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Vol.19, No.9

United States Department of the Interior

Washington, D.C.

UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FRED A.

SEATON, SECRETARY

COMMERCIAL FIS

A review of developments and news of the fishery industries

-FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

RERIES REVIEW

prepared in the BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES

A.W. Anderson, Editor
H.M.Bearse, Assistant Editor

J.Piieggi, Associate Editor

Mailedfree to members of the fishery andalliedindustries. Address correspondence and requests

to the:

Publication of material from sources outside the Service is not an endorsement.

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington 25, D.C.

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,

May 21, 1957. (5/31/60)
COVER: The gathering of oysters by the use.of ''tongs'' is a common method
of harvesting the annual oyster crop from the public reefs located in Chesa-
peake Bay. The new season for East Coast oysters opens on September 1.
Oysters served on the half-shell with a sauce and lemon wedges are a tra-
ditional way of serving this popular shellfish. The United States catch in
1955 amounted to 77.5 million pounds of oyster meats valued at $3.0 mil-
lion to the producer...
Page
Maine Herring Explorations and Fishing Gear Experiments, by Keith A. Smith ......2-+-e+ec2e2eececeececeee . 1
Body Fluid Losses of Northern and Southern Oysters, by Milton Fingerman, Laurence D, Fairbanks, and Warren C, Plauche .- 16
Page Page
RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES: .........- 19 | TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS (Contd.):
Comparative Study of Fresh-Water and Salt-Water,Ice as Tuna:
bresenvativessforsHaddockwalagaa-Meieliclchcienelr cen -mena 19 Joint Japanese-American Canned Tuna Advertising
tandacdS Mn aWelalieh selich=leliolsaeisneleistelcleleiemelemele 20 MeetingjiniZospAngelesienouelaie) sl -fi<il-lt-ll-i- ion en neat 47
TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS: ......-+22e-2ee6 21 Wa SpRishistickiProduction wc jciaiel sisi ciislel«i=ilsialentite 48
California: U. S. Foreign Trade:
Dungeness Crab Abundance Outside Commercial Range Edible Fishery Products, May 1957 ........--+. 49
Studied (M/V Nautilus Cruise 57-N-4) ......... 21 Groundfish Fillet Imports, July 1957 ..........6 49
Research on the Red Abalone in Morro Bay-San Simeon Imports and Exports of Selected Fishery Products,
Area (M/V Nautilus Cruise 57-N-3) .......2-+--. 22 January—Mays1956—5ielelelelelolatelcneleineien stenosis 50
Albacore Tag Returns Tell Story of Wide Travel. .... 23 Imports of Canned Tuna in Brine Under Quota Proviso . 50
Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products, January-May Virginia:
MU Soa eoodaaoouoCoau moan oe nooo 6 2 23 Fishermen Urged to Watch for Tagged Fish......, 51
Crabs: Wider Dissemination of Simple Fish Recipes Recommend-
Blue Crab Studies Intensified ............+... 23 ed! by Marketing/Survey) (57. << <)\c\elele! «ie «ele felene 51
Films: Wholesale Prices, July 1957....0.0..ccec-cceeec os o 52
Hints to Housewives Topic of Proposed Fishery FOREIGN: irometanullelebelteieltellcllciteliclt choi -ltoitaitaiteiteitait=it= ite 54
Films DOO0 5 clisttaltelveleMelaifelieitellet = lint elle ire} oilell=isite 24 International:
Florida: Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Commission:
Fisheries Research, April-June 1957 .......... 25 Seventh Annual Meeting ........-+.2+-ee228 54
Fisheries Loan Fund: Italy Ratifies Protocol Amending the Northwest Atlantic
Interior Will Continue to Accept Applications ...... 26 isheriesiConventioni eraicne cleleiacl oeitele ogo08 55
Great Lakes Fishery Investigations: German Federal Republic Adheres to Northwest Atlan-
Otter-Trawl and Gill-Net Fishing in Lake Erie by tic Fisheries Convention .......+..++-e+e4-e-s c 56
WIA) CERCNIG GG ole So Oa cee crore Oo OF 26 Food and Agriculture Organization:
Sea Lamprey Control Report Lists Results of Chemical Tons of Dead Fish Found Floating in Arabian Sea .. . 56
HEStSKou=ie)elisioheheeMenatoerenalenelte) ejemenemenencnelt= 29 Whaling:
Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program: World Whale and Sperm Oil Output in 1957 ...... 57
Surface-Tuna Explorations by M/V Oregon (Cruise 45) . 29 International Whaling Commission:
Exploratory Trawling for Red Snapper in Northern Gulf Reportion/ 1/957) Meeting; sie) =) = else 1) ej le) le) allie eiteike 59
of Mexico (M/V Silver Bay Cruise 1) .........-. 30 Several Countries Ratify Protocol Amending the Inter-
Shellfish and Sardinelike Fish Potential Explored in national Whaling Convention. .......2.e+ee-:5 59
Eastern Gulf of Mexico (M/V Silver Bay Cruise 2)... 31 Second International Fisheries Trade Fair at Copenhagen 59
Maine Sardines: European Common Market ......+2-++e2ees © 60
(Canned!Stocks;yJulysl ul 9 5tiewelisielie eiemonciciicnlcmetenene 31 Australia:
Marketing Prospects for Edible Fishery Products, Third Shrimp Resources Survey to Increase Exports ....- 60
QuartenslO5ieewcted sitciaitccieneliciolel cl chen ein enenaitonts 32 Fishery Resource Survey of Great Australian Bight. . . 61
North Atlantic Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research: Bahama Islands:
Boatload of Brine-Frozen Groundfish Landed by M/V Spiny Lobster Industry, .) sj «0 6 © © + «1 +) <elialie 61
Delaware for Storage and Handling Tests (Cruise 57-6). 33 Spongelindustryp eta teial con ensncen cna an sic iteh iene 61
North Atlantic Fisheries Investigations: Canada:
Studies on Nontidal Drift of Haddock Eggs and Larvae Lobster and Oyster Culture at Prince Rupert, B. C. .. 62
Continued (M/V Albatross Cruise 95) ......... 33 Subsidy on Salt for Atlantic Coast Salt-Fish Producers . 64
Whiting Behavior in Trawls Studied with Underwater’ Ecuador:
Television (M/V Albatross HI Cruise 97) ........ 34 Regulations for Permits to Exploit Pacific Fisheries . . 65
Whiting Tagging (M/V Albatross III Cruise 98) ...... 34 German Federal Republic:
Vertical Distribution of Ocean Perch and Haddock Fry Herring Splitting and Boning Machine Developed .... .« 65
Sampled in Gulf of Maine (M/V Albatross UICruise 99) . 34 Japan:
North Pacific Exploratory Fishery Program: Albacore Tuna Fishing Good at Shimizu Early in June. 66
Trials of New Electrical Depth-Telemeter for Midwater First Albacore Tuna Landings at Shiogamain May .. . 66
Trawls Successful (M/V John N. Cobb Cruise 31) ... 35 North Pacific Mothership Salmon Fishery Catch as of
Herring Explorations inOffshore Waters ofAlaskaUnder Way 36 Junes30s LOST meee cee eee aac 4 66
Oregon: Seed Oysters Find Favorable Market in United States ae 67
Tagged Albacore Caught by Japanese ..... ooo oa 37 Korea:
Soft-Shell Clams Transplanted ...........-+.. 37 Enters Deep-Sea Fishing Field .....-++-+-+-+++s 67
Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations: Norway:
Annual Report for Fiscal Year 1957 ........... 38 Fillet Exporters Have Difficulty Meeting Quotas. .... 67
North Pacific Albacore Investigations for Fiscal Year 1957. 41 Fishing Vessel Equipped for Fish-Block Freezing... . 67
Discovery of "Skipjack Hole" Aids Large-Scale Tuna Temporary Fish Price Increase Granted .......- 67
Tagging in Hawaiian Waters ...........-+2+5 46 Portugal:
Public Eating Places Fish Utilization ........... 47 Fisheries Trends for 1956 68

Contents Continued Page 91.

September 1957 Washington 25,D.C. Vol.19,No.9

MAINE HERRING EXPLORATIONS AND
FISHING GEAR EXPERIMENTS
By Keith A. Smith*
SUMMARY

Starting on May 1, 1956, the dragger Metacomet was chartered to continue the
field work of the Maine Herring Exploration and Gear Research program started by
the Service vessel Theodore N. Gill, The charter continued from May 1 through
the spring, summer, and fall of
1956 to October 31,

Exploratory fishing was con-
ducted in the inside waters along
the Coast of Maine and in the Gulf
of Maine. All areas traversed
were sounded with a recording
echo-sounder and searched vis-
uallyforherring. Fishing efforts
were made with herring gillnets
anda nylon midwater trawl, princi-
pally along the eastern part of the
coastline from Penobscot Bay to
Passamaquoddy Bay and in the
eastern part of the Gulf of Maine
where there was a Scarcity of

F F F FIG. 1 - THE METACOMET, A GLOUCESTER DRAGGER, WHICH
herring during the entire season. WAS CHARTERED FOR THE 1956 SEASON. y

Herring 'brit'' were found to be present in many of the inside waters of these
areas as were sounded and fished with a midwater trawl. A special "brit" survey
made in August located schools of young herring in nearly every major inside body
of water.

Herring gill-net sets made in June, July, and August, along the eastern part of
the coast and in offshore locations in the eastern Gulf of Maine produced only trace
catches of herring. The scarcity of sardines in inside waters and the general lack
of herring schools found offshore are in agreement with the findings of the industry
as reflected in the very poor catches of sardines in this area during the 1956 season.

Fishing gear experiments showed the Barraclough and Johnson midwater trawl
to be a useful unit of gear for sampling soundings of herring "'brit,'' but not a de-
pendable method of catching herring or sardines in coastal and Gulf of Maine waters
during the sardine season. A smaller midwater trawl patterned after the Barra-
clough and Johnson trawl but with all measurements cut in half proved as effective
as the larger net for sampling soundings of "brit."

%* CHIEF, MAINE HERRING EXPLORATION AND GEAR RESEARCH, EXPLORATORY FISHING AND GEAR DEVELOPMENT
SECTION, BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES, BOOTHBAY HARBOR, ME,

2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

A depth meter was constructed to show the depth of midwater trawls continu-
ously during tows.

Trial sets were made with a modified lampara seine and with a purse Seine from
the Metacomet using a power block tohaulthe nets aboard. Results with the lampara
were not encouraging. But the method ofhandling the purse seining showed promise
of a successful operation. The method may be of considerable use to the project in
succeeding seasons.

BACKGROUND

For many years the Maine sardine industry has been troubled by the erratic oc-
currence in the usual fishing areas of herring schools suitable for processing into
sardines. Early in 1955, the Maine Herring Exploration and Gear Research project
and the biological Herring Investigation project were established at the Boothbay
- Harbor, Me., Research Station of the U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to assist the sar-
dine industry insolving this problem. Funds
for the project were made available through
Public Law 466 (The Saltonstall-Kennedy
Act).

It was believed that unutilized and
perhaps unknown schools of the young At-
lantic herring (Clupea harengus) that are
processed into Maine sardines might pos-
sibly occur in the Gulf of Maine waters
during the spring, summer, and fall months.
If such schools could be located and a
practicable method found for catching and
bringing the fish to the processor in prop-
er condition for canning, the dependence
of the industry upon inshore herring might
be lessened and the supply of available fish

ii . increased.
FIG. 2 - THE CANADIAN-TYPE MIDWATER TRAWL BEING In May of 1956, the Metacomet, an East
SET FROM THE STERN OF THE METACOMET . Coast dragger-type vessel of 62 feet over-

all length, was chartered to continue the herring exploration and gear development work.
A series of nine cruises were made between May 1 and October 31, 1956.

MIDWATER TRAWL EXPERIMENTS

Of the nine cruises, four were concerned principally with midwater trawl opera-
tions. The midwater trawl was also used during the other cruises for sampling fish
schools that were located by echo-sounding. All areas traversed were sounded for
herring continuously with a recording-type echo-sounder.

The midwater trawl was patterned after one built by the Fisheries Research
Board of Canada (Barraclough and Johnson 1956). This trawl was constructed of
nylon with a square opening of 32 feet, and was 170 feet long. The mesh size was
graduated in the three body sections from 5-inch to 43-inch to 35-inch. Four taper-
ed and two straight cod-end sections were constructed of 1Z-inch mesh. After the
second cruise, part of the cod end was lined with }-inch mesh netting so that it could
retain approximately 2.5 bushels of small fish.

Work with the trawl had two purposes: (1) to try out a new type of sardine -fish-
ing gear that could be operated in open ocean waters, and (2) to develop a means of.
sampling at any depth fish that were located with echo-sounding equipment. The
period from May 9 to May 19 was devotedto problems of operation. After two trial
sets in Casco Bay, the remainder of the cruise was spent searching for schools of
herring on whichtotrythenet. Although the coastline and some inside waters of the

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3

Gulf of Maine were sounded at this time, no schools of fish were located on which the
net could be set. Two additional trial tows were made, the last one over very small
soundings near Race Point, Cape Cod. Only the first trial in Casco Bay tookanyfish.
A small quantity of "brit" (herring under 4 inches total length) was taken in this tow.

LEGEND:
Catch of herring brit 1956

May
June
July
August.

FIG. 3 - POSITIONS OF SOUNDINGS AND CATCHES OF HERRING BRIT, 1956.

BetweenCruises 1 and 2, an extra gallows was installed on the Metacomet,.
This allowed the setting of the trawl from the stern. The trawl could be set and
hauled more easily by this method, and since it could be set and hauled while the vessel
was moving slowly forward, there was a minimum danger of dragging it on the bottom.

The second cruise (May 30 to June 6) was also spent sounding and fishing with the
midwater trawl. Although little time could be spent fishing during this cruise because
of heavyfog, 8 tows were made over fishsoundings. The first tow innortheast Penob-
scot Bay caught 29herringof5.6 inches average standard length; the other tows took
no herring. Small catches of whiting (up to two bushels per tow) were taken on

June 5 and 6 where fish were sounded approximately 5 miles southeast of Monhegan Is-
land.

August 20 to August 31 was spent ona survey of the "brit" that might become large
enough for canning by the fallmonths. Allinside waters from Portland to Eastport
were sounded during this cruise, and fish soundings were sampled with the midwater
trawl. As shownin figure 3, smallherring were takenat this time in some part of
nearly every bay along the coast from Eastport to Portland. By the start of this
cruise, the trawl had been developed into a dependable tool for determining whether
or not the soundings were of herring "brit.'' It had not, however, proved to be a
dependable method of catching quantities of larger herring.

4 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

The period September 5 to 15 was spent sounding for larger schools of mature her-
ring and trying the net onthe soundings. During this cruise, fish were sounded and tows
made at the Isle of Shoals, Boon Island, on the North, East, and South sides of Cape
Cod, and in Narragansett Bay. Small quantities (less than 100 pounds) of bluebacks
(Romolobus aestivalis), a species closely related to the herring, round herring (Et-
rumeus Sadina), butterfish (Poronotus triacanthus), anchovies (Anchoa mitchilli),
and whiting (Merluccius bilinearis) were caught. Near the endof the cruise, large
schools of fish were sounded in Ipswich Bay. Tows were made through these soundings
during the night of September 14-15 with the trawl positioned at the depth of the sound-
ings. The largest catch was 2.5 bushels of bluebacks between 9 and 9.5 inches average
standard length. It seemed apparent that the fish were able to detect the approaching
trawl and to avoid it.

Asa result of the findings of these cruises, particularly Cruise 7, it was concluded
that the midwater trawl, as used aboard the Metacomet, would be useful for sampling
soundings to learn whether herring "brit" of less than 4 inches length were present.
But without further developmental work it would not provide a dependable method of
taking either samples or commercial quantities of larger herring in the open Gulf
of Maine waters during summer and fall months. It is considered significant that
the best successes with this type of net have been achieved in the British Columbia
herring fishery where catches exceeding 30,000 pounds a tow have been reported
from the narrow inside channels of that Province during cold winter months. The
herring become quite inactive as the temperature of the water approaches the freez-
ing point; consequently these fish are probably less able to avoid an approaching
trawl during the winter.

GILL-NET FISHING

Cruises 3, 4, and 5, made during June 14 through August 10, were exploratory.
Herring gill nets were the principal gear used. This was at the height of the sar-
dine season, and there was a good
supply of sardines inshore along
the western part of the Maine
coast from Cape Porpoise to Pen-
obscot Bay.

As shown in figure 4, nearly
all the gill-net sets were made
east of Penobscot Bay or offshore.

No schools of herring other
than ''brit'' were located either
offshore or inshore. A few small
catches were made in various lo-
cations as indicated on figure 4.
However, in relation to the amount
of gear set, these were considered
trace catches. In June, the nets
were Set in the bays and inlets
from St. Andrews Bay to North
Haven Island. In most cases,
they were set blind, i.e., with-
out positive soundings of fish. As
shown on the chart, a few herring
were taken in scattered locations
from Frenchmans Bay to St. An- Fig. 4 - GILL NETS BEING HAULED ABOARD THE METACOMET.
drews Bay. Negative sets were
also made in various locations from North Haven Island to Machias Bay, in many
cases close by the positions where the few small catches were taken.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 5

The gill-net sets made in July showed the same pattern of catches. In some of
the inshore sets, a scattering of sardine-size fish were taken. Offshore sets yield-
ed only 8 herring of 8.7 inches average standard length at Old Proprietor Buoy near

Ba S21. JOHN BR

- ae
ee :
Se NEW BRUNSWICK a

BANGOR

[NOVA SCOTIA

LEGEND:
Gill-net sets 1956
herring catch no herring
dune 8
July
August.

FIG. S - GILL*=NET SETS MADE BY THE METACOMET DURING JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST 1956. SMALL "TRACE.
CATCHES WERE MADE AT THE POSITIONS INDICATED.

Grand Manan Island, but completely negative results were obtained on Grand Manan
Bank and 8 miles northwest of Lurcher Shoal.

In August, the gill nets were set only in open, outside locations. Trace catches
were taken in sets on Grand Manan Bank, 25.5 miles southeast of Schoodic Island,
54 miles southeast Schoodic Island, 34 miles northwest Matinicus Island, and 13
miles south-southwest Monhegan Island, Negative results were obtained in the sets
near Swan's Island and 84 miles southwest Machias Seal Island.

The same pattern prevailed in gill-net fishing results in all sets made during
June, July, and August. Very small catches of herring were made in the eastern
coastal and offshore areas. It appears that these catches were made from very
small groups of fish or a scattering of individual fish rather than from any large
school of fish.

The herring catches in offshore areas were principally larger fish, over 9 inches
average standard length and therefore too large for sardines. Fish that averaged
less than 9 inches average standard length were taken in only two of the ten small
catches which were made in locations considered to be offshore. Fish from these
catches measured 8.3 inches and 8.7 inches average standard length and were taken
at positions 34 miles northwest of Matinicus Island and at Old Proprietor Buoy in
the mouth of the Bay of Fundy.

6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

Of 8 catches in the inside locations, only one included herring that reached or
exceeded 9 inches. The Machias Bay catch was of fish with an average standard
length of 9.1 inches. Thus, inthe smallcatches taken in gill nets in the eastern and
offshore area, smaller sardine-size herring predominated in the enclosed inside

waters, while larger fish measuring over 9 inches were dominant in outside and off-
shore areas.

DISCUSSION

As the 1956 sardine season came to a close on November 30, the year's catch
in Wesmeeiey Some) iSeauisiical Areas 5 through 8, peablergcod 1949) appeared to

St. Andrews Bay ...........

i)
HR OAWNAIHEWOND

34 mi. NW. Matinicus ....
54 mi. SW. Schoodic Is.

Grand Manan Bank ......
483.1 254 mi. SE. Schoodic ....
13 mi.SSW. Monhegan ...

22
IMachias Bay............... -2 |Mt. Desert Rock .........
handler Bay .............. ee Mtoe DeserteROCkiilelsdelete
INashwls landieereptetereteteteleleleretal= -6 1 mi. S. Mt. Desert Rock.
IFrenchmans Bay ........... a 7.9 Proprietor Buoy .........
Fisherman EGE oa oaooes00 17.4
.0
-6

ee

483.1 = 64 = Average Length = 7.55"
be one of the poorest inthe history of the
fishery, while a good to excellent season was experienced in the areas to the west-
ward. Over 56 million pounds of herring were landed and processed in Washington
County in 1956 (Anonymous 1956), but practically all of these were brought in from
the more western areas. The trend
toward this situation was notedear-
ly in the season and was the reason
for diverting the major part of the
Metacomet's exploratory effort to
the eastern areas. However, in-
stead of locating any valuable new
sardine resources, the Metacomet
cruises only confirmed the picture
of general scarcity that the fishery
in that area experienced.

=

~y
ix)

678.8 = 72 = Average Length = 9.45"

Seasons of scarcity in some
areas are not new in the sardine
and herring fisheries. A decline
in spawning activity as presently
exists was noted by A. G. Hunts-
FIG. 6 - AIR SUPPLY AND AIR-PRESSURE GAUGE USED TO man (1918): '"The decline in num
SHOW THE DEPTH OF A MIDWATER TRAWL. bers of spawning herring visiting
the Grand Manan Shore has been

used as an argument for (a) change in the limits, That there has been sucha decline
is well established."

It was claimed by some sardine fishermen as early in the fishery as 1896 that
a decline in the available supply of sardines was occurring although H. F. Moore
(1898) concluded that the decline at that time was limited to the supply of large
"stringer" herring.

Bigelow and Schroeder point out that a scarcity of herring in any particular
area is not an uncommon occurrence. However, they also show that since the start
of the Maine sardine fishery in 1875, Washington County has generally been a top
producer of sardines. ''The distribution of commercial catches ... shows that her-
ring are far more plentiful from Casco Bay eastward along the coast of Maine, and
especially in the Passamaquoddy Bay-Grand Manan region than they are along the
western shores of the Gulf on the one hand, or up the Bay of Fundy on the other, or
along western Nova Scotia. Thus the landings per unit length of coast averaged 3
times as great for the Passamaquoddy-Grand Manan Region and for the Coast of
Maine to Mount Desert, as for the coast sector from Mount Desert past Penobscot

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW u

Bay; about 4 times as great as for the Maine Coast as a whole, westward and south-
ward from Penobscot Bay; and 13 times as great as for the Coast of Massachusetts,
for the years 1919, 1928, 1929, and 1930" (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953).

It is evident that the 1956 scarcity of herring in Washington County, historical-
ly at least, is an anomalous situation; one that has occurred before in various areas,
but then has improved in succeeding seasons.

OTHER GEAR TRIALS

Cruise 8 (September 26 to October 12) was devoted to experimentation with
three pieces of gear: (1) a modified lampara seine, (2) a half-size (16-foot square
opening) midwater trawl, and (3) a depth meter for use in measuring the depth at
which midwater trawls are towed.

The lampara seine was patterned after a West Coast tuna bait seine that was
used for sampling "brit'' during the 1955 season. It differed from the bait seine
in the following respects: (1) the
wings were of smaller mesh
size, 2inchesand 1.5 inchesas
compared to 4 inches and 3
inches in the original net, (2) it
was approximately 50 percent
longer than the bait seine, (3) a
purse line was added, and (4) less
bunt was provided inthe center of
the net. The latter two changes
were made to allow easier setting
and partial pursing while hauling
the net. Trialsets were made in
Boothbay Harbor and on sound-
ings of fishinCasco Bay. How-
ever, noherring werecaught in
the lampara Seine, and it was
concluded that this seine as set
from the Metacomet would prob-
ably be of no use incapturing
sardines.

Short trial tows with the
small midwater trawl were made
in Casco Bay and Penobscot Bay FIG. 7 - PURSE SEINE LYING IN THE NET BIN ON THE META-
onsoundings of fish. The small- COMET READY FOR SETTING. a7 an
er trawl was tried to learn whether
or not higher towing speeds that could be attained with it would result in greater
catches. As with the larger midwater trawl, the 0-year class "brit'' of 2.5 to 4
inches average standard length were easily caught. No catches of larger herring
were made. This smaller trawl was, however, as effective as the larger one in
taking samples of the smaller fish and was easier to operate. Results of tows with
this smaller trawl are listed in the midwater trawl fishing log under Cruise 8.

A depth indicator was devised to show continuously the depth at which the mid-
water trawl was being towed. An accurate knowledge of the depth of the trawl is
necessary when fishing on subsurface schools located by echo-sounding.

Water pressure at the depth of the trawl was used as the indicator of the depth.
(Water pressure in standard sea water is 0.44 pounds per square inch per foot of
depth.) In order to transmit the water pressure information from the position of
the trawl to the deck of the vessel, an air-filled hose of +, -inch inside diameter

8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Woll, U8), IN@s Y

was employed and a standard air-pressure. gauge used to give the pressure reading.
A very small volume of compressed air was added continuously at the top end of
the hose and bubbled out the open bottom end into the water to keepthe hose clear
of water. A series of vertical lowerings on a measured line and towing tests have
shown that the depth indicator does give true and accurate readings. A separate
report has been written on this device (Smith 1957).

Prior to and during the ninth cruise of the Metacomet, trial sets were made
with a purse seine. This was done to obtain information as to whether or nota
New England dragger-type vessel could be adapted to purse-seining operations.

If this were possible, a vessel of
such seaworthy design and of the
type which is available in this
area might possibly be used in
offshore waters of the Gulf of
Maine and the North Atlantic O-
cean for purse seining herring.
The net was set over the port gun-
wale of the Metacomet from a
seine bin constructed alongside
the hatch (fig. 7). The purse lines
were pulled through blocks ona
seine davit to winch heads on the
trawl winch, and the seine was
hauled aboard with a power block.
Although only a short period of
time could be spent investigating
this method, results were quite
encouraging. The seine was set
smoothly over the port gunwale.

in all trials. Due to the turning
of the vessel, the seine pulled out
away from the stern while setting
and there was no tendency of the
seine to be drawn into the propel-
lor. Some difficulty was experi-
enced while pursing. The bow of the vessel sometimes drifted into the seine and
the purse line fouled in the web of the net. However, after several trial sets, these
problems were largely overcome, and one smooth set was made without any trouble
with fouling of lines.

FIG. 8 - CLOSING PURSE SEINE ABOARD THE METACOMET.

The method of purse seining was not worked out early enough in the 1956 season
to be of great value to the project during that particular season; however, it is éx-
pected that the techniques devised may be of considerable value to the project in
future work. Indications are that this method can be used successfully on a proper-
ly-equipped dragger if sufficient trial sets are made to work out the problems en-
countered.

See pages 9-12 for table 2; pages 13-14 for table 3.

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

September 1957

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COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

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September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 15

LITERATURE CITED

ANONYMOUS
1957. MAINE LANDINGS, 1956 CFS NO, 1493, ANNUAL SUMMARY. U. S. FISH AND WILOLIFE SERVICE AND
MAINE DEPT. OF SEA AND SHORE FISH., 10 PP.

BARRACLOUGH, W. E., AND Ws. We. JOHNSON
1956. A NEW MID-WATER TRAWL FOR HERRING. FISH. RES. BD. CAN., BULL. NO. 104, 25 PP.

BIGELOW, HENRY B., AND WILLIAM C, SCHROEDER
1953. FISHES OF THE GULF OF MAINE. U. S~ FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, FISH. BULL. 74, PP. 93-
94.

HUNTSMAN, A. Ge
1918, REPORT ON SPAWNING AREA FOR HERRING AT GRAND MANAN, ATL. BIOL. STA. ORIGINAL MANU-
SCRIPT NO, 518, PP. 1-3. PUBLISHED IN MANUSCRIPT REPORTS OF THE BIOL, STA. NO, 612,
REVIEW OF BAY OF FUNDY HERRING BY A. H. LEIM.

MOORE, HENRY F.
{808. OBSERVATIONS ON THE HERRING AND HERRING FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEAST COAST, WITH SPECIAL
REFERENCE TO THE VICINITY OF PASSAMAQUODDY BAY. REPT. U. Se FISH. COMM. FOR 1896
(1898), PP. 387-442, ILLus.

SCATTERGOOD, LESLIE W.
1949, THE PRODUCT-ION AND FISHING METHODS OF THE MAINE HERRING INDUSTRY WITH NOTES ON THE
1947 SEASON. SPEC. SCIENTIFIC REPORT NO. 67, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, PP. 18-19.

SMITH, KEITH A.
4957. AN EXPERIMENTAL AIR PRESSURE DEPTH-METER FOR USE WITH MIDWATER TRAWLS. COMM. FISH. REV.,
VOL. 19, NO. 4 (APRIL). ALSO SEPARATE 474.

PROMOTIONAL IDEAS URGED

American housewives are ready to accept fish for added uses inhome menu-
planning if the product is packaged and merchandized to increase their interest,
anArkansas leader in the industry said in a statement to the National Fisheries
Institute at its 12th Annual Convention.

"The opportunities are there, but it'sall tooeasytosay, 'Well, it won't work'
or 'maybe they can do it in your city but ours is different market,'"' he stated.

He urged more original promotions, such as a Lenten one in Little Rock in
which frozen fish sticks, breaded shrimp, and other fish products were displayed
in a supermarket in a 12-foot row boat also containing macaroni and spaghetti
items related to Lent.

Other successful ideas, he said, have included Thursday and Friday "satura-
tion" spot announcements on local radio, 23-pound family-size layer-packed boxes
of breaded shrimp, couponor straight nickel-discount promotions in stores, local
participation in National Fish Week, cooperation with various food-freezer plans,
furnishing products tohome demonstration programs on local TV, providing menu
clip-ons and back-bar material for restaurants, and selling breaded fish fillets
and similar items to frozen-dessert stands and roadside restaurants for use in
fish sandwiches.

16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Waly 1, ING, &

BODY FLUID LOSSES OF NORTHERN
AND SOUTHERN OYSTERS”

By Milton Fingerman,* Laurence D. Fairbanks,* and Warren C. Plauche*

PREFATORY ABSTRACT

THE PRESENT STUDY SHOWED THAT AS MUCH AS 69.5 PERCENT OF THE
WEIGHT OF THE SOUTHERN OYSTER MAY BE LOST AS FLUID IN THE FIRST 60 MIN-
UTES AFTER SHUCKING. TO ACQUIRE BASIC INFORMATION NEEDED IN THE CON-
TROL OF SUCH LOSSES, THE AUTHORS INVESTIGATED SEASONAL ‘AND GEOGRAPHIC
DIFFERENCES IN THE AMOUNT OF FLUID LOST FROM THE OYSTER AND ALSO STUD-

IED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE CONCENTRATIONS OF PROTEIN, SALT, AND CELLS
IN THE BODY FLUIDS.

BACKGROUND

The loss of body fluid is a problem of great economic concern to the oyster in-
dustry. Loss of fluid affects the appearance and the palatability of the oyster and
causes serious difficulties related to the fill of container.

Investigation of the physiology of body fluid in the oyster Crassostrea virgin ica,
which is the commercial species found along the East and Gulf coasts, has been in

FIG. 1 - EASTERN OYSTERS EXPOSED AT LOW TIDE

progress for more than a year. Among the several phases that have been consider-
ed are losses due to injury and to heat shock. The present report summarizes re-

> DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY , NEWCOMB COLLEGE, TULANE UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS 18, LA.

1/THIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED UNDER A CONTRACT BETWEEN TULANE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNITED STATES FISH
AND WILOLIFE SERVICE WITH FUNDS PROVIDED BY P. L. 466, 83RD. CONGRESS, APPROVED JULY 1, 1954,
COMMONLY CALLED THE SALTONSTALL-KENNEDY ACT.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 17

cent experiments on the extent of loss of body fluid by Northern and by Southern oys-
ters that were shucked in the spring and in the fall of 1956.

The idea that Southern oysters lose more body fluids at all times of the year
than do Northern oysters has been accepted for a long time. No quantitative com-
parisons, however, have been made. The importance of the problem is that if South-
ern oysters "bleed" more and consequently shrink in size more than do their North-
ern counterparts, then for a given volume of shucked oysters, more Southern than
Northern shell oysters of the same size would be required.

EXPERIMENTAL

Oysters were obtained from three sources: Louisiana (the vast majority were
grown in Barataria Bay), Chesapeake Bay, and Delaware Bay, during the months of
March and April, and of October and November in 1956. In 20 of the 22 experiments
that were conducted, the oysters were placed in sea-water aquaria to allow them to
acclimatize to the sea water for at least 24 hours prior to shucking. In the other two
instances, oysters were shucked on the day of arrival at the laboratory.

Each experiment was performed as follows: Bodies of 19 oysters were remov-
ed from their shells and placed in individual containers. Initial body weight, includ-
ing the fluid escaping through ruptures in the mantle, was determined. The bodies,
without the fluid that escaped, then were weighed at intervals. Weights were ex-
pressed as percentages of the original body weight.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Data for oysters from each locality, averaged according to season, are present
in table 1. In the spring, practically no difference was found between Northern and

Table 1 - Relation Between Geographical Source, Season, and Body Weight of
Oysters 60 Minutes after Shucking

Geographic Source = ae ae a Pa

Southern oysters. In the fall, however, striking differences appeared. Louisiana
oysters lost considerably more weight than did Chesapeake oysters, and Ches-
apeake oysters, in turn, lost considerably more weight than did the Delaware
oysters. Thus, in the fall, the farther north the habitat of the oyster in the
areas studied, the smaller was the loss of body fluid when shucked and drained.

The composition of body fluid was found not to be uniform in all parts of
the oyster. The fluid does not simply flow from one part of the body toanother.
Differences in concentration of protein, salt, and number of cells in fractions
of the body fluid taken from different portions of the body support this conten-
tion. The amount of protein in the fluid was correlated positively with the salt
content. Oysters having fluids with the greatest concentration of protein tended
to have the highest concentration of salt. The most cells, for example, were
found in the blood taken directly from the heart (1,715 per cubic milliliter), and
the fewest were found in the pericardial fluid (348 per cubic milliliter). Cells
comprised less than 0.1 percent of the volume of body fluid.

