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Vol. 15, No.7 — “JULY 1953

FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE
United States Department of the Interior

Washington, D.C.

UNITED STATES Re
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

DOUGLAS McKAY, SECRETARY JOHN L. FARLEY, DIRECTOR
= 5a. G7
A review of developments and news of the fishery industries

prepared in the BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES

A. W. Anderson, Editor F. F. Johnson, Associate Editor
J. Pileggi and J. J. O'Brien, Assistant Editors
Mailed free to members of the fishery and allied industries. Address correspond-
ence and requests to the: Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the

Interior, Washington 25, D. C.

Publication of material from sources outside the Service is not an endorsement.
The Service is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions contained
in material from outside sources.

Although the contents of this publication have not been copyrighted and may be re-
printed 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, November 5, 1952.

CONTENTS

COVER: DECKLOAD OF BLUEFIN TUNA ( IHUNNUS THYNNUS ) C AUGHT
BY THE WESTERN EXPLORER, A VESSEL CHARTED BY THE SERVICE'S
BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES TO CONDUCT THE INITIAL
PHASE OF THE BLUEFIN-TUNA EXPLORATORY FISHING OPERATION
IN THE GULF OF MAINE DURING THE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL OF
1951. (SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, MARCH 1952, P, ts)

PAGE
GULF OF MAINE BLUEFIN TUNA EXPLORATION--1952, BY Js J. MURRAY csscececoceccccsccesorores 1
s * * &@ & ©
PAGE PAGE
RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES: ...+e+e- 18 |TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS (CONTD.):
PROGRESS ON PROJECTS, JUNE 1953 ....0.2. 18 PACIFIC OCEANIC FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS
TECHNICAL NOTE NO. 27--ALASKA POLLOCK: (CONTD.):
PROXIMATE COMPOSITION; AMINO ACID, NEW TYPE LONG-LINE GEAR SUCCESSFULLY
THIAMINE, AND RIBOFLAVIN CONTENT; USE TRIED BY JOHN R. MANNING (CRUISE NO.
AS MINK FEED, BY R. G. LANDGRAF, JR. .. 20 15) peje iereleeats oinisiel acioeilselacielclelae haem
TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS: wcccceccccceseses 23 U. S. FOREIGN-FLAG FISHING VESSEL REGU-
CALIFORNIA: LATIONS DO NOT APPLY TO GUAM AND
SARDINE DATA COLLECTED BY VESSEL AMERIGAN) SAMOA vcs. cise se ces 0 te oe eeS
YELLOWFIN (CRUISE 53-Y-5) ....cccceees 23 U. S. PACK OF PACIFIC COAST SEA HER-
YELLOWTAIL FISHED AND TAGGED BY VESSEL RIING, 1952. 45). weiss science sents ame
ORCA. Sate agave dle ale glo Sika Gla cieidlewlelelevelerioanrn yi23 WHOLESALE PRICES, MAY 1953 .....e-ee00- 32
TRAWLER NAUTILUS ADDED TO-STATE'S FISHERY PRODUCTS MARKETING PROSPECTS
MARINE RESEARCH FLEET ..ccescecceseces 24 FOR JULY-SEPTEMBER 1953 ....cesseevers 34
FEDERAL PURCHASES OF FISHERY PRODUCTS .: 24 |/FOREIGN: |..¢..cc. cece ccececccuccnenucune 35
GEAR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: INTERNAT | ONAL:
UNDERWATER SOUND AND TELEVISION TESTED NORTH PACIFIC FISHERIES TREATY RATIFIED 35
OFF BAHAMAS BY RESEARCH VESSEL POMPANO 24 ANTARCTIC 1953 WHALE O|L PRODUCTION
GULF EXPLORATORY FISHERY PROGRAM: AUMOSTMSOUDEOUT NS ce aniem eee Cee ee SS)
TUNA BAIT GROUNDS FOUND BY OREGON IN WORLD MARINE-O1L PRODUCTION, 1952 .... 36
GUIERA (IGRUIISEINORVaIG)) ors a enna s a a2 NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISHERIES COM-
JAPANESE FROZEN-COOKED TUNA SHIPPED TO MISSION:
Ws So uiN UNGENMED) CANS6 Se oboocéonueouon. 2y REPORT OF THIRD ANNUAL MEETING ...... 38
METAL CANS--SHIPMENTS FOR FISHERY PROD- NORTH EUROPEAN OVERFISHING COMMISSION:
UCTS), “ JANUARY:=APRIDL | 11053) sic srecicicienele ee sien teu7 PERMANENT COMMISSION HOLDS FIRST
NORTH ATLANTIC FISHERY. INVESTIGATIONS: MEETING. A\c'cia.sevaicisiei Sioleereietree eee le meer
MESH-SELECTIVITY EXPERIMENTS ON HADDOCK FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANI ZATION:
CONDUCTED BY ALBATROSS 111 (CRUISE NO. FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS IN
Lait earn eR aa a CR Tenia ORE I Ea! LATAIN AMERICA) cis cis 2 ois oevoteie ein chereieereleranee
PACIFIC COAST HALIBUT. FISHERY: AUSTRALIA:
AREAS 3A AND 1A CLOSED JULY 7 ......-2. 28 CANNED FISH PACK, 1952 ....cecseeecees 44
PACIFIC OCEANIC FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS: PROGRESS ON FISHERIES NEGOTIATIONS
TUNA ATTRACTANTS TESTED BY CHARLES H. WITH: SAPAN: so ciselelaccnaceibistetute ctaleeior ie aenareroemeeaeae
GILBERT /(GRUIISE, NO 6}! sos cenian@annice 2B CANADA:
SKIPJACK TUNA STUDIES IN HAWAIIAN WA- BRINE-FREEZING OF FISH AT SEA .eceseee 44
TERS CONTINUED BY CHARLES H. GILBERT GOVERNMENT ADOPTS INSURANCE PLAN FOR
(ERUISE INO) M2) Sen eee a ee mE os FiI'SHERMEN® a cross cictave « arotateronle einen ee Cerae

CONTENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 83

|

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

July 1953 Washington 25, D.C. Vol.15 , No.7

GULF OF MAINE BLUEFIN TUNA EXPLORATION-- 1952

By J. J. Murray*

TABLE OF OONTENTS

PAGE PAGE

SUMMARY cococercrcereccceercrarccecccceos 1 FISHING AND SCOUTING RESULTS cecocccccvecee a,
INTRODUCTION eeovceercecccvrecccecccercrce 2 LONG=LINE CATCHES wesc rcccccceccccrccae 7
AREA OF EXPLORATION cocccocecccccccccccoce 3 GILL=NET AND TRAMMEL=NET CATCHES ecocosee 10
EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES eecoe 3 TROLL CATCHES scccoeccecccccvccceccccces 10

VESSEL seccccececcsesccvvercecsvascecoe 3 WATER TEMPERATURES cooccececccececccees 10

LONG=LINE GEAR ceoccccccccscrcsevceccoces 3 SOME ADVANTAGES OF LONG=LINE FISHING

GILL NETS AND TRAMMEL NETS eccoccovcececvae 6 FOR TUNA ccoccccccgee vevccecpecccvevee

SURFACE TROLLING GEAR secoccceccccvccces 6 LOG OF FISHING TRIPS (CONDENSED) oceccces

SUMMARY

Exploratory fishing for bluefin tuna, using Japanese-style long-line gear, was
conducted from June through October 1952 in offshore waters fromMaine to NewJersey.
Gill nets, trammel nets, surface-trolling gear, and hand lines were also tested to
a lesser extent. A catch of 311 bluefin tuna (about 12,000 pounds) was made with
the long lines during July, August, and September, with best fishing during July
and August. Between July 21
and August 10, 216 tunawere
caught at the average rate
of 12.8 tuna per hundred
hooks. Individual catches
ran as high as 46 tuna per
hundred hooks. Best fish-
ing results were obtained
off Cape Cod and offEastern
Point, Massachusetts. The
total catch of sharks was
over twice that of tuna.
Gill nets and trammel nets
failed to catch tuna in 16
sets. Catches on trolling
lines were also poor, only
6 bluefin and 3 little tuna
being taken.

FIG. 1 - SCHOONER MARJORIE PARKER LEAVING PORTLAND, MAINE, All available evidence
ON NITIAL EXPLORATORY FISHING T IN JUNE 1952, ;
HER INITIAL E RAT ISH RIP JUNE 1952 suggests that this year's

run of tuna in New England was far below normal. In spite of the low total catch,
some aspects of this season's long-line fishing were encouraging. Potentially-val-

uable tuna grounds producing excellent individual catches were found within 30miles

# FISHERY METHODS AND EQUI PMENT SPECIALIST, EXPLORATORY FISHING AND GEAR DEVELOPMENT SECTION,
BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, PORTLAND, MAINE.

2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

of land. This is well within the operational range of small local fishing craft,
which are easily adaptable to long-lining. The initial cost and upkeep of long-
line gear is moderate. Also, long-line gear may be operated under rather severe
weather conditions which would prohibit purse seining or other methods. A good
supply of long-line bait is readily available in the immediate area during the
fishing season.

