinement,
although more liable to injury from handling, and can also be used more efficiently;
a smaller bait fish seems to be as attractive to the skipjack as a larger fish would
be, if not more so in some instances, and a greater number of the smaller fish can
be carried per unit of bait—well space.

METHODS OF CAPTURE: The bait fishery operates concurrently with that for skip-
jack. In southern Japan this means that with the possible exception of January and
February, bait is caught in the bays throughout the year. In central Japan the sea-
son is from April to November, reaching a peak during the summer months. Little bait
is caught in northern Japan. The major bait-producing regions are Kagoshima Prefec-
ture, and the area within 150 miles of Tokyo. Bait fishing is done primarily in the
protected bays and inlets along the coast. Bait is more abundant in sheltered wa-
ters, and because the handling of the fish after capture must necessarily be gentle,
the use of outer waters is almost precluded. Purse seines, lift nets, and weirs are
the major forms of gear used.

The purse seines used in Shizuoka Prefecture are 300 fathoms long by 60 fathoms
deep. They are made of cotton mesh ranging from about 1/4-inch stretched measure
to 1/2-inch stretched measure, the smaller web being used in the bunt of the net.
An illustration of this net may be found in the SCAP report on "Japanese Fishing
Gear™ (Kask 1947). The gear is set by two vessels, each of which carries half of
the net. After pursing, the catch is crowded into a relatively small area of net
between the two vessels, and is transferred to live boxes.

From the time the fish are first enclosed in the net until they are finally
used as bait, extreme care is exercised to prevent damage to the fish. As the
purse seine is dried up, the webbing is raised evenly to prevent the formation of
folds in which the bait may be trapped and chafed or smothered. After capture is
completed, the edge of the seine is submerged and the bait is gently crowded into
the live box, the edge of which is also submerged so that the bait may swim into
confinement without being handled.

A second popular method of bait capture is by means of the iift net. Basically,
this consists of an apron of netting that is set in the water to catch fish which
are lured into reach by lights hung near to or under the water during the hours of
darkness.

Lift nets are of several types. The simplest (Figure 2) is a fine meshedrec-
tangle which is generally about 50 percent deeper than wide, the width being roughly
two-thirds the length of the vessel which fishes it (Takayama 1949). One edge of
the net with the narrower dimension is buoyed by a bamboo pole 6 inches indiameter
and long enough to project several feet at each side of the net. Two more poles
are lashed, one to each end of this float pole, to hold it at a distance of 30 or
40 feet from the vessel. The opposite edge of the net is lightly weighted with 10
or 20 pounds of lead so that the net, when in the water, hangs as a vertical wall
some distance from and parallel to the boat. From four to six lines are made fast
to the bottom of the net so that it may be hauled up and toward the boat to enclose

6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

any fish that may have been attracted
JAPANESE. CIET. NET ae lights aac are in the rectangle

ne formed by the poles. The net is con-
structed in a manner to allow the middle
to sag and form a shallow pocket. This
is done by sewing about 4 feet of webbing
to 3 feet of line for most of the net.
The net near the float pole is "hung in"
more. There, about 5 feet of mesh are
"hung" on 3 feet of line. As the netis
lifted, the float pole is pulled to the
vessel by drawing in the poles which
held it away from the boat. After the
fish are closely confined they are trans-—
ferred to a holding box.

Another method of using a liftnet
requires five or more boats. Four are
anchored to form the corners of a square
of the same size as the net. The netis
weighted and sunk between them, while
the fifth vessel remains over the center
of the net with a strong light to at—-
tract the fish. When a school of suffi-
cient size has been attracted to the
light, the men in the boats at the four

FIGURE 2 corners of the net quickly raise the
margins of the net to trap the fish.
The fifth boat extinguisnes the light and leaves the net by slightly submerging one
of the raised sides. The net is then carefully pulled into the boats to confine the
fish in a small portion of the net without injuring them.

Use of lights in bait fishing varies widely. In the method of fishing just
described, all five vessels may carry lights to attract bait. After the fish have
collected, the four outer boats will darken their lights so that the fish will as-
semble over the net. In the single-vessel type of net, lights may be hung on the
side away from the net, both sides, or all around the boat. When fish have col-
lected, the others are extinguished and the light inside the net may be turned on,
or left on as the case may be, to lure the schools into the net. Lights on astring
of floats may be used with wiring which permits the outer lights to be darkened
first. Another variation is to have a small fleet of scouting boats with lights
which may scatter to locate a school. When fish are found, the fishing vessel moves
to the spot, sets the net, and turns on lights. The scout boat is then darkened so
that the school will move to the lighted vessel. ;

The type of light used also varies considerably. Some boats will use gasoline
lanterns, or an electric light of fairly high wattage (100w-500w) suspended over
the water. Others use underwater lights which are suspended just beneath the sur-
face. The underwater light seems to be more efficient although more difficult to
rig and use. A reflector is generally employed to direct a diffused light into the
area where the fish may be caught. Because the fish, while attracted more strongly
to a bright light, may remain at a relatively greater distance from brilliant illu-
mination, a rheostatic control can be provided to dim the light so that the school
will gather closely about it.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 7

A form of gear that is very useful in Chiba Prefecture, central Honshu, is the
trap or weir. Set near the entrance to a bay, or in a spot where bait often congre-
gate, large quantities are readily taken. These are gently transferred to a live
box and towed to a sheltered location.

HOLDING: After capture, the bait fish are generally held in a live box for
one to several weeks. To provide safety for the gear and the fish, the box or pen
must be anchored in a protected area. To keep the fish alive there must be agentle
circulation of water through the box.

The live box that seems to be most successful is a net supported by an octago-
nal frame (Figure 3) of eight 6-inch by 8-inch timbers (roughly 10 feet long) which are
used to provide rigidity and buoyancy. The ends are carpentered so that a tongue
on the end of one will socket firmly in a hole in the end of that adjoining, andmay
be pegged in place. A bag of fine-mesh netting that measures about 1/4 inch on a
side of a mesh is constructed to fit the frame and extend below it for 9 feet into
the water. This netting may be either of cotton or palm fiber. The cotton is eas-
ier to work with as well as being smoother to the touch, but the coarse palm fiber
was Said to last for two seasons without treatment. The cotton must be treated with
tanbark or other preservative every few weeks to prevent deterioration. A vertical
row of four rope loops are sewn to the net every 3 or 4 feet around the circumfer-
ence so that the net can be held in shape by sticks which pass through the frame.

The advantages of this live box are several. It may be readily taken apart
for transport or repair; in fact, the frames may be made of light paulownia wood so
that they can be carried about on the fishing vessel until bait is caught. There
is no difficulty involved in removing the fish because the sticks which hold the
net in shape may be removed to allow the fish to be crowded into any portion of it.

JAPANESE
BAIT-HOLDING NET

SIFT.
(3-3FT. STRIPS
OF WEB)

ToP VIEW OF FRAME

SIOE VIEW

FIGURE 3

8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

Further, it is very nearly round in shape which seems to encourage the fish to mer
circle the box and become more quickly adapted to living in confinement with minimum
losses,

Another type of live box in common use is of woven bamboo strips. Thesestrips
(about 1 inch wide) are woven loosely to form a rectangular box, 9 feet by 6 feet by
6 feet. The box is wired to a frame of 6-inch bamboo poles which act as floats
(Figure 4). The advantages of this type of live box are that construction is rela—
tively cheap in Japan, and it is darker inside, which is said to quiet the fish.
This assumption is open to question, because bait wells aboard ship are generally
painted white as well as lighted at night for the same reason. Fewer fish can be
held in the bamboo box because circulation within it is not as effective as in the
boxes of netting.

JAPANESE BAMBOO LIVE-BAIT BOX

e—$_—___________ 9 ''

FIGURE 4

Perhaps the ovractice of holding bait for a period before use had its origin
in the desire to provide a steady bait supply by accumulating a stock while the fish
were available, but it has been found to be economical from other standpoints. When
bait fish are first caught, they are often very "wild." If placed in the ship's
wells immediately, they may injure themselves by frantically swinming against the
walls or jumping out of the tank. "Wild" fish are easily startled, so that asudden
noise or shock may cause a large mortality among them by producing the reaction de-
scribed above. Often some of the bait caught will be weakened or injured by han-
dling so that excessive shipboard losses will ensue, Obviously, it is inefficient
for a vessel to run the risk of losing valuable fishing time because the bait fails
to survive until fishing begins. Consequently, in Japan "trained" or "hardened"
bait commands a price several times that of freshly-caught bait.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 9

In the holding process, the bait fishermen confine the bait closely in prepa-
ration for use in fishing. The weak and injured die in the live boxes and are re-
moved to prevent fouling. These
losses may ordinarily run from 40
to 60 percent, and occasionally ap-
proach 100 percent of the fish when
first confined. The surviving bait
fish become accustomed to living in
a small space so that when placed in
the wells of a fishing vessel they
adapt themselves readily. Theclose
confinement also serves the purpose
of partially starving them so that
they are more hardy and less suscep-
tible to injury. "Well-trained"
bait may be recognized by the fact
that it is thin, circles easily in
the bait wells, and does not become
excited or frantic when approached.

Care is emphasized at all times
in handling the bait. When removed
from the net after capture, if pos-
sible, the fish are allowed to swim
from the net into the live box.
This is accomplished by submerging :
a portion af the live box with the FIGURE 5 - TRANSFERRING BAIT FROM LIVE BOX TO
edge of the net closely applied to FISHING VESSEL, TOKYO BAY.
it, and gently herding the fish from
the net to the box; otherwise they are scooped up in buckets and transferred in
water. They are handled by scooping with a dip net only as a last resort. When
transferred from the live box to the bait well of a fishing vessel (Figures 5 and
6) bait is generally handled in a bucket of roughly 5 gallons capacity. These are

passed aboard, after which the fish
are allowed to swim from the bucket
(rather than dumped) into the well.

It was repeatedly mentioned by
fishermen that rapid changes in wa-
ter temperature resulted inincreased
mortalities. Consequently, in the
choice of a holding location, areas
subject to marked diurnal temper-
ature fluctuation should be avoided.

Regarding the space require-
ments of bait fish, a sardine 2-3/4
inches in length was said to require
approximately .07 cubic feet of water
at a temperature of 640 F. to 68° F.
in a well where no mechanical circu-
lation is used. By pumping water
through the bait wells on a vessel,

FIGURE 6 - TRANSFERRING BAIT FROM LIVE BOX TO FISH- ;
ING VESSEL, TOKYO BAY. the space required may be decreased

to .05 cubic feet. The density of

10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

bait carried in a well varies. In southern Japan it was said that in a well (with-
out mechanical circulation) 8 feet by 8 feet by 7 feet, up to 1,000 pounds of bait
can be carried. The figures given for central Japan were about the same. At tem-
peratures of 73° F. or less, 50 buckets may be kept in a well 6-3/l, feet by 6-3/h
feet by 9-5/6 feet without circulating equipment. A "bucket" of bait is a very in-
definite amount, probably averaging in the neighborhood of 15 to 20 pounds of fish.

At Yaizu in central Japan, the catch seems to average about 1,000 pounds of
skipjack per bucket of "hardened" bait. In Kagoshima Prefecture (southern Japan) ,
the fishermen quoted figures which tended to indicate that from 2,000 to 4,000
pounds of skipjack may be caught per bucket of bait. These figures seem high, but
the Japanese are known to be very economical in use of bait fish. In some cases,
the assistant chummer will use a dip net to retrieve bait fish which have escaped
the skipjack and sought protection by the hull of the vessel, so that they may be
used again. :

As a rule, the bait is fed very little except on extended fishing trips. Dur-
ing the winter or when natural food is scarce, the bait may be fed ground fish, rice
bran, or silkworm pupae.

BAIT FISHING IN THE SOUTH SEAS: The bait-fishing techniques of the South Seas
skipjack industry had their origins in the practices of the homeland. Because the
familiar species and hydrographic conditions did not occur south of 20° north lati-
tude, it was necessary to experiment with various new techniques for the fishery
before a satisfactory system was improvised. The same procedures could not even be
followed from one season of the year to another or between island groups. In this
connection, it is worth while to mention that the Japanese skipjack fisheries inthe
South Seas were developed only after a lengthy period of persistent effort. Even
with governmental subsidies, early efforts failed until suitable methods of catching
and handling the fish had been evolved. It may be expected that any other nation
which attempts to develop similar fisheries will find it necessary to spend a like
amount of time and effort before a workable arrangement is discovered.

Whereas a few species provide a bulk of the bait in Japanese waters, because
of scarcity it was found necessary to use a wide variety of reef fishes belonging
to several families, in addition to the anchovies and herring-like fishes (Table 1).
Because the fish so utilized are known only by the names given to them by the fish—
ermen, it is difficult to identify many of them with described species. Sufficient

Table 1 - Som Bait Fishes Used by the Japanese Skipjack Fisher;
JAPAN AND RYUKYUVU ISLANDS

Scientific N Common Nanes Scientific Name Common Names
- | kurohoshi-tenjikudai, ufumi Harengula zunasi .. 5 «) Sappa

ufumi

tdgoro-iwashi

aoharara, gin-isd-iwashi
gasagasa, nanyo-kinmedai
saneera, shimamuro-gurukun

Lutjanus vaigiensis -| mochinogwa, okifuefuki
Pomacentrus anabatoids -| hichigwa, hikigwa
Pseudupeneus Sp. o. | hime ji
Sardinella mizun .. eoceres mizun
Sardinia immaculata .ecsseeee hoshinashi-iwashi, shiira
Sardinia malanosticta ....... ma~iwashi

Ssabanoko, saba

Scomber japonicus ..sessseeee

Atherina tsurugae ..
Boryx decadactylus ssescosne

Caesio cadrulaureus seeesese

gatsun
katakuchi-iwashi, seguro-iwashi,
tarekuchi-iwashi

SOUTH SEAS

AMLA Spe coccccccvecevecccee akadoro Harengula molluciensis ..... ma~-iwashi, nany0-ma-iwashi
Apogon Sp. ese. akadoro Labracoglossa argontiventris | takabe

Archamia bleeke: atohiki-tenjikudat Mullus Spe ceccccevces -- | oOjisan

Atherina sp. kokera, tobi-iwashi, togoro-iwashi Sardinella leiogaster mangurobu-iwashi

Atherina valenc si nanyo-t6goro-iwashi Scomber kanagurta .... saba

Caesio chrysozonus . - |akamuro, gurukun, saneera, umeiro Sphyraena Obtusata .esscccee kamasu

Caranx leptolepis ..sceseeee aji Spratelloides delicatulus .. | aco-iwashi, baka, nanyd-kibinago, shiiral
Caranx malibalicus ..cossece shima-aji Trachurops crumenophthalma . | me-aji

CaranX Spe eocvcccccccecccece aji, gatsun Trachurus japonicus ........ ma-aji

Chilodipterus sp. see - |akadoro Upeneus sp. ...+6 ++ | ojisan

Dascyllus trimaculatus montsuki Upeneus tragula yomehime ji

Decapterus russelli akamuro Upenoides Sp. .ssovesene ojisan

DecapteruS SP. ecse miro, shima-muro Stolephorus heterolobus +» | ManyO-katakuchi-iwashi, tarekuchi
Gazza equulasformis hiiragi Stolephorus japonicus ..... e | bakasako, kibiko-iwashi, sururu

[1/The bait species listed herein wera not limited in use exclusively to the area for which listed. They were used by the fishery wherever
available in quantity.
Note: The data was obtained from: Prog. Rept. Okinawa Pref. Fish. Exp. St. for 1937; Marukawa, H., South Sea Fisheries 5 (5), 1939; and

Dr. Y. Hiyama, Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW a

information is not at hand to allow a complete account of the baits used, but some
are available for a few localities. At Saipan and Tinian Islands, the "fool bait"
(Spratelloides delicatulus) was the preferred species, but young carangids, filefish,
atherinids, and Caesio sp. were caught near the reefs for use as bait. In thePalau
Islands, the best bait seemed to be the anchovy (Engraulis heterolobus?) but during
periods of shortage, numerous kinds of fishes were used, including the same ones
mentioned for Saipan. Fishermen who had fished at Ponape and Truk inferred that the
bait used there was the young of Priacanthus sp. R. 0. Smith (1947) stated that the
one- or two-inch anchovy (Anchovella purpurea) were the best bait at Truk, but the
bait shortages caused a curtailment of the fishery from February to July.

In general, the sizes
of bait used were governed
by the species available.
Spratelloides sp. (1-1/2
inches in length) were con-
sidered to be good bait;
conversely, the fishermen
were forced to use some
species of 6 or 7 inches,
although these often failed
to attract the skipjack in
tne desired manner.

Both of the net types
described for the Japanese
fishery as well as several
others were used in tropi-
cal waters. Lights were
particularly effective in
the capture of bait in the 4 Ke E
Palaus when used with alift FIGURE 7 - SETTING LIFT NET FOR SKIPJACK BAIT, TINIAN, M. 1.
net. A variation of the

; ee 8. 8) Oe j lift net was seen in the

ig [= technique employed at Tinian

(Figures 7 to 12). Thefish
ing vessel would anchor near
the cliffs and set the net.
The crew would then swim
along the cliffs, round up
a school of "fool bait"
(S. delicatulus), and herd
them into the net.

The Okinawan drive-in
net was used throughout the
South Seas to catch reef
fish. The net consisted of
a large pocket flanked by
wings of netting (Kask, 1947).
This was set in an open
space between the reefs.
Fish were herded into the
net by the swimmers who
formed a large semicircle

FIGURE 8 - LIFT NET SET FOR SKIPJACK BAIT, TINIAN, M. |.

12 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vole 12, No. 11

which wouldconverge on the
net opening.

Bait was handled inan
entirely different manner
than is the case in Japan.
The outstanding difference
was in the fact that the
bait was almost never held
for any length of time prior
to use. The anchovies and
herring were found to be
extremely delicate, so del-
icate in fact that they died
after a day of impoundment.
This obstacle was met by
catching the bait during
the night or early morning
hours, and using it imme-—
diately. The bait surviv—
, ing at the end of the day
FIGURE 9 - SKIPUYACK FISHERMEN DRIVING BAIT INTO NET, TINIAN, was frequently eaten by the

M. 1. fishermen. The system was
practicable because the
baiting grounds were within a few hours run of the skipjack fishing grounds.

Some of the less desirable bait fish survived quite well in the bait tanks.
Caesio sp. and Priacanthus sp. lived almost indefinitely. In general, the reef
fishes which proved to be less attractive as bait were easier to hold.

The difficulties encountered in catching bait and Reine it alive aboard a
vessel caused the Japanese 77

to investigate possible
solutions to this problem.
Attempts were made to fish
the South Seas with large
vessels by carrying bait
from Japan. The sardines
from central Japan were
unable to survive thehigh
temperatures encountered.
Fishermen at Yaizu in
Shizuoka Prefecture stated
that the maximum water
temperature which sardines
could stand while in a bait
tank was 77° F. Since
higher temperatures are
commonly found inthe tropics
such trials were not suc-
cessful. Attempts weremade
to keep the bait through
the use of refrigeration i

coils in the bait wells. FIGURE 10 - BAIT NET CLOSED AFTER DRIVE, TINIAN, M. |.

Failure was encountered

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW ils)

because the fish became overcrowded and smothered while trying to get into thecooler
water surrounding the coils.

The fishermen from Makurazaki
in Kagoshima Prefecture were able
to carry anchovies to the Sulu Sea
for use in skipjack fishing. They
gave the maximum temperature toler-
ance of bait sardines as 81° F. and
that of anchovies as 86° F. Since
they pursued a winter fishery in
the Sulu Sea, at which time the
prevailing water temperatures were
79° F.-819 F., this allowed a small
margin of safety for the use of
anchovies.

FISHING GEAR

Although the Japanese vessels
and gear resemble in a general way
those used in the United States for
live-bait tuna fishing, the inter-
change of ideas has been by nomeans
complete. The fleet in Japan is
composed of both wooden and steel
vessels. As in the United States,
there has been a marked tendency
toward larger vessels. The number
of boats of greater than 60 gross “oe Pe
metric tons increased from 3 in FIGURE {1 - BAIT NET DRIED UP FOR TRANSFER AT
1924 to 342 in 1938. Many of the TINIAN, M. |.
newer vessels are in the 100- to 200-gross-ton class. There appear to be two gem
eral types of construction in the skipjack fleet. The majority of the vessels, in-
cluding all of the smaller boats, are built along the lines of a sampan. Some of
the larger ships are combination live—bait and tuna long-line vessels which aremod-
eled to resemble the North Atlantic trawlers.

Among the outstanding differences between U. S. and Japanese fishing methods
are the larger crews found in the Japanese fishery. The smallest vessels, whichare
under 30 feet in length, may have a crew of five or more men, while a 160-gross-ton
vessel (about 90 feet over-all) will carry a crew of 60 men. This is desirable from
the boat owner's standpoint for it assures a maximum catch when fish are found. It
is possible to use such a large crew only by carefully training the fishermen and
equipping the vessel in a manner to permit many fishermen to work. The fishermen
serve years of apprenticeship before they are able to catch fish effectively under
crowded conditions. The vessels have an outboard walk or rack which extends around
the stern, along one side of the vessel and round the bow. On a smaller portion of
the fleet this walk extends completely around the deck (Figure 15). Because the
fishing walk is at deck level, or slightly above, and the deck is relatively high
in Japanese vessels, Japanese fishermen fish at a position which may be fran 5 to
10 feet above the surface of the sea, depending upon the size of the vessel.

This elevated position has both advantages and disadvantages; in any event it
necessitates use of a fishing technique different from that of the United States.

ly COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

The height above the water is said to allow fishing operations to be conducted under

sea conditions which would cause an American tuna clipper to cease fishing because
the fishermen could not stay in the

racks. The major drawback seems to
be that the greater distance above
the sea surface increases the diffi-
culty of landing fish.

Whether or not the height of
the fishing platform is the primary
reason, the Japanese skipjack fish-
ermen use a bamboo pole much longer
than is common in the United States
tuna fisheries. For large fish a
pole as short as 10 feet may beused,
but the ordinary skipjack pole may
be as much as 18 or 20 feet inlength.
Such poles are 1-1/2 to 2 inches ain
diameter at the butt, and from 1/2
to 1 inch in diameter at the tip.
The pole is of necessity very springy.
The great length makes it difficult
or impossible for the fishermen to
lift large fish.

if The line is 1 or 2 feet shorter
at FA e a than the pole so that the fisherman
. Sy ha ey can catch the fish under his arm.
_ f /] L The line itself is not particularly
Rl a a unique. The upper portion is fas-
FIGURE 12 - LOWERING SCOOP OF BAIT INTO BAIT WELL tened in a loop at the rod tip. The
Te UN AN aa lak lh lower portion is fastened to a twisted
cotton piece about 1 foot in length
which has a knot at the bottom end to facilitate the rapid changing of the leader
that is attached to the lure.

The material and weight used in the line, as well as the length of the pole,
may be varied to suit the vigor with which the fish strike., If the fish are biting
excitedly, shorter poles, and strong, coarse lines may be used. Should the school
be wary, longer poles and lighter line or silkgut line may be used.

Two general types of lures are used. These are the artificial squid and live
bait. The artificial lures are made of a barbless hook to which is attached ametal
or bone "head" and which may or may not have a "body" or feathers or other material.
The lures, which are quite similar throughout the world were illustrated by Kask
(1947).

The equipment of the ship varies somewhat from that used in the United States.
This is true of the bait wells in particular. The bait carrying space is all below
decks, generaily in or slightly ahead of the middle portion of the vessel. Construc-—
tion is relatively simple; the fish holds are built rather small, and have water-
tight bulkheads so that they may be flooded to carry bait. Very few ships have pumps
to circulate the water. Instead, holes are cut through the hull so that circulation
will be provided by the rise and fall of the ship. Vessels of 125 gross tons will

November 1950

have 4 or more wells. A
well 7 feet by 7 feet by
9 feet will have in the
bottom 16 screen-covered
holes, 8 inches in diam-
eter. The holes are fur-
nished with either plugs
or metal caps so that
they can be made water-
tight (Figure 14). To
empty the well for stor-
ing the catch, the fish-
ermen swim down and plug
the holes so that the
space may be pumped dry.
The simple bait retention
facilitates used aboard
the Japanese ships are
advantageous from the
standpoint of economy

of installation and op-
eration. However, a
mechanical circulation
system, such as used

on the West Coast of
North America, enables
the vessel to carry a
greater quantity of

bait in the available
Space. Further, the
bait can be held while
at anchor in calm wa-
ter, because the motion

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

15

FiGURE 13 - SKIPJACK FISHING FROM JAPANESE SAMPAN.

FIGURE 14 - Ci!RCULATION PORTS IN BAIT WELL.

of the ship has norelation
to circulation within the
bait tanks, The Japanese
meet this problem by carry-
ing a collapsible bait box
such as described earlier.
When it is anticipated that
the vessel will be at anchor
for any length of time in
sheltered waters, the bait
is transferred from the
wells to the live box for
safe keeping.

A development which
is unique to the Japanese
style of live-bait fishing
is the spray system (Fig-
ure 13). All of the skip-
jack vessels have this e-

quipment. It consists of
a power-driven pump which

16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

supplies a constant flow of sea water to a number of spray outlets which are situ-
ated at 3-to 4-foot intervals along the walk from which the fishing is done. A125-
gross—ton vessel will have one or two centrifugal pumps with 4- to 5-inch intakes.
These deliver water into one or twoheader
pipes, depending on: whether fishing is
done from one or both sides of the ship.
A distributing pipe is laid along the
fishing walk (Figure 15). Near the header
this pipe is 4 or 5 inches in diameter,
but may taper to 1 or 2 inches indiameter
at the end. From the main pipe, short
lengths of 3/4-inch-diameter pipe point
outboard. A few feet of rubber hose,
bearing a piece of brass tubing, are at-
tached to the end of this pipe. The brass
tubing is flattened to squirt water as a
horizontal, fan-like spray. The water
pressure is low and such that a gentle
spray falls between 6 and 18 feet from
the hull of the vessel, forming aruffled
band which will be from 4 to 8 feet in
width.

Because the major portion of the
catch in the past has been consumed fresh
(unfrozen) or dried, mechanical refrig-—
eration equipment in the skipjack vessels
is lacking or of relatively small capacity.
Only recently has there been serious in-
vestigation of brine-freezing of tuna
aboard the vessel for canning on shore.
In most cases ice is carried to prevent spoilage, and voyages are short in duration.
It must be noted that this applies only to the skipjack fishery. The tuna long-line
vessels (which catch other tunas) may spend a month or more fishing. However, since
the skipjack are taken in warm waters (66° F.-79° F.), many of the larger vessels
have small ammonia systems to cool the holds and thereby prevent the ice from melt—
ing as rapidly as it ordinarily would.

F 1 GURE 15h FISHING RACK OF A 150-TON JAPA-
NESE SK'IPJACK VESSEL.

The use of radios among the fishing fleet is of a highly organized nature. In
almost every tuna fishing center of any importance, there is a radio station main-—
tained by the local tuna fishing association. These are of value inthat not only
is the ship in daily contact with the base so that the date of arrival in port as
well as size of landings can be forecasted, but also they promote greater fleet ef-
ficiency. The entire fleet may know at all times where the best catches are being
made; consequently, less time is lost in unproductive scouting. Also, the regular
contact makes aid to distressed vessels more reliable. Recently, the severe compe—
tition in some areas has made the fishermen reluctant to broadcast news of good
catches.

The equipment used in the South Seas fisheries was essentially the same as that
used in Japan; indeed, some of the larger vessels voyaged from central and southern
Japan to the Sulu Sea and adjacent waters. The major difference was in size of ves-—
sels. Because the fishing grounds were near the South Seas bases, because the catch
spoiled rapidly, and because the bait fishes used did not live any length of time

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 17

in the bait wells, small vessels which made daily trips were found to be more ef-
ficient. These sampans ranged from 26 to 50 feet in length, and carried crews of
from 5 to 25 men. A factor which may have had a bearing on the size of vesselused,
but which was not mentioned, was the difficulty often encountered in catching bait.
Although enough bait might be caught to supply a small vessel, in most places bait
was not found in sufficient quantity to supply a large vessel.

