et Zk // AYUC3 A Guess { spy afer ill tag ae | Sesser thes! Saw: ST ‘ : § 3 eg ap Saas’ my os eee a 6 fjrg a Soames” od & om feng ay M = 4 5b CS COMMERCIAL BIGHERIES ! 4 - PU) || ee coer = > & & 4 - FEBRUARY 1954 FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE United States Department of the Interior W ashington, D.C. Vol. 16, No.2 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE DOUGLAS McKAY, SECRETARY JOHN L. FARLEY, DIRECTOR COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW A review of developments and news of the fishery industries prepared in the BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES A. W. Anderson, Editor F. F. Johnson, Associate Editor J. Pileggi and J. J. O'Brien, Assistant Editors Mailed free to members of the fishery and alliedindustries. Address correspondence and requests to the: Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Department of the Interior, Washington 25, D. C. Publication of material from sources outside the Service is not an endorsement. The Service is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions contained in material from outside sources. Although the contents of this publicationhave not been copyrighted and maybe reprinted freely, refer- ence to the source will be appreciated. The printing of this publicationhas been approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, Novem- ber 5, 1952. CONTENTS COVER: Drum seiner on Boundary Bay, Puget Sound. In place of the conventional turntable, this vessel uses a large drum on reel mounted on the stern for setting, rewinding, and carrying the purse seine. A trend toward the use of this new method became noticeable at the start of the 1953 Puget Sound salmon fishery. Page DRUM SEINING--A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE PUGET SOUND SALMON FISHERY, By Keith A, Smith..... 1 VITAMIN CONTENT OF FISHERY BYPRODUCTS--Part 1 - Effect of Processing Methods on Riboflavin, Nicotinic Acid, and Vitamin Bj9 Content of Solubles and Meal, By N. L. Karrick and M, E, Stansby........ 7 Ree ee Page Page RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES:....... 11 )}TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS (Contd,):......- Progress on Projects, January 1954 ......... 11 Pollution Control is Wildlife Week Theme .... 22 Vitamin Content and Nutritive Value of Fishery U. S. Foreign Trade in Edible Fishery Products, ESYDEOGUCES yop ancy cieie ciel elcke rete acheterenerelenoimeLL: Septemberg G5 ommeriienenetiemenenelmeieltenoicnen cies 23 Sulfide Discoloration inCanned Tuna ....... 141 Virginia: Chemical and Physical Properties of Fish and Broader Fishery Research Recommended.... 24 ShelifishtProteinsimerencyete emereievencienckenens iterate: Foreign Economic Policy Commission Reports to Technical Note No. 29--Effect of Salt on the Stor- President ,..... SUPA PREIS 0 O15) age Life of Salmon Eggs Preserved with Sodium Wholesale Prices, December 1953.......... 27 Bisulfite ....... averse Chorin ot | FOREIGN ernie Rees Greet aan oe) TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS: Aer oisapeteverenthe 16 International: Additions to the Fleet of U, S, Fishing Vessels , 16 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organiza- Alaska: tion: Commercial Possibilities of Predatory Fresh- Mediterranean Fisheries Council ....... 29 WEEP SIENES GEbccodcgooanogcucaoe 1G United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency: | California: Korean Fisheries Rehabilitation Makes King (Chinook) Salmon Research .......... 17 Progress ..... Rh Cites oa Momence oe) Gear for Sampling Fish Attracted to Light Belgium: Tested by Yellowfin ery 53-Y-10 and Consumption of Fishery Products, 1952/53 ... 30 53-Y-11) . eat esis Pate Sees oe est He Burma: Pacific Hake Larvae Study Sadvo oud gmoue Geel New Import Duties on Fishery Products...... 30 Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products, January- Canada: OCichey WEE Goongoasocoo Peres cee Tone Ls) New Shrimp Ground off Pacific Coast..... Sof ol Federal Purchases of Fishery Products, ...... 19 Fillet Conveyor Belt Transfer Rollers. ..... 31 Maryland: Newfoundland’s Fish Fillet Industry, 1952.... 32 Pembroke Oyster Bar Opened to Public, ..... 20 Great Lakes Fisheries Research Committee North Pacific Exploratory Fishery Program: Bistablishedir patetne tmtsice wicut ch eeak. A aakie natal Fall Herring Fishery Prospects in Prince Chile: William Sound Reported Poor by John N, Cobb Fisheries Production, 1952 .............. 35 (Cruise 17) sialeviefallefiaiieliellelajiele) ciejele) ekeliejrel cin 20 Colombia: Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations: U. S. Purse Seiner to Fish for Colombian Firm. 36 Winter Tuna Fishery Possibility off Christmas Denmark: Island Revealed by John R. Manning (Cruise 18) 21 Government Seeks to Extend Faroe Islands Skipjack Tuna Abundance at Seasonal Low in TSAO MAILS ho ocKdsou ne hoouda) Ba Hawaiian Waters Reports the Hugh M, Smith Herring Meal and Oil Industry............ 36 (CHIESOHY Geo oogdodooooboubonoeon) 22 quent uni lr February 1954 Washington 25,D.C. Vol. 16, No.2 DRUM SEINING--A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE PUGET SOUND SALMON FISHERY By Keith A. Smith* DRUM SEINING INTRODUCED A new type purse-seine vessel has appeared in the Puget Sound, Washington, salm- on fishery. In place of the conventional turntable, this vessel uses a large drum or reel mounted on the stern for setting, rewinding, and carrying the purse seine. Al- though one such drum seiner has been fishing out of Bellingham for several years, the first general trend toward the use of this new method became noticeable at the start of the 1953 season at which time 11 other seiners had been converted to this type of gear. The system originated in Canada, where a number of British Colum- bia fishermen have been operating drum-seine boats successfully for several years. Doubts were expressedat the beginning of the 1953 season by some fishermen as to the ability = of drum seiners to catch sufficient FIG. 1 - DRUM SEINER ON BOUNDARY BAY, PUGET SOUND. numbers of salmon, especially in deep water and tide rips. A num- ber of problems in operating the new gear were encountered at first, but results indi- cate that most of the drum seiners had a successful season. Statistics collected for July 1953, in the Point Roberts-Boundary Bay area where most of these boats fished, show an average catch of 317 salmon per boat per day for the cree seiners as compared with 219 salmon per boat per day for the conventional seiners.-/ According to a reli- able report, a drum seiner was high boat for the season in this area. As a result of this excellent showing, many additional purse seiners are expected to be converted to drum seining for the 1954 season. The Bellingham firm that perform- ed the conversions on 10 of the 12 boats that operated in 1953 is reportedly swamped with orders. Some observers feel that a revolution in the purse-seine fleet is under way. DESCRIPTION OF GEAR AND EQUIPMENT The main unit of gear in this system is the drum or reel upon which the seine is wound. This drum is mounted on the stern of the vessel either above the deck or ina well that is built into the deck (figure 2). It is constructed of sheet steel and is designed to hold from 250 to 300 fathoms of purse seine. The drum is 6 to 8 feet in diameter and as long as the beam of the vessel will permit. The diameter ofthe core is about 10inches. °K F|SHERY METHODS AND EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST, EXPLORATORY FISHING AND GEAR DEVELOPMENT SECTION, BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. 1/UNPUBLISHED STATISTICS OF THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. Vol. 16, No. 2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW "eVa5 JO SLNJNOdWOD 1VILNA3SS3 ONIMOHS YANI9S WNYG IWWIIdAL - Z ‘DI4 BOLoW BAIua warcods 21NVAGAH BOLOW anina qaaa 210va0AH BYBS NOWINdaa BIDNY BABA NYHDS = ————— Bannon nNuais aDvisuw> auso0dd aAAaVvVOsLNnoO ll =SRS \ Cw71evAowaa) suariod DNINCOdS = V¥D1Lm3A aaa anias (yrei4o) y, NYNAIWH 123q 3NIaG asand NOILVIAVISN] TW>IdAL HA'66 FLivas AVA IOGONNOD oCOsa OD NDISIAZNOLLMNAISNOD aNiuv(W) February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3 At the stern a roller is provided that is similar in design and function to the roller of the conventional seiner. It is free to turn with the seine as the seine is being set or hauled. A spooler is provided for bunching the seine and winding it evenly on the drum as it is being hauled. This spooler consists of two vertical rollers, a carriage, anda FIG. 3 - HYDRAULIC-DRIVE UNIT FURNISHING POWER FIG. 4 - THE SKIFF IS TOWED PREPARATORY FOR THE ORUM THROUGH A CHAIN AND SPROCKET; USED TO MAKING A SET. ON SOME ORUM SEINERS. carriage track. The rollers are about 6 inches in diameter, 30 inches high, and 15 inches apart. They are set in sockets in the carriage, which runs back and forth on the track across the stern of the vessel while the net is being reeled in. When the net is being set, the spoolers are removed from their sockets. The drum is rotated by means of a mechanical or hydraulic system. In the mechan- ical Beier. power is taken either from the winch drive or directly from the main en- Es. FIG. 5 - A SET 1S STARTED AS THE SEINE UNWINDS RAPIDLY FROM THE DRUM. THE ROLLERS OF THE SPOOLER ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR SOCKETS WHILE THE SEINE 1S BEING SET. ONE OF THESE ROLLERS CAN BE SEEN STOWED JUST BEHIND THE FISHERMAN'S RIGHT WRIST. gine by means of gears and shaft- ing to a truck transmission that is mounted just forward of the drum. The transmission pro- vides for variation in speed and for reversing the rotation of the drum. It is coupled to a differ- ential or angle reduction gear that drives the drum by means of a chain and sprocket. The hy- draulic system utilizes a hydrau- lic pump mounted on the main engine and a hydraulic motor lo- cated near the drum. A gear transmission may or may not be used between the drum and the hydraulic motor (fig. 2 and 3). The spooler may be driven by means of a mechanical, hydrau- lic, or electrical system. For use in drum seining, the seine must be hung so that the lead line is nearly the same length as the cork line. The com- mon practice is to hang1l fathoms of web to 10 fathoms of cork line 4 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 and 94 fathoms of lead line. Some fishermen feel that a completely ''square"' hanging, with lead lines and cork lines of equal length, would be even better. If the lead lineis FIGS. 6 AND 7 = THE SEINE 1S TOWED BY THE BOAT AND SKIFF BEFORE IT !S CLOSED AND PURSED. 1/10 shorter than the cork line, as in the conventional seine, excessive strain is put on the lead line when it is being set or hauled, which may cause it to part. The seines for drum operation are 250 to 300 fathoms long, and are made up of 3 strips of 45-inch mesh (stretched measure) of cotton webbing, each strip 100 meshes deep. ADVANTAGES OF DRUM SEINING The chief advantages of this gear are that it reduces the number of crew members required to operate the boat; it allows a set to be made in much less time; and it hauls the net by power so that much less labor is required by the fishermen. A crew of 5 men is used on the drum seiner as compared with a crew of 9 on the conventional type seiner. Since fishing is done on a share basis, this means each fisherman and the boat FIG. 8 - THE RUNNING LINE 1S PASSED FROM THE SKIFF TO THE FIG. 9 = THE SKIFF TOWS THE VESSEL BOAT. AWAY FROM THE SEINE DURING PURSING AND HAULING owner receives a proportionally larger share. Individual sets are completed in as little as 40 minutes, making possible up to 20 sets per day, a great increase over the 8 to 10 per day possible with conventional gear. These two factors can, of course, result in more money for the drum-seine crews and operators. In addition, the work is easier. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 5 Instead of 7 or 8 fishermen pulling 250 or more fathoms of seine out of the water and stacking it on the turntable each time a set is completed, one man operates two levers ia, FIG. 10 - PURSING AND HAULING OF THE SEINE ARE STARTED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE FISHERMAN AT THE LEFT CONTROLS FIG. 11 - THE PURSE RINGS ARE DRAWN THE ACTION OF THE DRUM AND THE LEVEL-WIND SPOOLER, UP TO THE DAVIT. BOTH OF WHICH ARE GEARED TO THE MAINE ENGINE ON THIS PARTICULAR VESSEL. controlling the rotation of the drum and the position of the spooler. Power from the main engine does all the work of rolling up the seine in proper order for making a new set. The fishermen are not so exhausted after a day of fishing. Another advantage of drum seiners, or at least those with wells, is that the seine can be easily treated with salt or bluestone solution by filling the well with the solution and rotating the net in it. METHOD OF OPERATION The setting and hauling of the seine, similar in many respects to conventional purse seining, is as follows: 1. The fishing area is searched, with the seine skiff in tow. The fish-bag end of the seine is secured to the skiff (fig. 4). 2. When fish are located, the skiff is released, the net starts to unwind from the drum (fig. 5). 3. The seine is paid out in nearly a straight line until most of the net is in the water. It is then towed into a U shape by the skiff and the vessel running parallel courses into the tidal flow or toward the area where the fish are believed to be. The net is towed for several minutes in this manner before it is closed (fig. 6 and 7). 4. The net is closed and the running line and purse line are passed from the skiff to the boat (fig. 8). The skiff is then taken around to the opposite side of the boat and is used to tow the boat away from the seine. (This towing is done to prevent the seine from bunching up under the boat and possibly becoming fouled in the propeller.) (fig. 9) 5. The bunt end of the net is pursed, and the wing end of the net is started onto the drum immediately after the circle is closed (fig. 10). 6. Pursing is continued until the purse rings are drawn up to the davit at which time they are threaded onto a device called a "'clothespin"’ and are then hoisted to deck level (fig. 11 and 12). 6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 7. Reeling in the seine is continued, with the seine coming in over the stern and the purse rings being pulled off the clothespin by their bridles (fig. 13). 8. As on the conventional seiners, the fish are either brailed or are dumped on deck as the fish-bag end is pulled aboard. 9. The remainder of the net is rolled up on the drum and is now ready for a new set. CONVERSION OF VESSELS FOR DRUM SEINING Not all purse seiners can be converted to drum seining. The vessel must be of suitable design. In converting a seiner to drum operation, the first factor which the owner must consider is stability. If the beam is broad enough and the boat stable enough, the reel may be mounted above deck. If not, a well must be built in the after- — = Sacer rae FIG. 12 - THE,PURSE RINGS ARE THREADED ONTO THE FIG. 13- THE PURSE RINGS ARE PULLED OFF THE CLOTHES- CLOTHESPIN AND HOISTED INTO POSITION AT DECK PIN BY THEIR BRIDLES, ONE BY ONE, AND GO BACK OVER LEVEL. THE ROLLER AND ON TO THE DRUM ALONG WITH THE PURSE LINE AND THE OTHER PARTS OF THE SEINE. deck. The drum is installed in this well so that about one-third of the diameter of the reel is below the deck level, thus lowering the center of gravity. When the well is in- stalled, adequate provision must be made for strengthening the deck. Otherwise, the vessel might be greatly weakened, since it is necessary to cut the deck open almost from gunwale to gunwale. It is quite possible that in the near future new purse seiners will be designed and built especially for drum seining. It appears, however, that most of those in operation next year will be converted from the conventional purse-seine type. As in all new de- velopments, the first models have had numerous sources of trouble which needed to be worked out. Many of the problems have been solved, others will be also as more ex- perience with the method is gained. For use in other fisheries which require that the seine net be quickly set in a complete circle, two possible improvements have been suggested: (1) a swivel arrangement on the entire drum installation, or (2) the use of a vertical drum in place of the horizontal drum. The drum seiner of the future will un- doubtedly have many improvements over the present, and should gradually evolve into an even more efficient unit. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 7 VITAMIN CONTENT OF FISHERY BYPRODUCTS Part 1 - Effect of Processing Methods on Riboflavin, Nicotinic Acid, and Vitamin B;9 Content of Solubles and Meal By N. L. Karrick* and M. E. Stansby** INTRODUCTION Fish meal and condensed fish solubles, in addition to their content of high-quality protein, contain a number of vitamins which add materially to their nutritive value. Very little has been known either about the losses of such vitamins in the manufacture of these products or about the relative distribution of the vitamins between the meal and the solubles. The authors have investigated such losses and the distribution of riboflavin, nicotinic acid, and vitamin B12 in the manufacture of California pilchard meal. SAMPLING PROCEDURES Samples of press cake, of the meal prepared from this press cake, and of stick- water from the press were obtained from three reduction plants. On the days when samples were taken these plants were operating as follows: Plant A was drying pil- chard and mackerel canning scrap in a direct flame dryer. Plant B was drying whole pilchard in an indirect flame dryer at approximately 250° F. Plant C was using pil- chard scrap and drying the meal in an air-lift dryer at approximately 175° F. Five samples each of press cake, meal, and stickwater were taken during one day's run at each plant. Since it is difficult to be certain just how representative a given sample may be of the material flowing through a plant during a day's operation, the five samples of each product were taken in order to check on the variation during a day's run. All samples were stored at 0° F. until the analyses were made. The meals were ground in a ''Labconco" laboratory mill before analysis. ASSAY METHODS The vitamin content of the products was determined by microbiological assays. A modification of the method of Roberts and Snell (1946) was used for the riboflavin and the nicotinic acid assays. Vitamin B12 was determined by a modification of the method of Hoffmann, Stokstad, Hutchins, Dornbush, and Jukes (1949). Riboflavin and nicotinic acid were extracted by incubating 1-gram samples with papain and takadiastase in a pH 4.6 buffer at 37° C. Vitamin B12 was extracted by autoclaving the sample in water at 15 pounds pressure for 5 minutes. For all of the vitamin assays the samples were run in duplicate at 4levels. The growth of the organism was measured by titration of the acid produced. Hach sample was analyzed 6 to 10 times for each of the vitamins. Oil and moisture content of the products was determined using standard technics GE ne MK, On Xe Go (Ol ei0), © CHEMIST tee TECHNOLOGICAL LABORATORY , EK CHIEF, PACIFIC COAST & ALASKA TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH J BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, SEATTLE, WASH. 8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS The five samples of press cake and meal taken from plant A were assayed sepa- rately to determine the variation during a day's run. There was significant but small variation in the moisture and fat content (table 1). The data indicate that the products during a day's run vary slightly but are fairly uniform from the standpoint of moisture and fat content. Table 1--Variation in Moisture, Oil, and Vitamin Content of Press Cake and Meal a During One Day's Operation Plant|/Type of Raw Processed Compasitioniolisarmp le Code] Dryer | Material] Material Sample | oisture i Vitamins tmoisture and of ince basis) Micrograms| Micrograms |Micrograms Number!/ |Percent |Percent Per Gram Per Gram 1 .3 92 0.29 2 ay) 88 0.32 Pileneard Press cake 3 8 85 0.29 Direct and z “0 we Oo A |flame mackerel 2 alt au dryer canning 2 P Scrap | Meal 3 2 4 oe) 5 .0 Air- 1 1285 lift Pilchard 2 13.4 C |dryer scrap Meal 3 12.9 (app. 4 14.1 175°F. 5 13.4 Veacu NUMBER REPRESENTS A SEPARATE SAMPLE TAKEN DURING THE COURSE OF A DAY'S OPERATION. There was no significant variation in the nicotinic acid and vitamin Bi2 content among the replicate samples of press cake and meal. The riboflavin content among the replicate samples of meal was uniform, but the riboflavin content of the press cake replicate samples showed considerable variation (table 1). Since the variability among samples from plant A was not great, samples from plant B, where similar processing technics were used, were not assayed separately but were composited. Meal samples from plant C, where different equipment was used, were assayed individually. DRYING LOSSES: In the preparation of meal from pilchard and mackerel canning scrap in a direct flame dryer, whole pilchard in an indirect flame dryer, or pilchard scrap in an air-lift dryer, there was no cignificant loss of riboflavin and vitamin B12 during the drying process from press cake to meal (table 2). There was also no loss Table 2--Composition of Press Cake andof the Corresponding Meals in Different Types of Dryers “We 1 Compo sition of Samplel / i STE Sata | Plant|Type of Raw Processed ; Vitamins (moisture- and oil-free basis ou Riboflavin Code} Dryer | Material Material | Moisture =I Micrograms Percent | Percent Per Gram Pilchard { Direct and Press cake 56.5 A {flame mackerel dryer canning Meal 8.4 8.57 4.5 66 +i scrap ndirect | r rz: flame Press cake 53.6 4.80 3.8 82 5.95 4.7 90 Whole B dryer ‘ t———_——— + (ay, || SRS Ivica 7.5 7.85 3.8 2500 F.) SSI ; dryer |Pilchard EEE CAKE Cc (app. scrap M eal 133} 6.96 2.6 42 175° F.) ; i/DATA FOR A PRESS CAKE AND MEAL, AND FOR C MEAL REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF FIVE INDIVIDUAL SAMPLES TAKEN DURING THE COURSE OF ONE DAY'S OPERATION IN A PLANT. DATA FOR B PRESS GAKE AND MEAL, AND FOR C PRESS CAKE REPRESENT THE AVERAGE VALUES FOR COMPOSITE SAMPLES PREPARED BY COMBINING FIVE SAMPLES TAKEN DURING THE COURSE OF A DAY S PLANT OPERATION. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 9 of nicotinic acid in the pilchard meal prepared both in an air-lift dryer and an indirect flame dryer. However, there was a signigicant difference in nicotinic acid content between the press cake and the direct flame-dried meal. The nicotinic acid content of the press cake varied from 85 to 93 micrograms per gram on the dry basis and averaged 90, while that of the meal ranged from 60 to 71 and averaged 66. The av- erage loss in nicotinic acid content amounted to 27 percent. It has been quite generally believed that rather extensive losses of nutritive value occur when press cake is dried, especially in dryers of the direct-flame type. It is surprising to note, therefore, that neither vitamin B12 nor riboflavin show any EWES? ciable decrease when the press cake is processed in such a dryer. VITAMIN DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN MEAL AND SOLUBLES: Some tests were carried out to show the distribution of the three vitamins between the meal and the solubles. The original raw material contains a certain quantity of each of the vita- mins. At the pressing stage a portion of the vitamins are diverted into the stickwater, and these vitamins eventually appear in the condensed fish solubles. The remainder of the vitamins stay in the press cake and, aside from any losses in the dryer, end up in the finished meal, In order to calculate this distribution it is necessary to know the proportion of meal and solubles produced from a given quantity of raw material. For this purpose the ratio 400 pounds of meal to 165 pounds of solubles (50 percent solids) per ton of raw material were used. These figures were averages of values ob- tained from several operators of pilchard reduction plants. In the analyses of the fish solubles used for the distribution calculations, allassays were made on the uncondensed fish solubles as they came from the press. These sol- ubles contained about 5 percent solids and had yet to be concentrated to produce the condensed product. During this subsequent concentration some loss of vitamin con- tent possibly occurs. It was impractical, however, to procure samples of the con- densed fish solubles corresponding to the lots of meal prepared from the same raw material. The dilute solubles are stored in large tanks in which stickwater from sev- eral days' production is collected. Thus, any sample of condensed solubles would correspond to stickwater from several days' operations. The distribution of vitamins between solubles and meal takes place at the pressing stage. Plants A and B employed the same type of press, whereas plant C used a dif- ferent type. The meal manufactured at plant C contained a higher proportion of all three vitamins in the meal than did products from the other two plants. Therefore, it may be that the distribution of these vitamins between the meal and the solubles is af- fected by the manner of pressing. | Table 3--Distribution of Vitamins Between Solubles and Meal et Vitamins Derived From 1 Ton of Raw. Fish rae Gaede Hroce sece Riboflavin | __Nicotinic Acid |. Vitamin B12 Quantity [Proportion| Quantity [Proportion | Quantity [| Proportion | Micrograms| Percent |[Micrograms| Percent |/Micrograms| Percent Pilchard Solubles 880 56 25,500 72 BY 57 and A1/ |\mackerel 680 44 9,900 28 43 43 canning || Solubles scrap and meal 1,560 100 35,400 100 100 100 Solubles 740 56 28, 900 70 89 val 2/ Whole Meal 580 44 { 12,100 30 36 29 ~ | pilchard Solubles and meal 1,320 100 40,600 100 125 100 Solubles 300 45 9,100 60 24 43 C3/ Pilchard Meal 370 55 6,140 40 32 57 a scrap Solubles : and meal 670 100 15,240 L__ 200 56 100 Over-all average in solubles 640 52 [ 21,000 67 ,. oe 57 1/PLANT A USED A FLAME DRYER AND STANDARD SCREW-TYPE PRESS. 2/PLANT B USED A MODIFIED FLAME DRYER AND STANDARD SCREW-TYPE PRESS. 3/PLANT C USED AN AIR=-LIFT DRYER AND P. & E, TYPE PRESS. A ROUGH MEASURE OF THE VITAMIN CONTENT OF THE RAW MATERIAL PROC= ESSED IN PLANT C |NDICATED THAT THIS RAW MATERIAL WAS MJCH LOWER IN THE CONTENT OF ALL 3 VITAMINS THAN THAT ENTERING OTHER PLANTS. THIS PROBABLY ACCOUNTS FOR THE MUCH LOWEF VALUES FOUND FOR PRODUCTS FROM PLANT C RATHER THAN ANY DIFFER- ENCES DUE TO PROCESSING METHODS. 10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16. No. 2 Riboflavin was about evenly distributed between the solubles andthe meal (table 3). The proportion in the solubles ranged from 45 to 56 percent of the total with an average of 52 percent. About two-thirds of the nicotinic acid occurred in the solubles with a range of from 60 to 72 percent and with an average of 67 percent. The distribution of vitamin B12 was quite variable, ranging from 43 to 71 percent. Of the total amount of these three vitamins in the meal and the solubles, an over- all average of 59 percent occurred in the solubles and 41 percent in the meals. In operations where the solubles are added back to the meal to produce a ''whole meal,"' it should be possible to about double the content of these vitamins over the concentra- tion occurring in regular meal. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of Mrs. Mabel A. Edwards. LITERATURE CITED ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIAL AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTS 1950. OFFICIAL METHODS OF ANALYSIS. SEVENTH EDITION, A. O. Aw C., P. O. BOX 540, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STATION, WASHINGTON 4, D. C. HOFFMANN, C. E.3; STOKSTAD, E. L. R.; HUTCHINS, B. L.; DORNBUSH, A. C.; AND JUKES, T. H. 1949. THE MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSAY OF VITAMIN By> WITH LACTOBACILLUS LEICHMANNI|. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 181, NO. 2 (DECEMBER), PP. 635-44. ROBERTS, E. C., AND SNELL, E. E. 1946, AN IMPROVED MEDIUM FOR MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSAYS WITH LACTOBACILLUS CASEI. JOURNAL OF BIO- LOGICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 163, NO. 2 (MAY), PP. 499-509. ef i SHIPWORM FRITTERS--A DELICACY "T firmly believe one of the finest dishes inall the world is a platter of fried shipworm fritters, '' says an employee of the Maryland Chesa- peake Biological Laboratory. "They taste like a delicate combination of the bestclams andoysters,'' he says. Two employees of the Laboratory have been making an extensive study of these destructive sea animals. The big problem in making the fritters,' says the second employee, "is getting enough shipworms. We cut them out of wooden blocks that have been purposely exposed to the worms, and sometimes it's a pretty exhausting operation."' --The Compass, October 1953 February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 11 RESEARCH YZ IN SERVICE LABORATORIES lldssreeaare | thes mics Progress on Projects, January 1954 VITAMIN CONTENT AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF FISHERY BYPRODUCTS: In- formation on the proximate composition and vitamin content of fish meals has been pre- sented in these progress reports as the data became available. For comparative pur- poses, a summary of the data collected to date is presented in the following table. In the table, where possible, average results as well as the range of values are given. Proximate Composition and Vitamin Content of Fish Meals Vitamin Content (Moisture-and-Oil Free Basis) _ Riboflavin Niacin Proximate Composition Description of Samples Number of Meal Samples Moisture} Protein Vitamin Bj2 Analyzed MS ag Micrograms|Micrograms|Micrograms Percent] Percent|Percent | per Gram | per Gram | per Gram Average 8.0 7.9 5.4 386 0. 27 Sardine Maximum 10.6 10.8 Uo® 125 0.38 \| Minimum 3.5 6.7 4.2 61 dL 0.20. ~ | Average 8.2 U5 4.1 63 0.25 Sardine 16 | Maximum 13.3 8.6 5.6 80 0.29 {| Minimum 3.5 6.7 2.4 42 0.22 {| Average 6.9 9.8 7.2 152 0. 33 Tuna Maximum 14.4 5.7 8.3 201 0.41 Minumum 3.2 7.1 4.2 67 O22 Average 9.2 9.5 4.0 66 = Menhaden 24 Maximum 10.8 3.5 7.0 91 = Minimum 7.2 50.1 6.5 216 42 = Whale loin Average 7.7 6.9 10.6 128 LL 0.079 Mackerel 9.7 - Uo9 5.8 66 iL 0.43 3.1 = 4.7 | 41 0.14 Average Some ison 7.9 37 Ir = Maximum 10.7 34.1 9.8 40 = ; Minimum ae ; 27.2 : =F ; = erring . : el : 2 2k ok ok ok SULFIDE DISCOLORATION IN CANNED TUNA (Period covered--from July through December 1953): The purpose of this project is to determine why some batches of tuna tend to cause sulfide discoloration of the cans. A study is being made of the reaction mechanism whereby iron sulfide is formed during the canning of tuna and of the factors which favor the reaction. This work includes a study of the compounds acting as a source of sulfide sulfur in tuna and the effect of such conditions as pH and spoilage of the flesh on the sulfide discoloration of the cans. In order to form black iron sulfide in cans of tuna, sulfide sulfur must come in con- tact with the iron of the can under conditions favorable for the chemical reaction to oc- cur. Sulfur occurs in fresh fish in a form other than sulfide. It is present in such ami- no acids as cystine and methionine which make up a portion of the fish proteins. During 12 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 spoilage of fish, a part of the sulfur is converted to the sulfide form. If this fish were canned, the sulfide would be available for reacting with any exposed iron in the can. For such a reaction to take place, however, certain other conditions, e.g. the optimum pH, must be present. The effect of condition of the fish upon sulfide discoloration is being investigated to determine whether the sulfide comes directly from the fresh fish protein or fromthe degradation products that form from the protein. Other factors which might be impor- tant to the reaction of sulfide with iron (e.g. the pH of the fish) are being studied. The effects of variations in the processing procedures are also being considered. The results so far seem to indicate that: 1. The degree of spoilage of tuna used for canning is only a minor factor in can discoloration. 2. The amount of precooking of tuna has little effect on can discoloration. 3. There is some possibility that the pH of the tuna may play an important role in can discoloration. (This point is being further investigated. ) 4. Sulfides are present in fresh tuna both in bound form and as free hydrogen sul- fide, the amount increasing with spoilage. ; 5. Essentially all of the sulfur present in the form of sulfide in the fresh fish is driven off during the precook period. (This occurred even with fish that were given a much shorter precooking period than is normally practiced commer- cially. ) 6. Sulfides are found in the canned product. (Since the fish packed into the cans were free of sulfide, the sulfides in the canned fish must have been formed dur- ing the final heat processing. ) 7, The sulfides formed during the heat processing probably come from the high molecular weight protein fraction of the tuna meat. OK Ok Ok CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FISH AND SHELLFISH PROTEINS: . Additional data were obtained with frozen rockfish to obtain a comparison of the amount of drip produced from frozen fillets when cooked (1) after thawing and (2) while frozen. The tests were made during periodic intervals of frozen storage of the fillets so as to observe the effect of storage conditions on drip formation. The.results are summarized in the following table: Samples of Frozen Loss in Weight Fillets Thawed Fillets Frozen Fillets ; Storage ; As Evaporation As Evaporation enecice a Time at BS BED Grass and Drip Formed] Total and Drip Formed Ooo F., g g During Cooking! / During Cooking! / 1.4 Percent 7 : : 29 Bo 2 Rockfish 132 je 213 6 NOTE: THE FRESH FILLETS SHOWED AT 3500 F, FOR 23 MINUTES). ; 1/FOR THE COOKING TESTS, THE SAMPLES WERE BAKED AT 3500 F, FOR 23 MINUTES FOR THE THAWED FILLETS AND 33 MINUTES FOR THE FROZEN FILLETS. AS EVAPORATION AND DRIP) DURING COOKING (BAKED (Seattle) February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 13 TECHNICAL NOTE NO, 29--EFFECT OF SALT ON THE STORAGE ‘LIFE OF SALMON EGGS PRESERVED WITH SODIUM BISULFITE INTRODUCTION Research by the Service's Fishery Technological Laboratory at Seattle, Washing- ton, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service hatchery at Leavenworth, Washington, has shown that salmon eggs are an excellent feed for hatchery fish (Robinson, Palmer, and Burrows 1951). Large quantities. of these eggs are available each year in Alaska dur- ing the short but highly intensive canning season. How to preserve the eggs until they can be delivered to the hatchery is a problem. The best method would be to freeze them, but most Alaskan canneries do not have the required facilities. A promising alternative method would be to preserve the eggs by means of a chem- ical. This method would have definite advantages. For instance, the expense of freez- ing and cold storage would be eliminated. Furthermore, any cost of transporting the eggs from Alaska would be reduced, since the cost of transportation is considerably lower for unfrozen than for frozen products. The price of the chemical, technical-grade sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3), used to preserve the eggs is not high. It costs only 0.1 cent per pound of eggs preserved if used at the 0.5-percent level (0.5 pounds of sodium bi- sulfite per 99.5 pounds of eggs). In work reported by Pigott and Stansby (1952), the use of 0.5-percent sodium bisul- fite proved successful in preserving salmon eggs for approximately three months. In conjunction with this work, feeding tests were carried out at the Leavenworth Hatchery (Burrows, Robinson, and Palmer 1952) using eggs preserved by 0. 5-percent sodium bi- sulfite. These tests showed no adverse effect from sodium bisulfite, except that it de- stroyed thiamine. During the summer of 1951 a large-scale collection of salmon waste was made ata cannery in Petersburg, Alaska (Landgraf, Miyauchi, and Stansby 1951). At that time 5,000 pounds of salmon eggs were preserved in 30-pound slip-cover berry tins with 0.5- . percent sodium bisulfite. These eggs were then shipped to the fish hatchery at Leaven- worth, Washington. Upon arrival they were found to be spoiled. The only known explanation for the spoilage was that the slight amount of salt (sodi- um chloride, NaC1) picked up by the eggs when they were flumed with sea water at the cannery may have accelerated the rate of decomposition. The reason for believing that salt may have contributed to the spoilage was that in earlier tests at the Seattle Tech- nological Laboratory it was qualitatively observed that salt did decrease the preservative effect of sodium bisulfite. In order to obtain quantitative data on how much the presence of salt affects the action of sodium bisulfite in the preservation of salmon eggs, the following experiment was run. PROCEDURE Salmon eggs were collected at Ketchikan, Alaska, from a cannery where fresh wa- ter was used for fluming the salmon waste to conveyor belts. A mixture of eggs from mature chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) and pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) were used. Chum salmon eggs made up approximately 80 percent of the total. The eggs were picked directly from a conveyor that carried the salmon waste from the "iron chinks" (machine for removing waste portions from salmon) to the gurry bins. After the eggs were drained and placed in containers, they were brought to the Laboratory where two series of preserved salmon eggs were prepared. In series I, an empty 30-pound berry tin was placed on a scale adjusted for the gross weight of tin, plus eggs and chemical. The preservative (sodium bisulfite) was weighed into a beaker. Then a portion was sprinkled from the beaker onto the bottom 14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 of the tin. Next a scoop with a capacity of approximately 5 pounds was used to transfer the salmon eggs to the tin. After each scoop of eggs was added, a small amount of pre- servative was sprinkled in. When approximately 15 pounds of salmon eggs had been placed in the tin, the added sodium bisulfite was mixed in thoroughly. Finally, after the tin was filled with 30 pounds of eggs, the contents were again mixed. Five of the tins thus prepared made up a "lot, '' and there were 4 lots in each of the 2 series. The only variable between the lots was the concentration of sodium bisulfite, which was as follows: Lot Number Concentration of Sodium Bisulfite Percent TAS Senne tetera te cuutard 0.25 Dre eieircus pteve sre eveustene 0.50 Greet acre rane oie meat ele 0.75 1D ee aicaminatccneeS chC ren ioRG 1.0 Series Il was identical to Series I with the exception that 2-percent salt was added in addition to the sodium bisulfite. The salt and sodium bisulfite were weighed into a beaker and mixed prior to being added to the salmon eggs. Both series of preserved eggs were stored in an unheated building at the rear of the Laboratory at temperatures ranging from 35° F. to 60° F. and averaging 50° F. One tin of eggs from each lot was inspected at the end of 2, 4, 7, 10, and 15 weeks for surface mold, odor, color, general condition, and free liquid. If spoilage was evi- dent, the remaining tins in the lot were opened. Once a tin was inspected, its contents were discarded. RESULTS The storage life of the various lots of chemically preserved salmon eggs is given in the following table. Effect of Sodium Chloride on the Storage Life of Salmon Eggs Preserved with Sodium Bisulfite Amount of Sodium Chloride Percent 0 2 0 2 0 2 greater than 15 greater than 15 ALTHOUGH |11C, 1D, AND 11D WERE ALL IN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION AT THE END OF 15 WEEKS OF STORAGE, THERE WAS A MARKED DIFFERENCE |N THE APPEARANCE AND GENERAL CONDIT1ON OF THE PRESERVED SALMON EGGS FROM THESE THREE LOTS. THEY WERE RATED IN THE ORDER 11D, 11C, AND 1D, WITH 11D BEING THE BEST. With 0.25-percent sodium bisulfite, there was no marked preservative action with or without the addition of 2-percent salt. With 0.5-percent sodium bisulfite, there was definite preservative action. However, the presence of 2-percent salt with the 0.5-percent sodium bisulfite had an adverse ef- fect on the keeping quality of the eggs. The eggs preserved with 0. 5-percent sodium bi- sulfite had a much longer storage life (10 weeks) than did those preserved with 0.5-per- cent sodium bisulfite plus 2-percent salt (2 weeks). More free liquid was present in those tins to which the salt had been added. It was in this liquid that putrefaction was first evident. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 15 With 0.75-percent or 1.0-percent sodium bisulfite, the presence of 2-percent salt had no adverse effect on the keeping qualities of the eggs. Infact, addition of salt with these concentrations of sodium bisulfite greatly reduced the amount of mold in the eggs at the top of the containers and tended to prevent the separation of the eggs from the skeins. Thus, the results of this experiment indicate the following: 1, With sodium bisulfite concentrations (0.25 percent) less than sufficient to pre- serve the eggs (0.25 percent), the addition of 2-percent salt does not appreci- ably affect their storage life. 2. With sodium bisulfite concentrations (0.5 percent) just sufficient to preserve the eggs, the addition of the salt (2 percent) decreases their storage life. 3. With concentrations somewhat greater (0.75 or 1.0 percent) than just sufficient to preserve the eggs, the addition of salt (2 percent) tends to increase their storage life and has a beneficial effect on their appearance and general condition. DISCUSSION The results of this experiment are based on the preservative action of sodium bi- sulfite and salt on only 1,200 pounds of salmon eggs taken during a single season from but one cannery. The findings in a similar experiment carried out under somewhat dif- ferent conditions may vary from those reported here. However, the results of this one experiment do indicate that salmon eggs can be pre- served in breather-type containers by 0.75- to 1.0-percent sodium bisulfite plus 2-per- cent salt for as long as 15 weeks or more at an average temperature of 509 F. (Earlier work has shown that a much longer storage life may be expected if hermetically sealed containers are used. ) Since earlier work (Burrows, Robinson, and Palmer 1952) indicated that sodium bisulfite, even at the 0.5-percent level, will destroy thiamine, feeding tests should be made using eggs preserved with 0.75- to 1.0-percent sodium bisulfite (with and without 2-percent salt) and containing added supplements of thiamine to determine whether these amounts of preservatives are feasible for use with eggs fed to hatchery fish. LITERATURE CITED BURROWS, R. E.; ROBINSON, L. A.; AND PALMER, D. D. 1952. SUMMARY OF FEEDING TRIALS ON UTILIZATION OF FISHERY PRODUCTS FOR FISH FOOD, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, WASHINGTON, D. C. (IN PREPARATION). LANDGRAF, R. G., JR.; MIYAUCHI, D. T.; AND STANSBY, M. E. 1951. UTILIZATION OF ALASKA SALMON CANNERY WASTE AS A SOURCE OF FEED FOR HATCHERY FISH. U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, VOL. 13, NO. 11A (NOVEMBER SUP- PLEMENT), PP. 26-33. PIGOTT, G. AND STANSBY, M. E. 1952. CHEMICAL PRESERVATION OF SALMON EGGS FOR FISH HATCHERY FEED. U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERV- 1CE, WASHINGTON, D. C. (IN PREPARATION). ROBINSON, L, A.; PALMER, D. D.; AND BURROWS, R. E. 1951. TESTS OF HATCHERY FOODS FOR BLUEBACK SALMON 1949, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORT: FISHERIES NO. 60. --R. G. Landgraf, Jr., Chemist, Fishery Products Laboratory, Branch of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ketchikan, Alaska. 16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 AND SE DEVELOPM Wi Additions to the Fleet of U. S. Fishing Vessels A total of 56 vessels of 5 net tons and over received their first documents as fish- ing craft during October 1953--8 more than in October 1952. Louisiana led with 12 vessels, followed by Florida east coast and Texas with 9 vessels each. October January-October Section 1953 1952 1953 1952 ING lingllemGl oscoocoaocaoee000D MaddlesAtlanticmmrrenssicieicieiienccies Chesapeakeneayareercrsr corre SouthvAt lant caer ween eee Gee ee eee oreceese eee y PAC ihicy vase ea eta ar cae terete es oleae Great Wakes!” Gevcies she cee Alaska RO UOC mrE DOE Ca kcatne Con oN ene NOTE: VESSELS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE VARIOUS SECTIONS ON THE BASIS OF THEIR HOME PORT. KE Alaska COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES OF PREDATORY FRESH-WATER SPECIES: Possi- ble commercial utilization of certain predatory fresh-water fish in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska is being explored by the Service's Branch of Fishery Biology in Juneau andthe Fishery Products Laboratory at Ketchikan. Plans call for experimental netting of pred- atory fish in the Wood River and Nushagak River systems this winter. Gill nets of var- ious sizes will be used as they were in stud- ies the summer of 1953. ARCTIC One purpose of the study is to determine if fish are available in the same numbers in winter as in summer. In the past summer, 1,046 fish were taken in experimental nets, S 7 a the catch being composed of 98.5 percent SEA! a : se Secs charrs, 1.2 percent whitefish, 0.3 percent pike, and 0.1 percent rainbow trout. In stud- ace ies this winter, a record was to be kept a- oe pee gain of the number of fish taken, the area of oe 3 GUL RR CIALASKA capture, and other biological information, | oes e — ern Bee pere ee eee such as length, sex, and stomach contents. BERING e February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 17 In addition, fish were to be shipped to the Fishery Products Laboratory inKetchi- kan for study of their commercial possibilities, including a market survey and a qual- ity analysis. Ly Sng en California KING (CHINOOK) SALMON RESEARCH: A recently completed controlled-flow ex- perimental stream has advanced natural propagation studies of king (Chinook) salmon at Mill Creek, California, be- ing carried out by the Service's Branch of Fishery Biology in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Game. The stream has been createdin the old north fork of Mill Creek at Los Molinos, which has been dry until recent years brought high-water conditions. The channel has been deepened and the water flow controlled by a ee gate at the head of a 30-inch Y 180 DAYS culvert through an earth-fill KING SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS TSHAWYTSCHA) dam at the channel head. A study is being made of the early life history of king salmon. Experiments last year on egg survival in Mill Creek resulted in a severe egg loss because of extreme flood conditions. In present studies, plastic screen bags containing fertilized eggs were planted in November and will be periodically removed for comparison of survival conditions in Mill Creek and in the controlled-flow channel. Through use of the control area, biologists hope to measure the influence of flood- ing and other factors on salmon production each year. Future studies will include ex- periments on spawning density, optimum ratio of male to female spawners, and other phases of the life history of king salmon. OK OK OK GEAR FOR SAMPLING FRH ATTRACTED TO LIGHT TESTED BY "YELLOWFIN" (Cruises 53-Y-10 and 53-Y-11): Tests with two different type nets to develop a method of Sampling fish attracted to a light were made by the California Department of Fish and Game's research vessel Yellowfin. On the first five-day cruise (53-Y-10), com- pleted at Los Angeles on November 1, the vessel experimented off the California coast with a trap lift net similar to that described in Commercial Fisheries Review, August 1953 (pp. 14-17). This net was designed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife ‘Service! s Branch of Exploratory Fishing and Gear Development Section, and proved successful on bait fishes in the Gulf of Mexico on tests aboard the Service's vessel Oregon. This lift net was in a rigid box-like frame, 83 feet on a side. A light square frame was made to slide up and down the vertical supports of the heavy frame. The webbing for the sides and bottom of the net was of #-inch stretched mesh, fastened at the top to the light sliding frame and at the bottom to the bottom netting.. When using a light sus- pended above the surface of the water, the frame was placed in the water so that the top of the frame was just above the water. When using an underwater light the entire net was submerged to a depth of about 10 feet. After fish were attracted to the light, the light was turned off and the net was pulled by a line that led ubsouel a block to the slid- ing frame, thus, a wall of webbing was pulled around the fish. ' Seventeen stations were occupied where attempts were made with a trap lift netto sample fish attracted to a light. In general the trap lift net worked better when used 18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 with an underwater light. The greatest success was on anchovies; however, the an- chovies milled in a large circle around the frame and seemed to avoid the net. Only occasionally would the anchovies come directly over the net and then only in sheltered waters where there was little or no motion. In even a small sea or swell the actionof the frame kept the fish away. Also, when the ship rolled slightly operations were very difficult, the frame was cumbersome and dangerous to use, and the results were poor. It became apparent that this particular type of gear would have to be modified for safe use in the open sea, and that its use for sampling would have to be restricted to sheltered areas. Therefore, it was decided to terminate the cruise early and work on a different type of gear. On a 7-day cruise (53-Y-11) off Baja California, completed November 17, a blan- ket net was used at different water depths under different conditions and the results were generally successful. The dimensions of the net were 50 by 60 feet. Leads were placed on one end of the net. This end was put into the water first. The entire net was then dropped into the water except for the end opposite the leads which was made fast to the vessel. The lead line was then lifted by two lines sheaved through blocks at the ends of two 50-foot outrigger poles. When the lead line came out of the water, the two wings were pulled, lifting the sides out of the water. The net was so hung that, when the sides of the net were suspended above the water, the bottom of the bag (of 4-inch stretched mesh) was approximately 5 fathoms below the surface of the water. At some stations few fish were seen and few were captured. At others, fish were observed under the light but sea lions made them wild and difficult to capture. How- ever, on each station where fish were seen a sample was obtained. The best set of the cruise was inside the middle breakwater in Los Angeles Har- bor where approximately 5,000 anchovies were caught. Several sets were made which yielded from a few hundred to about 1,000 sardines per set. One set yielded about 1,000 sauries. Atherinids were commonly taken up to approximately 2,000 per set. In addition to these fish, the following species were taken: California pompano (211 in one set), deep bodied anchovies (209 in one set), queenfish, jack mackerel, Pacific mackerel, squid, thread herring, round herring, barracuda (2 species), needlefish, flying fish (2 species), half moon, rock wrasse, and blacksmith. The last three species were taken during daylight off Cedros Island. When there was a strong current the net worked better with the anchor up and the net on the windward side of the vessel. The net worked well in winds up to 30 miles per hour, and in moderate seas and swells. The net could be worked in shallow water or in deep water. Six men can make a set in about five minutes. The net shows promise and with some modification following more experimentation it should prove to be a useful sampling tool, and a possible method of catching bait. RK KOK PACIFIC HAKE LARVAE STUDY: Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) larvae were the most abundant taken on extensive survey cruises of the agencies participating inthe California Cooperative Oceanic Fish- eries Investigations. The South Pa- cific Fishery Investigations of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is inter- ested primarily in studying distribu- tion and abundance of sardine spawn- : i =3 ing and survival of sardine larvae in (conor aes n) a relation to oceanographic conditions. The Pacific hake is one of the ecolo ically associated species about whic information is also being collected. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Le) Hake larvae have a widespread distribution, from Oregon to Cape San Lucas, Mexico, and offshore for at least 400 miles. The center of greatest abundance is off southern California and adjacent Baja California, between Pt. Concepcion and San Quintin Bay. About 98 percent of the hake larvae obtained each season have been col- lected during February, March, and April. Although hake larvae are commonly taken in hauls containing sardine eggs and larvae, the two species do not appear to compete directly. Hake larvae are seldom taken above the 50-meter level while sardine larvae rarely occur that deep. Most hake larvae occur within a 5° temperature range, 10° C. to 15° C. (50° F. to 59° F.), with the optimum temperature about 139 C. (559 F.). Sardine eggs and larvae are usually taken in somewhat warmer water, 13° C. to 179 C. (559 F. to 63° F.), with the optimum temperature about 15° C. (59° F. ). The Pacific hake probably represents our largest latent fishery resources, for there is no commercial fishery for this species off the West Coast. The objection to Pacific hake as a market fish is because of the softness of its meat. However, re- lated species of hake support important fisheries off the Atlantic Coast, Europe, South Africa, and Chile. A state permit has recently been issued to a California plant oper- ator for experimental reduction of hake to fish meal and oil. Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products, January-October 1953 Total shipments of metal cans for fish and sea food during January-October 1953 amounted to 91,365 short tons of steel (based on the amount of steel consumed in the manufacture of cans). Comparative data for 1952 are not available. NOTE: STATISTICS COVER ALL COMMERCIAL AND CAPTIVE PLANTS KNOWN TO BE PRODUCING METAL CANS. REPORTED IN BASE BOXES OF STEEL CONSUMED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANS, THE DATA FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS ARE CON- VERTED TO TONS OF STEEL 3Y USING THE FACTOR: 23.0 BASE BOXES OF STEEL EQUAL SNE SHORT TON OF STEEL. @> Federal Purchases of Fishery Products FRESH AND FROZEN FISHERY PRODUCTS PURCHASED BY DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, NOVEMBER 1953: The Army Quartermaster Corps in November 1953 purchased 1,764,351 pounds (valued at $839,868) of fresh and frozen fishery products for the military feeding of the U. S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force (see table). This was a decrease of 21.1 percent in quantity and 25.0 percent in value as compared with October purchases, and lower by 15.0 and 13.9 percent, respectively, when compared with a year ago. Army Quartermaster Corps purchases of fresh and frozen fish during the first e- leven months in 1953 totaled 25,407,537 pounds (valued at $11,255,092), 18.5 percent lower in quantity and 12.0 percent less in value as compared with the similar period a year earlier. Purchases of Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products by Department of the Army (November and the First Eleven Months of 1953 and 1952) QUANTITY z VALUE November January-November November 1953 1952 1953 1952 1953 1952 p $ 839,868 |1,102,939 Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 1,764,351 | 2,052,565 25,407, 537| 31, 165,904 a 20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 The over-all average price paid for fresh and frozen fishery products by the De- partment of the Army during November was 47.6 cents per pound, compared with 50.1 cents the previous month and 53.7 cents in November 1952. In addition to the purchases of fresh and frozen fishery products indicated above, the Armed Forces generally make some local purchases which are not included in the above figures. Therefore, actual purchases are somewhat higher than indicated, but it is not possible to obtain data on the local purchases made by military installations throughout the country. Se Maryland PEMBROKE OYSTER BAR OPENED TO PUBLIC: Pembroke, one of the finest oyster growing bars in Maryland, was opened to public dredging on November 2, re- ports the November 1953 Maryland Tidwater News, a Maryland Department of Research and Education bulletin. Some 14,000 bushels of oysters of excellent quality were harvested by the public dredging fleet during the first week of operations. About 40 typical, sail-powered dredge boats were engaged in the work of removing the oysters from the bed. Over 56,000 bushels of seed were planted on 220 acres of this big natural bar. Harvesting operations were to be stopped on November 13, or earlier, if the oyster population was overly thinned. The Commission of Tidewater Fisheries set this policy to assure that there be left on the bottom what they feel is sufficient brood stock for propagation purposes in 1954. Asa part of the same policy, announcement has been made that fairly heavy shell plantings are to be made on Pembroke before the 1954 oyster spawn- ing season, The oysters being harvested were planted by the Commission in 1951; the seed were obtained mostly from the State's Punch Island seed area. The growth of the oys- ters was substantial and, it appears, natural mortality was relatively low. In an attempt to make Pembroke a self-supporting and perpetually productive rock, the Commission of Tidewater Fisheries collected the 20-cent-per-bushel tax in strict accordance with the law, thus to provide funds to offset appropriations for oyster re- habilitation work. The oysters were selling at or over $3.00 a bushel. & North Pacific Exploratory Fishery Program FALL HERRING FISHERY PROSPECTS IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND REPORTED POOR BY "JOHN N. COBB" (Cruise 17): Herring in sufficient quantities for a com- mercial reduction fishery did not enter Prince William Sound, Alaska, during an Octo- ber-November survey by the Service's exploratory fishing vessel John N. Cobb. The vessel commenced the cruise at Seattle, Washington, on October 12, 1953, andreturned there on December 3, 1953. Two significant schools of herring were located in Prince William Sound--one near the entrance of Port Fidalgo and the other near the entrance of Valdez Arm. Otherwise only small scattered schools were noted. The primary purpose of the exploration was to ascertain if herring are sufficiently abundant in Prince William Sound during October and November to support a reduction fishery. To sample schools of herring, a mid-water trawl was used. Waters explored included the various bays, inlets, and channels of Prince William Sound and the bays and the coastline between Prince William Sound and Port Dick on the Kenai Peninsula. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21 Two branches of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service participated in this cruise: the Branch of Commercial Fisheries and the Branch of Fishery Biology. Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations WINTER TUNA FISHERY PossiBiewy OFF CHRISTMAS ISLAND REVEALED BY "JOHN R. MANNING" (Cruise 18): Good yellowfin tuna catches in December off Christmas Island were made b by the Serv- pow7 ice's research vessel John R. Manning on "3 PEARL & HERHES a cruise completed at Honolulu on Decem- cecal “Alig ber 19, 1953. This may open the possi- La, staysan 1. Zedgy bility of a winter fishery for the Hawaiian CTP yaw FEE PINNACLES fishing fleet. It was the first attempt by ‘Stay, FRAFRIGATE a Service research vessel to fish the equa- OS tag) aera Nl Be KAULA * => MOLOKAI torial waters south of Hawaii during De- LANAT Say cember. A total of 14 days was spent fish- SLD ing long lines for tuna en route to and inthe immediate vicinity of Christmas Island. Fishing was particularly good near the is- land where the yellowfin tuna caught were the smaller sizes preferred bycanners. A total of 55 tons of yellowfin tuna were land- ed at a Honolulu cannery. * JOHNSTON |. The vessel also brought back a party of scientists and fishermen who had spent two months on Christmas Island installing INGHAM EE meteorological instruments and automatic Elli eer rer sea-water temperature recorders on that Ling FANNING I. equatorial atoll. Christmas Island is stra- Stapp tegically located in the heart of the rich Fi stany tuna fishing grounds recently found to the | south of Hawaii, and the information re- PHOENIX 1$LANOS corded by the instruments installed there CANTON |e | clocraury | should be of great value in studying the en- | w'kean it eRine + broenix 1.” vironmental changes that affect the abun- SEER ° cana, (PAY Us site as dance of yellowfin tuna in equatorial waters. : 170° 160° The newly discovered fishing grounds are beginning to attract the attention of mainland and Hawaii tuna fishermen, and the water temperature and weather data collected by POFI scientists will be used to predict the best seasons and areas for commercial fishing operations. JARVIS |. Setting up the recording thermometers involved the building of two steel towers on the reef, one on the windward and one on the leeward side of the island; and skin diving to anchor the sensitive elements in deep water off the face of the reef. Three Gilbert- ese residents were trained to tend the instruments and keep records. Meteorological instruments were loaned by the Honolulu office of the U. S. Weather Bureau, which will use the reports from this remote and isolated station to fill in its coverage of the gen- eral Central Pacific weather picture. The field party also surveyed the lagoon of Christmas Island, one of the most ex- tensive in the Pacific, for stocks of small fish suitable for use as live bait for tuna fish- ing. Little bait of this type was found, but there were plentiful supplies of larger mul- let and milkfish (awa) that could be used for long-line (flag line) bait. Ok KK 22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 SKIPJACK TUNA ABUNDANCE AT SEASONAL LOW IN HAWAIIAN WATERS RE- PORTS THE "HUGH M, SMITH" (Cruise 24): The abundance of skipjack tuna (aku) in == — Hawaiian Island waters had dropped to a seasonally-low winter level during the last week of a 30-day cruise of the Pacif- : ic Oceanic Fishery Investiga- MOLOKA| tions' research vessel Hugh M. QQ Mau! Smith. The cruise, completed Cree ‘||| at Honolulu on December 1, in- HAWAI |) cluded tests with tuna attract- ants and the collection of hydro- graphic data. Scouting at the 13 regular ie 5. stations resulted in seeing only neh 14 bird flocks, of which 2 were TON accompanying skipjack tuna, 2 dolphin (mahimahi), and the re- maining 10 accompanied uniden- tified fish. The bird flocks were small in size, numbering less than 50 in all cases except one, and very loosely formed. The fishermen were highly doubtful that any of the unidentified schools were skipjack. The greatest number of schools sighted on one day (2 skipjack tuna, 3 unidentified) was on the station approximately 30 miles south of Kaula Island. None was sighted in the area to the north and east of Oahu and birds also were found to be scarce. An additional 10 flocks of migrating birds" (not attending fish) were sighted at the two westernmost stations approximately 250 miles west and southwest of Oahu. Each of these flocks flew close to the water in a tight cluster and moved rapidly south-south- westerly at an estimated speed of 40 to 60 miles per hour. The birds were tentatively identified as a species of shearwater other than the commonly found wedge-tailed shear- water. Ina half-day of scouting along the lee of Oahu close to Pearl Harbor, four small bird flocks were sighted, all of which appeared to be ''working" over fish schools. In the vicinity of the flocks three skipjack sampans were actively fishing. Six fish schools were approached and chummed with strips of agar prepared with an extract of skipjack meat and aluminum powder. No fish responded. Three of the schools were attended by few birds which were generally inactive, indicating that per- haps live bait would also have been unsuccessful in getting the fish to the surface; a better test of the material was possible on two skipjack tuna and a dolphin school which were at the surface when approached. The agar strips, however, failed to attractfish from these schools. if Pollution Control is Wildlife Week Theme "Pollution Control" will be the theme of National Wildlife Week, March 21-27, 1954. The National Wildlife Federation, which sponsors the annual observance, rec- ommends the creation of citizen committees to promote water pollution control. The general purpose of National Wildlife Week is to get more people thinking about conservation, thereby creating a better informed and more active body of public opinion bearing on natural resource matters. The major specific objectives of the Federation relating to water pollution control are: February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23 1. Promotion of adequate water pollution laws in every state. Some states have them, most t do not. The standard is the model "State Water Pollution Control Act" which has been endorsed and recommended by the Coun- il of State Governments. 2. Adequate appropriations for state pollution-control agencies. It doesn't take alot. About 5 cents per person per year (based on total state population) 1 MAF will do the job. | 2 wee. tpt LOW # fe (es ee aA ALE, jf TOS AVE § Arid ae AMESOLS GLY ES { | 1 | ADVENTURE IN. PUBLIC HEALTH AND. CONSERVATION | | I | | | 3. Adequate sewage treatment fa- cilities in every community. The cost here has been demon- strated in many cities: About 3 cents per family per day, over a period of years. 4, Adequate waste prevention or or waste treatment by every in in- dustry. The solution here is simple and inexpensive for some industries; some have turned waste treatment into profit through byproducts. In other industries, the problem is difficult and costly; the con- suming public must expect to pay slightly higher costs for certain products, the cost of protecting vital water resources, Still other industrial waste prob- lems have not been solved; ad- ditional research is called for. 5. Prevention of silt pollution through soil conservation prac- tices. Let's get behind thenew national movement for soilcon- 4 cartoonist AND CONSERVATION CRUSADER (ED DODD oF servation and flood-prevention ATLANTA, GEORGIA) PREPARED A COLOR COMIC BOOKLET. hrough watershed treatment. |LLUSTRATED ABOVE 1S THE TITLE PAGE OF THE BOOKLET. oue a s (FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO OBTAIN THE BOOKLET IN QUAN- TITIES, WRITE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION, 232 CARROLL STREET NW. TAKOMA PARK 12, D.C.) U. S. Foreign Trade in Edible Fishery Products, September 1953 United States imports of fresh, frozen, and processed fish and shellfish during September 1953 totaled almost 60 million pounds (valued at $16 million), reports the September 1953 United States Foreign Trade, a Department of Commerce publication (see table). This is an increase of 1 percent in quantity and 9 percent in value as com- pared with imports in September 1952. Exports of processed fish and shellfish (excluding fresh and frozen) from the United States in September 1953 amounted to 5.6 million pounds (valued at $1.2 million), 9 per- cent higher in quantity, but 8 percent lower in value than a year ago. 24 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 United States Foreign Trade in Edible Fishery Products, September 1953 With Comparisons September 1953 September 1952 Year 1952 _ Quantity | “Value _| Quantity |_Value | qunty ae Imports: Fish and shellfish: fresh, frozen,and processedl/ ..... 705,118 Exports: Fish and shellfish: processed!/ only (excluding fresh and frozen) ... INCLUDES PASTES, SAUCES ] CLAM CHOWDER AND JUICE, AND OTHER SPECIALTIES. Virginia BROADER FISHERY RESEARCH RECOMMENDED: A broad research program for data to base sound fisheries management programs was recommended in December by the Virginia Legis- lative Commission, SS 7 \Q = reports the Decem- ies Secale? "Ny ber 1953 Maryland a Tidewater News of the Maryland Depart- ment of Research and Education. It was recommended that Virginia join Mary- land and North Car- lina in an extended program which will involve additional ex- penditures of $122,074, approximately 50per- cent to be borne by Virginia. The Chairman of the Commission pointed out the need of expanding research in the area due to the failure of present policies of manage- ment to stem the tide of depletion in several important fisheries, especially sea trout, croaker, bluefish, butterfish, and scup or porgy. = NX ly G 9 G ~ ix = XIX NI i NX The Commission listed five possible reasons for the decline in the major fisheries, as follows: (1) heavy fishing pressure; (2) poor spawning success; (3) destruction of young fish by gear operations, (4) hydrographic (temperature, currents, etc.) changes; (5) pollution, The Commission made it clear that not all or even one of the five possible reasons cited can be evaluated soundly under present conditions of limited factual data. Iturged February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25 that since the fisheries are held in common by the three states, the study program should be implemented accordingly. Furthermore, its members indicate that with the maturity of the Tri-State program full consideration should be given to the salt-water sports fishery of the middle Atlantic area. NOTE: ALSO SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1953, P. 31. r=) Foreign Economic Policy Commission Reports to President The Commission on Foreign Economic Policy--a special advisory commission constituted last August to shape a new foreign trade policy for the Eisenhower Admin- istration--released its report to the President and the Congress on January 23, 1954. The 17-man Commission, headed by Clarence B. Randall, was composed of 10 mem- bers of the Senate and House and 7 nongovernment representatives. In general, the report asked for less foreign aid and encouragement of more for- eign trade, particularly imports. The report stated that the United States should take the leadership in a program to lower trade barriers; a program which also should be adopted by other nations. No specific commodities are mentioned in the report. Significant statements in the report were to the effect that free trade is not possi- ble under the conditions facing the United States today, and that although many United States tariffs are high and many of our customs procedures are slow and cumbersome, many other United States tariffs are low and more than half our imports enter free of duty. The Commission points out: 'Yet the nations of the free world would be stronger and more cohesive if many of the existing barriers to the exchange of their goods were reduced, if unnecessary uncertainties and delays created by such barriers were elim- inated, and if adequate international arrangements for discussing and finding solutions to their common trade problems were developed and maintained." The report discusses and makes recommendations on the postwar dollar problem, foreign aid and technical assistance, United States foreign investment, problems of agriculture and raw materials, United States dependence on imported materials, tariffs and trade policy, adjustment to increased imports, labor standards in international competition, related problems of trade adjustment, and currency convertibility. Con- currences or dissents to the Commission's recommendations which express significant differences are included as separate statements. Some of the recommendations and comments of the Commission of interest to the fishery and allied industries follow: 1, Extend for three years the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act with broader presidential powers under the Trade Agreements Act to enter into multilateral negotiations looking toward a reduction in tariff rates on a gradual basis. For the three years following renewal of the Act, the President should be authorized: a. To reduce existing tariff rates by not more than 5 percent of present rates each year. (The President under the present law, expiring June 12, cannot prescribe reductions of more than 50 percent in the level of duties prevail- ing January 1, 1945, and this limit already has been reached in many cases. b. Based on information provided by the Tariff Commission, to reduce tariffs by not more than one-half of rates in effect January 1, 1945, on products which are not being imported or being imported in negligible volume, re- CENTS A COPY. 26 10. 11. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 ce. To reduce to 50 percent ad valorem, or its equivalent, any rate in excess of that ceiling, by stages over a period of three years. Amend the ''Buy American Act" and other acts containing the principle to per- mit the President to exempt bidders from other nations which treat our bid- ders on an equal basis with their own nationals. Congress should direct and empower the President to have the Tariff Com- mission undertake a study of the tariff schedules immediately, with the pur- pose of framing proposals for the simplification of commodity definitions and rate structures and to proclaim such changes as he determines to be appro- priate. The Department of the Treasury should formulate proposals to simplify the problem of classifying articles not enumerated in our tariff schedules with the purpose of developing a single standard of classifications for the widest practicable application. They should also be directed to make a continuing study of difficulties and delays in customs administration and report to Con- gress annually. The Senate should promptly consider H. R. 6584 now before it, to amend and improve the customs valuation provisions of our law by eliminating so-called "foreign value" as a basis of valuation and by other simplifying changes. In addition, the Department of the Treasury should be directed to study and re- port to Congress on the feasibility and effect of using actual invoice price of imported goods for valuation purposes and the feasibility of making more ef- ficient use of the ''anit-dumping" law. The task of determining ''that an industry in the United States is being or is likely to be injured..." by foreign dumping should be transferred from the Department of the Treasury to the Tariff Commission. The President should study appropriate methods to assure that United States industry is not injured by embargoes upon or other impediments to exports of raw materials to the United States for use in processing here. In this con- nection, he should direct the Department of the Treasury to review the effec- tiveness of existing countervailing duty provisions and consider alternative measures. Our policy of nondiscrimination in trade matters, as reflected in our uncon- ditional most-favored-nation policy, should not be changed. The ''escape clause" and "peril point'’ provisions and existing prenegotiation procedures should be retained. However, the statute should be amended to provide that the President is authorized to disregard findings under these pro- visions if the national interest requires it. The same standards of sanitation and health should apply equally to domestic and imported goods. Where workers are paid wages well below accepted standards in the exporting countries, 'our negotiators should simply make clear that no tariff conces- sions will be granted on products made by workers receiving wages which are substandard in the exporting country....'' The United States should attempt to raise labor standards through consultative procedures and cooperation in international conferences such as those sponsored by the International Labor Organization. One of the essential strengths of our entire economy is the vi- tality and diversification of our industry.... In all of their variations they must pay wages generally in harmony with the general level of wages through- out the country. We would not want it otherwise, and we do not wish it tohap- February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 27 pen that the wage level in the classes (where machinery is a minor element and where the labor factor is the controlling element) should be determined or seriously affected by the wage levels abroad in competitive industries. 12. "In a free economy, some displacement of workers and some injury to institu- tions is unavoidable. It may come about through technological change, alter- ations in consumer preferences, exhaustion of a mineral resource, new in- ventions, new taxes, or many other causes. Since it has never been seriously proposed that the burden of all such injury arising in a free economy should be assumed by the Government, the Commission felt that it was not appropri- ate to propose such a plan (government assistance to communities, employers, and workers injured by tariff changes) in the tariff area only." 13. Movement toward establishment of a free currency exchange throughout the world and more favorable foreign investment conditions. 14. Reduction in taxes on income earned abroad. 15. An end to economic aid abroad in the form of gifts and substitution, if neces- sary, of aloan program. ''No further aid is justified unless it contributes to the security of the United States.'' Technical assistance should be pressed forward vigorously through sound projects in underdeveloped areas. 16. ''So far as it can be done without jeopardizing military security and subject to the embargo on Communist China and North Korea, the United States acquiesce in more trade in peaceful goods between Western Europe and the Soviet Union." 17. '"...A dynamic foreign economic policy as it relates to agriculture cannot be built out of a maze of restrictive devices such as inflexible price-support pro- grams which result in fixed prices, open or concealed export subsidies, im- port quotas at home and abroad, excessive use of tariffs here and aboard, ex- change restrictions, and state trading. If we are to have a foreign economic policy which will make its best contribution to the strengthening of our long- term development of foreign markets for farmers, we must move as rapidly as feasible toward the elimination of such devices as a part of, or supplement to, our own agricultural policy." 18. Provisions of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade should be renegoti- ated to confine functions to sponsoring trade negotiations, recommending trade policies and providing a consultation forum in trade disputes, subject to the approval of the Congress. : The programs for Congressional and Executive action suggested by the report will be subject to study and hearings by the appropriate committees in Congress and other Government departments. Wholesale Prices, December 1953 Wholesale Prices, December 1953: Wholesale prices for edible fishery products rose om November to December because landings of fresh fish were light. Demand eerie L i Sal vi | for most fishery products was moderate during yl! leg alla the period. December prices were also above a year ago. The over-all edible fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) wholesale index for December 1953 was 109.4 percent of the 1947-49 average (see table)--3.1 percent above the Novem- ber index and 4.6 percent higher than a year ear- lier. 28 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 The drawn, dressed, or whole finfish subgroup index registered the largest in- crease--7.1 percent higher than November and 11.2 percent above December 1952. December catches were generally light and the demand was moderate to good. Sub- stantial increases were noted from November to December in the prices for large off- shore haddock at Boston (17.2 percent), whitefish at New York City (25.0 percent), and lake trout at Chicago (16.2 percent). Compared to a year earlier, haddock prices were up 30.8 percent, whitefish prices at New York City were up 31.5 percent, and other items under this subgroup were priced slightly higher except Western halibut which was priced 10.6 percent lower. Avg. Bricest ($) Point o} Pricing Unit Fresh & Frozen Fishery Products: Products: Boooaoo0e Geo hao oo 8 oan Drawn, Dressed, or Whole Finfish:. ......,+.+.+.255 Roy enercmen alee ~ Haddock, Ige., offshore, drawn, fresh . . Boston [ ib. Halibut, West., 20/80 lbs., drsd., fresh or froz. New York lb. Salmon, king, lge, & med., drsd., fresh or froz. | New York lb. Whitefish, L. Superior, ficaen (drsd.), fresh . | Chicago lb. Whitefish, L, Erie pound or gill net,rnd.,fresh .| New York lb. Lake trout, domestic, No.1, drawn(drsd.) fresh .| Chicago Ib. Yellow pike, L. Michigan & Huron, rnd., fresh_.| New York lb Processed, Fresh (Fish and Shellfish): ..........+..+.-.-. Fillets, haddock, smil., skins on, 20-1b, tins .| Boston Shrimp, lge. (26-30 count), headless, fresh OPH IAIN GS cr lig Goo) clzad so ObosourokG New York Oysters, shucked, standards , : Norfolk : Processed, Frozen (Fish & Shellfish): ..................