INTRODUCTION

The second phase of exploratory fishing for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
in the Gulf of Maine and adjacent waters was conducted during the summer andearly
fall of 1952 by the Exploratory Fishing and Gear Development Section, Branch of
Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A New England fishing
schooner was chartered from June through October, and exploratory operations were
carried out in the offshore waters of New England, New York, and New Jersey.

This work was a continuation of a project started in 1951 to investigate the
possibilities of developing a Gulf of Maine commercial tuna fishery. Purse sein-
ing was employed during the 1951 season and 190,000 pounds of bluefin were caught
(Murray 1952).

age |

a

CONNECTICUT

40'
io
HEW JERSEY

feCENG

nN © APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF
LONG-LINE SETS.

=ENCLOSES AREA COVERED BY

SCH. MARJORIE PARKER DURING
1952 SEASON.

[382 ~ 74° 72° 70° 68°

FIG. 2 - AREA OF OPERATION DURING THE 1952 BLUEFIN TUNA EXPLORATION, SHOWING LOCATION OF
LONG-LINE SETS.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3

To test other fishing methods, floating long-line gear developed and success-
fully operated by the Japanese and Chinese in their offshore tuna fisheries was
obtained from Japan and used as the principal fishing gear for the 1952 season.
Other gear tested to a lesser extent included gill nets and trammel nets, surface-
trolling lines, and hand lines.

AREA OF EXPLORATION

Most of the year's work was carried out between Nantucket Shoals and Portland,
Maine. During July, August, and part of September, explorations were made mainly
off Massachusetts Bay, along the eastern edge of South Channel, and on the small
fishing banks lying up to 100 miles off the New England Coast.

Cruises were made outside of the Gulf of Maine in September and October, and
long-line operations were conducted on Browns Bank and off the Nova Scotian coast
near the Seal Island fishing grounds. During June and early October, long-line
sets were also made in the area southwest of Nantucket Shoals as far south as the
lower New Jersey coast. This general area is contiguous to the route presumably
traveled by the bluefin tuna in their seasonal migration to the Gulf of Maine.
The area covered during the 1952 exploration and locations of long-line fishing
operations are shown in figure 2.

EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

VESSEL: The schooner Marjorie Parker, active for many years in the New Eng-
land groundfish fisheries, was chartered for the season's work. Registered meas-
urements of the vessel were: length, 78 ft.; beam, 21 ft.; depth, 9 ft.; tonnage,
76 gross tons. The vessel was powered with a 200-horsepower Diesel engine, and
had a small Diesel auxiliary engine. Other equipment included a depth recorder,
loran, radio direction finder, and radiotelephone. Deck arrangements were of a
conventional schooner rig, with the pilothouse aft. The foremast was fitted with
a crows-nest which served as a lookout stand during scouting operations. A crew
of seven men handled the vessel and ran all fishing gear.

LONG-LINE GEAR: Japanese tuna long lines are designed to operate at subsur-
face levels, ranging to 50 or more fathoms in depth. The long line is suspended
in an approximate horizontal position by the attachment of floats at one-basket
intervals. Fishing depths may be varied by increasing or decreasing the lengthof
float lines. Shapiro (1950) describes some of the many variations that are used
in rigging tuna long lines. Forty baskets of Japanese long-line gear were used
during this exploration. On the first trip and part of the second, locally-made
long line was employed.

The basket, used to hold one section of the long line, is the customary fish-
ing unit. The components of one basket include main line, branch lines, float
lines, and floats. Construction details of the gear used on the Marjorie Parker
are shown in figure 3.

A Japanese long-line hauler was installed on the starboard bow section of the
main deck. Power was supplied by a two-cylinder gasoline engine coupled to the
hauler by an automobile transmission.

Long-line gear was set while the vessel was moving slow ahead. All hookswere
baited before the setting operation started. The main line was made fast to aflag-
pole buoy which was dropped overboard, and successive baskets of gear were paidout
over the stern rail. Ends of the main line in individual baskets were tiedtogether,
and glass floats (approximately one foot in diameter) with the selected float-line

Vol. 15, No. 7

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

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July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 5

lengths were attached between baskets. For very shallow fishing, extra floats
were attached to the center of the main line of each basket to reduce sag. A
flagpole buoy was attached at every fifth basket and on the end of thelast basket.

The gear was allowed to float free of the vessel except in periods of poor
visibility when one end of the long line was secured to the vessel. When hauling,
the gear was kept off the windward bow as the vessel moved up on it slowly. The
end of the long line was brought aboard and passed over a roller set in the deck

7 : : rail and into the line

ES | a ee hauler, which automatically

ineunecoaaneennnyreirsesomecncenn ettnetainces enn NAMNIE f coiled the main line into
: an empty basket placedon

a low platform directly
beneath the line-pulling
sheaves. Branch lines
were coiled by hand and
placed in the baskets.
Flagpole buoys and glass
floats were removed asthey
came aboard. Except for
baiting, the gear was then
ready for the next set.
Under normal conditions 10
baskets could be set in20
minutes and the same num-
ber could be hauled in
about one hour,

FIG. 4 - BAITED BASKETS OF LONG-LINE GEAR READY FOR FISHING.

Most of the long-line
bait used was purchased in New England fishing ports. Additional bait was caught
at night with drift gill nets similar to those used in the mackerel fishery. These
nets were 40 fathoms long and 75 meshes deep, constructed of 14/6 cotton twine,
33-inch stretched mesh.

Of the baits tried, squid (Loligo pealei) was the most acceptable and was used
on most of the long-line sets. It stayed on the hooks even during lengthy sets,
and kept well on ice for - a
periods of over a week.
Menhaden (Brevoortia ty-
rannus) and mackerel (Scom-
ber scombrus) caught in
drift—net operations had
good hook endurance and
satisfactory storage qual-
ities. Menhaden made good
chumand on afew occasions
was used to attract tuna
alongside the vessel. Of
thebaits tested, sea her-
ring (Clupea harengus) and
alewives (Pomolobus psuedo-
harengus) “had the softest
flesh, making it difficult
to ee them on hooks for
even comparatively short
periods.

FIG. 5S - SETTING BASKET OF LONG-LINE GEAR FROM STERN OF
MARJORIE PARKER.

6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW _Vol. 15, No. 7

GILL NETS AND TRAMMEL NETS: Sets were made with gill nets and trammel nets
to test their fishing possibilities for bluefin tuna. Eleven linen and six nylon
x ook , drift gill nets of four
: mesh sizes were used; 12-,
\ 13-, 14-, and 15-inch
stretched mesh. The linen .
nets were constructed of
16/5 thread, 24 to 30
meshes deep and 300 feet
in length, hung 30 inches
of stretched mesh to the
foot. Cork and lead lines
were of No. 261 thread
medium cotton seine twine.
Hanging line was No. 48
thread soft cotton seine
twine. Oiled cedar floats,
6 inches long and 23 inches
in diameter, were spacedon
the cork line every 36
inches. Five-ounce leads,
FIG. 6 - HAULING LONG LINE WITH JAPANESE-TYPE LINE HAULER. 3/16-inch split, were spaced
THE MAIN LINE 1S AUTOMATICALLY COILED IN THE BASKET BELOW at one-fathom intervals on
THE MAIN HAULING SHEAVE. re Nea seine. Goaseimems
with a cutch compound imparted a brownish color to the nets. The nylon gill nets
had dimensions identical to the linen gill nets. The netting was of No. 346 nylon
twine, and was not treated with a preservative. Cork and lead lines were ¢-inch
diameter nylon maitre cord.

/

Five trammel nets, 300 feet long and approximately 18 feet deep, were used.
Two had an outer walling of 24-thread, medium laid, cotton-seine twine, 24-inch
stretched measure, and inner netting of 20/12 fine yarn cotton twine, 10-inch
stretched mesh. The other three nets had the same thread sizes with an outerwall-
ing of 15-inch stretched mesh and inner netting of 5-inch stretched mesh. These
nets were hung extra full in accordance with commercial practice, and were treated
with a cutch compound.

SURFACE-TROLLING GEAR: Seven trolling lines were towed while the vessel was
under way; 3 from each of 2 trolling poles and one from the stern rail. This gear
was patterned after that used in the North
Pacific albacore fishery (Powell, Alverson,
and Livingstone 1952).

The twotrolling poles were of Douglas
fir, 35 feet in length and tapering from
43 inches in diameter at the base to 1-7/8
inches at the tip, with a steel band and
swivel enclosing the butt end. When not in
use, the poles were raisedand lashed to the
main rigging.

Troll lines were of 261-thread, hard-
laid, cotton-seine twine. Inboard lines on
the poles were 15 fathoms in length, center
lines were 20 fathoms, and the outer lines
were 22fathoms long. Paired galvanizedsteel

springs (placed between the poles and the FIG. 7 = SETTING TRAMMEL NETS NEAR BOON
ISLAND, MAINE, JULY 1952.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 7

lines) and trolling rubbers (spliced into the lines about 10 fathoms from the
poles) served as shock absorbers.

