|
COMMERCIAL BE WIE LA
PISHERIE SEW IE VE
DRAGGEF
Vol.17, No.12 DECEMBER 1955
FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE
United States Department of the Interior
W ashington;, D.C.
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 ithe fishery industries
prepared in the BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
UNE ATS
A.W. Anderson, Editor
J.Pileggi, Associate Editor H.M.Bearse, Assistant Editor
Mailedfree to members of the fishery andalliedindustries. 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 materialfrom outside sources.
Although the contents of this publication have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely,
reference to the source will be appreciated.
The printing of this publication has been approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget,
August 2, 1955. (8/31/57)
CONTENTS
COVER: The Atlantic Coast dragger (small- or medium-size otter trawler) is common
along the Atlantic Coast from Virginia to Maine. This type of craft is usually powered
with a Diesel engine of 100-300 hp., carries a crew of from 2-10 fishermen, and is at
sea from 1 to 8 days. Vessels of this type catch a large share of the whiting, flounders,
scup, noncommercial species, and also sea scallops that are landed at United States
east coast ports,
Page
Construction Details of Improved Tuna Long-Line Gear Used by Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations,
by Herbert J, Mann ...... OCC OO ore OO OCC OG D0 OOOO SobgO DoD OOodGO RDO SOD 0'O 1
Page Page
RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES: ...... 11 TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS (Contd.):
Cold Storage of Frozen Pacific Oysters (Crassos- Florida:
trea gigas) - No. 1, by Kathryn L. Osterhaug and Fisheries Research, March-September 1955 29
bMurrayyAndrewsisitleireisieeetelotenecien rei 11 Maine:
Oil Research Project at the Seattle Technological Canned Sardine Stocks, November 1, 1955 30
Laboratory, by William N,Sumerwell ....... 14 Sardine Pack Smallest in 15 Years ......06 30
Federal Specification for Canned Shrimp ...... 17 | New Type Fish Screen to Save Young Fish ... 31
TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS: ......e+eecee0- 18 North Atlantic Fisheries Exploration and Gear
Additions to the U, S, Fleet of Fishing Vessels .. 18 Research;
American Samoa: Lobsters Caught and Tagged in Deep Water by
Exports of Canned Tuna and Fish Meal Increase 18 Delaware (Cruise 12A) ....++-+eeeeee 32
California; Underutilized Fish Potential Increases with Pet-
All-Nylon Purse Seine for Tuna Vessel ...... 19 Food Industry Growth ,........... oodn 33
Night Spotting of Sardine Schools by Airplane Underutilized Fish for Animal iFood Under Study
STICCE SSE Is pias coir enea cn cuinoe Mowers a epi 19 INKcheyMidWwestectarusy eleven slohcwelch select elo 34
Sardine, Anchovy, and Mackerel Populations Sur- U.S, Foreign Trade:
veyed by Yellowfin (Cruise 55-Y-8) ....... 19 Edible Fishery Products, August 1955 .... 34
Albacore Tagging Trip Completed by the Arctic 20 Imports of Groundfish Fillets Increased in
Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products, January- (Qravolery IGE SC Go ooo ooanpoCoDD0RQDNN 35
(rerio IRE Baa ooooo° AeA cleletet elie te texa 21 Vessel Insurance Survey Progress Report arte 35
Carp Control Project Completed at Malheur Re- Washington:
LUGE Nn eytete tone dake nciclsicicnskorotsdelohelehedsteiteloners 21 Japanese Seed Oyster Exports Program for 1955 36
City Residents Show Greater Preference for Fish Oyster Predator Inspection ........+..+- 36
PIVINEKS LGGdo00oD0000 so00abD OO 22 Virginia:
Federal Purchases of Fishery Products: Oyster Beds Damaged by Heavy Rainfall in 1955 37
Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products Purchased Wholesale Prices, October 1955 .......0.8 38
by Department of Defense, September 1955 .. 23 FOREIGN: hile: So Skistentelte aa ete cel ciel sueiielionemassuatee Al
Quartermaster Corps Has Completed FY 1956 International;
Purchases of Canned Tuna ......2++-ee- 24 North Pacific Fisheries Commission:
The Quartermaster Market Center System .... 24 Tokyo Meeting Report ........e+-eeee 41
Military Food Service Unified ......0..++.- 25 International Council for THEE anioranenon theSea:
New Information on Military Procurement oft Annual Conference ......ee-e+e+ereeee 42
BOOS SooGobbDoODOD ODDO HAD ODODOODL 26 Territorial Waters:
Fresh and Frozen Fish Consumption in Federal British-Icelandic Negotiations on Icelandic
Penal and Correctional Institutions, 1954 .... 27 Territorial Fishing Limits .........+- 42
Contents Continued Page 83
December 1955 Washington 25,D.C. Vol .17,No.12
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS OF IMPROVED TUNA
LONG-LINE GEAR USED BY PACIFIC
OCEANIC FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS
By Herbert J. Mann*
CONTENTS
Page Page
Keee PAIRS CLUOIONG ia aPeakn repel laie!icjleje el siexeisiolais 2 IBERIA A GG ooDO Oooo ooo OOGlC COC Ole 6
Maprication ofithe Gear esis isi «.cusieieis ess ce ee 38 Materials Used to Make up Gear ............ 8
Assembling sines/ for Setting yh eis ste ciscie css) 0.0 5 DKS 6 SonanousonugoonbonodduD DO 9
SCRE ME CMO CORT Le Moka Rye salads felintetatahe, acotetel etwneks,.c 6 Deiterature ited) cc semetaWeietabel siciercue «\srupsweleusiere 10
This report is a description of the latest type of fiber long-line gear now being
used by Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations (POFI) to capture tunas in the cen-
tral Pacific. It is a revision of an earlier report (Niska 1953) and contains acom-
plete description of the gear and its use, with particular attention to changes made
since the earlier report was issued.
PENNANT BRIDLE 261 COTTON LINE (15 FATHOMS) Eeeeninice
A - Basic Section - Mainline
10 FATHOMS |~
—}-|__.
3 FATHOMS | | [ TiN j|
oe a A ee. | | | |
B - 13-Hook Albacore Gear
D - 6-Hook 'Standard'' Tuna Gear
Fig, 1 - Three types of POFI long-line gear, and the basic component of their mainlines, A - 15-fathom section used
in making up mainlines. B - 13-hook basket (unit) designed for albacore fishing. C - 11-hook basket used in fishing for
larger tunas, such as yellowfin and big-eyed tuna, D - 6-hook ‘‘Standard’’ basket used in most of POFI’s experimen-
tal fishing.
* Fishery Methods and Equipment Specialist, Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations, U, S, Fish and Wildlife Service, Hono-
lulu, T. H.
2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
The original POFI tuna long-line gear was derived from designs employed by
Japanese and Hawaiian fishermen. A general discussion of the history, fabrica-
tion, and operation of such gear is included in reports by Shapiro (1950), June (1950),
Murphy and Shomura (1953), and Niska (1953), So many changes have been made
in the design of the gear since 1953 that a new account is necessary to acquaint the
fishing industry with the successful innovations. It should be noted that the dimen-
sions and basic design of the gear have not been changed; however, several modifi-
cations have increased the speed of setting and hauling and have resulted in greater
flexibility. Each of these changes has been tested in the field under controlled con-
ditions. The results of these field tests are discussed in Murphy and Shomura (1953),
and Shomura and Murphy.1/
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The basic unit of the long line is the "basket" or "skate" (fig. 1), a 210-fath-
om length of mainline with droppers and buoyline, stored in a canvas skid orabam-
boo basket. In the POFI experimen-
tal fishing operations about 60 such
Jaen baskets are joined together to make
PENNANT g= | aday's set. Since they are identical
in design, plans of only one basket
are shown in the diagram.
MAINLINE: The mainline of
each basket is made up of 14 simi-
lar sections, each consisting of a
15-fathom length of cotton line with
wire bridle and a short pennant or
"pigtail" (fig. 1A). These sections
it as are knotted together using the double
HOOK DROPPER” sheet bend shown in figure 2. The
(2 FATHOMS ) principal advantage of such a sys-
tem is that, since each sectionbears
a one-hook dropper, various num-
bers of hooks from 1 to 13 per bas-
ket can be fished without resplicing
or reworking the mainline. Another advantage of joining the sections with knots is
that tangled sections of mainline may be removed without delay and set aside as the
gear comes aboard.
Fig. 2 - Method of joining two mainline sections, and details of wire
bridle and branch-line attachment.
DROPPER ATTACHMENT: Each basic mainline section has a swiveled wire
bridle for the attachment of droppers (fig. 2). This fitting has eliminated one of
the most troublesome defects of the old gear. Formerly, mainline sections were
made up with eyesplices at each end and were joined by knotting the loops together;
droppers were attached by clipping an AK snap into one eyesplice. When the gear
was hauled, the incoming mainline rotated because of the twist developed by the lay
of the line and droppers were wound around it. The resulting tangles seriously de-
layed recovery of the gear.
The wire-bridle system has virtually eliminated this type of tangling. Drop-
pers are now joined to the mainline by clipping the AK snap over the wire bridle.
Since there is ample clearance between wire and snap, the mainline can rotate free-
ly without affecting the dropper. The swivels at the ends of the bridle also help to
reduce the twisting effect caused by the lay of the line.
HOOK DROPPERS: The 10-fathom and 5-fathom hook droppers, or branch lines
(gangions), have been cut to 3 fathoms (over-all length, including leader) and the
1/ Long-line fishing for deep-swimming tunas in the central Pacific, 1953, U, S, Fish and Wildlife Service, Spec. Sci. Rep.:
Fish, No, 157.
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3
2/
costly sekiyama—’ has beeneliminated as unnecessary. The 3-fathom length marks the
shortest length that can be efficiently fished; 2-fathom droppers have been tried but
proved harder to coil and were more hazardous in
setting and hauling than the 3-fathom type. Con- HOOK DROPPER
struction of droppers is shown in figures 2 and 3.
FLOATLINES: Floatlines, which join buoys
and mainline, are made up of 5-fathom sections.
The sections have an eyesplice at one end so that
they may be joined by a double sheetbend. The CORES CRGTERT ES
depth of the mainline is varied by adding or re-
moving sections without cutting or splicing line.
Floatlines are joined to the mainline by the AK 1 FATHOM
snap and knot shown in figure 4. Attempts have \
been made to use a wire bridle similar to the one Sram HEE. \\
used for the attachment for hook droppers, but ives}
the snaps opened up and this arrangement was dis-
carded.
BUOY LIGHTS: Hauling operationsmay some-_ Fiz. 3 - Details of branch line, leader, and
times last until after dark, so battery-powered ee
buoy lights are usually attached to the end poles and to several intermediate poles
of the set. A typical light installation is shown in figure 5.
LONG-LINE CONTAINER: POFI long-line gear was originally stored in the
standard bamboo basket commonly used in the Hawaiian and Japanese fisheries.
This method of stowage was objectionable because
yh FLOAT LINE of the space taken up by the empty baskets. POFI
now stores gear in canvas skids similar to those
used in the halibut long-line fishery (fig. 6).
FABRICATION OF THE GEAR
aie PREPARATION OF LINE: Mainline, float-
lines, and hook droppers are made of best grade
hard-laid 261-thread cotton twine. Since the gear
remains wet for long periods at sea, the line must
be treated with some type of preservative. Acom-
mercial copper-base preservative is commonly
used by POFI. Skeins of new line are cold-dipped
for a period of three minutes in a full-strength
solution and are then dried in the shade.
MAIN LINE > % PENNANT
The treated line is then stretched and cut in-
to 15-fathom lengths. To save time, several
lines are cut simultaneously in the following fash-
ion: skeins are opened out and placed on vertical
reels; the ends of several lines are attached by brass swivels to the rear bumper
of a jeep so that the lines can rotate freely to remove kinks; the lines are then un-
reeled and stretched out over a measured 15-fathom distance and a steady strainof
125 pounds is exerted until kinks are eliminated. A Dillion dynamometer isused to
check tension on the lines and prevent overstretching.
Fig, 4 - Attachment of floatline to mainline at
juncture of two skates.
MAINLINE: Cut lines are coiled down in sets of 14 pieces each, the number
required to make up one skate. These basic mainline sections are then completed
by splicing in eyes, wire bridles, and pennants as shown in the diagram (fig. 1A).
The end pennant of each basket is made from 4-inch cotton rope rather than 261-
thread line and the end eyesplice is lengthened.
2/ Sekiyama or shanawa--a stiff pennant consisting of a linen or wire core served with cotton twine, used by Japanese and
Hawaiian fishermen to connect the wire leader to the cotton branch line, and formerly employed in POFI long-lines.
4 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wols It, IN@s 12
Wire bridles 6 inches long are fashioned from @r-inch 1 x 7 stainless wirerope.
ae 2 Seadog swivels are fastened to the wire by means of Nicopress fittings (fig.
2).
HOOK DROPPERS: The construction of hook droppers is shown in figures 2
and 3. Two-fathom lengths of treated 261-thread line are made up with a special
snap at the upper end. This snap, a model used by the
Northwest trolling boats, is a No. 9/0 Kolstrand AK
snap, but is constructed of heavy No. 7 wire and has a
jaw opening of 4-inch diameter. It is important that the
Ub AK snap be designed to fit the wire bridle with a small
f 7 OOUBLE. clearance, since otherwise the snap is apt to jam against
Di the swivel. The lower end of the dropper terminates in
an eyesplice to which is joined hook and leader, as shown
in figure 3.
The leaders are fashioned of 6-foot lengths of .066-
inch diameter right lay 1 x 7 galvanized plow-steel wire.