FISHING TECHNIQUES

LOCATING SKIPJACK SCHOOLS: Since the success of any live-bait fishing oper-
ation for skipjack depends largely on the ability of fishermen to locate fish
schools and to fish these with maximum effectiveness, Japanese skipjack fishermen
have learned to place much emphasis upon the ability to recognize signs of fish and
tio judge conditions which may directly or indirectly reveal the presence of fish.
Some of their locating methods, such as the use of oceanographic data, are unique
and may well be used to advantage by American tuna fishermen.

In general, Japanese live—bait fishermen rely on one of several factors or a
combination of factcrs to find fish. Of primary importance perhaps is experience,
born of long years at sea. By closely observing the conditions under which fish
are usually found and by collating data from personal logbooks, the fishermen are
able to predict with reasonable accuracy the availability of skipjack on the fish-
ing grounds, both with respect to season and area, and plan their operations ac-
cordingly.

Although experience serves as a valuable guide in narrowing down the time
and area of search, the actual spotting of skipjack schools at the surface is done
by means of scouting. By watching for certainwell-established signs which point to
the presence of fish, the fishermen are able to find the schools. Of these signs,
birds are considered to be the best since they are visible from a distance. Fur-
thermore, schools of skipjack accompanied by birds generally offer excellent fish-
ing.e According to Japanese fishermen, the activity of bird flocks indicates whether
or not the skipjack schools being followed can be fished. Schools of fish with
birds hovering high overhead are usually considered to be "wild" fish - skipjack
traveling at a fairly fast rate which will not stop to feed. On the other hand,
"working birds" (birds which continually dive in and out of a school) indicate
by their actions the presence of actively feeding skipjack. Such schools provide
the best catches because they can be drawn to the side of a fishing vessel by bait
fish. A flock of birds resting on the surface may point to the presence of aschool
at lower depths. As a rule, the size of the fish school is thought to be propor-
tional to the number of accompanying birds; the greater the number of fish, the
larger the flock.

As previously pointed out in the discussion on biology and ecology, water tem-
peratures play an important part in the skip jack fishery. Knowing the temperature
limits and optimum ranges for the occurrence of skipjack, the fishermen are able to
delineate the areas where schools of fish are most likely to be encountered. There-
fore, Japanese fishermen will take surface temperature readings almost constantly
when searching for skip,jjack. Furthermore, a sharp fluctuation in temperature may
indicate a zone of discontinuity between water masses of two different characteris-
tics. These current contact areas are said to be especially good for skipjack fish-
ing because the fish are attracted by the presence of natural food.

Other oceanographic conditions, such as, water color and current flow, are im-
portant to skipjack fishermen because they show the fishermen when they have entered

18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIBW Vol. 12, No. 11

the Japan Current. Clear, dark blue water and a current flowing in a general north-
erly or northeasterly direction identify the warm Japan Current where most schools
of skipjack are to be found.

In addition to visual and oceanographic signs, Japanese fishermen rely heavily
on so-called "associations" to locate skipjack. They have discovered through ex-
perience that schools of fish are often found near floating driftwood, debris, and
large marine creatures, such as, whales and basking sharks, which normally inhabit
surface waters. Although the exact reasons why skipjack are attracted to floating
objects are not known, it is possible that they congregate to feed on small fish
and crustaceans which gather around flotsam. Whales and sharks are said to be
symbiotically associated with skipjack - they act as scavengers and at the same
time provide cover for skipjack.

Schools of skipjack which follow driftwood can be more readily fished, if they
take live bait, than those found with sharks and whales. Large pieces of wood which
are covered with barnacles, seaweed, and other marine growth and which float with
the long axis vertically in the water, have been found to hold special attraction
for skipjack. When such driftwood is located by fishermen, they range slowly along-
side and chum with a few live bait fish. If skipjack are not seen, the fishermen
continue on their way. This, however, depends upon the discretion of the captain.
A vessel will often tie up to the driftwood, if it is large enough, or will remain
in the vicinity until the captain is satisfied that skipjack are not to be found.

Trolling jigs are used to locate subsurface schools of fish. Jigs aredragged
behind the fishing vessels at all times when approaching the fishing grounds and
while on the fishing grounds, In Kagoshima Prefecture, fishing boats set out several
feathered trolls as soon as they have entered areas having optimum water tempera-
tures for skipjack, usually above 66° F. If while trolling a skipjack strikes at
the lure, the vessel is stopped immediately and a few bait sardines or anchovies are
thrown to bring the school to the surface. Fishing commences as soon as the skip-
jack start taking bait. Otherwise, the vessel continues on its way, trolling and
scouting for fish.

Hookless trolling jigs are also used to find fish. Lines to which these lures
are attached are held in hand while trolling and if a strike is felt, the vessel is
stopped and bait is broadcast. This method is said to have an advantage over the
use of hooked jigs in that the striking fish is not caught. A hooked fish may
frighten the rest of the school by its effort to get free or may discourage other
fish from taking bait by trailing blood if it escapes.

Skipjack also make their presence known by leaving a wake which is easily dis-—
cernible on a flat sea. Patches of smooth water ("slicks") on a ruffled surface are
also regarded as general indications of subsurface skipjack schools. Jumping and
rolling fish often guide fishermen to the schools.

METHODS OF APPROACHING SCHOOLS: Once a school of skipjack has been sighted,
the problems of how best to approach the school arise. There are many different
views on this subject, all of which vary with locality and with individual captains.
The following approaches are considered to be the best, but conditions do not always
permit their use.

1. Kagoshima fishermen opine that the most effective ap-
proach is to draw the school towards the portside of the boat

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 19

by chumming live bait, maneuvering the vessel so that the fish
are between the sun and the vessel.

2. Fishermen from Mie Prefecture, who are considered as
being among the foremost of Japanese skipjack fishermen, claim
that the best way to contact a school is from downwind.

3. Shizuoka fishermen amd those of neighboring prefectures
like to intercept the head of the school on the portside of the
vessel.

In short, it may be concluded that there is no standard way of approaching a school
of skipjack. The approach depends upon the situation and on the discretion of the
individual captain.

CHUMMING AND USE OF SPRAY SYSTEM: "Chumming," or the scattering of live bait,
is an essential preliminary to actual fishing. By this means schools of skipjack
are attracted to the vessel and fished. The chummer holds an important position
among the crew and is usually a man with considerable fishing experience. Upon him
rests the responsibility of luring the skipjack towards the fishermen, of effectively
"holding" the fish near the vessel, and of using bait supplies judiciously so that
waste is avoided. Large vessels with crews of 40 or more fishermen usually have two
men broadcasting bait when fishing, one at the bow and one at the stern. Small skip-
jack boats employ a single chummer, In the latter case, the chummer generally stands
forward of the bridge where the bait wells are located, above the level of the fish-
ing platform so that he can chum over the heads of the fishermen. When chumming
fron stern, bait is brought in buckets to the chummer.

As the vessel approaches a school of skipjack, the chummer throws a few handfuls
of live bait, from 50 to 60 fish. If the fish take the bait, additional handfuls
are scattered into the area ruffled by the spray system until the skipjack gather
near the boat, which is now allowed to drift. A suitable species of bait fish when
used as chum will swim back to the vessel for protection so that they lure the skip—
jack towards the fishermen. As soon as the skipjack became frenzied in their efforts
to take bait, artificial lures are used and chumming is reduced to a minimum. Only
a dozen or so fish are thrown every now and then. However, the amount of bait used
and the duration of chumming is governed by the behavior of the school. If the school
is wary and the fish will not take lt 2s, the fishermen use live bait on the hooks,
and chumming is continued at the same time as long as the fish bite. Dead orgrounda
chum has been found to be almost useless for the purpose of attracting skipjack.

Chumming is generally done by hand from a small dipnet. The bait is kept in a
small box or tub which is kept supplied from the main bait wells. Water is not cir-
culated through these tubs. Live bait ‘is never chummed directly from the bait wells
as is the case in the United States tuna fishery.

An important adjunct to chumming is the use of the spray system, This modern
technique was developed exclusively by the Japanese and finds common use among all
skipjack fishermen regardless of the size of vessel used. No comparable method is
used in the American fishery except in the Hawaiian Islands where Japanese immigrants
have introduced the spray system into the local fishery. Over 35 years ago, when
the present day Japanese skipjack fishery was still fairly young, Japanese fishermen
who fished from small hand-propelled boats found that better catches of skipjack
could be made by agitating water around the boat with bamboo rakes and other crude
contrivances, Water was also scattered from the bait tub. This technique was later

20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

adopted by powered boats when they entered the fishery and it resulted in the de-
velopment of the spray system.

The chief advantages cited for use of sprays are:

1. The spray ruffles the surface of the water so that the
vessel and fishermen are hidden to the fish.

2. Water agitation excites the fish into taking artificial
lures, thus conserving bait supplies.

Whether or not these contentions hold true is open to question, but the fact remains
that Japanese fishermen are all thoroughly convinced of the efficacy of sprays in
increasing catches of skipjack.

Spraying accompanies chunming as the vessel ap>roaches a school of fish; how-
ever, some boats only spray when the school has been drawn to the boat. The spray
is continually operated when fishing and is turned off only when the fish have dis—
persed. It is used regardless of weather and water conditions.

In the South Seas, a slightly different technique was frequently used in chum-
ming live bait. When a school of skipjack was located, the vessel was maneuvered
slowly past the school at a distance of about 75 feet. Bait was then thrown in the
direction of the school and as the vessel proceeded, a careful lookout was main-
tained to see whether the skipjack diverged from their course to take the bait. If
skipjack were seen to feed, the vessel circled in a direction away from the school
and chumming was resumed as the school was approached; fishing then commenced. If
the fish failed to rise, this procedure was sometimes repeated.

FISHING: Fishermen on the larger vessels are usually stationed on both sides;
on smaller vessels, they fish from only one side (Figure 16), either port or star-
board. The most experienced fishermen are placed at the bow and stern while the
less experienced members are stationed amidships. This is to take advantage of the
tendency of skipjack to congregate near the ends of the vessel. Those fishing along
the bowsprit have to be especially agile because of their precarious position. Fish-
ing is generally done from a standing position.

In live-bait fishing, the fishing pole is gripped with both hands and the butt
of the pole is placed firmly against the thigh. Pads are often used by fishermen
to protect themselves from the butt of the pole. The baited hook is placed in the
band of water ruffled by the spray and the fisherman then sets himself for the strike,
which has to be almost anticipated for the momentum of the fish in rushing at the
bait is used to aid in bringing it aboard. When the fish is lifted from the water,
it is swung through the air in such a manner that it can be caught underneath the
left armpit of the fishermen with the head of the fish pointing out and the stomach
up. This enables the fisherman to remove the hook quickly and at the same time pre-
vents bruising of the fish. To catch a skipjack beneath one's arm is a highly
skilled technique and generally requires years of practice before proficiency is
attained. Boys who are planning to become fishermen are trained to do this infish-—
eries schools where they use wooden fish models for practice.

The American technique of fishing one hook with two poles has been adopted by
Japanese fishermen for catching albacore and small yellowfin tuna up to about 50
pounds. There is no pole-~and-line fishery for the largerfish as such. More often,
however, fishermen continue to use one-pole lines and will assist each other in
landing fish. When a man hooks a fish, the crew member on each side of him props

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21

the tip of his pole under the one holding the fish, provided they are free to do so.
All three men then bring the fish aboard together. This method has its advantage

FIGURE 16 - JAPANESE SKIPJACK FISHERMEN WORKING A SCHOOL OF FISH.

in that more lines can be fished at one time for a given amount of space. Dipnets
may be used in landing large fish.

Aboard the vessel, each fisherman has a live box at his side which is built
into the rail of the ship. These live boxes are connected to the spray system for
water circulation, and are kept supplied with bait by "bait boys," youngsters who
preform odd jobs aboard the fishing boat.

Various methods are used in baiting hooks, but the principle is the same—gen-
erally, fish are hooked in such a way that they will suffer the least injury and
will be able to swim freely. Ordinarily, the hook is: fastened through the head from
beneath the jaws or through the back (Figure 17). Live bait is generally used when
first fishing a school or when the fish are wary. If the skipjack become greatly
excited, the fishermen quickly change over to artificial lures.

Artificial lures, usually feather jigs, are also worked in the band of water
covered by the spray and are played on the surface. When a fish is hooked, it is
jerked directly overhead so that the fish becomes unhooked in mid-air, and will fall
behind the fishermen. This leaves the lure free to fish again. Since rebaiting is
not necessary, the need for catching the fish is eliminated.

The vessel is usually allowed to drift with the wind and current while fishing,
but in certain instances may be propelled slowly to keep up with the school. Deck
scuppers are stopped with rags and waste to prevent blood from dripping into the
water and discouraging fish fram biting. Schools of skipjack which bite well may
be fished as long as 30 minutes, during which time a 40-man crew can catch amaximum
of 5 to 6 thousand skipjack or the equivalent of 20 to 25 metric tons. Schools once
fished and lost may be refished, provided they can be attracted by chum.

Japanese skipjack fishermen, like all others of their profession, have certain
beliefs, usually based upon experience, in regard to fishing conditions. A few of
the concepts are:

22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. sc Noe we
l. Fishing is best after the passage of an atmospheric low
pressure area.

2. Just before and after low and high water on the change
of the tide.

3. A ruffled surface is conducive to good fishing.
4, Cloudy overcast weather is preferable to clear days.

5. In spring, an easterly wind is favorable for fishing;
in fall, a westerly wind.

6. Skipjack which have brightly colored indigo backs bite

better than do fish with pale backs. It was said that as the
fish becomes excited, the color of the back brightens.

JAPANESE METHODS
OF BAITING SKIPJACK HOOKS

FIGURE 17

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23

HANDLING OF CATCH

Because of the short duration of actual fishing time, catches are not stowed
until the school has disappeared. When it is evident that fishing has ceased, all
crew members, with the exception of the captain and lookouts, participate in icing
down the catch. Since most Japanese fishing boats are not equipped with refriger-
ation systems, except for a few of the more recently built vessels, skipjack are
preserved whole in crushed ice. Ice is loaded aboard the vessel in crushed form or
in 200—pound blocks which are crushed with wooden mallets when needed. The fish
are usually thrown from the deck into the hold where they are packed in ice. The
amount of ice carried and fish-holding capacity depends upon the construction of
the vessel, but in general, a 50-gross—-ton vessel will carry about 15 tons of ice
and will be able to handle 30 tons of fish.

Some fishing vessels use a cambination of sea water and crushed ice in pre-
serving their catches. This medium is often employed when bait wells are used as
auxiliary fish holds. In this case, the holds are plugged. The fish are throw
into the ice-sea water mixture until the hold isfull. Rice straw mats are then
placed on top and covered with boards, which in turn are so braced that they will
hold the fish and ice beneath the sea water.

Since insufficient care is frequently exercised in handling fish, catches are
often in a poor condition by the time they reach port. This is especially true of
small fishing vessels which have limited ice-carrying capacities. Coastal skipjack
boats which go out for only a day or two do not carry ice. During peak seasons when
large catches are being made, fishing boats will load up with as many fish as they
can carry regardless of whether or not the fish can be adequately preserved. This
results in poor quality fish. Also, skipjack fishing is best during warm weather
so that unless careful precautions are taken to maintain the freshness of the fish,
they will deteriorate rapidly. Under the present economic conditions in Japan where
no premium is placed upon the quality of fish brought to port, the fishermen have
no incentive to bring in fish in good condition. Thus far, they have had little
trouble in disposing of their catches, fresh or stale.

In port, fish are unloaded from the vessel by hand. The fishermen form a line
from the hold to the wharf and pass the fish two or three at a time along this line.
Small fish under 5 pounds are handled in bamboo baskets. The landed fish aresorted
on the pier into small, medium, and large sizes because the price of fish varies
with size; the larger ones command the higher prices. After weighing, which is usu-
ally done with beam balances and baskets, the fish are either taken to processing
plants for manufacture into dried fish sticks or are delivered to the fresh fish
market.

FISHING GROUNDS AND SEASONS

GROUNDS: Fishing grounds in the Pacific Ocean to the east and south of Japan
are arbitrarily broken down into four major areas, each of which is identified with
some prominent landmark. These are from north to south, the Tohoku, Zunan, Kinan,
and Satsunan areas. Projections of these four divisions to the east and south, and
west in the case of the Satsunan region, are contained within the fishing area which
is at present authorized by SCAP (Figure 18).

The Tohoku region, which is the most important of all skipjack fishing grounds
from the standpoint of total catch, encompasses all waters north of an imaginary

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COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

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line drawn in a south-southeasterly direction from Nojimazaki in Chiba Prefecture.
This sea area is, in turn, subdivided into three smaller units: Sanriku, waters
north of 38° north latitude; Tokiwa, 35° north latitude to 38° north latitude; and
Nojima, waters to the south of 35° north latitude.

The Zunan region lies immediately south of the Tohoku region and has as its
western limits 138° east longitude. The Izu and Bonin Islands, which are included
in this division, form sub-regions of their own, being divided at approximately
28920! east longitude.

The Kinan region lies directly off Shikoku and is delineated on the east by
138° east longitude and on the west by 131° east longitude.

Adjacent to Kinan on the west is the Satsunan region, which includes the north-
ern Ryukyu Islands.

In Japan proper, there are a total of 20 or more prefectures which engage in
skipjack fishing, most of which border the Pacific Coast. Of these, Miyagi Prefec-
ture is usually the leading producer, followed closely by Shizuoka Prefecture far-—
ther to the south. The larger landings of Miyagi Prefecture are due to the stra-
tegic location of her ports in relation to the Tohoku area which is conceded to be
the most productive of homeland fishing grounds for skipjack. Fishing vessels from
Miyagi and nearby prefectures are able to exploit the numerous schools of skipjack
which converge in Tohoku waters from July to October chiefly off Cape Kinkazan.
Annual catches of these prefectures are therefore relatively higher than those sit-
uated elsewhere along the Japanese coast.

SEASONS: The Japan Current is assumed to be the controlling factor in the mi-
gration of skipjack from southern waters; therefore, it directly affects the yearly
fluctuations of the fishery in Japanese waters. This warm-water system originates
in the eastern Philippine Islands as a branch of the Equatorial Current. After
flowing to the northeast of Formosa and passing through the Ryukyu Islands, the main
current of the Japan Current proceeds northeast along the coasts of Kyushu, Shikoku,
and Honshu until it reaches the vicinity of Inubozaki in Chiba Prefecture, approxi-
mately 37° north latitude. Here the Japan Current meets the Kamchatka Current
(Oyashio), a cold current, coming along the coast from the north, and veers east to
continue its way across the Pacific.

In the spring, with the rise in water temperature and the gradual extension of
the Japan Current to the north, migratory skipjack schools start to'appear in the
Amami-—Oshima region, south of Kyushu, in early February. As the season progresses,
fishing around the numerous banks in northern Ryukyu waters improves and reaches a
maximum in May and June. These banks are relatively shallow with depths of 100
fathoms or less. At this time, fishing vessels from as far as the northern end of
Honshu move to southern Kyushu ports to engage in the fishery. The schools continue
to proceed north with the Japan Current so that the centers of fishing activity
gradually shift from the Satsunan region north to the Kinan and Zunan regions. It
is believed that the fish which enter Japanese waters along the Ryukyu chain of is-
lands are joined off eastern Kyushu and Shikoku by skipjack which have migrated
from the south along the Kinan reefs. Schools which are abundant in May in the
Kinan region are said to decrease markedly in number during the latter part of June,
when they presumably join the northward migration. Skipjack from the Zunan region,
which first appear near Torishima, are also numerous in May and June, and a part of
these schools are said to travel northward in July; the rest remaining in the area

26 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

until autumn. In July and August, with the Japan Current reaching its maximum de-
velopment and making its influence felt as far north as the southern Kurile Islands,
approximately 46° north latitude, the migrating schools of skipjack converge in an
area 150-200 miles east of Kinkazan in Miyagi Prefecture. Since further movement
to the north is barred by the presence of the Kamchatka Current with its cold tem-
peratures, the schools remain in the Tohoku area and provide excellent fishing until
September, Occasionally, some schools ascend as far north as Etorofu Island, imme-
diately north of Hokkaido.

With the gradual decrease in temperature in September, the Japan Current is
deflected farther south and is weakened as the cold Kamchatka Current becomes domi-
nant. At this time, the skipjack schools disappear. Where they go and by what
routes is still unknown although various views are held on this subject. Some
schools are said to have been seen returning southward about 300 miles offshore,
presumably to their areas of origin; these schools have been fished. Not a few in-
vestigators contend that the skipjack travel due east at greater depths to complete
a circular migration to the South Seas, possibly by way of the Hawaiian Islands and
Central America. As evidence, they point to the fact that skipjack are oftencaught
by the winter long-line fishery operating 1,500 miles east of Japan and at depths
not normally fished for skipjack, approximately 300 feet. However, skipjack taken
by these long-lines are usually much larger than those ordinarily caught in Japanese
waters.

The so-called "resident schools" may be fished throughout the year around the
Bonin, Izu, and Ryukyu waters. Fishing operations usually cease during the mid-
winter months because of unfavorable weather and lack of bait. In addition, "resi-
dent skipjack" are not very abundant during the winter, and never furnish thehighly
productive fishing which is found during the warmer months.

SOUTH SEAS: In the former Mandated Islands region, fishing for skipjack was
limited for the most part to waters proximate to the widely scattered major fishing
bases of Palau, Saipan, Truk, Ponape, and more recently Kusaie and Yap, although it
was recognized that there were other potential fishing grounds of importance. Since
the fishing boats were of small size, ranging up to 25 and 30 tons, the fishermen
usually fished outlying reefs and banks and rarely ventured more than 50 miles from
land. Furthermore, trips were limited to a day's duration because it was impossible
to keep bait alive for any length of time, not to mention the difficulties of main-
taining the quality of fish under prevailing climatic conditions.

Weather conditions for fishing are generally ideal throughout the year in the
low north latitudes, except from November to February when the northeast trade winds
prevail. Although it is possible to catch skipjack during all seasons, fishing usu-
ally slacks off in January and February. The period from May to September is re-
ported to provide the best fishing for skipjack.

OTHER FISHING GROUNDS: Although the Japanese at one time exploited. skipjack
resources of the Indo-Pacific and Philippine regions, detailed information regarding
their areas of operation are lacking. However, the general location of fishing
ca in these two regions is presented in "The Japanese Tuna Fisheries" (Shapiro
1948).

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 27

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Travel and study in Japan were performed under the auspices of the Supreme
Commander for the Allied Powers. The Natural Resources Section under Lt. Col.
Hubert G. Schenck, and particularly the Fisheries Division of this Section under
William C. Herrington, were largely responsible for the success of theinvestigation
of Japanese tuna research and fishing methods. Dr. K. Kuronuma and S. Takayama of
the Central Fisheries Experiment Station in Tokyo, and Dr. Y. Hiyama of Tokyo Uni-
versity were helpful in numerous ways.

LITERATURE CITED

ESPENSHADE, A. V.
1947, JAPANESE FISHERIES PRODUCTION 1908-46, (A STATISTICAL REPORT), REPORT NO. 95,
OCTOBER 1947, SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS, GENERAL HEADQUARTERS,
NATURAL RESOURCES SECTION. (ALSO FISHERY LEAFLET 279, JANUARY 1948, U. S.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.)

|\MAMURA, YUTAKA
1949. THE JAPANESE SKIPJACK FISHERY. THE TEXT OF THE FISHERY, VOL. 6 (MARCH 5, 1949),
PP. 17-94 (1N JAPANESE).

KASK, J. L.
’
1947, JAPANESE FISHING GEAR. REPORT NO. 71, MARCH 5, 1947, SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE
ALLIED POWERS, GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, NATURAL RESOURCES SECTION. (ALSO FISH=-
ERY LEAFLET 234, MAY 1947, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.)

SHAPIRO, SIDNEY
1948. THE JAPANESE TUNA FISHERIES, REPORT NO. 104, MARCH 1948, SUPREME COMMANDER FOR
THE ALLIED POWERS, GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, NATURAL RESOURCES SECTION. (ALSO
FISHERY LEAFLET 297, APRIL 1948, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.)

SMITH, R..O.
,
1947. SURVEY OF THE FISHERIES OF THE FORMER JAPANESE MANDATED ISLANDS. FISHERY LEAFLET
NO. 273, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

TAKAYAMA, SHIGENE
1949. SAURY LIFT-NET FISHING WITH LIGHT. CENTRAL EXP. STA., TOKYO. PAPER PREPARED FOR
U. N. CONFERENCE ON CONS. & UTILIZ. OF RESOURCES, APRIL.

Ne
Fa tatonai

ig

e

U.S. PACK OF TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH
DO YOU KNOW .....

That the 1949 United States pack of tuna and tuna-

like fish, which amounted to 7,290,320 cases (141,700,593
pounds), valued at $97,710,325, was 252,562 cases greater
than the 1948 production. However, canners received
nearly 15 million dollars less for the pack in 1949 than
in the previous year.

28 COMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

Z IN SERVICE LABORATORIES

LL Be Ee a ritQ :

October I950

ANALYTICAL METHODS: ‘The effect of extraction of fish meal with mixtures of water

and acetone was investigated with respect to the optimum ratio of acetone to water,

It was found that the greatest amount of ethyl-ether-soluble material was extracted
with a mixture of 75 percent acetone and 25 percent water, When the proportion of
water was increased or decreased, lesser amounts of ethyl-ether-soluble material was
obtained, When the amount of water was increased, a greater amount of total extract
was obtained, but the ethyl-ether-purified extract was less than with the 75-25 ace=
tone water solution,

OK Ok
PRESERVATION: Samples of the salmon eggs preserved on a large scale during Aug=

ust and September at Ketchikan were examined, It has been found that those samples
in which one of the preservative ingredients was sodium chloride are not keeping well,
Furthermore, feeding tests carried out at Leavenworth during tne past summer indicated
that laboratory-preserved samples, in which salt was one of the preservative ingredi-
ents, have inferior nutritive value as compared to those samples preserved without
salt,

FRESH FISH: Another species of rockfish, S, miniatus,(also known as vermilion
rockfish) was obtained by the Exploratory Fishing Section's vessel John N, Cobb for
a palatability test, Although the skin of this fish has a rather inferior appearance
since it is mottled with grayish streaks, the general appearance is quite similar to
the red rockfish (Ss. ruberimis), Because of this mottled appearance, the fishermen
have been accustomed to discarding it at sea, In the palatability test carried out
on this species it appears that it is just about equivalent to the S, ruberimus in
initial palatability,

* OF OK

COMPOSITION: Preliminary plans were made for collecting a large number of sam~
ples of pilchard meal, stickwater, and other products in California for later analysis
of Vitamin B,> and other vitamins by microbiological methods, Several hundred sample
bottles were procured and labeled and tentative schedules were drawn up for procuring
fish meal at times when it is hoped that the fish-meal plants will be in operation in
various California areas, It is planned to procure samples of the raw meal, the semi-~
finished product (cooked fish, press cake, etc,), the final meal and condensed fish
solubles in order to determine tne effect of processing on destruction of Vitamin Bo.
It is also planned to obtain from commercial dealers a sufficiently large number of
pilchard meals (probably more than 100) in order to determine the range of Vitamin B>
content of tiiis product ordinarily met in conmerce,

* * x

November 1950 COMVERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29

CANNING: Additional samples of gill-net albacore tuna were brought to Seattle
by the exploratory vessel John N, Cobb, Some of the semples were iced immediately
after catching and then frozen one week later; while others were frozen right after
being caught, Final arrangements were made for having these fish, and the others
previously obtained, canned at a custom cannery in Astoria,

* OK OK

REFRIGEHATION: After six months of storage at og F,, oysters treated with dips
and glazes of ascorbic acid and with water only were still considered satisfactory,
Although considerable variation nad occurred from month to month, due possibly to
differences in individual oysters, no one lot receiving a particular treatment had
consistently stoou out as being superior or inferior, As is generally true with fro-
zen oysters, appreciable quantities of free liquor had formed upon thawing the oysters,

* * *

A series of frozen whole Dungeness crabs were prepared for a study of the effect
of freezing the crabs (cooked and raw) in order to obtain information as to the feasi-
bility of freezing whole crabs aboard a vessel or freezing raw crabs at the production
veak in the plant,

SCALLOP AND PINEAPPLE KABOBS
; re ws Ss

| POUND SCALLOPS PINEAPPLE CHUNKS
4 TABLESPOONS BUTTER | TEASPOON SALT
6 TABLESPOONS BROWN SUGAR DASH PEPPER

1/2 CUP PINEAPPLE JUICE —(FROM THE CHUNKS)

Melt butter, add crown sugar, seasonings, and pineapple juice,
Dip each scallop in the mixture and arrange alternately with pineapple
chunks on the skewer, Place skewers across baking dish and bake in hot
Oven 350° for 30 minutes, Baste twice during cooking, Serve on skewers,
Serves 6,

AFish and Wildlife Service tested recipe, This is one in the
series of recipes using fishery products tested and developed in the
Service's test kitchens,

30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

Sas REN ‘NDS 3

AND

rue of Commercial Fisheries Program for Fiscal Year I95|

The Branch of Commercial Fisheries of the U, S, Fish and Wildlife Service is
concerned with the activities and welfare of the commercial fisheries in the United
States and its Territories, Functions of the Branch include;

(1) Investigations to improve and develop metnods for catching, handling,
preserving, storing, and transporting fishery products and byproducts,

(2) Determination of the composition, properties, and nutritive value of
fishery products and byproducts,

(3) Development and improvement of fish-cookery and preservation methods,
(4) Studying problems of sanitation and plant operation,
(5) Exploratory fishing to determine character and extent of resources,

and to test, devise, and demonstrate the most effective gear and
vessel types,

(6) The collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistics on the pro-
duction, processing, and storage of fishery products,

(7) Conducting a Fishery Market News Service for the collection, publica~
tion, and dissemination of current information on fishery commodities,

(8) Conducting an educational service to promote the free flow of fishery
products in commerce and disseminate fisheries information,

(9) Developing and increasing markets for domestic fishery products by con=
ducting fishery promotional programs and assisting the industry in
overcoming proolems of production and distribution,

(10) Economic research on costs, employment, labor, and prices in the fish-
ery industries,

(11) Collection of data on the activities of fishery cooperatives as re-
quired to assure their conformity with the provisions of the Fishery
Cooperative Marketing Act of 1934.