Several types of trolling jigs were used throughout the season, including
white, yellow, and red double-hook "bone" jigs; black wooden jigs; green and red
plastic squids; and lead jigs with red and white feathers.

FISHING AND SCOUTING RESULTS

Bluefin tuna production by Cape Cod Bay traps and pound nets during 1951

amounted to 779,000 pounds. Catches from the same area during 1952 amounted to
F : 1 og 223,000 pounds, a decrease
i j of 71 percent from the
preceding year. State of
Maine bluefin landings de-
clined from a catch of
113,000 pounds in 1951 to
37,000 pounds in 1952.
Catches elsewhere in the
Gulf of Maine closely fol-
lowed the same pattern,
substantiating observations
on surface schools of blue-
fin tuna made by explora-
tory fishing crews during
1951 and 1952 which indi-
cated a much smaller stock
present during the 1952
season. Surface schools
sighted in 1952 were esti-

FIG. 8 = OUTRIGGER POLE USED FOR SURFACE-TROLLING LINES. mated at 200 tons as com-

pared to over 500 tons ob-

served by the crew of the Western Explorer in 1951. It is believed that this ap-
parent decline in available stocks materially affected the quantity and frequency
of exploratory catches.

if oom

LONG-LINE CATCHES: During the survey period, 118 long-line sets were made.
A record of these sets is presented in table 2. The bluefin tuna catch amounted
to 311 fish with an estimated round weight of 12,000 pounds. Sizes ranged from 9
pounds to approximately 200 pounds per fish, with the average about 38 pounds (round
weight). Best fishing of the season was experienced during July and August. Sets
made between July 21 and August 10, using a total of 240 baskets of gear, resulted
in a catch of 216 tuna; a fishing return of 12.8 fish per 100 hooks. The largest
individual catch of the season occurred on July 23 when an overnight set of 20
baskets (140 hooks) produced 51 tuna with an estimated weight of 2,000 pounds.

Tests with various lengths of float lines revealed that most of the catches
were being made fairly near the surface. Also, the surface layer of warm water
was found to be relatively shallow. Consequently the majority of sets were made
with a minimum length of float line (about 3 feet). Sag in the main line obviously
allowed some hooks to fish at depths near the thermocline.

Practically all of the tuna were alive when removed from the hooks. Due to
their liveliness, some difficulty was experienced in bringing the fish to gaffafter
the branch line was brought alongside the vessel. Attempts to land the fish by
lifting the branch line resulted in the loss of some fish, and gaffs had to beused.

8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

Long-line catches of bluefin tuna were made over an extensive area through-
out the Gulf of Maine and in the coastal waters southeast of Cape Cod. Two ex-
ceptionally productive fishing areas were
found within the Gulf of Maine.

1. East of Cape Cod--grounds situated
11 to 26 miles east by north of Chatham
Light, near the southern tip of Cape Cod.
This was the most productive of all areas
fished, yielding the highest poundage and
some of the best sets of the season. Dur-
ing July and August 103 tuna, averaging 40
pounds each, were taken here.

2. Wild Cat Ridge--a small fishing
bank lying between the 50-and 100-fathom
curves, 28 to 40 miles east southeast of
Hastern Point Light. Very good catches
were made in this area during early August.
Sets with 48 baskets of gear (336 hooks)
caught 96 tuna (3,325 pounds). Late-season
fishing on the same bank resulted incatches
averaging 4.7 tuna per 100 hooks.

Pee
be ces

are roeuesree ATEN AE

Newfound Ground, off the southwestern
Nova Scotian coast, was fished during the
first week of September. A 10-basket set
produced 9 tuna. Sets in the same general
area later in the month proved unproductive.
FIG. 9 - MASTHEAD LOOKOUTS ON WATCH FOR Sets made near surface indications of
UNAS CHOOCS.. tuna usually resulted in good catches.
Blind sets occasionally resulted in good catches; however, over the season the
average catch was much lower in areas where no tuna were seen at the surface.

An important factor affecting tuna long-line fishing is the great number of
sharks present in New England waters during the summer, especially in August and
September. The most numerous species encountered was the blue shark (Prionace

lauca). The cumulative catch of this species amounted to twice the total tuna
catch. Sand sharks and mackerel sharks were caught in lesser numbers.

In addition to affecting the fishing potential of the long-line gear by foul-
ing lines and reducing the number of hooks available for tuna. sharks attacked and
laceratedmany hooked fish. :

Shark catches from over-

night sets weremuch larger _

than those from daylight r ' r
>

operations.

Basedon American fish-
ing standards, the June-
October averageof 3.7 tuna
per 100 hooks’ seems to be
too lowa returnfor profit- |
able operation. However,

1e e peak o
pe Che cnet a auie e f FIG. 10 = TUNA SCHOOLS--DARK STREAK IN BACKGROUND SIGHTED OFF
the season (July and August) EASTERN POINT, MASS., IN AUGUST 1952.

\

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 9

averaged 7.2 tuna per 100 hooks on sets of approximately 4 hours' duration, and
individual sets ranged as high as 46 tuna per 100 hooks. A monthly summary of

Table 1 = Monthly Summary of Exploratory Long-Line Fishing by the Marjorie Parker,
1952

Season
nye

SOtS — NUMDEr .. ccccccccccccccccccccccrvcccccccce
Average number of hours per SOb eeecsccencccccece
Hooks - total number fished ...c.ccrcrsccccvsccces
Hooks - percentage fished por month ..cccccsccees
Hook-hours fished - total ....cccccccccccsccccces

Hook-hours - percentage fished per month ...eceo.

Muna canchit) —eNUMDeS Mi srelelslcielelelsle’alelelsleleleleleloleielelele(siele

Tuna caught - percentage caught per month .......

Tuna caught per 100 hooks — number .ececccccccces

Tuna caught per hook-hour ..ccccccccecccrcvecccsee
caught — number cecccecooce

- percentage caught per month ....c.ccore.

caught per 100 hooks —- number ......cceeee

bi DOT NOOK—-NHOUT! Kiclelcisieisisle clelsiclelclelslclelole

the season's results are presented in table 1. Concentration of fishing effort to
coincide with the seasonal periods of greatest availability of bluefin tuna, dis-
covery of additional productive fishing areas, and improvements in long-line gear
design and operation should measurably increase the present catch return.

FIG. 11 = BLUEFIN TUNA ON DECK DURING FIG. 12 = AFTER DECK OF MARJORIE PARKER
HAULING OF LONG LINE. WITH PORT!ON OF LONG=-LINE CATCH.

10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

GILL-NET AND TRAMMEL-NET CATCHES: With one exception, all gill- and trammel-
net sets were made at night following the daytime long-line activities. Bothgill
and trammel nets were set in one continuous string using 3 to § nets. Some sets
were made using only trammel nets. Following attachment
of buoys and lights, the nets were set over the sternrail

and allowed to drift clear of the vessel until daylight.

The 16 sets’made during the season failed to catch
tuna. Small quantities of herring, mackerel, dogfish
and other shark, and on one occasion a porpoise were
caught in the trammel nets. A record of the gill- and
trammel-net sets is presented in table 3. All sets were
made without visual signs of tuna except on July 23 when
a set of 3 trammel nets and 2 gill nets was made in the
immediate vicinity of schooling tuna. This set was un-
productive.

TROLL CATCHES: Catches on the trolling lines were
very poor. Only six bluefin and three little tuna (Eu-
4 thynnus alletteratus) were caught throughout the entire
season.

WATER TEMPERATURES: Surface-temperature (507) and
bathythermograph (50) recordings were made during the
survey period. Subsurface water temperatures area major
factor in determining the operational depth of long-—line
gear. Data based on the development of long-line fishing
by Asiatic fishermen show that where water currents of
different temperatures are present at subsurface levels,
the colder water may act as a barrier which the tuna hes-

eM MPI CN ionic itate to enter. Favorable fishing conditions are as a
LINE. THE CATCH OF SHARKS rule found near the thermocline or dividing line between
WAS TWICE THAT OF TUNA. the relatively warm surface waters and cooler underlying

waters (Shapiro 1950). Bathythermograph recordings made during the 1952 operations
showed the thermocline at approximately 90 feet in waters exceeding 75 fathomsdeep.

Il | PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL HOOK-HOURS FISHED.
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL TUNA CATCH.

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SHARK CATCH.

»
is}
o
3)
be
D

a4

AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

FIG. 14 - MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION OF LONG-LINE FISHING AND CATCH, 1952.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW alal

In shallower water the thermocline was generally found at depths of 50 to 75 feet.
This relatively shallow layer of warm water ppesumabiy: keeps the tuna fairly
closeto thesurface in the
Gulf of Maine.

Seasonal occurrence
of warm water closely co-
incides with the arrival
andduration of tuna schools
off New England. The low-
est surface temperature in
which tuna were caught was
59° F. Above this temper-
ature catches showeda very
close correlation with ef-
fort.