18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Loss of body fluid from the oyster is of great economic concern to the oyster
industry. The present study showed, for example, that as much as 69.5 percent of
the weight of the oyster Crassostrea virginica may be lost as fluid in the first 60
minutes after shucking.

Study of physiology of body fluid in this oyster, which is the commercial species
found along the East and Gulf coasts, showed that:

1. In the spring, practically no difference was found between North-
ern (Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay) and Southern oysters (primarily
from Barataria Bay, La.) in the amount of body fluid lost.

2. In the fall, Louisiana oysters lost considerably more weight than
did Chesapeake oysters, and the Chesapeake oysters lost considerably
more weight than did the Delaware oysters.

3. Oysters with the greatest concentration of protein in the fluid usu-
ally had the highest concentration of salt.

4. In a comparison of the various portions of the body of the oyster,
the most cells were found in blood taken from the heart (1,715 per cubic
milliliter); and the least, in the pericardial fluid (348 per cubic milli-
liter).

5. Cells comprised less than 0.1 percent of the volume of body fluid.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

FINGERMAN, M. AND L. D. FAIRBANKS
1956, SOME FACTORS AFFECTING FLUID LOSS IN SOUTHERN OYSTERS, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW,
VOL. 18, NO. 1 (JAN.) PP. 10-11 (ALSO SEP. NO. 426).

OSMOTIC BEHAVIOR AND BLEEDING OF THE OYSTER CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA, TULANE STUDIES IN
ZOOLOGY, VOL. 3, NO. 9 (APRIL 12, 1956).

HEAT DEATH AND ASSOCIATED WEIGHT LOSS OF THE OYSTER CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA. TULANE
STUDIES IN ZOOLOGY, VOL. 5, NO. 4 (APRIL ty 1957). ALSO COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

VOL. 18, NO. 10 (OCTOBER) P. 4 (ALSO SEP. NO. 451). ‘

IRISH MOSS

Experiments conducted in Canada on the continuous co-
current extraction of Irish moss have shown that 80 percent
of the total soluble solids in Irish moss can be extracted with
a egntact time of 8 minutes and a temperature of 194° F.
(90° C.). The percentage extraction increased with increas-
ing temperature, but temperature of extraction did not in-
fluence the quality of the product. The continuous co-current
method of extraction is regarded as satisfactory.

--Eighth Annual Report of the Nova Scotia
Research Foundation, 1955.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 19

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FRESH-WATER AND SALT-WATER ICE
AS PRESERVATIVES FOR HADDOCK

Salt-water and fresh-water ice were used in comparative preservation studies
to ice representative lots of eviscerated haddock aboard the Service's exploratory
fishing vessel, Delaware. No significant differences in preservative effects were
noted. The relative cool-
ing rates, storage tem-
peratures, and keeping
qualities of the fishstor-
ed in the respective ices
were determined.

The fish stored in
salt-water ice and in
fresh-water ice under
laboratory conditions were
of excellent to good qual-
ity until the 9th day of
iced storage, and of ac-
ceptable quality from the
9th until the 13th day of
iced storage. The fish
stored in salt-water ice
were cooled faster than
the fish stored in fresh-
water ice. However, the
salt-water ice melted
faster than the fresh-wa-

FIG. 1 - CHECKING THE TEMPERATURE OF HADDOCK WITH A MERCURY ter ice and left the fish

THERMOMETER. with less protecting ice.

Therefore, since melted

ice was not replaced, the fish in salt-water ice eventually rose to a higher temper-
ature than those stored in fresh-water ice. These results show that in order to
maintain fish in salt-water ice at a temperature close to the melting point of this
ice, sufficient quantities of ice must be used to compensate for the faster melting
rates. A comprehensive report of the study is expected to be published shortly.

20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

STANDARDS

BREADED SHRIMP STANDARDS MEETING AT NEW ORLEANS: A public con-
ference on the proposed voluntary standards for frozen raw breaded shrimp was
held on July 1, 1957, in New Orleans, La.

The conference was held at the request of a number of breaded shrimp pro-
ducers. for discussion and clarification of the proposed standards. Persons inter-
ested were invited to attend or
submit written commenis.

A Bureau of Commercial
Fisheries technologist opened
the meeting with a brief review
of the intent of the voluntary
standards and the official pro-
cedure for the development
and promulgation of such
standards.

Announcement of the pro-
posal to issue voluntary stand-
ards for frozen raw breaded
shrimp was carried in the
Federal Register of May 18,
1957. The notice providedfor
a 60-day period during which
interested persons could sub-
mit written views, data, or FIG. 1 - DRAINING OF SHRIMP AFTER DEBREADING PROCESS
arguments in connection with DURING THE GRADING OF BREADED SHRIMP.
the proposals. Written comments received prior to June 28 were considered as
part of the agenda at the New Orleans meeting.

; ytes aN ST >
pon esul CZ mt
ey Acs

ISINGLASS FROM FISH SOUNDS

Isinglass is a gelatinlike substance which has several commercial uses.
Swollen in water and then in wine, it is strained through cheesecloth into a cask
of wine. As it sinks to the bottom, it entangles the particulate matter which is
responsible for producing clouded wines of inferior quality. A single ounce of
isinglass can clarify 200-500 gallons of wine in 8-10 days. It is alsousedinthe
manufacture of plaster, special cements, and is a constituent of various water-
proofing compounds.

Fish sounds, from which isinglass is made, are the swim bladders of fishes.

--Sea Secrets, The Marine Laboratory,
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21

pose | REN DS= = = z

= AND

et DEVELOPMENTS &

California

DUNGENESS CRAB ABUNDANCE OUTSIDE COMMERCIAL RANGE STUDIED
(M/V Nautilus Cruise 57-N-4): To determine the abundance, condition, and sizes of
the Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) in areas on the outer ‘edge and beyond the
commercial range and to obtain samples of
various size crabs by beam trawling was the

purpose of a cruise (May 13-31, 1957) bythe Ss
California Department of Fish and Game Re- \ AGL
search vessel Nautilus. ‘ \ =
TS ASI Ta Rey < aS
A totalof 45 commercial-size crab traps PINS
were used to make trap sets. The traps oN \
were set in two strings of 21 and 22 traps wy

each, except at the first station where 45
were set. Two traps were lost due to sev-
eral days of rough weather.

An eight-foot beam trawl with a 1-inch ea ack | a
mesh net was used to catch crabs of the re Joe
various sizes present. i ks Ne Beto

A total of 174 trap sets were made in the a
Pt. Reyes and Farallon Island areas. These
sets yielded 556 Dungeness crabs (known lo-
cally as market crabs). Of these 329 (59.2
percent) were legal (7'' males), 127 (22.8
percent) were sublegal males, and 100 (18.0 M/V Nautilus Cruise 57-N-4 (May 13-31, 1957),
percent) were females. The percentage of
legal-size crabs per trap ranged from a low of 44.4 percent at a 36-fathom station
SE. of the Farallon Islands to a high of 90 percent at a 45-fathom station North of
the same Islands.

Very few soft legal crabs were encountered. Only 4 of 329 legal-size (1.2 per-
cent) were in the soft condition.

Various incidental species were also brought up in the traps. Among these
were 119 sand dabs (Citharichthys sordidas) caught in 49 fathoms of water between
Pt. Reyes and the Farallons. Two octopi were also caught during the cruise. These
weighed approximately 30 to 40 pounds. Shoulder-width measurements were made
on all crabs caught by the traps. A shoulder-width measurement is made just for-
ward of the last antero-lateral spines.

It appears that from the amount of legal crabs caught, it is doubtful that com-
mercial fishing in most of these areas would be profitable as late in the season as
May. The catches of crabs were spotty around the 50-fathom depth. Not until the
traps were set in approximately 40 fathoms of water did the catches pick up. Catch
samples of commercial boats during the same period revealed that the fishermen
were getting slightly more legal crabs per trap. These crabs averaged about the

22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Voll LoS Nowe

Same size as those caught on this cruise. The fishermen were fishing in 10 to 12
fathoms of water off San Francisco (between the Golden Gate and Pt. San Pedro).
An outstanding difference in the catches between the two areas was that the fisher=-
men were handling many more females for a given amount of males.

Some of the other factors that would in-
hibit fishing in the 40- and 50-fathom depths
during the last part of the season (March
through May) would be low prices, consider -
ably more running time, more time pulling
the traps, plus loss of traps resulting from
ships and salmon boats fouling on the trap
lines.

A total of 23 drags were made with the
beam trawl to capture crabs. These drags
were usually of a 30-minute duration. Depths
dragged varied from 4} fathoms off Pt. Bon-
ito to 60 fathoms off of Pt. Reyes. Crabs
were taken in 16 out of the 23 drags.

The beam trawl was successful in cap-
turing crabs of a greater size range than those
ordinarily taken in commercial traps. Some
of the smaller size crabs are usually not
brought up in the traps. There are at least

M/V Nautilus Cruise 57-N-4 (May 13-31, 1957). 3 year-classes represented. A drag over
the "potato patch" off Pt. Bonito in 26 to 35
feet of water produced some crabs in the 30-69 mm. range. These sizes could not
be found elsewhere.

These data with previously collected information will be used in studies of the
composition of the crab resource.

KOK KK

RESEARCH ON THE RED ABALONE IN MORRO BAY-SAN SIMEON AREA
(M/V Nautilus Cruise 57-N-3): Red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) beds off California
were inspected by the California Department of Fish and Game research vessel Nauti-
lus (April 24-May 12). Also, the vessel looked for abalone tagged during 1955 and
1956; and attempted to develop methods of collecting abalone spat and transporting
and transplanting techniques.

Due to a siege of particularly bad weather curtailing diving activities during
the month of May, only a limited number of the planned projects were accomplished.

Of the commercial areas inspected, the majority of the abalone observed ap-
peared to have grown less in size than usual. In the area between Pt. Estero and
San Simeon, the kelp which has in recent years been present in large scattered beds,
is this year almost completely absent. No young stalks were seen growing from the
bottom. This kelp provides the principle source of food for the abalone in this area.

Four tagged abalone were recovered by divers in approximately the same area
of release. One abalone had grown slightly more than one inch during the year, the
others had grown very little if at all during the same period of time.

Examination of the gonads indicated the abalone were retarded in spawning de-
velopment so plans for collecting spat were postponed.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23

Seventy abalone were collected and placed ina live box and the box deposited in
the inner harbor of Morro Bay. Twelve abalone injured when collected died within
a few days. The others have remained alive and are in good health, feeding only on
the materials which float into the box. The 58 abalone in the holding box have re-
mained alive for 40 days.

OK OK OK OK

ALBACORE TAG RETURNS TELL STORY OF WIDE TRAVEL: The catch of
shed more light on the ocean movements of these fish. Tags from both fish were
recovered off Lower California by the

fishing vesselJessie A outofSan Diego.

The first albacore, caught 90 miles
south of San Diego on July 3, established
a new albacore record for being "'at lib-
erty.'' It had been tagged July 25, 1955, |
and was recovered 710 days later. The
previous record was one year. Albacore Tuna

Department spokesmen said this demonstrates that any given albacore may
appear in the local fishery for at least three successive seasons. They theorize
this fish could have made two round trips to Midway Island, or one long round trip
to Japan. It had gained 135 pounds while at liberty, weighing 25% pounds when
caught.

The second fish, at liberty 306 days, was caught July 5 at 100 miles southwest
of San Diego. It had been tagged September 3, 1956, off Monterey, Calif., ina
group of 76 albacore, which included an albacore recovered only one month earlier
(June 1) approximately 145 miles east of Tokyo. These fish, caught 5,000 miles
apart, were only five fishes away from each other in Sequence when they were tag-
ged in the group of 76.

Total shipments of metal cans for fish and shellfish canning
during Jan. -May 1957 amounted to 54,426 short tons of steel (based
on the amount of steel consumed in the manufacture of cans), com-
pared to 44,486 short tons in Jan.-May 1956, Firms canning tuna,

shrimp, Pacific mackerel, jack mackerel, and anchovies were active
during the month. Packers of Maine sardines and salmon had started the 1957 sea-
son, but packs were light in May.
NOTE: STATISTICS COVER ALL COMMERCIAL AND CAPTIVE PLANTS KNOWN TO BE PRODUCING METAL CANS. REPORT -
TED IN BASE BOXES OF STEEL CONSUMED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANS, THE DATA FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS ARE

CONVERTED TO TONS OF STEEL BY USING THE FACTOR: 23.0 BASE BOXES OF STEEL EQUAL ONE SHORT TON OF
STEEL.

Crabs

BLUE CRAB STUDIES INTENSIFIED: Plans for an expanded study of blue crabs,
to be financed by the Federal Government, were discussed recently at a three-day
conference between the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, Gloucester Point, Va.,

24 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 195 No. 9

recently, and the Oyster Institute of North America. A biologist at the conference
pointed out: ''The blue crab industry has suffered periodically from both over-
production and shortage of crabs. Seventy-five thousand dollars of Federal funds,
recently set aside for crab research, is
to be applied to a study of the causes of

j the wide variations in the catch of blue
= crabs along the Atlantic coast.'' Funds
for this work are made available by the
Saltonstall-Kennedy Act of 1954. The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has con-
tracted with the Oyster Institute of North
America to carry out some fundamental
studies of the effects of certain environ-
mental elements such as temperature,
light, the amount of salt in the water,
and food on the hatching, growth, and
survival of small crabs. A research group, with headquarters at the U. S. Fish &
Wildlife Service Fisheries Laboratory in Beaufort, N. C., will conduct field inves-
tigations from Delaware to Florida.

BLUE CRAB

The contract was awarded as the culmination of almost two years of planning
by state and Federal biologists in cooperation with some of the leading crab meat
packers and canners. An advisory group has been appointed for this project.

Funds have also been allocated to the University of Maryland Seafood Process-
ing Laboratory, Crisfield, Md., for studies of the cooking, processing, and storage
of crab meat.

The Acting Chief Scientist of the Oyster Institute recently visited the Virginia
Laboratory and other laboratories along the Atlantic seaboard to review the work
which has been already done and to exchange ideas on methods of holding and han-
dling crabs for experimental purposes.

Films

HINTS TO HOUSEWIVES TOPIC OF PROPOSED FISHERY FILMS: Hints to
housewives on how to buy fish will be given pictorially in a 14-minute, 16-mm.
sound-color film just placed under contract by the Bureau of Commercial Fisher-
ies, according to a July 26 announcement. The film, which will be ready for dis-
tribution in mid-1958, is one of a series to encourage the consumption and market-
ing of fish and shellfish. The picture, Fish for Sale, is being produced by the Bu-
reau of Commercial Fisheries of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part
of its market development program. The filming will be done by Milner Productions
Inc. of Baltimore, Md. This firm will supply 125 prints to be distributed through
the Bureau's film libraries.

A contract for another market promotion film, Outdoor Fish Cookery, has been
awarded to the Sun Dial Films of New York City. It will be a 28-minute, 16-mm.
sound-color picture. The contract also includes 125 prints for Bureau distribution.
Outdoor Fish Cookery will be ready for distribution in about a year. Subjects por-
trayed will be an Indian salmon barbecue, a New England lobster boil, a Gulf shrimp
boil, a South Atlantic oyster roast, and other traditional events, with hints to pres-
ent-day arrangers of such outside events.

Both films will be financed from funds made available by the Saltonstall-Ken-
nedy Act of 1954 to aid in the production and marketing of domestic fish and fish
products.

September 1957

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

25

The Bureau has produced 14 fishery films, six of which have been financed by
segments of the fishing industry. Seven Bureau films have won international honors

at European film expositions.

Florida

FISHERIES RESEARCH, APRIL-JUNE 1957: The following are some excerpts
from the Quarterly Report on Fisheries Research, June 1957, of the Marine Labor-

atory of the University of Miami.

Tortugas Shrimp Fishery: The analysis of
shrimp dealers' records was continued. Excellent
records of shrimp sales during the years 1950
through 1956 were obtained from a Key West deal-
er and are being processed. Twoboats which fished
continuously during these years were used fora pre-
liminary examination of the catch per unit of effort
during the early years of the fishery. This very
sketchy data shows that during the entire period
the pounds per boat per night landed did not vary
greatly. During the early years of the fishery the
catch rates were not much higher than those made
by the same and other boats in the later years. An
interesting aspect of the trend of these catch rates
from 1950 through 1953 is that they follow the pro-
duction curve rather closely. After 1953 they have
a downward trend as do those of the other dealers.
It is possible that the catch per boat per night up
to a certain point reflects abundance of shrimp on
the grounds and above this point the rate of capture
does not reflect abundance because it involves com-
petition between units of gear.

The numbers of shrimp discarded by fisher-
men at sea is a very important aspect of the an-
alysis of the dealers' records. Because records
show sizes of shrimp sold and not those actually
landed on deck, the relationship between the two
figures must be determined so that sales records
may be converted to the sizes of shrimp actually
landed on deck. The best estimate of the amount
of discard comes from samples taken on board a
charter vessel. On several cruises a random
sample of shrimp in the cod end ofa 2-inch stretch-
ed measure net was measured and the skipper then
culled and sold the catch. For example, the month
of February 1956 shows that the fishermen dis-
carded 36 percent by numbers of shrimp. Of
course this must be done with nets of different
mesh sizes at all times of the year for many boats
to obtain figures that can be studied for reliability.

In order to gain information concerning the
spawning of the Tortugas pink shrimp, three meth-
ods are being used; (1) ova diameter frequency,
(2) gross appearance of male and female gonads,
and (3) the ratio of gonad weight to total weight.

Although it is possible that the pink shrimp
spawns more than once no conclusive evidence has
been found yet.

The sex ratio (males to females) during the
months of January, February, and March was 1,29
to 1.00. This sex ratio does not appear to be the
result of gear selectivity because the larger shrimp
(the females) would be more susceptible to being
caughf and in the catch would outnumber the males.

On the other hand it is possible that the number of
females in the population has been reduced because
they are more available to the gear.

Spotted Sea Trout: A current study of the sta-
tistics of commercial landings of black mullet and
spotted sea trout show clearly that the sea trout
catches were, in large measure, dependent on
catches of mullet prior to the year 1952. Since
that time, however, the advent of the sport fisher-
man aS a potent factor in the fishery, has made
interpretation of landing statistics more difficult.

There has been a decided shift from the mul-
let fishing which formerly supplied much of the
spotted sea trout reported in commercial landings
statistics. An unfavorable market situation has
lowered the demand for Florida east coast black
mullet. The result appears to have been a shift of
the mullet netter to other species which are capable
of sustaining a paying fishery. The sea trout, the
spot, the menhaden, and various species labeled as
"bottom fish'' now make up the bulk of catches taken
in inshore waters. Analysis of this shift in fishery
emphasis is being undertaken in an attempt to an-
ticipate the results of much increased pressure on
species such as the spotted sea trout.

Black Spot Control in Shrimp: Recent experi-
ments with sodium bisulfite have shown the chemi-
cal to be effective at the low concentration of 0.5
percent in retarding the development of black spot.
The results with 0.5 percent concentration show
that the lower concentration was not quite as effec-
tive as the concentration now in general use (17
percent) but show that a very weak solution is still
useful in controlling black spot.

Studies were continued to determine the effect
of Ionol (Butylated hydroxy toluene) on black spot.
Results from further tests with dipping solutions
of Ionol indicate that a change in the pH using citric
acid has no noticeable effect on the rate of black
spot formation, and in some cases a slight increase
was noticed. Further tests are planned using phos-
phoric and ascorbic acid to change the pH.

Spoilage Control in Shrimp: Studies were con-
tinued to determine the preservative action of the
antibiotic Terramycin when applied in a dipping
solution. A second trip was made in May ona
shrimp boat out of Key West, and samples of pink
shrimp (Penaeus duorarum) were dipped in four
concentrations of a Terramycin-sea water solution.
Concentrations ranged from 30 to 500 parts per
million; samples were dipped for 1, 5, and 15 min-
utes,

26

Organoleptic scores (taste and odor) and black
spot evaluations showed small and probably insig-
nificant differences with the nontreated samples.

A slight improvement in taste was noted at the 100-
parts-per-million level for all of the dipping times.
Black spot scores showed that Terramycin in gen-
eral has a slight retarding action on the develop-
ment of black spot. This was especially noticeable
at the 10-parts-per-million level.

Bacterial counts from this series of tests have
not yet been completed. The results will be avail-
able early in July.

Rancidity in Fish: A second series of tests to
control the development of rancidity in frozen fish
(Spanish mackerel) were begun. The experiment
was designed to provide information on the pre-
vention of rancidity by the use of Ionolapplied either
as a dip or as a glaze. The mackerel used in the
tests were obtained in Riviera Beach, Fla. Each
sample (consisting of 16 fillets) was dipped for one
minute in three gallons of freshly-prepared Ionol
emulsion, packed in a five-pound waxed carton, and
frozen at -10°0 F.

Those samples which received a glaze were
treated after they were completely frozen. The
entire carton was submerged in the solution for
one minute, drained for a few seconds, and return-

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 19, No. 9

ed to the freezer. Concentrations of Ionol ranged
from 150 to 500 parts per million. The effect of
0.5-percent citric acid when applied alone or in
combination with 250 p.p.m. Ionol is also being
studied. Results from these tests will be reported
at a later date.

A second series of tests to prevent the fading
of the red pigment on red snappers was also begun.
Previous experiments have shown that Ionol in the
range of 200-300 parts per million was quite ef-
fective in preventing fading of the color. The pres-
ent experiment was designed to provide confirma-
tory data on the effect of Ionol on the fading of the
red pigment. Concentrations ranged from50to500
parts per million. The effectoof sodium bisulfite,
licithin, ascorbic-citric mixtures, and glycerin
are also being observed. Results from-these tests
will be reported later.

Smoked Fish Mold Studies: Mold develops on
smoked fish held under room temperatures in from
7 to 10 days. Previous work has shown that smoked
fish wrapped in Mylar 322 containing carbon diox-
ide showed no mold after 21 days of storage.

A second series of tests using Mylar 322 and
carbon dioxide gas produced similar results after
30 days of storage. A slight ''souring'' was noticed
at this time, however.

Fisheries Loan Fund

INTERIOR WILL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS: Applications for
fishery loans will continue to be accepted and assigned case numbers for an indefi-
nite period, despite the fact that applications exceed the $10,000,000 provided by
Congress as initial capital for a fishery loan fund, it was reported June 14 by the

Department of the Interior.

Only a limited number of applications in excess of the $10,000,000 will be in-

vestigated or further processed at this time.
by the Department until funds again become available.

the order in which they are received.

Applications not processed will be held
Applications are handled in

The $10,000,000 fisheries loan fund is a revolving fund set up by Congress for
a ten-year period to provide loans to commercial fishermen for financing and re-
financing of operations, maintenance, replacement, repairs, and equipment of fishing
gear and vessels and for research into the basic problems of the fisheries.

Great Lakes Fishery Investigations

OTTER-TRAWL AND GILL-NET FISHING IN LAKE ERIE BY M/V UGISCOr

Experimental otter | otter trawling and gill-netting were tried by the Service's research
vessel Cisco in Lake Erie during several cruises.

Cruise 2--May 21-June 3: The Cisco's en-
tire operations during cruise 2 were conducted in
the eastern end of Lake Erie off Erie, Pa., and
Port Dover, Ontario, except for two series of bathy-
thermograph casts between Sandusky, Ohio, and

Erie, Pa., and two trawl hauls off Cleveland, Ohio.

Yearling yellow perch, 33 to 43 inches long,
predominated in the trawl eaenniee off Cleveland.
In a total of 30 minutes towing time, 1,352 of these

September 1957

fish were caught. Also abundant were smelt (594),
logperch (301), and emerald shiners (545). Rep-
resented in small numbers were adult perch,
sheepshead, spot-tail shiners, and silver chubs.

Experimental nylon gill nets (mesh sizes 1-,
14-, 2-, 23-, 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-inch) were set on
the bottom in 13 fathoms off Erie and in 34 fath-
oms (the deepest area in Lake Erie) off Port Dover.

The Service's research vessel M/V Cisco.

The catch off Erie was light and consisted entirely
of perch and smelt, except for one burbot and 2
blue pike. The catch off Port Dover was extremely
light, consisting of only 1 smelt, 1 burbot, and 1
Leucichthys sp,, tentatively identified as either L.
alpenae or L, johannae. This latter specimen is
interesting in that neither of these two species is
generally listed as occurring in Lake Erie, although
there is one recent report of L. johannae having
been taken from the deeper waters.

Gill nets (24-inch mesh) were set obliquely
from top to bottom in 13 fathoms off Erie and 26
fathoms off Port Dover, and a bull net (300 feet
long, 23-inch mesh, 120 meshes deep) was set with
its floats 6 feet below the surface in 13 fathoms off
Erie. The oblique net off Erie caught 1 white bass
and 1 smelt near the surface and 29 yellow perch
and 1 blue pike near the bottom. Six smelt and 2
white bass were taken in the bull net. In the ob-
lique net off Port Dover there were 3 perch, 4
smelt, and 2 white bass near the top half of the net
and one lake herring near the bottom.

Trawling operations were carried out in 4
areas off Erie in depths ranging from 3 to 164
fathoms and in 3 areas off Port Dover in depths
ranging from 2} to 33 fathoms. The most out-
standing feature of the trawling was the exception-
ally large catches of 3- to 4-inch smelt in nearly
all tows. Up to 7,500 of these smelt, believed to
be yearlings, were taken in a single 20-minute tow.
They seemed to be abundant in bottom tows at all
but the greatest depths. In the deep water, a large
catch was made at midwater levels (about 7 fath-
oms below the surface). Fathogram tracings in-
dicated that they were very abundant from 6 to 10
fathoms below the surface in this area. Catches
of all other species were generally small, except
for a single catch of about 400 yearling perch (3 to
4 inches), taken in shallow water off Erie. The
young perch in this area averaged about one-half
inch shorter than those off Cleveland. Other spe-
cies taken in trawls include blue pike, adult smelt,
adult perch, burbot, sheepshead (2), lake herring
(1), white bass, walleye (1), alewife (1), spoonhead
muddler, slimy muddler, trout-perch, spot-tail
shiner, emerald shiner, logperch, johnny darter,
brindled madtom, black crappie (2), and rock bass
(2). The latter two species were taken in very
shallow water off Erie. Otherwise, catches from

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

27

the two sides of the lake did not differ greatly at
comparable depths. No blue pike, however, were
caught on the north side. An interesting feature of
the perch catch was that practically all adults were
males and appeared to be in spawning condition, al-
though there seems little doubt that the spawning
season has ended.

Seine hauls in 3 areas in and near Erie Harbor
failed to produce fry of any species. A half-meter
plankton net towed at night at the surface off Port
Dover, however, caught several smelt fry. This
tow also took several large Pontoporeia which had
no doubt migrated to the surface after dark.

The water in the east portion of Lake Erie was
only slightly stratified thermally and was generally
still cold. Surface water ranged from 7.0° C.
(44.6° F.) over the deep-water area to 16.69 C.
(61.99 F.) off Erie.

Cruise 3--June 11-23: Both otter trawling and
gill-netting in the extreme western end of Lake
Erie were tried during cruise 3. Operations were
conducted as far west as Lorain, Ohio, on the A-
merican side and Point Pelee onthe Canadian side.
Ports visited by the vessel included Sandusky and
Put-in-Bay, Ohio, and Leamington, Ontario.

Gill nets of several mesh sizes (l-inch to 6-
inch) were set on the bottom in 6 fathoms of water
east of Pelee Island and at the surface over 63
fathoms of water east of Kelly's Island. In each
of these areas a gill net (24-inch mesh) was also
set obliquely from top to bottom, Yellow perch
made up practically the entire catch in the oblique
set off Pelee Island. Few perch were caught in the
uppermost one-quarter of the net, but they were
increasingly abundant with depth. Other fish taken
were 3 smelt, one sheepshead, and one blue pike.
The blue pike and one smelt were near the bottom,
the others at midlevels. Yellow perch were ex-
tremely abundant in the net set on the bottom in the
Same area; 251 were taken in a 100-foot section of
2-inch mesh. Other species caught in small num-
bers were sheepshead, smelt, blue pike, white suck-
er, one rock sturgeon, trout-perch, and spottail
shiner, the latter two species in 1-inch mesh.
Sheepshead (61) and perch (42) predominated in the
oblique net set off Kelly's Island. The sheepshead
were most abundant at midlevels while the perch
were concentrated near the bottom. Other species,
scattered mostly in the top three-quarters of the
net, included blue pike (5), smelt (14), white bass (3),
and walleye (2). The surface net set off Kelly's
Island contained the same species in a similar dis-
tribution pattern as the oblique net, with the addi-
tion of three channel catfish.

Trawls were towed in two areas off Leaming-
ton and four areas between Put-in-Bay and Lorain.
Small smelt (average length about 4 inches) domi-
nated nearly all catches where a small-mesh cod
end was used. They were often as abundant at mid-
water levels as on the bottom. Over 9,000 small
smelt were taken in one 10-minute tow. Perch
yearlings (also averaging about 4 inches in length)
were second most common, but were generally on
the bottom. There were no striking differences in
catches at comparable depths in the different areas.
Minnows and darters were more numerous in the
shallower waters, but otherwise depth seemed to
make little difference in the catches. It must be
pointed out, however, that depths at which trawls

28

were towed varied only from 3 to 7 fathoms. In
addition to the large numbers of small smelt and
perch caught in the trawls, fair catches of large
perch and small catches of large smelt were made.
Other species represented were sheepshead, blue
pike, walleye, trout-perch (verynumerousat times),
white sucker, white bass, channel catfish, spottail
shiner, emerald shiner, channel darter, sand dart-
er, logperch, alewife (only 2), silver chub (only 5,
found in only iwo areas), burbot, stonecat, and
brown bullhead (only 1).

Midwater trawling operations at night south-
east of Kelly's Island took very few fish at the sur-
face, but were more successful at midlevels. Re-
sults of this trawling indicate that many of the spe-
cies of fishes in Lake Erie may be found well off
the bottom soon after dark.

A few smelt fry began showing up in the small-
mesh trawls, and some very tiny fry (probably cy-
prinids) were caught near the surface in plankton
nets. The first young-of-the-year perch were
taken in Seining operations near Sandusky.

Most of the deeper water of the western end
of Lake Erie was stratified thermally during
cruise 3, with the discontinuity layer generally
near the bottom. Surface water temperatures
ranged from 15.30C, (59.50 F.) to 24.39C.
(75.79 F.), The water was clearer than during
cruise 1, with secchi disc readings 63-95 feet, 2-5
feet greater than readings made during the earlier
cruise.

Cruise 4--July 2-15: Operations during cruise
4 were carried out primarily in the east end of Lake
Erie off Erie, Pa., Dunkirk, N. Y., and Long Point,
Ontario. Some fishing, however, was done off Ash-
tabula, Fairport, and Cleveland, Ohio.

Nylon gill nets (graded mesh sizes, 1 to 6
inches) were Set on the bottom off Long Point in
33 fathoms and off Erie (34-, 4-, 5-, and 6-inch
mesh) in 93 fathoms. The gang off Long Point took
only one fish, a smelt. Apparently this deepest
portion of Lake Erie is practically devoid of fish
at the bottom at this time of the year. Oxygen was
found to be ample (10 p.p.m.) near the bottom in
this area. The bottom gill net off Erie contained
6 whitefish and 14 burbot in the 33-inch mesh, 1
whitefish and 7 burbot in the 4- inch mesh, and 1
burbot in the 5-inch mesh. All meshes caught a
few smelt. The whitefish were very close in
weight to the legal minimum limit of 13 pounds in
Pennsylvania. Another gill net (1-, 12 , 2, 23-,
and 3-inch mesh) was set off Erie withits float line
13 fathoms beneath the surface in 13 fathoms of
water. This net took only 3 blue pike and 1 small
yellow perch.

Nylon gill nets (25-inch mesh) were also set
obliquely from top to bottom in 13 fathoms off Erie
and 26 fathoms off Long Point.’ The net off Erie
contained 44 smelt, scattered from 20 feet below

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Wo, IO), IN©. Y

the surface to the bottom, and 2 yellow perch and
2 lake herring at midlevels. The oblique net off
Long Point took 10 smelt scattered from 40 feet

below the surface to the bottom, plus 4 perch and
2 herring at midlevels.

Trawl hauls were made off Erie, Dunkirk,
Long Point, Ashtabula, Fairport, and Cleveland.
Smelt continued to dominate practically all catches.
Larger smelt (older than yearlings) have, since
cruise 2, become better represented in catches in
the eastern portion of the lake, except in the very
deepest water where they remain rather scarce.
Presumably these fish move eastward to avoid the
very warm water in the shallow western section of
the lake. Most of the large smelt seem to stay
near the bottom, at least during the daytime, while
the yearlings tend to concentrate in the area of the
thermocline, where there is one.

There are, however, Some yearlings on the
bottom even when there is a thermocline, and there
is evidence that these individuals average some-
what longer than those at the thermocline. A few
smelt fry were taken in bottom tows but a catch of
about 600 in 7 fathoms off Cleveland represented
the only sizable catch.

Whitefish were taken in the trawls for the first
time this year--29 were caught off Long Point and
seemed to be most abundant at about 7 fathoms.

Other species caught in the trawls in large
numbers were yellow perch, trout-perch, and spot-
tail shiners. Less common species included blue
pike (14 caught in one tow off Fairport, otherwise
uncommon), walleye, white sucker, lake herring
(unidentified Leucichthys sp., possibly L. alpenae),
slimy muddler, smallmouth bass, emerald shiner,
silver chub, logperch, johnny darter, sand darter,
and sheepshead. Seventy-six sheepshead were
taken in two tows off Cleveland, otherwise they
were rare. Most of the male sheepshead appeared
ripe, and the larger females nearly so.

A sharp thermocline has developed in most
portions of the central and eastern basins of Lake
Erie. The thermocline is generally at about 9 fath-
oms. In water shallower than this there is little
thermal stratification. Surface water tempera-
tures ranged generally from 16° to 18°C. in the
deeper water of the east end of the lake, with a
low of 15.39 C. (58.79 F.). Maximums near shore
reached 22,59 C. (72.59 F.) in the east end of the
lake and somewhat higher in the middle and west-
ern parts. The water in the central portion was by
far the clearest yet seen this year, with secchi disc
readings up to 20 feet.