For administration and operational purposes, tne Branch is divided into six
sections: Statistical; Fishery Market News; Technological; Economics and Coopera-=
tive Marketing; Exploratory Fishing and Gear Development; and Educational and Mar-=
ket Development,

The Branch's program by sectional functions, for the Fiscal Year 1951 (July 1,
1950—June 30, 1951), developed in accordance with the amount of funds appropriated
by the Eighty-First Congress, is as follows:

STATISTICAL SECTION: Collects and publishes economic and biological data on
the yield and value of our commercial fisheries, production of manufactured products,
employment of fishermen and fishing craft, quantity of gear operated, and related

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 31

information, Also operates a consulting service for the fishery industries and
government agencies requesting statistical data of the fisheries,

The field offices of the Statistical Section and their activities are:

Bootnbay Harbor, Maine: Collects monthly data on landings of fishery products
in Maine in cooperation with the Maine Devartment of Sea and Shore Fisheries, Con-
ducts such additional surveys as are necessary to complete an annual general canvass
of the fisheries of laine and New Hampshire,

Gloucester and Provincetown, Mass,: Collect detailed daily information on
landings of fishery products at the important Massachusetts ports of Gloucester,
Boston, and New Bedford, and ports on Cape Cod, by species, gear, and area of cap-~
ture, Data are collected in cooperation with the Market News Section and the Serv-
ice'!s Branch of Fishery Biology, Conducts an annual general canvass of the fisher
ies of Massachusetts and Rhode Island

New York, N, Y¥,, and Toms River, N, J,: Agents stationed in these ports conduct
the annual fisheries canvass of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut. The
New York Conservation Department cooperates by providing an employee to essist in the
collection of Long Island fisheries statistics, The Connecticut State Board of Fish-
eries and Game also provides an employee to assist in the work in that State,

Weems, Va,: Conducts general canvass surveys of the States of Virginia and
Maryland, In haryland, the Department of Tidewater Fisheries cooperates by collect-
ing the major portion of the catch data for that State,

Beaufort, N. C,: An agent is being assigned to Beaufort this year to conduct
the general canvass. surveys of the fisheries of North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia, Surveys have not been conducted in these States since 1945, A cooperative
arrangement is being entered into witn tne State of North Carolina for the purpose
of developilug a system for the collection and publication of current fishery statis-
tics for that State,

Miami, Fla,: An agent is being assigned to Miami this year to survey the fish-
eries of Florida wnich have not been canvassed since 1945, A cooperative agreement
is being entered into with the University of Miami and the State Conservation Depart-
ment for the collection and publication of monthly und annual statistics on the fish-
eries of Florida,

New Orleans, La,: The two agents stationed at tnis port are responsible for
conducting general canvass surveys of the fisheries of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
and Alabama on the Gulf, and for the fisheries of the Mississippi River and its
tributaries below the junction of the Mississippi and the Ohio Rivers,

Ann Arbor, Mich,: An agent is to be stationed at Ann Arbor, Mich,, for the
purpose of conducting a general canvass of the fisheries of the Great Lakes, Com-
plete data on the fisheries of the Great Lakes have not been collected since 1940.

Minneapolis, Minn,, or LaCrosse, Wis,: An agent will be stationed at one of
these cities to conduct a general canvass of the fisheries of the Mississippi River
and its tributaries above the junction of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, A can=
vass of this area has not been conducted since 1931,

32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

Seattle, Wash,: From this office, a general canvass is conducted for the States
-of Washington and Oregon, In cooperation with the Market News Section, it is planned
to station an employee at Astoria, Oregon, to assemble current data on the fisheries
of the Columbia River,

San Pedro, Calif,: Conducts a general canvass of the fisheries of California,

BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ORGANIZATION CHART

BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES (Washington, D. C.)

Statistical Fishery Market News Technological Economics & Cooperative Exploratory Fishing Educational and Market’
Section i Section Section Marketing Section and Gear Development Development Section
Section

Field Offices Pield Offices Field Laboratories Field Offices Field Offices
Boothbay Harbor, Ms. Boston, Mass. Boston, Mass. Seattle, Wash. Boston, Mass.

1 Gloucester, Mass. New York, N. Ye College Park, Md. Pascagoula, Miss. College Park, Mi.
Provincetown, Mass. Hampton, Va. Ketchikan, Alaska Boothbay Harbor, Me. Cincinnati, Ohio
New York, N. Y. New Orleans, La. Seattle, Wash. College Park, Md.

Toms River, N. J. San Pedro, Calif. A
Weems, Va. Seattle, Wash. Vessels
Morehead City, Ne C. Chicago, Ill. "John N. Cobb"
Coral Gables, Fla. "Oregon"

New Orleans, La. *t1so part-time *Other vessels also
Ann Arbor, Mich. reporters stationed chartered occasion-

Minneapolis, Minn. at various fishing ally for specific
Astoria, Ore. ports throughout exploratory work.
Seattle, Wash. 4 the country.

Sen Pedro, Calif.

The Statistical Section plans to issue the following statistical reports and
bulletins from the Wushington office during the year;

1. Fish lieal and Gil: A monthly bulletin, Contains data on the produc-
tion of various kinds of fish meal and oil,

2, Frozen Fish: A monthly bulletin and annual summary, Contains infor=
mation on freezings and cold-storage holdings of domestic fishery
products in United States, Alaskan, and Canadien cold-storage plants,

3. Maine Landings: lionthly and annual, Contains data on the Maine catch
by gear,

4. Massachusetts Landings: Monthly and annual, Contains data on the land-
ings of fishery products by species, gear, and drea of capture at the
more important Massachusetts ports,

5. Texas Landings: Monthly, Contains data on the lendings of fishery
products at Texas ports by species, gear, area of capture (bay or gulf),
and area in which the products were landed,

6, Alabama Landings: During the year it is planned to begin issuing, in
cooperation with the Alabama Department of Conservation, a monthly re-
port on receipts of fishery products at Alabama ports,

7. Florida Landings: During the year it is planned to begin issuing, in
coopsration with the Florida State Board of Conservation and the Uni-
versity of Miami, a monthly report on receipts of fishery products at
Florida ports,

8. Canned Fish and Byproducts: An annual bulletin, Contains detailed in-
formation on the 1949 packs of canned fishery products by can sizes,
styles of pack, and areas of production, and data on the yield of fish-
ery byproducts by areas of production,

November 1950 - COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33

9. Packaged Fish: Annual bulletin, Contains detailed information on the
1949 production of fresh and frozen fillets, steaks, etc,

10, Fishery Statistics of the United States, 1947: A detailed annual re~
port, Gives information for all sections of the United States and
Alaska on employment in the fisheries, the number of craft engaged,
quantity of gear used, the volume and value of tne catch, production
of manufactured fishery products, and United States foreign trade in
fishery products, It is planned to also issue the 1948 edition dur-
ing the year,

11, Regional Statistical Summaries: Annual bulletins containing summary
information for 1948 and 1949 on the operating units engaged in the
fisheries and the volume and value of the catch will ve released for
various sections of the country as rapidly as the information becomes
evailable,

12, Imports and Exports: An annual bulletin, Contains 1950 statistics on
the United States imports and exports of fishery products,

13, Manufactured Fishery Products: An annual bulletin, Contains detailed
data on the 1948 production of menufactured fishery products,

FISHERY MARKET NEWS SECTION: Collects, publishes, 2nd disseminates on a daily
basis current information on production, receipts, supply, demand, market, prices,
cold storege holaings, and imports of fishery products, In addition, current news
on fisheries trends in the United States and in foreign countries is published,

Field operations are carried out by seven field offices located in Boston, Mass,;
New York, N, Y,; Hampton, Va.; New Orleans, La,; San Pedro, Calif,; Seattle, Wash,;
and Chicago, Ill, Most of these field offices have full-time and part-time reporters
working in the various fishing centers in the United States and Alaska gathering mar=
ket news data,

This year it is planned to strengtaen the Chicago and New Orleans field offices
by adding anotner fisnery marketing szecialist at each office, On the Pacific Coast,
market news deta for the principal Oregon fishing ports has not been collected for a
number of years, In order to collect daily production data for the most important
Oregon fishing ports, it is plenned to establish e field station at Astoria, Oregon,
under the supervision of the Seattle field office,

The Fishery Market News Section issues daily Fishery Products Reports from Boston,
New York, Hampton, New Orleans, San Pedro, Seattle, and Chicago, In addition, these
offices compile and issue Monthly and Annual Summaries of the data collected, These
reports are available free upon request,

From the headquarters office in Washington, D, C., the Section publishes a monthly
periodical, Comercial Fisheries Review, This publication features articles on fisher-
ies; news of trends and developments in the fishery industries of the United States and
its territories, and foreign countries; and Federal Government orders and rulings af-
fecting the fisheries,

TECHNOLOGICAL SECTION: The Section is primarily concerned with research and devel-~
Opment on the proper utilization of fisnery products, Its program includes research
studies on fisheries in the fields of nutrition, refrigeration, byproducts, sanitation,
and preservation, Fiela operations are carried out by field laboratories located in
Boston, Mass,; College Park, id,; Ketchikan, Alaska; and Seattle, Washington, The Sec-
tions's detailed progrem for tne Fiscal Year 1951 is outlined in a Technological Supple-
ment of the November issue of Commercial Fisheries Review,

3h COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

ECONOMICS AND COOPERATIVE MARKETING SECTION: This Section provides assistance
in the administration of the Fishery Cooperative Marketing Act of 1934, and conducts
fishery economic research, The administration of the Fishery Cooperative Marketing
Act involves correspondence and personal conferences with members and officers of
more than 70 existing fishery cooperative associations in conformity with the pro=
visions of the Act,

Fishery economic research is mainly conditioned by current problems prevailing
in the fishery industries, The research work extends especially to the cost factors
involved in production and distribution of fishery products, The main cost factors
are labor and transportation, Studies are being made to evaluate increasing trans-~
portation rates of all types of carriers on the fishery industries,

Other studies involve the effect of collective bargaining contracts, wage and
hour legislation, social insurance, and social insurance taxes upon the fishery in-
dustries,

Studies also are made on the effects of international trade and international
policies upon the domestic fishery industries, The effects of imports and exports,
the effect of the ECA program upon the fishery industries, the effect of currency
changes in foreign countries, and the effects of certain economic legislation in
foreign countries are observed, In this connection, data are analyzed for use in
formulating recommendetions to the Trade Agreements Committee with respect to fishery
iters,

During this fiscal year, intensive studies will be inaugurated to provide re-
liable information on the economic well-being of the fishery industries through de-
tailed series of statistical data on prices of fishery products and income of fish-
ermen,

A general advisory service on fishery economics, which may be used by members
of the industry, by other Governmental agencies, or by members of Congress or State
Legislators, is also mainteined,

EXPLORATORY FISHING AND GEAR DEVELOPMENT SECTION: It is the function of thig
program to assist the fishing industry by locating new productive fishing areas,
determining their potentialities for commercial fishing, and developing improved

methods of capturing the fish located,

During the fiscal year 1951, there will be three separate field areas of ex-
ploratory fishing: one in the North Pacific, one in the Gulf of Mexico, and one
in the New England area, In addition, a project involving basic gear research will
also be conducted,

North Pacific-Exploration: Although the North Pacific area extends from waters
off of Oregon and Washington to the northern boundaries of the Bering Sea, much of
the exploratory fishing in this area will be directed toward the development of the
fishery resources of Alaska, The present valuable commercial fishing industry of
Alaska is based primarily on the salmon, herring, and halibut fisheries which have
been developed and are being utilized to a relatively high degree, It appears that
further profitable expansion in the Alaskan fisheries must come from the development
of the lesser-known, but potentially valuable, fishery resources which are either
unused or prosecuted at levels far below those consistent with the wise management
of a fishery resource, The development of these new fisheries is the aim of the ex-
ploratory fishing operation,

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35

The vessel John N, Cobb was designed and built specifically for the exploratory
fishing operations and was delivered to the Service early in tne calendar year 1950,

Exploratory work plenned for the John N, Cobb in the North Pacific area includes:

1, A continuation of the albacore tuna survey,

2. A search for new flatfish fishing areas,

3, An attempt to locate shrimp and scallops in commercial quantities, and
to aid in the development of this fisnery,

4. A continuation of the kinz crab survey,

5. <A survey of general sea areas woich have not been fished,

6. Testing and evaluating the efficiency of new=type fishing gear,

7. Adapting new electronic eyuipment to commercial fishing,

Qf the operations proposed above, items 1, 3, and 6 have been given first prior-~
ity for the balance of fiscal year 1951.

Gulf of liexico Exploration: By means of Public Law 163 (Eighty-First Congress),
the vessel Oregon was made available to the Service for exploratory fishing work in
the Gulf of Mexico, ‘The vessel was reconditioned as an exploratory fishing vessel and
made its first exploratory fisning trip on April 17, 1950, Since that time, the ves-
sel has been engaged steadily in an exploratory survey in the Gulf area, The primary
emphasis so far has been upon a search for new deep-water shrimp grounds, with good
indications of success,

The exploratory fishing program for the Gulf of Mexico includes:

1. A continuation of exploration of new deep-water shrimp grounds,

2. <A survey to determine the possibilities of establishing a commercial tuna
fishery,

3. Locating and devising efficient metnods for capturing live bait for tuna
fishing,
4. A search for menhaden in areas other than those now fished,

5. Testing of new-type fisning gear,

It is anticipated that, of the projects mentioned above, most of the emphasis
for Fiscal Year 1951 will be on items 1 and 2,

New England (Bluefin Tuna) Exploration: An exploratory fishing investigation of
the bluefin tuna resources in the North Atlantic, adjacent to the New England area,
is planned, with the actual fishing operation to begin about May 1951, This is the
first year that funds have been available for this work, The necessary arrangements
for procurement of a vessel, geer, equipment, fishing crew, and a supervisory organi-~
zation are now in progress, The necessary research into background problems entering
into the investigation is being made, as a basis for the exploration when undertaken,

Tne objectives of the bluefin tuna exploration are as follows:
1. Locate bluefin tuna and determine abundance,

2. Determine most efficient method of capturing commercial quantities of
tuna,

36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No. 11

3. Determine effectiveness of fishing gear which may be used by the existing
New England fleet without extensive conversion of vessels, (Consider-
ation to be given to use of purse seines, long lines, gill nets, trolling
lines, trammel nets, traps.)

Gear Development and Research: In conjunction with the three actual exploratory
fishing operations conducted by the Service, it has been found desirable to undertake
special research to analyze and develop new or improved methods of fishing and fish-
ing gear, This work is headquartered at the Service's College Park, Md., laboratory,
It is anticipated that this project will prove of great value in solving some of the
theoretical and practical problems connected with the development and application of
new and improved fishing gear for the benefit of the commercial fishing industry,

Comprehensive projects are scheduled for this program, but the major items upon
which attention will be focused are:

1, Improvement and development of menhaden fishing methods,

2. Improvement and development of mackerel fishing methods,

3. Compile all available information regarding fishing gear for basis of
fundamental research,

4. Improvement and development of trawling gear,

5. Study problem of substitute fishing-gear materials for use during per-
iods of shortages,

6, Test and develop new materials for gear,
7. Test the feasibility of the Danisi Floating Trawl in menhaden fishery,

8. Investigate possibility of capturing phototropic fish,

9. Develop methods of utilizing mid-oceanic fisheries,

Initially, priority has been given to item 1.

the Educational and Warket Development Section are obtained by transfer from the Depart=
ment of Agriculture, The objective of the program is to promote the free flow of domes-=
tically-produced fishery products in commerce by conducting a fishery educational service
and to develop and increase markets for fishery products of domestic origin,

Educational Service Activities: Headquarters are in Washington, D, C,; with field
offices in Seattle, Wash,; Boston, Mass,; and College Park, Md, The program consists of:

1, Development of visual and other educational material, such as, educational
pamphlets, motion pictures, displays, posters, graphic material, and edu-
cational material for use in broadcasting, telecasting, end by the press,

2. Informing industry of new or more efficient methods of production, through
such facilities as a monthly fisheries technical abstracting service (Com-
mercial Fisheries Abstracts), educational bulletins, and personal consult-
ing services,

3. improve nationel fish cookery as a neans of obtaining increased consumption
by preparing better fish cookery methods, issuing reports and cookbooks,
and demonstrating approved methods,

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 37

4. Sponsoring and stimulating commercial fisnery courses at educational
institutions to impart knowledge of fundamental subjects at trade
levels and to obtain better trained people for commercial fishery
work

Market Development Activities: Headquarters are established in Washington, D, C.,

and field offices in Boston, Mass,; Cincinnati, Chio; McComb, Miss,; Los Angeles, Calif.;

Ketchikan, Alaska; and College Park, Md, The program consists of:

1, Stimulating the use of fish in the Federally-supervised school-lunch
program by demonstrating the qualities of fishery products and arous-
ing a zest for fish in youngsters which will carry on through later
years, (fish cookery demonstrations, information on supply, and edu~
cational materials are the principal meens used, )

2. Stimulating the use of fisn in frozen food lockers,

3. Analysis and forecast of fisnery marketing conditions through monthly
availability reports for institutional groups, plentiful foods state~
ments, and a quarterly report (Quarterly Outlook for Warketing Fishery
Products),

4, MWarketing aids, such as lists of buyers, buyer's guide, timely market
development bulletins, press releases on fishery products, and work
with retailers,

5. Personal consulting services and interchange of information between
various fishery areas and a study of foreign markets for United States
products,

Additions to the Fleet of US. Fishing Vessels

A tctal of 73 vessels of 5 net tons and over received their first documents as
fishing craft during August 1950--32 less than in August 1949, California and Wash-
ington led with 8 vessels each, followed by Florida with 7 vessels, according to the
Treasury Department's Bureau of Customs,

outh Atlantic and Gulf. |
ACI tC ICOAS tiretuisie.c c1e.els c.0
rest Lakés ee@eeovGeoeeeveeese

Alaska cece vicicicicios ec-0 cscs

oo eoeceeeoseesesccce

= 1 - 1 al
Motall: ctenisiecee emevata 602 727 1,002

Vessels have been assigned to the various sections on the basis of their
home port.

38 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

During the first eight montns of 1950, a total of 602 vessels were documented,
compared with 727 during the same period in 1949.

Fifty of the vessels receiving their first documents as' fishing craft during
August were built during 1949 and 1950. The remainder were built prior to 1946,

rie

Branch of Commercial Fisheries Expands Collection of Fisheries Statistics

Because the Branch of Commercial Fisheries received an increase in its 1951
fiscal year appropriations for statistical activities, the Branch's Statistical
Section will be able to resume statistical surveys in
the South Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River
areas; as well as expand the collection of statistical
data on the Pacific Coast,

It is planned to esStablisn statistical field
offices at Morehead City, N, C.; Miami, Fla.; Ann
Arbor, Mich,; and at points in the Wepee and lower
Mississippi River areas,

General canvass surveys will be conducted in the
areas mentioned for 1950 data on the number of fishermen and fishing craft; quantity
of fishing gear operated by commercial fisnezmen; volume and value of the catch; and
production of manufactured fishery products,

The 1950 survey will be the first complete one of the Soutn Atlantic States
since 1945; of the Great Lakes since 19,0; and of the Mississippi River and its tribu-
taries since 1931.

Federal Purchases of Fishery Products

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, August 1950: The considerable increase in the purchases
of fresh and frozen fi: fishery products by the Army Quartermaster Corps during August
reflected the increased food requirements of the Armed Services since the beginning
of the Korean conflict in June, August purchases for the U, S, Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, and Air Force for military feeding totaled 2,946,230 pounds (valued at#1,193,198)
-ethe highest quantity and value of fresh and frozen fishery products purchased. by the
army Quartermaster Corps for eny one month since January 1948, Purchases this August
were higher than for July by 122.2 percent in quantity and 126,2 percent in value; and
higher than in August 1949 by 68,2 percent in quantity end 135.6 percent in value (see
table),

Purchases of Treat and Frozen Fishery Products by Department of the Army
g 1949 and d1950)

a el (ihe Pree
: | August | January-August _|
mene GSES aR Oe | 1949

one ibs. ibs. ibs.
46 , 230 abs 751, 93510, 638, | 657 |11, 089,‘ 988 as 193. "198 506, “464 4, aig, "253 3, 636, “20

20 = ANTITY

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 39

For the first eight months this year, total purchases were still below the cor-
responding period 4 year ago by 4,1 percent in quantity, but they were 21.3 percent
higher in value, However, with the contemplated expansion of the Armed Forces, pur=
enases of fresh and frozen fishery products for the balance of 1950 will probably
continue at the August rate and total purchases this year no doubt will exceed those

for 1949 and 1948.

Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program

"OREGON" TRAWLS FOR SERIMP NEAR MOUTH OF MISSISSIPPI (Cruise No, 4): The Oregon

on its Cruise No, 4 (September 11-26) trawled for shrimp in the area near the mouth
of the Liississippi River between the 88th and 9lst meridians,

Observations on Grooved Shrimp: Following a short period of strong winds at the
beginning of September, the Oregon, the Service's Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program
vessel, encountered bottom water temperatures in 30 to 50 fathoms that were generally
a few degrees lower than in the preceding period, The larger (16-count and larger,
heads-on) brown shrimp, Peneus aztecus, were found to ve most abundant in 32 to 34
fathoms; that is, in water somewhat shallower tnan in the preceding period, The ves=
sel caught 12-to16-count heads-on shrimp for 11 hours in 32 to 34 fathoms, about 15
miles west to west by south of Southwest Pass at the mouth of the Mississippi River,
on the night of September 14 at a rate of 240 pounds per hour, The depth, distribu-
tion,and size of the shrimp were apparently the same in the areas immediately east
and west of the mouth of the river, but in September the concentraticns appeared to
be greater west of the mouth, Although the brown-grooved shrimp is known to inhabit
deeper water, none were taken by the Oregon in more than 46 fathoms during September,
In this September cruise, as well as in the July-August cruise, the largest shrimp
were found in the deepest water with slightly smaller shrimp a few fathoms shallower,
However, examination of all of the information available from these cruises shows a
closer and more consistent relation between bottom water temperature and size of the
shrimp than between depth and size, Studies are being continued on movements of popu-
lations of shrimp,

The population of larger brown snarimp is outside the area now being worked by the
shrimp fleet but is within range of the larger vessels of the fleet and can be worked
with only small modification of the rigs (increase in trawling cable length) used in
the locality,

Miscellaneous Observations: Camparatively little bottom suitable for trawling
was found near the mouth of the Mississippi in depths from 50 to 150 fathoms, One
drag of 45 minutes duration in 195 fathoms with a 40-foot shrimp trawl produced 60
pounds of 28-count, head-on, red shrimp, Hymenopeneus robustus, along with 61 pounds
of scrap,

While a shrimp trawl was being pulled on deck from 258 fathoms on September 23,
a school of tuna, not identified as to species, came to the surface around the Oregon
briefly and sounded, accompanied or followed by silky sharks, Trolling was not suc-~
cessful, The surface temperature was 83.5° F,, the temperature at 50 feet 8 25OF. ,
and at 100 feet 77°F. Observations such as this suggest the possibility that stocks
of tuna may exist in the north Gulf but that they are confined to cooler layers of
water below the surface unless driven upward by unusual circumstances,

40 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

Hampton Market News Service Office to Remain Open

Because the amount of the reduction in the 1951 appropriations applicable to the
Market News Section of the Service's Branch of Commercial Fisheries was less than
anticipated and because of certain savings which heve been efi'ected to date, there
will be sufficient funds available for the Hamoton Market News Service office to con-
tinue in operation at least until April 1, 1951. The closing of this office on
September 29 wag announced early in that month when it seemed that the proposed cut
in appropriations would necessitate such a procedure, Although it is hoped that ad-
ditional savings will make it possible to keep this office open during the last
guarter of this fiscal year (July 1, 1950--June 30, 1951), it is not feasible at
this time to make a definite statement since rising fixed costs for supplies and
Operations may be more than expected at present,

The cut in appropriations announced by the Budget Bureau on October 10, totaling
$580,271,335 for 31 Government departments and agencies, was ordered by Congress in
the Omnibus Appropriation Act for 1951.

As in the past, the Hampton Market News Service office will continue as usual to
collect daily production data, and issue daily Fishery Products Reports and summaries,
This office collects data for certain areas in Virginia (Hampton Roads area, Lower
Northern Neck, York River, and Eastern Shore areas), Maryland (Crisfield, Cambridge,
and Ocean €ity areas), and North Carolina (Atlantic, Beaufort, Morehead City, South-
port, Englehard, and Pamlico County areas), Charles D, Stewart will continue to super-
vise the oosrations of the office,

I/COMMERGIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, SEPTEMBER 1950, P. 27.

inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission!’ Now Functioning,

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission convened for its first meeting in
Coronado, California, July 18, 1950. Conmissioner Jose Cardona-Cooper, representing
Costa Rice, and Commissioners Lee F, Payne and Eugene Bennett, representing the
United States, were present at the meeting, Commissioners Virgilio Aguiluz of Costa
Rica aud Miiiten C, James of the United States were not present,

Jose Cardona-Cooper was elected chairman and Milton C,,James as secretary for
the first fiscal year (1951), Matters pertaining to tne organization and financing
of the Commission were discussed at this first meeting, Details of the program will
be announced prior to the next mseting of this Commission,

The convention for the establishment of this Commission was signed at Washington
May 31, 1949, by the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica, and was
ratified later by both countries, Implementing legislation has already been signed
by the President of the United States,

The American members of the Commission were appointed by the President of the
United States, acting upon the recommendations of the Secretary of State, Lee Payne
is from Los Angeles, Calif; Eugene Bennett from San Francisco, Calif.; and Milton C,
James is Assistant Director of the U, 5, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D, C,

Jose Cardona=Cooper, the first chairman, was a fishery trainee under the program
of the Interdepartmental Committee for Scientific and Cultural Cooperation, from
January 1948 to March 1949, ‘The Service administered his training at Stanford Uni-

versity,
1/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERTES REVIEW, MARCH 1950, P. 66; NOVEMBER 1949, PP. 71-2; JUNE 1949, PP.