Galvanized wire is used rather than stainless steel since
it reduces the electrolytic action between hook and lead-
er. Stainless steel leaders destroy hook plating inavery
short time.
screens will be replaced bya lou- masa BiGse
ver-type diversion that "leads" a
the fish to safety. The novel de-
sign of the new facilities was de-
veloped after long and intensive
study by Bureau of Reclamation
engineers and Fish and Wildlife
Service biologists, with the as-
sistance of the California State SS ,
Department of Fish and Game. SSS a wee
Mhe Gommissioner saidthat eee drawing of louver-type fish screen and fish collecting
at one time the State estimated ‘
the cost of constructing conventional fish screens would total $4 million. The new
louver system is not only initially less expensive, he said, but the cost of maintain-
ing it will be much less,
32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
The fish-protective device will consist of a row of vertical jouvers extending
approximately 340 feet diagonally across a concrete channel 833 feet wide and 25
feet deep. The minute baby fish, averaging an inch long, are eae tail first
down the channel by the current, but as they approach the louvers they swim to one
side to avoid the disturbing eddies and sounds made by the slats placed at an angle
to the current. The fish keep moving over until they are siphoned into a bypass that
carries them to a holding tank, from which the young fish are to be counted and
trucked 40 to 50 miles to an area where they can swim safely to the sea.
The Tracy Pumping Plant, which draws water from the Delta area of the San
Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers at the head of San Francisco Bay, lifts 4,600 cubic-
feet-per-second of irrigation water 197 feet into the Delta-Mendota Canal which
carries it 120 miles to supply Central Valley lands.
During periods of low flow in the rivers and when the canal is operated at ca-
pacity, the pumps will take all of the flow of San Joaquin River and may draw half
of the Sacramento River.
The Delta, with its maze of channels, is the most important spawning andrear-
ing area for striped bass and shad on the Pacific Coast. Young king salmon are
found in great numbers in the waters of the Delta where they loiter on their way to
the ocean. Catfish are an important sport fish taken in large numbers and spend
their life cycle in the Delta waters.
Salmon, bass, and shad spawn in fresh water but spend their adult lives in the
ocean, The young fish descend the rivers to the sea, carried by and following the
major flows of water. Thus, the major diversion of the Delta-Mendota canal oper-
ating at full capacity would be nearly as great an attraction to these young fish as
would the combined river flows to the ocean. Fish experts believe the great pumps
of the Tracy plant would kill a major portion of fish entering the canal, and the fish-
ery resource--of considerable importance to California--would be seriously dam -
aged.
Devices to protect fish are included wherever necessary on all features of the
Central Valley project, which provides irrigation water for 634,000 acres and pro-
duces 2, 226, 370, 000 kilowatt hours of power annually from its multipurpose dams,
Planned release of cool water from major dams such as Shasta, Keswick, Nimbus,
and Folsom, helps maintain conditions favorable to salmon,
North Atlantic Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research
LOBSTERS CAUGHT AND TAGGEDIN DEEP WATER BY "DELAWARE" (Cruise
12A): Extremely heavy wind and seas limited the Service's exploratory fishing ves-
sel Delaware fishing operations to but 12 tows during an 8-day cruise which ended
on November 22, 1955. The purpose of this cruise was to determine the extent of
productive lobster grounds in deep water at the southeast edge of Georges Bank.
Substantial catches of large lobsters were made, totaling 1,065 with an average
weight of 73 pounds each. All were taken by a standard No. 41 otter trawl, rigged
with 10-fathom ground cables, and 45 feet of rollers. Average towing time was 90
minutes, and the average catch was 88.6 lobsters per tow. Fishing depths ranged
from 100 to 200 fathoms, with the greatest numbers caught at 165 fathoms. The
largest single catch made was 149 lobsters, or 1,200 pounds. The catch of other
fish was negligible.
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33
All lobsters landed in suitable con-
dition were measured and tagged by bi-
ologists of the Massachusetts Division
of Marine Fisheries. The tagged lob-
sters were released at or near the point
of capture in order to try and determine
if lobsters in the deep-water population | ~~
intermingle with those living nearer ees
shore. A total of 854 tagged lobsters
were released, and 3 of these were sub-
sequently recaptured by tows made in
the same area. Of the 1,065 lobsters
caught, 769 were females, and 101 of
these bore eggs. Sizes caught ranged
from less than one pound to a giant
weighing 24 pounds.
Deep-water ocean perch will be the
target of Delaware's Cruise 12B, sched- ir ape ee
uled to start on November 30, 1955. c LOBSTER TOWS.
Area of the survey will be the edge of Se Nl is 400!
the Continental Shelf, East of Sable Is- = o Yo a
land, Nova Scotia. Cruise 12A of the Service’s exploratory fishing vessel
Delaware, November 14-22, 1955,
S
Underutilized Fish Potential Increases with
Pet-Food Industry Growth
The use of fish and fish cuttings in the manufacture of pet food has developed
into an increasingly-important segment of the fishing industry. The growth of the
pet-food industry is illustrated by comparing the phenomenal increase in the num-
ber of standard cases of pet food (with fish as the basic ingredient) packed in 1947
to that of 1954. In 1947, only 940,000 standard cases (48 pounds each) of pet foods
were packed; while, in 1954, over 4 million cases were packed. The value has in-
creased from $4 million to $19 million. The industry packing food for animal feed-
ing has been growing rapidly on the East, West, and Gulf Seaboard,
Along the Atlantic Coast, particularly the Northeastern Section, whole fish and
fish frames from the filleting process are a source of raw material for pet food. In
one section of the Gulf Coast, a new fishery has been developed which is primarily
devoted to catching whole fish for processing into cat food. On the Pacific Coast,
certain species of rockfishes and fish frames are used for canned pet food. Sales
of canned pet food (that utilized fish as the basic component) have become so im-
pressive that several large packing companies are now endeavoring to secure a
steady supply of raw material.
In most of the fisheries that use trawling as a method of fishing, quantities of
unmarketable or undersized fish are caught, but only a small percentage is used
with the remainder discarded at sea. The Midwest has a similar disposal problem
with fresh-water rough fish. However, there is a possibility that these fresh-wa-
ter species can be used, and in time, create the backbone of an important pet-food
processing industry.
Prospects are for an increasing demand for suitable protein food to be used
in animal feeding, An example is the ever-increasing demand of the fur-animal
farmers, who are experiencing difficulty in obtaining horse meat at reasonable
34
prices.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Vol. 17, No. 12
There is good reason to believe that the demand for fish and fish scraps as
the basis of food for animals will increase and that enterprising fish processors will
CE
Underutilized Fish for Animal Food Under Study in the Midwest
supply the raw material.
An active campaign is now being conducted in the Midwest to develop markets
for underutilized fish as food for pets and commercially-reared fur-bearing animals,
Secretary of the Interior Douglas McKay announced November 30. The workisbe-
ing done by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Saltonstall-Kennedy
program for developing new markets for fishery products.
The campaign, which is centered on the shores of Lake Erie, already indicates
excellent progress, the Secretary said. Fur-animal ranchers as well as some pet-
food canneries are investigating the possibilities of a pet-food business utilizing
carp, sheepshead, smelt, and similar species.
limited and what could be a valuable resource is not being used.
The markets for these fishare
In addition, the ex-
panding populations of these fish are having an adverse effect upon the growth of
more popular food fishes, Secretary McKay added.
As a result of gradually-declining supplies of horse meat, which has been the
basic fur-animal food, fur ranchers are investigating the possibilities of develop-
ing underutilized fish as a substitute.
The use of rough fish in the Midwest for animal food will not only help fill a
growing demand on the fur-animal ranches but will enable the fishermento utilize
more effectively valuable inland fisheries resources, the Secretary said.
In recent years net fishermen in Lake Erie and other midwestern waters have
reported that as much as 90 percent of their daily catches would be composed of
fish having only a marginal market.
This meant a lot of wasted time and effort,
but with the possibility of a new outlet opening in the pet-food and fur-animal field,
these rough fish can be made to pay their way.
U. S. Foreign Trade
United States Foreign Trade in Edible Fishery Products,
August 1955 with Comparisons
Quantity Value
{Millions of Lbs.).| (Millions of $).
Imports;
Fish & shellfish:
fresh, frozen, &
processed 1/ ..
83.0 | 801.7 | 18.6 | 18.3
Exports:
Fish & shellfish:
processed 1/ only
(excluding fresh
and frozen)... | 5, 41
i Includes pastes, sauces, clam
specialties,
50.8 | 1.6
owder and juice, andother
EDIBLE FISHERY PRODUCTS, AU-
GUST 1955: United States imports of
fresh, frozen, and processed edible fish
and shellfish in August 1955 totaled 71.1
million pounds (valued at $18.6 million),
according to a Department of Commerce
summary tabulation (see table). This
was a decrease of 3.3 percent in quantity
as compared with the July 1955 imports
of 73.5 million pounds. The value was
approximately the same for both July and
August 1955, Compared witha year ear-
lier, August 1955 imports were lower
by 14.3 percent in quantity, but increased
1.6 percent in value.
Exports of processed edible fish and
shellfish (excluding fresh and frozen) in
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35
August totaled 5.8 million pounds(valued at $1.6 million)--an increase of 20.8 per-
cent in quantity and 33 percent in value as compared with July 1955 exports of 4.8
million pounds (valued at $1.2 million). August 1955 exports were higher by 41.5
percent in quantity and 77.7 percent in value as compared with August 1954.
% KKK *
IMPORTS OF GROUNDFISH FILLETS INCREASED IN OCTOBER 1955: Im-
16.9 million pounds. Compared with the 15.1 million pounds reported for the cor-
responding month last year, this was an increase of 1.8 mil- ;
lion pounds or 12 percent (see chart 7 in this issue). The in- |
crease was caused primarily by somewhat larger imports
from Canada and Iceland. Compared with the same month of
last year, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and West
Germany also exported more groundfish fillets to the United
States during October 1955. Canada again led all other coun-
tries in exports of groundfish fillets with 12.2 million pounds--nearly 7 percent more
than reported for October 1954. Canada accounted for 72 percent of the total fillet
imports for October 1955.
Total fillet imports into the United States during the first 10 months of the cur-
rent year amounted to 113.7 million pounds, compared with 120.2 million pounds
during the same period of last year. This was a decrease of 5 percent. Canada,
with 36.0 million pounds, led all other exporting countries during the ten-month
period, followed by Iceland with 16.3 million pounds. These two countries account-
ed for 90 percent of the total for the 10-month period.
Vessel Insurance Survey Progress Report
The progress made in the "Study of Fishing Craft Hull and Protection andIndem-
nity Insurance" was outlined by a representative of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice at a meeting of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission held at Virgin-
ia Beach, Va., November 14 and 15. The contract for the study has been let to Bos-
ton University by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The work to be performed will consist of a study of experience by insurance
firms and fishing-craft owners with respect to hull and protection and indemnity
risks.
A survey of the problem areas and plans and assignments of personnel for ini-
tial interviews with insurance companies have been completed.
During the last weeks of July and the month of August interviews were conduct-
ed with 12 insurance agencies, 4owners' and producers' associations, 2 insurance
associations, and 3 fishermen's unions along with 5 other organizations connected
with the fisheries.
Cooperation has been most encouraging and has exceded all expectations. Nu-
merous letters have been received by Boston University from all parts of the coun-
try with offers of assistance and encouragement.
Some measures of relationship between factors, such as type of fishing activity,
length of time at sea, and age of vessel with the incidence of loss of vessel are pres-
ently being examined on the basis of available insurance company records,
36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
The U. S. Customs Bureau's listing of fishing vessels is presently being rec-
onciled with the Service listing to be used as a population list from which to draw
samples of vessel owners. It is anticipated that the migratory habits of certain ves-
sels will cause some complications in the attempts to contact vessel captains and
for this reason methods of selection and substitutions of vessels are being develop-
ed for this study.
>
Washington
ports from Japan were inspected between January 25 and April 10, 1955, for the
ninth consecutive year by Washington's Department of Fisheries. This inspection
is carried out under General Order 249 and Amending Order 333 of that State's Di-
rector of Fisheries in accord with laws governing the control of oyster pests and
predators within the State.
In 1955 there were only two exporting companies and three major buyers in-
volved in the seed oyster business. All Miyagi seed exported was produced by eith-
er the Urato Seed Oyster
Annual Seed Oyster Imports to the Pacific Coast, Growers Association (through
January Through May, 1947-1955 Nozaki & Co.) or the Miyagi
i Prefectural Seed Oyster
Kumamoto Growers Association (through
Tokyo Food Products Co.).
The small amount of Kuma-
moto seed shipped was han-
dled by Tokyo Food Prod-
ucts Co, for the Kumamoto
Prefectural Government
which is now underwriting
the production of this seed.
The table summarizes
the statistics on seed shipments January through May since 1947. Generally, most
California and all Oregon and British Columbia imports are included in the table.
Since 1953 the California January-May shipments have risen substantially with a-
bout 1, 700 cases in 1953, 2,536 cases in 1954, and 10,036 cases in 1955. There
is every reason to expect further increases during the next several years, This
increase has been in a large part due to a revision in the State of California policies
governing the management and allocation of oyster lands, according to a report by
the Washington State Shellfish Laboratory at Quilcene.
Included in the table for 1955, but not distinguished as such, are about 4, 000
cases of grade B broken seed, 20 cases of a new type of oyster (the Suminoe) from
Kumamoto, and 20 cases of Miyagi seed caught on scallop-shell cultch. The de-
crease in imports during 1955 {as well as both 1953 and 1954) were in part a func-
tion of supply. In both 1953 and 1954 orders exceeded supply by 2,000 or more
cases and in 1955 the shortage was between 14, 000 and 1, 6000
In contrast to the 9 to 11 ships needed to handle imports for the last three years,
only 7 ships were utilized in 1955. The reduction of conference shipping rates on
seed oysters this year resulted in the total absence of nonconference shipping.
Oyster Predator Inspection: From the summation of maximum weekly water
temperatures at two representative points in Japan, it is apparent that during 1955
they were neither unusually high nor low and as such the activity of the drills should
have been modest at worst.
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 37
Actually, the drills, while not excessively active at any time, were present at
all stages of processing throughout the entire season. This was the result of three
major factors. First, a typhoon during the first week of September 1954 caused
nearly 500, 000 strings of shell to be swept from the catching racks to the bottom,
While the bulk of them were recovered within 10 days, many drills attached them-
selves to the seed while on the bottom. Secondly, many of the growers, due to de-
spondency and economic pressure resulting from the poor seed crop, were less
careful of drills in processing than they normally are. Third, the short crop and
pressure from exporters and buyers for more seed caused many growersto process
seed intended for domestic use (less carefully handled drill-wise than export seed),
In addition to the production control aspects of the inspection, approximately
2,000 cases (about 4 percent of the packed boxes) were opened and 5-10 percent of
the contents examined for the presence of drills and other oyster pests or predators.