A special light penetration study was conducted
in deep water near Long Point. It was found that
very little light of any color penetrated to a depth
greater than 15 meters where the secchi dise read-
ing was 4.3 meters.

Note; Scientific names of species mentioned: yellow perch (Perca flavescens), smelt (Osmerus mordax), sheepshead (Aplodinotus grunniens), blue pike
Stizostedion vitreum glaucum), white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), rock sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), trout-per: ercopsis omiscomaycus),
spot-tall shiner (Notropis hu onius), white bass ema chrysops), walleye (Stizostedion viereimn vitreu v. Bee channel catfish (Ictalurus Tacustris),
emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides), channel darter (Co! er Se ete) san sand darter (Ammocr ucida), logperch (@ercina capri ), ale-
wife (Pomolabus pseu Tengus), silver chub (Hybopsis Storer ta lota), Spoo! ay ae eis muddler (Cottus cog-
‘natus), stonecat y, Stonecat (Noturus flavus), brown bulthea’ Sorgen), BuO! ae Tter (Etheostoma aise: ein miurus), black

crappie (Pomoxis' ee culatus), rock bass Gambloplites at ‘whitefish (Coregonus clupea Tormis), lake erring Gacy artedi), smallmouth

mieu),

bass (Micropterus dolomieu

Ok kK OK

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29

SEA LAMPREY CONTROL REPORT LISTS RESULTS OF CHEMICAL TESTS:
Painstaking routine and faithful observation were employed by Fish and Wildlife
Service scientists in the all-out attack on the sea lamprey, Assistant Secretary of
the Interior Ross L. Leffler said when he released Special Scientific Report--Fish-

eries No. 207--Toxicity of 4,346 Chemicals to Lamprey and Fishes.

The goal of this phase of the campaign against the sea lamprey was to finda
substance toxic to lamprey larvae but harmless to fish.

The report, strictly uninteresting to the casual reader but full of information
for the industrial chemist, toxicologist, physiologist, fishery scientist, and others
with scientific interest, is largely an alphabetical listing of each chemical tested
with its effect on specimens of lamprey larvae, trout, and bluegills, beginning with
acetaldehyde and ending with zinc silicofluoride.

Opposite the name of each chemical is the result of each 24-hour test, showing
either negative results or the time necessary to kill or otherwise affect the objects
of the test.

In addition to the 3,939 named chemicals there is a list of 407 compounds sub-
mitted by chemical companies but identified only by the company's own code.

The Fish and Wildlife Service researchers have discovered two chemicals which,
in the laboratories, will kill lamprey larvae and not harm fingerling trout and young
bluegills. These are being given rigid tests in the streams before definite pro-
nouncements of their value will be made.

Sea lamprey showed up on Lake Huron more than 20 years ago and then moved
into Lake Michigan. In each lake the lamprey has ruined the commercial trout
fishery. In Lake Michigan the annual trout harvest dropped from 6,500,000 pounds
in 1946 to a mere 34 pounds in 1955. In recent years the lamprey has entered Lake
Superior and is seriously damaging the trout resource there.

The program to control the sea lamprey has developed along two major lines--
the use of electric fences to kill adult lamprey as they attempt to enter their spawn-
ing streams, and the project to find a selective poison which will kill only lamprey
larvae.

Lamprey larvae remain in the bottoms of the streams for six years before be-
coming adult marauders which ruin lake trout fisheries. Hence, a successful poi-
son plus the electrical blockade should rapidly reduce the lamprey population and
aid in the rebuilding of the trout resources.

Canada and the United States and the affected Great Lakes States and Provinces
are working cooperatively on the lamprey program under the direction of the Great
Lakes Fishery Commission, an international body.

Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program

SURFACE-TUNA EXPLORATIONS BY M/V "OREGON" (Cruise 45): Explora-
tion for surface tuna in the Gulf of Mexico was the purpose of the two-month cruise
(ended July 29) by the Service's exploratory fishing vessel Oregon.

During June, 117 schools of predominately little tuna (E. alletteratus) and white
skipjack (K. pelamis) were observed in the northern Gulf. Approximately 75 of
these were worked with live bait and jack poles; 16 schools responded to the bait

30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

and worked under the fishing racks, but at no time would the fish take the squids
alongside the vessel. Eight fish were caught on squids trolled 15 feet to 20 feet be-
y was, AEM, See nen hind the vessel. The anchovies
LOUISIANA. ye,Cb ; used for live bait were too small
Sl piers ce \ to be used for baiting hooks, The
. schools were found onlyin85 -87 F.
green water and exploration in-
to adjacent blue water revealed no
surface schools. Five schools of
white skipjack were observed on
| the northern edge of the Campeche
“| Banks, but bad weather made it
impossible to work them. During
July, breezing schools of skipjack
and yellowfin tuna were observed
in the southern Gulf on the shelf,
west of Cay Arcas, but no bait was
aboard at this time. Commercial
long-line vessels reported surface
schools of yellowfin and white skip-
jack northwest of Cay Arenas dur-
ing this period.

eS

MEXICO

M/V Oregon Cruise 45 (for two months ending July 29) in eastern
Gulf of Maine Three test long-line sets inthe
southwest Gulf in July yielded 14 tons
of yellowfintuna. The over-allcatch rate for these sets was 14.6 yellowfin per 100 hooks.

Live bait was obtained at night with a light and a trap-lift net. In the northern
Gulf, 14 bait stations were made. The catches were primarily small anchovies,
and it was possible to land 200-300 scoops an hour. Twelve bait stations were made
on Campeche Banks in the vicinity of Arcas, Arenas, Alacran, and the Triangles.
Although numerous schools of Sardinella and Jenkensia were found throughout the
area, difficulty was experienced in catching sufficient quantities with the trap-lift
net. The best catch for a single night was 80 scoops.

OK Kk Ok

EXPLORATORY TRAWLING FOR RED SNAPPER IN NORTHERN GULF OF
MEXICO (M/V Silver Bay Cruise 1): Scattered small and medium red snapper were
found in the Northern Gulf area
from the Mississippi coast to the
area off Freeport, Tex., by the
Service's chartered exploratory
fishing vessel Silver Bay during
a two-week cruise which ended
July 1 at Pascagoula, Miss. A
combination of mechanical diffi-
culties and severe sea conditions
due to hurricane "Audrey" re-
stricted trawling operations.

wee"

Twelve trawling stations were

aoc LEGEND:
made from the Mississippi Coast vee SY A= FISH-TRAWL STATION.
to off Freeport, Tex., in depths of agne & O- DRIFT STATION.
17-56 fathoms. Scattered small aig We]
and medium red snapper were M/V Silver Bay Cruise 1 (June 12-July 1, 1957)

found in each area trawled. The

best drag, at 28°08' N. latitude, 94935' W. longitude, yielded 260 red snapper weigh-
ing 350 pounds. This drag also caught 67 pounds of grouper and porgy. Other
catches ranged under 100 pounds of red snapper per hour tow.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 31

One tow, in 30 fathoms at 28°919' N. latitude, 90°918' W. longitude, caught 500
pounds of medium butterfish.

Very little difficulty was experienced in trawling over broken bottom using 52-
foot and 60-foot fish trawls rigged with roller gear. On two occasions, the trawls
hung up on coral lumps, but were hauled back with minor tears.

KOK K

SHELLFISH AND SARDINELIKE FISH POTENTIAL EXPLORED IN EASTERN
GULF OF MEXICO (M/V Silver Bay Cruise 2): Shellfish potential and the scouting
and sampling of sardinelike fish
stocks were the objectives of the
17-day cruise of the Service's
chartered exploratory fishing ves-
sel Silver Bay. A total of 98 fish-
ing stations were made on the Con-
tinental Shelf along the Florida
west coast during this cruise which
ended on July 29.

Using an 8' scallop dredge,
66 drags were made from Pensa~
cola to Key West in depths of 3 to
105 fathoms. Gulf scallops (Pec-
ten gibbus) were taken in most of
the hauls inside of 50 fathoms.
The best catches were made in an
area south of Cape San Blas (lati-
tude 29°05', longitude 85°16').
Up to six bushels of P. gibbus
were taken in 30-minute tows in
19-20 fathoms. Yield was approximately 2 quarts of meats per bushel.

CUULF o MEXIC

1 Ee tee

= ner = cs

M/V Silver Bay Cruise 2 (July 12-29, 1957)

A total of 19 offshore drags with a 14-tooth quahog dredge were inconclusive,
due to the dredges being consistently torn up by the hard sand and rock bottom. The
dredges are to be modified to enable dredging on hard sand bottom.

Numerous surface schools of thread-herring (Opisthonema oglinum) were ob-
served inside the 10-fathom curve from Port St. Joe southward. Greatest numbers
(200-300 schools sighted per day) were seen in the offings between Tampa Bay and
Charlotte Harbor. Attempts to sample these schools at night with a trap-lift net
were generally unsuccessful. Subsurface fish schools sampled with trawls in the
Cape San Blas area contained round herring, Etrumeus (in 20 fathoms), and an un-
identified shad, Pomolobus (in 90-110 fathoms).

33

Maine Sardines

CANNED STOCKS, JULY 1, 1957: Distributors' stocks of Maine canned sar-
dines totaled 212,000 cases on July 1, 1957--58,000 cases, or 38 percent, more than
the stocks on hand July 1, 1956. Stocks held by distributors on June 1, 1957, amount-
ed to 230,000 actual cases, according to estimates made by the U. S. Bureau of the
Census --18,000 cases less than stocks held on July 1, 1957.

Canners' stocks on July 1, 1957, totaled 895,000 cases (100 3}-0z. cans)--a
substantial increase (580,000 cases) over the year-ago stocks and twice as much
as on June 1, 1957.

32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wol, dg, INO,

The new Maine sardine packing season opened on April 15, andthere have been
significant amounts packed through June. ‘The season ends December 1, 1957.

able 1 - Canned Maine Sardines--Wholesale Distributors' and Canners' Stocks July 1, 1957 with Comparisons |

Eee Ey eae am [OT 1955/56
aa Cini TCT TESTO TSS HEHE
cases
1,000 std.
<= Foes [a | ee a

1/ 100 32-07. cans equal one stanlardease,S=~=~“—~*~*s~—‘“—SsS*S~s~—SsS

The pack April 15 to July 1, 1957, was 700,000 cases(100 3y4-0Z. cans) andthe
carryover at the beginning of this season was 426,000 cases. This meant the avail-
able supply on July 1 this year was 1,126,000 cases as compared with 1, 945, 000
cases on the same date in 1956.

Marketing Prospects for Edible Fishery Products,
Third Quarter 1957

Per capita civilian consumption of fishery products during the next sev-
eral months is expected to be close to the year-earlier rate. Judging from the
wholesale level in primary mar-
kets, retail prices have averaged
somewhat higher thus far this year
than last and are expected to con-
tinue higher this summer.

Commercial landings of edible
fish and shellfish through mid-1957
were a little lower than a year ear-
lier. Decreases were indicated for
tuna and several other important
species of fish and shellfish.

Freezings of edible fishery
products in the continental United
States through midyear were 2 per-
cent less than a year earlier. May
was the only month in which freez~-
ings were higher this year than
last. July 1 cold-storage moldinee of edible fishery products were about as large
as on the same date last year. Stocks of these frozen commodities will trend up-
ward during the remainder of 1957 as supplies are built up for distribution during
the seasonally low production period next winter.

Through early spring, imports of major fishery products were a little lower
than in the same part of 1956. The percentage declines for major canned products
and for frozen fillets and blocks were about the same. For fresh and frozen prod-
ucts other than fillets and blocks the total was about as large as a year earlier.

Canned fish exports, the major group of domestic edible fishery products sold
abroad, were much lower through early spring this year thanlast. The reduction inton-
nage was mainly incanned California sardines, the pack of which was very poor lastyear.

This analysis appeared in a report prepared by the Agricultural Marketing
Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, in COE O with the U. S. Fishand
Wildlife Service, and published in the former agency's aay 29, 1957, release of
The National Food Situation (NFS-81).

i

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33

North Atlantic Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research

BOATLOAD OF BRINE-FROZEN GROUNDFISH LANDED BY M/V "DELAWARE"
FOR STORAGE AND HANDLING TESTS (Cruise 57-6): A total of 72, 500 pounds of
groundfish was caught and either brine-frozen or iced aboard the Service's explora-
tory fishing vessel Delaware during this cruise which was completed on July 29, 1957.
The 12-day otter-trawl cruise utilized a
standard #41 net (headrope 100 feet, foot-
rope 79 feet, 43'' manila mesh) with a
45" synthetic cod end. All fishing was
conducted on Georges Bank north of Cor-
sair Canyon. The best catch during the
trip was 4, 000 pounds of haddock taken
in 55 minutes.

After-use data on the synthetic cod-
end was collected throughout the trip.
Measurements on the amount of stretch
and subsequent regain were made on
various portions of the cod end during
fishing operations.

All cod were examined for a cope-
pod parasite whose frequency of occur-
rence is presently under study by the
Service's biological staff at Woods Hole.

The 70, 500 pounds of fish brine- The Service's research vessel M/V Delaware.

frozen and stored in the refrigerated hold of the Delaware consisted of haddock(Mel-
anogrammus aeglefinus): round, 23, 000 pounds; dressed, 13, 000 pounds; scrod:
round, 33, 000 pounds; pollock(Pollachius virens): round, 1, 500 pounds. Approximate-
ly 2,000 pounds of haddock was iced for comparative quality tests with the frozen fish.

Frozen haddock and scrod will be distributed to industry for storage and han-
dling tests. Distribution is being made in cooperation with the New England Ground-
fish Industry Committee.

The Delaware will resume exploratory fishing operations during cruise 57-7
scheduled to depart from East Boston on August 7. Scallop explorations and gear
tests are planned primarily in the northeast peak of Georges Bank. This marks
the continuation of scallop explorations in the areas not being commercially fished
in an effort to locate areas of commercial potential. During the two-week cruise
samples of scallops are scheduled to be frozen at sea using several methods of in-
itial freezing. The samples will then be subjected to technological quality tests at
the Service's East Boston Laboratory.

North Atlantic Fisheries Investigations

STUDIES ON NONTIDAL DRIFT OF HADDOCK EGGS AND LARVAE CONTIN-
surveying the nontidal drift of Georges Bank and its relation to the drift of haddock
eggs and larvae was made by the Service's research vessel Albatross III between
June 5-12, 1957. The study for the 1957 spawning season was ended with this cruise.

Approximately 1,500 miles of continuous plankton tows were made at the sur-
face and 10 meters with Hardy Plankton Recorders; 151 Bathythermograph lowerings,

34 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW WoOs , WO. 2

75 salinity samples, and 14 meter-net surface tows were made; 552 drift bottles
were released. Two transponding buoys were picked up. Buoys 'November" and
"India" were not found.

Haddock larvae were found on the southeast part of Georges Bank. Buoy drift
indicated a very strong westerly drift along the southern edge of Georges Bank.

OK OF OK

WHITING BEHAVIOR IN TRAWLS STUDIED WITH UNDERWATER TELEVI-
SION (M/V Albatross il Cruise 97): In order to study the behavior of whiting in
trawls with underwater television, the Service's research vessel Albatross III sail-
ed from Boston on July 10 and returned on July 13. The vessel operated on the
western and eastern sides of Great South Channel.

Fish capture was observed with the camera positioned inside the belly of the
trawl and between cover and cod end of a typical covered cod end rig used for se-
lectivity experiments.

Too few fish were found in water of the proper depth and clarity to provide
good film records of behavior. Good progress was made in working out the details
of camera positioning, however.

kK kK

WHITING TAGGING (M/V Albatross III Cruise 98): The tagging and collection
of whiting (silver hake) was the principal purpose of this cruise of the Service's re-
search vessel Alba-
tross III. The vessel,
which sailed from
Provincetown, Mass.,
on July 14 and re-
turned to Woods Hole,
Mass., on July 19,
operated four miles
northwest of the Cul-

New sahil Whiting tivator whistle buoy.
(Merlucius bilinearis)

A total of 21 tows
were completed. A
total of 1,094 whiting were tagged, 706 otoliths were taken, and 3,260 length measure-
ments by sex were recorded.

Cruise 100 onAugust 14 was a one-day demonstration trip for members of the
New England fishing industry.

% OK OK Kk

VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF OCEAN PERCH AND HADDOCK FRY SAMPLED
IN GULF OF MAINE (M/V Albatross Ill Cruise 99): Sampling the vertical distribu -
tion of ocean perch and haddock fry in the western part of the Gulf of Maine was the
objective of this cruise (July 25-August 2) by the Service's research vessel Alba-
tross Ill.

A series of 84 tows was made with the Isaacs-Kidd midwater trawl at 8 stations
in the western Gulf of Maine. The trawl was rigged as an opening-closing net and
was towed at a series of depths, top to bottom, at each station. The trawl operated
well most of the time. Minor gear failures suggested changes needed to improve the
trawl depressor for operations in these waters.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35

Larval fishes were collected at all stations in the following order of abundance:
ocean perch or redfish, hake or rockling, haddock, flatfish, whiting, and mackerel.
Collections of more than 1,000 ocean
perch were made at several stations.
Ocean perch ranged from 12-40 mm.
in length. Haddock were widely dis-
tributed and occurred in small num-
bers, primarily in tows where the
jellyfish Cyanea was present. The
haddock appeared to fall into two size
ranges, 4-8 cm. and 9-14 cm. These
are the largest collection of small o-
cean perch and haddock ever taken in
midwater in the western Atlantic.

The greatest numbers of fish were Service's research vessel Albatross II.
taken at 20 meters depth during both
day and night. Few fish were caught below 40 meters. A highlight of the collections
was the capture of a large ocean perch (29 cm.) during the night at a depth of 40
meters over waters of 110 fathoms. There are few records of adult ocean perch
taken at mid-depths, and little is known of the diurnal, vertical migration.

i:

North Pacific Exploratory Fishery Program

TRIALS OF NEW ELECTRICAL DEPTH-TELEMETER FOR MIDWATER
TRAWLS SU SUCCESSFUL (M/V John N. Cobb Cruise 31): Successful trials with a
new electrical depth-telemeter for midwater trawls highlighted this Cruise of the
Service's exploratory fishing vessel John N. Cobb. The vessel returned to Seattle

Fig, 1 - New electricai telemeter located ahead of Fig, 2 - View of meter measuring electrical resist-
trawl door. Telemeter housing contains pressure ance gradient for conversion to depth readings.
gage which converts water pressure to electrical Meter is mounted below regular depth-sounder in
resistance, Trawl door is new type constructed of pilot house of John N. Cobb.
aluminum and designed for use in midwater or bot- eae a
tom trawling. on June 21 after completing almost two

months of midwater trawling experiments off the coasts of Washington and British
Columbia.

During the last three weeks of the cruise, the acoustic depth-telemeter was re-
placed by the new electrical device, which operated accurately after several minor

36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

failures were remedied. The electrical telemeter, about the size of a baseball, was
attached just ahead of one of the trawl doors. Accurate depth of the gear was deter-
mined continuously by a gage converting water pressure to electrical resistance.
The resistance gradient was transmitted to the vessel through an electrical-conduc-
tor- core trawl cable. A meter mounted in the wheelhouse next to the echo-sounders
and ''Sea Scanar"' converted the electrical-resistance to depth readings. It was thus
possible to keep the net at any desired depth by varying the speed of the vessel and
adjusting the length of cable.

In general, during the entire cruise few schools of fish were located in mid-
water and catches were small. A total of 37 tows was made with the midwater trawl
on depth-sounder indications. Hake, herring, dogfish, smelt, rockfish, turbot, and
several other species were caught in varying amounts. The largest catch of herring
was 500 pounds. On many tows large numbers of euphausiids were caught in the ny-
lon twine of the 64-foot square trawl.

One large school of hake was located near the bottom in 48 fathoms. A 22-
minute tow, during which the trawl was near or touching the bottom part of the time,
caught an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of hake. The trawl burst open at the
surface, and all the hake were lost except 1,000 pounds landed on the first split.

A new pair of aluminum trawl doors, designed to be fished either in midwater
or on bottom, was also used successfully for the first time on the John N. Cobb.
The doors were patterned after those recently developed at the Nanaimo Biological

Station of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada.
Note: See Commercial Fisheries Review, June (1957) p. 30.

3K OK ok ok

HERRING EXPLORATIONS IN OF FSHORE WATERS OF ALASKA UNDER nes
exploratory fishing vessel John N.
Cobb. The vessel left Seattle on
July 15 (cruise 33). Explorations
will extend for a seven-week peri-
od and the vessel was expected
back in Seattle on August 30.

Although a commercial herring
fishery has existed in Alaska for 50
years, the catch has been taken en-
tirely in bays and inlets with occa-
sional fishing a few miles off the coast
incertainareas. Fishing vessels
crossing the Gulf of Alaska at times
have reported seeing schools of her-
ring in the openocean, but more in-
formation is needed on the existence,
abundance, andavailability of off-
shoreherring stocks. It is impor-
tant to know to what extent the in-
shore herring migrate offshore, and
also to determine if there are stocks
of offshore herring and what contri-

The Service's exploratory fishing vessel John N. Cobb. ee they may make to the inshore
aE Te isheries.

The John N. Cobb was expected to explore the waters off Baranof Island in
southeastern Alaska and work up to Prince William Sound. A series of zigzag

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 37

courses were to be run out to a minimum distance of 50 miles offshore, with at

least one tract line extending out to the middle of the Gulf of Alaska. A ''Sea Scanar"
was to be used to assist in locating herring schools. Midwater trawls and gill nets
were to be the principal types of gear employed for catching herring. Detailed re-
cords were to be kept of the location, numbers, size, composition, movements, and
availability of all herring schools located offshore.

The offshore explorations were to be closely coordinated with the inshore her-
ring research program administered by the Service's Marine Fisheries Investiga-

tions in Juneau.

Oregon

TAGGED ALBACORE CAUGHT BY JAPANESE: A 20-pound albacore tuna that
had been “branded” with a tubular plastic spaghetti type tag on August 11, 1956, a-
bout 300 miles off the Oregon coast by Fish Commission of Oregon biologists was
reported caught by a Japanese vessel. On June 3, 1957, the tagged albacore was
caught by a Japanese vessel off the coast of Japan. During the ten months the fish
was at liberty, it had doubled its weight, the Commission announced in July.

The Commission research director said the albacore tag recovery further sub-
stantiates the theory that albacore caught sporadically in Oregon waters during
late summer are destined for Asiatic waters. California biologists have reported
similar recoveries of albacore tagged off southern California.

OK OK KOK

SOFT -SHELL CLAMS TRANSPLANTED: Approximately 9,000 soft-shell clams
have been planted in the tide flats of the Siuslaw River by the Fish Commission of
Oregon. The clams began their sedentary lives 150 miles up the Oregon coast in
Nehalem Bay, a July news release from the Commission
points out.

The clam transplant is being made by the Commis-
sion in an attempt to restore the former high production
of soft-shell clams in the Siuslaw area. In all, about NES
2,000 pounds (15,000 clams) will be "'planted.'' Close to —<———
1,300 pounds were transferred in late June. Soft-shell Clam

At the Siuslaw planting site, the seeding area was staked off and clams were
set out in rows, not unlike potato planting. Holes were made with a makeshift plant-
ing tool. Each clam then had to be hand-planted and covered with tide-flat muck.
The clam transplanting is being accomplished by a crew of four biologists. Seed
stock is purchased at the going market price from a commercial digger at Nehalem
Bay.

Such transplanting has been successful on the East Coast. Encouragement of
success is gained from the fact that all soft-shell clams on the West Coast are be-
lieved to be the result of early-day transplants from the Atlantic seaboard.

"We do know that the abundance of clams in Siuslaw Bay has been at a low
level since 1953,"" says a State biologist. "If overdigging was a major factor in the
decline, introduction of more spawning stock may be the answer."

But, there is a good possibility that the environment for clams has changed in
the Siuslaw River. If this is the case, the biologist is pessimistic about benefits
from seed stocking the area until original conditions are restored.

38

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 19, No. 9

The Siuslaw River east of U. S. 101 has been closed to all clam digging and will
remain so until at least October 1, 1959, to protect the new seed stock. Biologists
will make periodic checks of the area during the next two years to see how the planted

clams are progressing.

W

Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations

were centered around three large programs.

The first was a descriptive survey

designed to ascertain the tuna resources, especially skipjack, of the southeastern

Pacific.

will be used to plan the final year's field work during fiscal year 1958.

The results of the first cruises, centering around the Marquesas Islands,

The second

major area of operations centered around the skipjack population in the Hawaiian

waters.
study of oceanic skipjack in general.

Here, the Hawaiian fishery is being used as a laboratory situation for the
Most of the effort during the year revolved

around understanding the nature of the population of skipjack and completion of field
work designed to show whether fluctuations in the fishery can be rationalized on the

basis of changes in the environment.

The third major subdivision, albacore research,

was focused on the newly discovered mid-ocean resource lying between Hawaii and
Alaska, and the development of an elaborate survey program off the Pacific coast

during the summer of 1957.

In addition, a number of important studies were con-
ducted independently of the major programs.

These projects, aligned by discipline,

such as tuna larva studies, are designed to produce results applicable to tuna in

general and so are treated separately.

Finally, an approach new to POFI, the study of tuna behavior, was started ina
small way by devising a system that permits direct observation of tuna behavior
during chumming. This opens the way to development of an intensive research
program in this field, a field that holds great promise of contributing directly to

raising the efficiency of tuna fishing.

Equatorial Tuna Program: The year marked
a drastic curtailment of the equatorial program in
the vicinity of the Line Islands. Emphasis was
shifted to begin evaluation of the tuna resources of
northeastern French Oceania, with concurrent
broad-scale oceanographic coverage of that area.

Multiple-vessel surveys were conducted dur-
ing August-September 1956, and January-March
1957; the southern hemisphere winter and summer,
respectively. Times of the cruises were selected
to afford the greatest contrast of environmental
conditions, and of tuna availability.

Preliminary results of these cruises reveal
the following:

1. Inthe immediate vicinity of the Marquesas
Islands, skipjack tuna were very abundant during
the summer. Approximately three times more
schools were seen during the summer than winter.

2. During the times of the surveys, surface
schools of skipjack greatly outnumbered surface
schools of yellowfin tuna in the Marquesas area.

3. There are supplies of live bait (Marquesan
sardines) in the bays of the Marquesas adequate
for a fishery of limited size.

4. Catches of deep-swimming tuna in the
Marquesas area also indicated that their availa-

bility was about 3 times greater during the sum-
mer.

5. Surprisingly, one index of the productivity
of the area, the volumes of zooplankton from the
surface to 200 meters, indicates a picture con-
trary to general expectations: the volumes ob-
tained in the general area of the Marquesas were
about twice as large during the winter as summer.
To the east of the Marquesas, longitude 130° W.,
volumes were about equal, winter and summer.
South of the area (south of 18° S.) is what appears
to be an extremely unproductive area with volumes
from the 0- to 200-meter tows less than 10 cubic
centimeters per 1,000 cubic meters, both summer
and winter.

6. Another index of productivity, the concen-
tration of inorganic phosphate at the surface, con-
firms the picture derived from the study of zoo-
plankton volumes. In the whole broad area cover-
ed these values were appreciably lower during the
southern hemisphere summer than winter. It is
probably significant that the variability of inorganic
phosphate concentration was much greater during
the winter, especially around the Marquesas-
Tuamotus area. This may be indicative of the
role these land masses play in bringing enriched
water into the euphotic zone.

7. Water flow at the surface through the Mar-
quesas and Tuamotus was a large clockwise eddy.

September 1957

Variability and significance of this feature is not
yet fully known.

The August-September cruises also represent-
ed POFI's participation in Operation EQUAPAC,
which was a quasi-synoptic oceanographic survey
of the entire centraland western equatorial Pacific.
EQUAPAC was conducted by 11 oceanographic ves-
sels of Japan, the United States, and France, in-
cluding 2 POFI vessels.

POFI's contribution to the International Geo-
physical Year (IGY) began on June 21-23, 1957 with
the preliminary occupation of an oceanographic sta-
tion offshore from Oahu. The plan is to occupy
this station once every month during the 18-month
period of the IGY. This station involves the de-
termination of density conditions between the sur-
face and 300 meters at the time of high and low
tides on the day of each station. Biological obser-
vations include the rate of carbon fixation as de-
termined with the C14 isotope, and the standing
crop of zooplankton.

Mid-Ocean Skipjack Program: THE FISHERY:
The commercial fishery had a slightly better than
average year in terms of total pounds landed. Be-
tween January 1 and December 31, 1956, 11,132,222
pounds of skipjack (aku) were landed in the Ter-
ritory of Hawaii. Since 1948, there have been only
3 years (1951, 1953, 1954) in which more skipjack
were caught. Estimated landings for January 1 to
June 30, 1957, are considerably lower than last
year, or even 1952, the poorest of the past 9 years.
Further, "season" skipjack(18- to 22-pound fish)
have not appeared in quantity in Hawaiian waters
so far in 1957

Existing catch records show us only the weight
of skipjack landed, the area in which the catch was
made, and the value of the catch. As a means of
obtaining more information concerning the skipjack
fishery, log books were placed aboard 5 sampans.
In these log books the fishermen record all schools
sighted, whether fished or not, and estimates of the
fish and school size. Two bits of information may
be gained from these records: (1) the proportion of
schools fished, and (2) an estimate of the number of
schools of small skipjack. The latter is especial-
ly important because there is considerable selec-
tion by the fishermen as to the size of skipjack
caught. These books have been on the sampans
six months and a preliminary examination shows
we are getting most of the desired information.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: The collection
of environmental data in the area of the fishery
adjacent to Oahu has continued. During F.Y. 1957
two comprehensive surveys and a number of mon-
itoring surveys by POFI and the Territory of Ha-
waii Division of Fish and Game were completed.
We now have observations covering a 20-month
period and can discern differences in the environ-
ment between two skipjack seasons. During the
1956 skipjack season (May-September) mean tem-
peratures off windward Oahu were 19-20 F. cold-
er than off leeward Oahu. Salinities were 0.11 °/o0-
0.28 °/oo higher in the windward than in the lee-
ward areas. During the off-season, temperature
and salinity on the two sides of Oahu were very
similar. The time at which the divergences in
temperature and salinity occurred was also the
time at which the 1956 skipjack landings increased
sharply. During the early 1957 season, there have
been no such divergences in temperature and sal-

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

39

inity, and the skipjack landings have been low, with
small landings of ''seasonaku''(18- to 22-pound fish).
There is thus a strong indication that the appear-
ance of "season" skipjack in 1956 was causally as-
sociated with a change in the environment.

COOPERATIVE TEMPERATURE AND SALIN-
ITY SAMPLING PROGRAM: During February and
March 1957, the collection of sea surface water
temperatures and salinity samples was begun
at the following locations by the agencies indicated:
(1) Ocean Weather Station Victor at 34° N. latitude,
164° E. longitude (U. S. Weather Bureau); (2) Mid-
way Island (U. S, Navy); (3) French Frigate Shoals
(U. S. Coast Guard); (4) Upolu Point, Hawaii (U.S.
Coast Guard); (5) Johnston Island (U. S. Air Force);
and (6) Wake Island (U. S. Weather Bureau). Ob-
servations and collections made at these points
should enable us to anticipate changes in the general
circulatory pattern of the waters which bathe the
Hawaiian Islands, and the results should eventually
permit long-range prediction of mid-ocean skipjack.

In addition to the new sampling sites listed, ob-
servations were continued near Koko Head, Oahu.
Temperatures at this site were 0.59-2.0° F. cold-
er in 1957 than in 1956 during February to June.

In June 1957, water temperatures were higher than
in June 1956. Salinities between February and
June were from 0.0 °/00-0.5 °/oo higher in 1957
than in 1956. This is a further indication, in addi-
tion to data from the monitoring surveys, that there
is a distinct difference in environmental conditions
between 1956 and 1957.

TAGGING: During June of 1956 new all-plastic
dart tags were placed on a small number of skip-
jack. In October one of these tags was recovered.
Encouraged by this relative success, the tag was
modified and in April-May 1957, 1,978 skipjack
were tagged with the D-2 dart tag, and released in
Hawaiian waters. As of June 30, 1957, we have re-
covered 9 of these tags. This is a slightly better
rate of recovery than that observed in previous
years using the spaghetti-type tag.

Previous tagging had not shown movement of
the skipjack from one island to another. Skipjack
tagged this year moved from Oahu to Kauai, and
Molokai to Hawaii. Each year of tagging has added
to our knowledge of tag construction and growth and
migrations of skipjack, but we encounter puzzling
situations which we suspect may be related to these
Same migrations. Why do we get several recoveries
of skipjack released in one school and none from
skipjack released in many other schools?

During the period of skipjack tagging, the stom-
achs of large tuna and marlin were examined at one
Honolulu auction market. This was done to find out
whether or not there was a loss of tagged fish due
to predation. Seven skipjack were found in 176
stomachs and none were tagged fish. Of the seven,
3 were about one pound and 4 were 3-5 pounds in
weight. These results show no evidence of preda-
tion on tagged skipjack.

Special Studies: LARVAL TUNA: Drawings of
larval Auxis and Euthynnus and a rough draft of the
species descriptions were completed. All speci-
mens were sorted by area of capture, and work was
started on a world-wide distributional study. In
general terms, the larvae of Euthynnus lineatus
are quite distinctive from those of E. yaito and E.

alletteratus, but the latter two are not easily sep-

40

arable from each other. So far as known, there
are at least two species of Auxis, only one of which
occurs in the Atlantic, but both species occur to-
gether in various parts of the Pacific. Two types
of Auxis larvae were found in all oceans but these
become indistinguishable at a certain size. In ad-
dition, larval Scomber japonicus were identified,
reducing the number of unknowns by one.

An effort was made to develop more efficient
means of sampling larvae in the field.