59-62.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 41

North Atlantic Exploratory Tuna-Fishing Program Planned

Operating plans for the new Nortn Atlantic exploratory tuna-fishing progrem were
discussed at conferences held in Washington, D. C,, in mid-October by the Service's
Branch of Comercial Fisheries wita the Commissioner of Sea and Shore Fisheries of the
State of Maine and interested members of the fishing industries,

The Service will begin preparations for undertaking this work immediately, although
actual fisning will not commence until late in the spring of next year--the beginning
of the New England tuna season,

It is planned to charter a vessel suitable for carrying out gill-net and long-line
exploratory fishing, wita consideration being given to purse-seine fishing later in the
season, Special emphasis is being focused on the development of a long-line and gill-
net fishery for tuna since smeller craft in Naine and Massachusetts can more readily
and economically be adapted to this type of fishing,

Based at Boothbay harbor, Naine, the exploratory tuna-fishing operation in the
North Atlantic will be headed by Emmett W, Fowler, Fishery Sngineer, who will work in
close cooperation with the State of Maine and members of the industry in New England,

AE

North Pacific Exploratory Fishery Program
ALBACORE TUNA EXPLORATION CRUISE COMPLETED BY "JOHN N, COBB" (Cruise No. 5): After

spending more than 35 months exploring for albacore tune and testing gear in offshore
waters from Cape Blanco, Oregon, to the vicinity of Cape St, Elias, Alaska, the John N,
Cobb, one of the Service's exploratory fishing vessels, returned to Seattle on Septem-

ber 28, This was a continuation of work begun last year,

Early stages of the trip were devoted to exploring the waters off the southern
Oregon coast in an attempt to intercept the albacore and determine the course of their
shoreward migration, On June 18 the first albacore were caught 500 miles west of Cape
Blanco, and on June 23 tuna were taken within 300 miles of Blanco, These early fish

MADE IN USA j IN USA b : MADE IN U.S.A

i y ; i, ii 1
RECORDING FATHOMETER TAPE MADE ON AUGUST |, 1950, BY THE JOHN N. COBB WHEN |T DISCOVERED AN
UNCHARTERED PACIFIC SEAMOUNT APPROXIMATELY 270 MILES WEST OF WILLAPA BAY, WASHINGTON.

42 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No, 11

were apparently scattered in small schools, only a-dozen or so being taken at any one
time, and no large concentrations were found, First schooling of albacore was noted
during the second week in July, when a series of fishing efforts from Cape Blanco

northward to the Columbia River resulted in a progressive increase in the daily catch,
During this time the albacore were observed in small schools 80 to 100 miles offshore,

During July and the first part of August, exploratory fishing and gear testing
was carried out off the Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia coasts, Three weeks
were spent in Alaskan waters as far north as the vicinity of Cape St. Hlias and up
to 300 miles offshore, Water temperatures were generally cold, and only a few scat-
tered tuna were caught north of Dixon Entrance, The vessel left Alaskan waters on
September 6, and again fished southward past the Queen Charlotte Islands, where alba~
core were still being taken on September 9, Explorations off the Washington and
Oregon coasts during the last 2 weeks of September resulted in negative findings,

Standard commercial surface-trolling gear was used as the primary means of lo-=
cating and taking albacore, Linen and nylon gill nets and long line were experimented
with, Only one albacore was taken on the long line, Considerable success was attained
with the gill nets, and catches up to 160 tuna were made; the nets also proved valuable
in catching tuna when none were showing or biting, and served also as a medium of de=
termining vertical distribution of the fish,

Oceanographic and biological observations were made, including 100 water samples,
over 150 bathythermographic casts, and numerous plankton tows, Lengths and weights
were recorded of all fish caught, and a number of stomach samples taken, More than
400 albacore were tagged with plastic disc tags, with no returns reported to date,
Daily radio broadcasts of fishing results were made to the commercial fleet,

On August 1, while investigating a report of large schools of tuna off the Colun-

bia River he John N, Cobb discovered a previously uncharted seamount with depths as
i shallow as 20 fathoms at a position of LOuyt
N, latitude, 130 47' W, longitude, approxi-
mately 270 miles west of Willapa Bay, Wash-
ington, Good catches of large red snapper,
averaging 15 pounds each, were made with
long-line gear in 70 fathoms of water, While
, passing over the seamount again on Septen-
| ber 15 and 16, 7 sets of long-line gear were
again made at depths from 40 to 110 fathoms,
and 2 species of rockfish and 4, halibut
(weighing up to 43 pounds) were taken, Re-=
cording fathometer trices indicate the bot-
tom tc be quite rougn and hard, and it is
IN FOREGROUND, AND SHARKS IN BACKGROUND. questionable if these grounds can be suc=
cessfully trawled,

NOTE: SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, OCTOBER 1950, PP. 32-3; AUGUST 1950, P. 18; JULY 1950,
PP. |25-63" JUNE \\Q508" Pel.

A GILL-NET CATCH MADE OFF THE WASHINGTON
COAST BY THE JOHN N. COBB. ALBACORE TUNA

* Ok OK OR *

"JOHN N, COBB" TO EXPLORE SHRIMP AND CRAB FISHING IN SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA: In
order to e: explore shrimp and crab fishing grounds in the inside waters of Southeastern
Alaska, the John N, Cobb, one of the Service's exploratory fishing vessels, plans to
leave Seattle on October 30 for a six week cruise, Wain emphasis will be in the

areas which show promise of supporting commercial quentities of shrimp and crab,

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 43

Exploration will be carried out in the region of the west coast of Baranof and
Chichagof Islands, both in the protected bays and inlets and on the offshore banks,
Chatham Strait and the inlets off Chatham Strait will be explored, If time allows,
some work will be done off the west coast of Prince of Wales Island,

Several types of gear will be used, including beam trawls and shrimp and crab
pots, Otter trawls will also be employed as a means of sampling the bottom life,
Recording fathometer traces will reveal data on the trawlability of the bottom, and
Oceanographic and Other scientific observations will be made at each fishing station,
The Fishery Products Laboratory at Ketchikan will carry out experiments in freezing
shrimp aboard the vessel,

Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission Meets

The presentation and discussion of research on certain West Coast fisheries was
the main purpose of the meeting of the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission held at
Bellingham, Washington, on July 24=25, 1950, The following is a summary of some of
the major presentations and discussions:

TUNA: Market samples of albacore were reviewed by the various research agencies,
These indicated to date a run of fish in the Northwest catcnes somewhat larger than
those of 1949. Attempts reported by the biologists of the Fisheries Research Board
of Canada to determine the age of albacore by counting the number of rings present on
the vertebrae revealed that the numbers found in local albacore did not coincide with
the numbers found in Japanese albacore of similar lengths,

Reports on the scouting for and tagging of albacore being conducted by the U, S,
Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian investigators were of much interest, A
proposal to extend the 9-pound minimum size limit for albacore, as exists in Cali-
fornia, to the rest of the Coast was discussed but no action taken,

TROLL SALMON: Studies on ocean migrations of chinook and silver salmon, as de-
termined by offshore tagging experiments conducted under tne coordination of the
Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission for several years, have revealed that the chi-
nook salmon make extensive coastwise migrations while those of silver salmon are
somewhat more local in nature, Im order to further study the ocean migrations of
silver and chinook salmon and to corroborate the findings of the tagging program,
about 1-1/2 million salmon fingerlings of the 1949 brood year have been marked in
California, Oregon, and Washington, The troll catches will be sampled for these
fish when they appear in the fisheries, Additional fingerlings will be marked dur~
ing this fall and next spring in conjunction with this program,

SHARK: It was reported that the imports of liver oils, development of synthe=-
tics, and low abundance of sharks have resulted in a discontinuation of the Pacific
Coast shark fishery,

OTTER TRAWL: Research reported on the otter trawl fishery included studies on
market sampling of the catches, tagging, and the use of bottom fish as mink food,
A closed winter season for the trawl fishery was discussed and the subject deferred
for additional study,

SABLEFISH: In Washington, Oregon, and California, a total of 1,100 sablefish
(black cod) have been tagged and further tagging is planned as part of this program,

Ab COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

Racial analyses based on meristic counts are being undertaken on sablefish along the
coast from California to Alaska,

this cruise the Johm R, Manning conducted experimental fishing operations with a
standard West-Coast purse-seine in waters of the Phoenix and Line Island Groups in
an effort to:determine the abundance and availability of tuna, This research ves=
sel of the Service's Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations left Pearl Harbor on
July 15 and returned October 2, 1950,

EXPERIMENTAL FISHING TRIP COMPLSTED BY "JOHN R, MANNING" (Cruise No, r11):4/ on

After fishing in the Phoenix Island Group from July 24 until August 28, passage
was made to Christmas Island by way of Jarvis Island, ‘The vessel left Christmas
Island September 13, prospected the southern contact margin of the counter-equatorial
current, and then proceeded west to Palmyra,

Arrival at Kingman Reef was made September 20 where production trolling was
undertaken for ,comparison with similar efforts made in the area on Cruise IIin April
and May 1950, 2/

Fishing Activities--Phoenix Islands: Unfavorable weather and poor fishing
conditions were encountered in the entire Phoenix Group, and the primary objective
(experimental fishing) was not realized, Combination live-bait purse-seine opera-
tions planned in conjunction with the Henry O'Malley (another of the Service's
research vessels) were not possibleduring that vessel's short stay in the Phoenix
Group,

No surface tuna or other signs of fish were seen near Hull and Gardner Islands,
Canton itself did have an occasional showing of fish under birds, but these were
small skipjack weighing one and two pounds,

McKean, Birnie, and Phoenix Islands showed excellent surface~trolling possibi-
lities well inshore, The three prospecting trolling lines would consistently take
25 to 80 pounds of yellowfin when the lee and fringing reefs were closely parelleled
at 6,5 to 7 knots,

No attempt was made to troll these islands on a production basis, but a conser=
vative estimate would be that a vessel fishing eight lines would take in excess of a
short ton of yellowfin insa 12-hour period, As an illustration of this, sixteen
yellowfin (average weight 35 pounds) were taken in one hour on McKean Island,

No fish that could possibly have been seined were encountered in the Phoenix
Islands from July 2) to August 29; on the latter date the John R, Manning left
Enderbury for Jarvis Island.

The natives and experienced local inhabitants state that breezing schools and
other signs of surface fish are most frequently seen in April, May, and June in the

Phoenix Islands,
1/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, JULY 1950, P. 28.
2/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, JULY 1950, P. 27.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45

The passage to Jarvis from Enderbury was diverted to include a 200-fathom bank
at Lat, 2°55! N., Long. 164°25' W, As the vessel proceeded northward from Enderbury,
the weather became progressively better and was excellent upon arrival on the bank,
The vessel was allowed to drift freely overnight on this bank, Although feed was in
abundant evidence under a night~lignt, no tuna or signs were seen the following day,

Fishing Activities--Line Islands: The next landfall, Jarvis, carried the ves-
sel back into the path of the strong easterly winds and seas, Tuna here readily took
the trolled jigs and tuna were seen singly and in groups of up to a dozen traveling
and feeding on the south and west sides of the Island, This area to the south and
west of the Island was worked carefully, but the fish neither schooled nor took a
lead, and intermittant rain storms accompanied by winds of 40 m.p.h, hampered fish=
ing activities,

Approximately six "breezing" schools of tuna were sighted off the SW tip of
Christmas Island on September 9, These schools were estimated to be from 5 to 15
tons each and consisted of yellowfin of mixed sizes, A set was made on one of
these schools but no fish were taken, On succeeding days three more sets were made
on less promising schools of fish=-500 pounds of wahoo (Ono--A, solandri) were
taken on one of these sets, Sharks and wahoo were taken in lesser quantities on
all sets, Tuna were seen in these schools, however, and jig lines took 40 pounds
of yellowfin,

Various parts of the seining operation were timed on these sets, and a lead-line
drop test was undertaken to determine the length of time required for the lead line
to reach a given depth after the seine clears the table,

Palmyra was almost completely barren of signs of tuna, Large schools of feed
(2" squid) were seen with great quantities of birds working, Only three tuna were
taken by trolling in this vicinity in approximately three days,

Kingman Reef was trolled very intensively with 8 lines, The same areas were
worked as in the case of Cruise II and additional water areas were covered, the
average daily take was 150 pounds of tuna, Comparing this with the results in
April and May, which exceeded 2,000 pounds a day, this trial was much less produc-
tive,

Other Activities: Stomachs, gonads,and ovaries were preserved and total length
measurements taken on 50 tuna caught during the cruise; 386 bathythermograph casts
were made, from which the positions and boundaries of the major currents at this
season may be estimated,

Night-light collections of tuna food fisn and invertebrates were taken in the
lee of all islands mentioned and on two occasions in the Open sea,

* OK Ok Ok OK

a Sse

(Cruise No. No, LIE a The Service!s Pacific Oceanic Fishery ea eee research
vessel Hugh M, Smith left Honolulu on October 17 for an extended cruise through the
Line Islands south of Hawaii,

The primary object of the cruise is to determine the abundance of yellowfin
tuna in regard to the ocean current systems of the tropical and subtropical Pacific

46 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

Ocean south of the Hawaiian Islands, Fishing will be conducted with tuna long-line
gear at 60-mile intervals from the southern portion of the north equatorial current,
across the equatorial countercurrent and into the south equatorial current, This
operation is designed to test the theory that since the occurrence of basic food
organisms appears to be closely connected with this system of currents, the tunas
may also occur in a predictable pattern on a similar basis,

As secondary projects, the vessel will engage in a number of subsidiary opera=
tions, Obse-vations will be made upon the depth of occurrence of tunas to deter=
mine to what degree the decreasing temperature which is found below the surface af-
fects the vertical distribution of tumas, Further, by fishing systematically from
the islands for some distance seaward it is hoped that information can be secured
concerning the degree to which tunas are associated with land masses,

Caen

President Appoints Deputy U. S. Commissioner
on the International Whaling Commission

President Truman on October 7 appointed Dr, Hilary J, Deason, Chief of the
Office of Foreign Activities, U, S, Fish and Wildlife Service, as Deputy United
Staves Commissioner on the itarneeional Whaling Commission, Dr, Remington Kellogg,
Director of the United States National Museum, is the United
States Commissioner, having been appointed by the President
on April 11, 1950,

The International Whaling Commission, with headquarters
in London, is composed of representatives appointed by the
sixteen countries who have adhered to the International
Agreement for the Regulation of Whaling signed at Washington,
December 2, 1946, The Commission is an international regula~
tory body charged with the responsibility for conserving and
maintaining the whale populations of the world,

Deason was a member of the United States delegation at
international whaling conferences held at London in 1945 and
Washington in 1946, He was a technical advisor at the first two meeting of the Com-
mission, London 1949, and Oslo 1950, As part of his duties’ in the Fish and Wildlife
Service, he handles the licensing of United States whaling enterprises, coordinates
enforcement of international regulations, and supervises the biological and statise
tical activities of the Service with respect to whaling,

~
A) v
p
a

LT

HILARY J. DEASON

Prices Up On Fur-Sealskins

Sealskin prices increased substantially at the fall auction of Government-owned
fur-sealskins, the Fish and Wildlife Service reported in October,

The auction, held October 9 by the Fouke Fur Company in St, Louis, included
25,697 fur-sealskins from the Government-administered Pribilof Islands in Bering
Sea, 2,000 Canadian-owned Pribilof Islands skins, 2,159 Cape of Good Hope fur-seal-
skins for the Union of South Africa, and about 3,000 Cape of Good Hope, New Zealand,
and North American sealskins for private shippers, Included in the sale were 279
blue fox pelts from the Pribilof Islands,

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 47

Fur buyers paid an average of $95.52 for all United States Government sealskins,
an increase of 52 percent over the average price paid at the previous sale on April 17,
1950, The Government-owned fur-sealskins and fox pelts sold for a total of $2,456,928.35,

Black sealskins sold for an average of $106.10, an advance of nearly 84 percent
over the spring average, Dyed "Matara" (brown) skins sold for an average of $98.25, an
increase of 48 percent, Average price of "Safari" (lighter-brown skins) was $7),,60--
Which was 51 percent over the spring sale,

Canadian-owned skins, part of the treaty~provided allotment to Canada from the
Pribilof Islands' fur-seal take, sold for substantially the same as the United States~
owned skins, Cape of Good Hope sealskins averaged #34,57-~an advance of nearly 58 per-
cent, Blue fox pelts sold for an average 48,65, This was an increase of 99 percent
Over last October's sale price,

One factor that apparently entered into the advance in prices was the large attend-
ance of fur buyers, with spirited bidding--which was reported to represent greater-than-
average competition for the skins,

Reduction of Anchovies in California Not Approved by State

The California Fish and Game Commission has turned down a request of the San Fran-
cisco Sardine Association to permit the reduction of anchovies into commercial oils and
meals, according to the September 27 issue of Qutdoor California issued by the Commission,
"The abundance of anchovies on the fishing grounds has not yet proved large enough to
warrant a reduction fishery, Large scale fishing or reduction might be disastrous with-
out sufficient investigation," the Chief of the Bureau of Marine Fisheries told commis-
sioners at their September meeting,

LES

South Pacific Fishery investigations
NO SARDINES OBSERVED BY "BLACK DOUGLAS" ON SEPTEMSER CRUISE: On its September

cruise, no sardines were observed in the area Opposite and north of San Francisco by the
Black Douglas, the Service's South Pacific Fishery Investigations vessel which is work-
ing on the cooperative Pacific sardine research program with the Scripps Institution of
Oceanography, the California Division of Fish and Game, and the California Academy of
Science, From September 5 to September 22, between Cape Blanco, Oregon, and San Fran-
cisco, California, the vessel took observations at 46 stations to determine the amount
and the location of sardine spawning as well as the current pattern and temperature pat-
tern of the area, and the types and abundance of phytoplankton present, The small plank-
ton volumes were comparable to taose of the August cruise,

While on this cruise, the vessel caught 25 albacore tuna with feather jigs and 1
dolphin (Coryphaena); and collected morphometric data and stomach contents for later
analysis,

A special study cruise was begun on October 7 by the Black Douglas for the pur
pose of collecting data on the mechanisms of internal waves, The vessel will work with
the MV Crest and MV E, W, Scripps of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography,

48 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

Whale and Sperm Oil Prices Expected to be Higher in I950-5!

Whale and sperm oil prices in 1950-51 elmost certainly will be higher than in
1949-50, according to the Assistant Agricultural Attache of the American Embassy at
London, This is primarily because world prices on fats and oils in general have
risen sharply since the beginning of the Korean conflict and that recent quotations
on whale and sverm oils, particularly the former, have been higher than they were
several months ago,

Supplies of whale oil on the market in recent months have consisted entirely
of summer production--for example, from whales caught off the West and Bast African
coasts, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands,

Prices for whale oil, exaggerated somewhat by the seasonal scarcity, recently
have gone to as high as B110,11s, ($309.54) per long ton for small lots purchased
from Canada and Iceland, Earlier, a company operating off Madagascar sold whale
oil, comparable to the Antarctic product, at close to B100 ($280) per ton, The
bulk of the whale oil from the 1949-50 Antarctic whale catch was sold at about B80

($224) per ton,

Sperm oil, which only a few months ago was in surplus supply, has been in
strong demand since the fighting in Korea started, All available supplies have
been sold at from B55 to B60 ($154 to #168) per ton, This is not substantially
different from the price of B57,10s ($161) prevailing in May of this year,

Negotiations on prices to be paid for their 1951 output recently have been
carried on between British whale oil producers and the British Ministry of Food,
For 1949-50 production, the agreed price was E80 ($224) a ton, Although this
price was lower than the B90 ($252) agreed in the previous season, it was higher
than had been expected prior to Britain's devaluation of the pound sterling in
September 1949.

ake
ion SS sem
x2

Wholesale and Retail Prices

WHOLESALE PRICES, SEPTHBER 1950: Wholesale prices for edible fishery products
continued to rise during September, with the largest increases occurring in the
fresh and frozen unprocessed (drawn, dressed, or whole) finfish and canned fishery
products (see table 1 on the following page),

The September index for the drawn, dressed, or whole finfish subgroup was 13.6
percent higher than for the previous month, and 22,6 percent higher than September
1949. This September all fresh-water fish prices in this subgroup increased sub=
stantially as compared with the previous month because of the Hebraic holdiays
which occurred during the month, resulting in an increased demand for these products,
However, lake trout prices were only slightly higher, Haddock, halibut, and salmon
prices in September also were considerably higher than in August, Stormy weather
during September in several of the nation's fishing centers accounted for the ine=
crease in prices paid for salt-water fish, Prices of all individual items in the
subgroup were higher than in Septemoer 1949, except for lake trout wnich sold at
lower prices,

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 49

In spite of the increase in drawn, dressed, or whole finfish, fresh processed
fish and shellfish prices were only 0, 8 percent higher during Se as compared
with August and 6,3 percent higher than in September 1949. Among the individual
items in this subgroup, haddock fillets and shucked oysters sold at higher prices

during September, while fresh shrimp prices dropped, Heavy production during the
month accounted for the decline in shrimp prices,

Table 1 ~ wWholesaie Average Prices and Indexes of Fish and Shellfish, September 1950, with Comparative Data
GROUP, SUBGROUP, AND ITEM SPECIFICATION POINT OF FRICING fur Aas PRIS [a] [nips 1 1947 = 100) |
Sept.1950 |Aug.1950 | Sept.1949
= 5 mS a a 9
(Sse 3
129.2 pis 7 a 4

Drawn, Dressed, or Whole Finfish:
Haddock, large, offshore, drawn, fresh ....
Halibut, Western, 20/80 lbs., dressed,

fresh OF LFOZEN eeccececsessccccccesveces
Salmon, king, lge. & med sige ane

fresh OF FTOZED soseecasscsecrevevesseces
Lake trout, domestic, mostly No. mele drawn

figesaeed) FELTLOAL lesinivecinalcissbicelacerieveline
Whitefish, mostly Lake ieee drawn

(dressed), frOsh weccscescccccsevesescccs
Whitefish, mostly Lake Erie pound nec,

TOUDG, LLOSN eesececesesenassssarvccerecs
Yellow pike, mostly Michigan Rakes)

Michigan & Huron), round, fresh .

Processed, Fresh (Fish and Sheklfish):

Fillets, haddock, small, skins on,
2O-1d. tiNS scercccscecccceseccsecscceces

Shrimp, lge. (26-30 count) ; headless,
fresh OF FrOZEN esecescerecscecrecacccees

Oysters, shucked standarda eres ees eeeeees

Processed, Frozen (Fish and Shellfish):

Fillets: Flounder (yellowtail), skinless,
WO=-1d. DOKES ceeseeesececececees Boston
Haddock, small, 10-1b.cello-pack vs
Rosefish, 10-lb. cello-pack sss... Gloucester
Shrimp, lge. (26-30 count), 5- to 10-1b.bxs Chicago
Canned Fishery ProductS: seessecsererereeeeerersscces esscsces sseceess

“Salmon, pink, No. 1 tall (16 oz.), 48 ae
POF CABO cecccccceravcccseccccccessecsccces Seattle

Tuna, light meat, solid peas No. $ tuna
(7 02.), 48 canS per CASE seveseosceceveece

Sardines (pilchards), California, tomato
pack, No. 1 oval (15 0z.), 48 cans per case ..

Sardines, Maine, keyless oil, No. 4 draw
Sg oz. 100 cans per CaS@ ......++.---e0s

Boston

New York City

Boston

New York City
Norfolk area

September prices for the frozen processed fish and shellfish subgroup were only
0.6 percent higher than in August and 9,2 percent higher than in September a year
earlier, Prices of fillets advanced in September and were higher than a year ago,
but frozen shrimp prices dropped and were substantially below September 1949 because
of heavy cold storage holdings,

Except for canned salmon, September prices of other items in the canned fishery
products subgroup sliowed signs of weakening, September quotations were substantially
higher for canned pink salmon and only slightly higher for California sardines, These
increases accounted for the rise in the canned fishery products index from 136.1 per-=
cent in August to 149.3 percent of the 1947 average in September, Prices paid for
canned Maine sardines and tuna in September were slightly below those paid in August
and prices of canned tune, California sardines, and Maine sardines were below those
quoted in September 1949, On the other hand, canned salmon prices were considerably
higher this September, The September index for this subgroup was 11,3 percent above
that for the corresponding month in 1949.

RETAIL PRICES, SEPTEMBER 1950: Between August 15 and September 15 this year,
retail food prices declined 0,2 percent on the average, but on September 15, 1950,
prices were still 2,1 percent higher than on the same date a year earlier (table 2),
The retail food price index on September 15 was 208.5 percent of the 1935-39 average,

50 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

Table 2 = Retail Price Indexes for Foods and Fishery Products,

k Aug.15,1950
j1935- 09 = 100} 209.0

| (fresh, frozen, & canned) .. |
IMresh and frozen fish .ecccce SEF = 100 285. 4 279. 4 260. 1
\Canned salmon: pink ..cccsce 3559.8 537.59 428.8
On the other hand, fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) retail prices
followed the general Wholesale trends for these products and increased 2.9 percent from

August 15 to September 15, but on the latter date the prices were 0,2 percent below
September 15, 1949.