In the boxes opened, Japanese drill eggs were f.-und twice (one live batch and one
hatched out) and drills twice (one live and one dead). In each instance all boxes
packed on the same date as the contaminated one, as well as cases packed after
that date, were rejected for export. Further operation by the guilty packing group
was prohibited, though their seed could be processed through another group. A
total of 397 cases of seed was rejected as a result of these findings. As a conse-
quence of these rejections there was a considerable increase in the vigilance of
responsible parties on all packing sites and a great deal of concern expressed over
the stiffness of our inspection. In past years the Japanese leaders have generally
tended to shift all responsibility for drill control onto the American inspector; how-
ever, in a meeting at the end of the season between officials of the Japanese Gov-
ernment, Miyagi Prefectural Government, growers and exporters, buyers andtheir
representatives, the Japanese themselves actually proposed to make a greater ef-
fort to control drills. Both producers and buyers once again urged Japanese Gov-
ernmental agencies to apply greater effort to drill inspection and leave the problem
of quality control to the processors and purchasers,
Observations on other pests and predators such as flatworms and seaweeds
were made. Spat mortalities during time on the hardening racks, processing, time
on holding racks, and shipping were observed and a number of experiments conduct-
ed to emperically evaluate the losses.
A few cases were sampled on board ship after the seed arrived in the United
States to ascertain the effectiveness of our inspection in Japan. No evidences of care-
less processing or drills were encountered in these inspections,
32
Virginia
in some Virginia areas the latter part of 1955 suffered heavy losses due to factors
related to the excessive rainfall that accompanied the two hurricanes (Connie and
Diana) in the Chesapeake Bay area on August 12 and August 17, 1955. It is esti-
mated that about one million bushels of oysters were lost inthe Rappahannock River.
Similar though much lower losses were reported from the upper part of the James
and York Riversand also from certain parts of Virginia rivers tributary to the Po-
tomac, states the November 1955 Maryland Tidewater News of the Maryland De-
partment of Research and Education.
The August 1955 storms generally dumped about a foot or more of rain over
most of the section. The most hard-hit area was the Rappahannock River, a tribu-
tary of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. When an emergency situation was recognized,
the following series of events took place: (1) the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory
38 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
worked day and night on an examination and survey of the disaster area; (2) the
Chesapeake Bay Institute began a concurrent detailed investigation of hydrographic
conditions; (3) a committee of well-known oyster biologists from the South Atlantic
and Gulf Coasts under the chairmanship of the Oyster Institute of North America
was organized to evaluate and supplement the data and conclusions reported by the
above agencies.
First reports of dead oysters came from planters in the upper part of the Rap-
pahannock River about a week after the passage of hurricane Diane. Most oyster
deaths occurred suddenly on beds where the oysters had been found alive only a
few days previously. Privately-planted beds, located on less suitable bottom than
the natural rocks, suffered losses ranging up to almost 100 percent. Serious loss-
es also occurred on certain natural rocks, but these were not as extensive or se-
vere as those on planted beds.
From the large amount of data gathered it is believed that the oysters succumb-
ed from a combination of adverse factors that developed in conjunction with the sud-
den and heavy fresh-water runoff. These included a marked drop in salinity; the
washing of heavy accumulations of silt and organic matter into the River; and oxy-
gen deficiency in the water that resulted from decomposition of organic matter,
strong stratification, and lack of light penetration; the production from organic
matter of toxic hydrogen sulphide at the bottom due to lack of oxygen; and the high
summer temperatures that had increased oyster susceptibility to other unfavorable
conditions that normally are present. River flow at Fredericksburg was more than
twice as high as in any previous flood on record for the summer months, For two
hurricanes in such rapid succession to visit this area is extremely exceptional.
Cooler fall weather lowered water temperatures and produced better mixing sothat
the water rapidly returned to normal and the surviving oysters fattened and made
good growth.
Wholesale Prices, October 1955
Changes in the wholesale fishery products price index from September to Oc-
tober were slight on the average. The labor-management disputes noted in Septem-
ber were about settled at the end of October. Seasonal changes and marketing con-
ditions caused some marked changes in the price level of a number of items in-
cluded in the fresh and frozen dressed or whole fin-
fish subgroup. This is a normal condition at this
time of the year. The over-all index of edible fish
and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) in October
1955 was 107.6 percent of the 1947-49 average {see
table)--1.5 percent lower than in September, but 5.7
percent higher than in October 1954,
Prices for all items included in the drawn, dress-
‘|ed, or whole finfish subgroup index were mixed. Ex-
vessel prices for large drawn haddock at Bostonfrom
September to October rose 81.7 percent, but prices
quoted for the fresh-water varieties dropped substan-
tially after the September Jewish holidays. The Oc-
tober 1955 prices for fresh and frozen halibut and
salmon declined due primarily to the relatively larg-
er proportion of the cheaper frozen products that enter the markets with the end of
the production season. Compared with October 1954, prices were higher this Oc-
tober for this subgroup by about 1.8 percent, with increases and decreases practi-
cally offsetting each other.
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 39
Fresh processed fish and shellfish prices from September to October were
marked by only slight changes as a group. Prices for fresh scrod haddock fillets
increased 30.4 percent from September to October, reflecting the seasonal increase
in ex-vessel prices of drawn haddock at Boston. Prices for fresh shrimp were down
8.2 percent this October, but were 10.3 percent higher than in October 1954. Light
production, due to hurricane damage, pushed shucked oyster prices up 4.8 percent
from September to October and 10.0 percent above a year earlier, The fresh proc-
essed fish and shellfish subgroup index rose 1.0 percent from September to Octo-
ber due to higher prices for scrod haddock fillets and oysters, and the index for the
subgroup was 12.7 percent above that for the same period a year earlier.
Table 1 - Wholesale Average Prices and Indexes for Edible Fish and Shellfish, October 1955 With Comparisons
Point of Avg. Prices1/ Indexes
Group, Subgroup, and Item Specification Pricing Unit ($) (1947-49=100)
Oct, | Sept.
1955 |1955
ALT, FISH'& SHELLFISH (Fresh, Frozen, & Canned). .......cs0e0s0 cease
uresh&)Rrozen)Pashery Products: /) 3%) sh Yale! tlhe Walle clls siledittec: let eleadeil 0s
Drawn, Dressed, or Whole Finfish: Aud, 50 O48) oe DEOL Ope pais nono ie 113.6
Haddock, Ige., ck, Ige., offshore, drawn, fresh... . .
Halibut, West., 20/80 lbs., drsd., fresh or froz,
Salmon, king, lge. & med,, drsd., fresh or froz,
Whitefish, L, Superior, drawn, fresh... ..
Whitefish, L, Erie pound or gill net,rnd., fresh
Lake trout, domestic, No, 1, drawn, fresh. . .
Yellow pike, L, Michigan& Huron, rnd.,fresh .
Boston
New York
New York
Chicago
New York
Chicago
New York
Processed, Fresh (Fish & Shellfish):
Fillets, haddock, sml,, skins on, 20-lb, tins . .
Shrimp, lge, (26-30 count), headless, fresh. . .
Oysters; Shucked> standards)... « s% late we
78. 3 mae: ys
94,5 79.0
129.9 | 117.5 | 123.7
115, 1
98.0
Processed, Frozen (Fish & Shellfish): dole
Fillets: Flounder (yellowtail), ski skinless, 1-1b.
Pn Som 6 oo oD se) ol») || Boston
Haddock, sm1,,skins on, ae -lb. pkg. . . |Boston
Ocean perch, skins on, 1-lb. pkg, .. {Boston
Shrimp, lge, (26-30 count), 5-lb, pkg. . .. . |Chicago
Canned Fishery Products; ...... doo oo) oe
~ Salmon, pink, No, 1 tall (16 oz.), 48 can/cs.. F
Tuna, lt, meat, chunk, No, 1/2 tuna (6-1/2 oz.),
48 cans/ cs., SNS Raen
Sardines, Calif,, tom, pack,No. “1 oval (5 oz),
ASUCATIS/CSei ic eeiph elie is 3, io),
Sardines, Maine, keyless oil, No. 1/4 drawn
(3- 1/4 0z,), 100 cans/cs, sf apa eaxe Gal eke’
Los Angeles |case
Los Angeles |case
1/Represent average prices for one day (Monday or Tuesday) during the week in which the 15th of the month occurs. These
prices are published as indicators of movement and not necessarily absolute level. Daily Market News Service ‘Fishery
Products Reports’’ should be referred to for actual prices.
2/Not available,
Frozen shrimp prices dropped 1.0 percent from September to October, while
prices for frozen fillets were about unchanged. The October 1955 index for frozen
processed fish and shellfish was 1.1 percent higher than September and 5.7 per-
cent higher than a year earlier. When compared with a year earlier, October 1955
prices for flounder fillets and. shrimp were higher, while shrimp and fillets of ocean
perch were lower.
Higher canned Maine sardine prices were responsible for the rise of 0.7 per-
cent in the subgroup index for all canned fish from September to October. Canned
40 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
fish prices in October 1955 were also higher (6.3 percent) than the same month a
year earlier with prices for salmon higher by 3.8 percent and for Maine sardines
up 18 percent. Canned tuna prices and California sardines were about unchanged.
REPRODUCTION OF FISH SUBJECTED TO ELECTRIC CURRENT
The possibility that fish might become sterile as a result of being
subjected to electric current has interestedmany fishery biologists and
fish culturists. Aspartof a fishery-management and research program
on strip-mine impoundments, sponsored bythe Truax-Traer Coal Com-
pany of Fiatt, I1l., astudy was begun on the effect of electrofishing gear
upon the reproductive capacity of the largemouth bass (Micropterus
salmoides).
The plant wasa2,500-watt, 230-volt alternating-current unit. The
electrode system was formed by 2 plates of aluminum wrapped around 2
boards that were 8 feet long. These electrodes were mounted about 10
feet in front of the boat and were about 6 feet apart.
On July 2, 1952, 8largemouthbass, their total lengths ranging from
10to14inches, were completely stunned by the electric current and col-
lected withdipnets. The bass were transported to a spawning pond that
contained no otherfish, All specimens had completely recovered by the
time they were released; they suffered no apparent harm from the elec-
tric current or from the handling.
On September 13-14, 1953, this pond was drained and the fish were
removed. Inadditiontothe 8 brood bass, there were 4, 266 largemouths
that were 2 to 8inches intotal length. Approximately 96 percent of these
were less than 5 inches intotal length, and approximately 4 percent were
5 to 8inches intotallength. The brood bass were 12 to 15 inches in total
length. All fish removed were in good condition.
Althoughthis investigation should be repeated with other species in
additiontothe largemouth bass in order to obtain more conclusive data,
in this particular case the fish were definitely not made sterile by the
electric current.
--Progressive FishCulturist, July 1954.
December 1955
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
41
International
NORTH PACIFIC FISHERIES COMMISSION
TOKYO MEETING REPORT: A stepped up study of the origin and distribution
of Pacific salmon was scheduled for next year by the International North Pacific
Fisheries Commission at its meeting in Tokyo which ended on November 5, 1955.
The United States Section of the Commission on Novem-
ber 8 issued this report to the press;
A large increase in scientific studies to determine origin
and distribution of Pacific salmon in the sea was decided
upon by the United States, Canada, and Japan at the October
31-November 5 meeting of the International North Pacific
Fisheries Commission in Tokyo, according to the United
States Section and their advisers,
The United States Section for its part decided upon in-
creased emphasis on ocean tagging as one of the lines of in-
vestigation offering good prospect of an early answer to the
paramount problem, which is; determination of the origin
and distribution of the salmon of the Pacific,
At the same time the United States Section will continue
other scientific studies seeking to distinguish American and
Asiatic salmon: research fishing and sampling to determine
distribution of the salmon in the sea; study of racial charac-
teristics which may reveal physical differences; oceanogra-
phy studies to ascertain the effect of currents, temperature
and the food supply of fishes, as it relates to the distribution
of fish in the sea,
Concern of American people over recent trends in yield of
Pacific salmon was emphasized to the International Commis-
sion at its first meeting by Milton Brooding, Chairman of the
United States Section, who said in addressing the Commis-
sion:
“The people of my country are greatly concerned with the
seaward migration of stocks of salmon of North American
origin and we are moving as rapidly as possible in the di-
rection of determining the ocean distribution of these stocks,
We know they leave our shores after being spawned in our
streams, and, we know that an important part of their life
cycle is spent in the open sea, Further, we know that these
fish are capable of migrating long distances, During the sea-
son just passed the United States catch has been extremely
poor, with some runs a complete failure, In view of these
facts, it must be obvious that our people are greatly con-
cerned about what happens to these salmon during their sea
life,
“So it is we come here today, greatly concerned because
of the apparent loss of our fish in the open sea, This loss
will affect salmon runs to come because without adequate
present spawning in our American streams there will be in-
adequate future stocks to perpetuate the fishery.’*
While the 1956 operating schedule is not yet definite, Ja-
panese spokesmen have indicated they would not expect to
increase the number of vessels engaged in salmon opera-
tions in the Aleutian area in 1956. This position is a ques-
tion for future discussion in line with the United States Sec-
tion’s great concern as expressed in its opening statement,
The Japanese spokesmen did indicate a probable increase
in operations for both salmon and crab in the Okhotsk Sea
area, which is west of the Kamachatka Peninsula,
With regard to Japanese North Pacific operations during
the 1955 season, the United States Section was informed
that the Japanese had adhered strictly to their treaty as-
surances, and that in fact they had not fished within 7° of
the area within which they had agreed to abstain from fish-
ing salmon, While their operations began at 178° east lon-
gitude, the Japanese took the great majority of their 1955
catch from waters west of Attu, beyond the utter extremity
of United States territory in the Aleutians.