TUNA FORAGE ORGANISMS: The 53 mid-
water trawl collections obtained on the EASTROPIC
expedition and about half the collections made on
EQUAPAC were analyzed in the laboratory. An
initial examination of the EASTROPIC data showed
a peaking in volume of forage organisms in the
region of convergence and the southern boundary
of the Countercurrent, between 3° N. and 6° N.
latitude and about 300 miles north of the peak in
zooplankton abundance. Longitudinally the largest
catches occurred in the central region between -
125° W. and 1459 W. These results, after further
study and analysis, should increase our under-
standing of both the time and space aspects of
trophic succession from basic productivity to the
tunas.

FOOD OF SKIPJACK: This study has produced
several results of interest.

1. By volume, 703 skipjack were found to have
eaten 73 percent fish, 22 percent molluscs, and 4
percent crustaceans, Molluscs, particularly the
squid, were much less important in the food of
skipjack than in the food of yellowfin and big-eyed.
In all 3 species of tuna, fish formed a high percent-
age by volume--60 to 75 percent.

2. In respect to composition of the food, the
main fish families represented in the food of skip-
jack were Thunnidae, Carangidae, Molidae, and
Gempylidae; of yellowfin: Bramidae, Gempylidae,
Thunnidae, and Sudidae; and of big-eyed: Gempy-
lidae, Bramidae, and Sudidae, in order of impor-
tance. Larval or juvenile skipjack composed 8
percent of the food of skipjack. Juvenile tunas
were also prominent in the food of yellowfin but
scarce in big-eyed.

3. The average volume per stomach increased
from 15.5 cc. for skipjack of less than 60 cm. to
27.4 cc. for skipjackover 60cm. Withanincrease
in size, the feeding shifted from crab larvae to the
more pelagic amphipods and euphausiids, and from
chaetodonts, acanthurids, and synodonts to Decap-
terus, molids, and gempylids, the latter being the
more oceanic in distribution.

4. There was no definite trend in respect to
distance from land when captured from land and
average volume per stomach, but there was a shift
in composition with littoral forms being replaced
by more pelagic forms in an offshore direction.

5. Differences associated with method of fish-
ing were apparently most closely related to the
distance from land of the place of capture and also
to the depth of fishing. For example, the frequency
of occurrence of fish dropped from 89 percent for
surface-caught skipjack to 33 percent for subsur-
face- (long-line) caught skipjack. Molluscs (mostly
squid) increased from 9 percent for the surface to

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Wo, 18), IN@. ¥)

59 percent for subsurface-caught fish, and Crus-
tacea were less plentiful at the subsurface level.

6. Judging by the volume of food remains, the
highest rate of feeding in skipjack tcok place just
before noon and again in the late afternoon. The
lowest rate was during early morning and early
afternoon. The highest percentage of squid was
found in the early morning and late afternoon hours,
These data upon further analysis may contribute
information on feeding depth and vertical migration.

VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION
OF ZOOPLANKTON: Laboratory measurements
on approximately 450 zooplankton samples collect-
ed on the EASTROPIC expedition were completed.
Although the results have not as yet been thorough-
ly studied the following points were evident:

1. The day-night variation was only of impor-
tance in hauls that sampled near the surface, and
it was evident that the great bulk of the plankton
occurred in the upper 60 meters.

2. The effects of enrichment from such fea-
tures as the equatorial upwelling and the shallow
thermocline along the northern boundary of the
Countercurrent were more pronounced in shallow
hauls than in deep hauls, and in night hauls than in
day hauls.

3. Within the divergent and convergent zones
(15° S. to 5° N. latitude) the abundance of zooplank-
ton decreased from east to west varying directly
with the drop in winds and the degree of upwelling,
but inversely with thermocline depth.

4. Within the South Equatorial Current between
13° S, and 8° S., there was an increase in abun-
dance from east to west, thus discounting the im-
portance of the Peru Current as a factor contrib-
uting to the enrichment of these latitudes in the
central Pacific.

TILAPIA CULTURE: In the spring of 1956,
the Hawaiian Tuna Packers, Ltd., and the Pacific
Oceanic Fishery Investigations joined forces in an
informal agreement for the purpose of seining sup-
plies of small bait-size tilapia and testing these
fish at sea to determine their qualities as skipjack
bait. Seven full-day and 2 half-day seining expedi-
tions yielded 630 pounds of small tilapia. These
were obtained principally from fresh-water ponds
and therefore had to be acclimatized to sea water
before the sea tests.

The effective use of tilapiaas skipjack bait was
examined on 14 vessel days at sea in waters off
Oahu. It was the prime objective of these tests to
compare the ability of nehu (the standard bait) and
tilapia in attracting and holding schools of skipjack
at the stern of the vessel. A summary of the re-
sults shows that 21 (56 percent) of the 37 schools
first chummed with nehu surfaced and responded
to the bait, also that 10 (56 percent) of the 18 schools
first chummed with tilapia gave a favorable re-
sponse to the bait.

Skipjack were caught from 9 schools at the rate
of 3.5 fish per minute and 12.2 fish per bucket of
tilapia used. This is not as good as the catch rate
of 4.8 skipjack per minute and 15.3 per bucket of
bait obtained with nehu from 23 schools, but there
is every reason to believe that with experience

September 1957

chummers will learn to use the new bait more ef-
fectively.

It is our conclusion that tilapia is an adequate
bait for catching skipjack. In some respects it
may be slightly inferior to nehu, but it has several
compensating qualities. It is an exceedingly hardy
fish and can survive in bait tanks for much longer
periods than the nehu. The larger tilapia tend to
sound when thrown out as chum, but this trait is
not prevalent in fish 13" to 2"' in length, which is
the optimum size for skipjack bait. Our studies
indicate that if economically-feasible rearing meth-
ods can be developed, the tilapia can alleviate the
great need in the Hawaiian skipjack fishery for ad-
ditional bait supplies.

Our experiences during the past summer have
shown that the culture of tilapia in "natural" ponds
or reservoirs is not a very efficient way of rear-
ing the fish. Such ponds do not provide enough
natural food for the fish, extra feeding is necessary,
cannibalism is a major problem, and it is not easy
to remove the fish. Sorting the bait-size fish from
the large fish is also a problem.

In October 1956, we constructed 3 redwood
tanks on the laboratory grounds to determine if a
hatchery-type operation would be biologically and
economically feasible in rearing tilapia as bait.
From December 20, 1956, when production of young
fish started, until June 30, 1957, 126 adult females
produced about 77,000 fry. We have experienced
a fairly high mortality among the young fish due to
cannibalism and probably to low. oxygen concentra-
tions; both of these factors will be reduced in im-
portance by the improved and enlarged fry-rearing
facilities which are presently being constructed.

The practicality of rearing tilapia as bait in
the presently available fish ponds and reservoirs
is receiving further study this summer. In Febru-
ary and March 1957, 8,749 adult tilapia in two ponds,
one a natural brackish-water pond and the other an
artificial, fresh-water reservoir, were marked by
fin-clipping. Seining will be carried out at inter-
vals during the summer to determine the produc-
tion of young and to obtain estimates of the total
adult population in each pond.

In December 1956, POFI instigated the forma-
tion of a "Bait Fish Research Coordinating Com-
mittee.'' Membership on the Committee includes
representatives from POF, the fishing industry,
the University of Hawaii, and the Territorial Divi-
sion of Fish and Game. The purpose, of course,
is to coordinate the activities of the various groups
here in the Territory that are working on different
phases of the general bait-fish problem and to keep
members informed on what the other agencies are
doing.

Miscellaneous Research: "SEA SCANAR:"

In the first quarter of the fiscal year the ''Sea Scan-;

ar" was put through a series of experiments and
sea trials. Under ideal sea conditions good returns

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

41

were received from manufactured triplane targets
at a maximum distance of 2,180 ft., a single dead
skipjack at 1,070 ft., and a single dead herring at
470 ft. Records of aggregations of skipjack, dolphin
(Coryphaena), porpoise, and blackfish were obtain-
ed. Returns from an albacore school were record-
ed in the second quarter. Failure of the instrument
precluded further use for the rest of the year.

HAWAIIAN LONG-LINE FISHERY: Big-eyed
and yellowfin data from the Hawaiian long-line fish-
ery for the period 1948-1956 were analyzed anda
draft of the manuscript completed. The results
show that the increase in big-eyed landings and the
decline in yellowfin landings during this period were
associated with the differential availability of these
two species in the windward and lee areas and also
with shift in fishing area by the larger vessels from
the lee of the northern islands to the windward wa-
ters of the southern islands.

Big-eyed were more available in the windward
areas than in the lee, while the reverse was true
with the yellowfin which were more available in the
lee areas.

The larger vessels showed an annual increase
of effort expended in the windward areas of the
southern islands from a low of 22 percent of the
total trips made during 1948-1949 to a high of 88
percent during 1953-54.

INTRODUCTION OF MARQUESAN SARDINE:
Approximately 175 pounds of Marquesan sardine
(Harengula vittata) were released near shore on
Oahu. These were in two lots; the first contain-
ing 2,500 individuals was released in Hanauma
Bay, Oahu, on September 26, 1956, and the second
of about 12,000 individuals was released in Pokai
Bay, Oahu, on March 22, 1957. Eight individuals
have been recovered by tuna bait fishermen, the
last on June 4, 1957. To date there is no evidence
the species has been established in Hawaiian wa-
ters.

Contract Research (University of Hawaii):
TUNA VISION: A report on the histology of the
retina of small and large skipjack has been received.
The retina in both instances appear to differ little
from a general vertebrate eye.

GREEN TUNA: This work is in its closing
phases, There now appears: to be a well-established
relation between "greening" and the presence of
fat peroxide. There is some evidence that a green
pigment may actually exist in "green" tuna.

ELECTROFISHING: Some experiments looking
towards controlling the field and pulsing with an
amplidyne were completed. However, essentially
the project has not advanced significantly during
the past year. It is anticipated that direct Univer-
sity of Hawaii participation in this work will cease
when a final report is submitted. The contract
ended in August 1956.

OR Ok

NORTH PACIFIC ALBACORE INVESTIGATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1957: The
third year (July 1, 1956-June 30, 1957) of albacore tuna investigations in the North
Pacific under the ‘Saltonstall- Kennedy Act has been completed. The keynote of these

42 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

investigations has been the coordination of efforts with those of other interested
government agencies through the Albacore Steering Committee of the Pacific Ma-
rine Fisheries Commission. This committee has been particularly effective in
facilitating integration of field work and in making most efficient use of the avail-

able vessels and personnel.

Distribution: Studies were primarily oriented
toward (1) mapping the early summer distribution
of albacore; (2) further defining the concentrations
of albacore lying in a band between Hawaii and the
Aleutians during the summer; and (3) surveying
the fall distribution of albacore from approximate-
ly 1450 W. eastward to the Pacific Coast. Pri-
mary emphasis during the year was given to gill-
netting and surface trolling, both of which have
been shown to effectively catch albacore.

During the summer the research vessel JohnR.
Manning took albacore in a narrow zone between

The Service's research vessel John R, Manning.

1750 W. and 14509 W. East of 145° W. the John N.
Cobb conducted surveys from there to the coast,
capturing widely scattered albacore. As is well
known by now, commercial fishermen following up
these catches, and in part guided by the successful
fishing of the John R. Manning off the coast during
the summer of 1955, moved offshore and located

GILL-NET CATCH
(No. af Albacore)

The results of the survey by the John R. Manning
between Hawaiiand Alaska are summarized in figure
1. The vessel took large numbers of albacore from
the most western leg of her survey (175° W.) by gill
net and trolling. The region of high abundance ex-
tended as far east as 1609 W. longitude.
From this point to 145° W. longitude, a-
bundance progressively decreased. Dur-
ing the first part of the survey along
175° W., albacore were most abundant between
41° N. and 46° N., with centers of abundance a-
round 43° N. and 45° N. The second portion of
the survey, the eastward trolling and gill-net leg,
yielded relatively abundant catches somewhat far-
ther north.

The John R. Manning caught a total of 602 fish,
representing approximately 4.5 tons of albacore.
Of these, 451 were taken in gill nets, 104 on troll
lines, and 47 in trammel nets. The fish ranged in
weight from 7 pounds to 30 pounds. Particularly
noteworthy is the large catch by gill net, despite
the fact that the 12 shackles were not all of suit-
able mesh size for optimum catch. High catches
such as these, made on small amounts of gear,
suggest that there are commercial possibilities in
this area. These possibilities are enhanced by the
proximity of Aleutian bases for logistic support and
the fact that the area is readily available to halibut
fishermen who have experience with fishing condi-
tions in this general area.

Despite the fact that trolling was conducted
from dawn to dusk of each day, it produced fewer
albacore than gill-netting. However, the catches
in general verified the centers of abundance as re-
vealed by the gill nets.

It is believed that the success during this sum-
mer cruise was at least in part the result of an ex-
ceedingly shallow thermocline in this region. Dur-
ing some days the layer of warm surface water in
which the albacore live was so shallow that the
ship's propeller brought up the deeper, colder

Fig, 1 - Summer albacore survey(Cruise 32, July 17-September 12, 1956) by John R, Manning, research vessel of the Service’s Pacific Oceanic Fishery In-

Investigations; a total of 602 fish were caught,

albacore in commercial quantities.
veloped the first sizable albacore landings off the
Oregon coast in several years.

Thus there de-

water. Under such environmental conditions we
suspect that the albacore are restricted to a thin
surface layer of water andare particularly vulnerable

September 1957

to gill nets. Some of the evidence for this belief
lies in the observation that following a storm,
which deepened the thermocline, the gill-net catches
dropped off. Later, during the fall surveys, when
the thermocline was about 200 feet below the sur-
face, the gill net did not catch appreciable num-
bers of albacore.

The fall surveys by the John R. Manning and
Charles H. Gilbert were designed to describe the
distribution of albacore between Hawaii and the
United States west coast (fig. 2) at a time when the
coastal fishery was diminishing. Trolling was
conducted throughout both cruises. Whenever

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

43

Analysis of data collected since the start of
the program in 1954 has enabled the postulation of
a general hypothesis concerning the migration of
albacore in the North Pacific. In the spring, these
fish perform a rapid and purposeful migration
from mid-ocean to the coast of California. During
the summer, the migration continues with the route
gradually shifting to the north. At the same time
the albacore now in the coastal waters also tend to
move northward following optimum temperature
conditions. Toward late summer the migration

toward the coast ceases and there is a gap in the
oceanic distribution from about 140° W. to 160° W.
longitude at about 45° N. latitude. This gap coin-

Fig. 2 - Fall albacore surveys by John R, Manning and Charles H, Gilbert.

weather permitted, gill nets were set at night. If
the weather was too bad for gill-netting, the ves-
sels either jogged or reduced their speed at night
to avoid large gaps in the trolling coverage.

Albacore were taken in significant numbers
over a wide area extending from the western bor-
der of the survey to the west coast a few miles
north of San Francisco. The results are particu~

larly gratifying because the distribution of albacore

can be rather logically associated with the distri-
bution of environmental properties. All catches
were made in an area with well-defined limits. To
the north and east catches were confined by the
57° F. surface isotherm. The southern limit was
the northern boundary of the barren, blue, central,
northeastern Pacific water as indicated on the
chart. This boundary could be readily determined
from the bathythermograph sections and also from
the clafity of the water.

In the barren central water the color was an
intense blue, and the Secchi disc could be seen to
a depth of 18 fathoms. In the more productive
transition zone where albacore were caught the
transparency as measured by the Secchi disc was
reduced to 10 or 12 fathoms and the color became
blue-green. In the coastal water, which did not
contain albacore, the Secchi disc could be seen
only to depths of 7 to 9 fathoms and the color was
green.

The fall distribution of albacore, extending
from the coast to well offshore in a fairly continu-
ous band, suggests that a migration away from the
coast is taking place and that it is a gradual ex-
odus rather than a rapid, purposeful migration as
may have occurred when the albacore were ap-
proaching the coast in the spring.

cides in time with the formation of the well-devel-
oped thermocline in the central North Pacific and
the associated high concentrations of surface alba-
core as shown in figure 1. In the eastern North

Fig. 3 - Northeastern Pacific albacore survey.

Pacific the albacore are scattered along the entire
west coast of the United States. During the fall
they undertake a gradual westerly movement away
from the coast bridging the gap (fig. 2) and ulti-
mately appearing in the Japanese winter fishery.

44

This hypothesis is partly confirmed from tagging
results.

In the future field studies will be largely in
the areas which have shown commercial promise.
Surveys will be continued to ascertain the migra-
tion routes into these areas and the oceanographic
and biological parameters which govern these
movements. Within the areas emphasis will be
on the microdistribution and ecology of the alba-
core.

The Northeastern Pacific Albacore Survey
(NEPAS), a concentrated survey of the waters off
the northern California, Oregon, and Washington
during the current summer marks the beginning
of such studies. The John R. Manning has al-

ready begun a survey of the offshore waters and
| KC
M el

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Wo, Us NOY)

of Japan and one was recovered in California coast-
al waters. The recoveries give considerable sup-
port to the contention that there is only one alba-
core population in the North Pacific. In particu-
lar, note the two recoveries from fish tagged in
1955. Although they were released within a few
miles of each other, one was recaptured by a Jap-
anese live-bait vessel about a thousand miles off
Japan on June 24, 1956, and another was recovered
off Baja California on August 1, 1956. The two
recoveries were made about 5 weeks apart; the
distance between the points of recovery is about
4,350 miles. These returns may not seem to be
strictly in accord with our hypothesis of migra-
tion but their interpretation depends on an unknown
factor--their movements in the interval between
tagging and recovery.

Pas

POF! — JAPANESE

COOPERATIVE TAGGING

Legend:
$§%-NUMBER OF ALBACORE TAGGED IN AREA.

@ -LOCALITY OF RELEASE.
A -LOCALITY OF RECAPTURE.

160° 170° 1go°

140° 130°

Fig. 4 - Albacore tagging.

was joined by the Hugh M. Smith on July 1, 1957.
In addition nine commercial vessels were utilized’
in late July and early August to make a concen-
trated fishing survey of a band approximately 350
miles wide off the coast between Point Arguello,
Calif., and Grays Harbor, Wash. During this
phase of the survey the two research vessels will

UOT me er Us | ce en seems FT oes aT se al
LEGEND:
©- CALIFORNIA FISH & GAME RECOVERIES. 54

100 O- POF! RECOVERIES.

| 3

sof. & 6 MONTHS

2 =o So)

= & MONTHS 32 ont

Si Mecsni ee

x 80 |

=

©

a

= 70 15 ont?® 164 al

9%

60 Lee J

103 )
Tene Se Serre

FEB JUN
Fig. 5 - Albacore growth.
patrol the area collecting detailed oceanographic
and biological data to attempt to determine the con-
ditions which govern the occurrence and movement
of the albacore.

Tagging: Four albacore tag recoveries have
been reported, all of them rather long-term, the
period of release ranging from 259 to 471 days.

As shown in figure 4, all four fish were tagged
in mid-ocean; three were recovered off the coast

In line with the policy of attempting to tag
albacore over the entire North Pacific, POFI sent
two biologists to Japan to conduct tagging and to
instruct Japanese technicians in tagging methods.
The Japanese showed great interest in this work,
and with their help we were able to tag 270 alba-
core in the area indicated in figure 4. Asa re-
sult of this motivation the Japanese have initiated
a tagging program in their 1957 albacore live bait
fishery with a goal of 1,500 releases. However, we
have no data on the success of this program tojdate.

Spawning and Maturity: Examination of all
ovary samples collected in the north and equatorial
Pacific has been completed. There is no evidence
of albacore spawning in the temperate waters in
which the Japanese coastal and American coastal
fisheries are conducted or in the temperate waters
north of Hawaii. In these three areas all the fish
taken have been either sexually immature or, in
the case of the larger winter-caught fish, there is
no evidence of ovary development.

Good evidence has been found of albacore spawn-
ing in the subtropical Hawaiian waters and those to
the south of the equator. In these areas the small,
immature albacore so typical of the temperate wa-
ters have not been found.

From the above it is hypothesized that alba-
core are spawned in subtropical or tropical waters.
During their second year of life they migrate to
feeding grounds in temperate waters where they
remain for two or more years. Following this

September 1957

they return to the tropics to spawn. Thus an ade-
quate understanding of the albacore fisheries may
involve studies of the albacore population and its
environment which encompasses the waters of the
Pacific Ocean extending from 50° N. to well south
of the equator.

Analysis of the landing records from the tuna
cannery in American Samoa shows considerable
albacore are now landed each month from the area
ranging from the equator south to 28° S. latitude
between longituces 160° W. and 189° These land-
ings offer an opportunity to determine whether or
not and at what season they spawn in this area and
arrangements are being made to get a sampling
program under way in Samoa.

Age and Growth: Albacore growth studies
based on hard parts have forced us to conclude
that it is not possible to age albacore from their
scales or their bones for the following reasons:

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

45

conducted as a part of the albacore program. They

“should be of general interest to fishermen and re-

search workers in the North Pacific. The opera-
tional analysis of the winds was completed and a
pilot study was made to determine the feasibility
of preparing synoptic charts of the sea surface
temperature from the data contained in ship's
weather reports.

The wind analysis was prepared, with the op-
erational requirements of a small research ship
or fishing vessel in mind, from unpublished data
obtained from the U. S. Weather Bureau. The aim
was to show the expectation of suitable fishing weath-
er in the North Pacific in all areas and months of
the year. Sample contour charts for January and
July showing the percentage of wind observations
of 20 knots or less are illustrated in figure 6.

As an example of their use, it may be deter-
mined from the July chart that, in the area from

Fig. 6 - Frequency of fishing weather.

(1) the rings found on the scales and bones cannot
be counted with reasonable consistency; (2) the in-
crements that are noted do not appear to give either
a reasonable or a consistent pattern of growth;
and finally, (3) the results are not consistent with
growth as evidenced by tag returns.

The best estimate of albacore growth stems
from the tag recoveries. Even this evidence is
not as good as we would like, for there have been
rather few recoveries and there is always the
problem of obtaining reliable measurements at
the time of tagging and recovery. The best re-
sults we have, shown in figure 5, suggest a mod-
erately rapid growth rate. The annual rate of in-
crement for the several fish ranges from 6 to 27
pounds with the average closer to the lower value.
Checking this material against hard parts has
shed no light on the interpretation of the rings on
the vertebrae and scales.

Perhaps one should not expect to be able to
age albacore from the hard parts. They are not
subject to the same extremes of summer and win-
ter conditions as most fish of the north temperate
zone, for they migrate to areas where food is a-
vailable and water temperature is suitable for
growth. Thus, as they seem to spend their life
under fairly uniform conditions, "winter" rings
would not necessarily develop on their scales and
vertebrae.

North Pacific Weather and Climate: Two
studies of North Pacific weather and climate were

145° W. to 175° W. longitude, between 43° N. and
49° N. latitude, suitable fishing weather is present
during 90 percent of the month, i.e., 9 out of every
10 days. The John R. Manning made excellent
gill-net catches in this area during July and August
1956. Her records showed that 109 out of 121, or
90 percent, of the 6-hourly wind observations made
on board were 20 knots or less and also that 23 out
of 26, or 89 percent, of the nights were suitable for
gillnetting, thus illustrating the reliability of the
charts.

The Service's exploratory fishing vessel John N. Cobb.

The quasi-synoptic charts of sea surface tem-
perature are the result of an attempt to utilize

46 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

synoptic weather data for mapping the seasonal aration of accurate and detailed charts such as
and annual changes in oceanographic conditions. | the sample chart (fig. 7) for the Northeastern Pa-

ye |

Fig. 7 - Quasi-snyoptic chart of Northeastern Pacific surface temperature in OF, and deviations from normal in OF. for the April 11-20, 1957 period.

Surface temperature was selected rather than cific April 11-20, 1957 period. This chart is based
other parameters such as windand pressure since on 1,883 individual observations and shows up both
it appeared to give a more direct measure of the ocean wide and local deviations from normal in de-
net effect of climate and weather on the ocean. tail. The chart is confined to the Northeastern Pa-
The intensified program of U. S. Weather Bureau cific since the Japanese are already issuing simi-
during recent years to increase the quality and lar charts for the Northwestern Pacific.

number of ships' reports made possible the prep-

7K OK OK OK Ok

can be found and fished practically all the time, has resulted in record numbers of
releases and recaptures of tagged skipjack this summer, according to the Pacific
Oceanic Fishery Investigations. Between July 3-13 the research vessel Charles lal,
Gilbert released 1,624 specimens of the small striped or skipjack tuna (known lo-
cally as aku) ina small area off Cape Kaea, Lenai, bringing to a total of 3,602 the
number of skipjack tagged in Hawaiian waters this year. The fish are marked with
a barb-pointed plastic tube inserted into the muscles of the back, a method develop-
ed at the Service's Honolulu Laboratory and being used for the first time this year.
The Service biologists expect that recaptures of the tagged fish will clear up the mys-
teries surrounding the skipjack's annual summer migration into the Hawaii area,
where it supports the Territory's most valuable commercial fishery.

Recoveries of the tuna tagged this year have been at a high rate, with 146 fish
returned to date. The majority of these recaptures have been the work of two Maui
Sampans, the Olympic, which has brought in 67 tagged skipjack and the Amberjack,
with 31 tags to its credit. Most of these fish had been at liberty only a short time,
although some had carried their tags for more than two months.

Detailed studies are being made at the Lanai ''skipjack hole" to find out what
features of water temperature, salinity, plankton, or currents, and other conditions
of the environment cause skipjack to congregate and remain more or less perma-
nently resident there, in preference to other nearby spots, of apparently similar
character, where they are rarely found. If the answer to this question can be dis-
covered, it should be of value in determining the whys and wherefores of the pattern
of skipjack occurrence in the open ocean. The site off Cape Kaea is thus a sort of

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 47

natural experimental laboratory, with the great advantage that the experimental ani-
mals, the skipjack, can pretty generally be relied upon to be there when the biolo-
gists want to work with them.

‘

Public Eating Places Fish Utilization

When a customer~--whether he be in the north, south, east, or west--wants shell-
fish, his first choice is shrimp in two out of three of the Nation's public eating places
which serve fish or shellfish, according to a survey by the Bureau of Commercial
Fisheries.

But if he wants fish, and he lives in the northeastern part of the country, his
choice in public eating places will be tuna, flounder, haddock, and halibut in the or-
der named. If he lives in the north-central area, his choice will be ocean perch,
pike, haddock, and catfish; in the south it will be catfish, sea trout, flounder, and
cod; and in the west he will choose halibut, salmon, tuna, and flounder.

The study also indicates that fish or shellfish is the main dish in 17 percent of
all meals served in the 208,100 eating places that serve fish and shellfish. But
there are. still 190,000 of the total 398,000 public eating places which for some rea-
son do not serve fish or shellfish.

Replies to questions on fish portions (uniform servings of fish) to determine
the most popular size of fish serving may be the key to efficient and streamlined
packaging to cut down costs of producing too many different size portions. Also,
supplying fish in proper serving portions may induce some of the 190,000 eating
places that do not serve fish to put this nutritious and profit-making protein food on
their menus.

The purpose of the survey was to secure information which would help the fish-
ing industry improve old markets and develop new ones. Such research is part of
a broad program which the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries is conducting for the
benefit of both the fishing industry and the consumer.

The survey was made by the Bureau of the Census of the Department of Com-
merce for the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. A representative sample of more
than 4,500 public eating places was covered in the study. The work was financed by
funds made available by the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act of 1954 for the improvement of
the domestic fishery.

Note; The findings of the survey have been published in the report Fish and Shellfish Consumption in Public Eating and Drink-
ing Places, Special Scientific Report: Fisheries No, 218 ao a ae Se eer eer aarmel

———
—
~

Tuna
JOINT JAPANESE-AMERICAN CANNED TUNA ADVERTISING MEETING IN

tuna canning industry met in Los Angeles, Calif., on August 15 and 16 to discuss
the possibility of a joint advertising campaign to promote the increased sale of can-
ned tuna in this country. Attendance was by invitation only.

At the request of the domestic tuna canning industry, Donald L. McKernan,
Director of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, presided as chairman during the meetings. In addition to McKernan, the

48 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

Department of the Interior was represented by William Redmond of the Solicitor's
Office, Harry Shooshan of the Technical Review Staff, and Donald Aska of the Bu-
reau of Commercial Fisheries, all of Washington, D. C, The Japanese Consul at
Los Angeles and S. Ross Hatton, a Bureau of Commercial Fisheries representative
stationed at San Pedro, Calif., attended as observers. A representative of the Fed-
eral Trade Commission also was expected to meet with the group.

The following committee was selected by the domestic tuna canners: Charles R.
Carry, Executive Director, California Fish Canners Association, Terminal Island,
Calif.; Ed. L. Morris, Director, Tuna Research Foundation, Terminal Island, Calif.;
M. J. Gorby, California Marine Curing & Packing Company, Terminal Island, Calif.;
Donald P. Loker, Star-Kist Foods, Inc., Terminal Island, Calif.; John McGowan,
Columbia River Packers Assn., Astoria, Ore.; Arthur Mendonca, F. E. Booth
Company, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.; and William Dugan, Van Camp Sea Foods
Company, Terminal Island, Calif.

The Japanese tuna industry was represented by the following: Takechiyo Mat-
suda, President, International Tuna Association of Japan and a member of the Jap-
anese House of Representatives; Tatsuro Kanbe, resident officer in New York of the
International Tuna Association of Japan; Ichiro Miyake, Deputy-Director, National
Frozen Food Export Marine Industry Assn., and also Executive-Director of the Ja-
pan Cold Storage Co.; Yoshihiro Adachi, Managing Director, National Frozen Food
Export Marine Industry Assn.; Hiroto Aramaki, interpreter (resident officer in Los
Angeles of the Taiyo Fisheries Co.); Tomohachi Ueda, Director, Japan Canned Tuna
Export Marine Industry Association, and also President, Shimizu Foodstuff Co.;
Takeo Baba, Managing Director, Japan Canned Tuna Export Marine Industry Associ-
ation; and Fumio Kinoshita, resident officer in New York of the Japan Canned Tuna
Distributing Co.

U.S. Fish Stick Production

APRIL-JUNE 1957: United States production of fish sticks during the second quar-
ter of 1957 totaled 11.4 million pounds, according to the Bureau of Commercial Fish-

Table 1 - U. S. Production of Fish Sticks, April-June 1957

eries of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Compared with the second quarter of
last year, this was an increase of 191,000 pounds or 2 percent.

Production in the Atlantic Coast States made up 84 percent of the total. Inland,
Gulf, and Pacific Coast states accounted for the remaining 16 percent.

Of the total production in the second quarter, 10.1 million pounds, 89 percent,
were cooked and 1.3 million pounds, or 11 percent, were raw fish sticks.

During the first 6 months of 1957, a total of 26.1 million pounds of fish sticks
was produced. Compared with the same period of last year, this was a decline of
1.4 million pounds.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 49

Table 2 - U. S. Production of Fish Sticks by Areas, April-June 1957-56
April-June

Atlantic Coast States
Inland & Gulf States

11,415 11,224

The largest quantity of fish sticks produced during a single month of 1957 occurred
during February with 5.3 million pounds. March followed with 5.1 million pounds.
Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, May 1957 p. 40.

=

U.S. Foreign Trade

EDIBLE FISHERY PRODUCTS, MAY 1957: United States imports of edible
fresh, frozen, and processed fish and d shellfish in May 1957 were lower by 5.1
percent in quantity but 18.6 percent higher in value as compared with the previous

month. Compared United States Foreign Trade in Edible Fishery Products,

with May 1956, the 1957 with Comparisons
imports for this May

were up 5.0 percent
in quantity and 17.9
percent in value. In-
cluded in the imports
this May were more
of the higher-priced
commodities like

Fish & shellfish:

Fresh, frozen &
processed 1/

shrimp, spiny lobster, -
and Beijos since im Exports: See
titor May 1957 ish & shellfish:
Boe aa Maes Processed1/ only (ex-
shi Sen iz cluding fresh &
Boas frozen 5.5] 4.7] 82.8] 1.0

with 31 cents a pound for
the same month in 1956.

1/ Includes pastes, sauces, clam chowder and juice, and other specialties.

May 1957 imports were up as compared with the same month last year because
of increased imports of frozen fillet blocks, frozen wolffish fillets, shrimp, scallops,
frozen spiny lobsters, and canned tuna. These increases were not offset by lower
imports of canned sardines, canned salmon, canned crab meat, groundfish fillets,
frozen tuna, and bonito.

Exports of processed edible fish and shellfish in May 1957 increased about 72.6
percent in quantity from the previous month and were also 15.9 percent above April
1956. The May 1957 value of these exports was up by 42.9 percent as compared
with the previous month, and higher by 11.1 percent from the same month a year
ago.

* KOK KX
GROUNDFISH FILLET IMPORTS, JULY 1957: During July 1957, imports of

groundfish fillets and blocks amounted to 15.4 million pounds. Compared with the
same month last year, this represented a decrease of 666,000 pounds or 4 percent.

50 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolls 18), IN©@, &

The principal cause for this decline was a 2.5-million-pound drop in imports from
Canada.

Icelandic exports to the United States increased 1.4 million pounds. Imports
from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, West Germany, and Greenland, compared
with July 1956, represented a net increase of 659,000 pounds. This gain, however,
was not great enough to offset the over-all decline caused by the sharp drop in im-
ports of Canadian fillets. There were no imports of groundfish fillets from Mique-
lon and St. Pierre during July 1957 although 162,000 pounds were reported during
the same month of last year.

Imports of groundfish and ocean perch fillets and blocks into the United States
during the first seven months of 1957 totaled 81.9 million pounds-~-a decrease of
700,000 pounds as compared with the corresponding period of 1956. Canada led
all other countries exporting fillets to this country with 60.8 million pounds. Ice-
land followed with 14.2 million pounds. The remaining 6.9 million pounds was ac-
counted for by Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France,

West SEONGNNL Greenland, and Miquelon and St. Pierre.
ote: See rt / in issue,

OK ok ok Ok

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF SELECTED FISHERY PRODUCTS, JANUARY -
MAY 1956-57: A summary of imports and exports of fishery products during the
first five months of 1957, prepared by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, shows
substantial increases over the same period for 1956 for many items (see table).