-. Fillets: Flounder (yellowtail), skinless,10-lb.pkg) Boston Haddock, sml.,skins on,10-1b.cello-pack | Boston Ocean perch,skins on, 10-1b.cello-pack . | Gloucester Shrimp, Ige. (26-30 count),5-Ib, pkg, .... Chicago Canned Fishery Products: ...... oo Aloo nua ~ Salmon, pink, No. 1 tall (16 0z.), 48 eae com . . | Seattle Tuna, lt, meat, solid pack, No. 1/2 tuna (7 02.), 48)caus/icSs een eeine . | Los Angeles] case Sardines, Calif., tom, pack, No. 1 “oval (15 oz. , ABiCANS/i CS ce ee ie ca een eee On: Los Angeles] case Sardines, Maine, keyless oil, No. 1/4 drawn S81/Aioza) sel 00%cans/.cs maarsmeee aii | New York | case 1/ Represent average prices for one day (Monday or Tuesday) during the week in n which the 15th of the month occurs, 73 -68 | 114.4 126.8 In the fresh processed fish and shellfish subgroup, December prices of haddock fillets at Boston and large shrimp at New York were higher but shucked oyster prices were lower than in November. The shrimp market was quite firm as landings contin- ued good. Compared with December 1952, prices for haddock fillets were up 48.1 per- cent, shrimp 3.3 percent, but oysters were down 2.4 percent. This subgroup's Decem- ber index was up 2.2 percent from November and 46 percent higher than a year earlier. There were only slight changes (2.2 percent) in frozen processed fish and shellfish prices from November to December. Prices for fillets of haddock and flounder were unchanged, while those for ocean perch fillets and large shrimp went up slightly. All frozen processed items were down slightly from December 1952, except haddock fillets which were 1.9 percent higher. Compared to December 1952, all prices in this sub- group were 4.6 percent higher. For the second consecutive month there were no changes in the prices of any ofthe canned fishery products priced for the index. The market for these products has re- mained quite steady. When compared with a year earlier, there was only a 0.1-percent decline in canned fishery products prices as a group, but there were some marked changes among the individual items: Maine sardines were up 14.0 percent, tuna was higher by 5.5 percent, and pink salmon was down 5.2 percent. coe February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29 ———— International UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION MiDITERRANEAN FISHERIES COUNCIL: Spain Accepts Agreement: The Government of Spain has accepted the Agree- ment drafted in Rome, Italy, on September 24, 1949, for the formation of a General Fisheries Council for the Mediterra- nean. Notification was received by the Food and Agriculture Organization on October 19, 1953, and Spain became a mem- ber of the Council as of that date. Tunisia Approved as Member: The Council in October unanimously approved Tunisian membership proposed by France, a November 10 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Rome reports. UNITED NATIONS KOREAN RECONSTRUCTION AGENCY KOREAN FISHERIES REHABILITATION MAKES PROGRESS: Improved fishing equipment and supplies provided by UNKRA have resulted in a six-percent increase in marine products produc- % tion in 1952/53, reports a November 11 release from the United Nations. The Korean economy has | improved but much remains to be done, according to a report by the Agent General of UNKRA to the United Nations Assembly. UNKRA is charged with long-range rehabili- tation of various Korean economic and welfare fields, including fisheries, and the Agency's plans are designed as follows: PRoeceoescs 38th PARALLEL 1. To assist the Republic of Korea Govern- ment to restore production levels which will sup- port the Korean people at a level equal to that of 1949-50; 2. To help that Government attain a level of YELLOW exports sufficient to provide foreign exchange panies needed for imported goods and services; 3. To help the Republic of Korea develop eco- nomic policies conducive to the efficient develop- ment of the reconstruction program, and to help f provide managerial, technical, and administrative Bo talents necessary to a developed economy; and 30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 4. To carry through the economic rehabilitation of the Republic in such a way as not to militate against economic union with North Korea. KS Belgium CONSUMPTION OF FISHERY PRODUCTS, 1952/53: Belgium's available supplies from domestic sources of fresh and canned fish for the fiscal year ending July 31, 1953, totaled 62,134 metric tons, aU. S. Embassy dispatch from Brussels dated November 4 points out. Net imports of fresh and canned fish amounted to about 27,000 tons. Since very little fish and canned fish is stored, appar- ent annual consumption of fresh and canned fish amounted to 89,000 tons. In addition, for fiscal year 1952/53 imports and consumption of mussels, oysters, and a small quantity of fresh and canned lobster totaled almost 25,000 tons (the mussels and oysters A MODERN BELGIAN FISH PLANT AT OSTEND. NOTE CONVEYOR are included as weight in the shell). SYSTEM ON THE LEFT. : See : Since fresh fish is preferred in Bel- gium, fish consumption is governed largely by the fish catch. Net imports of fish oil for fiscal year 1952/53 totaled 13,565 metric tons. Domes- tic production and apparent consumption of fish oil is not available. Actual imports for August 1, 1952-July 31, 1953, of fresh and canned fish amounted to 37,857 metric tons, while mussels, oysters, etc. totaled 24,891 tons. Exports dur- ing the same period of fresh and canned fish were reported as 10, 798 tons, while mus- sels, oysters, etc. totaled merely 165 tons. IB: Burma NEW IMPORT DUTIES ON FISHERY PRODUCTS: The Burmese Customs Tariff effective on October 1, 1953. New import duties on fishery products included in the Act are as follows: Name of Article Rate of Dut Fish, dried or salted 25 pyas per viss (13 . U. S. cents per pound) Fish and fish products in airtight containers 35 percent ad valorem Prawns, dried 50 pyas per viss (3 U.S. cents per pound) Isinglass 25 percent ad valorem Fish and fish products, not elsewhere specified-- crustacea and molluscs and preparations thereof 35 percent ad valorem Fish oils, animal oils, and vegetable non-essential oils, n.e.s. .... | 15 percent ad valorem Fishing nets 10 percent ad valorem Fish hooks 15 percent ad valorem February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 31 Canada NEW SHRIMP GROUND OFF PACIFIC COAST: A new shrimp-trawling ground was developed during the latter part of 1952 and the early part of 1953 off the Pacific Coast of Canada, reports the April 1953 Trade News, a Canadian Government publication. It is located in the region of Stuart Channel along the lower east coast of Vancouver Island. Preliminary statistics released by the Canadian Department of Fisheries show that during the months of December 1952 and January 1953 a total of 66,195 pounds of shrimp were caught in 183 trawling days. Most of the landings were landed and proc- essed at Steveston, British Columbia. Five species of shrimps have been taken for many years in commercial quantities by British Columbia fishermen. Examination of samples of the Stuart Channel catch by the Pacific Biological Station of the Fisheries Research Board of Canadaat Nanaimo, B. C., indicates that the catch is almost entirely of a species not previously taken in any numbers. This species (Pandalus jordani) looks a good deal like the "pink'' shrimp (Pandalus borealis). The new commercial shrimp differs, however, in that it lacks the pink’ shrimp's characteristic spines on the upper surface of the third and fourth abdominal segments. As yet no common name has been suggested for the species caught in Stuart Channel. OK ke OK OK rollers for fillet conveyor belts have been in use successfully at the Atlantic Fisheries Experimental Station of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Halifax, N. S. These rollers serve to transfer fillets from one conveyor belt to another conveyor belt, or drum, running in the same direction at a slightly faster speed and at a slightly lower level, reports the October 1953 Trade News, a Canadian Department of Fisheries peri- odical. CONVEYOR BELT One transfer roller (fig. 1) consists of a a = piece of ribbed one-inch rubber hose slipped over a piece of one-inch steel shafting. The hose is the same length as the width of the belt. This roller is placed close to the end pulley of conveyor belt number one with the shaft of the conveyor belt pulley and the shaft of the trans- fer roller in a horizontal plant. The other. CONVEYOR BELT conveyor belt is placed slightly lower thanthe Heart first belt to receive the fillets from the trans- fer roller. TRANSFER ROLLER ante The second transfer roller (fig. 2) differs No. | from the first in that it consists of a wooden roller 14 inches in diameter and with its length equal to the width of the belt. It is slotted longitudinally with 12-1/16 inch wide \ slots, }-inch deep. In these slots are ce- mented rubber strips 3-inch wide by 1/16-inch thick. TRANSFER ROLLER —— CONVEYOR BELT Both of these transfer rollers will satis- Nelo UY factorily remove a fillet from the first con- veyor belt and place it on the second belt in the same relative position it had on the first belt, free from folds and wrinkles. Even fillets which come off the first belt with ends doubled under are, for the most part, straightened out by this transfer roller and lie flat on the second belt. 32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 The transfer rollers are positively driven from the drive of the first belt by means of roller chain and sprockets. The transfer roller must rotate a little faster than the first conveyor belt but slower than the second belt. That is, its speed must be fast e- nough to pull the fillet from the first belt and the speed of the second belt must be fast enough to pull the fillet from the transfer roller if wrinkling and folding are to be avoided. KOK We ok —————— ees pounds were groundfish fillets. Table 1 - Newfoundland's Production of Fish Fillets, |Cod comprised the major por- 1951 and 1952 tion of the production. In 1951 a total of 32,746,345 pounds of Lbs. : fillets were produced of which Groundfish Fillets: wey 28,581,705 pounds were ground- Cod ., 20,562,733 16,901,988 |fish fillets. (See table 1.) Haddock 3,744,504 2,020,601 Ocean perch 8,741,257 9,659,116 Stocks of frozen fillets on Total Groundfish Fillets | 33,048,494 28,581,705 |hand in Newfoundland at the end p , of 1952 totaled 3,672,980 pounds ee oeeatuen ingye | bSeso0) weal: wews pecune raikeuraeere 2 fish fillets) as compared with Gray sole 1,061,855 pounds (662,853 pounds were groundfish fillets) in 1951. (See table 2.) Vessels: Between 70-75 percent of all groundfish landed in Newfoundland are caught by vessels owned by the fillet plants. The fishermen operate on a percentage share of the catch, generally 37 percent of the gross value. The engi- neers on these vessels are on able 2 - Stocks of Groundfish Fillets in Newfoundland, a salary plus a percentage of December 31, 1951 and 1952 the catch agreed upon in indi- vidual cases. Lbs. Lbs. Groundfish Fillets: It is estimated that in : 2,907,445 543,924 1952 a total of 670 vessels 64,986 17,013 including (7 refrigerated ves- Ocean perch 361,439 101,916 sels) operated in Newfoundland Total Groundfish Fillets 3,333,870 662,853 directly and indirectly in sup- port of the filleting industry. In 1948 there were about twice this number of vessels but Ocean catfish 1,680 160 Flounder 236,288 331,306 less refrigerated vessels. Sraygsels ea ee The maximum capacity of the —339 110 —399 002 smaller fishing vessels is 3679 980 5,000 pounds. Some of the s 2 z vessels fish for filleting plants on a part-time basis only. About 25 long-liner vessels were built for the Newfoundland fisheries in 1952 and the first half of 1953. These vessels are too small for fishing on the Grand Banks, but the Provincial and Federal Governments have been trying to popularize the vessel with the fishermen. However, the average Newfoundland fisherman has not been too ready to accept this innovation. The dragger-type vessel remains as popular as ever. In 1951 the Government built a Danish seine-type vessel (25 feet in length) in order to experiment with the Danish seine. This type of gear utilizes a net which sweeps the sea floor, but it can be used only where a sandy or mud bottom exists. However, sev- eral different types of fishing gear can be used by this experimental vessel. Only a few of these vessels were in use by mid-1953, but the Government hopes that fishermen will adopt them more readily in the future. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33 Prices: There is no information available on ex-vessel prices for company - -owned vessels. Independent fishermen sold drawn cod to the fillet producers in 1952 at an average of 23 Canadian cents a pound. (It is generally agreed between fishermen and buyers that cod will measure not less than 18 inches in length.) Landings of haddock and ocean perch (rosefish) by independent fishermen are negligible and of little im- portance, During 1952 and the first part of 1953 the average ex-vessel price for drawn haddock was 23 Canadian cents a pound, and for ocean perch 2 Canadian centsa pound. Processing and Packaging: Early in 1953 the precooking of cod and haddock was "oiven a try to see ee how the consumer would react.'' It is too early to judge results but the market is being watched carefully. Consumer-size packages of fillets were also tried. They were usually the one-pound cellophane-wrapped packages packed in ''open- tray'' containers, Fillets frozen in 16- to 20-pound blocks for the restaurant and hotel business were again introduced. Distribution Facilities: There were no important changes in the transportation facilities during 1952 or up to September 1953. About 80 percent of all fillets exported to the United States from Newfoundland are shipped on producer-owned and operated refrigerated vessels. There are seven of these vessels at present (also one local com- mercial shipping line carries fillets on occasions to Boston and New York). These vessels are small, averaging 400 tons, and are maintained only by the larger producers. When space is available they also carry shipments for producers who do not own vessels. Most of the fillets shipped to the United States enter through the ports of Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y., and Providence, R.1I. There were no particular changes in freight rates during 1952 or up to September 1953, although Newfoundland longshoremen averaged a 10-percent wage increase dur- ing 1952 which raised transportation costs slightly over 1951. Fillets are shipped out of St. John's, Burin, Fermeuse, Gaultois, and Harbour Grace during the entire year. Summer shipments only go out of Bonavista, St. Anthony, and Englee. Federal Fisheries Survey: The Canadian Department of Fisheries is presently carrying out three separate surveys to obtain data for use in future developments ofall branches of the Newfoundland fisheries. One is an engineering survey of settlements on the Northeast Coast to determine the potential of various ports as centers for in- creased fish production. Another survey has started at Cape LaHune and will cover the Southeast Coast to Port aux Basques and the West Coast to Cape Norman. Thethird survey party is in Labrador examining the rivers. Information is also being collected by 27 different Fisheries Officers scattered through Newfoundland who submit monthly statistics on numbers of fishermen employed, boats, type of gear used, etc. Exports: Almost all groundfish fillets shipped from Newfoundland are exported to the United States (table 3). (A small quantity is shipped to St. Pierre and Miquelon Islands, ) The Canadian mainland also receives some Newfoundland fillets. Exports to U.S. Spe gO uanr ae Local Sales1/ 17,075,367 375,615 345,343 3,812,967 35,600 2,330 Pollock 162,300 - - Ocean perch 8,390,101 78,314 Total Groundfish Fillets ....| 29,440,735 489,529 347,673 Other Fillets: Flatfish 3,768,904 54,430 Ocean catfish 84,142 = Halibut _ 54, 230 T/ALL LOCAL SALES ARE NOT INCLUDED, ALTHOUGH THE DATA REPRESENT A CONS|DERABLE PORTION OF THE LOCAL SALES. 34 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 3 Marketing Conditions in 1953: January 1953 commenced a period of uncertainty for the Newfoundland groundfish fillet industry, in strong contrast to a year earlier when market conditions were generally very good. Conditions during the first six months of 1953 were described by fillet exporters as weak and very poor. As of July 1953 the outlook was not considered alarming but more uncertain with potential dan- gers. Producers were not building up inventories and produced only enough to fill or- ders. Low quotations on the United States market were offered by competitors elsewhere. Although the Newfoundland frozen groundfish fillet industry takes a long-range view on the situation, it believes that market conditions in the United States will become more normal in the near future. ok KKK GREAT LAKES FISHERIES RESEARCH COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED: In view of the serious decline in the Great Lakes fisheries, the Canadian Federal Government and the Ontario Provincial Government recently established a Great Lakes Fisheries Re- search Committee. This Committee will coordinate and expand fishery research inthe Canadian waters of the Great Lakes, reports the October 1953 Trade News, a Canadian Department of Fisheries magazine. This Federal-Provincial Great Lakes program will give equal emphasis to general fisheries research and lamprey control. The Ontario Government in 1953 provided one-half the total amount spent tofurther Great Lakes research generally through continuation of investigations and the loan of boats, equipment, and personnel. The Federal Government provided C$50, 000, and this was to be spent on a new program to investigate the sea lamprey and establish de- vices to control its numbers in the Great Lakes. Both governments have also provided an additional C$10,000 each to cover administrative costs relative to the over-all Great Lakes fisheries research program. In 1954 the Federal-Provincial committee is planning to expand fisheries research in all the Great Lakes. In Lake Huron there will be a continuation of the commercial fishery operation at South Bay, Ontario, along with investigations into the stocks of whitefish and lake trout. Hydrographic surveys will also be extended. Experimental planting of lake trout will take place in Lake Superior, as wellas investigations into the fishery for these stocks, In most of the Great Lakes, research will be conducted into the possible utilization of the less popular species which enter the nets of the commercial fishermen. Sea Lamprey Control Program: As part of the 1953/54 sea lamprey control pro- gram, preliminary surveys were made in over 40 streams on the eastern shore of Lake Superior, from Sault Ste. Marie north and west to the Montreal River. A series of temperature tests and the measuring of water levels has been instituted in these streams. Electric weirs are being installed on the Stokeley, Harmony, and Sable Rivers, while other types of lamprey barriers are to be constructed on Sawmill Creek and the Pancake River. A dam at Poplar Dale on Bennett Creek is to be repaired to provide a physical barrier to lamprey migration. To get to the sites of these installations, access roads are being bulldozed to facilitate the job of getting equipment to the areas and poles are being erected to carry line power where this is available. A field headquarters for lamprey work has been set up at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The first Canadian electric weirs were scheduled for completion in the fall of 1953. As migrant sea lampreys display little or no avoidance reaction to an electric field in the water, it is hoped that the installation of such weirs will eventually bring the lam- prey under control. Other migrant fishes, however, react sensitively to very weak gradients at the fringe of an electrical field and have a tendency to avoid them. Thus these species can be directed through fish passes at the side of the barriers to reach normal spawning areas. The lamprey shows no such reaction. Characteristically, the lamprey swims into a field of increasing intensity, laboring against oncoming paralysis February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35 until complete paralysis prevents any muscular movement whatsoever. These then drift with the current away from the barrier and are prevented from reaching suitable spawning areas. Lampreys have now become plentiful in the extreme eastern end of Lake Superior, although first reported in this body of water only a few years ago. Fear has been ex- pressed in some quarters that the lamprey is responsible for the collapse of the com- mercially-important lake trout stocks in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, and that a similar fate awaits these stocks in Lake Superior. Observers point out that experience has shown that complete collapse of a fishery through lamprey attacks can come about in a few years. As previously mentioned, the major portion of the lamprey budget of the Federal- Provincial committee for this year is being expended on a survey of streams and for the installation of control devices. However, about 10 percent of this is being utilized on experiments to discover possible methods of destroying ''ammocoetes'' (lamprey in the larval stage). Extensive work will be done in 1954 also in streams along the eastern shore of Lake Superior on the installation of additional weirs and electrical devices. The para- sitic sea lamprey has been able to adjust itself in the Great Lakes to spending its entire life cycle in fresh water. It is known to be native to Lake Ontario and some lakes of northern New York. In coastal areas the sea lamprey usually migrates to the ocean to mature, returning only to fresh water to spawn. Injury by lampreys to other species of fish than lake trout is increasing to analarm- ing extent, according to biologists. Apparently as lake trout stocks dwindled the lam- prey began to attack other species in both Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Most com- mercial species are believed to be subject to some lamprey depredations. The United States has been carrying out a sea lamprey control program. During the fiscal year 1953 sea lamprey control structures were installed or put under con- struction in all known or potential spawning streams tributary to the Michigan waters of Lake Superior. A new appropriation by the United States will make possible the completion of structures not yet finished in this area and the installation of barriers in Wisconsin and Minnesota streams as well. Research on new and more effective control measures will be centered on means of destroying larval lampreys in streams. In the development of larval controls the problem of destroying ''ammocoetes'' without inflict- ing undue injury to other fish and fish-food-organisms in the streams will be tackled. Along with the sea lamprey research, investigations will be made of Great Lakes fish- eries that have been affected directly by this parasite or indirectly as the result of shifts of fishing pressure. Chile FISHERIES PRODUCTION, 1952: Chilean production of fish and shellfish in 1952 amounted to 118, 286 metric tons (see table), reports an October 21 U. S. Embassy Chilean Production of Fish and Shellfish, 1952 and Comparative Data ea dispatch from Santiago. This is an increase of 27 percent as compared with 1951, and 33 times greater than the 1936-38 average annual production. 36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 Colombia U. S. PURSE SEINER TO FISH FOR COLOMBIAN FIRM: The Colombian Govern- ment has authorized a firm operating a Barranquilla fish cannery to contract with a United States firm to bring a U. S. purse seiner to fish in Colombian waters, a Novem- ber 16, 1953, U. S. consular dispatchfrom Barranquilla reports. The catch of this ves- sel will be deposited with or divided with the Barranquilla cannery. This cannery re- cently built a refrigeration plant for storing fish; and the Government is looking into the prospects of increasing storage space for frozen fish in major cities of the interior for domestic consumption. A considerable reduction in import duties on square tin cans (imported from the United States) was recently made by the Colombian Government, and the local fish- canning industry believes that this will be of substantial aid in producing canned fish. 1 Denmark GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO EXTEND FAROE ISLANDS TERRITORIAL LIMITS: miles, reports the October 31 Fish Trades Gazette, a British fishery magazine. Den- mark has approached the British Government with a view to a revision of the 1901 Con- vention, which defined international and Danish fishing limits round the Faroe Isles, and the ques- ) BEAR ISLAND tion was to be discussed by fishery experts at an a early meeting in London. This proposal would have a serious effect on EB CIEE (ED British fishing as a number of Grimsby trawlers fish the Faroe grounds. A spokesman of the Danish Embassy in Lon- NORWEGIAN (SES don stated that the reason for the proposedchanges was to protect fish-breeding grounds and fishing —— banks near the coast for Faroe fishermen. aii Wi SHETLAND 1S. ¥ AVI THORSHAVK \ Commenting upon the situation, he said, ''Nor- way had her dispute settled at The Hague Court last 5 year and then the Icelandic people wanted to extend 1228 their limits. The Faroe Isles have the same inter-~ ests and are suggesting a revision of the 1901 Convention. The British Government has agreed to have an experts! conference upon this matter." Sorkney 1s. He added that it was not a major case as it involved only small alterations to the treaty at the moment and that very little fish came into Britain from Faroe as not so many trawlers went to Faroe as to Iceland and West Greenland. No details of the pro- posed revision were available. The president of the British Trawlers' Federation, commenting upon this latest development, said 'I am pleased that the Danish Government are evidently prepared to negotiate on this rather than to take arbitrary action of the kind taken by Iceland." He added that any major revision of the fishing limits at Faroe would have a serious effect upon the British fishing industry, andthat of Grimsby in particular. KK & HERRING MEAL AND OIL INDUSTRY: Danish production of fish meal in 1953 was expected to reach about 20,000 metric tons as compared to 18,295 tons in 1952 and 14,680 tons in 1951, reports the September 1953 International Fish Journal, a Danish fishery magazine. Most of the meal is produced from herring although other species February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 37 are beginning to be utilized. For example, in the spring of 1953, 15 million pounds of sand eels were reduced to fish meal. It is reported that fish meal from sand eels is of very high quality. About 6, 000 tons of herring meal were exported in 1952, more than half of which went to the United States. West Germany and Belgium also took sizable quantities. Fish meal is the most important export product of the herring fishery. The capacity of the nine Danish fish-meal factories is not equal to the demand. The United States market is reported asking for more Danish herring meal than can be delivered. Danish fish-meal factories cannot handle all the herring landed. As in previous years, the Norwegian floating fish-meal factoryship Clupea, anchored outside the port of Esbjerg in 1953 and again aided in processing the herring that could not be handled by the Danish factories. The Clupea pays the fishermen the same prices as the facto- ries and retains the fish meal for export. In 1952 this vessel bought 8,400 metric tons of herring, valued at 1.5 million kroner (US$217,000) to the fishermen; and in 1951, 7,369 metric tons, valued at 1.7 million kroner (US$246,000). Fish-meal factories this year paid 0.21 Danish kroner per kilo (US$30 per metric ton) to the