Prices of only fresh and frozen fishery products at retail rose 1,4 percent from
August 15 to September 15, and on the latter date were 9,0 percent higher than in mid-
September 19,9, This index was 283.4 percent of the 1938-39 average in mid-September
this year,

The biggest increase in retail prices of fishery products occurred in canned pink
salmon, Prices for this product rose 6.6 percent from mid-August to mid-September, but
on the latter date prices were still 16.1 percent below those which prevailed in mid-
September 1949, ‘his increase in canned salmon is attributed to the small pack in
Alaska this year--on October 1/4 the total pack was 3,235,828 cases, compared with
4,375,147 cases in the 1949 season, and 3,974,540 cases in the 1948 season, The Alaska
salmon pack season ended October 1),

National Fisheries Trends and Outlook--October-December 1950

Markets for fishery products during the final quarter of 1950 will be gener-
ally favorable, according to a report issued in October by the Bureau of Agri-=
cultural Economics, Department of Agriculture, and prepared in cooperation with
the Fish and Wildlife Service, Demand for fishery products is expected to share
in the heightened demand for foods generally, However, the expected plentiful

supplies of food and of fishery products will exercise a moderating effect on
price increases,

PRODUCTION: Although fisheries production is expected to decline seasonally
as the winter months approach, the total commercial catch in the United States
and Alaska will be close to the average for the fourth quarter,

FROZEN FISH: Freezings of fish will also decline seasonally during the fourth
quarter this year and the first part of 1951. Total stocks of frozen fishery prod-
ucts in the United States and Alaska on October 1 were 158 »473,039 pounds--5.2 percent
larger than a year earlier, Cold storage stocks probably will be expanded still
further as the fall season continues in order to build up supplies of frozen fish
for distribution during the low-production period in the winter months,

CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS: The output of canned salmon in 1950 was much lower
than last year and the lowest since 1921, Canned tuna and Maine sardine produc=

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 51

tion are running ahead of output during the same months in 1949 and are likely to
establish record-high levels for the year, In addition, California sardine pro-
ducers have gotten off to a good start in the production season that started in
August,

DuPORTS AND EXPORTS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS: Imports of fishery products this
fall, especially of frozen groundfish and rosefish fillets, are expected to be
larger than in the same period of 1949. Exports of fishery products during the

remainder of 1950 probably will not be as large as the previous year,

CONSUMPTION AND PRICES: Civilian consumption of fishery products in the
United States during the remainder of the year is expected to be much the same
as in the comparable months of 1949, Although supplies of some canned fishery
products available to civilians probably will be lower than in the previous year,
consumption of all canned fish in the next few months may be about as large as
last fall and early winter, Consumption of fresh and frozen fishery products
will run at about the sume rate as in late 1949. With strong consumer demand for
food in prospect, retail prices of fresh and frozen products during the remain-
der of 1950 are expected to continue at a higher level than a year earlier, Al-
though prices of canned salmon are expected to be much higher than those prevail=
ing earlier during 1950, canned fish as a whole may average only slightly higher
than in the fall months of 1949,

OUTLOOK FOR 1951: Supplies of fishery products in 1951 are not expected to
be much different in total than in 1950. More fresh and frozen fish probably will
be available, but there will be somewhat smaller supplies of canned fish, parti-~
cularly of canned salmon through mid-1951, Military purchases of fishery products,
especially of canned fish, are expected to be much larger than procurement from
the output of a year earlier, In view of the prospective strong consumer
demand for food, especially for meat and other protein foods, retail prices, of
fresh, frozen, and canned fishery products probably will average somewhat higher
for 1951 than for the preceding year. For certain canned fish, in short supply
(especially salmon) retail prices will average much higher,

Imports of fishery products in 1951, especially the frozen commodities, are
expected to continue at a high level and may even be slightly larger than a year
earlier, Exports of these products may not be much different from the levels of
the past two or three years, at least until the latter part of 1951,

an
~

=

Economic Cooperation Administration Program Notes

AID TO KOREA: Experts from the Economic Cooperation Administration's mission
to Korea have made an inspection trip to the Korean Island of Cheju Do and are
working with government officials on plans for strengthening the Island's economy,
the Acting Director of ECA's Korea Division announced on October 3,

The Island's chief industry--fishing--needs to be strengthened, New fishing
boats are needed as well as facilities for processing and distributing fish, Dur-
ing the present Korean hostilities, the Island's fishing industry has suffered
because of the prohibition on night fishing and restrictions on day fishing im-
posed by the United Nations command,

52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

President Truman has told the Economic Cooperation Administration to concen-
trate its aid program for the Republic of Korea on recovery measures aimed at
"developing and maximizing economic self-help," according to an October 9 news
release from that agency,

Under the President's directive, ECA will be responsible for furnishing,
among others, the following types of assistance:

"The provision of equipment, supplies, and advisory aid required
to maximize the output of Korean agricultural and fisheries resources,
and of essential civilian industrial production facilities which are
not directly utilized by tne United Nations Command for predominantly
military purposes,"

EUROPEAN POPULATION BOOMING: ECA officials pointed out in an October 29news
release that the European countries participating in the Marshall Plan already have
boosted grain and other food production facilities above 1938 levels--but not
enough to compensate for the 10 percent increase in population, By 1952, agri-
cultural production may be 15 percent above prewar in these nations as compared
with the expected 12 percent boost in population, Consequently, if food imports
are maintained, 1952 per capita food supplies will equal the 1938 rate,

According to most recent estimates, the European nations participating in
the Marshall Plan will have a population of 280,000,000 by the end of 1952, or
about 12 percent above prewar,

ECONOMY OF ZUROPEAN MARSHALL PLAN COUNTRIES STRONGER: The Marshall Plan

countries of Europe are in a stronger position economically to meet the new prob-
lems brought about by the Korean conflict, The summer of 1950 saw a continuing

clirb in Western Europe's hard currency reserves, a sharp fall
in unemployment in all countries, an expansion of construction, &

a further narrowing of the dollar gap, and a continuing in- 7 / C 4
crease of exovorts, This latest summary of Western Europe's Lf
economic position is contained in the October issue of ECA's lf
bi-monthly publication Recovery Guides,

VALUE OF U. S. LiPORTS EXCERDED EXPORTS IN JULY-AUGUST 1950: For the first
time in 13 years, the value of United States imports exceeded that of exports in
July and August 1950, according to an October 29 ECA news release, Excluding
U. S, shipments under the liutual Defense Assistance Program, the U. S, imported
$32 million per month more tian she exported during July and August, During the
same two months in 1949, U. S. exports exceeded imports by $420 million per month,
The result has been a sharp increase in the U, S, trade deficit with Latin America
and the non-Marshall Plan sterling areas, Payment of U, S, dollars in settlement
of these deficits has, in turn, contributed to the large increase in Western Europe's
hard currency reserves,

INDONESIA AND THE UNITED STATES SIGN ECONOMIC COOPERATION AGREEMENT: An agree-
ment providing for economic cooperation between the Republic of Indonesia and the
United States was signed on October 16, It will take effect upon approval of the
Parliament of the Republic of Indonesia for ratification, The agreement arises from
recoumendations made by the Economic Survey Mission that visited Indonesia in April
this year, Indonesia is the third Asian state to enter into an economic cooperation
agreement with the United States--the Union of Burma on September 13 and Thailand on

September 19, 1950, signed similar agreements,

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53

As a result of discussions with Indonesian officials at the time of the Mis-
sion's visit to Indonesia, it was decided that assistance could advantageously be
made available in the form of supplies and technical advice in fields of public
health, agriculture, fisheries, industry, and education, The United States Govern-
ment will furnish sucn assistance in these fields as may be desired by the Indo-
nesian Government,

Included in an initial request for urgently needed supplies prepared by the
Indonesian Government are motorized fishing vessels, These supplies will be ob-
tained not only in the United States, but in such countries where they may be
readily available,

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT FOR PORTUGAL APPROVED BY ECA: A technical assis-
tance project covering a visit to the United States of two Portuguese technicians
to study American fisheries research methods was aoproved by ECA, and a number of
other projects of this nature are under consideration, the American Embassy at

Lisbon reported in a dispatch dated August 14,

ECA Procurement Authorizations for Fishery Products

Among the procurement and reimbursement authorizations by the Economic Co-=
operation Administration during October 1950 was $1,095,000 for the purchase of
canned fish, and fish and whale oils from the United States and Possessions (see
table),

ECA Procurement Authorizations for Fishery Products, October 1950
Country of Recipien
Product Origin Count Authorized

Canned fish U. S. & Possessions |Greece $ 175,000
hale and fish oils . mi German Federal Republic 900 ,000)
hale and fish oils eat " France

Total ECA procurement authorizations for
fishery products from April 1, 1948, through
October 31, 1950, amounted to $29,111,000
($16,442,000 for edible fishery products,
$11,129,000 for fish and whales oils, and
$1,540,000 for fish meal), Of this amount,
$10,022,000 was used by the recipient coun-~
tries for purchases in the United States
($6,954,000 for canned fish; $9,000, salted
fish; and $3,059,000, fish and whale oils),

54 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

the 1948 production of 113,057 tons, valued at 82,225,281 angolares ($3,190,341).
Quality during the year improved, partly because of concentration on certain species
by producers who were long established, and partly as the result of migration of
skilled fishermen from Portugal, who thus enlarged the Angolan fleet of purse-seine
vessels used for catching tuna and similar fish, a Septenber 5 American consular
dispatch from Luanda states.

Angolan Exports of Fishery Products by Commodity, 1948-49 (Quantity and Value

| eS) | OMe aus
Product | Quantity | Value sd] Quantity |

Fish:
Fresh, frozen,
and salted ..

Canned eseecce

DrdleGiveseieveieiei ere
Fish meal ceccoe
Guano eecoeveceen
MisheoOiads cts) < cleo

TObAl sede 31,612 | 161,354,000 16,260,500 107,770,59|4, 181, 499

1/Not available.

Canned Fish: Production of canned fish (principally tuna and sardines) in-
creased considerably and its value almost doubled. A substantial portion of the
canned tuna went to the United States, though the potentialities of this market
could not be and will not be fully exploited until local canners and government-—
control bodies can import sufficient olive oil to concentrate on an olive-oil pack
in place of the peanut-oil pack which now comprises the larger proportion of the
annual production. The latter type of product, however, apparently found a ready
foreign market, particularly in Italy, it is reported.

Byproducts: Production of fish meal was slightly less than that of the pre-
vious year. While some efforts were made to install mechanical equipment for the
rendering of the catches, most of the small plants in the south of the Colony, where
this industry is centered, depended upon hand labor entirely or upon relatively
outmoded equipment. The continuing heavy demand for the product was reflected in
the remarkable increase in value of exports. Demand from various foreign markets

was reported by the industry to be in excess of supply.

1/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, AUGUST 1950, PP. 30-9.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55

Demand for guano, which has been moderate in 1948, dropped to a negligible total;
that for fish oil was reduced to such an extent that many rendering plants were using
the oil as a fuel.

orts: Exports of fresh, frozen, and salted fish dropped considerably in1949
(table 1). Shipments to the United States consisted of 3,789 tons of fish meal, val-
ued at 12,001,000 angolares ($465,639); and 240 tons of canned tuna, valued at
4,875,000 angolares ($189,150).

Consumption: Domestic consumption of processed fish is not heavy, except in
the case of dried fish. The 1949 production of dried fish amounted to about 20,000
tons, of which one-fourth was consumed as an element of the native staple and the
balance exported to the Belgian Congo.

goed

Canada

LOCKED HOOK USED TO os ALBACORE: A novel method of tagging fish is being used
off the coast o itis Cofumbias according to the August 1950 Trade News of the
__——~Ss«Camadian Fisheries Department. The tuna are being
tagged without being taken out of the water. This
is accomplished by means of a hook with aspecial
locking device (see illustration) both bare and

seated in a lure.

A thin strip of metal, carrying a number and
a message, is wrapped around the shank of the hook,
which is made fast to the lure and main line by a
short section of nylon leader, which has a break-
ing strain of 30 pounds. A good hard jerk by the
albacore fastens the hook to the fish. The hooks,
of a patent design, were made to order from Z-
nickel wire.

A member of the Pacific Biological Station
at Nanaimo, B. C., has been studying albacore this
summer aboard a commercial vessel, the Black Dog.
He made one trip in July off the United States
west coast for general observations on water tem-—
peratures, food, commercial fishing methods, etc.,
and is pon iadistic his work on subsequent trips.
Buphasis is being placed on tagging, which can
now be carried out without bringing the fish
aboard.

af

56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

Denmark
NEW TYPE OF TUNA NET: A new type of tuna net was constructed this summer by

a fishing vessel captain in Esbjerg, Denmark. If it meets expectations, it will be
a much cheaper type of gear for tuna fishing than the purse seine, according to a

recent issue of Svenska Vastkustfiskaren, a fishery periodical. It is claimedthat
the net can be made for about $580, while a purse seine of the type used in Norway

presently costs about $5,800. The Danish research vessel Jens Vaever will test the
invention. ;

Formosa (Taiwan)
DECLINE IN FISH CATCH EXPECTED FOR 1950: Since the Nationalists! evacuation

from Hainan Island and Chushan Islands, the coastal fishing areas that supply fish
to Taiwan (Formosa) have been seriously curtailed. The fish catch this year (1950),
therefore, is expected to decrease by 30-40 percent in comparison with that of last

year.

Local fishermen are planning to start deep-sea fishing in the Pacific Ocean
off the Philippines and the South Seas, reports a September 9 American Bmbassy dis-—
patch from Taipei. It is reported that some Chinese fishermen have already started
fishing in these areas,

Pea econ sco,

NUMBER OF FISHING BOATS AND FISHERMEN: A total of 2,452 boats (table 1) are
engaged in fishing on Formosa (Taiwan). Out of a total of 152,906 fishermen, 78,791
are full-time fishermen, and 74,115 are part-time fishermen (table 2), a September 29
American consular dispatch from Taipei reports.

able 2 - Number of Fishermen En-
gaged in Taiwan's Fisheries

Table 1 ~ Number of Fishing Boats Operating
in Taiwan's Fisheries

| Type of Fishing Boat ~~—~~S~S*«&~:YsSNNumber
lotorboat (over 20 tons) cccocccccccs 236
lotorboat (under 20 tons) cccccccoce

Full-time fishermen:
Proprietors ccceccceccececs
Employees’ eecccocececce

Small wooden boats without motor ...
Bambooutish™ratt suv cistereieite aire eee
Total boats without motor ......

art-time fishermen:
Proprietors Ceeeerceeccec
Employees e222e0e2eSeG00

‘ota e
Grand totale ee ities

France

FISH IMPORTS RESTRICTED: Imports of fish into France are to be restricted
again, the British fishery periodical The Fishing News of August 26 reports. The
French Minister of the Merchant Marine has announced that several concessions granted
to other countries under agreements sponsored by the Office of European Economic Co-
operation are to be withdrawn immediately because of the serious effect they were
having on certain sections of the French industry.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 57

The imports affected by the new restrictions are dried, salted, and smoked fish
from Great Britain and Sweden; fresh and frozen fish from Iceland and Sweden; canned
and other preserved fish from Great Britain, Iceland, and Sweden.

Imports of crabs and lobsters are to remain free, and it is likely that mussels
and other shellfish will be added to the unrestricted list.

: These restrictions were imposed to meet the protests made by French fishermen
against imports of fishery products.

German Federal Republic

for a factory ship equipped to catch, fillet, and freeze fish. Ships of this type
built in the United States are to be inspected, as it is believed that Marshall Plan
funds might be made available for the purchase of a ship from the United States,
according to a September 18 American consular dispatch from Bremerhaven.

Gold Coast
ACTIVITIES OF THE FISHERIES DEPARTMENT: L/ The Gold Coast Fisheries Depart-—

ment, operated by the Government to catch fish for canning on an experimental basis,
is now also concerning itself with the canning of products other than fish. Its
pilot plant, situated in the Accra suburbs, is preparing the way for the establish—
ment of a canning factory and is presently determining what quantities and qualities
of fish, fruits, or other foods are available in the Gold Coast for canning, and
what markets exist for these products, an American consular dispatch dated Septem—

ber 15 from Accra reports.

The Fisheries Department has just purchased a second fishing boat in England.
Its first boat has been fishing out of Accra for almost two years, The new fishing
craft is 31 feet long and is driven by a 15 h.p. kerosene engine. The boat is be-
lieved to be ideal for the difficult weather and surf conditions it will meet in
local waters. When the present herring fishing season closes, it is planned to take
the boat for experimental fishing in the estuary of the Volta river at Ada. later,
the fishing grounds of the Western Province will be explored. These are the only
two motorized fishing boats in use in the Gold Coast, although an estimated 50,000
people along the coast depend on fishing for their existence.

Another new activity of the Fisheries Department is the stocking with fish of
newly-constructed reservoirs in the Northern Territories. The Department is pre-
sently ascertaining what fish from nearby rivers and streams can be successfully
introduced into these reservoirs. In one reservoir, the young fish placed there
early this year quickly established themselves and are doing well, The diets of
the people in the Northern Territories contain very little proteins and it is hoped

that this fish-stocking experiment will prove successful.

J/ALSO P. 72 OF THIS ISSUE.

58 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

Iceland

ee ieee See ES

EXCEPT RUSSIA: Catches of all nations participating in the fishing on the Icelandic
herring banks during the 1950 season (which closed in September) were poor, with the
exception of Russia, according to a September 21 American consular dispatch from
Bergen, Norway, The report is based on an interview with Captain Araldsen of the
Norwegian fishing patrol vessel Andenes published in the September 19 issue of the

Bergen newspaper Morgenavisen.

A translation of the pertinent parts of that interview follow:

‘The Captain states that weather conditions during the whole season
have been unusually bad. The number of days in which vessels were forced
to stay at shore aue to strong winds was also considerably more than nor-
mal, There were, indeed, no trawlers on the banks from August 16-29.

"Of the six nations participating in herring fishing off Iceland,
Iceland had between 200 and 250 vessels; Norway approximately 190, of
which approximately 42 were trawlers. About 10 Finnish vessels parti-
cipated, all larger than the Norwegian vessels. Russia had from 50 to
60 vessels with four depot-ships participating--one of the depot-ships
was 10,000 metric tons and the other three approximately 3,000 tons each.
Approximately 50 drift-fishers from Sweden also took part.

"Average catches this year were poor. It is estimated that Iceland
had a total catch of approximately 65,000 barrels of salted fish and ap-
proximately 300,000 barrels for herring meal production. The Norwegian
total catch was approximately 85,000 barrels; from 15,000 to 20,000
barrels for Sweden; and the Finnish catch was about 15,000 barrels.

"It is not easy to report the quantity of the Russian catch. The
Russians give no information, but there are signs which indicate that
the Russians' total catch was the greatest of all. The methods used by
the Russiens might be worth further study.

"The first vessel the Andenes met on the fishing banks was Russian
and occasional later meetings with the Russians gave an idea of the tac-
tics they used.

"One vessel alone (or two vessels working together) is assigned a
certain part of the fishing grounds. These "herring hunting vessels"
cover practically the whole fishing area. It is not know whether these
vessels carry special equipment or not. Most of theRussian fishing ves—
sels were concentrated in the area where the herring was most numerous.
The Russian vessels usually operated from 50 to 100 nautical miles north
of Iceland, especially north of Gremsey. During July and August, the
depot-ships were anchored on the fishing grounds off Gremsey, approxi-
mately 6 nautical miles from the Island. In the beginning of September,
the Russian fishing fleet moved east of Langenes. When the Andenes left,
the depot-—ships were anchored leeward of Langenes, outside of the terri-
torial waters, and the fishing vessels were operating 50 to 100 nautical
miles off the coast.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59

"Everything gives the impression that the Russian catch was large.
Russian fishing vessels were constantly loading their catches into the
depot-ships, and large flocks of gulls stayed near the vessels. The
barrels on board the depot-ships were steadily reduced, ‘and it was evi-
dent from the water line on these vessels that they were continually
taking on fish,”

Ke HH

to procure import and exchange licenses for a limited list of articles (including
fish hooks, nets, and certain yarns and cordage for fishing purposes), effective
from August 7, according to an American consular dispatch dated August 17 from
Reykjavik. However, the transfer of foreign exchange is still controlled by desig-
nated Icelandic banks and all imports for which exchange has not been allocated
are temporarily excluded from Iceland.

Italy

SPONGE FISHERY: Production: Italian-controlled sponge banks yielded approxi-
mately 12 metric tons of sponges in 1948 and 18 tons in 1949, states a consular
dispatch from Florence dated September 15. Production has steadily increased since
the end of World War II. Official statistics reveal, however, that sponges unloaded
in Italian ports totaled 56 tons in 1948 and 98 tons in 1949. Since there are now
relatively few areas where Italian sponge vessels can operate and in order to aug-
ment their own insufficient supply, Italian fishing boats often exploit sponge banks
now controlled by other countries and buy sponges from foreign boats while on fish-
ing trips.

Sponges are to be found mainly in the "Arcipelago Cavallo" (Horse Archipelago),
a group of sponge beds stretching along the coasts of Greece, Sicily, Libya, and
Tunisia; and along the coasts of Dalmatia, on the Adriatic Sea.

Before World War II, Italy could draw her harvest from the waters of Tripoli,
Libya, andDalmatia, as well as those of Sicily, whereas she must now confine her
activities to thelatter area. These latter banks ("Banco Fango" — Mud Bank, "Banco
Morte" — Death Bank, and "Banco Numeri" — Number Bank) are insufficient to supply
the demands of the Italian market.

Persons in the field believe that considerable surpluses from previous fishing
seasons are being held by speculators in Sicily. It is estimated that this year's
(1950) yield has been better than in recent years.

There are now only about six sponge firms of any importance in Italy. The
several firms existing in Livorno prior to World War II were entirely destroyed;
no steps have been taken to reactivate the industry in that area. Most of the ac-
tual work of cleaning, sterilizing, and preparing sponges is done by each firm
separately.

Employment: Less than 200 persons are employed in legitimate sponge fishing;
an unknown number are said to deal in sponges which have been obtained outside the

60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

Italian sponge banks. Processing (bleaching, washing, cutting, packing, etc.) is
simple and requires no expensive or complicated machinery. Estimates are that a
maximum of 300 workers, mostly young girls, are employed in this work; no special
skills or training are required. The preparation of the required bleaches is gener—
ally carried out by each plant independently and requires the services of not more
than a few dozen laborers.

The principal complaint of people in the trade is that the finer-—quality sponges
are to be found in banks outside the Italian area; and they maintain that it is es—
sential to the success of this industry that the Government effect an agreement with
its Mediterranean neighbors to permit sponge fishing in some of the more desirable
sponge banks. :

Consumption: The home market is stated to absorb about two-thirds of local
production, all but a very small part of which is said to be for industrial use,
The principal buyers are automobile producers, a firm producing railway rolling
stock, tanneries, state railways, and air lines, Certain requirements cannot be
fulfilled by the national industry for lack of good-quality raw sponges (eeg.,those
used in the ceramic industry). Among motor-scooter and automobile manufacturers,
demand has increased in the past few years for sponges for cleaning, washing, and
polishing motor bodies.

It is commonly held by the trade that home consumption for good-quality sponges,
if available, could be increased considerably.

The present prices of raw unprocessed "Arcipelago Cavallo" sponges range from

$2.25-$2.70 per pound. Prices of partly processed sponges are quoted as follows by
wholesalers:

Type Quality Price per pound —

Diver-fished, raw, cleaned, sorted first 9.55
Diver-fished, raw, cleaned, sorted second e777
Diver-fished, raw, cleaned, sorted third 2.39
Net-fished : 2.73

Exports: Present exchange restrictions in certain areas, notably South America,
curtail exports. ,

Belgium — Luxembourg
were the largest. importers
[ type nn PanLoagncT caloganl of both raw and processed
sponges, with Switzerland
second as importer of raw
Sponges, and the United
States second for the pro-
cessed type. Exports of
processed sponges to the
United States dropped from

aw sponges, ordinary quality .ceccee
aw sponges, fine quality .cccccccece
rocessed sponges, ordinary quality.
ocessed sponges, fine quality ....

Total SAFO SOCHCOSHL LOL OLEH LOCO LOS

4.1 metric tons in 1948 to .3 tons in 1949.

Export regulations: There are no particular regulations governing the export
of sponges. However , certain general trade restrictions have cut out much of the
SN Fy in this commodity, particularly with Argentina and other South American
countries.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61

Imports: The trade is very anxious that agreements be made with othercountries
controlling sponge banks in order to make raw sponges, particularly the better grades,
available for Italian industry. Inadequate trade agreements and financial barriers
are at present a hindrance to new developments. Yugoslavia, Greece and certain former
Italian colonies are the sources from which processors would like to draw. In view
of the existence of the local industry, it does not seem likely that permission for
import fran the United States will be granted.

} Channels of Distribution: Processors generally sell to wholesalers, shops, and
industrial concerns through selling agents or through representatives.

Outlook and Potentialities: The industry's outlook appears rather satisfactory.
Domestic consumption will probably increase, particularly in view of the many indus-
trial uses to which sponges are now put. Rubber or plastic sponges do not offer
much canpetition, as they are too brittle for industrial use and are considered un-
Sanitary for toilet use, since they soon became sticky and cannot be properly cleaned.

The greatest obstacle to further postwar expansion of the sponge industry doubt-
less is the very restricted area now open to Italian sponge fishers. Only a sub-
stantial reduction in price would increase trade with the United States.

Israel
TO FISH IN NORTH SEA AND THE ATLANTIC: An Israeli company has bought the first

of three deep-sea fishing vessels in France, a September 11 American consular dis-
patch from Tel Aviv reports. The fleet will use Ostend as a base for fishing opera-

tion in the North Sea and the Atlantic.

Japan

The Sait fleet includes a 10,600-metric-ton mothership (Tenyo Maru No. 2) and 25
catcher vessels ranging in length from 75 to 110 feet, which left Japan in mid-June.
The smaller fleet, which includes the 2,900-ton refrigerated mothership Kaiko Maru
and 12 catchers, left Japan July 10. Both of these expeditions operate under the
authority of SCAP. A SCAP representative accompanies each expedition to insure com—
pliance with the provisions of SCAP directives, and a representative of the High
Commissioner for the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands accompanied the T Tenyo
Maru No. 2 as advisor and observer for the High Cammissioner, and to conduct scien-
tific studies. This observer is a member of the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investi-
gations staff of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and he returned to Honolulu
on September 29 following a 15-week trip with this Japanese expedition. The mother-
ships are refrigerated vessels ordinarily used in the Antarctic whaling operations,
and the catcher vessels are Japanese long-line fishing vessels from several Japanese

att
i/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, JULY 1950, P. 46; JUNE 1950, PP. 52-4,

62 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

Each of the fishing vessels in the larger of the two fleets ran 300 to 400
baskets of gear daily, with an average of about 350 baskets, according to the Serv-
ice's observer. This represents a total main-line length of 65 miles per boat per
day with hooks at 150- to 175-foot intervals. The average catch per 100 hooks per
day fished was 3.95 fish of all species (tunas, spéarfish, and sharks).

Fishing operations were conducted offshore from 140° to 160° E. longitude and
from 1° to 5° north latitude. The fleet moved from west to east in the area, end-
ing the trip near 160° E. longitude.

The most important biological observations recorded on this expedition were
the 503 sets of morphometric data which will be usedin the studyof tuna races and
migrations. Length measurements were taken on 1,077 yellowfin. The yellowfin
ranged from 5 to 90 pounds but the greater part of the catch of this species fell
between 60 and 75 pounds in weight.

The Japanese mothership tuna expeditions as of September 28 processed 9,474,155
pounds of tuna, marlin, and shark, according to the October 7 Weekly Summary of SCAP's
Natural Resources Section.

Tenyo Maru No. 2 nad processed 6,138,024 pounds in 11 weeks of operation. Kaiko
Maru had processed 3,336,131 pounds in 11 weeks. The Tenyo Maru No. 2 ceased oper-
ations on September 2 and returned to Tokyo on September 14. The Kaiko Maru ceased
operations on September 28 and was expected to return to Japan on October 14, 1950.
Detailed production data are shown in the following table.

Eee es aN zs BS Of Septem er ee ee eee
PTS galanlod ma
Dik Tuna Marlin | Shark | Others] Total

2,497, 888| 3,120,342) 665,167/2 135,727] 815,193 |241 ,838| 9,474,155

First-grade yellowfin and albacore tuna of sizes suitable for export and can-
ning were frozen whole. The remainder was filleted into quarters and pan-frozen.

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

Total eecece

Mexico
SHRIMP FISHING OFF MEXICO UNDER CLOSE SURVEILLANCE: The Mexican naval author-

ities are keeping a close watch on the shrimp fishing off the Mexican east coast,
according to the September 21, 1950, issue of El Universal, a Mexican newspaper.
The following is a translation of the article supplied by the American Embassy at

Mexico, D. Fe:

"There has been a great deal of insistence lately that
United States boats are conducting clandestine fishing in the
Campeche region, taking large quantities of shrimp without
legal authorization and without paying the prescribed taxes.
However, we were informed today in the Ministry of Marine
that strong vigilance is being exercised in that zone and that
no such irregularities exist.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 63

"What is actually happening is that the foreign fishermen
are taking advantage of the periodic migrations of this valuable
crustacean to capture it in the high seas, at a distance of 30
or more miles from the coast. There Mexico has no, jurisdiction,
as boats in this position are outside of national territorial
waters and may conduct whatever activities they wish, without
any control.

"In order to counteract these activities, at least inpart,
the naval authorities are encouraging the creation of fishing
fleets of Mexican companies or cooperatives to go out intothe
open sea as the others are doing."

Netherlands
STUDIES TRAWL—FISHING INDUSTRY: A commission to study the Netherlands trawl-
fishing industry and to make recommendations, among other subjects, on the improve-
ment of equipment and methods of financing such improvements, was appointed by the

Minister of Agriculture, according to a September 20 American Embassy dispatch from
the Hague.

Norway
RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTAL FISHING EXPEDITION OFF WEST GREENLAND: The results

achieved by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries! experimental fishing expedition
off the west coast of Greenland during the past summer were announced by the Direc—

torate's Fishery Consultant M. 0. Kristensen in the September 7, 1950, issue of
Bergens Tidende.

A September 4 report from Aalesund indicated that the Directorate of Fisheries'
practical fishing tests off west Greenland this summer had not been very successful
due to the unfavorable weather conditions, according to the Fishery Consultant's
statement as reported by the American consulate at Bergen. However, in spite of
the weather conditions, the results of the tests on dragnet fishing "by pairs"L
("pareja") were very encouraging.