January-Ma Percentage
wr caees Increase (+)
its ee or Decrease (-

1,000 Lbs.).. (Percent)
Imports:
Tuna, fresh and frozen ....... sielevaietstarens 95,751 58,900 cae 5)
Munalecanne deineol eerie cicis eleleisiclevercrsrevene 433 245 ar UU
Munascannedsinwbisine: iycererieenereene ior aes 16,007 13,579 ar iN)
Bonitomeanne dainvonlmery.iereeteenenecierchertens 5,365 5,426 = il
Salmoneehre'shvand irozeny pommel 2,725 1,566 + 74
Salmon Mcanne diye cis Gerels.c Gaevle eeieversicns one Ceol 10,480 = 3i2
Sardines, canned in oil ...... Siorenovenere se 7,838 8,182 =e
Sardines notecannedmnvroll ane serie ciel: 596 276 +166
Shigimapeerereiere eRe evs sv eWar/atn)’aMTalo(e\/<7e afew toler one sae 23,732 26,123 > il
Wobsterssireshvandifrozent seers 22,919 20,332 ar il
Fillets, (including blocks) of
groundfish and ocean perch........ sets 55,998 55,443 al
Stonehill 5 ooo0500600000000000 S10.0.6.0.0.0 5,910 6,607 =i
Sete Ghons) iererereke
Hshimealereerel eM MoM M-WeloNoliolalelfotelchclelctonene Seal SSG S22
Exports:
| Salmon, canned...... ase letelre ee eee
Mackerel icannedpicicveleretele clolsle aie
Sardines, canned, not in oil
IDs CHS, ainechlol 55 50000a0060Ga000000

KOK OK OK

tity of tuna canned in brine which may be imported into the United States during the
calendar year 1957 at the 125-percent rate of duty is limited to 44,528,533 pounds.
Any imports in excess of that quantity will be duitable at 25 percent ad valorem.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 51

Imports under the quota from January 1-June 29, 1957, amounted to 17,764,752
pounds, according to data compiled by the Bureau of the Customs. This leaves a
balance of 26,763,781 pounds of the quota which may be imported during the balance
of 1957 at the 12}-percent rate of duty.

Virginia
FISHERMEN URGED TO WATCH FOR TAGGED FISH: Sports and commercial
fishermen are urged to watch for bright red discs on the fish they catch this year

in the Middle Atlantic States. The tags are being attached by the Virginia Fisheries
Laboratory at Gloucester Point, Va.

Tags carry the following words: ''Virginia Fisheries Lab., Gloucester Point,
Va. Reward." On the reverse side is a serial number. Records at the Virginia
Fisheries Laboratory show where and when each tag was attached.

Fishermen who catch a tagged fish should return the tag as soon as possible to
the Laboratory at Gloucester Point, telling where and when the fish was caught. In
return they will receive a 25¢ reward and information on where the fish was tagged,
how far it had traveled, and how long its trip took.

Since April more than 1,000 croakers, spot, and flounders have been tagged,
and about 50 of these tags have been returned by fishermen. Most of these fish did
not travel far, but greater wanderings are expected as time goes on. One tagged
croaker was found in a fish market in Pittsburg, Pa. and another in Roseboro, N.C.,
but both of these probably were caught in Chesapeake Bay.

The Laboratory also tagged numbers of striped bass (rockfish) last spring in
cooperation with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The labels on these tags say
"Fish & Wildlife Serv., Wash. D. C. $1 Reward.'' There is also a serial number
on the reverse side. About 1,400 striped bass were tagged in Virginia this year,
and about 85 of these have been returned. The longest migration to date was from
the York River to Rock Hall near Baltimore. The Fish and Wildlife Service tags
also can be returned to the Gloucester Point Laboratory.

Tags have been attached to the fish by a stainless steel pin, or with a nylon fila-
ment. With the pin, a blank disc is used at the crimped end.

Wider Dissemination of Simple Fish Recipes
Recommended by Marketing Survey

Frying is the most common way of cookingfish. About
three out of four housewives prepare fish inthis way, a West
Coast fish marketing and consumption survey revealed. Yet
a leading reason for not serving fish more often or not using
it at all was the housewife's objection to the odors caused
largely by the frying method.

Asked about reasons why they don't buy more fish, twice
as many housewives complained about fish-cooking odors
than about fish prices, according to this survey recently
made by Oregon State College for the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service with Saltonstall-Kennedy funds.

92 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

Industry groups, magazines, newspapers, and food editors, as well as others
have put out numerous fish cookery recipes using broiling, baking, and poaching
methods. The survey recommends the much wider distribution of good simple rec-
ipes using these methods rather than frying as a means of promoting fish consump-
tion.

The survey also recommends that the budgets for advertising fresh and frozen
fishery products be increased because it was found that the present budgets were
well below one percent of sales--a low figure compared with other food industries.
A stepped-up educational campaign directed toward better fish cookery would pay
off well in terms of improved sales.

Wholesale Prices, July 1957

The July 1957 over-all edible fish and shellfish (fresh, fro- From June to July, higher prices for fresh large drawn.
zen, and canned) wholesale price index (119.9 percent of the haddock (up 24.6 percent), Pacific Coast halibut (up 13.8 per-
1947-1949 average) was up 2.3 percent as compared withthe | cent), and Great Lakes yellow pike (up 60.9 percent), more
previous month and also higher by 4.6 percentfrom July 1955.) than offset lower prices for fresh-water round and drawn

Table 1 - Wholesale Average Prices and Indexes for Edible Fish and Shellfish, July 1957 With Comparisons

Point of alate ee Indexes
Group, Subgroup, and Item Specification Pricing ee (1947-49=100)

July | June | May |} July
19517 1957 | 1957 | 1957 | 1956
FISH & SHELLFISH (Fresh, Frozen, & Canned). . : 600 117.2 | 117.0 | 114.6

Fresh & Frozen Fishery Products: . . . earner
saree aaa —

Drawn, aDreeli: or Whole Finfish:
Haddock, Ige., offshore, drawn, fresh .
Halibut, West., 20/80 lbs,, drsd., fresh or froz,
Salmon, king, Ige, & med,, drsd., fresh or froz,
Whitefish,L, Superior, drawn, fresh ,

Lake trout, ‘domestic, No. 1, drawn fresh. ..
Yellow pike, L. Michigan& Huron, rnd,,fresh ,

cessed,Fresh (Fish & Shellfish): ; Paty ee | eee

See haddock, smi,, skins on, 20-lb, tins. . i 100.4 102.1 108. 9 112.3
Shrimp, ige, (26-30 count), headless, fresh . . 150.1 | 147.8 | 151.7 ae 5 |
Oysters, shucked, standards , .. . 6 142.3 | 142.3 | 142.3

Processed, Frozen (Fish & Shellfish):. . . . sroliisttett ood 130.1 | 130.9 | 117.7
103.4

Fillets: Flounder, skinless, 1-Ib. pkg. . . é 102. ia 103.4

Haddock, sml,,skins on, 1-1b. pkg... .

Ocean perch, skins on, 1-1b, pkg. b J H 108.8 | 112.8 | 114.8 | 109.8
Shrimp, Ige, (26-30 count), 5-Ib, pkg. .

Canned Fishery Products: .. . . sa esate

~ Salmon, pink, No.1 tall (16 oz.), 48 "cans/es, safe
Tuna, It, meat, chunk, No, 1/2 mma (6-1/2 oz.),
48 cans/cs, ...-
Sardines, Calif., tom, pack,No._ 1 “oval (15 0z.),
48 cans/cs......- : c .0 | 105.0 | 105.0
Sardines, Maine, keyless ail, No. 1/4 Grau
(3-1/4 oz,), 100 cans Ghociooooodgod

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 Serv-
ice ‘Fishery Products Reports” should be referred to for actual prices,

2/ Revised,

September 1957

whitefish (down 37.1and15.9 percent). Other changes inthe
fresh fish varieties entering the drawn, dressed, and whole
finfish subgroup were slight. The July 1957 index for this
subgroup increased by 10.2 percent over June this year.
Compared with the same month a year ago, the July 1957
subgroup index was unchanged. Fresh halibut, salmon, and
round Lake Erie whitefish were lower this July as compared
with July 1956, but increases of 1.7 to 29.5 in the other four
items balanced out these declines. Supplies of Lake Erie
round whitefish improved this July as compared with the pre-
vious month and the samc month a year ago, but yellow pike
supplies were lower for the same periods.

Fresh processed fish and shellfish prices in July were
higher by a fraction of 1 percent as compared with the pre-
vious month due to slight increases for small haddock fillets
at Boston and fresh headless shrimp at New York. Compared
with July 1956, prices for fresh processed fish and shellfish
were higher by 9.6 percent this July. Lower fresh haddock
fillet prices (down 10.6 percent) were more than offset by an
increase of 18.8 percent in fresh shrimp prices and a 4.6
percent increase in oyster prices.

There were only slight changes (down 0.8 percent) in the
wholesale prices for the frozen processed fish and shellfish

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

53

from June toJuly. Lower frozen fillet prices at Boston(down
about 0.8-8.6 percent) were offset largely by continuing

firm frozen shrimp prices which were up 2.4 percent. How-
ever, the subgroup index this July was higher by 9.6 percent
than for the same month in 1956 due primarily to a 17.9-per-
cent increase in frozen shrimp prices at Chicago.

Canned fishery products in July were down slightly (0.4
percent) from June due to a drop in the canners' price for
Maine sardines. Catches of Maine sardines were good dur-
ing July and price declines for the canned product forced
some plants to curtail production. The subgroup index this
July was higher by 2.1 percent as compared with the same
month in 1956. Canned Maine sardines were lower by 9.2
percent this July as compared with July 1956 but higher can-
ned tuna and California sardine prices more than compen-
sated for this decline. As of the end of July prospects were
good for an increased pack of Maine sardines, the canned
salmon pack was running about 20 percent lower than a year
ago this July, and the domestic canned tuna pack was lower,
but still at a high level, with the market upset due to fluctu-
ating raw tuna prices and heavy imports.

COLLEGE TRAINING COURSES FOR FOOD INDUSTRY PERSONNEL

Plans to expand the college training program for personnel development in the
food industry were announced at a supplier-distributor meeting at Michigan State
University early in May, according to a trade journal. Michigan State is the only
University in the country which offers courses in food distribution in which stu-
dents can earn a bachelor or master degree.

Six food-chain organizations originally contributed $100,000 in 1950 to make
possible the curriculum at Michigan State.

Many food companies are providing

scholarships of $1,000 for the employees of the food industry. According to one
of the firms which supplied scholarships, ''All managementis seriously concerned
with constantly rising costs, but we have seen many good plans for reducing costs
go astray because of the inadequate executives belowthe top level. We believe that
many store managers and supervisors could get thatnecessary vision, experience,
association, and education here and they do."

The article went onto say that one company was allocating scholarships from
funds previously used for Christmas gifts to customers. A number of customers
he saidhad requested that the company refrainfrom sending Christmas gifts. ''We
sent everyone on our list aletter extending Christmas greetings and stating that in
place of a gift we were using the money for a scholarship which would benefit the
industry in the entire country."

Another food executive stated that ''the growth of the industry in the past 30
years and its increased competition demand that we bring into our company and
train young executives capable of meeting the problems which go along with these
factors. We need specialists who know automation, communication, marketing,
and other fields. We need executives with broader interest who can become well-
rounded general executives."

Certainly the fishing industry is not withoutits personnel problems and either
individually or through their associations may wish to investigate the possibility of
training some of their selected personnel in these food distribution courses.

54 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolk, UB); IN@, ©)

International
NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISHERIES COMMISSION

SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING: The Seventh Annual Meeting of the Internation-
al Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF) was held in Lisbon,
Portugal, May 20-25, 1957,

This is the first time that an annual meeting has been convened outside the
North American continent. In the Convention of 1949 it was stated that annual meet-
ings should be held in North America, but an amendment effected in 1957 made it
possible to hold annual meetings in any of the member
countries,

The Annual Meeting was preceded by a two-day meet-
ing of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics.
In the week following the Annual Meeting a joint workshop
was held by FAO, ICES, and ICNAF to consider a series
of problems relating to population dynamics and selectivi-
ty of fish gear.

Commissioners, most of them accompanied by ad-
visers, were present. Observers attended from the Fed-
eral Republic of Germany, the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, Conseil Permanent International pour 1'Exploration de la Mer, the
International Fisheries Convention of 1946, and the International North Pacific Fish-
eries Commission,

The German delegation of observers informed the Commission that the German
Parliament had now ratified the adherence of Germany to the International Conven-
tion for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries; and that when Germany, in the very near
future, became a member of the Commission it would wish to have membership in
Panel 1 (West Greenland).

The Standing Committee on Finance and Administration proposed a budget for
1957/58 of C$45,175; in the budget expenses were included for a superannuation
plan for staff members to become effective during the year, The Commission a-
dopted the budget.

In the meetings of the five panels the research work carried out in the past
year was reviewed and plans for future work were discussed. It was noted that sev-
eral countries had extended their research and that further expansion was to be ex-
pected,

In Panels 3, 4, and 5 the measures taken by separate countries to enforce the
regulations of the trawl fisheries for cod and haddock were considered. The prob-
lem of necessary protection of the trawl cod end was dealt with, and a proposal for
an amendment was referred to the Plenary Session,

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59

In Panel 4 the question of a further increase of cod-end mesh size aiming at
the achievement of greater sustained yields was considered. Based on recommen-
dations from the panel's group of advisers, it was agreed that more research should
be carried out before further action could be taken.

Panel 5 considered the growing fishery for scallops (Pecten), especially by
Canada, Collaboration on research between Canada and the United States was out-
lined; it was recommended to obtain the opinion of the Depositary Government as
to whether scallops fall within the terms of jurisdiction of the Commission,

The United States reported that the regulations of the haddock trawl fisheries
in Subarea 5, which had been in effect since 1952, had resulted in substantial sav-
ings of small haddock, an increase in size by age of haddock landed, and consider-
able increases in the quantities of haddock landed, These results had been so clear-
ly shown by the extensive research carried out that the panel decided that part of
the special research, carried out since 1952, could be suspended, to be reintro-
duced only if further analysis made it desirable.

The reports by the panels were considered and approved by the Commission
in its Plenary Sessions,

The Standing Committee on Research and Statistics dealt with a series of ques-
tions related to the collection and publication of statistics and the planning andutili-
zation of hydrographic and biologicalinvestigations and with a great variety of prob-
lems connected with the conservation of fish stocks. The Committee noted that the
research reports for 1956 "show a gratifying advance in the magnitude of the Com-
mission's research program. This increase has resulted largely from the interest
of the several countries in problems of the Convention Area, Itis particularly grati-
fying to note the increasing amount of coordination of research through meetings
and exchange visits of scientists, and through joint investigations of the internation-
al problems with which the Commission is concerned,"

An ad hoc committee dealt with matters of administration and management
especially relating to the enforcement regulations of fisheries by member coun-
tries; it recommended measures to ensure that the Commission was duly informed
by the member countries about their laws giving effect to the regulations of fisher-
ies, their annual inspections, and the results of them. The recommendation was
approved by the Commission,

It was decided that the 1958 Annual Meeting be held in Halifax, Canada, begin-
ning on June 9, 1958.

In the week following the meeting, the Joint Workshop by FAO, ICES, and ICNAF
took place in Estoril. A series of Plenary Sessions and of meetings of working
groups took place; population dynamics and selectivity of fishing gear were the main
subjects for consideration.

The Joint Workshop dealt not only with the problems themselves, the results
achieved and the planning of further investigations, but also with the more techni-
cal aspects of the work, the best ways for coordination of methods, for compilation
of data, and for distribution (publishing) of results.

Extensive proceedings of the findings of the meetings were distributed at the
final Plenary Session, anditis planned that a finalreport shall be published by FAO.
OK OK ok Ok
ITALY RATIFIES PROTOCOL AMENDING THE NORTHWEST ATLANTIC EFISH-
ERIES CONVENTION: Italy on June 7, 1957, deposited ratification of the protocol

amending the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries of Feb-
ruary 8, 1949, done at Washington, D. C., June 25, 1956,

OK OK OK

56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC ADHERES TO NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISH-
ERIES CONVENTION: On June 27, 1957, the Federal Republic of Germany deposit-
ed its adherence to the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisher-
ies, dated at Washington February 8, 1949, and entered into force July 3, 1950.

On the same date the German Federal Republic also deposited its adherence to the
Protocol amending the Convention, done at Washington June 25, 1956, but not in
force yet.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

eas Se ee ES SS eee eee ee ee SE EE ESE

tons of dead fish were floating in the Arabian Sea between 60°-70°R. and NO IN
according to a report sent to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) by Pro-
fessor P. Moiseev of the State Institute of Oceanology and Marine Fisheries, Mos-
cow. Available data were insufficient for making an accurate
estimate of the quantity of fish killed, but it was clear that
this was a large-scale catastrophe.

TONS OF DEAD FISH FOUND FLOATING IN ARABIAN SEA: Several million

"According to the information from Moscow, based on
reports from a Russian ship sailing through the Arabian Sea,
there were about 10 dead fish to the square metre," said
Taivo Laevastu, oceanographer of FAO's Fisheries Division.
"The area of mortality as reported covers about 200, 000
square kilometres, The fish are reported to be 20 to 25 cen-
timetres in length, and fish of this size generally weigh at
least 100 grams,

"If we could assume only one-tenth of the area reported is covered with the
dead fish at a density of 10 to the square metre, the total is 20,000,000 tons, which
is almost equal to the world's yearly commercial catch of marine fish.

"The trouble is that we do not know how well this figure of 10 per square metre
holds for the entire area. Assumption that the entire area was covered like this
would mean mortality of 200 million tons of fish. This seems unlikely, although,
to tell the truth, we cannot reject the possibility. But even if the figure of 10 to the
square metre were true for only jg of the area, the resultant two million tons
would represent a great catastrophe."

Mass death of fish occurs from time to time in many parts of the world, the
FAO official said.

"The present catastrophe may have been caused by a layer of water known as
the 'tropical subsurface oxygen minimum,' Sometimes this layer lies no more
than 50 to 75 meters below the surface. The upwellings which take place along the
divergent lines of currents, following the changes in the monsoon in April, May
and November, often lead to the growth of rich crops of phytoplankton. Sardines,
mackerel, tuna, and other fish tend to migrate from, presumably, the Indian Ocean
to graze on the phytoplankton. Then conditions may favor particularly strong up-
wellings which bring the tropical subsurface oxygen minimum layer to the top and
the fish are killed through lack of oxygen,"

Whatever information can be gathered about the present disaster will be studied
with intense interest by fishery biologists and by all those concerned with the fish-
eries of the area and of the Indian Ocean,

"The important aspect of the present report is that the undoubted magnitude of
the catastrophe provides evidence to support the view that the Arabian Sea and the
Indian Ocean are rich in fish resources, '' Laevastu said. "It seems unquestionable
that for part at least of this area of the Arabian Sea there were fish in density ex-

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 57

ceeding 1 kilogram per square metre. Concentrations of pilchards in the NorthSea
as high as one kilogram to the square metre have been observed, but only occasion-
ally, and not covering the vast area reported in this case in the Arabian Sea,"

"The report is of interest from another point of view. If the fish are--as seems
possible--Indian mackerel, the observation of this mortality may be evidence of the
migratory path of this species from the fisheries off the coast of West Pakistan and
India, “ continued Laevastu, "If this should prove to be true, we may find that this
evidence on mortality and migrations will contribute valuably to analyzing the fluctu-
ations that are a feature of these fisheries, In any case, mortality on the scale re-
ported must severely deplete the stock and it could easily be that it will take several
years for the stock to recover its abundance. This fact may perhaps be established
by the catches made by Indian and Pakistani fishermen during the next two years,"

WHALING

WORLD WHALE AND SPERM OIL OUTPUT IN 1957: World whale oil produc-
tion in 1957 is forecast at 435, 000 short tons and sperm oil output at around 90,000
tons. The forecast for whale oil is somewhat
higher in 1957 than in 1956, even though the Ant-
arctic pelagic catch limit for the 1956/57 Antarc-
tic whaling season was reduced by 500 blue-whale
units from 1955/56. The forecast for sperm oil
output is nearly one-fifth less than last year's
preliminary estimate,

Antarctic pelagic whaling (including produc-
tion of South Georgian shore stations) which ended March 16, accounted for about
85 percent of the forecast world production of whale oil in 1957, This year's Ant-

United Kingdom. ..... 66 12 11
Japan. S5o near mano ote 95 27 23
Netherlands io) i é.%, < o.6 16 3 1
Union of South Africa... 21 9 6
SovieniUmioney. oss acs 28 15 15
EVENTING tere e) ce, ere co, eer ae = 3 4/
PMIStRalia Fs sey ese, @ 4 =
APOC eg oe Ceo oOle Go o 4)
GS pescemce ea PCRS AIO Paste 3
whale ieee a

eA heh 8

Wiorld'Y otal! iit: 13 178 tS Se ee
1/ FORECAST, PRODUCTION OF SOME COUNTRIES ENDS ABOUT SEPTEMBER. REVISED.

2/ PRELIMINARY . y LESS THAN 500 TONS,
NOTE: COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL SOURCES.

arctic catch exceeded the internationally agreed limit of 14, 500 blue-whale units by
237 units. In 1955/56, the Antarctic catch of 14, 875 blue- whale units was 125 less
than the agreed limit of 15,000 units.

S

While 1956/57 Antarctic sperm oil production was down almost one-third from
last season, the whale oil output from the Antarctic pelagic season was up. With
oil yield per blue-whale unit in 1956/57 at 127.9 barrels, compared with 121.6 bar-
rels in the previous season, production was up even though fewer units were caught
in 1956/57.

58 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wo, Us), IN@s @

A total of 20 expeditions--one more than last season--participated in Antarctic
whaling during the 1956/57 season, which lasted 69 days, or 11 days more than the
previous season, The total catcher boats was 225, or 32 less than the previous sea-
son, This reduction in the number of boats was a result of. an agreement between
Norwegian, British, Japanese, and Dutch whaling interests to limit the number to
210. Actually, 207 boats were employed by these 4 countries and the Union ofSouth
Africa, while the Soviet Union has 18 catchers operating with its single floating fac-
tory.

The Union of South Africa's 1956/57 expedition was its final Antarctic whaling
venture at least for the next 5 years, The floating factory Abraham Larsen has been
sold to Japanese interests with an understanding on the part of the Union to refrain
from Antarctic whaling for that period. However, offshore whaling by the Union
will continue.

Table 2- Whale andSperm Oil Antarctic Pelagic Production, 1/ 1955/56 and 1956/57
aneas Whale Oi Total Oil

1956/57! |1955/562"| 1956/572/| 1955/562"|1956/572"| 1955/56

sr iereibeldes Gi ies elie: eves co, (Shork Tons) eel. chee nee eee
Norway ... 160, 027 1272, 193 18, 250 24,548 178, 277 147, 341

United Kingdom 4/27: 065 64, 366 by halts} PAE OS) 62, 383 76,471
ADA go oo. |= 1B, BUe 90, 582 13, 722 UG, 91,995 106, 354
Union of
South Africa 6) 17/6) 15, 059 5y/ 745 5, 386 15, 920 20, 445
Netherlands . 16, 359 1B}. QOL | —H IL BOO 3, 410 qpits 659 IG), Bilal
Soviet Union. 24,476 26, 723 6/ 1,972 —' 24,476 28, 695

otal Soils Bhi) 335, 424 39N835 63, 193 390, 710 398, 617
17 DOES NOT INCLUDE PRODUCTION OF 3 SOUTH GEORGIA SHORE STATIONS.
2/ PRELIMINARY.
3/ REVISED.
4/ \NCLUDES PRODUCTION OF FORMER PANAMANIAN SHIP OLYMPIC CHALLANGER NOW OPERATED BY JAPANESE.
5/ ESTIMATE, BASED ON DATA THROUGH MARCH 3.
6/ NOT REPORTED.
7/ DOES NOT INCLUDE SPERM OIL PRODUCTION.
NOTE: COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL SOURCES

Argentine whaling interests--which have been operating the South GeorgiaCoast
Station of Grytviken under a lease from the United Kingdom--have declared that they
will not resume operations in 1957/58 unless an adjustment of the regulations gov-
erning foreign exchange earnings ("aforo'') is made by the Government of Argentina,

Japan had 5 floating factories in the Antarctic in 1956/57, 2 more than last sea-
son. The floating factory Olympic Challenger, which last year was under the flag
of Panama, this season operated under the Japanese flag, and a new floating factory,
the Matsushima Maru was added, In 1957/58, with the addition of the Abraham Lar-
sen, Japan expects to operate a total of 6 floating factories. Earlier plans to pur-
chase the British ship, Southern Venturer, did not materialize, Pressure was re- .
portedly exerted by the Japanese Government on the prospective buyers to refrain
from further increasing the Japanese whaling industry at the present time.

At a meeting in Norway in March 1957, representatives from Japan, the United
Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Norway drafted an agreement to place a neutral ob-
server aboard each floating factory taking part in future Antarctic whaling. The
draft agreement has been submitted to interested governments for final ratification.
The Soviet Union declined an invitation to take part in the meeting. (Foreign Crops
and Markets, July 1957, U. S. Department of Agriculture. )

NOTE: ALSO SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, SEPTEMBER 1956, P. 53.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59

INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION

Antarctic pelagic whale catch for the 1957/58 season has been set at 14,500 blue-
whale units, the same as for last season. This was the result of discussions in
London late in June by the International Whaling Commission at its regular annual
meeting. The total catch for the 1956/57 Antarctic season exceeded the permissi-
ble limit by 237 units.

The Commission's scientific committee recommended a reduction, but the
Commission decided that the limit should stand for another year in view of all the
economic and practical factors involved, points out The Fishing News (July 5, 1957),
a British trade periodical.

The Commission will meet next at The Hague on June 23, 1958

Whale Oil Production 1956/57: The 1956/57 Antarctic whale catch, including
land stations, yielded 2, 245,435 barrels of oil, including sperm oil, (Six barrels
equal one ton.) The 1956/57 season yield was 61, 734 barrels below the previous
season, Twenty factoryships took part, with 225 catchers.

Outside the Antarctic, the 1956 output was about 605,189 barrels, compared
with 520, 090 the year before,

Tagging: A total of 225 whales were marked in the Antarctic before the start
of the 1956/57 season, A further 50 were marked by the U.S.S.R., and about 500
in Australia and New Zealand,

Among the 56 marks recovered so far this season was one which had been in
a whale for 22 years, Another showed that a blue whale had moved 1,900 miles in
not more than 47 days,

Russia's BigFactoryship: The keel of what is claimed will be the world's larg-
est whaling ship, of 45,000 tons, has been laid at a Russian shipyard, according to
the Moscow radio.

Catcher Boat Limitations: Although Japanese and Dutch whaling companies
have refused to prolong last year's international agreement on the limitation of the
number of catcher boats in the Antarctic, the Norwegian whaling expeditions are
not likely to use more boats for this season, a Norwegian shipowner stated inOslo,

OK OK KK

SEVERAL COUNTRIES RATIFY PROTOCOL AMENDING THE INTERNATIONAL
WHALING CONVENTION: A number of countries recently deposited ratification of
the protocol amending the International Whaling Convention of 1946, done at Wash-
ington, D. C., November 19, 1956. Sweden deposited its ratification on June 6,
1957; New Zealand on June 21, 1957; and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on
July 3, 1957; reports the U. S. Department of State. The protocol is not in force
yet.

SECOND INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES TRADE FAIR AT COPENHAGEN

The second International Fisheries Trade Fair was held in Copenhagen, Den-
mark, from September 27-October 6, 1957. A total of 13 countries presented their
products. Fish, fishery products, nets, navigation equipment, echo-sounding
equipment, engines, fishing gear, machinery for all purposes in connection with
the fisheries trade, etc., are some of the things displayed.

60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wells i), ING. §)

The first International Fisheries Trade Fair, Copenhagen, 1956, was visited
by buyers from 33 countries,

For information apply to: The Internation-
al Fisheries Trade Fair Secretariat, Pugga-
ardsgade 10, Copenhagen V, Denmark,

A complete filleting plant incorporating
the most up-to-date and, modern fish proc-
essing machines, packing and weighingtables,
and freezers was shown at the fair. The lat-
est production methods, from the raw fish to
frozen fillets, were displayed. Machines for
herring processing also were shown.

EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET

The 18-member Intersessional Committee of the Contracting Parties to the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) met in Geneva beginning April 24,
The Committee, of which the United States is a member, discussed the procedures
to be followed for the consideration of the European Common Market Treaty by the
Contracting Parties.

The Treaty, signed on March 25 in Rome by France, Germany, Italy, Luxem-
bourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium, is now in process of being submitted to parlia-
ments for ratification. It establishes a European common market, which is intend-
ed to present a common tariff against goods from outside the area while permitting
the free circulation of goods produced within the area.

In addition, quantitative restrictions between members of the common market
such as import quotas are to be eliminated. These aims are to be achieved ina
transitional period of at least 12 years divided into three stages of four years each,

The general principle is that the common tariff to be adopted by the six states
for imports from other countries by the end of the transitional period is to repre-
sent a mathematical average of the tariff levels of the six states on January 1, 1957.
This rule is qualified by agreement on five lists of products to be excepted from it.

The first cut in tariffs would be made one year after the treaty takes effect and
will be a 10-percent reduction applied uniformly to all duties. Another tariff reduc-
tion of 10-percent would be made 18 months later, and a third atthe end of the fourth
year. After the first four-year stage, tariffs must come downby at least 25 percent,
and after the second stage 50 percent.

Taxes having the effect of customs duties are to be gradually eliminated during
the transitional period, except that France was granted permission to continue her
special import taxes,

The overseas territories of the six member states are to be ''associated" with
the European common market,

Australia
SHRIMP RESOURCES SURVEY TO INCREASE EXPORTS: In order to increase

further Australia's rapidly rising exports of shrimp to the United States, the De-
partment of Primary Industry will undertake a survey of the shrimp grounds offthe

Northeastern coast of Australia. The survey is expected to locate many beds pres-

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61

ently untouched, thus permitting an expansion of this small but potentially valuable
export trade.

In 1955/56, 100,000 pounds of shrimp (prawn) were exported, mainly to the
United States. During the first 63 months of Australia's 1956/57 fiscal year, ex-
ports reached 206, 000 pounds and were valued at LA60, 000 (US$134,000). At pres-
ent, however, only a small portion of the probable shrimp grounds are being fished.
An officer of the Fisheries Division of the Department of Primary Industry states
that shrimp have been found along the eastern coast of Northern New South Wales
north and west all the way to Java and that the survey is expected to locate commer-
cially-useful beds throughout the length of the Queensland Coast. The presently
known beds (off Northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland) are being heav-
ily fished,

The survey will be undertaken by the Fisheries Division of the Department of
Primary Industry and will be financed from the Fisheries Development Trust Fund,
This Fund was established from the sale of the assets of the Government Whaling
Commission,

%* OK OK KK

FISHERY RESOURCE SURVEY OF GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT: A survey of
the fishing prospects in the Great Australian Bight, off the southern Coast of Aus-
tralia, will be financed from the Fisheries Development Trust Fund. (This Fund
was established from the sale of the assets of the Government Whaling Commission. )
It is hoped that better supplies of fresh and frozen fish will become available, Ac-
cording to a June 26 announcement by the Minister of Primary Industry, "the Bight
represents the only readily accessible major source of fish suitable for the fresh
fish market which has not been exploited.'

During 1955/56 Australian production of fresh fish was 64 million pounds (live
weight), valued at E5,400, 000 (US$12.1 million), while imports of fish (frozen,
smoked, dried, and salted, but not canned) amounted to 53 million pounds, valued
at BA2, 200, 000 (US$4.9 million).

The Government's decision has already received editorial support in the South
Australian press, and market conditions there indicate that even a large increase

in supplies could be readily sold.

Bahama Islands

SPINY LOBSTER INDUSTRY: Spiny lobsters or crawfish continued as one of
the Colony's leading exports. During the season which opened on October 1, 1956,
and closed on March 15, 1957, approximately 1, 263,325 spiny lobsters weighing
2,100,000 pounds were captured, an increase of 170, 303 spiny lobsters over 1955.
The value of spiny lobster exports reached L172, 957 (US$484, 000) in comparison
with £160, 647 (US$450, 000) in 1955.

Exports of finfish were minor.

SPONGE INDUSTRY: Sponge beds, with the exception of the Rights of Andros,
were opened on January 1, 1956, for three months' fishing, and the sponge market
opened April 16 and closed May 11. Sizes ran large, quantity exceeded expecta-
tions, and the quality was excellent. The total value of sponges sold was E27, 234
(US$76, 000). The production consisted of wool, grass, hardhead, and reef,

The sponge beds were opened again in 1957 from April 17 to June 16, and the
total value of sponges sold was £29, 939 (US$84,000). Prices were about the same
as the previous year.

62 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolly Us ING

A survey will be made this coming fall to determine whether the sponge beds
can be opened again next year. (U. S. consular dispatch from Nassau, July 15,

1957.)
NOTE: VALUES CONVERTED AT THE RATE OF +1 EQUALS US$2.80.

coke

Canada

FIG. 1 - AERIAL VIEW OF THE PRINCE RUPERT LOBSTER AND OYSTER FARM.

During the past decade several attempts have been made to transplant the com-
mon or Northern lobster from Canada's Atlantic coast (Nova Scotia) to the Pacific
coast. These experiments which began in 1945 were conducted at Nanaimo, Lady-
smith, and Vancouver, B. C. The projects were abandoned by 1954, However a
retired Canadian Naval officer was convinced that lobsters could be transplanted
successfully into Western waters, In 1954 he obtained a permit from the Dominion
Government for transplanting Northern lobsters from the Atlantic coast, and he

organized a company to do this at Prince Rupert.