SOME ADVANTAGES OF LONG FIG. 15 = HAULING IN THE NYLON GILL NETS.
LINE FISHING FOR TUNA: “While catch results from this season's work were not high,
the 1952 experiments nts disclosed some special advantages in long-line gear for Gulf
of Maine bluefin-tuna fishing.

Practically all the small and medium fishing boats now operating in the New
England trawl and seine fisheries are suitable for long-line fishing. Conversion
of these boats into long-liners would be simple and com-
paratively inexpensive. A long-line hauler would bethe
only additional mechanical equipment required.

The moderate cost of gear procurement and mainten-
ance, and low operational expenses of small and medium
boats are distinct advantages. Materials for fabrication
of ‘one basket of gear cost approximately $35. The line
hauler and side roller represent the only other perman-
ent equipment needed, and these can be installed without
making major changes in deck gear and machinery. Under
normal conditions long-line gear should serve for a min-
imum of four tuna seasons. Costs of seasonal gear main-
tenance should be approximately 10 percent of the total
value of the gear operated.

Long-line fishing operations can be carried out under
rather severe weather conditions. Fishing was conducted
in rough weather with winds up to 30 m. p. h. When sur-
face conditions preclude visual observations of tuna
schools, fair fishing returns can be achieved under con-
ditions which would prevent purse seining or other types
of fishing.

Potentially valuable fishing grounds were found
within a distance of 30 miles from land. This distance
lies within the usual operational orbit of small fishing
craft based at New England ports. A long-line fishery
farther offshore would require larger boats similar to

FIG. 16 - MAKING A BATHY- : ; ,
THERMOGRAPH CAST, JUNE the type now used in the otter-trawling and scallop fish-

1952. ery on the outer Gulf of Maine fishing banks.

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 15, No. 7

LOG OF FISHING TRIPS (CONDENSED)

TRIP 1: June 2-5: Left Portland, Maine, for
Provincetown, Massachusetts, to pick up frozen bait.
Proceeded to Hudson Canyon, approximately 80 miles
southeast of Ambrose Channel Lightship.

June 6-8: Long-line sets in Hudson Canyonarea
unproductive. A series of long-line sets off Cape
May, New Jersey, and Block Island, Rhode Island, un-
productive.

June 9-13: Long-line sets made in South Chan-
nel, between Georges Bank and Cape Cod; off Race
Point, Cape Cod; Ipswich Bay, Massachusetts, and
Boon Island, Maine. No tuna caught.

Summary of Trip: Bluefin tuna were not sighted
on the trip. Long-line and surface-trolling gear
were not successful in capturing tuna.

TRIP 2: June 17-19: Long-line sets and an
overnight gill-net and trammel-net set east of Port-
land, near Halfway Rock. No tuna caught.

June 20-23: Gill nets and surface-trolling
gear worked in the Boon Island-Isle of Shoals area.
No tuna caught.

June 24: Proceeded to New York and picked up
40 baskets of Japanese long-line gearand line hauler.
One set made east of Fire Island, New York.

June 25-29: Long-line fishing conducted south-
east of Nantucket Lightship, Georges Bank, and on
Stellwagen Bank in Massachusetts Bay. No tunacaught.

June 30: One set on Sewell Ridge, about 50
miles southeast of Cashes Ledge Buoy. Returned to
Portland.

Summary of Trip: Sets were made without dif-
ficulty and the Japanese gear worked smoothly. Blue-
fin tuna were not observed on the trip and fishing
operations failed to catch tuna. Surface tempera-
tures ranged from 61° F, to 71° F.

TRIP 3: July 5: Received report of school
tuna observed off Halfway Rock, Maine, by local fish-
ermen. A combined gill- and trammel-net sect made
in the area proved unsuccessful.

July 6-9: Long-line fishing conducted onsouth-|
western Georges Bank, South Channel, Cashes Ledge,
Stellwagen Bank, and York Ledges, Maine. No tuna
caught.

July 10-13: Trammel-net operations at night
in Cape Cod Bay and Ipswich Bay. Trolling operations

conducted from Boon Island, Maine, to Eastern Point, |

Massachusetts, during daytime.

July 14: Sighted small school of bluefin tuna
near Portland Lightship. Troll lines failed to ob-
tain strikes. No tuna caught on this trip. Julyl5
returned to port.

Summary of Trip: First observations of school
tuna noted. Surface water temperatures recorded
from 4 to 6 degrees higher than those obtained dur-
ing June. Comparison of Gulf of Maine surfacewater
temperatures taken at corresponding dates and areas
during the 1951 and 1952 season revealed that 1952
readings were from 1 to 4 degrees higher.

TRIP 4: July 18-21: Long-line fishing in vi-
cinity of "Tobins," approximately 60 miles southeast
of Cape Cod Light. First bluefin tuna of season
taken by long line on July 21.

July 23: Proceeded inshore towards Cape Cod.
Sighted school of tuna, estimated at 50 tons, 24
miles southeast by east of Peaked Hill Bar Buoy off
Cape Cod Light. A four-hour set of 10 baskets of
long-line gear produced 32 bluefin tuna, averaging
40 pounds (oad weight) each. An overnight set of
20 baskets in the same area resulted in a catch of
51 tuna of the same average size. Trammel nets set
near surfacing fish were unsuccessful.

July 24: School fish still in area. Sets of
10 and 5 baskets resulted in a total catch of 13
tuna. Catch of blue sharks on long line increased--
especially heavy during night sets.

July 25: Contact with main body of fish lost
although small schools of tuna were still visible.
Set resulted in a catch of 6 tuna and 4 blue sharks.
While standing by long-line gear, a successful at-
tempt was made to bring schooling tuna alongside the
vessel, using frozen herring and alewives for chun.
Hand lines baited with frozen squid caught only four
tuna. July 26 returned to port.

Summary of Trip: A total of 105 bluefin tuna
(3,800 pounds round weight) was captured in 8 long-
line sets, employing 91 baskets of long-line gear.

A total of 34 sharks were caught at the same time.
Trammel-nst and surface-troll fishing caught notuna.
Best fishing was found in an area 24 miles southeast
by east of Peaked Hill Bar Buoy, Cape Cod Light,
where 59 baskets of long-line gear caught 97 bluefin
tuna. Surface water temperatures recorded ranged
from 56° F. to 72° F.

TRIP 5: August 1-6: Long-line fishing con-
ducted in waters southeast of Cape Cod with poor re-
sults. Thirteen sets produced 27 bluefin tuna and
53 blue sharks. Trammel-net fishing and surface
trolling were also tried, but no tuna were caught.

August 8-10: Long-line operations in waters
from 30 to 40 miles east by south of Eastern Point
Light, Massachusetts, caught 86 tuna and 28 sharks
on 56 baskets of gear. All long-line sets were made
without surface indications of tuna.

Summary of Trip: Best results of the season

| were achieved during this period when the majority

of long-line sets proved successful in capturing
tuna. Excellent fishing encountered in area approx-
imately 30 miles east of Eastern Point Light. Long-
line sets totaled 18, comprising 170 baskets of gear
resulting in a catch of 113 bluefin tuna. Average
round weight of fish was 32 pounds each,

Surface water temperatures were consistently
higher than those recorded on preceding trip, rang-
ing from 63° F. to 70° F.

TRIP 6: August 14: Departed Portland at noon.
Set 10 baskets of long-line gear for 3 hours off
Boon Island. No tuna and few sharks caught. Moved
SW. to Eastern Point, Massachusetts.

August 15; Completed 3 long-line sets in an
area 30 miles SE. of Cape Ann Light. Results poor,

July 1953

with catch of 4 tuna and 46 blue sharks, Trouble
with line hauler necessitated return to Portland
for repairs.

August 17: Left Portland and proceeded S. by
W. to Cape Cod.

August 18: About 40 miles SE. of Cape Cod
Light--2 bluefin tuna caught on troll lines. Set15
baskets of gear in:vicinity of troll catch andcaught
6 bluefin tuna and 10 blue sharks.

August 19: Trolling on Northern Edge of Georges
Bank. Set of 15 baskets of long line caught 3 tuna.

Radio message from fishing trawler reported schools
of tuna sighted on August 18 about 1, miles WSW. o*
Mt. Desert Rock, Maine. Proceeded to position re-

ported.
August 20: Set 10 baskets at 0600 in area

where tuna had been observed. Caught 1 tuna and 10
sharks. Moved NW. for 3 hours and set 8 baskets of
gear for 3 hours. No tuna captured. Moved over-
night to the southwest. Dragger Victory hand-lined
168 bluefin tuna on "Tobins" today.

August 21: Troll lines caught 2 tuna while
fishing E. by S.of Cape Ann Light. Completedtwo long-
line sets during day and caught 43 blue sharks; no
tuna.

August 22: Made unsuccessful set of 10 baskets
at daybreak off Cape Ann. Docked at Gloucester for
supplies in early afternoon. Departed Gloucester
at 1900, and set course for Cape Cod. Anchored for
evening off Race Point, Cape Cod.

Docked at Provincetown for shelter
Departed at 2000 for

August 23:
from strong northwest winds.
offshore fishing grounds.