The expedition left Aalesund on July 21 with the freighter Fjellberg, Equip-
ment to be tested was the Spanish "pareja" nets, also trawl-net dories and trawl
nets--the same trawl nets which were used for experimental fishing at Lofoten the
past two seasons.

The Directorate of Fisheries leased the fishing vessels Elddy and Fosnavaa,
for "pareja" fishing, but Fishery Consultant Birger Rasmussen used the Elddy for
scientific investigations, i.e. for taking hydrographical measurements, marking of
fish, etc. The vessels were leased for three weeks.

Because of the bad weather and the short time allowed for the tests, work was

concentrated on fishing with "pane jan nets. In fact, no test was made with trawl

I/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, MAY 1950, PP. 81-4.

6h, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

nets. Tests were made at the different fishing banks~-Lille Hellefiskebank, Banana-
bank, Fyllabank, Fiskenesbank, and Danabank. Conditions on the bottom were not es-
pecially satisfactory on the southern banks, but at the Fyllabank and Bananabank
conditions were fairly good, so most of the tests were made there.

Kristensen said: "I must say that results were encouraging, not to use too
strong an expression. In some instances the catch from a single test drag resulted
in two tons of salted fish. To be able to make comparison, lines were placed out
during thenight. Catches from lines were from 300-400 fish per stump. One stump
consists of approximately 20 lines with about 2,000 hooks. Working such a stump
takes approximately four hours, while one drag with the 'pareja' net is made in a
couple of hours. In one day, six drags were made with the "pareja" net and, if we
had worked in shifts and trawled through a 24-hour day, we could have managed ap-
proximately 10 drags per day....lrawl fishing had also the advantage of netting the
big fish, which are too satiated to bite on the hooks."

It is pointed out that it is not possible to use the "pareja" trawl method
during the entire season. It may only be used with hopes of good results during a
few months in the middle of summer when the fish stream into the shoal banks. Ex-—
perience has shown this period to be a slack season for line fishing. The tests
made with the "pareja" net gave the positive results hoped for, but the equipment
may possibly have to be improved somewhat. "I am of the opinion that it is possible
to use 'pareja' nets in such a way that it will be both profitable and efficient,"
Kristensen states. "At least the tests made have proved that it is possible to fish
with this equipment off west Greenland; results are in fact much more pranising when
considering the fact that we were not acquainted with conditions on the bottam of
the banks."

This year's trial tests reveal that there is hope of making cod fishing easier
for the fishermen off Greenland. It is extremely hard toil to work at line fishing
four or five months at a stretch. On every single fishing vessel, close to half a
million fish hooks must be baited during the season, on some vessels even more.

If the vessels could work at "pareja" fishing for a few months in the middle of the
season, and that should be possible, it would mean a welcome change in work for the
fishermen. "If this change is not made, I am afraid it will be difficult to get a
full crew for the Norwegian line-fishing vessels. This year some of the vessels
could not be sent fishing due to scarcity of fishermen," says Kristensen.

A "pareja" net costs from $725-$870. Complete line-fishing equipment costs ap-
proximately $3,000, not counting the expense of bait. One vessel uses 300-400 cases
of bait per season at a cost of about $.35 per case. Besides this, the equipment
is so worn after one season that it must be partially renewed before it can be used
again. It is calculated that the vessels need 4 or 5 "pareja" trawls per season,
and only partial replacement is needed from year to year. }

Solis siti asi Skea

SAFETY NET FOR PURSE-SEINE CATCHES: A new fishing device has made it possible
to save even the largest purse-seine catches, according to the Norwegian newspaper
Tidens Krav, quoted by the September 14 issue of Fiskaren. A type of security or
safety net, which already has been tested with excellent results, has been devised
by Ole Hasseloesaether, from Kjonnoy, near Kristiansund. The motor vessel Ullasund,
which was high boat during the winter herring season, experimented with the newnet

and with its help saved a haul of about 500 metric tons of herring.

RH

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 65

ESTIMATED FISH CATCH FOR 1950: It is exoected that the total Norwegian fish
eaten in 1950 will reach a record total of 1,263,500 metric tons 1s compared to

1,054,000 tons in 1949, a September 1 semi-annual economic report from the American
Embassy at Oslo states. This year's catch will probably consist of 912,300 metric
tons of herring and 351,000 tons of cod and other species, compared to 718,723 tons

of herring and 336,000 tons of cod and other species in 1949.

A NORWEGIAN HERRING VESSEL STEAMING TO PORT WITH A FULL LOAD OF HERRING.

HERRING FISHERIES, 1950:1/
Although the 1950 winter herring
fishing season was short, abun—
dance of fish was great. Daily
catches at times reached peaks
overtaxing shore facilities for
marketing and processing. Fish-
ing had to be discontinued for
one week; this resulted in a
presumed loss of an additional
93,000 metric tons which the
fisheries would otherwise have
yielded.

Table 1 - Norwegian Herring "Winter," "Spring,"
"Fat," and "Small" Catch, 1949-50

1950 1949
(in metric tons)
771,342
1/ 24,994
T/ 99,975

pe of Herring

‘Winter" and "spring" wee.
"Fat" @voececeeeseeseseereese

"Small" @eceeseecereeeeseooe

Total @eeeeserGeoeese00

A catch of winter herring of 771,900 metric tons in 1950 was almost as high
as the all-time record catch of 820,260 tons in 1948 (table 1).
1/DOES NOT INC. UDE BRISLING FiSHERY.

66 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

Table 2 - Norway's Utilization of the Winter-Fished Herring, 1948-50
(* Winter" and "Spring")

ULC zenith worn

Fresh-Home Processed Peace ee!
Consumption| Salted | Canned|(0il and Meal)| Bait Othe

(Gnemetrickt ons) Mee ieee eee
59,892 | 10,044 634, 260
294,624

= F ion of Fish Mea Although the 1950 catch was
Tablers Gere one Paar large, the export market demand
for herring products was held to
be the poorest in more than 25
years, with the exception of the
war years, As a result, greater
quantities than ever before were
allocated to the production of
herring oil and meal (table 3).

NOTE: CATCH DATA CONVERTED FROM HECTOLITERS TO METRIC TONS ON THE BASIS OF 10.75 HECTOLITERS
EQUAL | METRIC TON OR | HECTOLITER EQUALS 0.093 METRIC TONS.

KH KH

NEW WHALING RESEARCH LABORATORY: One of Norway's leading whaling operators,
Consul Lars Christensen, has announced establishment of a large research laboratory
in Sandefjord, the Norwegian Information Service reported on September 14. Main
task of the new institute will be to find better means of utilizing byproducts of
whales, with a view to closer collaboration between the farming and whaling indus-
tries.

Christensen is especially interested in the possibilities of producing animal
fodder containing APF (Animal Protein Factor) in concentrated form. Recent research,
initiated in the United States, nas proved that infinitesimal amounts of APF is suf-
ficient, but also essential, to insure healthy animal growth. It is only 13 years
since the first results of APF could be proved, but already, during the last whaling
season Christensen's company was able to produce APF-rich whale meal on a small scale.

This coming season, the research will be expanded to ascertain how APF concen-
trates can be made from whale byproducts in large quantities,

Republic of Panama

SHRIMP FISHERY: Development of the Panamanian shrimp fisnery is claimed to be
due to the efforts of an American citizen who, approximately a year ago, imported a
vessel and equipment suitable for general fishing, a report dated September 6 from
the American Embassy at Panama City states. When the vessel found shrimp in its
nets instead of fish, it concentrated on fishing for shrimp.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 67

Panamanian waters, particularly those on the Pacific Coast of the country, have
always been known to be productive of edible fish, including Shrimp. Since Colonial
days, all fish taken were for local consumption. There are no facilities for can-
ning, Smoking, drying, salting, pickling, or otherwise preparing fishery products
for export.

COSTA «we
Ae 8,
R | CA“... Pe : ‘

» CH | MAN

SCALE OF MILES
16] 0 100

Most of the residents of the islands and lands around bays have engaged in sub-
sistence fishing in connection with farming. Until a year ago, there was only one
private concern which bought fish from the fishermen to be sold to hotels, clubs,
restaurants, and the Canal Zone. This firm, which handled a very large percentage
of the country's total Pacific fish catch, also engaged in shipping fish in ice to
Colon on the Atlantic side of the Isthmus.

Information as to the abundance of fish, including shrimp, is based onestimates
of fishermen who have always claimed that both shrimp and spiny lobsters are plenti-
ful in the Bay of Panama.

Type of Shrimp: The Panamanian shrimp are of a pale blue color and arereported
to be abundant, with sizes ranging from 10 to 15 heads-off shrimp per pound. They
may be any one or several of four species found in the Gulf of Panama.

Location of Shrimp Grounds: Shrimp are found mainly in the Gulf of Panama.
Their exact whereabouts, however, vary in accordance with the season, The best
shrimp grounds are located 30 to 80 miles offshore of Chame, Chiman, Chepo, and
Chepigana.

Season: Shrimp are found in large quantities from September to December, the
period of greatest abundance being the time of the "spring tides" occurring usually
in October and lasting about a week. They are somewhat scarce throughout the cold-
water period, i.e., from December to May.

Production: Annual production of shrimp was officially estimated at around
30,000 pounds until the end of 1947.

The total shrimp catch in 1949 (not including crayfish) in the Gulf of Panama
was 131,988 pounds, while the spiny lobster catch was a little less than 93,000
pounds.

Panama .

68

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol 125° Nod 1)

At present there are three concerns engaged in large scale shrimp fishing in

One of these, which owns two fishing vessels, did not operate the last

two weeks in August because of damage to boats. This firm has in the past been a
steady supplier of shrimp to Panama and the Canal Zone.

Catch in the Gulf of Panama
by Months, 1948-49

March eeccovee
April eooecoe
MAY ccceccece

JUNE cocccece
JULY coccccce
August cccecce
September ooo
October cecce
November ocoe
December ecco

Total eoo0e

Number of Vessels Engaged in Shrimping:

‘There are in use eight fishing boats equipped

with Diesel engines, 35 to 45 feet long, adapted
to shrimp fishing. The cost of the vessels is
claimed to be between $10,000 and $20,000 each.
The shrimp nets are of United States manufac—
ture. The boats and equipment are said not to
compare favorably with those employed in the
United States.

Outlook: The present catch cannot beused
as any indication of the potential yieldinthis
area. It is claimed that the catch easily ex-
ceeds local market demands, and that at present
there are weekly shipments of frozen shrimp to
New York by Panama Railroad boats and others
sailing from Cristobal (Canal Zone) in quanti-
ties of from 6,000 to 15,000 pounds.

Includes crayfish production.

1/Not available by months. The lack of adequate quick-freeze facili-

ties is handicapping production, an official

of one of the concerns in the shrimp fishing industry stated, and there is a very
definite need for such equipment. He added that freezers received from California
(which reach freezing point in one-hour's time in California) require approximately
five hours in Panama to provide identical results.

aN

ZIPS

Sweden

———— eS OO OC

unofficially that the Soviets are attempting to order from. the Swedish Association
of Smaller Shipyards more than the 29 fishing vessels already on order, a Septem—
ber 19 American Embassy dispatch from Stockholm states. The Soviets wish the Asso-
ciation to take over the contracts for the 21 vessels originally placed with small
shipyards outside of the association, which have been unable to fulfill delivery.

In addition, the Soviets are also said to be negotiating for changes in the construc-—
tion which are not standard for fishing vessels and which will permit the vessels

to be used for purposes other than fishing. The association appears to be asking
for a considerable increase in delivery price to cover these changes.

|/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, FEBRUARY 1950, P. 60.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 69

Union of South Africa”

Industry," by W. Ss cs wie which appeared in the May 1950 issue of the South Afri-
can Bankers! Journal. A copy of this article was made available by the American
Consulate at Johannesburg, and an abstract of that part of the article which deals
with the fish canning industry follows.

Growth and Structure of the Industry: The story of the South African fish
canning industry before 1939 is one of slow growth; a steady market, found princi-
pally in France and in other Continental countries, absorbed the full output of
established producers, and processing was confined mainly to crawfish (spiny lobster).
The location of the industry was, of course, initially determined mainly by prox-
imity to the fishing grounds, and canneries were established on the coasts of
South-West Africa and Cape Province. The industry is still centered in these areas,
but among recent developments has been the establishment of a crawfish processing
factory on Tristan da Cunha.

t

The war limited the entry of foreign canned fish into the Union and the oppor-
tunity for expansion thus given to South African producers was fully exploited.
The canning of such fish as snoek, pilchards, mackerel, maasbanker, harders, alba-
core and stockfish was developed, and the production of byproducts, such as fish
meals and oils was greatly expanded. From the outbreak of World War IT most of the
surplus production of South African canned crawfish was purchased by the British
Ministry of Food, so that throughout the war years the crawfish industry was en-
abled to maintain full production. The expansion of the fish canning industry as
a whole was, in fact, almost as remarkable as that of the fruit and vegetable can-
neries.

The total value of the output of the industry, including byproducts, which had
averaged approximately 4348,000 (about $1,643,000) in the years 1932 to 1939, rose
in 1946-47 to &2,287,268 (39,172,000) while the number of factories in operation
increased from 22 in 1929 to 28 at the end of war. Wages paid to all employees
amounted to 860,062 ($240,000) in 1929, 462,051 ($273,000) in 1939, and £184,648
($735,000) in 1944, although the total number of workers in the industry rose only
by 351 during that period, from 1,311 to 1,662.

This development has been guided and assisted to no small extent by several
organizations representing the various sections of the industry. The provisions
of the 1944 Fishing Industry Development Act enabled the establishment in October
1944 of the Fisheries Development Corporation of South Africa, Ltd., to promote
the expansion of the South African fishing and fish-canning industries. Other
organizations directly concerned with the expansion of fish canning in the Union
and the marketing of the industry's products are the South African Food Canners!
Council, Inc., and the South African Rock Lobster Packers' Association, while prob-
lems relating to the processing of fish and the extraction of byproducts are dealt
with by the Fishing Industry Research Institute. Half the cost of this latter or-
ganization is borne by the fish canning industry and half by the Government-spon-
sored Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

Recent events have shown, however, that, in addition to the services of organ-
izations devoted to research and marketing, a new industry has need of the guidance
of well-defined standards of quality for its product, standards which must be rig-
idly enforced. Through the lack of such standards, goods of inferior quality were

70 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

marketed on occasion in recent years by the South African caming industry, both at
home and abroad. To ensure adherence to a high standard of quality in the future,

a system of inspection has been instituted, and to this end the South African Bureau
of Standards undertook the construction of a table of standards for the range of
products of the industry.

The Market: During the war, imports of canned fish and fish products largely
fell away, while at the same time. demand was augmented by the requirements of the
armed forces. The total production of South African canneries was almost fully ab-
sorbed by the home market and the British Ministry of Food, which also sustained the
crawfish canning industry.

Since the war, no appreciable contraction in demand has been noticeable, largely
due at first to buying on the part of the British Ministry of Food, while a broad
new market for crawfish tails, sold as Cape rock lobster, has been successfully de-
veloped in the United States. As in the case of South African canned fruit, jam,
and wegetables, the world shortage of food provides large potential markets for
canned fish and fish products. Resources of the raw materials of the industry are
considerable; the fishing grounds off the South African coast are largely untouched;
crawfish, the export of which is now limited on a quota system in order to conserve
resources, are to be fished off Tristan de Cunha at an annual planned rate of
1,600,000 crawfish, and it is likely that these conservation measures together with
the development of the Tristan industry will enable a prgeitabte export trade in
crawfish products, of an annual value of over £900,000,=/ to contime for a consider-
able number of years. Research into the commercial possibilities of plankton, re-
sources of which are virtually inexhaustible, indicate that once satisfactorily
marketable forms of this marine growth are devised, a profitable and extensive branch
of the canning industry could be established.

The demand for shark liver oils has recently eased, but fish oils find a ready
market and the South African product, which is concentrated and of good quality, is
able to canpete with the products of Argentina, Norway, and the United States.

A further potential market which is engaging the attention of South African
fish canners is the development of the non-European trade within the Union. Expan-
Sion in this quarter depends largely on the production of a low-priced commodity of
suitable and consistent quality, and on the ability of the non-European consumer to
afford this addition to nis diet. The possibility of extending the home market in
this direction is small, however, owing to the limited purchasing power of the con-
Sumer group in question and the difficulty which will be met in attempting to sub-
stitute fish for any portion of the natives! accepted diet. Nevertheless, the pres-
ent shortage of meat provides an opening for skilful salesmanship.

A wide market for canned fish products is available, therefore, but there are
indications that the foreign market is becoming more competitive: the reduction
in price on the Union market in 1947, for example, was due to the need to compete
with lower priced imports; and again, in the United States market for crawfish,
competitors from the Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico, and Australia are appearing. While in
the United States the South African crawfish is particularly favored, as the tails
are larger than the varieties offered by most other exporters, one competitor, Aus—
tralia, can compete both in the size and flavor of its product; in addition, the
price of the Australian tails is below that at which the South African product can
be sold. It is apparent, therefore, that South African producers no longer enjoy
a sellers! market abroad; at home the market can be described as steady but not
stronge
4/ABOUT $250,200,000.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 7

While it is probable that further reductions in cost of production will have
to be effected in order to sell South African canned fish on a fully competitive
market, one factor which has already led to a lowering of costs has been the de-
velopment of the canning of fish other than crawfish, thus enabling factories to
work throughout the year instead of producing in the crawfish season only. Asa
result, overhead costs have been distributed over a greatly increased volume of
output and the. subsequent fall in the cost of production for each unit of the prod-
uct has been reflected in lower prices to the consumer.

Conclusion: In conclusion, then, it can be said of the canning of both farm-
and fish-products in the Union that the continuance of a wide market is essential
for the maintenance of the industry's prosperity, since capitalization is now on a
scale which demands an outlet for a large volume of production, and the number of
workers whose livelihood would be affected by any significant contraction in out-
put is considerable. To ensure adequate sales it would seem to be essential to
reduce costs of production and so to lower the selling price, as overseas markets
are becoming increasingly competitive. In this connection, as in relation to most
secondary industries in the Union, the low purchasing power of the vast majority
of the people denies the enjoyment of the economics of large scale production with-
out the development of a large export market.

The fish canning industry is assured of readily available and plentiful supplies
of cheap raw materials, and the industry is not handicapped to any great extent by
natural factors. Nevertheless, the canneries are in competition with large-scale
overseas industries, based on broad markets and having at their disposal greater
resources of technical knowledge and traditional skill. It is therefore essential
for this section of the canning industry to maintain a competitive selling price,
and for the industry as a whole to guard against deviations from high standards of
quality.

The industry as a whole has enjoyed great advantage in its growth; a period of
consolidation rather than expansion is now necessary to retain the benefits of its

maturity.

United Kingdom

BRITIAN PLANS TO SELL KIPPERS IN U. S.: Plans for a sales eae to sell

August 26 Fish Trades Gazette, a British fishery periodical.

The kippers will be cellophane-wrapped in pairs, deep-frozen, and shipped to
American and Canadian cold-storage warehouses at strategic sales points. Sales
will be made from September through May by a London merchant bank through its Amer-—
ican trading company, who in turn will sell directly to food and fish brokers.

The first year's export sales target is 80,000 cases (44 kippers to a case).
Sales will open in test areas. The campaign will not be confined just to hotels,
restaurants, and the catering trade, but will also aim to promote and sell kippers
as a home product. Newspaper, radio, possibly television, and public relations
will be employed as promotion aids to the sales campaign.

72 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

Uruguay

(SOYP), states a September 27 American Embassy dispatch from Montevideo.

The American fur company stated that if skins equal in quality to those in the
sample shipment were shipped, a good permanent market could be developed for these
skins in the United States. Their value is estimated to be somewhere between the
value of Alaska and Cape Hope sealskins. In the last spring auction in St. Louis,
Alaska sealskins averaged $64.20 each and the Cape Hope skins averaged $21.89 each.
However, it is estimated that the market presently is up at least 50 percent.

The Uruguayan Government owns a seal rookery at Isla de Lobos, about 70 miles
from Montevideo. The herd on the Island is estimated to contain up to 300,000seals.

This year an estimated 2,000 skins have been taken, although the season does
not end until October 15. Selective methods were followed with only male seals be-
ing killed.

—ae

=

West Africa (British Colonies of Gambia, Sierra Leone,
the Gold Coast, and Nigeria)
DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERIES PLANNED: Establishment of Fisheries Research Insti-

tute: A West African Fisheries Research Institute is to be established at Freetown,
Sierra Leone, according to a September 23 American consular dispatch fran Monrovia.
It is estimated that a capital expenditure of $554,400 will be necessary. This will
be supplied by the United Kingdom, which will also contribute $504,000 for operating
expenses over a period of five years. This latter sum is to be matched by an equal

amount from the colonies of Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast , 1) and Nigeria.

Several buildings facing on Cline Bay, just outside of Freetown, have been ac—
quired by the Institute from the British Admiralty for use as laboratories and ad-
ministration use. One of the buildings will be used as a pilot plant for processing
shark livers.

A research ship, costing around $255,000, is to be launched the first part of
1951.

In addition to the actual research of the Institute, it is planned later to es-
tablish laboratories for training in research in tropical fisheries. The facilities
of these laboratories will be made available to visiting scientists of all nationali-
ties.

Programs Planned for Expanding the Fisheries: The ultimate purpose of the
Institute is to make protein more available to the native populations of West Africa.
In some areas the incidence of leprosy runs as high as one in nine of the population.
It has been found that a high protein diet considerably reduces the incidence of
leprosy and there are, of course, other benefits.

Prior to World War II, Scandinavian dried fish was available for about 2 cents

a pound, which was the equivalent of four to five pounds of canned fish. This dried

1/ALSO SEE P. 57 OF THIS ISSUE.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW fi)

fish came chiefly fromGreenland, but the increase in wages paid there since the war
has resulted in pricing the dried fish out of the local market. The director of the
Institute estimates that at present canned fish cannot be procured for distribution
in the interior for less than 2 to 33 cents a pound, which is too expensive for the
native population. With a view to making cheap protein available, several different
programs are being planned and started.

The humidity in West Africa is too high for heavy salt curing. Sun-dried fish,
with a slight salt preservative, will keep for about two weeks in Sierra Leone with-
out redrying and this will undoubtedly be one of the methods used. It is, however,
desirable to preserve fish for longer periods.

The Torrey Research Station at Aberdeen, Scotland, has developed a smoking and
drying kiln in the form of a wind tunnel. The kiln burns sawdust, uses steam pipes
to maintain temperature control, and fans to dry the air. The smoke from the burn-
ing sawdust is also used in preserving. It is estimated that such a kiln can be lo-
cally constructed for $420 and it is planned to build one.

This is the preserving method to be used: The fishis first boiled so that the
flesh comes off the bones. The meat is then minced and spread on sieve-like drying
trays, which are stacked in the smoke tunnel, and the fish is dried to about 4 per—
cent moisture. It is hoped to package the dried fish in a newly—developed aluminum
package costing about the same as a paper package. The packages will be 10 and 20
pounds each, and the market women will be able to sell the dried fish at from 1-13
cents a cup (93 oz.), thus securing the widest distribution of protein at aminimum
cost. The dried fish looks like desiccated vegetables, but according to the Direc-
tor it reconstitutes well and fish balls prepared from it are almost indistinguish—
able from fish balls made from fresh fish.

SCALE OF MILES.

200 i
15° sant 5° mere? Ci 10° 15°

7h COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

The shark liver project will be simply a pilot plant. This project was approved
by the four colonies in August 1950, and has now gone to the United Kingdom for Treas-
ury sanction. The Treasury had previously indicated its approval, so little delay
is anticipated. Very simple equipment will be used—a tank for livers, an emulsi-
fier to break it down, and reagents to neutralize it. The liver will be chopped up
and emulsified, made slightly akaline, and cooled to the critical point at which the
oil separates from the water. This method eliminates scorching and the consequent
reduction of the vitamin A content. The liver residue has a very high content of
the animal protein growth factor, which can be used for animal feeding.

A fish pond has been started at Newton, about twenty-five miles from Freetown.
At present, a kind of perch (Tilapia melano pleura) is being grown. This is a veg-
etable eater and is being used as a starter. Later, it is planned to add two other
kinds of fish so that there will be surface-feeding fish and bottom-feeding fish,
as well as vegetable eaters. This will secure maximum use of the water. One diffi-
culty which has been encounteredis that West African fish reproduce so young that
the food supply is insufficient to grow large fish. It is hoped that a type of bot—-
tom-feeding fish can be found that will eat enough of the smallest fish so that
enough food will remain to enable some fish to grow large, and it is considered pos-
sible that an abundance of food might result in a change of the breeding pattern.

Another problem which is being investigated is the development of vegetable-
eating fish that will not be destructive of rice paddies.

Offshore and deep-sea fishing also will be investigated. Bottom fish and pe—
lagic fish are the principal sources. Investigations have so far failed to reveal
any concentrations of bottom fish, which appears to be fairly evenly and not densely
distributed over the bottom. The pelagic fish appear to be migratory, but the mi-
grations do not appear to be related to breeding, as fish of all different sizes
pass the coast at the same time. Although it is not yet established as certain, the
water temperature appears to be the determining factor. The principal pelagic fish
are of the herring type (Sardinella sp.) and shad (Ethmelosa sp.). Both occur in
dense shoals and should give a rapid return with the right equipment.

In addition, it is known that tuna, albacore, etc.,occur, but the density,
time, and conditions are all unknow, as is the amount of plankton.

The native fishermen, going to sea in hand-propelled canoes, are necessarily
limited in the distance to which they can go and if this limit is even slightly ex-
ceeded, spoilage of the catch is the result. After sufficient investigations of
conditions have been made, it is proposed to introduce the use of small motorized
fishing boats, like the American purse-seine boats used in menhaden fishing. If
this. proves successful, it is hoped to introduce from one to three trawlers foreach
colony, the trawlers to buy at sea directly from the small motorized boats to be

run by natives.
oe

International

headed by the Chief of the Economics and Statistics Branch of the FAO Fisheries Di-
vision, Mr. Ge M. Gerhardsen, who has been assigned to the Organization for European
Economic Cooperation (OEEC).

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 75

The apparent overproduction of fish in Europe, as compared to the actual demand,
has become a matter of great concern. Although the fish which have been caught have
been disposed of in some way or another, the outlets have been of an alarmingly un-
stable character.

When the OEEC Subcommittee on Fisheries considered the situation in July 1949,
it felt that "there is a considerable scope for an over-all increase in consumption,"
but there are certain factors which obviously limit the possibilities. Thesubcom-
mittee found that it was not possible to frame specific proposals for increased con-
sumption of fish without first making a more detailed survey.

Upon the unanimous recommendation of the principal European fisheries adminis—
trators, it was decided that OEEC should seek the services of the Chief Economist
of the FAO Fisheries Division for six months to act as head of a team of experts,
who are to be nominated by the countries concerned. This team will conduct a sur-
vey of the factors limiting the consumption of fish in Europe, so that the necessary
adjustments may be made to bring about an increased consumption. The survey will
deal with such things as the structure of the distribution trade, transport, han-
dling and storage facilities, structure and behavior of prices and finance, seasonal
fluctuation in fish supply and quality, consumer creference, and, finally, govern-
ment policy on quotas, import duties, and local taxation. It is felt that practical
information on these matters would very likely make it possible for the governments
themselves to make adjustments that would lead to the desired increase in consump-
tion of fish and fisheries products.

HHH

governments will meet for the last time at its Washington headquarters beginning
November 3, 1950. A Special Session of the FAO Conference was called by the FAO Di-
ector—General, according to an October 23 news release.

It is expected that the session will’ continue through November 11. Preceding
it, the 18-government Council of FAO met beginning October 25.