This firm selected a well situated cove located on the Tsimpsean Peninsula
across the harbor from Prince Rupert and obtained a deed which gave it full pos-
session to the tidelands of the cove (figure 1). Live pens for keeping the small
lobsters were constructed. Log rafts were used to support the pens in the water
(figure 2), The rafts were also ideal for attaching the "strings" of seed oysters.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 63

The first order from Nova Scotia consisted of 70 small lobsters, Upon arrival
69weredead. Althoughthis experience was discouraging, another test shipment was
made using a new type
of container designed
to be shockproof and
heatproof. This con-
tainer proved to be the
answer for keeping the
lobsters alive and in
prime condition for the
long journey across the
country from Nova Sco-
tiatoPrince Rupert.

To keep the lob-
sters in pens, heavy-
gauge, fine mesh,
stainless steel screens
were used to line the
pens, After 52 days,
the lobsters were re-
leased and immediate-
ly they went to the bot-
tom of the cove. Some
of the small lobsters
found homes withinthe
cove while others mi-

grated to the outside FIG. 2 - LOG RAFTS. NOTE WIRES ATTACHED TO LOG IN FOREGROUND. OYS-
coastal waters, TERS ARE ATTACHED TO THESE WIRES.

According to the company, the mortality rate is very high while the baby lob-

sters are going through the free surface-swimming period, and for this reason it
: is impractical to make

an estimate of how many
lobsters have migrated
to the coastal areas or
how many remained in
the cove, It is known
that four lobsters re-
leased two years ago
have been captured in
the outside waters.
Three of these lobsters
were taken incidental to
other types of fishing.
When they were caught,
the fishermen released
them without making any
measurements as to
size or weight. The
last of the four lobsters
was taken in a Dungeness
crab pot by a fisherman
who reported his catch
to the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police at Prince
Rupert. This lobster
FIG. 3 - IN TWO YEARS, THIS LOBSTER HAS DOUBLED ITS SIZE IN A PEN. apparently had traveled

64 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolls U9, INO, ©)

only about 20 miles from the place of its release in the two years of liberation.
It was taken on a bottom known to be suitable for lobsters.

When kept in live pens, the lobsters that have been pegged will go through two
moulting stages. New shipments of young lobsters must be made to keep the sup-
ply of newly-hatched lobsters coming,

The lobsters maintained for
spawning must be fed. Fishis
often put in the pens for food, but
crushed mussels are used as the
main diet.

Although experimental lobster
farming at Prince Rupert is stilll
in the early stages, it can now be
said that the Northern lobster of
the Atlantic coast can be trans-
planted successfully to western
waters,

In addition to lobster culture,
oyster culture also is beingcarried
on, The seed oysters which are
attached to wires are purchased in
Japan and shipped to British Co-
lumbia. The wires are attached to
floating logs on rafts, Although
the hanging method which is com-
mon inJapan is new in British
Columbia, it is also being used
successfully in Southeastern Alaska
by a company at Ketchikan, Alaska.

Oyster spat, strung on soft
stainless steel wire, are lowered
into the water from the log rafts
(fig. 2). This method induces a
rapid growth rate. In one year the
oysters grow to cocktail size. Aft-
er the first year the oysters are
removed from the wires, broken loose from the clusters, and scattered on the
beaches at low-water mark for fattening, The time required for fattening depends
on water conditions, such as amount and kind of plankton, and temperature, It is
estimated that it will take six years to produce a large-size marketable oyster.
The marketing of these oysters is expected to begin at Prince Rupert within the
next two years,

FIG. 4 - OYSTERS BEING GROWN BY THE HANGING METHOD.

--BY FRED HIPKINS, FISHERY MARKETING SPECIALIST,
BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES,
U. Se FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, KETCHIKAN, ALASKA.

% OK OK OK OK

SUBSIDY ON SALT FOR ATLANTIC COAST SALT-FISH PRODUCERS: A re-

bate on the cost of salt to Atlantic Coast producers of salted fish products will be
continued, the Canadian Fisheries Minister announced recently.

The Minister pointed out that these fishermen who depend on markets for salt-
ed fish products do not have access to the fresh and frozen fish plants and that prices

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 65

for their products have remained low in the face of increased costs. The assistance
will be paid in the provinces of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince
Edward Island, and Quebec. It applies to all salt used by fishermen except where
the product is to be marketed in the United States. The Minister stated that prices
were higher for those products which go to the United States and that the govern-

ment did not wish there to be any suggestion of assisted exports to that country.
NOTE: ALSO SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, JULY 1956, P. 75.

for permits to exploit the maritime wealth of the Pacific Ocean as issued by the
third ordinary meeting of the Permanent Commission of the Conference on the De-
velopment of Conservation of the Maritime Wealth of the South Pacific were approved
by Executive Decree No. 6216. The Decree was published in Ecuador's Official
Register early inthe year. Ecuador is a member of the Permanent Commission,
states a June 24 United States Embassy dispatch from Quito,

2 i
German Federal Republic

HERRING SPLITTING AND BONING MACHINE DEVELOPED: A new type of
herring splitting and boning machine has been put into use in a Newhaven, England,
plant and has done excellent work in the short period of use, The first unit of its
type in this country was made by a firm in West Germany.

iP It is compact, very simple in operation, and is stream-

lined to meet normal factory-type layout, The herring is
beheaded by one rotating blade set on the upper end of the
machine, and the beheaded fish then slide down a chute in-
to the main handling line, This consists of two continuous-
ly rotating belts equipped on their external perimeter with
hooks. These hooks seize the fish as it emerges down the
chute belly-down and carry it over a vertical pair of blades
which split the belly andthen carry the split fish over three
sets of abrasive stones which clean the fine bones on the
lugs and then discard the cleaned, boned, gutted herring
down a second chute for later handling.

The machine does a very clean job, and can be regu-
lated for speed and for pressure to suit the type of fish
being handled,

While it is early yet to indicate the success of this
unit or the rate of handling, the users regard it as a very
HERRING SPLITTING AND BONING Promising development, especially in view of the simplici-

BACHIINE:« ty of design and clean work which is turned out.

When not in use the whole unit is protected by a flap cover rather like the bon-
net of a car which folds over the operating parts (Fish Trades Gazette, June 29,

OBIT He ee

66 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

Japan
ALBACORE TUNA FISHING GOOD AT SHIMIZU EARLY IN JUNE: When the

albacore tuna season got into full swing, steady landings of 200 to 400 metric tons
a day were being made at Shimizu, Japan, early inJune. This year the fish were
larger than usual--25 to 32 pounds. The canners and freezers were buying active-
ly, but the price dropped to half that of last year and averaged around $168 a ton
ex-vessel, The boats brought in fares of up to 130-140 tons. Good catches were
coming in earlier than in the average year, but dissatisfaction was expressed at
the low prices.

According to reports from the fisheries branch of Tokai University at Shimizu,
dense schools have come to Japanese coastal waters this year and the fishing im-
proved earlier than usual. Furthermore, large fish were taken comparatively close
to the coast, catches were particularly good in the Kinan area and along the Izu Is-
lands chain, where boats of the 80- to 100-ton class fish.

Because it looked as if the price would drop excessively, there was a danger
that from the middle of June on the boats would cease to follow the schools of small
16- to 24-pound fish and would go after the larger albacore more to the south, thus
losing the schools of smaller fish. Also because of the low price, there was adan-
ger that when the schools of skipjack accompanying basking sharks began to appear
in June, most of the Mie Prefecture boats would turn from albacore to skipjack fish-
ing and that consequently the catch from the grounds 500 to 1,000 miles off the coast
would decrease.

Since the conditions on the fishing grounds are good, it is necessary to stabi-
lize the price to such a degree that the fishermen will not lose their desire to fish
for albacore, points out the Nippon Suisan Shimbun (June 10, 1957), a Japanese
periodical, Landings at Shimizu during May 1957 were 1,950 tons, or about 190
tons less than in the same month last year.

OK OK OK OK

29, the Shiogama fish market received landings of 6 seiners, 3 carriers of trap
fish, and 1 pole-and-line boat, amounting to 48 tons of skipjack tuna, 80 tons of
mackerel, and 20 tons of albacore tuna, a total of 148 tons as the main summer
fishing season approached, The first landing of albacore totaled 130 tons. The
fish were caught on pole and line 160 miles off Nakaminato, About 2,000 pounds
of skipjack were mixed in with the albacore, and it is anticipated that summer skip-
jack fishing off Kinkazan will be better than usual this year.

The albacore landed were comparatively small, weighing on the average of
about 14 pounds, The price was high, ranging from a high of $207 to a low of $181
a ton ex-vessel, The greater part was bought up by canners as raw material for
canned exports, but some of the fish went to local retailers. The seiners' skip-
jack brought high prices, better than the albacore, the high being $288 and the low
$235 a ton, states the Nippon Suisan Shimbun (June 7, 1957), a Japanese periodical.

KOK OK OK OK

1957: The Japanese North Pacific mothership salmon fishery as of June 30, 1957,
reported a catch of 65,586 metric tons as against the quota of 100,000 tons, Of
the total, 60,462 tons were caught in the North Pacific area as against the quota of
87,000 tons and 5,124 tons in the Okhotsk area as against the quota of 13, 000 tons.
These catch figures were released by the Japanese Fisheries Agency in a recent
news release,

% OK OK OK OK

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 67

SEED OYSTERS FIND FAVORABLE MARKET IN UNITED STATES: Kumamoto
Prefecture exported 280 cases of breeding or seed oysters to the United States this
spring. The price ranged from $8.50 to $9.50 acase, Recently the American Pa-
cific Coast Oyster Breeding Association informed the Kumamoto Prefectural Fish-
ery Experimental Farm that breeding oysters from Kumamoto are proving popular
in the United States and opened negotiations for the import of 1,500 cases during the
next year, points out a July 3 United States consular dispatch from Fukuoka.

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

FY

Republic of Korea

ing.

The departure of the Jinam-ho represents Korea's entry into a long-desired
program of deep-sea fishing activity. It is looked upon by the Korean Minister of
Commerce and Industry as an opportunity for the crew to learn modern fishing tech-
niques, The vessel has been equipped with $75, 000 worth of imported equipment
which was financed through the United States aid program, (United States Embassy
dispatch dated July 8, 1957.)

Norway

fillet stocks in Norwegian cold storage warehouses have dwindled to such an extent,
due to lack of raw fish supplies as a result of the poor winter cod season, that Nor-
wegian exporters are currently unable to fulfill their export contract obligations to
Soviet Russia and Czechoslovakia. Barter deals calling for exports of frozenfillets
in return for West German, French, and Italian automobiles have been postponed as
a result, the United States Embassy reports in a June 7 dispatch. However, the
total fillet exports for 1957 will be better than the results from the winter cod sea-
son alone would indicate because of the carry-over of stocks from 1956,

OK OK KK

FISHING VESSEL EQUIPPED FOR FISH-BLOCK FREEZING: The M/V Senior
of Bergen is the first Norwegian fishing vessel to be equipped with a freezing sys-
tem to freeze fish blocks, The quick-freezing unit is expected to freeze about 3
metric tons daily of fish that would be otherwise culled out at sea. (News of Nor-
way, May 9, 1957.)

OK OK KK

Fisheries announced early in June 1957 that a special fish production premium was
to be paid for all fish caught between May 1 and September 30, The amount of the
premium has not been established, but the press estimates that it will be about 5
gre a kilogram (about 3 U. S. cent a pound), subject to negotiations between the fish-
ermen and the Board of the Price Fund for fish. The money is to be taken from
that fund, which is about exhausted. Representatives for the fishermen have argued
that the Government used tax money to help farmers to overcome the effects of the
1955 drought and that it should do the same for the fishermen who have had poor
catches, states a June 7 dispatch from the United States Embassy in Oslo,

<—_ <—et t e

68 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

Portugal

FISHERIES TRENDS FOR 1956: The Portuguese fishing and fish canning indus-
tries had a generally successful year in 1956, despite a slow start caused by small
runs of fish in the first half of the year.

The catch of all kinds of fish in 1956 amounted to 246,087 metric tons--exclu-
sive of cod--13 percent greater than 1954 (a record year). Canneries in general
profited from the abundant catch and the sustained foreign demand.

Production of canned fish and fish in brine totaled 76, 321 metric tons, an in-
crease over 1955 of 33 percent for canned fish and 134 percent for fish packed in
brine.

Because of the small size and somtimes inferior quality of many of the sardines
caught, canneries were unable to pack qualities normally required by some Euro-
pean markets or the boneless and skinless variety preferred in the United States
market. Consequently, a large number of orders remained unfilled.

Exports of fish canned and in brine in 1956 totaled 63, 335 metric tons, only
slightly less than the 63, 894 metric tons in 1955.

In the 1956/57 cod fishing season, the Portuguese fleet consisted of 50 hand-
line schooners and 22 trawlers. Total cod catch for the season, according to pre-
liminary figures, was 75,054 metric tons of wet cod, compared with 68,537 metric
tons in the 1955/56 season.

Portuguese whalers, operating from the Azores and Madeira landed 704 sperm
whales and one finback in 1956, :The whaling station in Continental Portugal remain-
ed inactive during the year.

OK OK KOK

FISHERIES TRENDS, JANUARY-MARCH 1957: Sardine Fishing: The Portu-
guese sardine catch during January-March 1957 of 3,858 metric tons jee US$680,000)
was all caught in the month of January. A closed season on sardine fishing went in-
to effect on January 15 and was scheduled to end April 15.

Sardines purchased by the packing centers during January amounted to 2, 607
tons (value US$513, 000) or about 68 percent of the catch. The fresh fish markets
in January 1957 took 1, 283 tons and only 13 tons were used for salting.

Other Fishing: The January-March 1957 landings of fish other than sardines
were dominated by 6, 610 metric tons (value US$391, 000) of chinchard and 795 tons
of mackerel (value US$89, 000). Small quantities of anchovy (21 tons) and bonito
(less than one ton) were also landed (Conservas de Peixe, May 1957).

OK OK OK

tuguese sardine season opened on April 16. The total amount of sardines caught the
last half of April amounted to 2,775 metric tons (valued at US$327, 061 ex-vessel,
or $118 a ton). In April 1956 only 434 tons of sardines were landed with an ex-ves-
sel value of US$101, 670.

Sardines purchased by the canneries during April amounted to 2, 775 tons (val-
ued at US$94, 191 ex-vessel, or $125 aton), or 27 percent of the total landings. On-
ly 8 tons were salted, and the balance of 2,014 tons, or 72.5 percent of the total,
was purchased by the fresh fish market,

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 69

The new sardine season showed a certain marked lack of interest on the part
of the canneries because of reports that buying by foreign markets was light.

Other Fishing: The January-April 1957 landings of fish other than sardines
consisted of 539 tons of anchovy and 6, 887 tons of chinchard. (Conservas de Peixe,
June 1957.) Se

OK KK K

withdraw dangerously small and uneconomic boats,

They also recommend that those who wish to replace or modernize their boats
should be encouraged to do so, says an economic report on Portugal, issued by the
Board of Trade in London,

During 1956, a total of 93,172 metric tons of sardines were caught, an increase
of 9,205 tons over 1955. The canners utilized 48, 295 tons of the 1956 sardine catch
and the balance was consumed as fresh, frozen, or salted sardines (Fishing News,

June 7, 1957). f

Spain

pearance in March and, after a long spell of sparse hauls, appeared againin great
numbers at the end of May, As a whole, the fish were excellent and abundant for
both fresh consumption and canning purposes. The wholesale price averaged 5.50
pesetas a kilo (6 U.S. cents a pound).

The sardine season, which normally opens during the month of June, appears
to be long overdue. (Sardines still continue tobe brought to Bilbao from Mediter-
ranean ports at the rate of several truckloads daily.) Consequently, the fishing
fleet is concentrating its efforts on tuna which has made an early appearance this
year in the Bay of Biscay. The first catches of tuna by the local fishing fleet oper
ating principally off the coasts of Galicia were made early in June, and they prom-
ise good prospects for the season, Prices are reported to be remunerative for the
fisherman who averages 15 pesetas a kilo (US$320 a short ton) for the whole fish,
(U. S. consular dispatch from Bilbao, July 16, 1957.)

%* OOK OK OK OK
VIGO FISHERIES TRENDS, MAY 1957: Fishing: bosci) 0.5 million pounds, and pomfret or dollarfish 0.4 mil-
During May landings at Vigo sold over the fish exchange lion pounds.
amounted to about 8.1 million pounds, valued at US$770,274.
The May landings decreased in quantity about 12.9 percent The average price of fish and shellfish sold on the Vigo
as compared with the previous month and were about 3.5 fish exchange in May was 9.5 U. S. cents a pound as compared

percent below the May 1956 landings. The sardine catch was with 8.2 U. S. cents in April and 9.1 U. S. cents in May 1956.
light and amounted to only 44,000 pounds. The sardine fish-

ery up to the end of May has failed to bear out earlier pre- Fish Canning: The fish canneries in the Vigo area pur-

dictions that the sardines had started to return in volume to chased about 374,000 pounds of fish during May as compared

Spanish coastal waters after an absence of 10 years. with about 704,000 pounds in April and 289,000 pounds during
May 1956.

The principal varieties of fish landed in May 1957 were:
small hake 1.5 million pounds, horse mackerel 1.4 million The canneries packed cuttlefish (or sepia), octopus, pomfret,
pounds, a species known locally as ‘‘gallo’’ (Lepidorhombus horse mackerel, and sardines during the first three weeks of

70 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

May 1957 but on a very reduced scale. As the result of the
lack of fish suitable for packing, practically all canneries
were idle during the last week of May--definitely a poor
month for the canneries.

Domestic sales of canned fishery products were slow in
May and have been estimated to be about 25 percent under
May 1956. Exports of canned fishery products showed an
improvement over April as the result of the new exchange
rate (42.00 pesetas to US$1l plus a premium of 3.00 pesetas
per dollar). The principal export markets during May 1957
were Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Central and South

Vol. 19, No. 9

American countries, and Mexico, Stocks of canned fishery
products ‘in the Vigo area are reported to be low.

Canneries and lithographers are more concerned than ever
over the tin plate situation in view of the coming tuna and
albacore seasons. Small lots of tin plate continue to arrive
for local canneries which have been able to export and there-
by obtain 20 percent of the foreign exchange for the payment
of approved imports. However, import licenses are not being
granted for any large lots of tin plate. It is reported that the
Spanish mills are only able to supply from 15 to 20 percent
of Spain’s tin plate requirements.

Sweden

FROZEN FISH INDUSTRY: The Swedish frozen fish indus-
try is a comparatively new industry. Estimates of the quan-
tity of quick-frozen fish consumed in Sweden vary consider-
ably. In the past some estimates have been as high as 15,000
metric tons yearly but it now appears that during the current
year consumption is running at a rate of about 3,000 metric
tons. According to the trade, this figure is disappointing in
the sense that they had expected a slightly higher increase
over the preceding year, but some Satisfaction is found in
the fact that it is in any event an improvement which is
viewed as a good sign.

A Norwegian expert after studying the Swedish market re-
cently stated that in his opinion production in Sweden could
very well rise to between 15,000-20,000 metric tons a year in
five years, provided, however, that the Swedish industry en-
tered competition whole-heartedly, principally with Iceland.

The local industry has found that frozen cod is the most
popular item with haddock gaining ground. Other species that
are frozen are Baltic herring, other herring, mackerel, and
kingfish. New products are gradually appearing in the market.
Recent examples are frozen fish pudding and fish steaks, a
June 18 dispatch from the United States Consul in Goteborg
reports.

The trade also claims that the appearance of frozen fish
on the market has improved the demand for fresh fish, aided
by the fishing industry promotional activities. Another point
made is that surplus fish is now being used to a far greater
extent because of freezing facilities. Exports are said to have
been stimulated by the freezing process. Large quantities of
cod were frozen this year and several hundred metric tons are
said to have been exported.

able in Japan.

The Thai Government's contribution would be the usé of the unin-

habited island, in return for a 50-percent ownership of the venture.

The base would enable Japanese fishing boats to exploit the IndianOcean, which
the Japanese Embassy spokesman said is necessary because of shrinking fishing

areas in Northern waters.
sels from any nation.

The base, however, would be available to fishing ves-
The Thai Government is studying the plan, states a July 5

dispatch from the United States Embassy in Bangkok.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 71

Union of South Africa

PILCHARD INDUSTRY RESEARCH EXPANDED: Expansion of research facili-
ties is part of an accelerated program of fisheries research in African South Atlan-
tic coastal waters from the Cape to Walvis Bay, points out the Union of SouthAfrica
Director of Fisheries, Twelve additional research laboratories (costing £15, 000
to £18,000 or US$42, 000-50, 000) for the Division of Fisheries of the Department
of Commerce and Industries are being built and are expected to be finished early
next year. The new buildings will be devoted to the biological side of fisheries re-
search and the existing 8 laboratories will then become a physical and chemical
oceanographic research section.

South-West Africa was combining with the Union in the program, which because
of the importance of the industry was basically concerned with the life history of the
pilchard and maasbanker, West coast fishermen receive an annual income of about
£2 million (US$4 million) from these two fish.

"Research has been in progress for seven years, but there is still much to be
done if conservation methods are to preserve the industry for the future," the Di-
rector said.

"For several years it has been laid down that not more than 250, 000 tons of
pilchards and maasbankers may be landed in the Union or in South-West Africa,
This is purely an arbitrary figure. From prolonged research we hope to be able
to predict the annual migration and population of these fish and make our conserva-
tion plans accordingly."

The intensified research program will cost more than £175, 000 (US$490, 000)
in extra capital outlay, to be recouped from a levy on the industry, and at least
£25, 000 (US$70, 000) extra in recurring annual expenditures, to be met from State

funds.
rae =

United Kingdom

CANNED SALMON IMPORT QUOTAS: The British Board of Trade announced
in June 1957 that further quotas have been arranged for canned salmon imports
from North American countries and Soviet Russia for the year ending June 30, 1958
(United States Embassy dispatch dated June 24),

Canned salmon cannot be put on open general license for balance of payment
reasons, the British Minister of State Board of Trade told the House of Commons.
A member of the House asked if there would now be an opportunity for people not
previously granted an import quota but importers of other canned fish to get a salm-
on quota. The Minister said the basis of quota distribution was that 85 percent of
imports go to firms which were first-hand distributors for the Government in the
period of control, and the remaining 15 percent to postwar importers of canned fish
other than salmon,

The United Kingdom's import quota for canned salmon from North America
for the year ending June 30, 1958, has been set at L3.5 million c.i.f. (US$9.8
million) as compared with L.3.3 million (US$9.2 million) for the previous 12-month
period, The present quota for Soviet canned salmon is £1.1 million (US$3.1 mil-
lion), the same as last year. There exists also a quota of £4.89 million(US$13.7
million) for imports from Japan, which runs out September 30, 1957,

* KK KOK

72

RUSSIA NOT INTERESTED IN IMPORTS OF BRITISH
FROZEN WHITE FISH FILLETS: Soviet Authorities have
rebuffed an attempt by the British fishing industry to secure
an outlet for its large surplus of fish through exports to Rus-
Sia. They have replied to the offer by the industry’s export
organization, Britfish, Ltd., of frozen white fish fillets that
they are not interested but might be prepared to import her-

ring if the price was acceptable.

For the past two years Britain has been unable to meet the
orders placed for erring by Moscow in return for Britain’s
agreement to import about Li.d million (US$2.8 million)
worth of canned crab and shellfish from Russia.

The British fishing industry had, before the Russian reply
was received, been promised Board of Trade support in se-
curing a Soviet contract as part of the Anglo-Soviet trade
agreement, and it is expected that the Board of Trade will
make strong representations to Moscow to secure agreement
that the shortfall in herring shall be made up with white fish.

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Viol=pel SENOS

The situation is serious, for unless some reasonably prof-
itable outlet can be found, the existing surplus on the British
market is likely to become a glut.

British trawlermen are at present landing much more fish
than is being eaten. Fish was often scarce in the winter, but
Since the weather improved the industry has put on a tremen-
dous spurt to make it up to the housewife by landing heavy
catches of good quality fish at reasonable prices.

The industry points out that ‘‘if we can persuade the house-
wife to serve fish regularly two days a week--on Tuesday as
well as the traditional Friday--we shall have gone a long
way towards solving the problem of the summer surplus, but
we realize that this will take time.

‘‘We are still hopeful that exports to Russia and other East
European countries may ease the situation. Freezing firms
have already helped by taking up large quantities for storage
in the expectation that the Board of Trade will be able to se-
cure orders.’’

ESTURES made by individual states to pass laws
which make inspection of all frozen food plants
mandatory are understandably worrying the industry.
There exists, quite soundly, a school ot thought which
doubts that all-inclusive inspection is necessary. That
school asserts that mandatory inspection would bring with
it a mountain of red tape which could make the life of
every frozen food packer a living nightmare.

For that reason, sharp distinctions should be drawn
between inspection of specific seafood products as op-
posed to inspection of all seafood products and volun-
tary standards as compared to mandatory standards.

Any industry, which packs and sells a very small part of
its products in frozen form, will rise or fall by the quality
of those products and the demand for them. It cannot
put the cart before the horse. It cannot have inspec-
tion before a condition exists which warrants the effort.
This does not mean that the sanitary codes should not
be observed. It does mean that hands should be kept off
products which have not reached their optimum yet.

The reasons for this stand are simple and basic eco-

nomics. Until a product has perfected the right formula
to achieve maximum sales success, it may not be pro-
tected by inspection, but it may be killed with restrictions.
Voluntary inspection means a packer may adopt in-
spection services at his own discretion and need. Under
mandatory inspection he cannot avoid it. Where inspec-
tion is eoudeat for the good of the industry, voluntary
inspection should be tried before any attempt is made
to frame mandatory inspection rules.
The fish stick industry is a case in favor of inspection.
Here we had a “'natural’’ being destroyed by poor quality
and merchandising. The formula for success was known,
but there was no way quality packers could follow it and
still remain competitively on the market.

Tno Roads... Which?

Breaded shrimp packers, by and large, want inspection.
Business is good, but in some cases it is good in spite of
low quality, not because of it. They want inspection as
insurance against the day when there is a sufficiency of
shrimp on the market and price cutting makes fair com-
petition impossible.

Eee knows that there are leading packers in the
seafood industry who do not have inspection and yet
process products as high in quality as many of those who
do. Such packers complain that they are being forced
to adopt inspection, even though, from the standpoint
of quality, they do not need it. The reason it is being
forced on them, they say, is that those who do have
inspection are using the label as a selling point.

They further point out, that plants which started with
fish stick inspection have broadened inspection to many
of their other products.

It narrows down to the following: Would the industry
rather have its members drumming up business by clean,
open and constructive emphasis on the-minimum guar-
antees of quality which the USDA seal represents, or
would it prefer ruinous cutthroat price cutting with its
concomitant quality reduction?

While some seafood products are enjoying marvelous
expansion, others can't seem to get off the ground.
Others have reached a plateau and do not appear to
be able to rise above it. If the inspection seal makes it
possible for such products to resume their growth, some
red tape will be a cheap price, indeed, to pay. If it does
not hae, what we have today is still voluntary inspection
and can always be dropped.

The choice is not the completely blind and unalterable
one of mandatory inspection. It is actually a case of
clearly discernible paths with alternative branches.

"
--"ANNUAL FROZEN SEAFOOD REVIEW" ARTICLE,
FROM QUICK FROZEN FOODS MAGAZINE.

September 1957

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 73

Department of the Interior

PACIFIC COAST SALMON FISHERY
GIVEN MORE PROTECTION BY
NEW _ LEGISLATION:

Salmon fishing with nets is now pro-
hibited to United States nationals on the
high seas throughout the North Pacific
Ocean area as the result of legislation
approved by the President on July 24
and regulations issued by the Depart-
ment of the Interior on July 25,

es %
SOCKEYE SALMON
ONCORHYNCHUS NERKA

The revision of the North Pacific
Fisheries Act and the Interior Depart-
ment regulations extend protection of
salmon on the high seas off British Co-
lumbia. They supplement action taken
by Canada and the States of Washington,
Oregon, and California,

PINK SALMON
ONCORHYNCHUS GORBUSCHA

To implement the new Federal legis-
lation, Interior Secretary Seaton issued
regulations effective July 27 which pro-
hibit any person or fishing vessel subject
to the jurisdiction of the United States to
fish or take salmon, except by trolling,
in the North Pacific Ocean north of
48 30' north latitude. This does not ap-
ply to fishing for sockeye salmon or pink
salmon south of latitude 49° north since
control of these species is covered from
latitude 49° to 48° by the International
Sockeye Salmon Commission,

The North Pacific Fisheries Act, as
approved on August 12, 1654, authorized
the Secretary of the Interior to control
fishing by United States nationals on the
high seas of the North Pacific Ocean but
restricted the authority to the water con-
tiguous to the waters of Alaska,

In 1956, after salmon net fishing on
the high seas off the State of Washington
met with considerable success, concern
for the future of the fishery was express-
ed by the salmon industry on the Pacific
Coast. As a result of meetings held with
representatives of the three Pacific Coast
States and Canada, laws were passed by
the three States to prohibit net fishing
for salmon on the high seas. Canada, by
order in council, also prohibited such
fishing by its nationals,

The revision of the North Pacific Fish-
eries Act now extends the jurisdiction of
the Secretary of the Interior southward
to latitude 48 degrees 30 minutes north,
This closes the gap between the southern
boundary of Alaska and the State of Wash-
ington with respect to United States na-
tionals.

OK OK OK

CHANGES IN BASIC FISHERY ACT OF

ALASKA RECOMMENDED:

The management of the salmon fish-
eries of Alaska would be\strengthened by
the enactment of legislation proposed by
the Department of the Interior, Assistant
Secretary of the Interior Ross L, Leffler
said June 17.

The new bill contains minor amendments to the White Act

of June 6, 1924, the basic fishery law for the conservation of
the commercial fisheries of Alaska.

Of the four items recommended for change, two would give
the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior
greater flexibility of control in managing the salmon resource
in the Territory, one would increase restrictions to prevent
unwarranted damage to the fishery, and the fourth would fa-
cilitate the enforcement of the laws and regulations.

The White Act stipulates that in all waters of Alaskain which
salmon run ‘'there shall be an escapement of not less than 50

14

percent thereof.’’ The Service has found this provision to be
extremely inflexible. If the runs are large, a 50-percent es-

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

capement can be excessive and wasteful; in some cases when

the runs are small, the 50-percent escapement can be wholly
inadequate. With the repeal of this provision, Service officials
could determine adequate escapements based upon biological

needs,

The provision requiring a 36-hour closed period extending
from 6 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Monday has also been found to
be too inflexible. If revised, the exact time each week when

THE SECRETARY MAKES CERTAIN
DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY

CONCERNING FISHERIES:

Because of the change in status ofthe
Fish and Wildlife Service implemented

Vol. 19, No. 9

the 36-hour closure would be effective would be left to regu-
lation by the Service.

The third change would provide a penalty for the possession
and disposal of commercial fish taken in violation of the law,
and would apply to both seller and buyer. This penalty would

be a fine of ‘‘not to exceed $5,000 or imprisonment for a term

prisonment.’’

of not more than 90 days in jail, or by both such fine and im-

The fourth change recommended would prohibit fishing
inside the mouths of salmon streams by means of hand rod,
spear, or gaff for commercial purposes. This limitation
would not apply to the Karluk, Ugashik, Yukon, and Kuskok-
win Rivers. While of no consequence in 1924 when the price
paid for fish was low, these methods frequently are employed
today with serious damage to the runs in particular streams

adjacent to fast-growing centers of population.

OK OK OK OK

Secretary of
tain changes

authority concerning fisheries.
changes appeared in the July 19 Federal
Register and are as follows:

by the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, the

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
[Order 2509, Amdt. 25]
Heaps OF BUREAUS
DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY, GENERAL
JuLy 11, 1957.

1. Order No. 2509, as amended, is fur-.

ther amended as hereinafter indicated:
Paragraph (g) of section 50 Contracts;

Burcaus (17 F. R. 6793, 8634; 19-F. R. 433,

7417) is amended to read as follows:

(g) As used in this section, the term
“bureau” means The Alaska Railroad,
the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau
of Land Management, the Bureau of
Mines, the Bureau’ of Reclamation, the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
the Geological Survey, the National Park
Service, the Office of Territories, the
Southeastern Power Administration and
the Southwestern Power Administration.

Section 52 Leases (17 F..R. 6793; 19
F. R. 433) is amended to read as follows:

Src. 52. Leases. (a) The head of a
bureau and the Solicitor may exercise the
authority vested in the Secretary pur-
suant to Regulations of the General
Services Administration, Title 2, Real
Property Management, to perform all
functions with respect to acquisition by
lease of space in buildings and land in-
cidental to the use thereof when:

(1) The space is found by the Admin-
istration to be special purpose in char-
acter under section 1 (d) of Reorganiza-
tion Plan 18 of 1950.

(2) The space is required for use in-
cidental to, in conjunction with, and in
close proximity to, space which has been
found by the Administration to be special
purpose.

(3) The space is leased for no rental,
or for a nominal consideration of $1.00
per annum.

(4) The space is located in Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, or the Terri-
tories of Alaska and Hawaii.

(5) The agency has been specifically
authorized by the Administration to per-
form any or all such functions.

(b) The head of a bureau and the
Solicitor.may, in writing, redelegate or
authorize written redelegation of the
authority granted in this section. Each
redelegation shall be published in the
FEDERAL REGISTER. o

(c) The authority granted under this
section shall be exercised in compliance
with applicable regulations and statutory
requirements and shall be subject to the
availability of appropriations.

(d) As used in this section, the term
“bureau” means The Alaska Railroad,
the Bonneville Power Administration, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of
Land Management, the Bureau of Mines,
the Bureau of Reclamation, the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Geological Survey, the National Park
Service, the Office of Territories, the
Southeastern Power Administration, and
the Southwestern Power Administration.