August 24: Completed 2 sets, 13 miles E. by
N. of Chatham Buoy, Cape Cod, with poor results.
Proceeded offshore at 2200 for"Tobins." Fresh north-
west winds all day. Trolled for 7 hours without
strikes.

August 25: Completed 3 sets during day, catch-
ing 17 tuna and 19 blue sharks in waters about 60
miles S. by E. of Cape Cod. Sharks mutilated 7
hooked tuna, including one estimated at 200 pounds.
Hand-lined 2 tuna in afternoon.

August 26: Three long-line sets produced 5
tuna and 8 sharks, Fishing trawler reported sight-
ing school tuna near Pollock Rip Lightship, about
25 miles west of our position. Moved to position
reported and set 10 baskets of gear at 1600. Caught
6 tuna and 8 sharks on 2-hour set. Trolled for 5
hours with no strikes.

August 27: Made 3 long-line sets in same gen-
erel area. Caught 4 tuna and 21 sharks. Trolled
without success,

August 28-29: Scouted area from Stellwagen
Bank in Massachusetts Bay to Jeffreys Bank off Cape
Ann. Four sets caught 4 bluefin tuna and 28 sharks,
Docked at Portland at 2200 on the 29th.

Summary of Trip: Catch of 56 bluefin tuna from
long-line fishing--3 tuna caught on troll lines, 2
on hand lines. Catch of sharks four times greater
than tuna. Operations conducted in four general

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

13

areas: west southwest of Mt. Desert Light, southeast
of Cape Ann and Cape Cod, and in the vicinity of
Pollock Rip Lightship. School tuna observed onfour
occasions between Cape Cod and Cape Ann,

TRIP 7: September 8: Departed Boston for fish-
ing grounds 50 miles southeast of Cape Cod.

September 9-10: Night set of 20 baskets re-
sulted in a catch of 44 blue sharks and 2 bluefin
tuna. Completed 6 sets with a total catch of 12
tuna and 86 sharks.

September 11-13: Cruised in area between Cape
Ann and Baileys Island, Maine, operating troll lines
and conducting long-line fishing over a wide area.
Results poor in all areas fished-~-shark catches re-
mained high, but tuna were scarce. Completed 6
sets--catch totaled 4 tuna and 41 sharks.

September 14-16: Refueled and loaded supplies

at Portland.

September 17: School tuna reported in vicin-
ity of Portland Lightship. Overnight set of 3
trammel nets proved unproductive. Set 10 baskets
of long-line gear in same area and caught 24 blue
sharks. Another set of 10 baskets near BoonIsland
was unsuccessful in capturing tuna. Moved to Race
Point, Cape Cod.

September 18-19: lLong-line fishing off Cape
Cod caught 2 tuna, Proceeded to Provincetown for
shelter.

September 20-22: Left Provincetown. Proceed-
ed through Cape Cod Canal and resumed long-line
fishing south of No Mans Land. Sighted small schools
of tuna in area--3 tuna with an average weight of
9 pounds each caught on long line.

September 23: Long-line set off Chatham, Mas-
sachusetts, unsuccessful. Weather bad--proceeded
to Boston for shelter and supplies.

Summary of Trip: Long-line fishing and one
trammel-net set conducted between Portland Light-
ship and No Mans Land with poor results. Only two
small schools of tuna were sighted during the trip.
Blue snark catches remained high. Surface water
temperatures lower than those recorded in August
and early September, A total of 21 long-line sets,
comprising 188 baskets of gear, caught 22 bluefin
tuna and 214 blue. sharks.

TRIP 8: September 27: Left Boston and pro-
ceeded to South Channel fishing area, between
Georges Bank and Cape Cod.

September 28: Long-line fishing and surface
troll operations conducted in South Channel about
50 miles southeast of Cape Cod shore. Twenty four
sharxs caught on 3 long-line sets. Trolling oper-
ations unproductive. Proceeded east during evening
to Browns Bank.

September 29-30: Series of long-line sets
made on Browns Bank and Seal Island Ground near
Nova Scotian coast. Strong tides encountered in
both locations caused difficulty in setting and
hauling gear. Four tuna and several sharks were
avenue Water temperatures ranged from 50° F. to
Doms

Sertember 30-October 2: Resumed long-line fish-
ing in general area of Cashes Ledge and southwest
to edge of Georges Bank. weather poor with strong
southeast winds and periods of heavy fog. No tuna
returns from 7 long-line sets. Negative results
from troll fishing. Shark catch high during this
period,

October 3: Docked Portland. A total of 5,230
pounds of blue sharks sold to fish meal and oil proc-
essor.

Summary of Trip: Only 4 tuna caught. Sharks
very abundant. No schools of tuna observed.

TRIF 9: October 7-8: Departed Portland and
proceeded to New York coastal waters south of Am-
brose Channel Lightship.

October 9: Made 3-hour set of 10 baskets of
long Line on Cholera Bank (approximate position
4,0°24' N. latitude 73°22' w. longitude) with nega-
tive results. Ran inshore towards New Jersey coast--
troll lines caught 3 little tuna (Euthynnus allet-
teratus). Set of long line near site of troll catch
proved unproductive. weather bad; strong northeast
winds in late afternoon.

October 10: Northeast winds of force & veloc-
ity. Docked at Cape May, New Jersey, for shelter.
October 12: Left Cape May at 0700. Made long-
line set 35 miles ENE. of Five Fathom Bank Light-
ship--no fish. Trolled to the northeast and set 7
trammel nets for overnight fishing at 1800.

October 13: Hauled trammel nets at daybreak.
Small quantity of mackerel in nets. Continued
course to the northeast--trolling lires out; no
strikes. Strong northeast winds. Anchored for
night aporoximately 12 miles southeast of Ambrose
Channel Lightship.

Octokter 14-16: Worked area 15-20 miles off
Long Island coest from point 12 miles southeast of

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 15, No. 7

Ambrose Channel Lightship to vicinity of Block Is-
land, using long-line and troll fishing during day
and gill- and trammel-net fishing at night. Leng-
line fishing results negative. Troll lines caught
1 bluefin tuna weighing 20 pounds. Series of 3com-
bination gill- and trammel-net sets caught small
quentities of fish, including 3 common bonito, 4
bluefish, 32 chub mackerel, 226 menhaden, 2 blue
sharks, and 1 porpoise.

October 17-18: Completed unsuccessful tramsel-
net set 10 miles southeast of Block Island. Trolled
to entrance of Cape Cod Canal without obtaining
strikes. Docked Portland for supplies on the 19th.
weather delayed resumption of cruise.

October 23: Departed Portland forCashes Ledge.

October 24: Strong northwest winds all daypre-
vented fishing operations. Han inshore and anchored
off mace Point, Cape Cod.

October 25: Docked Provincetown for shelter.

October 26: Weather improved. Left Province-
town for offshore Cape Cod waters. Set 17 beskets
of long line 12 miles E. by S. of Chatham Buoy, Cape
Cod--no tuna; few blue sharks. Wind increased, Ran

northwest in Massachusetts Bay. Anchored for night
near Stellwagen Bank.

Proceeded to
Fishing operations ter-

October 27: Weather still bad.
Boston and docked at 0930.
minated for the season.

Summary of Trip: No bluefin tuna caught on
long-line gear. One caught on trolling lines.
weather was unfavorable during most of the trip.
Scouting and long-line fishing operations conducted
off New York and New Jersey coasts were unsuccess-
ful in locating or capturing bluefin tuna. Troll
lines caught 3 little tuna and small schools ofthis
species were observed off the Long Islanc coast. Ex-
verienced worst weather of season duringthis period.

LITERATURE CITED

J.
REPORT ON 1951

MURRAY, Je
1952.

EXPLORATORY BULEFIN TUNA FISHING

IN THE GULF OF MAINE. COMMERCIAL

FISHERIES REVIEW, VOL. 14, NO. 3 (MARCH 1952)--ALSO SEPARATE 309.

POWELL, D.
1950.

E.; ALVERSON, D. L.; AND LIVINGSTONE, R. JR.
NORTH PACIFIC ALBACORE TUNA EXPLORATION--1950, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE,

FISHERY LEAFLET 402 (APRIL), WASHINGTON, D. C.

SHAPIRO, SIDNEY
1950.

THE JAPANESE LONG=LINE FISHERY FOR TUNAS.

U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, FISHERY

LEAFLET 317 (NOVEMBER), WASHINGTON, D. C.