fishermen for herring. The Danish fish catch in 1952 totaled 682 million pounds and 284 million pounds was utilized for reduction purposes. Production of fish oil increased from 4,900 metric tons in 1951 to 5,820 tons in 1952. Fish oil was at one time the most important product of the herring fishery, but it has become more difficult to sell. However, business is still fairly good with most of the oil sold to German margarine producers. Holland and Spain were new buyers in 1953. A Danish fish-meal factory in Skagan is reported to have found a method of pro- ducing the so-called "hermetikolie" (canned food oil). About 2,000 metric tons of this food oil are used in Denmark yearly. Previously only the Norwegians knew how to pro- duce this oil. cnn Ecuador U. 5. -ECUADOR FISHERY CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS: Senate Recom- mends Implementation: In a surprise move on October 2, 1953, the Ecuadoran Senate adopted a resolution recommending that the Minister of Economy immediately implement the recommendations formulated at the United States-Ecuador Fishery Conference held at Quito in March and April 1953. This resolution was printed in Registro Oficial No. 340 of October 15, 1553, reports a U. S. Embassy dispatch from Quito dated October 21. The Ecuadoran Senate made this resolution after considering: "That the total revenues collected as a result of taxes on fishing has suffered a deep decline thus gravely injuring the participants in such revenues, which are the Navy, the cities of Tulean and Macara, and all of the coastal provinces and the Galapagos; "That according to the conclusions adopted by the International Conference on Fish- eries which took place at Quito in the months of March and April of the present year (1953), this situation would be remedied by the adoption of the recommendations formu- lated in that same conference; "That the Minister of Economy and Fisheries stated in his Report to the Nation his absolute conformity with such recommendations and the necessity to carry them into practice as soon as possible; 38 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 "That according to the Law on Fisheries and Maritime Hunting now in force, es- pecially Articles 8, 11, and 12, the Executive Power has full legal authority to dictate the dispositions necessary in order that these measures and recommendations might enter into force.' Chamber of Deputies Also Recommends Implementation: On November 5 the Ec- uadoran Chamber of Deputies also adopted a Resolution recommending that the Execu- tive Branch implement the recommendations, reports a November 30 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Quito. The Chamber's Resolution was printed in Registro Oficial No. 364 of November 14, 1953, and the wording is similar to the Resolution passed by the Senate. El Salvador TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT WITH U. S. FOR DEVELOPING FISHER- IES CONTINUED: The Salvadorean Legislature has approved an agreement between the United States and El Salvador calling for continued technical assistance from the United States in developing the Salvadorean fishing industry, the November 20, 1953, Journal of Commerce reports. Under Point Four, technical assistance for developing El Salvador's fishing indus- try has been available to that country since 1951 and has been extended since on differ- ent occasions. Administration of the program now is under the United States Foreign Operations Administration. The technical assistance mission is presently operating in Pacific waters off El Salvador with a modern fishing craft acquired in California by the Salvadorean Government. El Salvador could produce a total of some 18 million pounds of fish and shrimp a year. The Salvadorean press attributes this statement to members of the technical assistance mission. Meanwhile Salvadorean capital is reported to be planning an enterprise in which 5 million colones (US$2 million) would be invested for development of El Salvador's deep- sea fishing resources. Using the modern fishing vessel purchased by the Government, technical assistance specialists have been bringing in large catches from Pacific waters, according to reports. Cree France REVIEW OF FISHING INDUSTRY: The French fishing industry employs some 120,000 Frenchmen, directly or indirectly, making it the nation's fifth largest occupa- tion, according to the August 17, 1953, France Actuelle, a French news bulletin. The French fishing industry suffered extensive damage during World War II. Some 60 percent of its long-distance fleet, 66 percent of its steel trawlers, and 25 percentof its wooden vessels were destroyed in one way or another. Many of the chief fishing ports were heavily bombed, destroying docks, warehouses, and refrigeration plants. Since the Liberation, the industry has made a strong comeback. New vessels and facilities have just about replaced those lost during the war. The tonnage of fish caught has regained the prewar level, and serious efforts are being made to increase it. New problems have also developed. Many of the towns strung along the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean derive the greater part of their livelihood from the fishing industry. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 39 Chief ports for commercial fishing are Boulogne, Dieppe, Fecamp, Saint-Malo, Concarneau, Lorient, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Arcachon, and Port-de-Bouc. The port of Boulogne accounts for one-third of eG % pw France's total catch. But a considerable anne ° en aggregate comes from the thousands of fish- joe ae ermen whose small boats put out from every W cover and inlet along the coast. foncarneau The fishing grounds extend from the coast to mid-ocean, but are concentrated in the North Sea, the Channel, the sea north and south of Ireland and, of course, the North At- lantic, from Newfoundland to Spitzbergen. ‘orient Mayor French Fishing Ports Lo Rochelle ATLANTIC OCEAN Large sailing vessels have all but disap- peared. and coal-burning steam trawlers have given way to Diesel-powered boats. But there is still an un-economical large portion of coal burners in the fleet. MEDITERRANEAN Of some 17,000 fishing vessels, France has only 300 heavy steel trawlers. The re- mainder are wooden vessels, of which 12,600 have a displacement of less than fivetons. About half of the present fleet of steel trawlers has been built since World War II. Still in service, however, are some 100 steel trawlers over 20 years old. Andin the wooden fleet, 5,500 are at least 20 years old. These older boats are more costly to operate than modern types, and given the stiff competition in the fishing industry, many of them are unable to pay their own way. One reason for this is the gradual depletion of nearby fishing grounds, which has forced French fishermen to seek out new grounds farther from home. Many of the older trawlers still in use do not have adequate power and other facilities to make these longer cruises economical, The number of sailing vessels (including many small ones) has dropped steadily since 1936, from 12,500 to 3,500. But in the same period there has been little change in the total number of motor boats, the number being between 11,000 and 12,000. Indi- cations are that many of these will go out of business as the distance to the fishing grounds increases. Manning this diversified fleet are some 65,000 fishermen. They fall into two dis- tinct categories: those who man the small fleet of long-range commercial vessels (6,000), and those who sail the much larger number of individually-owned boats of all sizes. Of the first group, crews receive a guaranteed minimum wage but also sharein the proceeds of a good catch without taking any risks in the event of a poor catch. Their minimum wage is comparable to that of the merchant marine, which is better paid in France than in other European countries. For the great majority of French fishermen, however, each sailing is a gamble. Shares in the catch are divided among the crew and owner, with some shares dedicated to amortization of the vessel and other equipment. For the past few years, France's total catch has matched or slightly exceeded that of 1938. In 1952 it amounted to some 420,000 metric tons of fresh fish (including salt cod), valued at about US$100,000,000. The catch of the different kinds of fish has varied with the years, and there is some evidence that certain species are becoming less plen- tiful. Herring, cod, mackerel, tuna, and sardine make up a large part of the total French catch. The annual per-capita consumption of fish in France is 23 pounds, while that of Norway is 127 pounds, Portugal 98 pounds, and England 52 pounds. 40 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 The industry recently launched a campaign to promote the consumption of fish throughout France. The main barrier to be overcome is the problem of distribution-- how to get fresh fish from the coast to the interior rapidly, regularly, and cheaply. The large cities are well supplied, whether by train or refrigerated truck, but many smaller communities do not get adequate distribution. The need is for further organization of transport and sales outlets, an effort which the industry is undertaking with the cooperation of wholesalers and retailers. France is now a net importer of fish--that is, it buys more fish from other coun- tries than it sells to them. The imports of fresh fish in 1952 amounted to 15,000 metric tons, while exports were only 1,100 tons. France exports more salted, dried, and smoked fish than it imports (26,000 tons against 7,000 tons), but imports more canned fish than it exports (29,000 tons against 3,400). France's inability to increase exports by any substantial amount is due to the price of French fish. It is high in comparison with the price of Norwegian or Portu- guese fish. Wages, together with various social benefits, are higher in France than elsewhere. Despite the progress made in re-equipping the French fishing fleet since the war, a large portion of it is overage and uneconomic to operate. The French in- dustry has felt keenly the threat of foreign competition. There have been ups and downs from year to year, as when the French fleet had a good season while that of Portugal fell on hard times. But the cost-price factor remains the major handicap facing French fishermen who would like to see a greater demand for their catch both at home and a- broad. In a period when a strong effort is being made to lower all trade barriers, the French fishing industry sees no solution to its problems in the raising of further import restrictions. On the contrary, the industry is concentrating on ways and means of in- ereasing production. Estimated cost of replacing that portion of the fleet now overage is US$35,000,000. Even if spread over a period of four to five years, such a program is beyond the in- dustry's own resources. Most likely source of new investment funds is the Govern- ment's second Modernization and Equipment Plan. If funds are provided, new construc- tion is certain to make for more economical fishing. The fish-canning industry is also due for overhauling. Average production for 1948-52 has been well below that of 1938, even though the number of cannery workers has almost doubled. An increase of two pounds or so in the per-capita consumption of fish would call for an increase of 40,000 metric tons in the annual catch--an expansion well within the capability of a fishing fleet that is being modernized. Such an increase in yield, if accompanied by real economy of operation, would help greatly to reduce the price of French fish. OO Ok MARKETING THE FISH CATCH AT LORIENT: Lorient, on the southern coast of second most important fishing port, after Boulogne, reports the August 17 France Actuelle, a French news bulletin. During the war its German-operated submarine pens attracted U. S. and British bombers, with the result that a good share of the port's facilities was destroyed. These have now been rebuilt. Last year Lorient handled 35,000 metric tons of fish. Marketing of the catch in Lorient is typical of the process employed in most major French ports. Inbound trawlers announce the time of their arrival and the size oftheir haul by radio. When they dock, special crews go to work immediately unloading the holds. Fish are dumped in large chests which are then trundled to sorting tables along- side the quay. There sorters segregate the fish according to variety and size. The February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 41 fish are then moved on to the auction halls, and when a sufficient.number of chests have been collected a siren announces the sale. Buyers are a special group of wholesalers, known as ''mareyeurs.'’ When they have made their purchases, the fish are moved to their warehouses adjoining the auc- tion halls. Here the wholesalers carefully prepare and repack the fish in boxes of 40 to 50 pounds. These boxes are then placed on small carts, weighed, drawn by tractor to the rail siding, and stowed in refrigerator cars according to their destination. The entire process is carefully coordinated according to a tight schedule. Fish arriving in the evening must be unloaded and sold no later than 11 o'clock the next morning in order for the wholesalers to make the three daily fish trains, the first of which leaves shortly after noon. One heads for the Midi and Italy, another for eastern France and Switzerland, and the third for Paris. Refrigerated trucks are now giving the railroads stiff competition in the transpor- tation of fish. They are able to reach some markets more rapidly than the railroads and with less handling. Many of these marketing steps are handled in Lorient by a concessionaire who pays the Government a fee for the use of public dock and warehouse facilities. This company takes complete charge of the catch as soon as a trawler docks. dae Hong Kong MORE FISHING VESSELS ARE MECHANIZED: HongKong's mechanized fishing fleet increased from 153 to 189 vessels (junks) from July to ees 1953, peports an October 20, 1953, re- : lease from the Hong Kong Government. This indi- cates the keen interest shown by Hong Kong fishermen in the mechanization of their junks. Mechanization has been largely due to credit granted fishermen by local engineering companies. The credit scheme was made possible by the Fish Marketing Organization agreeing, at the request of the fishermen, to deduct money from the proceeds of fish sales to pay off : am these loans. FISHING JUNKS AT CHEUNG CHAU, A FISHING PORT SOUTHWEST OF HONG KONG. Landings at Hong Kong were poor during the summer months of 1953, which is the slack season in the local fishing industry. Landings were particularly poor during Sep- tember 1953, when successive typhoon threats forced fishermen to take shelter for many days. By the end of September, however, there were signs that the better season was approaching. Yellow croaker fishermen were pleased with results achieved to that time and expected that the coming season would be a good one. Landings by purse sein- ers were not as good as the previous year, although there was a decided improvement towards the end of September. Long-line fishermen again complained of sharks attack- ing the long lines, and attributed their light catches to this cause. 42 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 India NORWEGIAN EQUIPMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERIES ARRIVES: About 500 tons of equipment for the Norwegian-aided fisheries project at Neendakara, near Quilon, Travancore-Cochin, arrived at Cochin from Norway on October 11, 1953. The equipment is reported to include fishing nets, motors for a new type of boat made in Norway for inland fishing, materials for living quarters, medicines, etc., reports an October 22 U. S. consular dispatch from Madras, India. This equipment is part of the aid India's fisheries will receive from Norway in accordance with a tri-partite agree- ment among India, Norway, and the United Nations. One of the Norwegian experts attached to the project reported that a workshopfor boat building was now under construction. Plants for the drying of fishing nets have been erected and arrangements for the supply of drinking water had also been com- pleted, he said. He added further that as soon as the equipment reached Quilon, the selection of local fishermen for training in inland fishing would start. Preliminary arrangements were complete and the project was scheduled to begin operating in the early part of November 1953. _ Iran SS SS aS SS pany under the "Irano-Soviet Trade Quotas" fortheyear April 1, 1953, to March 31, 1954. The Iranian firm is successor to the Fisheries Company (Sherkat Shilat--a joint Irano-Soviet enterprise) which was dissolved following the expiration of the Soviet fish- eries concession in January 1953. The 48-million-rial quota was established following a prolonged series of meetings between representatives of the Iranian National Fisheries Company and representatives of the Soviet Government. It was finally agreed that the Soviet share (50 percent) of the value of the Caspian fisheries installations would be settled in kind. The first shipment of fishery products was scheduled to take place in October 1953. According to officials of the Iranian National Fisheries Company, the first transaction involves 10 metric tons of fish and 6 tons of caviar, which will be delivered to the Soviets at the Caspian Sea port of Bandar Pahlevi. The value of this shipment will be applied against the amount eventually determined as the total due the Soviet Union for its share of the installations. It is understood that the Soviet Union will provide its own transportation, althoughIran- ian newspapers have reported that Iranian flag vessels will be used, states an October 22 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Tehran. —Se == Italy FISHERY PRODUCTS IMPORTS: Italy imported in 1951 a total of 1,117 metric tons of canned salmon and 55,620 tons of salted cod, reports the September 1953 World Fish Trade, a Danish fishery magazine. Of this, Canada supplied 1,015 metric tons of can- ned salmon and 9,075 tons of salted cod. In 1952 Italy reserved approximately C$3 mil- lion for the purchase from Canada of canned salmon and a similar amount for saltedcod. However, the import of canned salmon from Canada was likely to decline in 1953 as Italy must import canned salmon from Japan in the value of approximately C $200,000 in ac- cordance with a new trade agreement between the two countries. Canned fishery products imported by Italy consist mostly of mackerel, tuna, anchovy, and salmon. Sale of canned salmon on the Italian market decreased after World War II February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 43 due to increased imports of canned mackerel from Norway and the Netherlands. In It- aly salmon is normally considered a luxury food and usually limited to the less expen- sive chum salmon. Salmon is more popular than mackerel, but more expensive. It is estimated that the Italian market can consume about 80,000 cases of canned mackerel and 50,000 cases of canned salmon each year. OK OK Ok MODERN ITALIAN RETAIL FISH MARKET. consumption of fresh fish. During fasting periods there is, on the contrary, a tendency to eat fresh fish only on one weekday. A concentrated one-day demand influences quality, creates distribution difficulties, and on the whole affects the fresh-fish trade. Thisleads to a greater demand for cured fish, reports the September 1953 World Fish Trade, a fishery periodical. CANNED AND FROZEN TUNA EXPORT QUOTA TO U. S. MAY BE RAISED: Only 2,000 short tons of frozen tuna and about 80,000 cases of canned tuna remain in the Jap- anese export quota to the United States for the year ending March 1954, according to the Japanese press (Nippon Suisan Shimbun, November 12). The 1953/54 winter alba- core season began in December, and there were rumors about increasing the quotas. Judging from past statistics, the winter albacore fishery was expected to produce about 15,000 tons of exportable tuna, so even if the remaining quota was taken to be 4,000 tons, it would be short by about 10,000 tons. The freezers hoped for a quota in- crease of around 8,000 tons, and the canners desired a considerable export quota. The canners did not plan on exporting their entire production before the end of the period, but planned to keep a "running stock" for export in April and May. In any case, they expected to find it difficult to get through to the end of the year with only the amount of the quota remaining in mid-November. 44 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 Because of the frozen tuna tariff problem, the Japanese Fisheries Agency had not reached any concrete decision as to whether to increase the quotas in this period or to permit an advance use of the next year's quotas. In either case it appeared that ex- ports within the period of about 10,000 tons over the quota would be unavoidable. Mk Ok Ok FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR TUNA VESSEL CONSTRUCTION: The Japanese tuna fish- ery plans to build 230 steel vessels with a total tonnage of 61,500 tons, and 1,280 wooden vessels totaling 107,400 tons, in the period from 1954 to 1958, states the Japanese press (Suisan Shuho, November 1). At the end of 1952 there were 1,165 tuna boats (103,814 tons); and by the end of 1958 there will be 2,225 tuna boats (231,320 tons) in the Japanese fishery. The planned cost of this construction will be 2.1 billion yen(US $5. 8 million) for the steel vessels, and 3.5 billion yen (US$9.8 million) for the wooden vessels, to be financed for the most part by the Japanese Government. The tuna pro- duction goal for 1958 is 552,775 metric tons as compared with 237,026 tons in 1952, % OK OK Ok AMERICAN SAMOA TUNA CANNERY REPRESENTATIVES VISIT JAPAN: Officials Samoan Government visited Japan for two weeks early in November 1953 to study Ja- pan's raw tuna supply potential and the prospects for the winter albacore tuna fishery. The party included the owner of a refrigerated mothership connected with the firm. It was anticipated that the party's trip would have as its objective negotiations with Japa- nese tuna fishermen in connection with the beginning of operations at the Samoan can- nery. The industry watched this visit with interest, reports the Japanese press (Nip- pon Suisan Shimbun, November 16). The Japan Tuna Boat Owners! Association had earlier made a formal bid to the U. S. company concerning the sale of raw tuna and hoped that a new route for its Japa- nese tuna business would be established. However, it was said that a Tokyo Fishing Company was already carrying on negotiations with the U. S. company and it is thought that perhaps the present visit may have as its objective the closing of a formal contract with the Tokyo firm. Nothing is generally known about the scope of the transaction. ORK Ke TUNA MOTHERSHIP EXPEDITION TO INDIAN OCEAN: The first Japanese tuna mothership expedition to the Indian Ocean was scheduled to sail from Hakodate the latter part of December 1953, contingent upon receipt of a license from the Japanese Fisher- ies Agency. The fleet consists of 10catcher boats, 2smallfishing vessels, 2 launches, and 1 research vessel. Included among these vessels is a 3,650-ton refrigerator ship (Ginyo Maru). The production goal is 1,860 metric tons. The expedition plans to oper- ate principally in the area of Timor in the Indian Ocean and will spend some time en route fishing in the vicinity of Formosa. Operations will continue for approximately two months, reports a November 12 U. S. consular dispatch from Sapporo. The plan is to fish in the Indian Ocean around 10° S., 118° E. for yellowfin tuna, albacore tuna, marlin, sharks, and Indian tuna, according to the Japanese press (Nippon Suisan Shim- bun, December 14, 1953). % OK OK OK "SAIPAN" COMPLETES ITS FIRST JAPANESE TUNA MOTHERSHIP EXPEDITION: The Japanese tuna mothership Saipan Maru (purchased from a United States firm early in 1953) returned to Tokyo on November 7, 1953, with 1,655 metric tons of long-line caught fish, 580 tons over its original production goal, according to the Japanese press (Nippon Suisan Shimbun, November 16). The Saipan Maru fleet was reported to be op- erating in the Gilbert Islands area. 2k ok ok Ok February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45 CANNED FISH EXPORTS INCREASE IN JANUARY-JUNE 1953: There was a sub- stantial increase in Japanese exports of canned fish during the first six months of 1953 reports the Japanese press (Suisan Shuho, November 1). The principal items were ‘ tuna in brine which increased by 151,000 cases over the January-June period in 1952 crab meat by 31,000 cases, oil-packed tuna by 82,000 cases, sardines in tomato sauce by 100,000 cases, and saury in tomato sauce by 125,000 cases. Other canned goods ee ce slightly, but there was an over-all net increase in exports of all can- ned goods. The problem of United States inspection of canned sardines has been brought closer to a solution, and future export prospects for this product look bright, according to Japanese reports. OK OK Ok Ok was established in May 1949 to manufacture sodium alginate from low-grade tangle, a November 12, 1953, U. S. consular dispatch from Sapporo reports. Tangle (an edible seaweed) abounds in the waters surrounding Hokkaido, The better grades are sold for domestic consumption and export to other Asiatic countries and the poorer grades are presently utilized as fertilizer or discarded. The Hokkaido Prefectural Government has assisted the company by the loan of machinery. Due to poor management and production difficulties, the actual production of sodi- um alginate is not expected to begin until the spring of 1954. The company expects to receive a 25,000,000-yen (US$69,000) loan from the Development Bank (a central gov- ernment agency) to facilitate the construction of a factory in Semani, Hokkaido. Annual production of powdered sodium alginate is expected to amount to 120 metric tons per year, principally for export to the United States, the largest consumer of sodium algi- nate. According to estimates made by the company, the purchase price of low-grade tangle will be 160 yen per kan (US$116 per metric ton), and five metric tons of tangle will yield one metric ton of sodium alginate. The total production cost of sodium algi- nate is estimated at 550,000 yen (US$1,525 per metric ton) and the domestic selling price at 800,000 yen (US$2,215 per metric ton). The total estimated Japanese production during 1952 was 182 metric tons of pow- dered sodium alginate and 200 metric tons in the paste form. OK OK RUSSIA SEEKS FISHING VESSELS IN EXCHANGE FOR FISH: Soviet Russia desires to barter trade with Japan. Fish and fishing vessels are included in the preliminary arrangements, reports an October 27, 1953, U. S. Embassy dispatch from Tokyo. This information was obtained on a trip to Moscow by officials of a Japanese fisheries firm and a coal firm. Arrangements include the Russian export of fish to Japan in exchange for Japanese fishing vessels and other items. % ke Ok OK Korean discussions, which included a discussion of the seizure of Japanese fishing ves- sels by Korean authorities, were discontinued on October 21, 1953. These talks had been resumed on October 6, 1953. Statements on the breakdown of the talks were issued by a Japanese Foreign Office Spokesman and by the Korean Minister Kim Yong-Sik. In his statement, the