2. Authority with respect to contracts
for construction, supplies, or services and
authority with respect to the lease of
space which was previously vested in the
Director of the former Fish and Wild-
life Service and which was included in
the authority delegated severally on No-
vember 3, 1956 (21 F. R. 8513) to the
Director, Bureau of Commercial Fish-
eries, and the Director, Bureau of Sport
Fisheries and Wildlife, may be exercised
by such officers until 90 days from the
date of this amendment to Order No.
2509 unless sooner revoked or superseded

the Interior has made cer-
regarding delegations of
The

by or pursuant to an action of the Com-
missioner of Fish and Wildlife. Any au-
thority with respect to contracts for con-
struction, supplies, or services and any
authority with respect to the lease of
space which was continued in force pur-
suant to the document issued by the Sec-
retary of the Interior on November 3,
1956 (21 F. R. 8513), empowering other
officers and employees of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service to ex-
ercise certain authority, is continued in
force until 90 days from the date of this
amendment to Order No.- 2509 unless
sooner revoked or superseded by or pur-
suant to an action of the Commissioner
of Fish and Wildlife.

Frep A. SEATON,
Secretary of the Interior.

[Order 2821]

COMMISSIONER AND EMPLOYEES OF UNITED
STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT
TO CERTAIN DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS

JULY 11, 1957.

Section 1. Commissioner of Fish and
Wildlife. (a) The Commissioner of Fish
and Wildlife may exercise all of the au-
thority of the Secretary of the Interior
with respect to any matter relating to fish
and wildlife, except

(1) The signing of correspondence ad=
dressed to the President; :

(2) The exercise of powers delegated
by the President to the Secretary without
any authorization for redelegation;

(3) The issuance of regulatory decu=
ments, which are subject to codification
in the Code of Federal Regulations (44
U. S. C., 305; 1 CFR 1.10), and which do

September 1957

not fall within the provisions of para-
graph (b) of this section;

(4) The making of apportionments of
funds in connection with Federal aid in
fish or wildlife restoration;

(5) The appointment or removal of
Commissioners as provided jn the Alaska
Game Law of January 13, 1925, as
amended: (43 Stat. 739; 48 U. S: C. 208);

(6) The taking of actions required by
sections 3 and 4 of the Whaling Treaty
Act of August 9,-1950 (64 Stat. 421, 422;
16 U. S. C., 916a, 916b) to be taken by
the Secretary of the Interior;

(7) The appointment of the advisory
committee of the American fisheries in-
dustry, provided for in section 2 (c) of the
act of July 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 376; 15
U.S. C. T13c-3 (c));

(8) The exercise of the authority con-
tained in the act of June 25, 1934 (48
Stat. 1213; 15 U. S. C. 522) relating to
monopolization and restraint of trade-by
associations of persons engaged in the
fishery industry;

(9) ‘The submission.of reports to the
President or the Congress;

(10) The designation of a representa-
tive of the Department referred to in
section 8 (a) of the Fish and Wildlife
Act of 1956 (70 Stat. 1119);

(11) The submission of reports to the
United States Tariff Commission under
section 9 (b) of the Fish and Wildlife
Act of 1956 supra;

(12) The approval of fisheries loan
authorizations in excess of $50,000.

(b) The authority granted in para-
graph (a) of this section includes au-
thority to take any action which, as pro-
vided in Title 50 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, may be taken by an au-
thorized representative of the Secrétary
of the Interior or an officer or employee
of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, such as the issuance of orders
or regulations which

(1) Extend or reopen, pursuant to
Part 6, Title 50, Code of Federal Regu-
lations, the hunting seasons on migra-
tory game birds to compensate for
emergency closures to prevent forest

(2) Prescribe a temporary closure of
the open seasons on any species of big
game animals, pursuant to Part 46, Code
of Federal Regulations, in any area in
Alaska where necessary;

(3) Prescribe, pursuant to Subchapter
C, Title 50 Code of Federal Regulations,
the terms and conditions to govern hunt-
ing, fishing, trapping, and recreational
activities on wildlife conservation areas;

(4) Pursuant to Part 102, Title 50,
Code of Federal Regulations, shorten,
lengthen, or reopen for limited periods,
and impose further restrictions on the
means, methods and areas of fishing and
on the catch of fish otherwise permitted
to be taken for commercial purposes in
Alaska,

(c) The authority granted in para-
graph (a) of this section shall not be
construed as including authority in any
matter covered by a delegation from the
Secretary of the Interior to the Commis-
sioner of Fish and Wildlife, expressly, or
as the head of a bureau, such as author-
ity with respect to defense functions re-
lating to fishery commodities or products,
authority with respect to personhel man-
agement, authority to designate certi-
fying officers, etc. Authority in such

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

matters is delegated to the Commissioner
by other documents.

(d) The Commissioner of Fish and
Wildlife may, in writing, redelegate or
authorize written redelegation of the au-
thority granted in paragraph (a) of this
section, except that authority to approve
fisheries loan authorizations may be re-
delegated only to the Director, Bureau
of Commercial Fisheries.

Sec. 2. Other officers or employees of
the Service. Each officer or employee
of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service is empowered to continue to ex-
ercise authority vested in such person
or position by the document issued by
the Secretary of the Interior on Novem-
ber 3, 1956 (21 F. R. 8513) for 90 days
from the date of this order, unless such
authority is sooner revoked or super-
seded by or pursuant to an action of the
Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife.

Sec. 3. Revocation. The following or-
ders and amendments thereof are re-
voked, but this action shall not be con-
strued as affecting the provisions of
section 2 of this order.

1798, 2240, 2409, 2532, 2570, 2584, 2711, 2817
(21 F. R. 8032).

Frep A. SEATON,
Secretary of the Interior.

[Order 2822]
DEFENSE FUNCTIONS
DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY

Juty 11, 1957.

Section 1. Delegation of authority.
Except as provided in section 3 of this
order and in redelegations, which the
Secretary may make or has continued, to
agencies outside of. the Department. of
the Interior, all functions and powers
which are or may be vested in the Sec-
retary of the Interior by delegations or
redelegations issued pursuant to the De-
fense Production Act of 1950, as
amended, or issued pursuant to any other
law by virtue of authority delegated to
him under the Defense Production Act of
1950, as amended, may be performed and
exercised:

(a) In so far as these functions and
powers relate to domestic exploration for
metals and minerals, by the Adminis-
trator of the Defense Minerals Explora-
tion Administration;

(b) In so far as these functions and
powers relate to solid fuels and the dis-
tribution of petroleum coke, and to
metals and minerals, other than domestic
exploration for metals and minerals, by
the Director of the Office of Minerals
Mobilization;

(c) In so far as these functions and
powers relate to fishery commodities or
products, by the Commissioner of Fish
and Wildlife; and

(d) In so far as these functions and
powers relate to petroleum or gas, other
than the distribution of petroleum coke,
by the Director of the Office of Oil and
Gas.

Sec. 2. Electric power. The defense
functions of the Secretary relating to
electric power fall within the assignment
of the Assistant Secretary—Water and
Power Development, who is one of the
Secretarial officers already empowered
by section 1 of Order No. 2509, as

75

amended (17 F. R. 6793, 8634; 22 F. R.
2218) to exercise the authority of the
Secretary with respect to various matters
relating to defense, including electric
power.

Sec. 3. Limitations. (a) Section 1 of
this order does not authorize any officer
mentioned in that section to:

(1) Perform any function or exercise
any power which cannot be redelegated
by the Secretary of the Interior under
the provisions of any delegation of au-
thority to the Secretary;

(2) Redelegate any power or function
to any person other than an officer or
employee of the bureau or office which
he heads;

(3) Appoint or employ any person
under section 710 of the Defense Pro-
duction Act of 1950, as amended; or

(4) Issue orders or directives relating
to petroleum, gas, or solid fuels.

(b) Existing arrangements for De-
partment representation on interagency
and interdepartmental committees and
boards dealing with defense functions
are hereby confirmed, but the function
of specifying the arrangements for such
representation as may be necessary is
reserved to the Secretary.

(c) The function of establishing poli-
cies pertaining to defense matters in-
volving two or more defense areas is
reserved to the Secretary.

Sec. 4. Access roads. (a) The Di-
rector of the Office of Minerals Mebiliza-
tion is directed to exercise the function
of certifying access roads in connection
with the production of metallurgical coal
to the Secretary of Commerce under sec-
tion 6 of the Defense Highway Act of
1941, as amended (23 U.S. C., sec. 106)
and section 12 of the Federal-Aid High-
way Act of 1950 (64 Stat. 791), pursuant
to the Presidentigzl memorandum of
March 3, 1952.

(b) The Administrator of the Defense
Minerals Exploration Administration is
similarly directed to exercise the func-
tion of certifying access roads in connec-
tion with the exploration for strategic
and critical metals and minerals and re-
lated development.

Sec. 5. Effect on prior actions. (a)
Interior Defense Delegation 1 (19 F. R.
9257) to the Administrator of General
Services respecting metals and minerals
is continued in force. Defense Solid
Fuels Administration Delegation 1 (16
F. R. 4590) to the Secretary of Commerce
respecting the distribution of coal chem-
icals produced as byproducts of coke
made from coal is continued in force.
Petroleum Administration for Defense
Delegation 1 (16 F. R. 3389) to the Busi-
ness and Defense Services Administra-
tion [N. P. A.J, Department of Com-
merce, respecting certain products of
petroleum and gas origin is continued in
force. Defenre Minerals Exploration
Administration Order 1, as amended, and
redelegations made #y the Administrator
of the Defense Minerals Exploration Ad-
ministration are continued in force.
This order shall not deemed to affect
the Voluntary Agreement Relating to
Foreign Petroleum Supply, dated May 1,
1953 (18 F. R. 4262), as amended April 15,
1954 (19 F. R. 2278).

(b) This order supersedes Order No.
2781 (20 F.R. 316). (Defense Production
Aet of 1950. as amended (50 U. S.C. App.,

76 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

sec. 2153) ; Sec. 168 of the Internal Reve-.
nue Code; E. O. 30480, as amended (18
F. R. 4939, 6201, 19 F. R. 7249) ; Defense
Mobilization Order I-7, as amended (18
F. R. 5366, 19 F. R. 7348) ; Defense Mobili-
zation Order I-13 (19 F. R. 7348); De-
fense Mobilization Order VII-5, as
amended (18 F. R. 6408, 19 F. R. 7349) ;

Defense Transport Administration Dele-
gation No. 6, as amended, and continued
by Organization Order DTA 1, as
amended (16 F. R. 4149, 19 F. R. 1071, 20
F. R. 4550) ; NPA Delegation No. 9, con-
tinued by Business and Defense Services
Administration Regulation No.1 (17 F. R.
1908, 18 F. R. 6337) ; Department of Ag-

Vol, 19, No. 9

riculture, Defense Food Delegation No. 2,
Revision 1 (17 F. R. 2349) ; Federal Civil
Defense Administration Delegation 3 (20
F. R. 5957) ; Federal Civil Defense Ad=
ministration Delegation 4 (20 F. R.
8733) )

FRED A. SEATON,
Secretary of the Interior.

Department of State

TERRITORIAL WATERS AND LAW
OF THE SEA TOUCHED UPON

IN AN ADDRESS BY UNDER
SECRETARY OF STATE:

Territorial waters and law ofthe sea,
subjects of considerable concernto Unit-
ed States fishery interests, were touch-
eduponinanaddress by Under Secretary
of State ChristianA. Herter. The address
was delivered at the annual dinner of the
American Bar Association at New York
City on July 15, 1957. The parts of the
address referring tothese subjects fol-
low:

" |). Thelawcan be made in differ-

ent ways. The law of the sea has ina
measure been strengthened through the
experience and action of governments and
international organizations indealing with
the Suez Crisis andits aftermath, It may
be further developedif at some future date
the question of right of transit through
the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba should
become the subject of consideration by
the International Court of Justice.

"The law of the sea willbe stillfurther
strengthened and clarified, I feel sure,
by the efforts of the United Nations Con-
ference on Law of the Sea to be held in
Europe next year. In thiscase there will
be deliberate and direct efforts to codify
and write law by representatives of the
various members of the United Nations
and specialized agencies.

"T might recallin passing that the Unit-
ed States has a particular interest in the
question of the breadth of the territorial
sea, which will be considered at the Con-
ference. We hold that international law
does not require states to recognize a
breadth of territorial sea beyond three
miles, for it is our belief that the free-
dom of the seas, in its widest implica-
tions, is the principle fairest to all na-
tions, large and small. .. ."

White House

U. S. COMMISSIONER APPOINTED
FOR INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL

TUNA COMMISSION:

Arnie J. Suomela, Commissioner of
the Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. De-
partment of the Interior, was appointed
by the President as a United States Com-
missioner on the Inter-American Trop-
ical Tuna Commission, May 10, 1957.
Suomela took his oath of office on May 14,
IOC

&

i
Sens

EBighty-Fifth Congress
(First Session)

Public bills and resolutions which di-
rectly or indirectly affect the fisheries
and allied industries
are reported upon.
Introduction, refer-
ral to committees,
pertinent legislative
actions, hearings,
and other chamber
actions by the House
and the Senate, as
wellas signature into law or other final
disposition, are covered,

ALASKA STATEHOOD: The Senate Committee
on Interior and Insular Affairs in executive session

on July 30 ordered favorably reported with amend-
ments S, 49, providing statehood for Alaska.

ALASKA TIDAL WATERS: H. R. 6760, a bill
to grant to the Territory of Alaska title to certain
lands beneath tidal waters (excluding title to fish-
eries resources) and for other purposes; with a-
mendment--was reported to the House by the Com-
mittee on Interior and Insular Affairs on July 31
(H. Rept. No. 950). Referred to the Committee
of the Whole House on the State of the Union. Sim-
ilar to S. 2536 introduced July 12,

House Report No. 950, Granting to the Terri-
tory of Alaska Title to Certain Lands BeneathTid-
al Waters (July 31, 1957, 85th Congress 1st Ses-

September 1957

sion) to accompany H. R. 6760, 5 pp., printed.
This report explains the proposed legislation.

COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF FISH ON RICE
LANDS: Senate Committee on Interstate and For-
eign Commerce ordered favorably reported (S.
Rept. 780) on July 25 with amendment S. 1552 to
establish a program of research for development
of commercial production of fish on flooded rice
acreage.

Senate Report No, 780, Fish Farming (August 1,

1957, 85th Congress, lst Session) to accompany
S. 1552, 9 pp., printed. The purpose of the bill,
cost estimates, committee action, and depart-
mental reports are presented,

Senate on August 5 passed with amendment and
cleared for the House S, 1552,

FISHING VESSEL RIGHTS ON THE HIGH SEAS:
Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Com-
merce ordered favorably reported on July 25 with
amendment S. 1483, relating to the rights of ves-
sels of U. S. on the high seas and in territorial
waters of foreign countries. As reported by the
Committee, the bill would make it mandatory for
the Secretary of State to take action and also re-
quire him to report annually to Congress on the
status of such claims,

FUR-SEAL CONVENTION: Executive V,
85th Congress, lst session, was reported on
July 29 by the Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations--an interim Convention on Conservation
of North Pacific Fur Seals, signed at Washington
on February 9, 1957, in behalf of Canada, Japan,
U.S.S.R., and U. S,; without reservation (Ex.
Rept. No. 10).

Executive Rept. No. 10, Interim Conventionon
Conservation of North Pacific Fur Seals (July 29,
1957, 85th Congress, 1st Session) to accompany
Executive J, 85th Congress, First Session, 6pp.,
printed. The Committee on Foreign Relations,
after having considered Executive J, recommended
that the Senate ratify it. The report explains the
purpose and background of the convention, and sum-
marizes the provisions, It also indicates the im-
plementing legislationrequired, the estimated cost
to the United States ($10,000 a year), and the com-
mittee action and recommendation,

HAWAII STATEHOOD: The Senate Committee
on Interior and Insular Affairs in executive ses-

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 77

sion on July 30 ordered favorably reported with
amendments S. 50, providing statehood for Hawaii.

LOAN FUND FOR FISHERIES: H. R. 9019
(Bates), introduced August 1, a bill to authorize
the provision of additional capital for the fisheries
loan fund established by the Fish and Wildlife Act
of 1956, and for other purposes; to the Committee

on Merchant Marine and Fisheries,

SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA: The Senate Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations reported on July 26,
Executive M, 85th Congress, 1st. session--an
amendment to the International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea, together with a proposal for
amendment originated with the Government of the
United Kingdom and contained in a memorandum,
dated at London in May 1955--without reservation
(Ex, Rept. No. 9).

SMALL BUSINESS ACT AMENDMENT: S, 2504,
to extend the Small Business Administration for 1
year and authorize an additional $75 million for
business loans, was passed by the Senate on Au-
gust 2 with an amendment by Senator Thye, making

the act effective as of close of July 31, 1957.

By a voice vote on August 2 the House passed
and cleared for the President S. 2504.

S. 2504, was signed by the President August 3,
1957 (P. L ioe 85-120).

Senate Report No, 597, Extension of Small Busi-
ness Administration (July 9, 1957, 85th Congress
1st Session), to accompany S. 2504, 6 pp., print-
ed, This report contains a summary of SBA pro-
grams, and discusses committee action, purposes
of the bill, ahd changes in existing law.

WATER POLLUTION: H, R. 8932 (Pillion),

troduced on on July 29, a bill to amend the definition
"interstate waters’ in the Federal Pollution Con-

trol Act to include the Great Lakes, their intercon-

necting waterways, and the St. Lawrence River;

to the Committee on Public Works,

WHALING CONVENTION: The Senate Commit-
tee on Foreign Relations reported on July 26, Ex-
ecutive E, 85th Congress, 1st session--the Proto-
col to the International Convention for the Regula-
tion of Whaling, signed at Washington under date
of December 2, 1946, which protocol was signed
at Washington under date of November 19, 1956,
for the U. S. and 16 other governments--without
reservation (Ex, Rept. No. 8).

78 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

SHERY
INDICATORS

CHART | - FISHERY LANDINGS for SELECTED STATES

In Millions of Pounds

LEGEND:

SSS MASSACHUSETTS

——1 956

CUMULAT 1 VE CUMULATIVE DATA
6 MQs. 1957 7 mgs. 1957 - 313.1
6 , 1956 7; 1956 - 308.7
12 1956 12 1956 - 535.2

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

FLORIDA Loursiana2!

CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA

6 MgS. 1957 - 74.2 7 mgs. 1957 - 21.8] —
6 ‘P 1956 - 99.8 7 , 1956 - 27.8
12 1956 - 204.7 12 1956 - 57.1

0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
2/ONLY PARTIAL--|NCLUDES LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS.

NEW JERSEY

CUMULATIVE DATA

6 MgsS. 1957 - 12 S MgS. 1957 - 20.6
gs 1956 - 18: 35 1956 - 23.8
12 1956 - 128.9

CUMULATIVE DATA

1956 - 51

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

CUMULAT IVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA
7 mgs. 1957 - 371.1

7 1956 - 372.2 7 -MQS. 1957 - 33.8
= pry 2 - 33.
12." 1956 - 693.1 n 1956 - 33.5

12 1956 - 59.3

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

I/ONLY PARTIAL--INCLUDING PRODUCTION OF MAJOR FISHERIES AND MARKET FISH
LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS.

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

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

CHART 2 - LANDINGS for SELECTED FISHERIES

In Millions of Pounds

LEGEND:

HADDOCK
(Maine and Massachusetts)

CUMULATIVE DATA
6 mgs. 1957 - 69.3

OCEAN PERCH
(Maine and Massachusetts)

vee weeeeees} 955

CUMULATIVE DATA

(5 1956 75.6
12 1956 - 133.3

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

1/ SHRIMP
(Gulf States—’ including Florida West Coast)
CUMULATIVE DATA

WHITING
(Maine and Massachusetts)

1957 -

1956 -

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
V/LA. & ALA. DATA BASED ON LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS AND ARE NOT COM-

PLETE. In Thousands of Tons

MENHADEN PACIFIC AND JACK MACKEREL
(East and Gulf Coasts) (California)
CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA

1957 - 416.2
1956 - 570.9
1956 - 1,027.3

ol’ os
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC

PILCHARD
(California)

TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH?!

CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA

1956/57 SEASON, 7 MQS. 1957
AUG, - JAN. -7 7 19!
1955/56 SEASON, 12

AUG. - JAN, ~ 72,8

Legend:

1956/57
ammeeeerrne 1955/56

— 0
AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
2/RECEIPTS BY CALIFORNIA CANNERIES, INCLUDING IMPORTS .

80 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

[ CHART 3 - COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS
of FISHERY PRODUCTS *

In Millions of Pounds

LEGEND:

U. S. & ALASKA HOLDINGS U. S. & ALASKA FREEZINGS

|-———1957

1956

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

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

MIDDLE & SOUTH ATLANTIC HOLDINGS2/

NEW ENGLAND HOLDINGS!/

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
2/ALL EAST COAST STATES FROM N.Y. SOUTH.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT _NOV.DEC
1/MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, AND CONNECTICUT.

MIDDLE WEST HOLDINGS3/ GULF & SOUTH CENTRAL HOLDINGS4/

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
B/OH10, IND., ILL., MICH., WIS., MINN., IOWA, MO., N. DAK., NEBR. & KANS.

WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA HOLDINGS CALIFORNIA HOLDINGS

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT _NOV DEC

*Excludes salted, cured, and smoked products.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 81

CHART 4 - RECEIPTS and COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS of FISHERY
PRODUCTS at PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS

In Millions of Pounds

RECEIPTS AT WHOLESALE SALT-WATER MARKET 2
(FRESH AND FROZEN) NEW YORK an COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS —

CUMULATIVE DATA

mgs. 1957 - 11327 | — CITY

1956 - 106.8
1956 - 159.0

/

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

1/INCLUDE TRUCK AND RAIL IMPORTS FROM CANADA AND DIRECT VESSEL LANDINGS 2/AS REPORTED BY PLANTS IN METROPOLITAN AREA.

AT NEW YORK CITY.

RECEIPTS AT WHOLESALE MARKET
(FRESH AND FROZEN) CHICAGO

COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS

CUMULATIVE DATA

aS

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

SEATTLE BOSTON

WHOLESALE MARKET RECEIPTS, LANDINGS,
& IMPORTS (FRESH & FROZEN) en oe OE OPIN)

CUMULATIVE DATA

1957 - 54.8 34
1956 - 44.8
1956 - 92.5

30

26

22

18

LEGEND: 14

— 1957

955

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 0) UANT FEB MARUAPR MAY “JUNE JULY_AUG!SEPT OCT NOV_DEC

OIL PRODUCTION - U.S and ALASKA

FISH OIL
(In Ce ee roca (In Millions of Gallons)

CUMULATIVE DATA

E
A 7 mgs. 1957 - 9.1} _
1956 52.4 afer, 1950 13.6
1956 - 273.2 12 1956 - 26.6

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE uULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAS! APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 19, No.

CHART 6- CANNED PACKS of SELECTED FISHERY PRODUCTS

In Thousands of Standard Cases

LEGEND:

TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH - CALIFORNIA

CUMULATIVE DATA

7 Mgs. 1957 - 5,567.0
7 4 1956 - 5,908.2 :
12 1956 - 9,493.7 7

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

ANCHOVIES- CALIFORNIA

CUMULATIVE DATA

7 mgs. 1957 - 575.1

1/\NCLUDING SEA

7 4. 1956 - 530.6
h2 1956 - 820.2

JUAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC

SARDINES!/ (ESTIMATED) - MAINE

CUMULATIVE DATA

7 gs. 1987 - 1,200.0
»221.8

TUNA ....-eeeeee

PILCHARDS .....

SALMON

ANCHOVIES .....

0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC
HERRING.

SARDINES - CALIFORNIA

CUMULATIVE DATA

1956/57 SEASON,

AUG, - JAN. 2
1955/56 SEASON,
AUG. - JAN.

732.7
- 1,531.1

Legend:

=== 1957/58
1956/57 | 72

ae 1955/56

JUNE JULY

|

MACKEREL2 - CALIFORNIA

CUMULATIVE DATA

A 7, ps. 1957, - 716.2
U7 2 {GES Ss |
h2 1956 - 1,12

\
\
\
\
\
\
\

SALMON - ALASKA

CUMULATIVE DATA

7 MQS. 1957 - 1,464.2
7 , 1956 - 1)734.8
12 1956 - 2,989.0

0
JAN FEB MAR

SARDINES .......
SHRIMP........-.

APR_MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC

STANDARD CASES

Variety No. Cans Can Designation Net Wet.

33 oz.

100 + drawn

48 == 5 oz.

48 No, + tuna 6&7 oz.

48 No. 1 oval 15 oz.

48 1-pound tall 16 oz.

48 3 lb. 8 oz.

SHRIMP - GULF STATES

CUMULATIVE DATA

1957/58 SEASON,
AUGUST
1956/57
AUGUST

0
AUG SEPT _OCT_NOV

DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY

September 1957

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 83

CHART 7- U.S. FISHERY PRODUCTS IMPORTS

In Millions of Pounds

GROUNDFISH (INCLUDING OCEAN PERCH)FILLETS, an FILLETS & STEAKS OTHER THAN GROUNDFISH,

FRESH & FROZEN FRESH & FROZEN
CUMULATIVE DATA Seer CUMULATIVE DATA.

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

SHRIMP, FRESH & FROZEN, FROM MEXICO

CUMULATIVE DATA
6 mgs. 1957 - 19.0
4 1956 - 25.5
2 1956 - 53.7

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

TUNA, FRESH & FROZEN

CUMULATIVE DATA

1956 - 120.2

U.S. IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA ANDTUNA- LIKE FISH
(IN OIL AND IN BRINE)

CUMULATIVE DATA

6 MQS. 1957 - 27.8
6 1956 - 26.4
1956

12 - 51.8

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

6 MQs. 1957 - 29.8
6 , 1956 - 29.3
12 1956 - 60.3

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

LOBSTER & SPINY LOBSTER, FRESH & FROZEN

CUMULATIVE DATA

6 MQS. 1957 - 28.6
6 , 1956 - 27.8
12 1956 - 47.7] J

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

SEA HERRING, FRESH, THROUGH MAINE PORTS

CUMULATIVE DATA
6 MQS. 1957 - .7

er} 1956 - .6
12 1956 - 8.3

JAN FEB. MAR_APR_ MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV ‘DEC

CANNED SARDINES
(IN OIL AND NOT IN OIL)

CUMULATIVE DATA

6 gS. 1957 - 9.
6 , 1955- 9.
12

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

84 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 195 No: 9

Aw
=
Tactpe

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
PUBLICATIONS

THESE PROCESSED PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM
THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERV-
ICE, WASHINGTON 25, D. C. TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIG-
NATED AS FOLLOWS:

CFS - CURRENT FISHERY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES
AND ALASKA.

SL - STATISTICAL SECTION LISTS OF DEALERS IN AND PRO-
DUCERS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS AND BYPRODUCTS.

SSR - FISH. - SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORTS--FISHERIES
(LIMITED DISTRIBUTION).

SEP.- SEPARATES (REPRINTS) FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
REVIEW.

Number Title

GFS-1562 - Florida Landings, March 1957, 6 pp.

CFS-1576 - Massachusetts Landings, January 1957,

3 pp.

CFS-1582 - Ohio Landings, May 1957, 2 pp.

C¥S-1583 - Florida Landings, April 1957, 6 pp.

CFS-1586 - Shrimp Landings, 1956 Annual
Summary, 8 pp.

CFS-1588 - Alabama Landings, April 1957, 2 pp.

CFS-1589 - South Carolina Landings, May 1957, 2 pp.

CFS-1590 - Georgia Landings, May 1957, 2 pp.

CFS-1591 - FrozenFish Report, June 1957, 2 pp.

SL-116 - Firms Canning Food for Animals from
Marine-Animal Products, 1956 (revised).

SSR-Fish. No. 201 - Preliminary Report on Expe-
dition Eastropic, by Joseph E. King, Thomas A.
Austin, and Maxwell S. Doty, 155 pp., illus.,
March 1957. Describes the methods used and the
results obtained in observations made aboard the
research vessel Hugh M. Smithon the EASTROP-
IC expedition, a cooperative oceanographic sur-
vey of the central and eastern tropical Pacific,
September-December 1955. Information was ob-
tained on east-west gradients in temperature, sa-
linity, phosphate, zooplankton, and forage-fish
abundance. By means of closing-net hauls a spe-
cial study was made of the vertical distribution
of zooplankton. In collaboration with the Univer-
sity of Hawaii, carbon fixation and chlorophyll
measurements were made on the east-to-west
leg of the cruise. A survey of tuna baitfish was
conducted in the Marquesas Islands.

SSR-Fish. No. 202 - Creel Census on the Upper
Mississippi River, by John Greenbank, 59 pp.,
illus., March 1957.

SSR-Fish. No. 214 - Surface Water Temperatures
along Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United
States, by Dean F. Bumpus, 156 pp., illus.,
April 1957.

|

= — - - + Ale ment Fa Tha BOs IH. 2+ a a- =

2 sea2e—--.

SSR-Fish. No. 218 - Fish and Shellfish Consump-

tion in Public Eating and Drinking Places, 112
pp., June 1957. The results of a survey made
by the Bureau of the Census of the Department of
Commerce for the Bureau of Commercial Fish-
eries to secure information which would help the
fishing industry improve old markets and devel-
op new ones. It was found that when a customer
whether he be in the north, south, east, or west
wants shellfish, his first choice is shrimp in two
out of three of the Nation's public eating places
which serve fish or shellfish. But if he wants
fish, and he lives in the northeastern part of the
country, his choice in public eating places will
be tuna, flounder, haddock, and halibut in the or-
der named. Ifhelives in thenorth-central area,
his choice will be ocean perch, pike, haddock and
catfish; in the south it will be catfish, sea trout,
flounder, and cod; and in the west he will choose
halibut, salmon, tuna, and flounder. The study
also indicates that fish or shellfish is the main
dish in 17 percent of all meals served in the
208,100 eating places that serve fish and shell-
fish. But there are still 190,000 of the total
398,000 public eating places which for some rea-
son do not serve fish or shellfish.

SSR-Fish. No. 219 - The Spawning Behavior of the

Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus, by Howard P.
Clemens and Kermit E. Sneed, 15 pp., June
1957. Channel catfish were induced to spawn in
glass aquaria by the injection of fish pituitaries.
The normal spawning pattern and behavior prob-
ably was not modified by the injections. During
the prespawning period the male hazed the fe-
male and both were belligerent toward other fish.
Pairing was accomplished when the female was
subdued and assumed a given position on the
bottom of the aquarium. The emission of sex
products was preceded by a spawning reflex in
which the male wrapped his tail around the head
of the female and quivered, while the female re-
sponded in like manner. The spawning act re-
quired about 6 hours and eggs were releaseda-
bout 9 times each hour. Bright lights, visitors,
or handling the spawners did not materially in-
terfere with or delay the spawning act. The
males cared for the eggs after the spawning was
completed. Males were used to spawn withmore
than one female, but the females usually depos-
ited all their eggs during one spawning.

Sep. No. 483 - Laboratory Method of Obtaining Un-

saturated Fatty Alcohols from Fish Oils.

Sep. No. 484 - Research in Service Laboratories

(August 1957): Contains these articles---''Dis-
coloration in Precooked Tuna for Canning;"'

September 1957

"Inspection Aid for Voluntary U. S. Standards
for Frozen Fried Fish Sticks Released;" "'Fro-
zen Fish Packaging Improvement Proposed;"
"Revised and New Federal Specifications
Planned for Five Fishery Items;" "Technical
Note No. 40 - Experimental Mobile De-Icing,
Washing and Weighing Unit for Unloading Fish
From Vessels."

THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY
FROM THE SPECIFIC OFFICE MENTIONED,

Gulf Monthly Landings, Production, and Shipments
of Fishery Products, June 1957, 5 pp. (Market
News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
609-611 Federal Bldg., New Orleans 12, La.)
Gulf States shrimp, oyster, finfish, and blue crab
landings; crab meat production; LCL express
shipments from New Orleans; and wholesale
prices of fish and shellfish on the New Orleans
French Market; for the month indicated.

Monthly Summary of Fishery Products Production
in Selected Areas of Virginia, North Carolina,
and Maryland, June 1957, 4 pp. (Market News
Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 18 So.
King St., Hampton, Va.) Fishery production for
the Virginia areas of Hampton Roads, Lower
Northern Neck, and Eastern Shore; the Maryland
areas of Crisfield, Ocean City, and Cambridge;
and the North Carolina areas of Atlantic, Beau-
fort, and Morehead City; together with cumula-
tive and comparative data; for the month indi-
cated,

(New York) Monthly Summary - March 1957 - Re-
ceipts of Fishery Products at the New York City
Wholesale Salt-Water Market, 16 pp. {Market
News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
155 John St., New York 38, N.Y.) Receipts inthe
salt-water section of the Fulton Fish Market by
species and by states and provinces for the
month indicated.

MISCELLANEOUS
PUBLICATIONS

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND
WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE OR-
GANIZATION ISSUING THEM. CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING PUBLICA-
TIONS THAT FOLLOW SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE RESPECTIVE OR-
GANIZATION OR PUBLISHER MENTIONED, DATA ON PRICES, IF READ-
ILY AVAILABLE, ARE SHOWN.

ANTARCTICA:

The Conquest of the Antarctic, by NormanKemp,

“152 pp., illus., printed, $4.75. Philosophical Li-
brary, Inc., 15 East 40th St., New York 16, N.Y.
1957. Presents a complete and fascinating his-
tory of the little-known continent of Antarctica.
The text is made very vivid by the inclusion of
many photographs of the men, vessels, and
coastal regions discussed. The author has timed
the writing of this book to coincide with the im-
pending separate expeditions of Britain, New
Zealand, U.S.S.R., and the United States, to con-
quer the Antarctic. Background information a-
vailable on the proposed expeditions, including
personal interviews with some of the members,
comprises the largest part of the book. One

>

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

85

chapter is devoted to the United States' "Oper -
ation Deep Freeze." During that operation, on-
ly four species of animal life were observed--
killer whales, skua gulls, penguins, and seals.
In summarizing his account of the Antarctic,
the author states that, ''This immense and un-
revealed wilderness of rock and ice will con-
tinue to invite adventure, and appeal to the im-
aginations of ambitious and energetic men."