Salmon sampling operations to determine distribution as
distinguished from fishing for tagging purposes will also be
substantially increased by all three nations party to the
treaty.
Research fishing to provide racial samples and other
scientific data will be conducted throughout the Bering Sea
by United States and Japanese vessels, with some overlap-
ping in the central part of the sea.
Vessels of three nations will conduct simultaneous fish-
ing operations for scientific samples of the salmon popu-
lation in a broad band all the way across the Pacific, The
Americans and Canadians will work westward and the Ja-
panese east, with sufficient overlapping to confirm the data
developed, It is possible that United States and Canadian
commercial fishing vessels will encounter Japanese re-
search craft fishing for scientific samples in the area of
overlap,
The increased emphasis on tagging, which received pri-
ority in the research program of the United States Section,
was decided upon because of the encouraging results ob-
tained in 1955 tagging work,
The tagging program was developed for the United States
Section by W, F, Thompson, Director of the Fishery Insti-
tute of the University of Washington, which conducted the
tagging investigation in 1955,
42 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
It is planned to tag large numbers of salmon in a broad The United States Section initiated a request that the na-
band along both sides of the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleu- tions concerned begin at once studies which will permit de-
tian Islands, and extending if possible to the area of the Ja- cision in 1958 on the qualification of fisheries for absten-
panese pelagic fishery, In order to provide fish in physical tion under the fundamental principle of the Treaty, This
condition to stand tagging and survive, specially adapted United States proposal was accepted by the Commission,
purse seines will be the principal fishing gear employed, Ex-
perimental work is continuing to develop improved tags, Attention was given to the king crab resource and the con-
methods of tagging, and the technique of taking fish for tag- tinuance of scientific studies for its conservation.
ging on the high seas,
Edward W. Allen, one of the four United States Commissioners, was elected
chairman of the Commission for 1956; George R. Clark of Canada was chosen Vice
President, I. Fujita of Japan, Secretary. This was in line with the practice of ro-
tating these offices between the three nations. The next meeting will be held in
Seattle in November 1956. The Biology Committee of the Commission, which is
charged with attempting to determine the distribution of North American and Asiatic
stocks of salmon on the high seas, will meet at Honolulu on February 6 and again
at Seattle on November 5, 1956, the United States Embassy at Tokyo reported on
November 10.
Most United States studies will be made by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and the Fisheries Institute of the University of Washington. The California Depart-
ment of Fish and Game is cooperating by furnishing data already gathered.
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE: The annual conference of the International Council
for the Exploration of the Sea was held in Copenhagen October 24-November 11, 1955.
The following member countries sent delegates: West Germany, Belguim, Denmark,
Spain, Finland, France, Great Britain, Eire, Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, Portu-
gal, and Sweden. Although not a member, the United States was represented by an
observer, Andrew W. Anderson of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The U.S.S.R. and Poland sent sizable observer teams to this year's conference.
Reportedly, these teams contributed to the discussions and created the general im-
pression that fisheries methods and research in those two countries have not lagged
significantly behind developments in the West. It was also announced at the end of
the conference that both the U.S.S.R. and Poland had applied for and been accepted
as members of the Council.
The Council elected a Norwegian, H. W. Sverdrup, as President to replace the
outgoing M. A. Dobson of Great Britain, a November 7 dispatch from the United
States Embassy at Copenhagen reports.
TERRITORIAL WATERS
BRITISH-ICELANDIC NEGOTIATIONS ON ICELANDIC TERRITORIAL FISHING
LIMITS: Negotiations between Great Britain and Iceland that have been afoot through
the Organization for European Economic Cooperation for a settlement of the dispute
regarding territorial fishing limits unilaterally imposed by Iceland have failed, states
the October 28 issue of The Fishing News, a British fishery periodical. The last
week in October an additional memorandum of some 26 pages in length was issued
by the Icelandic Government. This was in reply to the British Government's 6,000-
word memorandum issued by the British Foreign Office in May 1955 for the Council
of Europe to which body the Icelandic Government had earlier submitted a complaint
in a lengthy memorandum regarding its inability to market Icelandic fish in Great
Britain.
The Icelandic Government's new statement comprises an introductory section,
a section emphasizing the importance of fishing to Iceland, its view of the legal
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 43
position in relation to fishing limits, the claimed effects of its conservation policy,
and lastly, a section complaining of the action taken by the British fishing industry.
NORTH PACIFIC OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEY
OCEANOGRAPHIC STUDIES AID FISHERIES: Scientists of Canada, the United
States, and Japan with more than 50 ships at their disposal have just completed a
four-month survey of the North Pacific which is expected to make navigation safer,
help develop marine resources, and aid Japanese farmers. The scientists of the
three countries will meet in Hawaii in February 1956 to compare notes and assess
the information obtained.
The survey charted for the first time the circular movement of Pacific waters
north of 20 degrees north latitude. It was the first of an annual series. Another
joint survey series by the United States, Japan, and Peru will begin in August 1956
and will cover equatorial waters between 15 degrees north latitude and 10 degrees
south latitude.
Data collected this year included the temperature, salinity, and oxygen content
of ocean currents to a depth of 500 fathoms. Plankton concentrations and fish dis-
tribution were also noted. Meteorological observations and findings on the relation-
ship between the ''Oyashio,"' or cold current running south; the ''Koroshio," the warm
current running north; the North Pacific current, and the California current were
recorded. Although details were not disclosed, it was said that the observations
solved the riddle of the unseasonable cold wave and abnormally warm winter of
1953/54 in Japan. Better weather forecasts will now minimize damage to crops in
northeastern Japan by cold waves.
East of 175 degrees west latitude and south of the Aleutian Islands the survey
was conducted by ships of the United States and Canada, while Japan covered the
remaining waters to the west.
Cooperating organizations were: for Japan, the Maritime Safety Board, Tokyo
College of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, Central Meteorological Observatory,
Kagoshima University, and the Togai District Fisheries Institute; for the United
States, the University of California, Pacific Fisheries Institute, and Washington
University; for Canada, the Fisheries Board, Pacific Institute, and Asia-Pacific
Observation Group.
WHALING
WHALERS PAY RATES INCREASED: The National Whaling Board has approved
a six-percent increase in pay, bonus, and overtime rates for the 1955/56 whaling
season, states The Fishing News (November 4, 1955), a British fishery periodical.
This is the same increase as that negotiated between the Norwegian whaling com-
panies and unions.
The Board comprises representatives of the British and South African whaling
companies, the Navigators' and Engineer Officers' Union, and the National Union of
Seamen.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION
1955, inRome, Italy. The Conference which is the chief legislative and policy-
making organization of FAO (of which the United States and 70 other countries are
members), was opened by the Director-General who referred to the work that had
44 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
been done by FAO in its first ten years, but he said, rather than look nostalgically
to the past, it was better to look forward to the next decade and prepare to tackle
the immense amount of work which was waiting to be done.
After three weeks of meetings on world problems in ag-
riculture, forestry, fisheries, and nutrition, the Eighth Ses-
sion of the Conference terminated November 25, 1955. During
this period the member countries celebrated the tenth anni-
versary of FAO's founding in Quebec, Canada, 10 years ago.
Advisers to the United States delegation at the Conference
include A. W. Anderson, Chief, Branch of Commercial Fish-
eries, Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Department of the Interior, and Charles E.
Jackson, General Manager, National Fisheries Institute, Washington, D. C.
The Director of the Economics Division at the first meeting of the Commission-
of-the-Whole on November 8 gave his statement on the ''The World Food and Agri-
cultural Situation'' (Document C 55/CW/2). After referring to the printed document,
the State of Food and Agriculture ( C 55/4), which reviewed developments over the
last decade, he pointed out that the present situation had not changed fundamentally
since the 1953 Conference. Although there were some surpluses and stockpiles
were growing, the per capita production of food in the world had not risen much be-
cause the purchasing power was not available.
Technical Committee on Fisheries meeting, Representatives of 29 countries and an observer from UNESCO attended,
After analyzing various factors concerned with production, distribution, mar-
keting and consumption, stabilization of prices, and increase of farm incomes, etc.,
the Director of the Economics Division brought out the following as policies which
the Conference should consider: (1) increased consumption; (2) reduced costs;
(3) greater flexibility of production; (4) greater stability of prices; (5) increase
in farm incomes; and (6) disposal of surpluses to speed economié progress in un-
derdeveloped countries, without disturbing normal trade in those products.
December 1955
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45
The Director-General on November 11, in a comprehensive statement to the
Commission-of-the-Whole, explained the factors which had influenced his decisions
with regard to the 1956/57 Budget and the Management Survey Report.
In making
his decisions on the budget, he had kept very clearly in mind the principles on which
the Organization was founded, and, in considering future budgetary requirements,
had used the 1955 Programasa basis.
At the eleventh meeting of the Commission-of-the-Whole, the Chairman pointed
out that delegations had suggested that special attention should be paid by FAO to
practical field studies, particularly to work directed primarily towards improving
production, such as plant protection, regional conferences, training centers, storage
facilities, and desirable developments in fisheries, animal husbandry, and horti-
culture.
Some delegations had emphasized work in nutrition and home economics.
Regarding new activities, many countries felt the proposed survey of world re-
sources would help in developing national programs.
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES:
Fishery problems were initially discussed ina
Technical Committee on Fisheries. Representa-
tives of 29 countries and an observer from UNESCO
attended the meetings of the Committee. A. W.
Anderson, Chief of the Fish and Wildlife Service's
Branch of Commercial Fisheries, andCharles E.
Jackson, General Manager of the National Fisher -
ies Institute, Washington, D. C., served as United
States representatives on the Committee.
The first meeting of the Technical Committee
on Fisheries of the Eighth Session of the Confer -
ence was held on November 15. The agenda ofthe
Technical Committee on Fisheries included the
organization of the Committee; adoption of an a-
genda; review of the activities carried out by the
FAO Fisheries Division during 1953/54-1954/55,
program of work for 1956/57, including the item
on the agenda of the Commission on Program
Trends and Policy Questions, i.e., ''The Rational
Utilization of the Living Resources of the Sea (in
cooperation with the United Nations Organization) ."'
At the First Meeting of the Commission on
Program Trends and Policy Questions on Novem-
ber 15, the chairman proposed that the item on
the "wise utilization of the living resources of the
sea'' should be referred to the Technical Commit-
tee on Fisheries to deal with initially, and the
Committee should refer the item back to the Com-
mission on Program Trends and Policy Questions
should any specific policy matters arise.
New FAO Fisheries Program: The Committee
was in general agreement with the conduct of past
programs by the Fisheries Division of FAO and
also concurred with the program proposed for
1956 and 1957 although it was necessary to indi-
cate some items which could be delayed if the full
budget allotment was not received. FAO had pro-
posed about a 17-percent increase over its current
budget but the final increases approved were about
10 percent for 1956 and 13 percent for 1957. How-
ever, the technical divisions--fisheries, forestry,
agriculture, economics, and nutrition--will be
able to carry on most of the work proposed as the
greater share of the deductions were made in other
parts of FAO's operations.
The Technical Committee on Fisheries gave
the highest priority to work in the technological
fields of production, processing, gear development,
and fishing-boat design. It endorsed holding ofan
international Gear Congress early in 1957 anda
repetition of the very successful Fishing Boat
Congress (first held in 1953) probably early in
1958.
Economics and Statistics activities also were
highly commended and it was regretted that a
scarcity of well-qualified economists was hinder-
ing the more rapid advancement of the program in
this field. The publications were mentioned as
proving extremely useful to the member countries.
A series of ten proposed economic studies, includ-
ing such subjects as governmental services to the
fishing industry, fishery cooperatives, marketing,
etc., were looked forward to with great interest.
The first report, a pilot study on governmental
services to the sea-fish industry of Great britain
is well under way and is expected to set a pattern
for other countries and other studies.
Fishery biology activities deemed most sig-
nificant were in the establishment of a common
terminology and a standardization of research
methods.
In general, the Committee suggested that re-
gional activities be strengthened. It also com-
mented most favorably on the Expanded Technical
Assistance Program, a field which supplements
the Regular Program, and one in which the Fish-
eries Division appears to have made a very good
record of accomplishment.
Of the new activities proposed for initiation,
the Committee recommended that these must take
a lower priority than items in the Regular Pro-
gram. Some concern also was expressed over
the danger of spreading the Division's facilities
and personnel too thin, especially since it is sub-
ject to requests for assistance from over 70 na-
tions in all parts of the world. In accordance with
the above recommendation, it was agreed that the
suggested new activity involving a survey and ap-
praisal of world agricultural, fishery, and forestry
resources in relation to needs would be delayed or
curtailed as required.
Substantial savings were made by eliminating
provisions for meetings and consultations which
it was thought would arise out of the International
Technical Conference on the Conservation of the
Living Resources of the Sea, convened by the
United Nations at FAO headquarters in Rome from
46
April 18 to May 10, 1955. There appeared to be
no need for the Fisheries Division to undertake
such an activity. Similar savings were made by
eliminating a requested post in the FAO Legisla-
tive Service to undertake special work on questions
of international law affecting fisheries.
A suggestion in an FAO paper entitled "Role
of FAO in the Development and Wise Utilization
of Sea Fisheries" that FAO become active in the
development of scientific criteria required to de-
termine the need for conservational action, the
appropriateness of measures to be adopted, and
the effectiveness of these measures, particularly
to furnish guidance to such arbitral commissions
or other organs as might be established in ac-
cordance with the Draft Provisional Articles con-
Report of the Technical Committee on Fisheries: TheCon-
ference examined the results achieved in fisheries during
the past two years as well as the program of work proposed
by the Director-General for the next two years, It com-
mended the Director-General upon the achievement of a
program which was well conceived and properly balanced,
It felt that future trends in the work on fisheries should be
based upon the logical development of the present structure,
It noted the necessity for strengthening the staff in order to
implement the projects in the 1956/57 program and approved
the measures suggested to accomplish this purpose,
It was felt particularly desirable that projects should
continue to be undertaken which were consistent with the
status of the Organization as an international body and that
Member countries should continue to be encouraged to under-
take work which could more appropriately be done nationally,
It was considered that, among the activities to be con-
ducted under the Regular Program, those now in progress
deserved the highest emphasis and that the danger should
be avoided of spreading too few staff over too diverse a
range of activities, Importance was attached to the con-
current development of production, processing, distribution
and marketing in the domestic fisheries.