NOTE: FOR TABLES 2 AND 3, SEE PAGES 15-17.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 15

| Table _2 = Record of Exploratory Long-Line Sets by the Mario ker, June-October 1952

Set
Numbe

"| Number Length | Time |Lengt Surface Wate catch __|
ti
ae Stone of pent/ fo Peas Ses Ne Shark
Hooks Lines |Set | (Hours) ae of Fish)
32

w an PP
o

°
o
GPOOrFFrFO

foMoMo Moo Nome Rooke nononononon omen on—)

meparoborunan
WPOCQOCOrFCOOMON

(0) (0)
) 0)
(0) 1
1 (0)
1 8
1 (a)
32 5
51 10
7 i
6 6
6 4
Aug.
a 3 66° 5 15
1 3.5 67° 1 10
2 4 65° 5 3
2 265 630 3 5
3 NS 3" 0700] 6 66° 7 (a)
3 A, S SA SON tas 5 66° 1 0
4 Ss 3" |0730| 3 66° ) 0
5 Ss} 3" |1400] 3 66° 5 1
5 s 30" |1830] 3 68° (0) 6
6 Ss 3t jo900] 2 69° (0) 6
6 s 60" {1400} 3 70° ) 2
7 Ss 3" 11000| 3 66° ) 1
7 s 30* |1630] 3.5 65° 0) 4
8 s 3* |1300)] 2.5 68° 26 6
8 IS 60" 1740] 2 64° 2 at
9 s 3" |0730] 4 65° 35 4
9 Ss 3' 11430] 4.5 65° 14 10
10 Ss 3' 10645] 4 64° 9 7
49 14 S} 3' 11640] 3 68° (0) 6
50 15 s 3" |o640}] 2 66° 2 25
51 15 s 3* |1300} 2.5 67° 0) 6
52 15 s 3" |1800] 2 67° 2 15
53 18 Ss 3" 10830] 3 68° 6 10
54 18 s SY L640) 3 70° 6 10
55 19 S 3" 1100] 3 64° 2 6
56 19 S 3" 11800] 2 66° 1 5
57 20 s 3! 10700 | -3 649 i 10
58 20 eS 3* 11450] 3 58° 1 0
59 21 A, S 3" 0830] 3 68° 0) 18
60 21 Ss 3* |1700} 2.5 66° (@) 25

(TASLE 2 CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE )

16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW CRISS Whey 4

2 (Contd)

| Length — “Lengt any [Surface Wwater|_Catch _|
ee of Float] of of a rere a Shark
Lines |Set | (Hour iB (No. of Fish

70009!
70910!
69°33!
69°25!
69°30!
69°30"
69°28"
69°00!
69°05!
69°12!
69°12
69925!
699298
70°05!
70°02"
70°00!
70°01!

°
oO

e e
oO o
b be
AUNIpPOONHRNONYNOO®

rR

PNUNNEFNWONRFWHONNEPUANNN AD
oo

OPNVEFEFNFOFROUNROOFO

5 rPWwONE DW
e °
oO

DCOONOKFFOONDONDDOFPOORPNRFPNNFANOYD

0)
2
at
2
2
4
1
2
5
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

PE
PNANrFUOP PL RO

WANnDNNnNNANnNHNHHnNNMN
WNNUANNNNNNNWND
ecooOoOCoCoCoCooodo
AMNOODOWOOVFRPAYW

td
n
ol

y ALEWIVES, H HERRING, M MACKEREL, P MENHADEN, AND S_— SQUID.
THE FIRST 13 SETS AND THE LAST SET WERE WITH LOCALLY =MADE LONG=LINE GEAR. THE REMAINDER WERE MADE
WITH JAPANESE LONG-LINE GEAR.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Aly/

Tm)

ang ammne t—N © evs

Surface Water} Wind
Temperature | Direction
Cans and Force

20 43°09! | 70°34" 52° NW. 3 Blank set
22 42°06! | 70°08! 61° W. 2 |Mackerel, 100 lbs.
23 4043! | 71°50! 61° SE. 4 |Blue shark
6 57° NE. 4 |Blank set
10 Mackerel, 50 lbs.; Herring, 30 lbs.
Blank set
Dogfish, 2,000 lbs.; Mackerel, 50 lbs.
set
set
set
set
set

"

"

Oct. {12 39915! | 73°40! 8 63° WSW. 4 |Mackerel, 20 lbs.

"114 40°03" | 73°09! 62° SW. 3 |Mackerel, 100 lbs.

uM 15 40°39! | 72°40! 62° SW. 2 Blank set

"416 40°52! | 71950! 62° Nw. 4 |1 Porpoise; 2 Blue sharks

NOTE: JULY 23 SET WAS MADE IN THE DAYTIME; ALY OTHER SETS WERE MADE AT NIGHT (FROM DUSK TO DAWN) .

we

PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES

AND ALASKA, 1952

Commercial Fisheries, gives preliminary 1952 estimates for the fishing
industry with comparative data for earlier years. For those phases of
the industry for which preliminary estimates are not available, the most
recent information is listed.

The publication includes United States and Alaska fish production
1929-1952; catch by states, principal species, gear, and months; and land-
ings of fishery products at leading U. S. fishery ports. There is also
information on craft, employment, and shore establishments; manufactured
fishery products; per-capita consumption; and value of the fisheries for
1951 and 1952. Average wholesale price indexes for fish and shellfish
are given for December 1951 and 1952. Included is a retail price index
for foods and finfish for December 15, 1952, with comparative data. For-
eign fishery trade and available supply of certain fishery items are pre-
sented in this 20-page publication. A flow chart of the commercial fish-
eries for 1952 is also included.

Copies of Fishery Leaflet 393 are available free upon request from
the Division of Information, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington
25, De Co

18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Weals 2535 Wes \7/

RESEARCH

7 IN SERVICE LABORATORIES

iw
perieteeiah on Bodeiera! June 1953

REFRIGERATION: Freezing Fish at Sea, Defrosting, Filleting, and Refreezing
the Fillets: LABORATORY STUDIES: Tables 1 and 2 contain data on the effect of

Table 1 - Effect of Variation in Immersion Time on Scrod
Haddock Fillets Dipped in Brine (10 percent salt, by weight

Characteristics of the Dipped Fillets

Weight |Salt (NaCl)| Free Press |Tenderomete
piel ee Content Drip Drip Reading

Table 2 - Effect of Variation in Immersion
ime and Brine Concentration on Salt Content

nf. Scrod Haddock Fillets
Brine, by weight| Immersedin Brine| of Fillets

Percent

5
10

A/DATA FROM A PREVIOUS W256

extended brine immersion periods on scrod
haddock fillets.

Further data were obtained onthe changes
occurringin round scrod haddock immersed in
refrigerated brine for extended periods. The
effect on salt and moisture content of the
surface layers of the fish are shown in table 3.

able 3 - Moisture and Salt Content of the Surface Layers of Round Scrod Haddock
Immersed in Cold Brine. (Brine temperature: 5° F.; con content of brine: 23
Ls PSUR aaa percent sodium chloride
Time Whole Scrod [Characteristics of the Surface TS rers of the Haddock Flesh_
Haddock Immersed in se fics it tek
Brine Moisture Salt (NaCl) | Moisture | Salt (NaCl) |

cme ptreNare lie jG °
OD eS P= ee
Pu

hu o SO}

Percent
1.39
3.57
5.64
8.98

10.7

VESSEL OPERATION: The research trawler Delaware was readied for fishing op-
erations. The first cruise is under way, at which time the new brine-freezer mech-
anism will be tested.

(Boston)

HEH UHR

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 19

Freezing, Glazing, and Thawing Salmon to be Canned: Analysis for salt con-
tent of the various experimental and commercial samples was completed. The data
follow:

Salt Content of Canned Alaska Red

Species
of Canned |Treatment of Raw Material
Salmon

Brine-frozen; thawed in
running tap water

ai ron
Brine-frozen; thawed in s- 1.94
still water
83

Salmon Prepared from Brine-Frozen Fish

Can |Amount of [Number [Salt (NaCl) Con-_
Salt Added | of Cans|tent of the Canned
to Each Can ampled|Salmon (Average

Grams Percent
1.66

if)
N
oO

Ky wir
Ed
pr
lon
e

Hy 0%

we

t+ Olct
e

Brine-frozen; thawed in 5-lb. aL
air EF
ial
Be
(dissolved

in 18 ml.
of water)

rR

Brine-frozen; thawed in
saturated brine (NaCl) _

Bd
Bee

(sockeye)

Brine-frozen; thawed in
running tap water

Fivesh (uot frosen) tien [Fist
fresh (not frozen) fish Flat
Brine-frozen; held in dry stor-}4_
age until packed commercially
Brine-frozen; held in the re-
frigerated brine for 2 weeks
before packed commerciall
Brine-frozen; held in the
refrigerated brine for 2
weeks before packed
Brine-frozen, held in the
refrigerated brine for 2
weeks before packed

A/COMMERCIAL PACKING INCLUDES ABOUT 1/8 OUNCE
B/AMOUNT OF SALT ADDED WAS NOT KNOWN.

iG
°

Fy
7)
ct

3.54 GRAMS) OF SALT PER 1/2=LB. FLAT CAN.

PRESERVED WHALE WILL NOT BE EXHIBITED IN UNITED STATES

The famous "Mrs. Haroy," an embalmed 70-ton fin whale, which arrived
in the United States in April for an extended tour, will not be exhibited
as planned. The Danish owner has announced that since he was not success-
ful in making arrangements to exhibit the whale in the United States, he
has decided to return to Denmark with the whale.