Korean Minister indicated that Japanese explanations of cer- tain statements made by the Japanese Chief Delegate in the meeting of the Property Claims Subcommittee held on October 15 were not satisfactory. The Korean Minister closed his statement as follows: ''...He also stated in today's (October 21, 1953) ple- 46 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 nary session that those statements were made in his capacity as the Japanese Chief Delegate. The Korean delegation demanded that he withdraw the absurd statement and admit his previous statement was wrong. Unless he does so, the Korean side willfind it impossible to continue to attend the talks since his statement is utterly unacceptable." The statements attributed to the Japanese Chief Delegate had no reference to fish- eries matters. On October 22, 1953, a Japanese Foreign Office spokesman issued a statement re- garding the breakdown of Japanese-Korean negotiations. statement follow: "The Japanese-Korean talks unfortunately broke down yesterday. This seems to have been a premeditated scheme of the Korean side. "How did the talks get started? On September 6 of this year the Korean Government launched an indiscriminate and wholesale seizure of Japanese fishing boats. The boats thus seized illegally up to now number as many as 41, and their crews to- tal 484 persons. On top of that, a Japanese Gov- ernment vessel belonging to the Fishery Agency was also captured.... "Dr. Syngman Rhee in January last year drew a line on the high seas between Japan and Korea, and called it the Syngman Rhee Line. The sea area so delineated was termed "Korean waters. "' At one spot, this line extends as far out on thehigh seas as 170 nautical miles from the Korean coast- line. "Japan proposed a Japanese-Korean conference on the fishery question, in order to put an end to such indiscriminate seizure. The Korean side de- clined to limit the subject to the fishery question alone, but insisted that it should be discussed in parallel with other issues pending between the two countries.... However, we accepted the Korean proposal without complaint. "The agenda of the conference included mainly (1) the fishery question, (2) establishment of formal relations between the two countries, (3) the status of Koreans in Japan (numbering about 600,000), and (4) claims.... . Japan does not find itself in a position to implore the Korean delegate to continue the talks, although the indiscriminate seizure of Japanese Pertinent excerpts from this fishing boats by the Korean Government is still go- ing on. "The Koreans contend that the so-called Rhee Line is necessary for the conservation of fishery resources. They say that their fishermen cannot catch enough fish because Japanese fishing boats are catching all the fish in the sea. (Ironically, fresh fish sold by the Republic of Korea to Japan amounted to about a million U. S. dollars last year. This shows that they are catching more fish than they consume at home.) "It is true that the Japanese fishing fleet is overwhelmingly larger than that of Korea. This is attributable to the initiative and industry of the Jap- anese for which they are not to be blamed. Their annual catch before the War averaged approximately 4.5 million metric tons, and is now about 4.1 mil- lion metric tons. Most of the catch is consumed at home. "It is necessary in the waters between Japan and Korea, as in other waters throughout the world, to conserve fishery resources. The Japanese side is prepared to adopt measures of restraint as pro- visional steps, with regard to the methods of fish- ery (for example, the brightness of fish-luring lamps) and the area of fishery, as provisional steps until such time as scientific data are collected and exact measures of restraint are determined on the basis of such data. It is further prepared to fur- nish the Republic of Korea with fishing boats and nets to correct the imbalance between the Japanese and Korean fishing fleets. The Japanese believe that there are plenty of fish for both the Japanese and Koreans to catch in the waters of Japan and Korea...."' * KK OK GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON FAILURE OF JAPANESE-AUSTRALIAN FISHER- IES NEGOTIATIONS: The Japanese Government submitted the following statement to the Australian Government on September 10 after the fisheries negotiations between the two governments failed, reports a September 29 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Can- berra, Australia: "1, The Japanese-Australian negotiations for a fisheries agreement, which were begun on April 13 in Canberra, have failed after the deliberations of more than 4 months. Both sides were agreedon the necessity for conservation measures regarding pearl-shell resources in the Arafura Sea, but no agreement could be reached on provisional meas- ures concerning the operational areas and the size of catch for Japanese and Australian luggers ow- ing to the attitude of the Australian Government that it could not recognize the participation of Jap- anese luggers on an equal footing in the southern part of the Arafura Sea and adjacent waters, de- spite their pre-war activities. The Japanese Gov- ernment desires to state its basic position and to make clear the course of the negotiations. "2. It is an established principle of interna- tional law that the fisheries resources on the high seas are common property of all nations, and February 1954 should be open for development and utilization by all nations. In case regulation should become nec- essary in order to ensure the maximum sustained productivity of the resources, such regulation must be made equally applicable to the nationals of all countries who participate, or may participate in the future, in the development and utilization of those resources. The most appropriate precedent in this respect is, in the opinion of the Japanese Government, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. The formula adopted in this Convention provides for limitations on total catch, physical size, operational areas and length of season, and permits the participating countries to compete freely on an equal footing within these common restrictions. With regard to pearl-shell fishing, because of its sedentary nature, it is pos- sible to determine regulations based on more sci- entific grounds as further research is made onthe pearl shell resources. If only the participating countries were willing to co-operate, the enforce- ment of the regulations could be carried out with- out difficulty. "3. The initial Japanese proposal, based on the above principles, envisaged a convention, pro- viding for (1) the establishment of an international commission, composed of the representatives of the signatory Powers; (2) the formulation by this commission of regulations based on scientific re- search; (3) the development and utilization in the Arafura Sea of pearl shell resources by the luggers of the interested countries under regulations de- signed to ensure a maximum sustained productivity. The Australian Government, claiming a paramount position on the grounds of geographical propinquity, proposed to reserve the known rich fishing grounds on the high seas off Thursday Island and Broome exclusively for Australian luggers, allocating to the Japanese luggers some pearling grounds inthe areas to the west and to the east of Darwin. Even with regard to the latter areas, the majority of known banks were to be pearled exclusively by Australian luggers. In addition, the luggers of each country were to be excluded from pearling within the fishing grounds allocated to the other country. Inthe Australian proposal no consider- ation has been given to the possibility of luggers of nationality other than Australizan or Japanese op- erating within the areas to be covered by the con- vention, This proposal purports to establish sub- stantially exclusive Australian jurisdiction over the pearl shell resources outside Australianterri- torial waters, and rejects the principle of multi- lateral international co-operation on an equal foot- ing for the conservation and development of such resources on the high seas. "4, The Japanese Government is convinced that an international partition of high seas fishing grounds not only contravenes the established prin- ciples of international law concerning the freedom of the high seas but also runs counter to the objec- tive of the conservation and development of fisher- ies resources. However, desirous of facilitating an amicable conclusion of the negotiations, the Japanese Delegation submitted on July 2 as its maximum concession a proposal, effective for the first three years, to permit Japanese luggers to operate in the areas to the west and to the east of Darwin, excluding the two major fishing grounds around Thursday Island and off Broome. More- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 47 over, it was made clear that, as in the initial Jap- anese proposal, there was no objection to Austral- ian luggers operating with Japanese in these areas. This proposal was made with the understanding that it would be the joint responsibility of all partici- pating parties to make investigation and research for pearl shell resources within all areas covered by the convention. The period of three years was stipulated because it was anticipated that within this period it would become possible to establish rea- sonable limitations on the catch in each area based on new scientific data. Moreover, it was made clear that the Japanese Government was prepared to discuss "limitations by countries on catch" in order to prevent overfishing in the areas where Japanese and Australian luggers intermingled. "5, While this Japanese proposal of July 2 permitted operations by Australian luggers in all areas, it indicated that Japanese luggers would op- erate only in limited areas, and in fact Australian luggers were to be given a far more advantageous position. Nevertheless, the Australian Government rejected the Japanese proposal, insisting that Japan should concede to Australia "the major responsi- bility" in the areas where intermingling would take place. This, in the view of the Japanese Govern- ment, would actually amount to treating the south- ern part of the Arafura Sea as if it were Austral- ian territorial waters insofar as pearl shell fish- ing was concerned. The attitude of the Australian Government disregarded totally the contributions made in the past by Japanese divers in the develop- ment of the pearl-shell resources in the Arafura Sea. "6. It would be appropriate here to describe briefly the pearlshelling activities of Japanese lug- gers in the Arafura Sea in 1953. The Japanese plans were communicated to the Australian Govern- ment through the Ambassador in Tokyo on October 30, 1952. The proposed areas of operation were made clear also on February 16, 1953. These Japanese plans called for the dispatch of 25 luggers during the period from March to November to areas including the fishing grounds to the west and to the east of Darwin and off the Aru Islands for pearling and research. Since it was the first Japanese op- eration in more than 10 years, the pearling was planned on a modest scale, fixing the maximum catch at a low figure of 1,250 tons. It may be added that in the peak pre-war period, as many as 165 Japanese luggers operated, with a catch amounting to over 3,000 tons. In March, the month in which the departure of the pearling fleet was scheduledto take place, the Australian Government proposed to open negotiations for a fisheries agreement in Can- berra on April 13, but said that it would not enter into negotiations unless the departure of the Japa- nese luggers was delayed for at least one month, because the presence of Japanese luggers in the waters near Australia would hamper the negotia- tions. The Japanese Government had consistently entertained the view that, in the absence of an in- ternational agreement, it was free to permit fish- ing by Japanese vessels in any area on the high seas, and the Japanese Government was convinced that the pearling by Japanese luggers on such a limited scale as mentioned above would not preju- dice the negotiations in any sense. However, inits earnest desire for an early conclusion of an inter- national agreement regarding pearl-shell fishing in 48 the Arafura Sea, the Japanese Government disre- garded the tremendous economic loss and agreed to the Australian proposal. Thus, the departure of the pearling fleet was postponed until the middle of May. Operations, which were commenced early in June, were confined to only two banks and the catch totalled 311 tons, after two months, at the end of which it was evident that, unless the luggers moved to other banks, the above two banks would be depleted. On the other hand, there was no for- mal response to the Japanese proposal of July 2 concerning pearling by both Australian and Japa- nese luggers on the three banks within the area west of Darwin, and the areas to the east of Dar- win. The Japanese Ambassador in Canberra in- formed the Australian Government on August 10 that the Japanese luggers would commence opera- tions on the above-mentioned three banks in the middle of August, and would then move to the fish- ing grounds east of Darwin in the middle of Septem - ber. According to this plan, the entire fishing area for the Japanese luggers this year excluded the fishing grounds near Thursday Island and Broome, where pre-war Japanese luggers had op- erated; it also excluded the two banks closer to Australian territorial waters, and, since it was the first post-war operations, instructions were issued not to pearl within 10 miles of the coast throughout the areas to be fished. The Japanese COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 Government'is convinced that the Australian Gov- ernment will readily understand that this Japanese plan was quite modest and would in no way consti- tute a threat to Australian luggers operating from Darwin. "7, Unfortunately, the conference has been called off by the Australian Delegation. The Japa- nese Government wishes to declare that, being deeply interested in the conservation of pearl-shell resources in the Arafura Sea, it is prepared to re- sume at any time negotiations based on a fair and reasonable basis. The Japanese Government also declares that, despite the absence of an interna- tional agreement, the Japanese Government will voluntarily undertake that: a. The conservation measures such as mini- mum size of shell, maximum total catch, number of vessels, etc., will be strictly observed by Japanese luggers; b. Japanese luggers now operating will not pearl within ten miles of the coast; c. All possible measures will be taken to pre- vent complications between Japanese and Australian fishermen." JAPANESE GOVERNMENT Netherlands U. S. AID FOR FISHERIES: The United States and the Netherlands Governments recently reached agreement on a grant of florins (equivalent to US$1.5 million) from the so-called Moody fund (counterpart funds), reports the October 1953 Holland Fish Trade, A TYPICAL LUGGER=TRAWLER OF THE NETHERLANDS. a Netherlands trade magazine. This raises the total available amount for the Netherlands to US$3 million (in Dutch currency). Of this amount, about fls. 2 million (US$526,000) is destined for im- proved marketing and distribution of fishery products--fls. 1.5 million (US $395,000) in the form of loans. It is planned to provide for a train- ing center for retailers and wholesalers, which can at the same time serve as a demonstration center for housewives. The sale of ready-to-eat products and of frozen fish will be encouraged by the development of modern packing meth- ods. The project provides for the estab- lishment of a number of cold storages in the eastern and southern parts of the country; and to make loans available for retailers to improve shops and purchase containers and other selling equipment for frozen fish. Another part of the program aims to raise efficiency in the fish canneries and to provide demonstration facilities on modern smoking processes in the Laboratory for Fishery Research. Finally, it is intended to make the necessary funds available for building an installation for the mechanized unloading of fish. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 49 To carry out the project, a Central Control Board will be set up composed of rep- resentatives of the fishing industry; the labor unions; the Marketing Board; the Minis- try of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; the consumers; and the Bank for the Middle Classes. The funds will be mainly supplied through the above-mentioned bank. The vast program will be carried out within three years. HK ee GOVERNMENT PROPOSES AID TO FISHERIES: The Netherlands Government has to improve the production, distribution, and processing of fishery products, states the October 1953 Holland Fish Trade, a Netherlands fishery magazine. A sum of fls. 550,000 (US$145,000) will be made available for the building of a new research vessel. It is planned to have about a 100-foot cutter built specially fitted for scientific andtech- nical work on board. The Government believes that the Netherlands should take part in the international investigation of the North Sea with an up-to-date and well-equipped vessel, the moreso because the Netherlands has great interests in the herring catches in these waters. The present research vessel Antoni Leeuwenhoek, a small cutter, was originally built for the fishery in coastal waters, and has only a limited range. Therefore, it could only be used in the southern part of the North Sea below the line Den Helder-Yar- mouth, In order to acquire technical installations and to fit out the Central Laboratory for Fishery Research, an amount of about fls. 200,000 (US$53,000) is thought to be neces- sary. The further outlay required for the development of the fish-canning industry is estimated at 150,000 guilders (US$40,000). o Norway FISHERIES TRENDS, AUGUST-OCTOBER 1953: Norwegian fishing activities were normal during the third quarter of 1953, a November 2 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Oslo reports. The sardine catch was good. The tuna catch, on the other hand, was only about 7,000 metric tons as compared with about 11,000 tons during the correspond- ing period in 1952, Export possibilities for klipfish (dry-salted cod) were not favorable, Stocks were reported to total about 40,000 tons, or more than at any time since the end of World War Il. Because of high prices paid to domestic fishermen, Norway is having difficulty in competing with Iceland for foreign markets, especially Brazil. World market prices for dried fish have declined about 20 percent during the past few months. a oe oe Ke COASTAL HERRING FISHERY FUTURE UNCERTAIN: The future of the Norwegian coastal herring fishery is uncertain, warns the Director of the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate's Ocean Research Institute in Bergen. The big question is whether the pres- ent period of abundant herring shoals every winter is nearing its end, according to a November 19 release from the Norwegian Information Service. The Director commented that the volume of the spring herring catches in waters around Karmoy Island already has been sharply reduced. The herring appears now to be spawning on banks in the North Sea and Skagerak, rather than along the west coast of Norway. These and sundry problems will be thoroughly investigated during the winter cruise of the research vessel G. O. Sars. The findings will be studied with keen interest. 50 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 The Institute in Bergen has in recent years conducted extensive investigations cen- tered on the habits and migration paths of the herring. As the result of large-scale tagging, it has been established that the Iceland herring and the fat and spring herring off the Norwegian coast all belong to the same family. 5 Panama LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER NINE-MILE TERRITORIAL LIMITS BILL: A bill setting nine miles as the territorial limits off the coast of Panama was recently pre- sented to the Panamanian Legislative Assembly, according to the Panama press (La Hora, October 9, 1953). The press release states: "The nation has the faculty," the bill says, ''to fix the continental and insular ma- rine shelf of the Republic which is limited in either ocean by the isobar to 200 meters, in other words, the line joining the points at this depth. The nation also reserves the right to establish the demarcation of our territorial waters and the zones under whose protection, control and surveillance marine life comes, and to change or alter these demarcations in accordance with circumstances or conveniences that might arise as a result of new discoveries, or extensions that might appear in the future, or as a result of international agreements regulating this matter, to which the nation might be asigner. "By territorial sea is understood to mean those waters bordering on our coasts up to nine marine miles, from the point of lowest tide over the firm and insular coast, in lakes and river banks flowing into the sea." The bill was sent to the Legislating Commission of Territorial Limits for study. It is possible the deputies will ask for an opinion from legal advisers. joo Peru SHRIMP FISHING OPERATIONS: There are four companies operating shrimp fish- ing vessels in offshore waters from Puerto Pizarro, Peru, the U. S. Embassy atLima reported recently. These companies operate a total of 16 fishing vessels, mostly for- mer tuna purse seiners with a beam trawl having a spread of 22 feet. In addition, there are two freezerships with freezing capacities of 6 to 10 metric tons of shrimp a day and a storage capacity of about 200 metric tons. This shrimp fishery began in June 1953. Puerto Pizarro is near Tumbes and practically on the Ecuador border. The average catch per vessel is about 220 pounds of shrimp per day. There are two species of shrimp caught--a small one averaging 30 to the pound (heads off), and a large species averaging 12 to the pound (heads off). Only the larger species is exported. Shrimp are usually packed in 5-pound containers. October production amounted to a- bout 60,000 pounds. Republic of the Philippines MODIFICATION OF TRADE AGREEMENT WITH U. 8. PROPOSED: On May 5, 1953, the Government of the Philippines submitted to the United States certain proposals for modification of the 1946 Philippine Trade Agreement. According to reports con- tained in the Department of State Bulletins of September 7 and October 19, 1953, these proposals provide: February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 51 1. that the present agreement be modified to provide for limited and reciprocal free trade between the two countries in such a manner that full duties would be imposed on all imports of each country except for those commodities which by agreement of the two Governments would be included in duty-free lists; 2. that the provision of the present agreement with respect to currency matters be eliminated, leaving the Philippine Government in complete control of its currency, subject only to control and regulations pursuant to its commitments to the International Monetary Fund; and 3. that provisions of the present executive agreement covering immigration and the rights and privileges extended to citizens in the fields of public utilities, land ownership, and exploitation of natural resources be made reciprocal. In view of the importance of this matter and the careful study given it by the com- mittees designated by the President of the Philippines, the United States as a necessary first step is making a careful examination of the proposals and other aspects of current economic relations between the two countries. For this purpose the United States Government has established an executive com- mittee consisting of representatives of the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, Labor, State, and Treasury, the Foreign Operations Administration, and the Tariff Commission. This committee, which will coordinate its activities with thePres- . ident's Commission on Foreign Economic Policy, is actively studying the Philippine proposals, including the additional information made available in the Philippine note of August 24 with respect to the various commodities which the Philippine Government suggests for inclusion in the selective free trade list. The Philippine Government has provided lists of items which it proposes for se- lective free trade, and has given an indication of its attitude with regard to the period to be covered by the revised Agreement. Fishery products were not on the selective free trade list. Information on duties to be imposed on imports from the United States not included on the free list will have to wait the tariff revision now in preparation by the Philippine Tariff Commission. This was expected by the end of November 1953. The Committee will first be required to determine whether, in its opinion, a basis exists for renegotiation of the 1946 Philippine Trade Agreement. The position of the United States on the Philippine proposals must await the conclusions of this Committee. Under the Philippine Trade Act of 1946 and the exclusive trade agreement between the United States and the Philippines, ''United States articles'' are exempt from Philip- pine custom duties. Fishery products of United States production, such as canned salmon, sardines, mackerel, or herring are free of duty. The free provisions of this Act are due to expire on July 4, 1954, when duties would be applied to United States products at percentages of the basic duties, increasing in increments of 5 percent yearly until at the end of 20 years the full basic rates of duty would apply. Basic duties are those applied to products of other countries. Canned salmon, sardines, mackerel, and herring are dutiable at 15 percent ad valorem. Other fishery products are dutiable at rates up to 25 percent ad valorem. Saudi Arabia FISHERY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: A large-scale fishery project administered by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will be carried out along the Red Sea coast of Saudi-Arabia and in the Persian Gulf, reports the Septem- ber 1953 World Fish Trade, a Danish fishery periodical. It is likely that modern Dan- ish fishery methods will be applied to the primitive fishery now carried on in the area. An Egyptian fishery biologist has been assigned as leader of the project and he has visited Denmark to study its fisheries. 