The Conference wished to draw special attention to the
following aspects of the program of work for the next two
years:
FISHERIES BIOLOGY: In the field of fisheries biology,
the Conference considered that the establishment, first of
all, of a common terminology and, secondly, a standardiza-
tion of research methods deserved emphasis and that the
initiative which had already been displayed in this direction
must be commended, Such standardization of terms and
methods was necessary in order that any one country might
utilize the work done by other countries, It was regretted
that it had not been possible to continue the work of pre-
paring the schedules of scientific and common names of
commercial species of fish since these contributed to the
establishment of a common terminology.
The strengthening of the staff proposed to further the
work of standardization and to assist in the preparation of
a series of handbooks was considered desirable, It was
thought that these handbooks should be compiled where-
ever possible by the Member countries and that the Organiza-
tion would be mainly responsible for editorial work.
It was pointed out that the work on terminology under-
taken in the field of biology was important both to UNESCO
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Vol. 17, No. 12
. cerning the High Seas as proposed by the Inter -
national Law Commission, met with unanimous
opposition. It was recommended that nothing be
initiated in this field by FAO until the need for
further guidance in such matters was more ap-
parent.
The Conference accepted all of the recom-
mendations originating in the Technical Committee
on Fisheries. They will, therefore, guide the
program of the Fisheries Division for 1956 and
1957.
Copies of the Report of the Technical Com-
mittee on Fisheries and the statement with regard
to The Rational Utilization of the Living Resources
of the Sea follow:
and to the Organization and, while the latter should play its
full part in this, it was essential that close contact be main-
tained with UNESCO in its development. The coordination
of work in the classification of plankton was noted and con-
sidered essential to the development of the fisheries,
FISHERIES TECHNOLOGY: The Conference fully en-
dorsed the work carried out in the field of fisheries technol-
ogy, including the strengthening of the staff. The method
of presentation of the work in this field was approved and
recommended for wider adoption.
It was noted that since the last Session of the Conference
the gratifying results of the Congress on Fishing Boats held
in Paris and Miami in 1953 had become fully apparent and
stress was laid upon the desirability of a second Congress.
If possible, this should be organized in three sessions in
the Far East, America, and Europe and it was agreed that
the feasibility of holding it simultaneously with the proposed
congress on fishing gear and methods should be examined,
It was hoped that the Organization would be able to promote
a permanent international body to cooperate in the improve-
ment in the design of fishing boats. At the same time the
Organization should continue to take all possible steps to en-
sure the adequate circulation of information on fishing boat
design, It was recommended that the staff of the Organiza-
tion be strengthened to assist in this work in future and that
if, in the meantime, savings were achieved in other directions
they should be allocated to furthering work in this field.
The proposed congress on fishing gear and methods was
considered to be of the highest importance. It was particular-
ly requested that, since many of those likely to benefit by the
proceedings would not be able to attend such a congress,
wide dissemination of the information arising out of it should
be made in forms appropriate to fisheries workers at all
levels.
The collaboration with UNICEF on technological problems
in the manufacture of fish flour was noted and the continuation
of this work during 1956 and 1957 was approved,
FISHERIES ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS: The Can-
ference approved the strengthening of the staff in the field
of fisheries economics and hoped that this would permit
further broadening of its activities, The Conference noted
that the work was hindered by the scarcity of well-qualified
economists conversant with conditions in the industry, and
that this impeded the execution of projects in both the Regu-
lar Program and ETAP, The policy of employing on fish-
eries studies consultants from Member countries already
engaged on similar or associated work was noted and highly
December 1955
commended as a method of accomplishing a great deal of
useful work at a minimum cost to the Organization, This
policy, moreover, assisted in focusing the attention of prom-
inent economists and administrators on the problems of the
fishing industries, and their assistance could be expected to
make important contributions towards the solution of such
problems, The pilot study on governmental services to the
sea-fish industry of Great Britain, at present being carried
out in the United Kingdom, was considered to be useful both
in itself and in setting a pattern which would be valuable when
similar work relating was undertaken in relation to other
countries, The Conference noted that until additional staff
became available, work on economic appraisal in fisheries
could be carried out on an ad hoc basis only,
It was considered that the publications of the Organiza-
tion in the field of fisheries economics were proving ex-
tremely useful to Member Nations, and particular mention
was made of the Yearbook of Fishery Statistics, It was
recommended that standardization should be carried further
and the Director-General was asked to draw the attention of
Member countries wherever possible to the most desirable
forms in which statistical returns might be compiled so as
to provide a useful basis of comparison with those of other
countries,
REGIONAL ACTIVITIES: Asia and the Far East: In re-
viewing the fisheries work accomplished by the Organization
in Asia and the Far East, the Conference noted the consistent
growth and development of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council
over the past years, It felt that the work devolving upon the
Secretariat in connection with the Council and the associated
work in the Regional Office had now become so onerous that
the Regional Office fisheries staff should be reinforced by
an officer at an early opportunity.
One of the accomplishments of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries
Council had been the strengthening of fisheries administration
in the region, It was also considered that means should be
found to develop leadership among communities of fishermen
and that the appointment of an additional officer to the Re-
gional Office would strengthen these activities. At the same
time it was recognized that, however many persons were
attached to the Regional Office, specialized advice was re-
quired from Headquarters from time to time, Visits from
Headquarters staff had proved extremely valuable and it
was only regretted that very often these were of comparative-
ly short duration, It was recommended that Headquarters
officers be assigned for longer periods to the Regional Office
in order that they could the better cover the very extended
area and diversity of conditions in the region, For this rea-
son the Conference welcomed the increased allocation for
travel proposed for work in this field in 1956/57, It was
felt that a prerequisite of expert advice was familiarization
of the officer with local conditions in the part of the world
in which he was working,
The attention of the Conference was drawn to the existence
of certain publications, at present available only in Japanese,
which might be of benefit to other countries where the fish-
ing industries operated under similar conditions, but it was
recognized that considerable difficulties in translation would
have to be overcome before this work could be undertaken.
Europe and the Middle East: The conclusion was reached
that, as in Asia and the Far East, the work of the Organiza-
tion generally in the area as well as that of the Secretariat
of the Regional Council should be strengthened and extended,
It was noted that the General Fisheries Council for the Med-
iterranean afforded the means of carrying out co-ordination
of work being done by a number of governments and institu-
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 47
tions in the region to ensure standardization wherever possi-
ble, The Conference fully endorsed this line of approach,
Latin America; It was hoped that the Director-General
would pay full attention to the importance of promoting the
production of fish flour in the Central American countries
and that specialized advice and assistance would be given
on this project wherever possible. The importance to this
area of the survey of resources was stressed and it was con-
sidered that the early formation of the proposed Fisheries
Commission for Latin America (FCLA) might contribute
much to fisheries work in that region,
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES: The Conference
recorded its appreciation of the Technical Assistance work
carried out in fisheries. Much of this field work was di-
rected towards immediate practical objectives and, by its
nature, required continual guidance from Headquarters. The
Conference felt that there should be an appropriate balance
between the effort put into the Regular Program activities
and the Technical Assistance work since the latter was de-
pendent upon the Regular Program and both programs were
mutually beneficial. The expansion of the Technical Assis-
tance Program was approaching the limit which could be
conducted by the existing and proposed Regular Program
and Headquarters Technical Assistance staff. It was recog-
nized that recruitment of experts to fit the particular posts
required by requesting countries presented difficulties pecu-
liar tothe field of fisheries,
The systems of training were specially mentioned and the
Conference hoped that it would be possible to hold a training
center on fish processing technology in Latin America in
1956,
PUBLICATIONS: The publications program for 1956/57
was approved, including the provision made for revising the
Handbook on World Fisheries Abstracts, The Abstracts were
considered to be most useful in both practical and research
work, It was noted that the sales of fisheries publications
had been substantially increased, thus fulfilling the hopes of
earlier sessions of the Conference, In this connection, the
system adopted in the past two years of sending out press
releases to fisheries journals all over the world relating to
items of particular news value contained in the Organization’s
fisheries publications was noted and it was considered that
these releases served an extremely useful purpose, were
widely used and should be continued,
The Rational Utilization of the Living Resources of the
Sea: The Conference noted with interest that the wise utiliza-
tion of the living resources of the sea and particularly the
conservation of such resources was subject to consideration
by intergovernmental and international bodies, It recalled
that in Article I of its Constitution, the Organization had
been charged, inter-alia, with promoting and, where appropri-
ate, recommending national and international action with
respect to the conservation of natural resources, It con-
sidered that in the discharge of this function as regards the
living resources of the sea the Organization might collabo-
rate with existing bodies, It noted with satisfaction that the
Director-General had been able to provide assistance to the
United Nations in the preparation and conduct of the Inter-
national Technical Conference on the Conservation of the
Living Resources of the Sea held in Rome, in April 1955.
The Conference was of the opinion, however, that, whilst
the Organization will continue the more general program of
developing the scientific basis of wise utilization of living
aquatic resources, the promotion and development of the
scientific criteria, which could be used to guide such arbitral
commissions and other organs as might be established in
48
accordance with the Draft Provisional Articles concerning
the High Seas as proposed by the International Law Com-
mission in respect of judgements relating to conservation
Technical Assistance in Fishery Develop-
ment: A review of FAO technical assistance in
fishery development was presented to the Technic~-
al Committee on Fisheries. The review pointed
out that while the type of assistance given to gov-
ernments by experts varies from country to coun-
try, over-all during the past five years such assis~
tance was rendered in eight fields of endeavor, and
was about equally divided among them. These are
as follows:
1. Assessment and management of fishery re-
sources (marine and inland). Projects in this field
have been conducted in such countries as Brazil,
Chile, Costa Rica, Curacao, Equador, Finland, Iraq,
Israel, Libya, Panama, Paraguay, Turkey, and
Yugoslavia.
2. Experimental fishing in Iran, Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, Somalia (Italian),and Turkey.
3. Development of a fishery resource, or the
establishment of a pond fish industry in Burma,
Ceylon, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti,
Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Nicar-
agua, Thailand,and Yugoslavia.
4. Design, mechanization, and development of
fishing craft and gear in Brazil, Ceylon, Chile,
Haiti, India, Liberia, Sudan, West Pakistan, Yemen,
and Yugoslavia.
5. Marketing facilities in Chile, Ecuador, East
and West Pakistan, Mexico,and India.
6. Fish distribution in Chile, Mexico, Turkey,
and Yugoslavia.
7. Fish-preservation and processing in Bra-
zil, Chile, Ecuador, Finland, India, Liberia, Yugo-
slavia, Thailand, and Turkey.
8. Fisheries administration (including estab-
lishment of statistical services) in Brazil, Burma,
Colombia, Egypt, Finland, and Syria.
The FAO/TA program for 1956, as now before
TAB and TAC, makes provision for 92 fishery posts
in three categories, 78 of which have already been
approved for Category I, compared with 60 fishery
posts in 1955.
The 1956 program also will include one train-
ing center; and probably two. Also provision is
made for about 14 fellows in Category I, compared
with 14 in 1955 (28 further fellowships are provided
in lower categories); and for some equipment for
the experts and centers, probably around $50,000.
The over-all budget for fishery projects in 1956
will be in the neighborhood of $800,000, compared
with $650,000 in 1955.
The types of fishery assistance to be rendered
in 1956 will be in the same general fields as here-
tofore, with likely more emphasis on basic recon-
naissance surveys in some countries to determine
what types of technical assistance would be most
useful to governments in the future. Heretofore,
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Vol. 17, No. 12
measures, should not be initiated by the Organization until
the need for further guidance in these matters was more
apparent,
fishery officers of the FAO regular staff have made
a large contribution in this connection. But with
the greatly increased work load at Headquarters,
because of an increase in Regular Program work
as well as the Technical Assistance work, this has
become limited.
In conclusion, the review stated: ‘'You have
probably been waiting for some news about accom-
plishments; in other words, of what value has this
TA work been in reaching the objectives set forth
five years ago: I wish I could tell you that fish
production has been greatly increased and there-
fore people have much more food to eat; and that
living standards have been raised over wide areas.
But I regret that I can tell you none of these things.
True, progress has been made in some sectors.
Some fishermen have been shown and have adopted
new fishing methods which catch more fish, im-
proved fish cultural practices have increased fish
populations, new fishery resources have been
created through pond culture, biological programs
have been started and are being carried forward,
fish processing techniques have been improved, and
fish marketing is conducted in a more orderly man-
ner. But all inall, only a start has been made.
Miracles cannot. be expected overnight. It took 25
years to really establish a frozen food industry in
the United States. It took years of research to
manage effectively the halibut fishery of the Gulf
of Alaska. Equally, it will be as many years before
enduring results are apparent from TA work. Too
many people need teaching and too few experts are
provided or are available. It is a long-term pro-
gram. The real hope for the future lies, therefore,
in continuity of effort...."'
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST: Atomic En-
culture and Food Production was an agenda item
discussed at the twelfth meeting of the Commission
on Program Trends and Policy Questions. It was
pointed out that there were serious problems con-
cerning the peaceful uses of atomic energy, such
as radio-active isotopes in the field of agriculture,
fishery and food processing, and that FAO would be
asked to participate in solving these problems.
Food Surpluses and Scarcity: FAO Director-
General P. V. Cardon told the Conference that
while technical aid has helped many countries im-
prove production and distribution, we are simulta-
neously oppressed by problems of surpluses and
scarcity and that the gap between the fortunate and
less-fortunate countries appears still to exist and,
in fact, even tends to widen.