CANADA:

"Summary Statistics of Canada's Fisheries,
1936-1955," 32 pp., printed. (Reprinted from
Canadian Fisheries Annual, 1957, pp. 67-98.)
Canadian Fisheries Annual, Gardenvale, Que-
bec, Canada. The first of eight sections of this
report covers summary statistics for all Can-
ada in regard to landings and values of catches
from 1949-1956, value of gear and craft, and
number of fishermen and men in plants. The
other sections present detailed data on east
coast fisheries--Newfoundland, Maritimes, and
Quebec; fresh-water fisheries; West Coast fish-
eries; fillet production; and exports and im-
ports.

COMMISSIONS:

Ninth Annual Report of the Pacific Marine Fish-
~ eries Commission for the Year 1956 (to the Con-
gress of the United States and to the Governors

and Legislatures of Washington, Oregon, and
California), 16 pp., printed. Pacific Marine
Fisheries Commission, 340 State Office Bldg.,
1400 S. W. Fifth Ave., Portland 1,,Ore. De-
scribes the Commission's meeting of November
26-28, 1956, at which recommendations were a-
dopted for 1957 concerning regulations of pet-
rale sole fishery; troll chinook salmon fishery;
ocean salmon--troll and gill-net fishery; tuna;
sablefish (blackcod); and otter-trawl fishery.
Also included areabrief summary of the Com-
mission's history; a list of names of the Com-
missioners, officers, andadvisors; and financial
reports.

CRABS:

Retort Cooking of Blue Crabs, by Robert A. Little-
ford, Bulletin No. 1, 16 pp., illus., printed. Sea-
food Processing Laboratory, University of Mary-
land, Crisfield, Md. Reports on investigations
made in regard to the retort cooking of crabs to
determine (1) whether differences in yield of
meat resulting from variations in crabs could
be compensated for by modifications in cooking
time; (2) an optimum time for cooking crabs
based upon percent yield, length of shelf life,
and quality of meat; and (3) the actual heat pen-
etration of the crabs during the cooking process.
It was concluded that a 10-minute cook at 15
pounds pressure and 250° F. produced the best
results.

DENMARK:

Arsberetning fra Fiskeriministeriets Forsdgs-
laboratorium for 1 ual Report to the
Danish Fishing Industry for 1956), 39 pp., illus.,
printed in Danish with English translation of the
main experimental results. Fiskeriministeriets
Fors¢gslaboratorium, Copenhagen, Denmark
1957. Describes the results of the following ex-
periments: fat determination in herring and
sand eels; determination of the nutritional val-
ue of fish for animal feed; keeping quality of

86

fresh fish; chilling of fish; antibiotics as a
means of preserving fish; antibiotic content in
the fish; hygienic requirements for shellfish;
painting fish boxes; freezing fish and shellfish,
such as shrimp, trout, mackerel fillets, catfish
fillets, and cod roe; semi-preserved fishery
products; canned cod roe, fish meal; and fish
silage.

FISHES:

Fishes: A Guide to Familiar American Species,
by Herbert S. Zim and Hurst H. Shoemaker, 160
pp., 278 color drawings, printed, limp bound $1,
de luxe cloth $1.95. Simon and Schuster, New
York, N. Y., 1956. A booklet showing the 278
species which represent most of the families of
American bony fishes. Notes on sharks and
rays, lampreys and hagfishes, andanimals mis-
taken for fishes are also presented.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION:

Directory of Fisheries Institutions: Asia andthe
Far East, 78 pp., printed. Food and Agricul- —
ture Organization of the United Nations, Region-
al Office for Asia and the Far East, Bangkok,
Thailand, 1957.

FOOD CONSUMPTION:

port No. 6, 69 pp., processed, 45 cents; Dietary
Levels of Households in the Northeast, Report
No. 7, 69 pp., processed, 45 cents; Dietary Lev-
els of Households in the North Central Region,
Report No. 8, 69 pp., processed, 40 cents; an
Dietary Levels of Households in the South, Re-
port No. 9, 69 pp., processed, 45 cents. U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.,
1957. (For sale by the Superintendent of Doc-
uments, U. S. Government Printing Office,
Washington 25, D. C.) These reports on thenu-
tritive content of diets, including fish and shell-
fish, contain portions of the data from the U. S.
Department of Agriculture's nationwide Survey
of Household Food Consumption made in the
spring of 1955. Previous reports in this series
have presented the data on quantities of foods
used during the week, which are the basis of
calculations of nutrient content of household
food supplies in these reports. The survey was
‘based on a national probability sample of ap-
proximately 6,000 housekeeping households of
one or more persons. These reports discuss
and- tabulate the rural-urban differences in die-
tary levels as well as the differences by income
groups.

GENERAL:

Fisheries Research Papers, vol. 2, no. 1, June
1957, 76 pp., illus., printed. Washington De-
partment of Fisheries, Olympia, Wash. Con-
tains the following articles: ''The Vertical and
Horizontal Distribution of Seaward Migrant
Salmon in the Forebay of Baker Dam," by
William H. Rees; "Downstream Migrant Salmon
Survival in Free Fall from a Ski-Jump Spill-
way," by Albert F. Regenthal; "Observations on
the Distribution and Biology of the Pink Shrimp
(Pandalus jordani) off the Washington Coast,"
by Herb. C. Tegelberg and John M. Smith; ''The

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 19, No. 9

Quality of Seed Oysters from Japan," by
Charles E. Woelke; "Migration and Growth of
the Dogfish Shark, Squalus acanthias (Linnaeus),
of the Eastern North Pacific,” by Gilbert A.
Holland; ''Rare Fishes from the Eastern North
Pacific Ocean," by Arthur D. Welander,
Dayton L. Alverson, and Peter Bergman; Brine
Shrimp Nauplii (Artemia gracilis) as Food for
Juvenile Pink Salmon,” by J. A. Coates, C. H.
Ellis, and R. L. Schwab; and "Survival Capaci-
ty of Spermatozoa of the Chinook Salmon and
Steelhead Trout," by Richard T. Smith and
Elmer Quistorff.

Natural History, Vol. LXVI, No. 6, June 1957,
Pp., illus., printed, 50 cents. American
Museum of Natural History, Central Park West
at 79th St., New York 24, N. Y. Contains among

others, the following well-illustrated articles:
"The Fish that made History,'' by Gary Web-
ster--an account of the important part playedby
the codfish in the development of the New World;
"Crayfish Are Like That," by John H. Garrard--
describes the appearance and behavior of cray -
fish found in United States streams; and "White
Whales of the Amazon," by Ross Allen and
Wilfred T. Neill--a report on the expedition
that brought the first living specimens of the
Amazon River dolphin to the United States.

"On the Transport of Live Cod and Coalfish," by
Gunnar Sundnes, article, Journal du Conseil,
vol. XXII, no. 2, pp. 191-196, illus., printed,
single copy Kr. 12 (US$1.74). Messrs. Andr.
Fred. H¢st & Sén, Bredgade, Copenhagen, Den-
mark, February 1957.

"Recent Experiments on Trawler Icing," article,

World Fishing, vol. 6, no. 5, May 1957, pp. 64-

72, illus., printed. John Trundell (Publishers)

Ltd., Temple Chambers, Temple Avenue,

London, E. C. 4, England. Describes labora-

tory experiments conducted with trawler models

to determine possible methods of protection a-

gainst ice formed on trawlers by freezing sea

spray. Rates of icing and hazards to stability
of trawlers under various conditions are dis-
cussed in detail.

Seafarer's and Their Ships (The Story of a Cen-

tury of Progress in the Safety of Ships and the

Well-being of Seamen), 96 pp., illus., printed,
$3.50. Philosophical Library, Inc., 15 East
40th St., New York 16, N. Y. This well-illus-
trated booklet shows how the present patternof
relationship between Britain's Marine Depart-
ment and the shipping industry has developed
through the years. Since the passing of the
Merchant Shipping Act of 1854, much has been
done to improve the conditions of life at seaand
the efficiency of the Merchant Navy, and to
strengthen the measures taken to safeguard the
lives of those who serve in ships both on the
high seas and off the coasts of Britain. The
functions and responsibilities of the Marine De-
partment have remained in principle the same--
the safety and well-being of the merchant ships
and seamen. These responsibilities and func-
tions have developed with the years and the
growing complexity of ships, and the purpose of

September 1957

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

87

this book is to describe something of this de-
velopment.

HONG KONG: site lem
Hong Kong Annual Department Report the Ac-

ting Director of Agriculture, Pa hewicn & For-
estry (for the Financial Year 1955-56), 97 pp.,
illus., printed. Government Printer, Java Road,
Hong Kong. This publication contains the annu-
al reports of the various divisions of the De-
partment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forest-
ry. Included in the report of the Fisheries Di-
vision is a review of its activities during the
year, which were directed mainly to the Marine
fisheries and the mechanization of the fishing
fleet, fishing investigations, training of fisher-
men, fresh-water fisheries, and oyster culture.
Tables in the appendix give the number and type
of Hong Kong fishing craft and fishermen, and
landings of the principal varieties of fish mar-
keted by species.

ISRAEL:

Sea Fisheries (Report to the Government of Isra-

el), by Dr. Alfred Perlmutter, USOM Agricul-
tural Report No. 13, 109 pp., illus., processed.
International Cooperation Administration,
United States of America Operations Mission to
Israel, 12-14 Harakevet St., Tel Aviv, Israel,
October 1956. This report points out the poten-
tialities of Israel's fisheries resources, recom-
mends a program to obtain better utilization of
these resources, and summarizes progress to
date on the program. The first section of the
report discusses each present and possible new
fishery in an attempt to evaluate the potential
of Israel's aquatic resources, and the second
section suggests methods for their development
to attain maximum utilization. It includes an
outline of the program for the development of
Israel's sea fishery resources and progress
being made on the various aspects of the pro-
gram. The appendices include (1) a list of the
commercially-important fish, with names in
English, Hebrew, Arabic, and Latin; (2) a list of
commercially-important invertebrates and
plants, in Latin, English, and Hebrew; and (3)a
paper entitled ''Use of the Estuarine and Sea
Fish of the Family Mugilidae, Grey Mullets, for
Pond Culture in Israel," by Alfred Perlmutter,
Lyka Bograd, and Joel Pruginin.

MOLLUSKS:

"Factors Affecting the Pollution and Self-Purifi-
cation of Molluscan Shellfish," by P. C. Wood,
article, Journal duConseil, vol. XXII, no. 2, pp.
200-208, il us., printed, single copy Kr. 12
(US$1.74). Messrs. Andr. Fred H¢st & Sdn,
Bredgade, Copenhagen, Denmark, February
1957.

MULLET:
The Demand for Florida Mullet, by William S.
~ Engleson and Marshall R. Colberg, Contribution
No. 69 from the Oceanographic Institute, 12 pp.,
illus., printed. (Reprintedfrom Papers from the
Oceanographic Institute, no. 2, 1956, pp. 77-88.)
ceanographic Institute, Florida State University,
Tallahassee, Fla. Describes insummary forma
statistical demand study pertaining to Florida-

caught mullet--Florida's most important food
fish. Price and sales data, essential for a sta-
tistical demand study, were collected primarily
by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and also
by the Florida State Board of Conservation.

NEW ZEALAND:

Annual Report of the Marine Department (1 April
1956 to 31 March 1957), 83 pp., printed. Gov-
ernment Printer, Wellington, New Zealand,
1957. This report contains, among others, a
section on the fisheries of New Zealand which
discusses crayfish, fishing vessels and person-
nel, fish landings, methods of capture, landings
by ports, exports and imports, big-game fish-
ing, fish-liver oil, whaling, oysters, toheroa,
whitebait fishery, mussels, fresh-water fish-
eries and research, marine research, and leg-
islation. The section concludes with a series
of tables giving detailed data on the fisheries.

NORWAY:

Praktiske Fiskefors¢k, 1954 og 1955 (Practical
Fishery Research, 1954 and 1955), Arsberetn-
ing Vedkommende Norges Fiskerier 1955, Nr.
9, 124 pp., illus., printed in Norwegian. A. S.
John Griegs Bokrtykkeri, Bergen, Norway,
1957.

OHIO:

Summary of the Ohio Lake Erie Commercial
Fisheries, 1956, 17 pp., processed. Division
of Wildlife, Ohio Department of Natural Re-
sources, 1500 Dublin Rd., Columbus 12, Ohio.
A statistical summary, compiled by the De-
partment's Wildlife District One, Sandusky,
pertaining to the Ohio commercial fisheries of
Lake Erie for 1956. Catch statistics are shown
by species, seasons, districts, months, gear,
counties, and major ports. Data on the trap-
net catch, percent of total catch (all gear), and
average pounds per lift are given for 1956.

OYSTERS:

"The Cultivation of Mother-of-Pearl Oyster in
the Red Sea," by C. Crossland, article, Aus-
tralian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Re-
search, vol. 8, no. 2, May 1957, pp. 111-130,
illus., printed. Australian Journal of Marine
and Freshwater Research, CommonwealthSci-
entific and Industrial Research Organization,
314 Albert Street, East Melbourne, C. 2,
Victoria, Australia.

"The Culture of Oysters in North-Western
Spain,'' by Manuel Sanchez y Sanchez, article,
Journal du Conseil, vol. XXII, no. 2, pp. 197-
199, printed, single copy Kr. 12 (US$1.74).
Messrs. Andr. Fred. H¢ést & Sdn, Bredgade,
Copenhagen, Denmark, February 1957.

ROCKFISHES:

A Review of the Rockfishes of California (Fam-

~ ily Scorpaenidae), by Julius B. Phillips, Fish
Bulletin No. 104, 158 pp., illus., printed. De-
partment of Fish and Game, Sacramento 14,
Calif., 1957. The rockfishes andscorpion fish-
es form one of the most important fish fami-
lies in the ocean waters of California. At pres-
ent, in California waters, this family is repre-

88 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 19, No. 9

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE

OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION ISSUING THEM.

sented by 49 species in the genus Sebastodes,
two in the genus Sebastolobus, and one in the
genus Scorpaena. Not only does this family
contain more species than any other marine or

fresh-water fish family known to inhabit our wa-

ters, but most of the species are highly desir-
able for food. This report presents uniform,
concise descriptions of all the species com-
prising the family Scorpaenidae in California
waters. Keys and photographs of all these spe-
cies are presented to facilitate identification.
Proper identification of the 52 kinds of rockfish,
inhabiting our waters, will not only aid the in-
dustry by providing means of maintaining a un-
iformity in its products, but is logically the first
step in helping to speed future research studies
on this increasingly important group of fishes.
Although the keys resulting from this study are
primarily for identification of adult fish, juve-
niles are included when available.

SALMON:

"Investigation and Management of the Atlantic
Salmon, 1956," article, Trade News, vol. 9, no.
12, June 1957, pp. 3-18, illus., printed. Depart-
ment of Fisheries of Canada, Ottawa, Canada. A
review of the present situation and the progress
made in Canada's Atlantic salmon researchand
management program. This review includes an
article on the changing environment Of the At-
lantic salmon, by Dr. J. L. Kask, Chairman of
the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Two
other articles constitute the report of the Sci-
entific Subcommittee on the progress made in
the investigational and management activities
during 1956. Part I deals with the research
program and is by Dr. C. J. Kerswill of the Re-

search Board's Biological Station at St. Andrews,

N. B. The second half of the report, by Dr. W. M.
Sprules, Special Assistant to the Deputy Minister
of Fisheries of Canada, Ottawa, deals with the
management program.

Electric Screens for Adult Salmon, by F. J. An-
drew, P. C. Johnson, and L. R. Kersey, 43 pp.,
illus., printed. International Pacific Salmon
Fisheries Commission, New Westminister, Can-
ada, 1956.

Further Experiments with an Electric Screen for
Downstream-Migrant Salmon at Baker Dam, by
F. J. Andrew, P. C. Johnson, and L. R. Kersey,
29 pp., illus., printed. International Pacific
Salmon Fisheries Commission, New Westmini-
ster, Canada, 1956.

SARDINES:

Algunos Aspectos del Desarrollo Inicial del Ovario

ado ardina (SARDINA PILCHARDUS Walb.).

ome pects of the First Stages of Ovarian De-

velopment of the Sardine), by Jaime dos Santos
Pinto and Buenaventura Ansreu, Notas e Estudos
do Instituto de Biologia Maritima No. 13, 12 pp.,
illus., printed in Portuguese with summary in
English. Instituto de Biologia Maritima, Lisbon,
Portugal, 1956.

A Sardinha do Norte de Portugal (SARDINA PIL-
CHARDUS Walb.). Caracteristicas Etarias e de
Reproducao (North Portugal's Sardines... Life

History and Spawning Characteristics), by J.
Amorim Machado Cruz, Notas e Estudos do In-
stituto de Biologia Maritima No. 14, 45 pp.,
illus., printed in Portuguese with summary in
English. Instituto de Biologia Maritima, Lisbon,
Portugal, January 1957.

SEAWEED:

(Institute of Seaweed Research) Annual Report for
1956, 24 pp., illus., printed. Institute of Seaweed
Research, Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland. Asa
result of the recommendation made by the Ad-
visory Council on Scientific Policy, as indicated
in the 1955 Annual Report, the scale and scope of
the Institute's operations have been reduced dur-
ing the year under review. Originally the In-
stitute's purpose was to determine whether the
possibility existed of creating a stable Scottish
seaweed industry which could compete with
those of other countries and at the same time
provide a considerable part-time industry in the
Highlands and Islands. From July 1, 1956, its
original purpose having been fulfilled, the Insti-
tute's responsibilities have been as follows: (a)
to support fundamental algal research; (b) to
operate an information service; (c) to provide
advice and technical assistance in connection
with the development of the seaweed resources
of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; and (d)
to supply algal chemicals for research at cost
and to stimulate interest in their utilization.
This report gives a summary of the work car-
ried out under extramural contract and on acol-
laborative basis during 1956 covering algal chem-
istry, plant physiology, microbiology, and use of
algal chemicals in medicine.

SHRIMP:

"A Revision of the Australian Species of Penaei-
nae (Crustacea Decapoda: Penaeidae), by W.
Dall, article, Australian Journal of Marine and
Freshwater Research, vol. 8, no. 2, May 1957,
pp. 136-231, illus., printed. Australian Journal
of Marine and Freshwater Research, Common-
wealth Scientific and Research Organization,
314 Albert Street, East Melbourne, C.2, Victoria
Australia.

SMALL CRAFT:

High-Speed Small Craft, second revised edition,
by Peter Du Cane, 336 pp., illus., printed, $15.
Philosophical Library Inc., 15 East 40th St.,
New York 16, N. Y., 1957. A revised edition of
an excellent book covering all phases of the de-
sign and construction of high-speed marine
craft. It is illustrated by numerous photographs,
charts, and diagrams which greatly enhance the
value of this book for all concerned in any way
with the designing and powering of small high-
speed craft. The various chapters discuss the
types of high-speed craft, seaworthiness and
maneuverability, design, materials, structure,
application of plywood and laminated-wood con-
struction in marine craft, installation of main
machinery, transmission, steering gear, re-
verse gear, cruising engines,model experiments,
propellers, speed trials, dynamic stability, and
electric arrangements in high-speed craft. In
addition, the revised edition contains several
new chapters on the principles underlying the

September 1957

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 89

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILOLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE

performance of planning craft in theory and prac-

tice, rudder design in plan form and section, re-
inforced plastics for boat-building, light alloys
in high-speed craft, propelling machinery, and
use of models for prediction of behavior in
rough water.

SWEDEN:

Fishermen's Organizations and the Regulation of
Fish Prices in Sweden by Christian Hessle and
Sigmund Verstandig, FAO Fisheries Study No. 4,
106 pp., illus., printed, 5s. (US$1). Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
Rome, Italy, 1957. (For sale at Columbia Uni-
versity Press, International Documents Service,
2960 Broadway, New York 27, N. Y.) Theauthors
state that ''The principal aim of this paper is to
provide a description of the organizations of the
Swedish fishermen and the system of regulating
fish prices, written in such a way as to enable
fisheries administrators and fishermen in oth-
er countries to benefit from the experiences
gained in Sweden. The reason the description
embraces both fishermen's organizations and
price regulations is that in Sweden these regula-
tions, to a great extent, are administered incol-
laboration with the fishermen's organizations.
In order to give a picture of the background to
the main subjects treated in this paper, the fish-
ing industry, the fishing population, and the gov-
ernmental administration of the fisheries in
Sweden have been briefly reviewed in the first
part.'’ Part 2 discusses the origin and early de-
velopment of the fishermen's and the fish deal-
ers' organizations; Part 3, the fishermen's
professional unions; Part 4, the fishermen's
cooperative trading associations; and Part 5,
price regulations.

TRAWLING:

Deep Sea Trawling, by John Garner, 98 pp., illus.,
printed. The Gourock Ropework Co., Ltd., Port
Glasgow, Scotland, 1956. Trawling is the most
extensive method used for catching fish, and
various types of gear or rigs for small or large
trawls are used, but irrespective of size they
are all of the same principle, namely, to drag
along the bottom of the sea. The trawldescribed
in this book is the most popular for deep-sea
fishing, and even after being usedfor many years
it has not altered much from the original. This
book describes and illustrates in detail the ma-
terials used in making nets for trawling, the dif-
ferent steps in braiding the nets, how the trawl
net pieces can be worked out in theory before
each piece is made, details of a trawl, the rope
and wire working gear, the running gear, and the
hauling and shooting gear. Net mending is also
described and illustrated.

TUNA:

A Study of Bluefin Tuna Populations from the East-

~ern and Western North Atlantic Based on an A-
malyeis of Fin-Ray and Gill-Raker Counts (The

rles F. Johnson Oceanic Gamefish Investi-

gations), by C. Richard Robins, Report No. 57-13,
8 pp., processed. The Marine Laboratory, Uni-
versity of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.

Identification of the Pink Pigment of Canned Tuna,

by W. Duane Brown and A. L. Tappel, 8 pp.,

illus., printed. (Reprinted from Food Research,
vol. 22, no. 2, 1957, pp. 214-221.) Department of
Food Technology, University of California, Davis,
Calif. A reportonresults of experiments lead-
ing to the identification of the pink pigment of
tunaasahemochrome. Knowledge of the chemi-
calnature of this pigment is of considerable im-
portance in studies of discoloration of canned
tuna.

"On the Distribution of Catches by Tuna Long-
Line," by T. Yoshihara, article, Journal of the
Tokyo University of Fisheries, vol. 41,no. 1, pp.,
[-38, illus., printed. The Tokyo University of
Fisheries, Tokyo, Japan, 1954. Foranumber of
years Japanese scientists have explored fishing
grounds with a view to helping promote anactive
and productive offshore fishery for tuna. Inpar-
ticular, they have paid attention to the depths of
the swimming layers of different species andalso
to the correlation of catches at different depths
with hydrographic data. This paper presents
some of the data collected in the course of ex-
tensive investigations, and studies in some de-
tail the horizontal and vertical distributions of
three sets of tuna catches by vessels working
in the Pacific Ocean during 1949, 1950, and
1952. The first part of the paper deals witha
method of determining the depth of fishing of
each hook from the known dimensions of the
length of a basket and the length of the float and
branch lines. A table and graph have been pre-
pared to facilitate the conversion of this ratio
into the required co-ordinates, and the actual
depths of the hooks in baskets of five and six
hooks, for unit length of main line, are present-
ed. The rest of the paper deals with the spatial
distribution of the different species based on
actual catch data. The paper concludes with
some comments on the relationship between
catch and water temperature.

WASHINGTON:

1956 Fisheries Statistical Report, 88 pp., printed.
Washington State Department of Fisheries, Fish-
ermen's Terminal, Seattle 9, Wash., May 1957.
This edition represents an extension of the sta~
tistical series to include a wider scope of ma-
terial. It covers statewide commercial catch-
es of fish and shellfish, Fraser River sockeye
pack, Puget Sound salmon, Grays Harbor catch
figures, Willapa Harbor catch figures, Colum-
bia River catch figures, licenses and receipis,
the Indian fisheries, miscellaneous statistics,
plantings of hatchery salmon and egg takes at
hatcheries, and fishway counts. Major additions
to the commercial fishing tables include Indian
catch figures, published here for the first time,
and hatchery and fishway counts formerly
found in the Annual Report series. According
to this report, ''The 1956 commercial fisheries
of the State (Washington) produced a total of
122,464,148 pounds of fish and shellfish worth
$21,574,670 to the fishermenand $44,485,900 at
the wholesaling and processing level. The re-
tail value was estimated at $62,280,260. The

90 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 19, No. 9

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILOLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION ISSUING THEM.

statewide canned salmon pack from local fish of the poundage and 7.1 percent of the value of
amounted to 186,787 48-pound cases, the lowest all fish and shellfish produced by the United
pack since 1944, and far below the 1935-1955 States and Alaska. Nine states and Alaska out-
average. It was an off-year for pink salmon, ranked Washington in aggregate landings, but
sockeye salmon catches did not quite reach ex- the value of the State's canned and processed
pectations, and the Puget Sound chum season fish continued to rank third highest."

was a failure. Production composed 3.1 percent

FISH STICKS--TIME SAVERS EVERYONE FAVORS

When you prepare seafood the modern way, as in golden-fried fish sticks,
there is no cleaning, no waste, no breading, no defrosting, and nofrying. Each
fish stick is frozen individually so you can prepare as many or as few as you like

at any time. They are low in
price, readily available, fla-
vorful, and certainly easy-to-
prepare.

The fish mainly usedin
the preparation of the fish
sticks are cod, haddock, pol-
lock, salmon, and halibut, but
other species are used in lesser
amounts. The fish are filleted
and the fillets are then frozen
into uniform blocks. The fro-
zen blocks are cut intorectan-
gular-shaped sticks weighing
about one ounce. The sticks
are dipped into batter, breaded
andfriedindeepfat. The cook-
ed sticks are then packaged,
frozen, and shipped for distri-
bution into retail outlets all
over the United States.

A popular quick luncheon item, recommended by the home economists of
the Fish and Wildlife Service, that will click with allmembers of the family,
especially the smallfry, are 'fishburgers' served with tartar sauce. The
preparations are simple, but the ''fishburgers" are tasty and nutritious.

Place the fish sticks in a single layer in a baking pan. Bake in a hot oven,
400° F., for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through and crisp. Place two fish
sticks on a toasted buttered roll and serve with tartar sauce.

TARTAR SAUCE
CUP MAYONNAISE OR SALAD DRESSING 1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED PARSLEY

TABLESPOON CHOPPED ONION 1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED OLIVES
TABLESPOON CHOPPED PICKLE

Mix thoroughly and chill. Serves 6.

September 1957 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 91

CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

Page Page
FOREIGN (Contd.): FEDERAL ACTIONS (Contd. ):

Portugal (Contd. ): Department of the Interior (Contd.):

Fisheries Trends, January-March 1957 ........+-. 68 The Secretary Makes Certain Delegations of Authority
Fisheries Trends, January-April 1957 ........-. 68 Concerning Fisheries! 2... jc es me ee ts 74
Sardine Fishing Fleet Owners Favor Control Over Size Department of State:

ies Aaa Seo se Go Sp Gato o aco coro 69 Territorial Waters and Law of the Sea Touched Upon

Spain: in an Address by Under Secretary of State ...... 76
Bilbao Fisheries Trends, April-June 1957 ....... 69 White House:

Fisheries Trends, May 1957 ....-2+22e+eees 69 U. S. Commissioner Appointed for Inter-American

Sweden: Tropical Tuna Commission ........++-+-+.>5 76
Frozen Fish Industry. ... +. + e222 eee ee eee 70 Eighty-Fifth Congress (First Session) .......+..- 76

Thailand: FISHERY INDICATORS: ....2.-222e2eceecsveces 78
Thai-Japanese Joint Fishing Base Proposed ,..... 70 Chart 1-- Fishery Landings for Selected States ..... 78

Union of South Africa: Chart 2 - Landings for Selected Fisheries.......-. 719
Pilchard Industry Research Expanded. ......... 71 Chart 3 - Cold-Storage Holdings and Freezings of Fish-

United Kingdom: Exy,Productsime:alicle)ieieiintishelelinitelteuieiRe(elta/ieie..sic6/"s 80
Canned Salmon Import Quotas ... 71 Chart 4 - Receipts and Cold-Storage Holdings of Fishery
Russia Not Interested in Imports of Products at Principal Distribution Centers ...... 81

White Fish Fillets ..... meters 72 Chart 5 - Fish Meal and Oil Production - U. S. &
FEDERAL ACTIONS: ...2..-ccccccecce 2. 73 Alaska..... Shella a srehiawenaNare lela te petaltelieytele! o 81

Department of the Interior: Chart 6 - Canned Packs of Selected Fishery Products . 82
Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Given More Protection Chart 7 - U. S. Fishery Products Imports ......-. 83

by New Legislation, ........ ei sfiv(elie «2 «6 © 73 RECENT FISHERY PUBLICATIONS: ...... 22+. 84
Changes in Basic Fisheries Act of Alaska Recom- Fish and Wildlife Service Publications .....-... + 84
MMEMIACA a) (sila! ww! mi fujleitalis fel eilela) alivelfee\tay a wits s\/h io « (a 73 Miscellaneous Publications ......2+s2++ eee 85

ARE ALL OCEAN CURRENTS CAUSED BY WINDS?

No. Ocean currents also occur as a result of differences in water pres-
sure. These differences may be caused by wind, which piles water up against
a coast or by variations in the density. The latter results when evaporation
from the water surface andthe supply of fresh water are not equal, or when the
gain and loss of heat are not the same. Inthe BalticSea, the surface water is
lighter and flows into the North Sea. The North Sea water is heavier and flows
into the Baltic beneath the surface. On the other hand, in the Mediterranean
where loss by evaporation exceeds the supply of fresh water, water becomes
heavier than Atlantic water. The former therefore flows into the Atlantic at
Gilbraltar, below the surface, whereas water from the Atlantic flows onthe
surface into the Mediterranean, Nearly all bottom water inthe oceans is formed
inthe Antarctic where, in the Wedell Sea, surface water is cooled to sucha
degree that it sinks to the bottom,

--Sea Secrets, The Marine Laboratory,
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.

ASABABA

Editorial Assistant--Ruth V. Keefe Illustrator--Gustaf T. Sundstrom

Compositors--Jean Zalevsky, Alma Greene, Helen Joswick, and Vera Eggleston

HK OK OK OK

Photograph Credits: Page by page, the following list gives the source or pho-
tographer for each photograph in this issue. Photographs on pages not mentioned
were obtained from the Service's file and the photographers are unknown.

Pps. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, & 8--Maine Herring Exploration and Gear Research,
Exploratory Fishing and Gear Development Section, Boothbay Harbor,
Me.; p. 33--Basil L. Smith System, Phila., Pa.; p. 35--Upper right
of page--Bob Munns; p. 36--Exploratory Fishing and Gear Develop-
ment Section, Seattle, Wash.

INT.-DUP. SEC., WASH., D.C. 23782

WC

3 9088 8 19 915
ALLIGATORS STILL FORMIDABLE CREATURES, BUT eae 1

Although alligators remain formidable creatures, they no longer are growing to
their former massive proportions, according to records maintained by the Fish and
Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior.

Acentury ago, 15-foot alligators were pretty much run-of-the-mill. Fourteen-footers
were still around as recently as 50 yearsago. But today atwelve-foot specimen is regarded
as near the maximum.

That is why an alligator measuring 133 feet caused something of a stir when he was
hauled out of the water atthe Delta National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana. He was promptly
dubbed ''Ol' Gram'pa'' and entered in (
the records as the biggest alligator
ever taken on Delta Refuge.

Like the bison, the alligator has
been subjected to heavy hunting in
years gone by. Because of the inac-
cessibility of some of its habitat,
however, the alligator has been able to
survive in large numbers despite
greatly decreased living space and a
century of extremely heavy harvest-
ing.

From1800 until 1891, more than
2,500,000 of these animals were har-
vested in the State of Florida alone.
As late as 1900, some 280,000alligator skins were being processed in the United States
annually. The harvest varies from year to year, and from refuge to refuge. ''Ol'Gram!
pa'' was one of 400 taken last year on Delta Refuge. But on the Sabine National Wildlife
Refuge, also in Louisiana, the harvest has been as great as 1,300 in a year.

Several of the refuges in the South have natural habitat for alligators. The Depart-
ment's Fish and Wildlife Service follows management practices which will assure all
species of wildlife as much living room as possible. Alligators are protected until their
numbers approach the carrying capacity of their habitat, and then harvestingis permitted.

Among the natural enemies ofthe alligator are the raccoon and the bear. The raccoon
does not match his legendary shrewdness against the snapping jaws and the whipping tail
of an alligator, and the bear does not engage the 'gator in direct conflict. But the alligator
is an egg-laying reptile, andthe raccoon andthe bear obtainthose morsels with compara-
tive safety.

The young alligator is eight inches longathatching, and weighs about two ounces. It
gains only a half-pound the first year and is prey of a number of denizens livingin or near
the water. Evenlarger young 'gators arefairfoodfor gar and other fish which reachlarge
dimensions.

But at three years, the alligator weighs about 15 pounds and measures threefeet. He
then is able to take care of himself against most adversaries.

Drouth is a distinct enemy of the alligator. It kills a lot of the things upon which the
alligator feeds, and destroys his natural habitat.

As with many other examples of wildlife, individual alligators are ''tagged'' for pur-
poses of biological study. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel do their alligator tagging
at night from small boats. Theyconfine their efforts to the juveniles, avoiding personal
tussels with alligators more than three feet long. When tagging operations are under way,
a dozen or two of the animals are caught during an evening, and the metal tags affixed.

Alligator hides do not attracthigh prices on themarket. Three or four decades ago, a
seven-foot specimen would be worthfrom 90 cents to $4.65, depending for the most part
upon the location of the market and the quality of the hide. Pricing today is based ona
per-foot-of-alligator basis, withprices ranging from $1.25 to $2.50 per foot.