52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 The project will cost about US$3 million and will consist of 12 ultramodern fishery centers with quick freezers, ice-making plants, and fresh-water distilling layouts a- long the 1,000-mile coastline. Also, it is possible that Danish cutters will be exported later. South-West Africa FISHERY RESEARCH: The South-West Africa Administration has two scientific research vessels, one stationed at Luderitz and the second at Walvis Bay, an October 28, 1953, U. S. Consular dispatch from Cape Town reports. Both vessels are spe- cially equipped to do research work on spiny lobster and pilchard. The research proj- ects conducted by these vessels are as follows: density of the shoals; finding the spawning areas; checking on breeding habits; checking on rate of depletion due to com- mercial fishing; and checking on subsequent rate of replenishment. The scientists on board take water temperatures in various areas and at different depths during day and night; and it has been found that water temperatures have a defi- nite effect on the habits of fish. Currents and the salinity of the water also determine the activities and whereabouts of the fish, although this applies less to spiny lobster than to pilchard which rely on plankton for their food. It is now claimed that the amount of plankton in the ocean increases gradually north of the Cape until it reaches a height at Mossamedes, Angola. In addition, there are two land-based laboratories to complete the work on final analyses. There are indications that there is at least one breeding area for pilchard outside and to the north of Walvis Bay. The Officer in charge of Fisheries stated that no more than the six licenses to fish and process pilchard will be granted until it has been established that the resources are such that more licenses are warranted. At Walvis Bay, however, two licenses were granted recently for the processing of white fish (any fish other than pilchard and spiny lobster). These plants will be engaged in smoking, freezing, cleaning, and dehydrating white fish, as well as producing fish meal. One of these is erecting a £32,000 (US$90,000) factory with capital raised locally. The Administration is seeking more scientists for fishery research work. They require "university trained men, who have majored in zoology and chemistry." The value of the fish products of the South-West Territory has increased from £400,000 (US$1.1 million) in 1948 to nearly E.5 million (US$14 million) in 1953. CD Spanish Morocco FISHERY PRODUCTS IMPORTS-EXPORTS, 1952: Total imports of fishery prod- ucts into Spanish Morocco in 1952 amounted to 1,548 metric tons, valued at 2,450,998 pesetas (US$62,200), an October 28 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Tangier reports. Spanish Moroccan exports of fishery products in 1952 totaled 2,952 metric tons, valued at 54,282,734 pesetas (US$1,378,000). February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53 Surinam shrimp are available along the entire coastline of Surinam, a recent experimental shrimp fishing survey revealed. Between 200 and 300 pounds of shrimp could be caught in an hour, according to the survey made with trawlers over an area of 200 square miles. There is reason to believe that shrimp can be caught practically throughout the year, reports the September 1953 Caribbean Commission Monthly Information Bulletin. The main problem is to find a market for the shrimp. Surinam itself consumes about 30 tons of dried shrimp, or about 600,000 pounds fresh weight. If there are ex- port possibilities, considerably larger quantities could be caught. Now that more is known about the shrimp fishing possibilities in Surinam, private firms might perhaps be interested in the sale of dried as well as frozen shrimp. In addition to shrimp, the experimental fishing also yielded catches of scalefish, skinfish, sardines, rays, and sharks. Sweden CONSUMPTION OF FISHERY PRODUCTS, 1952/53: The total production of fishery products in Sweden during the fiscal year ending July 31, 1953, amounted to 292,600 metric tons, reports a November 16 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Copenhagen. Inthe same period imports totaled 32,000 metric tons. The available supply of fishery prod- ucts totaled 324,600 tons. Of this total, 72,100 tons were used for domestic human con- sumption (a drop from the previous year), 136,700 tons in domestic industrial con- sumption, and 115,800 tons were exported. The supplies on hand as of August 31, 1953, were not known but were estimated to be very small. The amount of fishery products utilized for human consumption in 1951/52 totaled 86,900 tons. TAT Union of South Africa PILCHARD CONSERVATION RECOMMENDED: As the result of a recent survey of the South African pilchard-maasbanker fishery, the Director of Fisheries made the following recommendations for the conservation of the industry, reports the October 1953 issue of The South African Shipping News and Fishing Industry Review, a South Af- rican trade magazine: (1) The combined annual catch of pilchards and maasbankers for the purpose of canning and/or the production of fish meal, fish oil, or fertilizer be limited to 250,000 metric tons; in pursuance thereof, a closed season of September 15 to December 31 be imposed, provided that if by August 15 it is estimated that not less than 250,000 tons will be landed, and/or spawning will be in full swing, by the end of August, the closed season shall commence on September 1, other- wise fishing may continue up to September 23 at the discretion of the Director of Fisheries. (2) The number of boats in the pilchard-maasbanker fishery be limited to those in commission, building, and/or firmly ordered and accepted for building as of January 31, 1953; no increase of this number to be permitted without the prior approval of a Boat Limitation Committee consisting of four fishermen's repre- sentatives and four factories' representatives under the chairmanship of the Director of Fisheries. 54 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 (3) Section 4 of the Sea Fisheries Act, 1940 (Act No. 10 of 1940, as amended) be amended to provide for powers to (a) prescribe the quantities of fish, or any one or more species of fish, that, in any one year, may be treated in any one factory, (b) limit the number and capacity of plants that may be used generally or in any defined area for the canning of fish, and/or for the manufacture of fish meal, oil, or fertilizer, (c) prohibit any person from using in any area any vessel for manufacturing fish meal, oil, or fertilizer, or for the freezing of spiny lobster tails or for the canning of fish, (d) prescribe the quantities of canned fish, fish meal, fish oil and/or fish fertilizer that may be produced in any one year by any one factory, and (e) by notice in the Government Gazette or in writing call upon any person to furnish any required information rele- vant to the purposes of this Section. (4) The schedule to the Sea Fisheries Act, 1940, be amended to provide for an additional fee of £5 (US$14) per year for every fishing boat engaged in catching pilchards and/or maasbankers for canning or the production of fish meal, oil, or fertilizer. The highly-mechanized and heavily capitalized South African pilchard-maasbanker fishery and industry started in the Union in 1943/44 with a seasonal catch of 7,500 met- ric tons. In nine years the industry advanced with giant strides to a production of 543,000 tons. This production for the 1951/52 season was divided as follows: 294,000 tons was produced by the Union of South Africa and 249,000 tons by South-West Africa. The Director's recommendations were accepted by the Fisheries Development Ad- visory Council and are now covered by the provisions of the Sea Fisheries Act of 1940 Amendment Bill, which was passed in the Union House of Assembly in September 1953. wt. i United Kingdom FISHING INDUSTRY CONCERNED OVER MOVES OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES TOEX- TEND TERRITORIAL LIMITS: Following the lead set by Norway and Iceland, countries in various parts of the world are attempting to impose bans, controls, and restrictions on fishing in waters outside present three-mile limits. This has caused some concern to the British fishing industry, according to the October 31, 1953, issue of The Fishing News, a British fishery magazine. Following are the latest proposals: (1) Faroe Islanders have asked the Danish Government to negotiate with Britain a "four-mile" offshore limit to fishing around the Islands.1/ (2) The Australian Government has imposed strict territorial control over pearl fishing in the waters of the Continental shelf. (3) Six Scottish M.P.'s have tabled a motion in the House of Commons to close to foreign trawlers (as they are closed to British fishermen) the fishing grounds of the Moray Firth, Minch, and Clyde. (4) Fishermen at Harwich and Whitstable are urging that a 12-mile limit should be imposed to keep out French fishermen or, failing that, a line should be drawn from Harwich to Dover to protect the Thames Estuary. (5) British trawlermen are expressing fears that Greenland will be the next to seek an extension of territorial limits. (6) President Syngman Rhee has imposed the ''Rhee line, '' 60 miles off the South Korean coast, inside which only Korean vessels are allowed to fish. 1/SEE PAGE 36 OF THIS ISSUE. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55 The Faroese move may have extremely serious consequences for the British fish- ing industry. It has been made by the Faroe Social Democratic Party in the Danish Parliament, who have asked the Danish Government to negotiate with Great Britain with a view to extending Faroese territorial waters from three to four miles. The President of the British Trawlers' Federation said recently: 'This move is not entirely unexpected after what Iceland has done, but we do welcome the fact that the Danish Government has been asked to negotiate with us. As long as we have the opportunity of considering these questions on the basis of friendly negotiations then we shall be satisfied. It is satisfactory to see that Denmark is going about the matter in a proper manner." The chairman of the Hull Fishing Vessel Owners' Association commented: "I am afraid this is the modern trend. It seems to be the policy of these countries to push a British ship off the seas wherever possible and that is why we are fighting Iceland so strongly...."' "This is just one more attempt to throw the British fisherman right off the seas," said the secretary of the Grimsby Trawler Officers' Guild. "It was obvious after the extension of Icelandic territorial waters that others would follow suit and we fear Green- land may be the next. We do not know yet whether the Faroese want a simple increase of a mile or whether base lines will be involved." OK Ok OK Ok plastic material and possessing unusual buoyancy has recently been put on the market by a Surrey firm, reports the October 31, 1953, issue of The Fishing News, a British trade journal. No repairs or maintenance are needed for the new float which is very light in weight, verminproof, odorless, noninflammable, resistant to gasoline, oil, and most chemicals; also, it will not support the growth of molds or bacteria. Tests were carried out by the Norwegian Fishery Directorate with various floats sunk to depths of about 400 feet. It was found that cork floats became waterlogged, that Norwegian plastic floats were compressed to less than half size, and that the new Brit- ish plastic floats were the only ones to be completely unaffected. Tests have shown that one of these floats of one cubic foot will support a weight of 60 pounds in water indefinitely. After two weeks’ complete immersion in water of 65°F. the moisture absorption was only 0.15 percent by volume. OK Kk k % ICELANDIC TRAWLER LANDS CATCH AT GRIMSBY: The Icelandic fishing trawler Ingolfur Arnarsson landed a catch of 462,000 pounds of fish at the port of Grimsby on October 14, 1953, the first such landing since the British ban on Icelandic trawlers at British ports, reports the October 17 issue of The Fishing News, a British trade periodical. This vessel was brought to Grimsby by the London financier who plans to bring many Icelandic trawlers to British ports, and market most of the fish through his own organization. The financier purchased most of the trip as there was only one bid of 56 boxes by one other firm. Another Icelandic trawler was scheduled to arrive at Grimsby late in October. Also, Icelandic trawlers were to land at two other ports, one of which will be Fraserburgh. Talking of the future, the London businessman said: "I have already secured a one- million-pound (US$2.8 million) order for frozen fish from a foreign country, and in the coming year I may have orders for six million pounds worth from this one government alone. It is not an Iron Curtain country. I hope to do most of this business through Grimsby, and in that case a lot of Grimsby fishermen and others in the industry, now out of work, will be in employment by this time next year." 56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 It has been reported that there was a substantial loss on the first trawler and that subsequent landings would be handled differently and no fish offered for sale at the auc- tions. The financier diverted several vessels to Germany since then and it was believed that the market there affords a better price and provides ready buyers. The small merchants who would like to participate successfully agitated for meetings to be held both at Grimsby and London to consider ''the rescinding of the ban on the buying of fish landed by Icelandic-owned vessels; the release of all members of the association from the effect of the ban in forbidding them to handle the catches of the Icelandic vessels; and the notification 'to all interested parties' of the result of the meeting."' Moreover, one of the groups of trawler owners also suggested lifting the ban on Icelandic landings to permit two vessels to land each week for the period of one month. During this time negotiations could be carried on for a settlement of the original dispute. The Icelandic Vice-consul then stated that a temporary easement of the ban would not suffice--it must be unconditionally lifted. He further pointed out that Icelandic trawler owners have agreed to supply the London man and that commitment would have to be honored in any case. The prompt reaction of dissenting trawler owners and officers to this proposal has been outright rejection. One group of trawler owners has announced plans to develop and improve their transport service throughout the United Kingdom by opening eight new depots in the south of England for their specially insulated aluminum trucks. This announcement has been countered by an offer from British Railways to reduce fish transport rates from the port of Hull to 28 of the main receiving centers by 40 percent, if all of thefish goes by rail beyond a 12- mile radius. Other phases of the London Businessman's activities which may be significant are that he has established himself in an office building in London and that he is seeking a site at a dock in Grimsby to build a factory and cold storage so that fish can be landed direct for cold storage and processing, an October 30 U. S. Embassy dispatch from London points out. HO OK OK OK VESSEL OWNERS TO CONTINUE ADVERTISING PROGRAM: Directors of the decided at a London meeting early in October 1953 to continue their advertising cam- paign for another year, according to the October 10 Fish Trades Gazette, a British trade magazine. Special effort will be directed towards the sale of cod and cod fillets and the estimated cost is in the vicinity of £50,000 (US$140,000). The Federation also agreed to contribute towards the expense of the hydrographic survey shortly to be undertaken by the White Fish Authority at a cost of £16,000 to £17,000 (US$44, 800-45,600). The British Treasury is also contributing towards the cost of the trip. Already the White Fish Authority chartered the British trawler Sletnes, which was scheduled to sail in mid-October. In its last annual report, the WFA stated that it was difficult to get cooperation from various sections of the fishing industry to provide figures of costs and profits. The Federation has decided that it shall not be liable to criticism on this score. Directors of the distant-water section have offered the WFA facilities to inspect the ac- counts of more than 300 distant-water vessels for a period covering the most recent two-year period. The meeting also considered the bringing into operation of the 1946 North Sea Over- Fishing Convention. It is the Federation's view thatthe provisions laid down by the Con- vention must not be altered in any way before they are due to become effective in April 1954. It considers that in the interests of conservation the mesh sizes agreed upon in ——— ———$— Se February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 57 1946 and subsequently affirmed at the first meeting of the signatory countries, after all had ratified the Convention, should not be modified in any way. This course should be maintained until the permanent commission has had an opportunity of considering the effects of the agreed provisions upon the fish stock. OK OK OK Ok FISHING VESSELS SOLD TO WEST GERMANY: A fleet of 48 fishing vessels has issue of The Fishing News, a British trade magazine. These vessels are the so-called "war cutters” captured from Germany during World War II presently being used by the German fisheries in the Baltic. They were originally naval vessels, but after 1945 the British authorities chartered them to Germans to help build a new German fishing fleet. The German Ministry for Economic Affairs granted a loan of about £100,000 (US $280,000) to finance the purchase. The German authorities plan to resell the vessels to individual fishermen. The vessels are to be modernized at an additional cost of about £100,000(US $280,000). Motors are to be improved, and among other things the vessels will be e- quipped with new echo sounders. Apart from the 48 British vessels, the German Baltic fisheries are using about 25 ex-United States naval vessels. Whether the Germans will buy these vessels is not clear. HOOK OK OK FROZEN WHALE MEAT PRODUCTION, 1952/53: Production of frozen whale meat on United Kingdom whaling vessels was estimated at 5,000 metric tons for the 1952/53 season, reports a May 20 U. S. Embassy dispatch from London. Almost the entire output was on the Balaenal/ which produced 4,845 tons compared with 2,530 tons in 1951/52. This meat is mostly consumed as animal food. Several years ago the British whaling expeditions made an effort to place whale meat on the United Kingdom market for human consumption and produced a substantial quantity of frozen and canned whale meat. The poor reception to the product and the problems associated with producing meat suitable for human consumption resulted in abandoning this type of production. Although there is a large amount of protein food potential available in whale meat, consumer acceptance of this food in the United King- dom is very limited and so far it has not proved profitable for the companies to produce it. With an improving supply of conventional meats, the prospects for greater use sre limited. The small supply of whale meat used for human consumption in the United Kingdom now originates from land stations in Norway and Iceland. United Kingdom imports2/ of humanly edible and other frozen whale meat in 1952 amounted to 7,700 metric tons, compared with 6,270 tons in 1951. The bulk of this was used for animal food. hereon. T/OTHER PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY THE BALAENA WERE 4,215 METRIC TONS OF DRIED MEAT AND LIVER MEALS, COMPARED WITH 3,568 IN 1951/52; LIVER O1L 30 TONS, COMPARED WITH 29 TONS; MEAT EXTRACT 134 TONS, COMPARED WITH 53 TONS. 2/\NCLUDING PRODUCTION OF UNITED KINGDOM EXPEDITIONS. 58 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 Venezuela FISHERIES PRODUCTION AND IMPORTS, JANUARY-JUNE 1953: Production: The total production of fishery products in Venezuela during the first six months of 1953 onthe basis of product weight amounted to 31,104 metric tons (table 1), reports an October 5 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Caracas. This is a 2-percent increase when compared with the 30,600 tons pro- duced in the similar period of 1952. Total oggeodo i ....... | production in 1952 amounted to 49,554 met- ric tons. Table 1 - Venezuelan Fishery Products Production (Product Weight), January- June 1953 and Year 1952 Supplies of fishery products in Vene- zuela are ample for the demand. Canned fish was considered to be in surplus supply in 1952. Imports: Venezuelan imports of fishery products during the January-June 1953 period amounted to 806 metric tons (table 2), valued at 2,284,506 bolivares (US$681, 940, Leading items imported into Venezuela were cod (bacalao), tuna, and salmon, in that order. [ Table 2 - Venezuelan Imports of Fishery Products, January-June 1953 and Year 1952 Imports From All Countries |_Imports From the United States Species January-June 1953 I Year 1952 January-June 1953 Siete} Value Quanti' Value Quantity] _ Value Metric Metric Metric Tons Bolivares US$ Tons | Bolivares US$ Tons | Bolivares US$ Cod (bacalao), salted....... 316 642, 652 191,836 480 931,559 278,077 27.5 74,688 225294 Cod (bacalao), unsalted .... 6 18,270 5,454 13 30,650 9,149 1.2 2,642 789 Herring, salted ........... 10 13,111 3,914 24 30,752 9,180 4.3 7,629 2,277 Herring, other ............ 14 23,453 7,000 40 54,775 16,351 9.94 17,785 5,309 Salmon, unsalted .......... 132 337,613 100,780 174 536,339 160,101 74.24]| 224,627 67,053 Sardines, salted ........... 2 2,931 875 13 18,144 5,416 = = = Sardines, other ............ 9 22,249 6,641 522 615,889 183, 843 3.81/ 11,958 3,570 Tuna, except dried and salted 163 545,757 162,912 265 909,175 271,396 42.01/| 146,619 43,767 (GERAENS o55c00gG0c0Dg00c000 1 32,154 9,598 2 55,494 16,565 5 1,777 2,321 Miscellaneous fish, salted .. 21 75,061 22,406 73 482,549 144,044 11.8 50,808 15,167 Miscellaneous fish, unsalted 71 624,628 186,456 19.52/ 46,440 13, 863 Miscellaneous shellfish .... 62 621,668 185,572 38.2 177,221 32 902 NON Gondopoonssooeaaaas 806 4,911,622 1,466,150 | 232.9 768,194 | 22 9,312 (iZeropasty MOSTLY CANNED. United States shipments of fishery products to Venezuela in the first six months of 1953 totaled 233 metric tons, valued at 768,194 bolivares (US$229,312). The largest item was salmon (74.2 metric tons), followed by tuna (42.0 tons), and salted cod (27.5 tons). INFRARED DRYING OF FISH IS TOO EXPENSIVE Comparison of fish drying by means ofinfrared lamps, hotair, and sunlight showed thatinfrared drying is practicable but uneconomical for low-priced products, according to Japanese experiments. --World Fisheries Abstracts, March-April 1953. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59 Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REVISED HADDOCK FISHING REGULATIONS FOR NORTHWEST ATLANTIC: Re- vised haddock fishing regulations for United States vessels ope: operating in the Northwest HADDOCK ( MELANOGRAMMUS AEGLEFINUS) Atlantic Convention area entered into force on January 1, The new regulations as published in the Federal Register of December 31, follow: Subchapter I—Northwest Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Part 155—Happock PROVISIONS Basis and purpose. At its Third An- nual Meeting held in New Haven, Connecticut, May 25-30, 1953, the Inter- national Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, a body created pur- suant to Article II of the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries signed at Washington, D. C., under date of February 9, 1949, adopted @ proposal amending a proposal previ- ously adopted by the Commission con- cerning the regulation of the taking of haddock in Sub-area 5 of the Conven- tion Area. The proposal adopted at the Third Annual Meeting recommends cer- tain changes in the definition of average mesh size in trawl nets when wet after use and authorizes the Contracting Gov- ernments to exercise discretion in deter- mining such average mesh size. On September 1, 1953, the proposal was accepted by the Governments of the United States and Canada, and, in ac- cordance with the provisions of the Inter- national Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, enters into force with respect to all Contracting Governments on January 1, 1954. In accordance with section 4 (a) of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Act of 1950 (64 Stat. 1067, 16 U.S. C., 1946 ed., Supp. V, 986) regulations proposed by the Sec- retary of the Interior to implement the proposal were submitted to the Advisory Committee to the United States Com- missioners on the International Commis- sion for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries on November 10, 1953, at which time the proposed regulations received the ap- proval of the Committee. By notice of proposed rule making published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on December 2, 1953 (18 F. R. 7658), the public was invited to submit written data, views or arguments in connection with the proposed regulations to Mr. John L. Farley, Director, Fish and Wildlife Serv- ice, Department of the Interior, Wash- ington 25, D. C., not later than 30 days from the publication of the notice in the FEDERAL REGISTER. Careful considera- tion has been given the views, data and arguments received, and it has been determined that the regulations appear- ing below should be promulgated to gov- 1954. incorporate changes proposed by the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries at its Third Annual Meeting in New Haven, Conn., May 25-30, 1953. ern the use of trawling nets in the haddock fishery in the area described in the said regulations. Beginning about September 1, 1953, the proposed regulations were discussed The revised regulations 1953, and formulated in a series of meetings with the representatives of the fishing industry affected, and the text of the pro- posed regulations was included in the notice of proposed rule making published December 2, 1953. Existing regulations covering the same subject matter expire on December 31, 1953, and the new regu- lations must become effective January 1, 1954, in order to comply with the action on May 25-30, 1953, of the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. In these circumstances, it has been determined that it is both appro- priate and necessary to waive the 30-day period between the date of publication and the effective date of the regulations. Effective January 1, 1954, the following regulations, replacing Subchapter I— Northwest Atlantic Commercial Fisher- ies, Part 155—Haddock Provisions, are prescribed: Sec. 155.1 Meaning of terms. 155.2 Restrictions on fishing gear. 155.3 Tampering with seals prohibited. 155.4 Employment of devices to reduce mesh size prohibited. 155.5 Certain vessels exempted. AutTHorRITY: §§ 155.1 to 155.5 issued under sec. 7, 64 Stat. 1067; 16 U. S. C. 986. 