The Director of FAO's Economics Division,
in discussing the state of food and agriculture, said
that short of drought or natural disaster, the poten-
tial production for the world as a whole is likely to
be in excess of demand during the years immediate -
ly ahead. This leads to two conclusions, he con-
tinued. First, that if we are to make headway to-
ward the FAO objectives, governments must give
the same attention in the future to expanding con-
sumption as they had given in the past and must con-
tinue to expanding production. Second, we must
December 1955
achieve greater flexibility of production so that we
can produce what can be sold, where it can be sold,
and can avoid further overproduction of commodi-
ties of which we already have too much.
United States Congressman Clifford R. Hope
of Kansas told the opening session of the Confer-
ence that the most serious problem in the world's
food and agriculture situation is no longer produc-
tion, but the exchange and distribution of food. He
said, ''In the years immediately ahead the major
emphasis should be on the fundamental economics
involved in the distribution of food."
Oceanography: UNESCO's Observer on Nov-
ember 16 before the Technical Committee on Fish-
eries discussed UNESCO's policy in the prepara-
tion and implementation of its program relative to
marine sciences and described briefly the evolu-
tion and prospects of this program, which is being
undertaken in close collaboration with FAO.
UNESCO's action in this field is based on two
principles. (1) an increased knowledge of ocean-
ographical phenomena requires basic research
which, by its nature, is impracticable without in-
ternational collaboration; (2) in order that this
fundamental research yield practical results capa-
ble of contributing to the economic development of
the regions concerned, UNESCO's program must be
directed in such a way as to give toFAOsuch scien-
tific services as it may need in order to develop
rationally the resources of the sea. We are there-
fore relying mainly on FAO to indicate in what di-
rection it thinks that scientific research should be
encouraged and co-ordinated. That is why we
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
49
have considered this progam right from the start
as being a joint program.
In May of this year, an experts' meeting was
held at FAO Headquarters in order to elaborate a
proposed statute for the Consultative Committee
on Marine Sciences, with the mission of advising
the Director-General of UNESCO on all questions
that he might put concerning the development of
international collaboration in this field and, inso-
far as it is related, of limnology and of the elabora-
tion and implementation of research plans within
the framework of the UNESCO program. The Com-
mittee will consist of nine members appointed by
the Director-General of UNESCO and chosen from
amongst an international panel of consultants formed
in collaboration with FAO, on maritime meteoro-
logy, physical and chemical oceanography, marine
biology, submarine geology and topography, and
related questions of limnology.
The proposed statute is being submitted for
the approval of the Executive Council which is
at present holding its 42nd session in Paris.
An interim committee of the future Consulta-
tive Committee met last month in Tokyo,
The recommendations of the interim commit-
tee are at present being studied by the secretaries
of the two Organizations and include, amongst other
items, the organization of a joint FAO/UNESCO
meeting on the ''Productivity of the Sea,'' as well
as the production, in collaboration, of a directory
of institutions engaged in marine sciences research.
CARIBBEAN COMMISSION MEETS
The Twenty-First Meeting of the Caribbean Commission was scheduled at Aruba,
Netherlands Antilles, December 5-12, 1955, the U. S. Department of State reported
early in December.
The Caribbean Commission (an international advisory body resulting from ex-
pansion of the original Anglo-American Caribbean Commission) serves to coordin-
ate activities of the four member governments, France, Netherlands, the United
Kingdom, and the United States, in their efforts to improve the economic and social
well-being of Caribbean inhabitants,
Among the principal items for discussion at the Twenty-First Meeting of the
Commission will be the Second Caribbean Fisheries Seminar.
NORTH PACIFIC FUR SEAL CONFERENCE MEETS
The United States Government was represented by the following delegation at
the North Pacific Fur Seal Conference which opened at Washington, D. C., Novem-
ber 28, 1955:
DELEGATES: The Honorable Wesley E. D'Ewart, (Chairman)
Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
William C. Herrington, (Deputy Chairman)
Special Assistant for Fisheries and Wildlife,
Office of the Under Secretary, Department of State.
Arnie J. Suomela, Assistant Director,
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department of the Interior.
ADVISERS:
Douglas G. Chapman, Professor,
University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.
50 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
ADVISERS: (Contd.) Warren F. Looney,
Office of the Special Assistant for Fisheries
and Wildlife, Department of State.
Conrad E. Snow,
Assistant Legal Adviser for Far Eastern
Affairs, Department of State.
William M. Terry,
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department of the Interior.
Seton H. Thompson,
Chief, Branch of Alaska Fisheries,
Department of the Interior.
Ford Wilke,
Biologist-in-Charge, Fur SealInvestigations,
Department of Interior, Seattle, Wash.
Raymund T. Yingling,
Assistant Legal Adviser for European Affairs,
Department of State.
From 1911 to 1941 the seal herds were protected by the
fur-seal treaty signed in 1911 by the United States, Great Brit-
ain, Japan, and Russia. So successful was this treaty in re-
habilitating the seals that in 1941 Japan, as permitted by the
treaty's provisions, terminated it on the ground that the ani-
mals had become so numerous as to harm Japanese fisheries.
Since 1942 the United States and Canada have by agreement
protected the Pribilof herd in the Northeastern Pacific waters.
The purpose of the coming conference will be to extend multi-
lateral protection again over all fur seals of the North Pacific,
the U. S. Department of State announced on November 25.
Australia
EXPORTS OF SPINY LOBSTER TAILS: Exports of spiny lobster tails from
Western Australia
point toa signifi-
cant dropinthe
number of mid-
gets exported dur -
ing 1954/55, com-
Table 1 - Australian Exports of Spiny Lobster Tails,
November 1954 - April 1955
eee ere ee eo ee LE UUIUNSF 22 e+e s+ s+ ce ee ove
ared with 1953/54 |Midget (under 6 oz.) 377,220
(eee tented 1 ce 2). Small (6-8 oz.) 957,695
Asmall increase |Medium (8-12 oz.) 699,530
Large (12-16 oz.) 468,040
in the percentage
of small-medium 118,390
tails exported 2,620,875
this year is alsoindicative of better stocks.
Jumbo (over 16 oz.)
For Western Australia from the percentage of tail weight by grade it is significant
that there has beenan increase inthe medium -grade tails as compared with the previous
year. This increase however, is due partially tothe change in weights of grading tails
for export. The medium grade was previously from 9-12 0z., now it is 8-12 oz., inclus-
ive. Thus from first observations it would appear that the state of the stocks has greatly
improved. This may not necessarily be the case. However, the fallin the number of
midgets being processed in Western Australia suggests that there has been an improve-
ment inthe stocks, according to the August 1955 Australian Fisheries Newsletter .
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 51
Assuming that production from South Australia and Tasmania remains about
the previous year's figure, exports from Australia should approximate 4.4 million
Table 2 - Percentage Comparison of Australian Spiny Lobster pounds in 1955
Tail Exports by Size
and be worth
ae eae
st ee Percent )ituiccea scenes: : :
Western Australia: saree ne
1954/55 .25 mi
1953/54 lion higher
than in 1953/54.
Tasmania, 1954/55
South Australia, 1954/55 etc
of the monthly freezings of spiny lobster tails in Western Australia reveals that
74.6 percent out of a total production of 1,466,975 pounds entered the freezers in
the month of December 1954. It is also noted that the production of medium and
large tails is at the lowest level in December.
Austria
FISH OIL AND CANNED FISH INCLUDED ON IMPORT LIST: Fish and canned
fish were included on an Official list of commodities that may be imported into
Austria from the United States without special license. Release of this list was the
first major move by the Austrian government toward liberalization of imports from
the dollar area, according to reports from the United States Embassy, Vienna.
The fishery items are described in the Austrian tariff as follows: Tariff No. 76:
Fish oil. Tariff No. 170 b and e: Canned fish, lobster, crabs.
edi
Canada
BRITISH COLUMBIA SALMON PACK, 1955: The 1955 British Columbia salm-
on canning season ended in November with a total pack of oh Ea cases (48 1-lb.
Eau >olumbia Canned Salmon Pac Q-
P Species [Tess [tet [tees eer fs GE a
aah emalte ve . tandard ases 6 1-lb. cans to case),
“449,174 428,217 | 408,041
9,064 13,631 9,133
3,752 3,648 3,243
5,581 13,224 TasT1
58,514 300,521 109,272
675,836 735,494 | 446,516
91 2514 460, 740 498. 984
cans), the TG Department of Fisheries reported on November 23, 1955. This
was a decrease of 19.3 percent from the 1954 pack of 1,743,406 cases. The pack
of pink salmon was the best in the last six years, but the increased pack of pink
salmon was more than offset by a sharp drop in the packs of sockeye salmon and
chum salmon.
The 1955 salmon pack was 29.1 percent below the 1951 pack of 1,955,475 cases,
but the 1955 pack of pink salmon was 4.7 percent higher than the pack of pink salm-
on in 1951, which was also a cycle year.
ok ok ok Ok
52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
BRITISH COLUMBIA SHRIMP FISHERY: Shrimp is produced commercially in
Canada only in British Columbia, reports the United States Embassy at Ottawa (Sep-
tember 14, 1955). Landings of shrimp in that Province in 1954 amounted to 855,300
pounds, valued at
C$116,064, as a-
gainst 1953 land-
ings of 1,151,600
pounds, valued at
C$143,991. Only a Meats (Peeled-
Sie se ete Of Deveined) 188,600 220,800
the catch is processed _.. cases (48 lbs.) 646 198
frozen (see table).
Britis olumbia's Production of Shrimp Products
td
Most of the shrimp is caught off the lower mainland of British Columbia and
Vancouver Island, and are taken in substantial quantities in each month of the year
in the southern mainland area. In Vancouver Island waters the most productive
season is December to May, although some shrimp are caught during the other
months as well. In 1954 a total of 80 trawl nets and 1,640 shrimp traps were em-
ployed in the shrimp fishery.
As indicated in the table, most of the shrimp landed in British Columbia is
processed as fresh and frozen shrimp meats, but some shrimp is sold round in
fresh and frozen forms, with some meats canned. A substantial portion of the
shrimp produced in British Columbia is sold on the domestic market. The United
States is the principal foreign market and small quantities are exported to some
other countries. !
German Federal Republic
PREFABRICATION CUTS CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF FISHING VESSELS: Pre-
it possible ‘for West German shipyards to build fishing vessels cheaper than Brit-
ish shipyards. In recent months at least three major British fishery firms have
ordered new vessels from German shipyards.
In view of the volume of work involved, a representative of The Fishing News,
a British fishery periodical, toured most of the shipyards in Hamburg and Bremer-
haven to find out why German shipyards were able to underbid British shipyards.
The findings were published in the periodical's October 7 issue.
In one German shipyard, trawlers are almost 100-percent welded and it is only
the largest ships which have any mechanical riveting.
But prefabrication was what fascinated the British touring representative most.
He was shown prefabricated sections--a wheelhouse, a main deck, etc. Almost
every part of a trawler is prefabricated and then simply assembled on the stocks
by cranes. This utilizes labor more efficiently and results in savings in manhours.
And finally he believes the real answer which has enabled British owners to
buy ships for so much less in Germany is standardization. This standardization
leads to great economy in manhours, and thus some German yards are able to offer
guaranteed delivery dates coupled with firm prices.
One famous yard has two standard designs--a German hull and an English hull
(the needs of the industries in the two countries necessitate this).
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53
German owners on the whole do not demand such fast ships as British owners.
German trawlers appear to be broader in the beam than British vessels, which gives
the latter a difference in speed of two to three knots.
Despite this difference it was pointed out that the German vessels have other
advantages insofar as they are able to fish in weather which would debar narrower,
faster vessels. Also one builder went so far as to guarantee a dry working deck
for a German trawler in even the worst wind conditions.
Every trawler destined for Britain is virtually the same. The hull design is
exactly the same in each case and it is only in such matters as auxiliary machinery
and accommodations that they differ.
General building costs in Germany for materials, machinery, etc., are much
the same as in Britain (if anything slightly higher) and it is only in the field of labor
costs that money is saved.
we)
Iceland
ICELANDIC -CZECHOSLOVAKIAN TRADE AGREEMENT, 1955/56: A new Ice-
landic -C zechoslovakian trade agreement was signed at Prague on September 24,
1955, covering the period September 1, 1955, to August 31, 1956. The following
are the agreed Icelandic exports of fishery products to Czechoslovakia with com-
parative data for the previous year's agreement:
Quantit Estimated Value FOB Iceland
1955/56 1954/55 a 1954/55
Fish Fillets, frozen.........-. 2,140
Herring, salted or frozen 369
BPSHeMeaIOl. Wires es Bose ees Ses 77
oe e © oe © se © te oe we oe
In addition some exports of canned fish are included in the trade agreement.
Japan
SALMON AND CRAB FISHING FLEETS, 1956: The Japanese Fisheries Agency
according to press reports has decided upon the number of salmon and crab fish-
ing fleets to be granted permits
; Vora]
in 1956, states a December 6
dispatch from the United States : us P1IE6 | 1055 1285
Embassy in Tokyo. The num- - oS 7 ae
ber of fleets by area for 1956 : atari Duce aL
as compared to 1955 is as : Beak ;
shown in table. g See. none | «1 _| none
KK OK OK
CRAB MEAT PRODUCTION IN NORTH PACIFIC, 1955: Japanese factoryship
crab-fishing fleets in the North Pacific in 1955 produced 206,850 cases (48-3-lb.
54 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
cans) of crab meat. The expedition consisted of three fleets. The Tokei Maru fleet
left the fishing grounds August 17; the Yoko Maru, August 16; and the Hakuyo Maru,
September 10. The first of these fleets operated in the Eastern Bering Sea, while
the other two fleets operated in the Okhotsk Sea. The fleets were fishing since
April 1955.
OK OK OK OK
CANNED SALMON PACK ABOUT SOLD OUT: In spite of the fact that prospec-
tive exports of Japanese canned salmon to the > United Kingdom were approximately
halved by the recent Anglo-Japanese payments agreement, recent press reports
state that this year's salmon pack has been almost sold out. Latest figures show
that the total pack of floating and shore canneries reached an unforeseen 1,720,000
actual cases, of which 1,370,000 cases had been sold abroad by the end of October
1955. Of the remainder, 200,000 cases were packed for domestic sale, and about
50,000 cases which were packed for export failed to meet Japanese export stand-
ards and are being sold domestically. The balance available to fill foreign orders,
therefore, was only about 100,000 cases, states a United States Embassy dispatch
dated November 25 from Tokyo.