Loaded on a specially built railroad flatcar, the whale was waiting
at Weehawkin, N. J., to start her tour. The owner states that the spe-
cially-preserved whale prior to its shipment to the United States had been
shown to 3,500,000 Europeans.

NOTE: SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, JUNE 1953, P. 40.

20 ’ COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

TECHNICAL NOTE NO. 27--ALASKA POLLOCK:
PROXIMATE COMPOSITION; AMINO ACID, THIAMINE,
AND RIBOFLAVIN CONTENT; USE AS MINK FEED

With the scarcity of flounder (Pleuronectidae) in the vicinity of Petersburg,
Alaska, during the fall and spring of 1952, the commercial fur farmers of thatarea
resorted to the use of Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) for mink feed.
Since pollock had never been fed in large quantities previously in the Petersburg
area, the Fishery Products Laboratory was requested to determine the composition
of representative samples of this species of fish and of typical mink feeding ra-
tions prepared from this fish.

The proximate composition and "essential" amino acid, thiamine, and riboflavin
content of Alaska pollock were determined. Data for flounder are given for com-

ALASKA POLLOCK ( THERAGRA CHALCOGRAMMA )

parison since this species of fish is considered to be suitable for mink feed by
most Alaska fur farmers. The proximate composition of various pollock mink rations
and a typical flounder ration is also reported. Data onthe "essential" aminoacid
content of beef liver, an accepted animal feed, and of salmon eggs are given as a
comparative index to the quality of the fish protein.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES: Two 50-pound blocks of frozen whole (round) pollock,
representative of that being fed at Petersburg during the spring and fall of 1952,
were sent to the Laboratory for analysis. The fish were from 15 to 23 inches in
over-all length and averaged 1-3/4 pounds in weight.

Samples of the frozen whole pollock were prepared as follows: Each whole fish
was cut into 8 or 10 pieces. The pieces were passed twice through an electric
grinder having a 3/16-inch plate. Representative samples of the ground material
were sealed in 1/2-pound cans, frozen, and stored at 0° F. until needed for analysis.
Samples of eviscerated pollock, pollock fillets, and pollock fillet-waste were pre-
pared in a similar manner.

Analyses for ash, moisture, and protein were made accordingto modified Methods
of Analysis of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists.(1950). Oil con-

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21

modified by Voth (1946). Assays for the "essential" amino acids were made accord-
ing to the microbiological procedure of Henderson and Snell (1948). Thiamine
(vitamin B]) and riboflavin (vitamin Bo) were determined by fluorometric methods
given in Methods of Vitamin Assay (1947).

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS: The results are given in the following tables:

Table 1 — Proximate Composition of Alaska Polloc
Sample Description

Blelncleleicieicnicaae a. GPercent)

POVOck WhOV!! crsrejsiays crsssieusscnsas,« sfe'||! ded
Pollock, eviscerated ........66-] 7902
POWocks: MaisleGS vejicieislsteleiecieielercien|| ose

Pollock, fillet waste ..........
Flounder eviscerated2/ nobododn

W THE PROXIMATE COMPOSITION DATA ARE TYPICAL FOR THE SIZES OF FISH CAUGHT DURING THE SPRING
AND FALL OF 1952 AT PETERSBURG, ALASKA, AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO LARGER FISH OR FISH
FROM OTHER AREAS.

2/THE PROXIMATE COMPOSIT{ON OF FLOUNDER IS GIVEN FOR COMPARISON. THE DATA ARE FROM THE AN@

aers!s OF A eo ti SAUCE OF A EOUNDER FED AT THE U. Se De Ao EXPERIMENTAL FUR STA

719.7

Table 2 - Eroximate Composition: of! Pollock Mink Rations _

Sample Descriptio

@oeoeeseoeceoeveoecoece (Percent ) eececesresececreresceee

Pollock Mink Ration, 2eL
Pollock Mink Ration, B3/ hel
ollock Mink Ration, 3/ 364
ollock Mink Ration, s/ 20h
lounder Mink Ration4+t 30k

1/ALL FISH WERE EVISCERATED FOR PREPARATION OF POLLOCK AND FLOUNDER RATIONS. THE SAMPLES
WERE TAKEN BY THE FUR FARMER. A ONE=POUND SAMPLE WAS TAKEN EACH DAY FOR ONE WEEK AS THE
FEED WAS MIXED. THE SEVEN SAMPLES OF EACH RATION RECEIVED BY THE LABORATORY WERE GROUND

TOGETHER, REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES WERE THEN TAKEN, SEALED IN 1/2-POUND CANS, FROZEN, STORED
AT O « UNTIL NEEDED FOR ANALYSIS.

|2/ CARBOHYDRATE BY DIFFERENCE.
I3/ POLLOCK RATIONS A, B, C, AND D ARE THE WHOLE RATIONS AS FED BY DIFFERENT FUR FARMERS IN
THE PETERSBURG AREA” AND SHOW THE VARIATION IN RATIONS FROM FARM TO FARM. THE DATA ARE
TYPICAL FOR RATIONS IN WHICH POLLOCK OF THE SIZE CAUGHT DURING THE SPRING AND FALL OF
1952 AT PETERSBURG ARE FED.

4/THE FLOUNDER RATION [S GIVEN FOR COMPARISON.

IT WAS USED AT THE U. Se De

A. EXPERIMENTAL

ge and Animal Liver
Amino Acid Content of the Protein (NX 6.25) ——si

Isoleu- |{Leu- Ear erat Phenyl-|Threo- a ead
nine dine cine cine|sine| nine alanine| nine |phane_|line

Aoysecerated)
Salmon eges</ wc ccccccee
Animal liver3/ aislslefeletelels

I/ANALYSES RUN ON SAMPLES OF ALASKA POLLOCK AND FLOUNDER CAUGHT NEAR PETERSBURG, ALASKA, DURING THE FALL
OF 1952. DETERMINATIONS MADE BY H. Le. SEAGRAN AND D. E. MOREY, FISHERY PRODUCTS LABORATORY, KETCHIKAN,
ALASKA.

2/AYERAGE VALUES OF THE AMINO ACID rONZEND OF MATURE ROES FROM THE FIVE SPECIES OF SALMON. (SEAGRAN, He. L

AMINO ACID CONTENT OF SINAN ROE, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, VOL. 15, NO. <e MARCH 1953, PP. 31-34.

3/BLOCck, R. J. AND BOLLING, D.i THE AMINO ACID COMPOSITION OF PROTEINS AND FOODS, CHARLES C. THOMAS ,

SPRINGF [ELD, {LLINOIS 3np" ED 1951

Alaska pollock compares favorably with flounder in proximate composition and
amino acid content (tables 1 and 3). The "essential" amino acid content of Alaska
pollock (table 3) is quite similar to that of beef liver and salmon eggs, both of
which are considered to contain good quality protein for animal-feeding purposes.

22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. di

Comparison of the thiamine and riboflavin content of Alaska pollock (tabled)
with data of Sautier (1946) for the edible portion of flounder (Pleuronectidae)

‘
Table 4 — Thiamine and Riboflavin Content eas een cod (Gadus macroce

phalus) indicate that the
of Pollock, Flounder aud eek Cod ee Bea i SGetlas eye

slightly higher thiamine and

riboflavin content than other
Whole pollock: «sess. sense bottom fish.

Eviscerated pollock ...

Flounder, edible portio 1
cod, edible port ion!/ |

The proximate composi-
tion of various pollock mink
8, NO. 2 (FEBRUARY ” rations is given in table 2.

RIBOFLAVIN ASSAYS OF FISHERY PROD- In two of these rations the
AL FISHERIES REVIEW, VOL. 8, NO. 3 carbohydrate content was ex—
Lonel tremely low, which indicated

that the pollock was fed at a very high level in the diet (in other words, very

low percentages of cereal mixtures were used as a supplement).

On the basis of these data on composition alone, it appears that Alaska pol-
lock can be successfully used as feed for mink. However, in determining the suit-
ability of any animal feed, there are other factors involved that were not con-
sidered here. To determine the true suitability of Alaska pollock as a foodsource
for mink, feeding tests should be made using high percentages of pollock in pro-
perly supplemented rations.

LITERATURE CITED

ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIAL AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTS
1950. OFFICIAL AND TENTATIVE METHODS OF ANALYSIS, A. O. A. C., P. O. BOX 540, BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN STATION, WASHINGTON, D. C., 7TH ED.

ASSOCIATION OF VITAMIN CHEMISTS
1947. METHODS OF VITAMIN ASSAY. INTERSC]ENCE PUBLISHERS, INC., NEW YORK CITY, N. Y.

HENDERSON, L. M. AND SNELL, E. E.
1948, A UNIFORM MEDIUM FOR DETERMINATION OF AMINO ACIDS WITH VARIOUS MICROORGANISMS.
THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 172, PP. 15-29.

SAUTIER, PHILIP M.
1946, THIAMINE ASSAYS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, VOL. 8, NO. 2
(FEBRUARY 1946), PP. 17-19.