This year's FAO Conference, unlike the annual sessions held heretofore, is a
special one, "limited (as reconmended by the Council) to essential financial and
administrative matters and to any other urgent questions which may arise requiring
decisions by the Conference." The 1949 Conference, in addition to directing the
transfer of FAO headquarters to a permanent location in Rome, also adopted the prin-
ciple of biennial, rather than amnual, Conference sessions. A full-scale Conference
is not scheduled until the fall of 1951. Insofar as possible, the agenda will be
limited to the headquarters transfer, financial questions, appointment of a Director-
General and Council Chairman, admission of new members, and necessary revisions of
the Constitution.

This year the Council, rather than the Special Session of the Conference, will
conduct the annual review of the state of food and agriculture. This procedure is
in line with the expectation that when the system of biennial Conference sessions
is established, the Council will review the food situation in the off years, andmake
such recommendations as are called for.

Director-General Dodd will report to the Conference that arrangements have vir-
tually been completed with the Italian Government for the transfer of the FAO staff

76 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

and equipment to Rome. The staff transfer will take place in four groups, sailing
from New York for Naples on February 17, March 1, March 22, and April 4, 1951.

In Rome, FAO will occupy two buildings which the Italian Government has under
construction. The first is expected to be ready in February, and the second by
October.

Among other matters which the Director-General will bring before the Conference
are:

1. The rapidly growing FAO expanded program for technical
assistance. The report will cover requests for technical as-—
sistance received from member governments, and methods of han-
dling them within FAO and in cooperation with other United Na-
tions agencies.

2. A report from the FAO Committee on Commodity Problems
established by the last Conference. Beginning with 1946, each
FAO Conference has given great attention to commodity problems—-
particularly to surplus situations existing side by side with
hunger in many parts of the world—and there have been several
proposals for improving the distribution of basic foods. Much
attention was given last year to a proposal, advanced by the
Director-General, for the creation of an International Commod-
ity Clearinghouse to provide a bridge across which surpluses
could move into consumption. While member governments could
not see their way clear to adopt this proposal, interest in the
problem has continued high.

3. Action taken by FAO to prepare for relief andrehabil-
itation work in Korea in response to the resolutions of the
UN Security Council and the Economic and Social Council.

The terms of six Council members—Brazil, Canada, Chile, Italy, the Union of
South Africa, and the United States of America—also expire. The Conference will
elect members to these places on the 18-government Council.

Four applications for membership in FAO are on the proposed Conference agenda.
These are from the State of Cambodia, the Federal Republic of Germany, theHashemite
Kingdom of the Jordan, and the State of Viet-Nam.

REX HH

—a See ee Se

1950, according to the official report of the United States Commissioner to the
Secretary of State. The Commission is established pursuant to the International
Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, signed at Washington, December 2, 1946.
The business of the Commission was continued on July 18, 19, and concluded onJuly 21,
1950.

During its deliberations, the Commission (1) considered the future relation-
ships of the Commission with the Food and Agriculture Organization and other special-
ized agencies of the United Nations; (2) decided the next meeting of the Canmission

J/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, JULY 1950, P. 57.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Tt

should be convened at Capetown, South Africa, on July 23, 1951; (3) considered re-
commendations made by standing committees; and (4) adopted certain regulations a—
mending the Schedule annexed to the Whaling Convention of 1946.

The countries represented by Commissioners, and their advisors, having full
voting rights in the Commissiog were as follows: The United States of America, Aus-
tralia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark France, Iceland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway,
South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
New Zealand and Panama were not represented. Argentina and Chile were represented
by observers—-these countries are signatories to the Whaling Convention but have
not deposited their instruments of ratification. The Food and Agriculture Organiza-—
tion of the United Nations, the International Council for the Exploration of the
Sea, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers at Tokyo, and the Association of
Whaling Companies were each represented by an observer.

At this meeting, among other actions, the Commission adopted the recommendation
that countries who have not as yet ratified the 1946 Convention shall be notified
that after the third meeting (July 1951) they will not have another opportunity to
send observers.

The American Commissioner, Dr. A. Remington Kellogg, Director of the United
States National Museum, Washington, D. C., was assisted by the following advisors:
Dr. Hilary J. Deason, Chief, Office of Foreign Activities, Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice, U. S. Department of the Interior; Fred E. Taylor, Foreign Affairs Specialist,
U. S. Department of State; and Harry Conover, Second Secretary, American Mnbassy,
Oslo, Norway.

Inclusion of the quota of 1,250 humpbacks permitted to be taken south of 400
S. latitude within the annual limitation of 16,000 blue-whale units for the Antarc-
tic whale catch was confirmed, and by this action, the interim decision made by the
Chairman of the Commission was approved.

Certain minor recommendations regarding whaling laws and infvactions were also
adopted, and questionnaires and standard forms to be used by governments in reports
to the Commission were approved.

The Contracting Governments are required under the 1946 Convention to decide
within two years after the coming into force of that Convention whether the Commis—
sion should be brought within the framework of a specialized agency related to the
United Nations, namely FAO. The Commission decided that so long as the Commission
receives the office and staff facilities now provided by the United Kingdom Ministry
of Agriculture and Fisheries, it should continue to be independent, as at present,
since that is the most economical plan.

The Commission agreed to the following amendment to varagraph 6 of the Schedule,
as amended in 1949 (new matter underscored), and this amendment will become effective
November 1, 1950, unless a contracting government ob jects:

"6, It is forbidden to use a factory ship or a whale catcher
attached thereto for the purpose of taking or treating humpback
whales in any waters south of 40° South Latitude; provided that,
in the pelagic whaling season 1950/51 a maximum of 1,250 hump-
back whales may be taken in these waters commencing on February 1."

78 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No. 11

The notification procedure provided for in paragraph 8(c) of the Schedule has
not proven satisfactory as regards the reporting of the catch of humpback whales
by factory ships operating in the Antarctic. Therefore the Commission added the
following section to paragraph 8 (which becomes effective November 1, 1950, unless
a contracting government objects):

"(e) On the basis of data on the number of humpback whales
taken in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 6 and re-
ported in accordance with subparagraph 8 (ce), the Commission,
or such other body as the Commission may designate, shall de-
termine the date on which the maximum catch of humpback whales
shall be deemed to have been reached and shall notify each
factory ship and each Contracting Government four days in ad-
vance thereof. The taking of humpback whales in all waters
south of 40° South Latitude shall be illegal after midnight
of the date so determined."

Active and full participation by the United States in the work of the Commis—
sion is now facilitated by the approval, on August 2 1950, of legislation to in-
plement the 1946 Convention (P. L. 676, 81st. Cong.2/). The President of the United
States has appointed ye permanent United States Commissioner and the Deputy United
States Commissioner 2

PEC ASSO EMS OE
2/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, SEPTEMBER 1950, P. 65.
3/SEE P. 46 OF THIS ISSUE.

OLDEST TAGGED HALIBUT EVER CAUGHT

The oldest tagged halibut ever caught was landed this summer at
Seattle, according to an August 15 report from the Service's Fishery
Marketing Specialist stationed in that city,

The dressed halibut weighed 100 pounds and was 25 years old, Orig-
inally caughtand tagged byan International Fisheries Commission research
vessel in 1935 on one of the halibut banks off the coast of British
Columbia, the halibut was retaken by a commercial fishing boat only a
short distance from where it was released 15 years ago,

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 79

FEDERAL ?
ACTIONS

Executive Orders

INTERIOR TO BE REPRESENTED ON TRADE~AGREEMENTS COMMITTEES: Representation of
the Department of the Interior on the Interdepartmental Committee on Trade Agree-
ments and the Committeefor Reciprocity Informationwas provided forby an October 12
Executive Order from The White House, The same persons are members of both com-
mittees, The text of the order is as follows:

EXECUTIVE _ORDER

AMENDMENT OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 10082 OF OCTOBER 5, 1949

PRESCRIBING PROCEDURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION

OF THE RECIPROCAL TRADE-AGREEMENTS PROGRAM

WHEREAS EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 10082 OF OCTOBER 5, 1949 (14 F.R. 6105)
ESTABLISHES THE |INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON TRADE AGREEMENTS AND THE
COMMITTEE FOR RECIPROCITY INFORMATION, EACH TO CONSIST OF PERSONS DESIG-
NATED FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE AGENCIES BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED STATES
TARIFF COMMISSION, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, THE SECRETARY OF
COMMERCE, THE SECRETARY OF LABOR AND THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR ECONOMIC CO-
OPERATION; AND

WHEREAS 1!T WOULD BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO PROVIDE FOR THE REP-
RESENTATION ON SAID COMMITTEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR:

NOW, THEREFORE, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE
CONSTITUTION AND STATUTES, INCLUDING SECTION 332 OF THE TARIFF ACT OF 1930
(46 STAT. 698) AND THE TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT APPROVED JUNE 12, 1934, AS
AMENDED (48 STAT. 943; 57 STAT. 125; 59 STAT. 410; PUBLIC LAW 307, BIST
CONGRESS), THE SAID EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 10082 OF OCTORER 5, 1949 1S HEREBY
AMENDED BY ADDING AFTER THE COMMA FOLLOWING THE WORD DEFENSE ,,!N THE
SECOND SENTENCE OF THE PARAGRAPH NUMBERED | THEREOF, THE WORDS THE SEC-
RETARY OF THE INTERIOR, .

/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN

THE WHITE HOUSE
OCTOBER 12, 1950.

NOTE: ALSO SEE P. 84 OF THIS ISSUE.
* Ke OK OK OK

PRESIDENT DELEGATES FUNCTIONS CF DEFaNSE PRODUCTION ACT Of 1950: Following
the signing of the Defense Production Act on September 8, President Truman issued
Executive Order 10161 on September 9 delegating certain functions of the Defense
Act to existing government agencies, Authority to establish priorities and allo-
cations, to requisition essential materials (including food), and to carry out

other controls have been delegated by the President under this order,
Priorities, Allocations, and Requisitioning: The functions on priorities,
allocations, and requisitioning are deleyated as follows:

"(A) TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR WITH RESPECT TO PETROLEUM, GAS,
SOLID FUELS, AND ELECTRIC POWER.

80 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vole o12% sNos gaa

"(B) TO THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE WITH RESPECT TO FOOD, AND WITH
RESPECT TO THE DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTION OF FARM EQUIPMENT AND COM-
MERCIAL FERTILIZER.

"(c) TO THAT COMMISSIONER OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION WHO 1S
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUPERVISION OF THE BUREAU OF SERVICE OF THE
COMMISSION, WITH RESPECT TO DOMESTIC TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE,

AND PORT FACILITIES, OR THE USE THEREOF, BUT EXCLUDING AIR TRANS-
PORT, COASTWISE, INTERCOASTA:, AND OVERSEAS SHIPPING.

"(p) TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATERIALS AND FA~

CILITIES EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPHS (A), (8), AND (C)....."

Functions regarding the disposi-
tion of property after it is no longer
needed for the national defense are
delegated to the Administrator of Gen-
eral Services,

Expansion of Productive Capacity
and Supply: niree programs were author=
ized by tne Act to permit an expansion
of productive capacity and supply, and
this autnority is delegated by the Order
as follows:

(1) THE DEPARTMENTS OF THE ARMY,
NAVY, AIR FORCE, INTERIOR,
AND AGRICULTURE, AND THE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRA-
TION EACH 1S GIVEN AUTHORITY
\ TO GUARANTEE LOANS MADE BY
ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE FiNANC-
‘NG INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PUR-

ae POSE OF FINANCING ANY CONTRACT
OR OPERATION DEEMED TO BE OF
HARRY S. TRUMAN |MPORTANCE TO THE: NATIONAL DE-
FENSE BY THE GUARANTEEING A-
GENCY.

(2) THE RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION 1S AUTHORIZED TO MAKE DIRECT
LOANS TO PRIVATE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES FOR THE EXPANSION OF A CA-
PACITY, THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOG!CAL PROCESSES, AND THE PRO-
DUCTION OF ESSENTIAL MATERIALS, WHENEVER THE AGENCY CONTROLLING
THESE MATERIALS CERTIFIES THE NECESS!|TY FOR SUCH LOANS.

(3) FOR ALL MATERIALS OTHER THAN AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES, THE ADMINIS~
TRATOR OF GENERAL SERVICES WAS AUTHORIZED TO PURCHASE OR MAKE COM-
MITMENTS TO PURCHASE METALS, MINERALS, AND OTHER RAW MATERIALS FOR
GOVERNMENT USE OR FOR RESALE.

Economic Stabilization: The Executive Order also establishes a new and inde-
pendent agency to be known asthe Economic Stabilization Agency and all functions of
the Act relating to price and wage stabilization are conferred on the Administrator
of this new agency, The order states:

a
(B) THE ADMINISTRATOR SHALL SEEK TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN THE STABILIZA-
TION OF THE ECONOMY. TO THIS END HE SHALL3-

"
(13 PLAN AND DEVELOP BOTH SHORT AND LONG-RANGE PRICE AND WAGE
STABILIZATION POLICIES AND MEASURES AND CREATE THE NECES=
SARY ORGANIZATION FOR THEIR ADMINISTRATION.

"
(2) INFORM THE PUBLIC, AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY AND LABOR CONCERN-
ING THE NEED FOR STABILIZATION AND ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE
VOLUNTARY ACTION TO THIS END.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 81

"(3) CONSULT AND ADVISE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RESPONS|BLE
FOR PROCUREMENT, PRODUCTION, MANPOWER, AND RENT CONTROL,
AND FOR F/SCAL, CREDIT AND MONETARY POLICIES, CONCERNING
MEASURES WITHIN THEIR «JURISDICTION WHICH WILL ASSIST STA-
BILIZATION.

"(4) ESTABLISH PRICE CEj,LINGS AND STABILIZE WAGES AND SALARIES
WHERE NECESSARY.

The Economic Stabilization Agency will have a Director of Price Stabilization,
and a Wage Stabilization Board (shall make recommendations to the Administrator re=
garding the planning and development of wage stabilization policies),

Labor Supply: The Secretary of Labor is authorized to utilize the functions
vested in nim so as to meet most effectively the labor needs of defense, industry,
and essential civilian exployment,

Voluntary Agreements: Agencies authorized to establish priorities and alloca-
tions as well as otner agencies mentioned in the Order are authorized to enter into
voluntary agreements with labor, industry, and agriculture with respect to the mate-
rialsand facilities under tneir jurisdiction and as a means of controlling prices,
These agencies also are assigned the power to requisition equipment, supplies, mate-
rials, or facilities necessary to the national defense (including food) with respect
to the particular materials and facilities under their jurisdiction,

NOTE: ALSO SEE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND AGRICULTURE, P. 82 OF THIS ISSUE; AND NATIONAL
PRODUCTION AUTHORITY, P, 83 OF THIS ISSUE. COPIES OF EXECUTIVE ORDER |0/6! ARE AVAILABLE

FROM THE NATIONAL PRODUCTION AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE , WASHINGTON, D. C., OR FROM
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FIELD OFF(CES.

On Sep-
terber 9 President Truman issued Executive Crder 10160 directing certain businessmen
to preserve records for tne period May 24 to June 24, 1950, as they relate to prices,
wages, and other costs or production, The full text of the Order follows:

PROVIDING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF REC-
ORDS FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES OF THE
DEFENSE PRODUCTION Act OF 1950

By virtue of the authority vested in
me by the Defense Production Act of
1950, and as President of the United
States, and in order to provide an ap-
propriate basis for action under Title IV
of the Defense Production Act of 1950,
it is hereby ordered:

1. Every person who sold or delivered
goods or services, or offered them for sale
or delivery, in the course of trade or busi-
ness during the period from May 24,
1950, to June 24, 1950, inclusive, shall
preserve all his records for such period
relating to:

(a) The prices received or asked for
such goods or services; and

(b) The labor, material, acquisition,
and other costs incurred in connection
with such goods or services.

2. This order does not apply to:

(a) Records of an individual relating
to wages or salary received by such in-
dividual;

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10160

(b) Records relating to sales of agri-
cultural commodities by the individual
Producer thereof; and

» (c) Records relating to the following,
which are exempt from control under
section 402 (e) of the Defense Produc-
tion Act of 1950: (i) prices or rentals for
real property; (ii) rates or fees charged
for professional services; (iii) prices or

rentals for (a) materials furnished for

Publication by any press association or
feature service, or (b) books, magazines,
motion pictures, periodicals, or news-
papers, other than as waste or scrap; or
rates charged by any person in the busi-
ness of operating or publishing a news-
paper, periodical, or magazine, or oper-
ating a radio-broadcasting or television
station, a motion-picture or other thea-
ter enterprise, or outdoor advertising
facilities; (iv) rates charged by any per-
son in the business of selling or under-
writing insurance; (v) rates charged by
any common carrier or other public util-
ity; and (vi) margin requirements on
any commodity exchange.

A

3. For the purposes of this order:

(a) The term “person” includes an
individual, corporation, partnership, as-
sociation, or any other organized group
of persons, or legal successor or repre-
sentative of the foregoing, and includes
the United States or any agency thereof,
or any other government, or any of its
political subdivisions, or any agency of
any of the foregoing.

(b) The term “prices” includes rent-
als, commissions, margins, rates, fees,
charges, and allowances paid or received.

(c) The term “goods” has the same
meaning as the term “materials” in the
Defense Production Act of 1950 and in-
cludes raw materials, articles, commodi-
ties, products, supplies, components,
technical information, and processes.

Harry S. TRUMAN

THE WHite House,
September 9, 1950; 10:45 a.m.

[F. R. Doc. 50-8017; Filed, Sept. 9, 1950;
10:45 a. m.|

82 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior

AGRICULTURE DELEGATES DEFENSE FISHERY AUTHORITY TO TO INTERIOR: Certain authority
under the Defense Production Act r Act relating to the production of f: of fishery commodities
and products was delegated by the Secretary of Agriculture ‘to the Secretary of the
Interior on October 13, The text of the order issued by the Secretary of Agriculture
follows:

FISHERY COMMODITIES

THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HAS’ CERTAIN RESPONS! BILITIES AND EXERCISES
CERTAIN FUNCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTION OF THE NATION'S SUPPLY OF FISH-
ERY COMMODITIES. IT |S HIGHLY DESIRABLE IN ORDER TO INSURE THE NECESSARY PRODUC-
TION, THAT THE EXERCISE OF ALL FUNCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTION OF FISH
BE CLOSELY COORDINATED. TO EFFECTUATE THIS PURPOSE AND TO UTILIZE TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT POSSIBLE THE TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE FISHERY STAFF OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, IT 1S THE PURPOSE OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
TO DELEGATE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR CERTAIN FUNCTIONS DELEGATED TO THE
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE UNDER EXECUT!VE ORDER NO. 1016! DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 1950.

THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 902 (B) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER
NO. 10161, THE SECRETARY OF AGR| CULTURE HEREBY DELEGATES, SUBJECT TO THE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN, TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR THE FOLLOWING
FUNCTIONS:

(1) THE PRIORITY AND ALLOCATION FUNCTIONS DELEGATED TO THE SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE UNDER SECT1ONS 101(B) AND 102 OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER
WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTION OF FISHERY COMMODITIES OR PRODUCTS.

(2) THE CLAIMANT FUNCTIONS UNDER SECTION 103(A) WITH RESPECT TO ALL MA-
TERIALS AND ADDITIONAL FACILITIES REQUISITE TO THE PRODUCTION OF
FISHERY COMMODITIES OR PRODUCTS, BUT EXCLUDING TIN CONTAINER SUP-
PLY AND MATERIALS AND FACILITIES USED 1N COMMON FOR PROCESSING OF
FISH AND OTHER FOODS; PROVIDED: THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,
PRIOR TO THE EXERCISE OF THIS CLAIMANT FUNCTION SHALL, TO ASSURE
FULL COORDINATION, NOTIFY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE OF HIS IN-
TENT TO DO SO, AND SHALL PROVIDE WITH EACH NOTICE COMPLETE AND DE-
TAILED INFORMATION AS TO THE MATERIALS AND ADDITIONAL FACILITIES
CONCERNED.

(3) SUCH REQUISITIONING FUNCTIONS AS ARE DELEGATED TO THE SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE UNDER SECTION 201(A ) OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WITH RE-
SPECT TO THE PRODUCTION OF FISHERY COMMODITIES OR PRODUCTS, EXCEPT
THAT WITH RESPECT TO THE PROCESSING OF FISH THE SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PROHIBIT OR MODIFY THE EXERCISE
OF THIS FUNCTION IN ANY INSTANCE WHERE, IN HIS OPINION, SUCH ACTION
WOULD INTERFERE WITH OR HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT UPON THE PROCESS ING
OF OTHER FOODS; PROVIDED: THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,
PRIOR TO THE EXERCISE OF THE REQUISITIONING FUNCTION, SHALL NOT | FY
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE OF HIS INTENT TO DO so.” THE SECRETARY
OF AGRICULTURE WILL CONSULT WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR IN
ORDER TO ASSURE FULL COORDINATION BEFORE EXERCISING: THE REQUISI-
TIONING FUNCTION WITH RESPECT TO FOOD PROCESSING WHEN HE DETERMINES
THAT SUCH ACTION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE PROCESSING OF FISH.

(4) THE FUNCTION OF CERTIFYING UNDER SECTION 303 OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER
WITH RESPECT TO LOANS REQUIRED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FISHERY COM-
MODITIES OR PRODUCTS.

(5) SUCH FUNCTIONS RELATING TO LABOR SUPPLY AS ARE DELEGATED TO THE SEC-
RETARY OF AGRICULTURE UNDER SECTION 601 (8) OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER
WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTION OF FISHERY COMMODITIES OR PRODUCTS.

(6) THE FUNCTION DELEGATED TO THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE UNDER SECTION
701(A)(1) OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTION OF
FISHERY COMMODITIES OR PRODUCTS.

THE FUNCTIONS DELEGATED TO THE SECRETARY OF AGRI CULTURE UNDER SECT! ONS
902(a), (8), (o)(1), (d)(2), AND 904 OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WITH
RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTION OF FISHERY COMMODITIES OR PRODUCTS.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 83

(8) THE TERM "PRODUCT ION” AS USED HEREIN MEANS THE CATCHING AND HARVEST-
ING OF ANY FORM OF AQUATIC ANIMAL OR PLANT LIFE AND THE PROCESSING
THEREOF,

(9) THE TERM "FISHERY COMMODITIES OR PRODUCTS” AS USED HEREIN MEANS ANY
EDIBLE OR NONEDIBLE FISH, ANY FORM OF AQUATIC ANIMAL OR PLANT LIFE,
OR ANY OTHER COMMODITY OR PRODUCT, INCLUDING FATS AND OILS, OF
MARINE OR FRESH WATER ORIGIN, WHICH 1S WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
TERM "FOOD AS DEFINED IN SECTION 901(8) OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

THE FUNCTIONS HEREBY DELEGATED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR SHALL BE EX-
ERCISED WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTION OF FISHERY COMMODITIES OR PRODUCTS TO FUL~
FILL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MILITARY, ESSENTIAL CIVILIAN, AND FOREIGN NEEDS, AS DE-
TERMINED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.

NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO DELEGATE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
FUNCTIONS VESTED IN THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE WITH RESPECT TO (1) THE DISTRIBU-
TION IN CONSUMER CHANNELS OF UNPROCESSED FISHERY COMMODITIES AFTER DELIVERY TO THE
INITtAL PURCHASER; OR (2) THE DISTRIBUTION; PROCUREMENT; |INSPECTION; CONTAINER SUP-
PLy; SPECIFICATION OF PRODUCT, CONTAINER, STANDARDS, AND LABELING; OF OR RELATING
TO, PROCESSED FISHERY COMMODITIES OR PRODUCTS.

ISSUED AT WASHINGTON, D. C., THIS | 3TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 1950.

/S/ CHARLES F. BRANNAN
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

Department of Commerce

NATIONAL PRODUCTION AUTHORITY

INVENTORY CONTROL: Im order to prevent the accumulation of excessive inven~
tories of materials in short supply, the National Production Authority of the U, S,
Department of Commerce, under the authority of the Defense Production Act of 1950,
issued Regulation 1 on inventory control, This regulation, which became effective
on September 18, 1950, applies to all trades and industries, It limits the quan-
tities that can be ordered, received, or delivered of certain specific materials
listed, and in the shapes and forms specified,

The general categories of materials included are building materials, chemicals,
forest products, iron and steel, metals and minerals, rubber materials, and textile
waterials, Among the materials listed, only a few are of interest to the fishing
and allied industries, Under metals and minerals are included tin (primary and
secondary), and all tin and tin base alloy scrap containing commercially recoverable
tin, Under textile materials are included, burlap (Hessian), and nylon staple and
nylon filament yarn,

** eK

BASIC RULES OF THE PRIORITIES SYSTEM: The basic rules of the priorities system
to be administered by the National Production Authority in the Department of Commerce
are contained in Regulation 2, effective October 3, 1950, issued by that agency, This
directive states what kind of orders are rated orders, how to place them, and the
preference status of such orders, These rules apply to all business transactions
within the jurisdiction of NPA but do not include the e location and distribution of
certain specific items (among which are included food, gas, electric power, etc, )
which are under the jurisdiction of other agencies,
1/UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. SEE P. 82 OF THIS ISSUE ON DELEGATION

OF FISH PRODUCTION AUTHORITY TO INTERIOR BY AGRICULTURE.
NOTE: COPIES OF REGULATION | (SEPT. }8, 1950) AND REGULATION 2 (OCTOBER 3, 1950) ARE AVAILABLE
FROM THE NATIGNAL PRODUCTION AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, WASH I'NGTON 25) Deuces OR
FROM DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FIELD OFFICES.

84 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

Department of the Interior
INTERIOR TRADE AGREEMENT REPRESSNTATIVE DESIGNATED: ‘The Secretary of the Interior

on October 2), designated William BE, S, Flory as the Department's representative, until
further notice, on the Interdepartmental Trade Agreements Committee and the Committee
on Reciprocity Information, An executive Order signed by President Truman on Octoberl2

provided for membership of the Department on the two committees,

The Trade Agreements Committee advises the President with respect to negotiations
and provisions of trade agreements while the Committee for Reciprocity Information con=
ducts public vearings and receives views and information from interested persons con-
cerning proposed negotiations under the trade agreement programs,

Experts in the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Buresu of Mines and the Office of
Territories will participate in the work of the two committees with Flory coordinating
their efforts within the Department, He will join the United States delegation in
Torquay, England, later to participate in the tariff and trade negotiations which are
now in progress,

The Fish and Wildlife Service will participate on problems concerning American
and foreign fishing industries, trade in fishery products, and trade problems in wild-
life and furs,

Flory has served in the Department for the past year working on international

rograms
L/ALSO SEE P.) 79) OF THUS SSUES

Eighty-first Congress (Second Session)
The following was not reported in this section in the October 1950 issue of
the Commercial Fisheries Review:
SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT:

Public Law 845 (S. 2801) - An act to give effect to the International
Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, signed at Washington under

date of February 8, 1949, and for other purposes, Signed September 27, 1950.

NOTE: BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE ADJOURNED ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1950, UNTIL NOVEMBER 27, 1950.

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 85

LANDINGS AND RECEIPTS

In Millions of Pounds
MAINE - LANDINGS

MASSACHUSETTS - LANDINGS
on NOT INCLUDING IMPORTS BOSTON , GLOUCESTER , NEW BEDFORD , & CAPE COD

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

NEW YORK CITY-RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH CHICAGO - RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH
26 SALT-WATER MARKET WHOLESALE MARKET

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

GULF - SHRIMP LANDINGS SEATTLE - RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH
HEADS OFF - FOR ALL USES WHOLESALE MARKET , LANDINGS , & IMPORTS

JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR.MAY JUNE JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

In Thousands of Tons

CALIFORNIA - PILCHARD LANDINGS CALIFORNIA- TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH a

120
105

JULY AUG. SEPT OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUNE JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC.
eeeoeeee ESTIMATED

86 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 12, No, 11

COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS

In Millions of Pounds
U.S. & ALASKA - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH U.S. & ALASKA - FREEZINGS

180
160

JAN. FEB. MAR. “APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

NEW ENGLAND - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH NEW YORK CITY - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

GULF - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH

Opus A a ow

JAN. FES. MAR, APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA - -
HOLDINGS OF FROZEN: Fisi CALIFORNIA - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH

fo)

ou f£ TO Oo N DO oO

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC.