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT
FA
Libya
TRIPOLITANIA TUNA INDUSTRY, 1955 FISHING SEASON: The catch of tuna
during the 1955 fishing season (ended in July) in the Mediterranean Sea by seven
Tripolitanian firms totaled 6,403 fish (1,350,000 pounds), according to a report from
the United States Embassy at Tripoli. The average weight of the tuna was about
211 pounds each. This was the smallest tuna catch in 25 years. Prior to 1952tuna
production averaged close to 2,200,000 pounds a year, reached a total of 3,600,000
pounds in 1953, but dropped to 1,600,000 pounds in 1954. In addition to tuna, there
was a catch of other fish which amounted to 200,000 pounds.
From the tuna, these firms reported a production of 712,000 pounds of canned
tuna in oil and 62,000 pounds of canned tuna in brine in 1955.
The byproducts produced from the tuna canning operations and the fish other
than tuna were: 38,000 pounds of salted byproducts, 19,000 pounds of tuna oil, and
65,000 pounds of fish meal for fertilizer.
The fishing areas were Zanzur, Zliten, Sidi Ben Laman, Fatima, Marsa Zuaga,
Mamgub, Sabratha, Marsa Dila, and Marsa Dzeira.
Export data for tuna are not available for 1955, but it is likely that Italy con-
tinues to be the primary country of destination as in the past.
Mexico
WEST COAST SHRIMP EXPORTS GOOD FOR NOVEMBER 1955: During No-
vember 1955 excellent shrimp fishing was vas reported in the Gulf of Baja California.
Imports of shrimp from Mexico into the customs districts of Arizona and California
totaled 5,570,500 pounds--an increase of 2,066,900 pounds, or 59 percent, as com-
pared with the imports into the same two states for November 1954. Shrimp im-
ports through these customs districts are indicators of Mexico's west coast shrimp
catch.
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55
This development has been a boon to the shrimp industry of Mexico because
the good catches came at a time when the shrimp catch in the Gulf of Mexico was
poor.
The demand for shrimp in California was good during the month of November
and prices quoted by importers at Los Angeles and San Diego increased about 10
cents per pound during the month.
ie)
Karas
New Zealand
LARGE SHIPMENT OF SPINY LOBSTERS TO UNITED STATES: One of the
largest shipments of frozen spiny (rock) lobster tails left New Zealand October 8
on the City of Edinburgh destined for New York City. The shipment consisted of
1,200,000 pounds, made up of 60,000 cases, according to an October 10 dispatch
from the United States Embassy at Wellington. Spiny lobster exports from New
Zealand to the United States have been expanding rapidly, and now are one of New
Zealand's chief dollar earners. There has been some question raised in Parli-
ment as to whether the extensive fishing for spiny lobsters in the South Island as
a result of the export demand will result in depletion of the natural supply. It is
reported that this trade in spiny lobster tails is very profitable.
‘el
Norway
NOR WEGIAN-RUSSIAN TRADE AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR THREE-YEAR
PERIOD: Two trade agreements, the first covering commodity trade between Nor-
way and Russia for a three-year period starting January 1, 1956, and the second
enumerating additional amounts and commodities to be exchanged during calendar
year 1956, were signed in Moscow November 15.
The three-year agreement replaced one that expired on December 31, 1954,
and which was not renewed because the Russians were not prepared at the time to
consummate long-term contracts. The new agreement calls for Norway annually
to export to Russia fishery products as follows: 30,000 metric tons of hardened
fat (presumably derived from fish oils); 50,000 metric tons of salted herring.
In addition to the basic amounts enumerated above, during calendar year 1956
Norway will deliver to Russia, among other products, 3,000 tons of hardened fat,
5,000 tons of frozen herring, and 3,000 tons of frozen fish fillets, according to a
dispatch dated November 17, 1955, from the United States Embassy at Oslo.
g
Peru
SHRIMP AND TUNA SURVEY: Following a survey (limited as to area covered
and time spent) by a shrimp specialist of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, rep-
resentatives of the Peruvian Division of Commercial Fisheries, and two technical
advisors from the U. S. International Cooperation Administration (ICA), it was
concluded that the quantity of shrimp in Northern Peruvian waters was not sufficient
to support a fishery. In addition to the survey conducted October 18-22, 1955, of
shrimp fishing possibilities, the fishery for tuna was studied in the same area. It
was found that the recently-introduced Japanese long-line method of fishing for tuna
offered considerable promise.
56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
It was reported by ICA's Technical Advisor to Peru that only two trawlers are
fishing in the area from Caleta Cruz north to the Ecuadoran border. These vessels
are steel trawlers, one of which is 48 feet long and the other is 60 feet in length.
The larger vessel uses a beam trawl 27 feet in width at the mouth, and the other
trawler a 35-foot otter trawl.
The survey party made a trip aboard the smaller vessel and in three drags of
approximately 1-hour each, about 30 pounds of jumbo shrimp ranging from 4 to 15
per pound heads off were taken. Very few commercial fish were taken along with
the shrimp and fishing for the most part was in depths of from 4 to 5 fathoms.
Five species of shrimp were identified by the Service's shrimp specialist, three
of which are commercial species. The commercial varieties were Penaeus occi-
dentalis, P. stylorostris, and P. van name (previously unrecorded in Peru). Two
smaller species not used in the commercial fishery were identified as Xyphopenaeus
sp. (sea bob), and a banded species black on white now being named and described
by M. D. Burkenroad.
The northern Peru fishery for tuna, skipjack, and swordfish was not very pro-
ductive at the time of the survey, due in part to rough seas and high winds which
made fishing difficult. The 4 or 5 purse seiners were collecting about 20 to 30 met-
ric tons of yellowfin and skipjack. The most promising development noted was the
recently-introduced Japanese long-line which is now being used by several 28-foot and
35-foot swordfish boats, each carrying 10 to 20 baskets of 15 hooks each. The long-
liners have been taking yellowfin and big-eyed tuna, swordfish, striped marlin, and
various species of sharks in depths of from 15 to 50 fathoms.
Because of a lack of knowledge in operating long-line fishing gear, the produc-
tion at present is not high. One of the problems is to obtain bait, as anchovies,
sardines, and herring are very scarce along the northern Peruvian coast.
Considerable experimentation will be necessary to determine the best depths
for fishing the long lines. Down to 20 fathoms, the sharks are very abundant along
with swordfish and marlin. Yellowfin and big-eyed tuna are taken down to 50 fath-
oms. The big-eyed tuna are generally each over 125 pounds in weight with little
commercial value. Markets for sharks and large big-eyed tuna are being sought
in Europe.
Giant squid are very abundant and cause considerable loss both by stealing bait
and damaging caught fish and large manta rays at times took away as much as a
whole basket of line.
2k ok ok ok
REVIEW OF FISHING INDUSTRY: About 15 years ago, fishing in Peru was on
a primitive scale and there was little processing of fishery products or byproducts.
Today the fishing industry is an important part of Peru's economic wealth. The
present worth of Peru's fishing industry is estimated at about almost US$20 million.
Catch: Peru's catch has increased steadily year after year from 12 million
pounds in 1939 to 290 million pounds in 1954. Bonito, tuna, swordfish, and herring
(machete) landings have shown a more pronounced increase over the years. Bonito
is the most important species landed and is found all along the Peruvian coast, but
it is seldom fished in the extreme north. Tuna and swordfish, on the other hand,
are found only from Paita to the Ecuadorian border in the north and from Mollendo
to Chile in the south. In the 1953/54 season, tuna was also caught for the first time
in commercial quantities off Chimbote. Machete, a fish similar to herring and shad,
is landed mainly in Samanco, Callao, and in Ilo.
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 57
Bonito landings during recent years have not fluctuated very much, but yellow-
fintuna, skipjack tuna, and swordfish landings have fluctuated considerably. Anchovy
landings have increasedfrom 15 million pounds in 1951 to almost 78 million pounds in
1954,
Table 1 - Peru's Commercial Fisheries Landings by Principal Species, 1951-52 & 1954
Species
English Name Wise ae
Tuna, yellowfin Atun Neothunnus macropterus 3
Tuna, skipjack Barrilete Katsuwohus pelamis 2.9
Bonito Bonito & Chauchilla Sarda chilensis 112.5
Swordfish Pez espada Xaphias gladius ae
Pacific mackerel} Caballa Pneumatophorus peruanas Aah
Herring, shad Machete Ethmidium chilcae 28.3
Drum Lorna, corrina, & robalo| Sciaena sp. ae
Musteles sp. & Scoliodon sp.
Sharks Cazon & tollo
Anchoveta Engraulis ringens
Total 248.6
1/ Some of the more important species included are; white sea bass or ayanque (Cynoscion annalis), grunt or cabinza (Isacia conceptionis), sea
trout or coco (Paraonchursé peruanas), mullet or lisa (Mugi cepbalis)- pejeblanco (Caulolatilus princeps, , Silverside or pejerrey (Austromen-
idia regia), pili or sar res sagax), and Spanish mackerel or sierra (Scomberomorus maculatus).
2/ Includes 500,000 pounds of shrimp.
3/ Based on data from the Direccion de Capitanias . Bureau of Fisheries and Wildlife estimates landings at 232.2 million pounds.
'Note: Based on reports of port captains to Peru’s Bureau of Fisheries and Wildlife. The Bureau does not regard these data as complete, Includes
landings by Peruvian-based boats regardless of whether or not they are Peruvian flag boats, Data for 1953 not available by species.
The most active fishing ports in Peru are Callao, Mancora, Ilo, Chimbote, Paita,
Talara, Huacho, Samanco, and Sechura.,
Shrimp have been found near the Ecuador border and a new fishing industry, cen-
tered in Puerto Pizarro, has beendevelopedinthat areainthelastfewyears. About
500,000 pounds of shrimp were landed in 1954.
Vessels have been adapted to shrimp trawling.
Shrimp are packed in insulated boxes and deliv-
ered to freezers in this form. Some shellfish
other than shrimp are gathered by men ashore,
Table 2 - Peru's Commercial
Fisheries Landings,1947-1954 1
(Million Lbs. )
289.7 and mussels are harvested by diving for them
264.0 around Callao, Huacho, Pisco, and Ilo.
Sate Vessels: Most of the fishing boats used in
184. 0 Peru before 1940 were open double- bowed boats.
133.8 In the north, from Sechura, south of Paita, to
104.8 Moche, near Trujillo, 'caballitos de totora' (long
80.6 narrow rafts made of reeds) were used and are
- - —— still used. However, in other areas now mostl
row boats and sail boats are used to catch ena:
fish for the local markets. In 1949 there were 2,869 fishing boats registered with
the Direccion de Capitanias, and of these, 577 were equipped with motors. It is es-
timated that motorized vessels operating in the fisheries now total about 630, anda
substantial number of these are purse seiners. Most of Peru's fishing boats oper-
ate at short range from their base ports, but some of them fish more than 40 miles
from their home ports and send their fish to market in packer boats. A fish pump
for unloading fish is reported in operation in the port of Samanco.
include freezing equipment capable of temperatures as low as -40 F. and holding
rooms with temperatures of -10° F. to 0° F. These plants as well as some small-
er ones in other ports have ice-making equipment. Total freezing capacity of the
private land installations is about 400,000 pounds a day and their holding capacities
total over 6 million pounds.
58 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
The Government has built a fishing terminal or market in Lima with a cold-
storage plant which has a freezing capacity of 20,000 pounds a day and a holding ca-
111
14aa| = E = ane x 3 “12 | 85 : 2 3
{10-831 mz} 7 02, 278 B70] 129 291 | 1,934 [30s | 111 | 23
pacity of 200,000 pounds. The market also is equipped with a flake-ice machine.
Besides these facilities there are a number of refrigerated vessels working for fish
ing companies established in Peru.
Refrigeration facilities are principally used for tuna, swordfish, and bonito,
and recently for shrimp.
The frozen fish industry started to develop in 1948 when 1.5 million pounds of
frozen fish were exported, almost exclusively to the United States. Frozen fish are
shipped principally from Mancora, Paita, Talara, Ilo, and Chimbote.
There are at least 50 canneries in Peru which have operated at one time or an-
other, but many of them have been inactive for several seasons or operate sporad-
ically for only a few days each year. The most important canneries are located in
Table 4 - Peru's Exports of Marine Products and Byproducts,
January-June 1955 and Annual 1953-54
PaO uaritity cams F.O.B. Value
Pr oduct an.-June] 12 Mos.|12 Mos.|Jan.-June|12 Mos.
1955 1954 1953 1955 1954 1953
....-(Equiv. in US$1,000)....
= 186
IBlonitossiicelshveraaieereciene
HEIR, INPCYADIN oo oagco0%
Cannedtunainbrine .
Canned bonito in brine
Canned skipjack in brine
Canned tuna in oil.....
Canned bonito in oil...
Canned skipjackinoil..
Shrimps frozeny.. cel.
equal US$1 (one sole equals 5.26 U.S. cents).
Chimbote, Samanco, Huarmey, Supe, Huacho, Chancay, Callao, Pucasana, Mollendo,
and Ilo. The capacity of all canneries is about 21,000 cases (48 cans per case) a
day, but canned fish production is considerably below this capacity.
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59
Canned fish pack in 1954 amounted to 1.1 million cases (48 3-lb. cans) as com-
pared with 1 million cases in 1953 and 850,000 cases in 1951. The biggest bulk of
the pack consists of bonito packed in oil. Fish is generally packed 7 ounces net
contents for the solid pack, and 6 or 63 ounces net contents for grated fish, flakes,
or chunk-and-flake packs. One-pound flat cans are also used for bonito and tuna,
while one-pound tall cans are most often used for bonito or herring. Occasionally
four-pound cans are used for institutional packs. Some small canneries pack sar-
dines and other fish in oval cans.
Byproducts: Production of fish meal in 1954 totaled 14,040 tons and of whale
meal, 647 tons. Whale oil production amounted to 769 tons and sperm oil produc-
tion to 5,056 tons.