60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW § 155.1 Meaning of terms. When used in the regulations in this part, unless the content otherwise requires, terms shall have the meanings ascribed hereinafter in this section. (a) Vessel. The word “vessel” denotes every kind, type, or description of water- craft, aircraft, or other contrivance, sub- ject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water. (b) Haddock. The word “haddock” denotes any fish of the species Melano- grammus aeglefinus. (c) Haddock fishing. The words “haddock fishing” mean the catching, taking, or fishing for, or the attempted catching, taking, or fishing for any fish of the species Melanogrammus aeglefinus. (ad) Trawl net. The words “trawl net” mean any large bag net dragged in the sea by a vessel or vessels for the pur- pose of taking fish. (e) Cod end. The words “cod end” mean the bag-like extension attached to the after end of the belly of the trawl net and used to retain the catch. § 155.2 Restrictions on fishing gear. (a) No person shall engage in haddock fishing in the northwest Atlantic Ocean north of 39°00’ north latitude and west of 42°00’ west longitude with a trawl net or nets, parts of nets or netting having a mesh size of less than four and one-half inches, as defined in this section. (b) As used in this section, the term “mesh size of less than four and one-half inches” shall mean: (1) With respect to any part of the net except the cod end, the average size of any twenty consecu- tive meshes in any row located at least ten meshes from the side lacings meas- ured when wet after use, and (2) with respect to the cod end, the average size of any row of meshes running the length of the cod end located at least ten meshes from the side lacings, measured when wet after use, or, at the option of the user, a cod end which has been approved, in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, by an authorized representative of the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, as having a mesh size when dry before use equivalent to not less than four and one-half inches when wet after use. (c) All measurements of meshes when wet after use shall be made by the inser- tion into such meshes under pressure of not less than ten nor more than fifteen pounds of a flat, wedge-shaped gauge having a taper of two inches in nine inches and a thickness of three thirty- seconds of an inch. (d) For the purpose of approving dry cod ends before use, as contemplated by paragraph (b) of this section, the aver- age mesh size of such cod ends shall be determined by measuring the length of any single row of meshes running the length of the cod end, parallel to the long axis of the cod end and located at least ten meshes from the side lacings, when stretched under a tension of two hundred pounds, and dividing the length by the number of meshes in such row: Provided, That not more than ten percent of the meshes in such row shall be more than one-half inch smaller when measured between knot centers than the average of the row. Cod ends so measured which are constructed of the twines and are of not less than the average mesh sizes specified in the table below may be ap-= proved for haddock fishing by any duly authorized employee of the Fish and Wildlife Service by the attachment to such cod end of an appropriate seal or seals. Average mesh size 5.625 inches (55%’’)e Twine 4-ply 45-yard manila, double strand. 4-ply 50-yard manila, double strand. 5.625 inches (55%’’). HOOK OR Ok Vol. 16, No. 2 Average mesh size 5.625 inches (556’’). Twine 4-ply 75-yard manila, double strand. 4-ply 80-yard manila, double strand. 109-thread cotton_ 5.500 inches (514’’). 4.250 inches (414’’). Alle nylon=s22-—= == - 4.250 inches (414’’). § 155.3 Tampering with seals pro= hibited. Removing, altering, defacing or in any other way tampering with seals affixed to cod ends in accordance with § 155.2 is prohibited. § 155.4 Employment of devices to re= duce mesh size prohibited. The use from any vessel engaged in haddock fishing in the area described in § 155.2 of any device or method which will obstruct the meshes of the trawl net or which will otherwise, in effect, diminish the size of said meshes is prohibited: Provided, That a protective covering may he at- tached to the underside only of the cod end alone of the net to reduce and pre= vent damage thereto. § 155.5 Certain vessels exempted. Nothing contained in the regulations in this part shall apply to: (a) Any vessel having in possession haddock in amounts less than five thou- sand pounds or ten percent by weight of all the fish on board such vessel, which- ever is larger. (b) Any vessel duly authorized by the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service to engage in haddock fishing for scien- tific purposes. (c) Any vessel documented as a com- mon carrier by the Government of the United States and engaged exclusively in the carriage of freight and passengers. Dated: December 24, 1953. RatpH A. Tupor, Acting Secretary of the Interior. CER ATION OF COD ENDS UNDER WN ORTHWEST ATLANTIC HADDOCK FISH- life Service (see pp. 59-60) in accordance with the provisions tions. of the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fish- eries, Service officials are authorized to approve cod ends for use in haddock fishing in the area covered by the regula- Members of the Branch of Commercial Fisheries who have been authorized to certify cod ends having a mesh of the size specified in the regulations are as follows: Rockland, Maine Boothbay Harbor, Maine Portland, Maine Boston andGloucester, Mass. Churchill T. Smith David A. McKown George R. Nichols CharlesH. Lyles, Homer Haberland, & R. H. Marchant George W. Snow Francis Riley New Bedford, Mass. Provincetown, Mass. % OK Ok K February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61 ary 11, 1954. Secretary of the Interior McKay had announced Suomela's appointment to the position on November 27, 1953. * ‘ LEFT TO RIGHT: CHIEF CLERK FLOYD E. DOTSON, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR DOUGLAS MCKAY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ARNIE J. SUOMELA. Since 1945 the new Federal official has been Oregon State Director of Fisheries. He is considered one of the Nation's authorities on the salmon fishery, and has done extensive research in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest on this subject. Interstate Commerce Commission UNFETTERED TRIP LEASE OF "EXEMPT" TRUCKS PERMITTED: "Exempt"! trucks are excluded from ICC rules which require truck leases to be for a period of not less than 30 days, according to a recent order by the Interstate Commerce Commission amending a previous order issued in connection with its Docket MC 43. This action means that truckers carrying exempt commodities (including fresh and frozen fishery products) can continue to lease their equipment to regulated carriers for return move- ments, thus avoiding empty mileage. This is an important ruling for the fishery indus- tries since they utilize ''exempt" trucks for shipping fishery products. Vehicles may be leased to another carrier following an exempt movement. There may be one return movement in any direction or in one of a series of loaded movements in the general direction of the point from which the exempt movement originated or from the carrier's home base. The only requirement is that the leasing carrier receive 62 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 a statement fromthe owner of the leased vehicle authorizing the driver to lease the equipment and a statement from the driver as to the origin, destination, and time of beginning and ending of last exempt movement. The provisions of the current outstanding order which regulate the compensation and duration of leases for all other motor vehicles subject to the Commission's juris- diction have been postponed by the Commission until March 1, 1955. This was done in conjunction with an order reopening the proceeding for reconsideration of the 30-day and compensation requirements. Eighty-Third Congress (Second Session) JANUARY 1954 The Second Session of the Eighty-Third Congress commenced on January 6, 1954. Listed below are public bills and resolutions introduced and referred to committees or passed by the Eighty-Third Congress (Second Session) and signed by the President that directly or indirectly affect the fisheries and allied industries. Public bills and reso- lutions are shown in this section only when introduced and, if passed, when signed by the President; but also shown are the more pertinent reports, hearings, or chamber actions on some of the bills shown in this section from month to month. DISTRIBUTION OF FISHERY PRODUCTS: S. 2802 (Salton- stall, Kennedy, and 27 other senators), a bill to further en- courage the distribution of fishery products, and for other pur- poses. Introduced in the Senate on January 22 and referred to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. The bill provides that: The Secretary of Agriculture shall transfer to the Secretary of the Interior each fiscal year, beginning with July 1, 1954, from moneys made available to carry out the provisions of section 32 of such Act of August 24, 1935, an amount equal to 30 percent of the gross receipts from duties collected under the customs laws on fishery products (including fish, shellfish, mollusks, and crustacea), which shall be maintained in a sepa- rate fund and used by the Secretary of the Interior (1) to pro- mote the free flow of domestically produced fishery products in commerce by conducting a fishery educational service and fishery technological, biological and related research programs, the moneys so transferred to be also available for the purchase or other acquisition, construction, equipment, operation, and maintenance of vessels or other facilities necessary for con- ducting research as provided for in this section, and (2) to de- velop and increase markets for fishery products of domestic origin, In introducing S. 2802, Senator Saltonstall described it as “‘a bill designed to revitalize the Nation’s domestic fishing in- dustry.’’ Senator Saltonstall for himself and Senator Kennedy presented a summary of the bill which was printed in the Jan- uary 22 Congressional Record, as follows: ScOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE SALTONSTALL= KENNEDY FISHERIES BILL The fishing industry throughout the United States is in an increasingly difficult position. Decreased catches, depletion of fishing grpunds, and a lack of improved techniques have all harmed this basic Ameri- can industry. Rising imports have subjected it to particularly severe pressure. In 1952, the domestic fishing industry caught 4.3 billion pounds of fish and shell- fish worth more than $325 million. Directly and indirectly, the industry employed 550,- 000 people. As a means of overcoming its difficulties, the basic recommendation of all recent studies, including those authorized by the Congress, is an increase in research and development activities. The fishing indus- try, however, is one composed of individuals and small companies lacking the resources necessary to carry on these activities on a long-term basis. These recent studies have accordingly made the further recommenda- tion that needed research and development projects be carried on by the Fish and Wild- life Service of the Department of the In- terior. For this purpose, additional funds will be needed. Because the difficulties of the industry so largely stem from competition hyimports, the most appropriate source of additional funds for this purpose is the revenue de- rived from those same imyports. Under exist- ing law, however, the only portion of im- port revenues not turned over to the general Treasury goes to the Department of Agri- culture. The law making these funds ayail- able to the Department of Agriculture is section 32 of the act of August 24, 1935, by which: there is appropriated and made avail- able to the Secretary of Agriculture for each fiscal year an amount equal to 30 percent of the gross receipts from duties collected under the customs laws during the preceding cal- endar year. The Secretary is directed to use these funds to subsidize the export of agricultural commoddities, to make support purchases of such commodities, and to make production payments ‘to farmers. His only authority to use any part of these funds for the benefit of the domestic fishing indus- try derives from the act of August 11, 1939. The 1939 act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to use not more than $1,500,000 per year of section 32 funds to purchase and divert surplus fishery products for distri- bution through relief channels. It also per- mits him to transfer to the Secretary of the Interior $75,000 to conduct a fishery educational service and $100,000 to develop and increase markets for fishery products of domestic origin. In practice, the au- thority to purchase surplus fishery products has never been used, although in recent years the funds for a fishery educational service and for market development have been regularly transferred. Since enactment of the act of 1939, how- ever, gross receipts from duties on fishery products have increased enormously. In 1940 the total amount was $4,772,428; by 1952 it had increased to $11,982,000, an increase of more than 250 percent. During this same period the value of fishery imports increased from $40 million to over $200 million. The domestic industry, in the meantime, by voy- aging farther and farther afield at greater and greater expense for every pound of fish caught, has barely managed to hold the share of the market it had at the beginning of the period. It is thus evident that during a perlod when the domesticfishing industry has been increasingly in need of assistance in meeting competition from abroad, it has been making increasingly large indirect contributions for purposes unrelated to this need. The pro- posed bill is aimed at correcting this plainly unfair situation. To accomplish this the bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture 4e transfer to the Secretary of the Interior every year from the funds made available under the act of August 24, 1935, that portion derived from the duties on fishery products. The Secre- tary of Agriculture would still retain power to make support purchases of surplus fishery products under section 1 of the 1939 act should it ever be deemed desirable to exer- cise this authority. The Secretary of the Interior would have power under section 2 (d) to retransfer funds made available under the proposed bill to the Department of Agri- culture for this purpose. The remaining funds (ordinarily the entire amount) would be used by the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a fishery educational Service and fishery research programs and to February 1954 develop and increase markets for fishery products of domestic origin. In carrying out these programs the Secretary of the In- terior would cooperate with other agencies of the Federal, State, and local governments and with interested private organizations and individuals. Such functions are, of course, appropriately within the jurisdiction of the Federal Gov- ernment and are seriously required at the present time. To finance them out of sec- tion 32 funds would benefit the fishing in- dustry without any sacrifice to agricultural research. The funds available to the Depart- ment of Agriculture under section 32 during recent fiscal years have been in the following total amounts: $125, 600, 000 , 111, 000, 000 159, 000, 000 181, 000, 000 172, 000, 000 180, 000, 000 The Agricultural Act of 1949 provides for an accumulation of section 32 funds by the Department of Agriculture up to a total of $300 million. Any excess over this amount must be turned back by the Department of Agriculture to the Department of the Treas- ury. In fiscal 1954, $27 million has been turned back—a sum, in other words 7 or B H, R. 7441 (Knox), a bill to further encourage the distribu- tion of fishery products, and for other purposes (similar to S. 2802) was introduced in the House on January 21 and referred to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. HAWAII AND ALASKA STATEHOOD: Senate Committee on COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW times the total which would be made avail- able to the Department of the Interior under the proposed bill to meet the research and development needs of the fishing industry. In the field of biological and oceanographic research, the most urgent need is to explore the reasons for fluctuations in the supply of fish. Reports from the Great Lakes, Alaska, and the Pacific States, and from all along the Atlanti¢ coast from the Grand Banks to Mexico, confirm the importance of stability of supplies in establishing new markets for fishery products. Hope for overcoming this problem lies in research on ocean currents, changes in water temperature, abundance of fish food, and other shifting conditions. With present knowledge it is impossible to distinguish fluctuations In abundance from fluctuations in accessibility and to advise fishermen accordingly. In the technological fleld, development could be undertaken of chemical tests for freshness of chilled and frozen fish and shell- fish so as to provide means for control of quality. Study could be initiated of meth- ods of freezing shrimp at sea in the Gulf of Mexico area to prevent spoilage. Methods might also be found of handling, freezing, and packaging Southern oysters to broaden the market beyond the now purely local dis- tribution of the fresh product. 63 To develop and increase markets for fish- ery products, much more data than is now being collected would be helpful in deter- mining the proper utilization of our salt- water and fresh-water fishery resources. Re- ceipts and wholesale prices could be collected in eight large consuming cities (Philadel- phia, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis; St. Paul, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh) not now covered by the Market News Service. Surveys could usefully be made, too, of the distribution of fishery products in New York and Chicago in order to determine the changes in marketing since the advent of frozen packaged fish and shellfish products. Among the educational projects beneficial to the industry which a lack of funds pre- cludes at this time is the development of new uses for the underdeveloped and less popular species, both fresh-water and salt-water, so as to provide year-round employment and stabilize market prices for the fishermen, processors, marketers, and consumers of do- mestically produced fishery products. Many other examples could be cited of projects beneficial to the fishing industry which the funds provided for in the enclosed bill may eventually make possible. Those mentioned, however, should serve to make clear that the need is great, and adoption of the means of meeting it provided for in the Proposed bill would be a long step forward. amendments S. 49, providing statehood for Hawaii . Rept, 886). Prior to approval of this bill, the committee, by a vote of 8 to 7, adopted a motion to reconsider the vote by which ti- tle I, providing statehood for Alaska, was attached to S. 49. Following these actions, the committee unanimously agreed Interior and Insular Affairs on January 19 in executive session voted to approve S. 49, to provide statehood for H awaii. The committee also voted to add a new title II to this bill, which would include the Anderson version of H, R, 2982, pro- viding statehood for Alaska. The chairman announced, how- ever, that the new title II has been submitted to the Subcom- mittee on Territories and Insular Affairs for perfecting changes, a draft of which will be reported back to the full committee within the next few days in order that the bill may be reported to the Senate, On January 27 the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs in executive session ordered favorably reported with that the Alaska bill (S. 50) will be voted on by the committee not later than February 4, and that a meeting be held not later than February 3 for the purpose of marking up this bill. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL: On January 14 Represent- ative Bailey introduced two bills on water pollution control-- H, R, 7168, a bill to extend the duration of the Water Pollution Control Act, to authorize additional amounts for construction loans thereunder and for other purposes; to the Committee on Public Works; and H, R. 7170, a bill to encourage the preven- tion of stream pollution by providing an amortization deduction for facilities built to treat industrial wastes; to the Committee on Ways and Means, NEW BRITISH FILLET SKINNING MACHINE A fillet skinning machine has been patented in the United Kingdom in which the fish fillet is drawn past a knife. to cut perpendicularly through the inclined to cut between the skin and the meat. The knife is first moved meat close to the skin and is then The end of the fillet is cut between asmalland large roller, the skin of the fillet being towards the larger roller, and the knife being maintained ata constant distance from the larger roller. The fillet is drawn between the rollers. The method is said to be applicable to skinning of flat fish, such as plaice, before filleting. --Food Manufacture, June 1953. 64 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 Fi INDICATORS CHART | - FISHERY LANDINGS for SELECTED STATES In Millions of CUMULATIVE DATA 11 MQS. 1953 - 230. 11, «=: 1952 = 268. 12 1952 - 295. UAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC FLORIDA CUMULATIVE DATA » 1953 - 164. 1952 - 244. 1952 - 212. NEW JERSEY CUMULATIVE DATA - 426.0 - 213.3 - 220.6 CALI FORN| A2/ CUMULATIVE DATA - 1953 - 544.0 611.8 606.2 JUAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 2/ONLY PARTIAL--INCLUDES PRODUCTION OF MAJOR FISHERIES AND MARKET FISH LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS. Pounds MASSACHUSETTS CUMULATIVE DATA 11 MQS. 1953 - 428.4 11°, 1952 - 477.6 12 1952 - 504.7 JUAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC LOUIS 1 ANAL/ CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQS. 1953 - 67.0 12, 1952 - 62.5 12 1951 - 64.9 CUMULATIVE DATA . 1953 - 134.2 1952 - 113.1 1952 - 127.1 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CUMULATIVE DATA 5 ]11 mgs. 1953 - 36.2 1952 - 46.6 1952 - 47.0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 65 CHART 2 - LANDINGS for SELECTED FISHERIES In Millions of Pounds HADDOCK (Maine and Massachusetts) CUMULATIVE DATA OCEAN PERCH - 1953 - 116.1 1952 - 132.8 1952 - 141.2 JUAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JUAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC SHRIMP Gulf States!/ including Florida West Coast) CUMULATIVE DATA WHITING (Maine and Massachusetts) + 1953 - 166.4 1952 - 144.8 1952 - 156.1 + 1953 - 62.9 1952 - 71.4 1952 - 72.8 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC T/tA. & ALA. DATA BASED ON LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS AND ARE NOT COMPLETE. In Thousands of Tons PACIFIC AND JACK MACKEREL 1 MENHADEN (California) (East and Gulf Coasts) CUMULATIVE DATA - 1953 - 807.7 280 +» 1953 - . 12 1952 - 643.8 i) 9 3 29.9]. 0 ° 1952 82.9 1951 - 552.) 1951 - 59.3 — JAN FEB TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH (Cali fornia) P| LCHARD (California) CUMULATIVE DATA » 1953 - 183.1 CUMULATIVE DATA 1953/54 SEASON, AUG.-NOV. 179.8 1952/53 SEASON, 173.2 AUG.-NOV. - 2.7 1952/53 SEASON, TOTAL AUG.-JULY - 3.6 0 = 1952/53 AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC .JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC 66 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 | CHART 3 - COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS x In Millions of Pounds Us S. & ALASKA HOLDINGS 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC J/MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, AND CONNECTICUT. MIDDLE WEST HOLDINGSS/ JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC S/OHI0, IND., ILL., MICH., WIS., MINN., IOWA, MO., N. DAK., NEBR., & KANS. WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA HOLDINGS 0 JUAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC *Excludes salted, cured, U. S. & ALASKA FREEZINGS WS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC 2/ALL EAST COAST STATES FROM N. Y. SOUTH. GULF & SOUTH CENTRAL HOLDINGS4/ 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC A/ALA., MISS., LA., TEX., ARK., KY., & TENN. 2 CALIFORNIA HOLDINGS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC and smoked products. February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 67 CHART 4 - RECEIPTS and COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS at PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS In Millions of Pound AT WHOLESALE SALT-WATER MARKET Ls = 2/ (FRESH AND FROZEN) NEW YORK COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGSS! CUMULATIVE DATA |! 20 [12 MAS- 1963 - 170.1 CITY 12 1952 - 174.2 1951 - 171.2] 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC J/\NCLUDE TRUCK AND RAIL IMPORTS FROM CANADA AND DIRECT VESSEL LANDINGS AT NEW YORK CITY. RECEIPTS AT WHOLESALE MARKET (FRESH AND FROZEN) CHICAGO COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 0 JAN FEB MAR APR_MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SEATTLE BOSTON WHOLESALE MARKET RECEIPTS, LANDINGS, — & IMPORTS (FRESH & FROZEN) Co euciiiaestrnr aie CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQS. 1953 - 81.7 n2 5, 1952 - 97.5 2 1951 - 92.3 FISH MEAL FISH OIL (In Thousands of Tons) (In Millions of Gallons) CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQs. 1953 = 219.3 Pp ; 12 MQS. 1953 - 20.1 12 |, 1952 - 194.7 n 1952 = 15.8 12 1951 - 189.0 1951 - 17.9 — Ze —— — Z 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JUAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 68 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 CHART 6- CANNED PACKS of SELECTED FISHERY PRODUCTS In Thousands of Standard Cases TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH — CALIFORNIA MACKEREL!/— CALIFORNIA KS 0 OR | JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC UAN FEB. MAR APR_MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC J/\NCLUDES PACIFIC MACKEREL AND JACK MACKEREL. ANCHOVIES - CALIFORNIA SALMON - ALASKA CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA TOTAL 1953 SEASON - 2,882.1 . 1953 - 1,537.2 4 2400} tora 1952 SEASON - 3,530.5 1952 - 667.5 1951 - 77.4 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC O JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC SARDINES (ESTIMATED) - MAINE CUMULATIVE DATA STANDARD CASES . 1953 - 2,385.2 110, 1952 - 3,377.8 1952 - 3,457.6 Variety Can Designation Net Wat. SARDINES ....---.- 100 % drawn 34 OZ. SHRI MPitevetetetetelatstabele 48 = b) @25 UN Atsertetetereletstateteter= 48 No. 3 tuna 6&7 oz. PILCHARDS ......-. 48 No. | oval 15 oz. SALMON ..2.22..... 48 |-pound tal| 16 oz. ANCHOVIES .. 48 = |b. 8 oz. ZZ. APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR SARDINES - CALIFORNIA SHRIMP - GULF STATES: Legend: CUMULATIVE DATA 1953/54 CUMULATIVE DATA 1953/54 SEASON, — 1952/53 /\ 1953/54 SEASON, AUG.-DEC. - 58.6 AUG.-JAN. 1952/53 SEASON, a 1952/53 SEASON, AUG. -DEC. - 67.1 AUG.~JAN. 1952/53 SEASON, SF 1952/53 SEASON, TOTAL AUG.-JULY - 70.6 TOTAL AUG.-JULY - 893.7 AUG SEPT OCT _NOV_ DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY February 1954 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW CHART 7- U.S. FISHERY PRODUCTS IMPORTS In Millions of Pounds GROUNDFISH (INCLUDING OCEAN PERCH) FILLETS, FRESH & FROZEN CUMULAT VE DATA p42 mgs. 1953 - 91.4 12 1952 - 108.0 12 "1951 - 87.1 FILLETS & STEAKS OTHER THAN GROUNDFISH, FRESH & FROZEN CUMULAT |VE DATA 11 MQS. 1953 - 43.2 11, ~=—«1952 - 48.1 12 1952 - 52.9 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV-DEC SHRIMP, FRESH & FROZEN, FROM MEXICO (CUMULATIVE DATA 6]11 MQs. 1953 - 31.7 Hi 1952 - 30.5 12 1952 - 33.9 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC LOBSTER & SPINY LOBSTER, FRESH & FROZEN CUMULATIVE DATA + 1953 - 36.7 1952 - 33.8 1952 - 39.0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC TUNA, FRESH & FROZEN CUMULATIVE DATA QS. 1953 - 92.9 1952 - 66.8 1952 - 69.0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SEA HERRING, FRESH, THROUGH MAINE PORTS CUMULATIVE DATA « 1953 - 23.2 1952 - 30.2 30.3 CANNED TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH (IN OIL) CUMULATIVE DATA 11 MQS. 1953 - 13.9 11, «1952 - 17.0 1952 - 18.1 CANNED SARDINES CIN OIL AND _NOT_IN OIL CUMULATIVE DATA - 1953 - 42.1 1952 - 19.8 1952 - 21.4 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 69 70 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 16, No. 2 =_ om FISHERY PUBLICATIONS Te aa ee ~g Sp 8 se eo ae oe