November 1950

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 87

CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS

In Thousands
MAINE - SARDINES , ESTIMATED PACK

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

CALIFORNIA - TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC.

UJ
CALIFORNIA - MACKEREL

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

WASHINGTON - PUGET SOUND SALMON

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

of Standard Cases

UNITED STATES - SHRIMP
240
210

180
150
120

JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUNE

CALIFORNIA - PILCHARDS

A Tare &

JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR.MAY JUNE

ALASKA - SALMON

Qa cee aa),

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

STANDARD CASES

Variety No.Cans Can Designation Net. Wgt.
SARDINES 100 V4 drawn 3 V4 oz.

SHRIMP 48 — 5 oz.
TUNA 48 No. 1/2 tuna 7 o.
PILCHARDS 48 No. 1 oval 15 oz.
MACKEREL 48 No. 300 15 oz.
SALMON 48 l-pound tall 16 oz.

88 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

PRICES . IMPORTS and BY-PRODUCTS

BOSTON - WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE MAINE - IMPORTS OF FRESH SEA HERRING
ON NEW ENGLAND FISH EXCHANGE IN @ PER POUND IN MILLIONS OF POUNDS

— oe : ——I
JAN. FES. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

In Millions of Pounds

Us WEORTE Of FARR RBI, ET 2M ERR
iu ora RS |
6
5
4
3
2

2 J
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR, MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. CCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. “JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. =

In Millions of Pounds
U.S.- iMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA U.S.- IMPORTS OF CANNED SARDINES
AND TUNA-LIKE FISH ( Include in oil and not in oil )

yn WOW p A DO N OW

JAN. FE@. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

U.S. & ALASKA - PRODUCTION OF FISH MEAL U.S. & ALASKA - PRODUCTION OF FISH OIL
IN THOUSANDS OF TONS IN MILLIONS OF GALLONS

46

3
Ke)
2
20)

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC. JAN, FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.

November 1950

ae

C4 - Tea ase eee a ie ee

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 89

66 et mommeane eae st DSL D.

Recent publications of interest to the commercial fishing industry are listed
below,

Number
CFS-572
CFS=575
CFS-576
CF S-577

CFS-579
CFS-582
CFS-583
CF S=585

INFORMATION, U, S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS

-THESE PROCESSED PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE DIVISION OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, WASHINGTON 25, D. C. TYPES

OF PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIGNATED AS FOLLOWS:

FL -336f-

FL -382

SERVICE,

CFS = CURRENT FISHERY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA,

FL = FISHERY LEAFLETS.

MDL = MARKET DEVELOPMENT SECTION LISTS OF DEALERS, LOCKER PLANTS,

ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.

SL - STATISTICAL SECTION LISTS OF DEALERS IN AND PRODUCERS OF
FISHERY PRODUCTS AND BYPRODUCTS.

SSR - SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORTS--FISHERIES (LIMITED DISTRIBUTION).

SEP.- SEPARATES (REPRINTS) FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW.

Title
Frozen Fish Report, September 1950, 10 p,
Fish Meal and Oil, August 1950, 2 p,
Massachusetts Landings, May 1950, 14 p.
Canned Fish end Byproducts, 1949 Annual Sum-
mary, 20 p.
Packaged Fish, 1949 Annual Summery, 4 p.
Texas Landings, September 1950, 4 p.
Maine Landings, August 1950, 4 p.
Massachusetts Landings, June 1950, 14 p.
Quarterly Outlook for Marketing Fishery Prod-
ucts, October-December 1950, 35 p.
Mesh Size and Construction as a Factor in Re-
leasing Small Fish and Shrimp from Trawl
Nets, 1l p,

Number Title

SL -109 (Revised) - Firms Canning Caviar and Fish Roe,
1949, 2 Pe

MDL-51 (Revised) - Officials of Refrigerated Locker
Plant Associations, State and
National, 4 p,

SSR-Fish 53 - Seasonal Variations in Toxicity of
Butter Clams from Selected Alaska
Beaches, by John S, Chambers and
Harris W, Magnusson, processed,
August 1950, 19 p,

Sep. 259 - Some Processing and Technological
Metheds in the Japanese Fisher-
ies,

MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS

BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES ISSUING THEM.

CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING PUBLICATIONS THAT FOLLOW SHOULD BE ADDRESSED
TO THE RESPECTIVE AGENCIES OR PUBLISHERS MENTIONED. DATA ON PRICES,
|1F READILY AVAILABLE, ARE SHOWN.

Age, Rate of Growth, and General Life-History of the
Australian Pilchard (SARDINOPS NEOPILCHARDUS) in New
South Wales Waters, by M, Blackburn, Bulletin No, 242,
86p. and illus, with 8 plates, Commonwealth Scien-
tific and Industrial Research Organization, East Mel-
bourne, Australis, 1949. An analysis of the age and
rate of growtn of the pilchard from the time of its
hatching at sea, through the inshore phase which oc-
curs early inthe first year of its life, and to its
eventualreturn tothe sea and attainment of maturity

between the ageof twoto three years, These studies
on the age and growth rate of the unexploited pilchard
of New South Waleswere carried out by means of scale-
readingsand analysisof length-frequency distributions,
In growth-rete and in general life history, the author
states, the New South Wales pilchard resembles that
of the Atlantic coasts of south-western Eurcpe more
than it doesthe otherclosely related pilchard groups
that heve been studied elsewhere,

90

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 12, No, 11

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE,
BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES ISSUING THEM.

Annual Report (New Jersey Division of Fish end Game),

For the Fiscal Year Commencing July, 1948, and
Ending June 30, 1949, 47 p., printed, Division
of Fish and Game, New Jersey Department of Con-
servation and Economic Development, Trenton,N, J,
Among other things, this publication givesa very
brief summary of New Jersey's pound fisheries;
number of menhaden and food fish licenses, and
special netting licenses issued by the State;
and a statistical sumuary of the Delaware River
and Hudson River shad industries (number of men,
boats, fish and pounds of shad caught, value of
catch, and value of boats and gear),

Annual Report-of the Federal Security Agency, 1949,

670 p.,- printed, $1.50 Federal Security Agency,
Washington, D, C, (For sale by Superintendent of
Documents, Washington, D, C, Separate reprints
of the reports of each of the Agency's constitu-
ent organizations are also for sale,) Contains
the 1949-50 fiscal year report of all the agen-
cies in the Federal Security Agency, including
the Public Health Service and the Food and Drug
Administration, Activities of the latter two
agencies are of interest to the fishing and al-
lied industries since some of their functions
are connected with fisheries, The reportof the
Public Health Service includes information on
shellfish sanitation and water pollution, The
report of the Food and Drug Administration dis-
cusses the actions taken by the Agency on foods
(including sea food) and includes information on
the seafood inspection service, court interpreta-
tions (one on canned oysters), and scientific in-
vestigations conducted by the agency (including
erab meat, oysters, frozen shrimp, and vitamin

B,.).

Annual Report for 1949, 181 p., illus,, printed, De-

partment of Fisheries, State of Washington, Se-
attle, Wash,, 1950. Reports on the activities of
the Washington's Department of Fisheries, This
report is divided into four parts: (1) The Sal-
mon Fishery, (2) Shellfish and Bottom Fish, (3)
Law Enforcement, and (4) Commercial Fishing Sta-
tistics, The section on commercial fishing sta-
tistics gives 1949 data for the entire State, to-
getner with compsrative data; detailed statistics
for Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, Willapa Harbor,
and Columbia River; and data on number of licenses,
financial receipts, and appropriations, ‘he sal-
mon fishery section discusses stream improvement,
biological research, hatcheries, hatchery con-
struction, and cooperative programs, Bottom fish-
ing, otter trawling, razor clams, and oyster
studies are reported upon in the section on shell-
fish and bottom fish, An appendix is included and
it contains information on smoke curing of salmon;
life history and nabits of the Pacific razor clam;
notes on the biology of oysters; life history and
habits of the commercial crab; Washington's fish-
ery resources; hatchery procedures; and a list of
Washington's food fisheries,

April 1950, vol, 1, no, 1, 154 p., plus plates,
illus,, printed, 7s6d per issue (approx, 85 cents),
Commonwealth Scientific and Industriel Research
Organization, 314 Albert Street, East Melbourne,
C2, Victoria, Published as a medium for the pub-
lication of the results of original investigations

on sea, estuarine, and freshwater fisheries and
related subjects, Will be issued as material be-
cones available, The following articles appearin
this first issue: "A Biological Study of the An-
chovy, Engraulis australis (White), in Australian
Waters;" "Investigations on Underwater Fouling:
I-The Role of Bacteria in the Early Stages of Foul-
ing; II-The Biology of Fouling in Australia: Results
of s Year's Research; III-Note on the Fouling Organ-
isms Attached to Naval Mines in North Queensland
Waters;" "The Condition of the Fishery for Barra-
couta, Thyrsites atun (Euphrasen), in Australian
Waters;""The Bacteriology of Snark Spoilage;" and
"The Effects of the Orientation of Cultch Material
on the Setting of the Sydney Rock Oyster,"

Bibliography of Canadian Biological Publications for
1947, by J, Murray Speirs and J, M, Johnston, 102
p., printed, Ontario Fisheries Research Laboratory,
Department of Zoology, University of Toronto and
Research Council of Ontario's Advisory Committee on
Fisheries and Wildlife, Toronto, Ont,, February
1950, Lists the biological literature written by
Canadians, or dealing with Canadian wildlife and
fisheries, Among the subjects included are fishing,
shellfish, fish, fisheries, fish products and by-
products, fishery management, ecology, and proces-
sing (includes processing of fishery products), This
bibliography is arranged alphabetically by subject,
and within the subject by author, publication, date,
and page, An author index is included, and a list
of the puolications which were not listed in the
1946 bibliography is appended,

Canadian Fishery Markets, Market Bulletin No, 4, in two
volumes--Vol, 1: "Outlook for 1950," 32 p,; and Vol,
2: "Review of 1949," 36 p.; processed, Department
of Fisheries, Ottawa, Canada, May 1950, Volume 1
gives the outlook for the marxeting of fishery prod-
ucts during 1950, It deals with production and the
food supply; the general outlook for Canadian, United
States, and foreign markets; anc the outlook accord-
ing to types of products, including fresh, frozen,
canned, etc, Volume 2 reviews the 19/9 production
and trade in fishery products in Canada, the United
Stetes, and foreign countries,

A Cauparison of the Bluefin Tunas, Genus Thunnus, from
New England, Australia, and California, by H. C,
Godsil and Edwin K, Holmberg, Fish Bulletin No, 77,
55 p., illus, Bureau of Narine Fisheries, Division
of Fish and Game, San Francisco, Calif., 1950, The
study presented in this publication was undertaken
to clarify the systematic relationship of the various
tunas, The purpose of the study was to determine
wheather positive, diagnostic differences exist be-
tween the Atlantic bluefin and California bluefin, on
the one hand, aad between the Australian southern
oluefin and the California bluefin, on theother hand,
The authors conclude that the Australian southern
bluefin T, maccoyii is entirely distinct from the
remaining members of the genus and can be identified
positively by a number of characters, The bluefin
of the California coast is remarkably similar to that
of the Atlantic coast, but it can be distinguished by
at least four internal characters and possibly the
gill-raker count, Specimens of the T, thynnus from
the eastern and western Atlantic appear to be iden-
tical in most characters, There is a striking simi-
larity between T, thynnus of the California coast
and T, orientalis of Japan, but until certain differ-

November 1950

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 91

ences are further investigated, T, orieotslis mest

be considered as a species distinct from T, thynnus
of the Pacific American coast,

A Directory of Marine Laboratories of the United States

and Canada, by Robert W, Hiatt, Contribution No, 4,
70 p., processed, Hawaii Marine Laboratory, Hono-
lulu, T, H, The laboratories are listed in alpha-
betical order, and an index to them is included,
Persons affiliated with each laboratory in 19,9 are
listed, Information listed for each marine scient-
ist includes his address at a marine laboratory and
his permanent address, his special field of training,
and his current research project, if available,

Foreign Government Purchasing Agencies, 5 p,, processed,

Business Information Service, Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce, U, S. Department of Commerce,
Washington 25, D, C,, August 1950, This list con-
sists principally of foreign government purchasing
missions operating in tne United States, Only
those missions of foreign governments which huve pro-
curement und purcnusing functions are listed, The
list also includes the names of the French groups
and certsin foreign government purchasing agencies
located abroad,

"Great Lakes Fisheries," by Spencer M, Bower, article,

Michigan Conservation, September-October1950, vol, XIX,
no, 5, pp. 7-10, 25-26, illus,, printed, 50 centsper year,
Michigan Department of Conservation, Lansing, Mich,

A discussion of Michigan's commercial Great Lakes
fisheries, including production, types of gear used,
and regulations affecting commercial fishing,

Guide for the Prospective American Importer, 44 p.,

printed, free, Economic Cooperation Administration,
Washington, D, C,, September 1950, This is a hand-
book on the principles of importing, Important
"do's" and "don'ts" for actual and potential im-
porters of goods from Marshall Plan countries are
highlighted in this publication, which was prepared
in collaboration with non-governmental organiza-
tions interested in foreign trade and with the U.S,
Department of Commerce, Designed to assist busi-
nessmen in gathering adequate information on foreign
trade, making correct policy decisions on matters
involving importing, and formulating sound plans for
engeging in importing enterprises, this booklet de-
lineates seven steps which must be taken by any
firm contemplating entering the import field, either
as an importer of raw materials, cousumer specialties,
or consumer staples, Discusses importing for the
manufacturer, wholesaler or jobber, and retailer,
An appendiz gives further helpful hints, listing
such items as commercial abbreviations, definitions
of shipping terms, foreign trade terminology, and the
like,

Handbook of Freshwater Fishery Biology, Kenneth D, Car-

lander, 290 p,, printed, 4.50. Wm, C, Brown Cam-
pany, Dubuque, Iowa, 1950. This handbook is primarily
a quick-reference source boox to deta on fresh-water
fish, Consists mostly of tabular material for which
conservationists and biologists have frequent need,
and it will aid research workers 4s a bibliographical
quide to original investigations, To keep the tabu-
lar compiletione up to date, periodic supplements are
plenned by the lowe Cooperative Fisheries Research
Unit, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, of which the
author is a member, In order to draw attention to

the variability of data from various areas, the
information presented is tabulated rather than
completely summarized, The book consists of in-
structions for reading the tables; an explanation
of the methois used for arriving at lengths, ages,
calculated lengths, length-weight relationship,
condition index, and fecundity data; suggestions
for conducting a simple age and growth study; life
histories by species; population data; conversion
tables; literature cited; and alinement charts and
nomographs, In addition to the life history in-
formation, creel census and other fish population
data are tabulated for ready reference, As a mea-
sure of "success of fishing," figures on catch per
man-hour, per trip, or per day are given for sev-
eral species, for severul types of water, and for
various types of tackle, Data on the annual yield
per acre to commercial and sport fisheries are

also given, Total populations, as determined by
draining, poisoning, electric shocker, or marking
and recovery techniques, are summarized on a pound-
age or number-per-acre besis, Over 1,100 references
are included in the literature cited section of this
book,

Maine Lobster Recipes, 24 p., illus,, printed, Depart-

ment of Sea and Shore Fisheries in cooperation with
the Maine Development Commission, Augusta, Maine,
The State of Maine Department of Sea and Shore Fish-
eries and a national brewing company through its
mes Chefs de Cuisine, recently conducted a nation-
wide Maine Lobster Recipe Contest, This booklet
presents 27 recipes chosen from those submitted by
famous chefs, maitres d'hotel, connoisseurs of fine
foods, and gourmets, Included are such recipes as
Baked Maine Lobster De Luxe, Maine Lobster Espanol,
Lobster Oriental, Lobster Thermidor, Lobster Poly-
nesian, and Lobster Curry,

South-Eastern Australian Waters, by M, Blackburn

and J, A, Tubb, Bulletin No, 251, 74 p., and illus,
with 2 plates, Commonwealth Scientific and Indus-
trial Research Organization, Eastern Melbourne,
Australia, 1950, Analyzes data on the geographical
distribution and seasonal fluctuations of surface-
swimming fish in south-eastern Australian waters
collected by the CSIRO Division of Fisheries and

its collaborators over the past years, The pelagic
fish covered in the report are tunas, horse meckerel,
pilchards, anchovies, Australian "salmon," and others,
Progress which has been made in developing these
fisheries and the lines along which success may most
probably be achieved in the future are discussed,
General levels of abundance, at the principal sea-
sons of the year, of the most important non-scom-
broid pelagic fish in certain waters of south-eastern
Australia are indicated, This report is intended
for the information and generel encouragement of
those who may be interested in exploiting these
species, few of which are adequately used at present
in Australia,

Our Foreign Policy, Department of State Publication

3972, General Foreign Policy Series 26, 100 p.,
printed, 25 cents, Office of Public Affairs, U. S,
Department of State, Washington 25, D, C, (For

sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington,
D, C.). A brief survey of American aims and policies

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol, 12, No, 11

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE,
BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES |SSUING THEM.

with regerd to our relations with other governments
and their peoples issued at the suggestion of Presi-
dent Truman, Indicates what the foreign policy of
our Government is at present,

Prospects for the 1950-51 Herring Fishing Season, by

J, C, Stevenson, Circular No, 21, August 1950, 4p.,
processed, Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries
Researct Sourd of Canada, Nanaimo, B, C, Contains
a prediction of the prospects of the 1950-51 herring
fishing seagon off British Columbia by districts,

Report for Fiscal Year October 1, 1948-September 30, 1949

(Alabemz), 159 p., dllus,, printed, Alabama Depart-
ment of Conservation, Montgomery, Ala,, 1949. In-
cluded im this publication is a discussion of the
Seafoods Division, fisheries research, and a report
by the Division of Game, Fish and Seafoods, Same
date on sbrimp and oyster production are given,

Summaries of Tariff Information (Separate summaries for

Specific Fishery Products), U. S, Tariff Commission,
Wasnington 25, D. C, Limited Supply of these separate
summaries ¢re available, The Commission has compiled
summarics on specific fishery products which are duty
free, 4 limited supply of separate pages from these
Summaries for the following specific fishery products
are availed):

Commodi ty Tariff Par. No. Pages

ted Oil and Cod-Liver

O11 1730 3-6
Eulachon Oj1 1730 uv
Products of American

Fishories 1730 9-20
Fisk Meal, Serap, and

Cake 1780 and 1685 55-70
Cuttlefish Bone 1666 69-70
Turtles 1790 111-4
Fish Sounds 1624, 165,186
Rese of Birds, Fish

and Insects 1671 179-80
Sea Herriag, Fresh or

Frozen 1756 183-202
aAquerium Fish, Including

Goldfish 1677 203-7
Abalone 1761 215-6
Clems (Except Canned

Clams and Canned Clam

Products) 1761 217-21
Crabs 1761 222-5
Lobsters 1761 226-37
Oysters (Except Canned

Oysters and Canned

Oyster Products) 1761 238-44
Scallops 1761 245-7
Shrimp 1761 248-52
Shelifish, N.S.P.F. 1761 253-8
Shellfisno Pastes and

Sauces (Except Crab,

Clam, and Oyster) 1761 259-61

Tue above suomaries include statistics on production,
domestic axports, and imports for consumption for cer
tain years from 1931 to 1948. In addition, there are
comments on each product--uses, prices, and consump-
tion in the United States, tariff status, and other
pertinent data,

"Summer Fishing on Lake Winnipeg," article, Trade News,

August 1950, vol, 3, no, 2, pp. 21-3, illus., pro-
cessed, Department of Fisheries, Ottawa, Canada,
Discusses the summer fishing on Lake Winnipeg--pro-
duction, type of gear and boats used, and marketing
of the fish,

ing to Foods and Nutrition in Academic, Government,
and Industrial Laboratories), by The Committee on
Survey of Food and Nutrition Research of the Food
and Nutrition Board, National Research Council,

31l p., printed, $1.75. Reproduced and Distributed
by the Office of Technical Services, U, S, Depart-
ment of Commerce, Washington, D, C., 1950. This is
the second classified listing of projects dealing
with food and nutrition research, and including the
responsible organizations and the professional per-
sonnel, The contents include those research projects
reported in the first edition which continued active
and new projects activated between March 1948 and
March 1950, A large number of research projects
dealing wito fishery products and byproducts are in-
cluded, Projects which have more recently been ter-
minated and sources of finaneial support which have
been discontinued are indicated, The number of pro-
jects listed has increased from approximetely 4,000
to 4,500, The main subjects included are physiology,
chemistry, technology, microbiology, and in addition,
food acceptance and nutrition education studies,
Fishery products are specifically included under
chemistry (food composition and nutritive value) and
technology (developmental research on food products),
Under technology are included processing methods (can-
ning, dehydrating, freezing, and packaging); under
microbiology are included research projects dealing
with food spoilage and prevention, and bactericides
for food processing plants, Lists of organizations
and personnel engaged in the various projects listed
as well as an index, are included,

Third Annual Report of the Director (1st April 1949-3lst

March 1950), 8 p., printed, Fishing Industry Reseerch
Institute, Cape Town,:South Africa, Reviews the work
of the Institute for the fiscal year April 1, 1949-
March 31, 1950, A short discussion of the various
investigations conducted by the Institute is included,
Among the investigations mentioned are the following:
tomato in fish packs, crawfish canning, weight losses
and contraction of crawfish, shrinkage of pilchards
during heating, processing temperature for pilchards
in tomato, storage ¢hanges in canned pilchards, plain
vs, lacquered cans Fee canned pilchards, canning of
abalone, bacterial contamination of ice, preservation
of fish offal aboard trawlers, pilchard pressing,
protein determinations in fish meel, and crawfish
freezing, In addition, the publication reports on
the inspections and analyses made by the Institute,

"B2,000,0CO Pilchard Harvest: Report on Cape West Coast

Fishery," article, The South African Shipping News
and Fishing Industry Review, August 1950, vol, 5,

no, 8, pp. 57-87, illus,, printed. S, A, Trade
Newspapers (Pty,) Ltd, , Riebeck Square, Cape Town,
South Africa (approx, 25 cents per issue), A full
report of South Africa's pilchard industry, Discusses
its beginnings, production, number of plants, capacity

November 1950 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 93

THESE PUBLICATIONS NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE AND WILDLIFE SERVICE,

BUT USUALLY MAY BE Bcraitce FROM THE AGENCIES eect iG THER.

of plants, products manufactured, reduction processes may be obtained by firms in the United States from
used, and a review of each individual company's opera- that office or from Department of Commerce field of-
tions, fices at $1,00 per fist,
Trade Lists Canneries--Chile, 9 p, (September 1950); lists,
among Others, 35 firms canning fish and shell-
Tne Commercial Intelligence Branch, Office of Interna- fish, Name, address, products handled, and
tional Trade, U, S, Department of Coumerce, has publisned annual production of each firm are given,

the following mimeographed trade list, Copies of this list

CONTENTS, CONTINUED

PAGE PAGE
FOREIGN (CONT.): FEDEMAUTACTIONSE © cle vice pla'alaistels’s viefsisiatn viovevttsie W/ataibieisiaiahivan 7
NORWAY (CONT. ): EXECUTIVE ORDERS:
SAFETY NET FOR PURSE-SE|NE CATCHES veseseeesereses 64 INTERIOR TO BE REPRESENTED ON TRADE-AGREEMENTS
ESTIMATED FISH CATCH FOR 1950 ..... riot) COMMATITEE Subic cistaclate cacbincnigculeies @aamantcmenmeerien: 70
HERRING FISHERIES, 1950 ..sseeee 265 PRES|DENT DELEGATES FUNCTIONS OF DEFENSE PRODUC-
NEW WHALING RESEARCH LABORATORY ...sceesseeeeveees 66 TUONSABY OR MOSO aaa icijcciwassaciecammeraceterccn. El
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA: BUSINESSMEN DIRECTED TO PRESERVE PRICE, WAGE,
SHRM AUR SHER Your iet-ctsl vis lateivieselese elsielois a/eleisieiele wipielejeletalefem OG: AND PRODUCTION RECORDS ...esesesecssarerescvevens Gl
SWEDEN: DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE AND INTERIOR:
SOVIETS REPORTED ORDERING MORE FISHING VESSELS AGRICULTURE DELEGATES DEFENSE FISHERY AUTHORITY
RROMESMEDENI Cris atevston staniei cinco slemiaie aiale sieloretsie)s eetvis) GOS! MO TINTER TOR irri teyciste ciel aveisvalo siti no\cieteveitieciaprers armies oe 982
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE:
A REVIEW OF THE FISH CANNING INDUSTRY 4... sees 69 NATIONAL PRODUCTION AUTHORITY:
UNITED KINGDOM: INVENTORY CONTROL ......- dieteljuleleisvelevelsielu'e nieces) OO
BRITIAN PLANS TO SELL KIPPERS IN U. S. .ccesereees TI BASIC RULES OF THE PRIORITIES SYSTEM) c.cjejsie cicltialajs ance
URUGUAY: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR:
GOOD PROCESSING RESULTS OBTAINED WITH URUGUAYAN INTERIOR TRADE AGREEMENT REPRESENTATIVE DESIGNATED 84
SEALSKINS ..... ec cceccccs Rais iatulatateleiemit cisleisletetvisio’e ie Ae EIGHTY-FIRST CONGRESS (SECOND SESS1ON) isle)aisYo Geta eieie me:
WEST AFRICA: GRAPHS: ......+ io 2 alwlaleyalea.nvo's (alk Sisls wiele AOOLION OCe, (oe!
DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERIES PLANNED .....ese-ecereees 72 LANDINGS AND RECEIPTS. ofa sinie AGUHNAAnOn oe oo) ES
INTERNATIONAL: COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS AND FREEZINGS OF FISHERY
FAO TO INVESTIGATE FACTORS HAMPERING MARKETING OF PRODUCTS) Gin. cciec co ccin ot veces Cece cee ee ee eseresesese 86
FISH IN EUROPE ....cscccccscncceseseseseseseseses 74 CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS ...cccrererevcccsescvecese 87
SPECIAL SESSION OF FAO CONFERENCE wislntlateeintale(oleistavele): arto PRICES, |MPORTS AND BYPRODUCTS ....eseeeseceseceve 68
SECOND MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING RECENT FISHERY PUBLICATIONS: ....ccccccesccccsvcccecs 89
COMMISSION ......6.6. Ce ee 76 FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS . 89
MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS ......0e0e8 eres 89

Illustrator-- Gustaf T. Sundstrom
Compositors-- Jean Zalevsky, Carolyn Wood, Betty Coakley

Photograph credits: Pages 15, 16, and 17 - SCAP. Other photographs in this

issue anonymous.
ee —————————————————

Interior—-Duplicating Section, Washington, D. C.64720

DUST

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW MAILING LIST BEING CIRCULA__*_

Since Federal regulations require that all mailing lists be circularized periodically,

a circularization letter dated November 15 was sent to all tnose on the Commercial Fisheries
COMMERCIAL SS eE5=°285 Review mailing list, (Individuals or firms who
= have been added to the mailing list subsequent

F | S al E R | E S REVEE . to October 1, 1950, will not receive a circular-
ization letter and will continue to be retained

on the mailing list, unless the recipient mean-
while requests that his name be removed, )

The names of those firms and individuals
whodo not return the lower portion of the Novem-
ber 15 circularization letter will be deleted
from the Commercial Fisheries Review mailing te
' list, The January 1951 issue will be the last
one to be mailed to those who do not reply.

A prompt reply to the circularization letter
will assure your not missing any issues of the
Review,

The circularization notice contains several
questions which are to be answered by the re-
cipients of theReview, The editors respectfully
urge you to answer these questions as the answers
will aid the editorial staff to determine the
type of material that should be published in
FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE the Review in order to better serve the needs
United States Department of the Interior and interests of our readers,

Washington, D.C.

Vol.12, No.10 OCTOBER 1950

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