While most of the
fish meal was ex-
ported, practi-
cally all the fish
oil was consumed
locally.
Production
of fish meal was
started ona
small scalein
1945, but ex-
portation was not initiated until 1947. Expansion has been very rapid. In 1951
fish meal production totaled only 8,000 tons. Whole herring and anchovy and tuna
cannery waste are utilized for making fish meal.
Table 5 - Peru's Imports of Fishery Products,
January-June 1955 and Year 1954
i Quantit Chill neavaluesW/a. 1
Jan.-June|12 Mos.} Jan. -June|12 Mos.
1955 1954 1955 aa
(Cod and substitutes....
Sardines and similar fish
1,293 230 | 462 |
1/ Values of soles same as in table 4.
Foreign Trade: In 1954 Peru's exports of marine products and byproducts
totaled 102 million pounds, substantially higher than the 70 million pounds exported
in 1953. On the basis of quantity, fish meal and canned fish (mostly bonito and tuna)
are the most important products exported, followed by frozen tuna and frozen sword-
fish. From the standpoint of value, canned fish (mostly bonito and tuna) leads all
other types of marine products exports.
Peru's fishery products imports are rather small--slightly more than 1 million
pounds in 1954,
In 1942 fish livers and salted fish were the most important products, by weight,
exported by Peru. It was in that year that canned fish was first exported. In 1944,
the sudden demand for salted fish created by UNRRA made it the biggest item in
Peru's exports, but this market disappeared in 1947. In the meantime, canned fish
exports increased steadily.
Consumption: Estimates indicate that Peru's per capita consumption of fishery
products amounts to only 6.2 pounds a year.
Whaling: Peru's whale catch in 1954 was reported as 1,650 units, compared to
1,223 units in 1953.
OK KK
NEW BASE PRICE ON CANNED FISH IN OLIVE OIL FOR ASSESSMENT OF
EXPORT DUTIES: In a supplement to a Supreme Resolution of November 18, 1954,
which established base cost prices on canned fish for the assessment of export
duties, a Supreme Resolution of September 20, 1955, fixes the following base cost
prices for canned fish in olive oil, for the same tax purpose:
60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
Base Cost Price| Per Short Ton
Peruvian Soles /US$ Equivalent
Solid pack, in 7-ounce cans .................. 11,590.00 610
Flakes or grated, in 6.5-ounce cans .......... 11,270.00 593
Flakes or grated, in 6-ounce cans ............ 12,000.00 632
Thus a new classification for canned fish is established, and export declarations
must contain in every case a statement as to the kind of oil used. The previous
schedule established on November 1954 referred to canned fish in oil and brine, but
did not make any distinction whatsoever with regard to the kind of oil.
The above table merely represents base cost prices for tax purposes and should
not be taken as actual export prices, nor as the true cost of production.
The current export duty on fish is collected pursuant to Law No. 10545 estab-
lishing a 10-percent tax assessable on the difference between officially-fixed cost
price at Peruvian ports and the declared f.o.b. export value. The same law pre-
scribes the payment of an additional 10 percent tax, applicable when the export price
exceeds by 25 percent the base price. These tax payments are deductible from
gross income for income tax purposes.
Ok ok ok Ok
IMPORT DUTY ON SARDINES MODIFIED: Peru, under the terms of Article
XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade has renegotiated a number of tar -
iff concessions previously made under the GATT by withdrawing certain items effective
October 1, 1955. Incompensationfor these withdrawals, Peruhas made additional con-
cessions among which are reductions of 1.2 percent inthe import duty onsardines. The
items of the tariff on which the new concessions were granted and which are bound under
the GATT are:
Tariff item 89 and 90: Sardines and substitutes therefore, prepared in oil or in
tomato or other sauces. The-concession rate will be 0.60 (5.26 U. S. cents) soles
per gross kilogram plus 13.5 percent ad valorem applied to the c.i.f. value.
i,
Portugal
SHRIMP PRODUCTION, 1950-54: Production of shrimp in Portugal is light,
and prospects of increasing production are not good, according to official and trade
sources, states a November 30, 1955, dispatch from the United States Embassy at
Lisbon. Total commercial production for 1950-54 follows:
1954 1953 1952 1951 1950
Metric Tons Bil 37 39 48 57
All of the catch is consumed locally. There were no exports of shrimp in the
period indicated.
KOK OK OK
NORTHERN CANNERS ORGANIZE TO PROMOTE SALES IN UNITED STATES:
The northernfishcanners have organized under the name of Copnor-Conservas De
Peixe, Lda.,'' to promote sales (possibly under a brand name) in the United States,
states a United States consular dispatch (November 23) from Oporto. Information
published in the October 1955 issue of Commercial Fisheries Review stated that 30
fish canners in Southern Portugal had also formed an organization for the same
purpose.
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61
In 1954, the production and exportation of Portuguese canned sardines, in which the
northern plants have normally a share of about 50 percent, nearly doubled those of prev-
ious years. Productionand export figures in the first nine months of 1955 were better
than those inthe corresponding period of 1954; but in October catches diminished and
fresh fish commanded rather high prices. Demand is fair and stocks onhand are becom-
ing depleted.
Notwithstanding favorable factors, the northernfish-canning industry could not
start to recuperate the losses suffered in past years, due to the fact that canners
went into competition both in buying fresh fish at high prices and in exporting the
finished product at unprofitable prices.
To avoid such competition, exporters made arrangements to standardize export
prices; an increase in export prices has een established, present prices being
US$9.50 C & F Leixoes per case of 100 }-tins in pure olive oil and US$9.35 in oil
without keys, an increase of about US$i per case over previous export prices. Prices
for export to Great Britain were fixed at US$9.80 and US$9.66, respectively.
According to the Boletim Mensal of the National Institute of Statistics, exports
of canned sardines in the first nine months of 1955 totaled 33,962 metric tons with
an f.o.b. value of US$16.7 million, or about 41 percent more than the quantity and
value exported in the same period of 1954 in which 23,227 metric tons of canned
sardines were exported, valued at US$11.8 million.
Ok OK KOK
CANNED FISH EXPORTS, JANUARY-JULY 1955: Portuguese canned fish ex-
ports totaled 4,825 metric tons (253,900cases), valued at US$2.4 million during
July 1955; and 32, 117 tons, valued at US$16.4 million, during January-July 1955.
Portuguese Canned Fish Exports, July ooo and Comparisons
Ly ea oo Jan. a a |J_Species July 1955 _| Jan. J 195
ardinelike fish in olive oil ..
Sardines & sardinelike fish
Portugal's export of canned fish in July 1955 continued at a high level,accord-
ing to Conservas De Peixe, October 1955. During January-July 1955 Germany con-
tinued as the leading receiver with US$3.1 million of canned fish (principally sardines),
followed by Italy with US$2.8 million (principally sardines andtuna), Great Britain with
US$2.1 million, and the United States with US$1.7 million (principally 1,241 tons of sar -
dines in oilor sauce, 10 tons of tuna and tunalike fish in oil, and 920 tons of anchovies).
* kK KOK
CANNED FISH TRENDS, JANUARY-MAY 1955: The pack of canned sardines
in oil or sauce for January-May 1955 amounted to 3,948 metric tons (net weight).
The May 1955 pack was 1,662 tons as compared with 1,502 tons in May 1954.
Portuguese Canned Fish Pack, Jan.-May 1955
ee
Metric
Tons
Canner’s Value
Sardines in brine.......... 296 Tima’ inibrine: << see faa? 008
Sardines inoliveoilorsauce ..| 3,948 Tuna iniOlive owl <.. 46 «ness
Sardinelikefishinbrine ..... 348 Tunalike fish inolive oil .
he aon 604 Other species (including
Shelifish) SAM eke oe
62 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW WOls UU, NO. Le
FISHERIES TRENDS, JULY 1955: Sardine Fishing: During July 1955 the sar-
dine fishing was excellent both in terms of tonnage and value, states the October 1955
Conservas De Peixe, a Portuguese trade periodical. During the month, 9,811 met-
ric tons of sardines were landed (value US$1,278,000) as compared with landings
of 6,394 tons (value US$701,426) in July 1954. The canners purchased 5,377 tons
of the total at a cost of US$771,895. The balance was used for local consumption.
The port of Matosinhos lead all others in the landings of sardines in July, followed
by Portimao and Olhao.
Other Fishing: January-July landings of other fish were: tuna 1,177 tons (ex-
vessel value US$332,000), bonito 118 tons (value US$14,933), mackerel 3,519 tons
(value US$439,000), anchovies 2,062 tons (value US$430,000), and chinchard 18,064
tons (value US$1,081,000).
Spain
VIGO FISHERIES TRENDS, SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1955: Fishing: The fish-
ing industry had a relatively good month in October 1955, although bonito was scarce,
states a November 15 dispatch from the United States consul at Vigo. The drop in
the catch of cod and the sharp drop in bonito were offset by the abundance of aguja,
or needlefish, which the canners used as a substitute for sardine for the local mar-
ket. The catch of sardines (principally from Portuguese waters, according to re-
ports) was almost 495 metric tons, by far the largest monthly catch of the year to
date. Other preferred varieties were caught in fair quality.
September 1955 was also a relatively good month for the fishing industry. There
was a sharp drop in the catch of bonito, which brings a good price in the local mar-~
ket, but there was an increase in the catch of sardines. This species continues to
be scarce, which constitutes the chief worry of the fishermen and canners since up
until a few years ago it was the backbone of the industry, an October 11 dispatch
reports.
Fish Canning: The fish-canning industry in October 1955, despite the lack of
bonito, worked at a fair level because of the large catch of agujas, the relative a-
bundance of jurel (Trachurus trachurus) and sardines. Bocarte, from which fillets
of anchovies are prepared, were much scarcer than last month, only about 66 tons
were caught as compared with 853 tons for September.
The canning industry during October 1955 bought 5.9 million pounds, or approxi-
mately 34 percent, of the total landings at Vigo as compared with September when
they purchased 5.2 million pounds, or approximately 36 percent, of the total land-
ings. In October 1954 they purchased 3.4 million pounds, or approximately 26 per-
cent, of the catch.
In August 1955 purchases were 5.4 million pounds or 36 percent of the total
landings; and in September 1954 purchases were 6.9 million pounds, or 42 percent
of the total landings.
The fish-canning industry operated at far below capacity in September 1955.
However, September can be considered a fair month, although not as good as Au-
gust and considerably below September 1954. Bonito (a highly desirable variety)
landings totaled only 300,000 pounds as compared to 1,400,000 pounds in July and
1,500,000 pounds in August 1955. The catch of anchovy, on the other hand, totaled
almost 1,900,000 pounds as compared with July and August when none were caught.
Sardines, which in past years was the principal variety canned, continued to be
December 1955 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 63
scarce (only 600,000 pounds were landed). Agujas (needlefish), canned for local
consumption as a substitute for sardine, were abundant.
The chronic shortage of tin plate, which has plagued the industry for some time,
continued with no immediate relief in sight.
a
Union of South Africa
FISHERY TRENDS, FALL 1955: Signs of keener competition in some of the
Union of South Africa's overseas markets for its fishery products, particularly pil-
chards and jack mackerel (maasbanker), are apparent, according to the Director of
Fisheries. However, the reported recent development of a strong demand for canned
jack mackerel in the southern United States has made up in part for the reduced ex-
ports of canned pilchard to the United States and other countries.
Landings of pilchard and jack mackerel have been seasonally variable of late
and stocks of canned fish are said to be low. Prices reportedly have advanced a
little as a result of the limited supplies.
Bad weather during October also hampered the fishery for spiny lobster off
Cape Town, but catches now are improving and the demand for this commodity is
good, states an October 31 dispatch from the United States Consulate at Cape Town.
OK OK OK
FISHERIES RESEARCH TO BE EXPANDED: Plans are now being made by the
Division of Fisheries, Cape Town, to step up research in the Union's West Coast
pilchard and jack mackerel (maasbanker) fisheries. According to the Division's
director these plans include the addition of 10 new scientific positions to his divi-
sion; the construction of further laboratories at the Division's research center at
Sea Point, near downtown Cape Town; and the construction of 3 new research ves-
sels, costing about US$434,000.
The plans also include the completion of a new shore laboratory and living quar -
ters at Stompneus, about 120 miles from Cape Town, which willcost about US$28,000.
The Stompneus laboratory is expected to be available as a substation of the Fisher -
ies Division by the end of November 1955, a dispatch (November 4) from the United
States Consulate at Cape Town states.
The research vessels are to include one of 100 feet, most probably of steel,
costing about US$238,000, and two of 75 feet, costing about US$98,000 each, and built
of wood. It is understood that all these vessels will be built in South Africa by local
firms. They will be somewhat similar in design to United States fishing vessels op-
erating off the United States Pacific coast but will be modified to fit scientific needs
and the local conditions in South African fishing waters.
The capital expenditure of US$490,000 involved in the construction of the shore
laboratory and living quarters at Stompneus, the additional laboratories at Sea Point,
and the three research vessels reportedly will be advanced by the Fisheries Devel-
opment Corporation. It is understood that the South African Government is the sole
stockholder of this corporation, which was created in 1949 by Parlimentary action.
The main object of the research work of the Fisheries Division is to put fish
conservation measures in the Union on a scientific basis. The Director feels that
the present measures of the South African Government limiting the annual pilchard
64 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 12
and jack mackerel catch to 500,000 tons a year and restricting the number of fish
plants and fishing boats are arbitrary and have little scientific basis, and that the
only way the Union can conserve its fisheries properly is by making a long-term
study of fish species in South African waters and their environment.
U.5.5S.R.
GERMAN-BUILT FACTORYSHIP TRAWLERS RAPIDLY NEARING COMPLE-
TION: The construction of 24 factoryship trawlers was reported in the July 1955
(pp. 72-73) issue
of Commercial
Fisheries Review
as taking place in
a East Germany, but
actually the trawl-
Lage ; ers are being built
\ ae wee! a : by a shipyard in
ne Ba i ee es er rr ‘iS Kiel, West Ger-
g