1946. RIBOFLAVIN ASSAYS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, VOL. 8, NO. 3
(MARCH 1946), PP. 19-21.

STANSBY, MAURICE E. AND LEMON, JAMES M.
1937. QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF OIL IN FISH FLESH. INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING
CHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL EDITION, VOL. 9, PP. 341-343.

VOTH, MENNO D.
1946. REPORT OF ETHER EXTRACT IN FISH, JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIAL AGRICULTURAL
CHEMISTS, VOL. 29, PP. 46-47.

--R. G. Landgraf, Jr., Chemist
Fishery Products Laboratoryl/,
Branch of Commercial Fisheries,
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ketchikan, Alaska.

1/THE FISHERY PRODUCTS LABORATORY |S OPERATED JOINTLY BY THE ALASKA FISHERIES EXPERIMENTAL COM-
MISSION AND THE U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23

Sei
at < — AND

ye ats ==

= EDEVELO PMENTS =

California

Department of Fish and Game personnel aboard the research vessel Yellowfin on al4-
day cruise completed at Los Angeles on May 19. This was a routine hydrographic
cruise of the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations to the coast-
al and offshore area between Oceanside and Baja Head, Baja California. It was de-—
signed to collect date for determining the oceanographic factors responsible for
the behavior, spawning success, and survival of Pacific sardine.

x eK H

eee was tagged and melleaged by California Department of Fish and Game biolo—
gists on the vessel Orca (owned by the J. S. Sefton Foundation of San Diego) in a
recent cruise off Baja California. Other phases of the yellowtail study were also
carried out during operations from Car-
men Island to Cape San Lucas andalong
the west coast of Baja California, ac-—
cording to a June 1 release fram the
California Department of Fish and Game.
The yellowtail study is financed with
Dingell—Johnson funds.
ELEY anne, cuavnins All of the 34 yellowtail tagged
eee were double-marked with Petersen disks
and all-vinylite tubing tags. Scale san-—
ples were obtained from 13 of the fish.
Three not suitable for tagging provided
material for chromatographs, stomach,
and ovary samples, Bathythermograph
slides were made at six places,

.
(A CARMEN IS.

\0
. Fishing was tried at Carmen Island,
SEAT NN, Ieee, Saubg San Jose Island, CayoIsland, Ceralbols-
SEES eONS \ land, Montana Rock, Los Frailes, Gorda
i cenaveo is Bank, and Cape San Lucas in the Gulf of
Honnn. | California, Troll lines were pulled a-
long almost the whole length of western
Los Baja California with concentrated efforts
ims | made to catch yellowtail between Magda-
are lena Bay and Cape San Lazaro, across Kel-
let Channel, and along the east side of
Cedros Island. Inshore fishing was ac-—
complished by using a small power boat. Offshore work was done from the vessel's
stern. Both trolling and hook-and-line fishing with salted bait were tried. With
one exception only the trolling was successful. One yellowtail was speared under the

a)

SAN LUCAS

24 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

night light at Cape San Lucas. Fourteen yellowtail were tagged at Carmen Island
and 20 off Santa Maria Bay. At these two places all troll lures worked with ap—
parently equal success. Bone jigs, feathers, and a salmon spoon all caught yellow—
tail.

Surface temperatures were high in the Gulf of California, ranging from 20.5°
C. (68.99 F.) at Carmen Island to 24.5° C. (76.1 F.) on Gorda Bank, and dropped
sharply on the western side of Baja California, Near Santa Maria Bay where yellow—
tail were taken the water temperature was 16.8° C. (62.29 F.).

TRAWLER "NAUTILUS" ADDED TO STATE'S MARINE RESEARCH FLEET: The 50-foot can—
mercial fishing trawler Nautilus was recently added to the marine research fleet of
the California Department of Fish and Game, according to a June 24 release from that
Agency.

The Nautilus replaces the 35-foot Broadbill, which sank at its moorings in
Sausalito harbor during a storm last winter, It will be used by marine biologists
as a mothership in abalone-diving research off the north coast, in trawl investiga—
tions, and salmon and crab research out of San Francisco.

The State's new vessel carries two-way short-wave radio, loran, automatic pi-
lot, and recording echo-sounder. It is equipped with two drag winches and 450fath—
oms of cable.

Formerly the Sportfisher II, the 7-year-old Nautilus is a northern dragger,
with a 14-foot beam, 8-foot draft, and 37-ton displacement.

7

Federal Purchases of Fishery Products

ARMY PURCHASES FROZEN FILLETS IN ICELAND FOR EUROPEAN TROOPS: The UnitedStates
U. S. Armed Forces in Europe. This contract, which was awarded during the first
quarter of this year, called for the delivery of 400 tons of frozen cod and ocean
perch fillets at a price of $153,200. Deliveries are to be made to European des—
tinations in monthly installments through May.

Previously the Army Quartermaster Corps in commenting on the visit of an Army
Veterinarian to Iceland to make sanitary inspections of that country's fish—freez—
ing plants had indicated that the purchases of fishery products in Iceland wouldbe
for Armed Forces personnel stationed in Iceland only. However, it is now under-
stood that since Iceland is traditionally considered as part of Europe, the U.S.
Army may purchase fishery products in that country for feeding Armed Forces person—
nel stationed in Iceland and other European countries.

day cruise of the M/V Pompano, a 57—foot exploratory fishing research vessel, oper—

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25

ated by the Service's Branch of Commercial Fisheries. The cruise was completed at
Miami, Florida, on June 16. Tests were conducted in the vicinity of Bimini Islands
in the Western Bahamas.

Underwater sound recordings were obtained on schools of bluefin tuna which mi-
grate northward along the western shore of the Bimini group fram about May 15 to
June 15 each year. Numerous schools containing from 10 to 20 large tuna (each 400
lbs. or over) were sighted to the west of Gun and Cat Cays during a 3-day period
beginning on June 8. Twenty-one tape recordings were made while tuna were observed
at distances from 5 feet to about 75 yards from the hydrophone. A small chartered
float plane was helpful in spotting the schools and in guiding the boat into posi-
tions near the fish.

The recordings will be analyzed in the near future at the Service's gear re-
search station at the University of Miami Marine Laboratory to determine if they
contain any sounds attributable to the tuna. If the recordings are found to con-
tain sounds characteristic of the fish, additional work will be undertaken to de-
velop special devices which will help commercial fishermen locate schools of tuna
(and possibly other fish) by the sounds which they produce in the water.

Preliminary tests were also carried out with industrial television equipment
adapted for underwater use to determine its suitability for studying fishing gear
in operation. The camera was lowered ina water-tight housing and trained on sec—
tions of the bottom, 15 to 20 feet away from the camera lens. Small fish, seaweed,
and coral formations on the bottom in depths up to 40 feet were visible on the mon-—
itor screen in good detail. The tests indicate that the equipment, with certain
improvements, such as a remote control for changing the iris opening, can be devel-
oped into a useful tool for studying otter trawls and other types of fishing gear
in operation.

Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program

TUNA BAIT GROUNDS FOUND BY "OREGON" IN GULF (Cruise No. 19): Good catches of
tuna bait fishes were made by t the Service's exploratory . fishing vessel Oregon on a
72-day cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. A few tuna schools were also sighted. ted. The
cruise, completed at Pascagoula on June 20, was plagued by unfavorable weather. Con-
tact was made with several small schools of blackfin tuna (Parathunnus atlanticus)
and white skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) in the Straits of Florida, and only a few
small tuna were caught from each school. The poor catch was probably due chiefly
to the small number of tuna encountered, but some minor modifications of gear and
methods can be expected to give better results.

Good tuna-bait fishes of several species were found in the Florida Keys area
and around the islands of the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama coasts. Adequate
quantities were taken at night with a new type of lift net designed especially for
the purpose. Lift-net fishing has the advantages of requiring less labor, less ex-
pensive gear, and delivers the bait to the tanks in much better condition than meth-
ods requiring use of receivers.

The "Fischlupe" (electronic fish finder) was used to examine suitable bottom
for snappers toward the end of the cruise. The results were promising.

Tuna Bait Fishing: During April the Oregon worked along the west coast of Flor—
ida as far as Key West, Florida, in search of suitable tuna bait. The lampara—type

BY COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

bait seine tried by the Oregon crew proved unsatisfactory for species of Harengula
(razorbellies) until a new floor of small mesh was put in. Subsequently both Haren—
gula and Opisthonema (thread herrings or hairy backs) were tried on fish in the
Straits of Florida and found unsatisfactory because of their tendency to rush away
from the boat and to sound.

In May the Oregon worked in the Straits of Florida, made a brief run south of
the Isle of Pines.in the northwestern Caribbean, and fished for bait in the vicin—
ity of the Florida Keys with a lift net. The lift net, a specially designed model,
was very successful in getting bait. The bait taken with the lift net in the Flor-—
ida Keys was chiefly the majua (Jenkinsia lamprotaenia). Good quantities were taken
also of a species of anchovy not yet identified, and of small Sardinella anchovia,.
These appear to be good bait fish. Thread herrings and razorbellies were alsotaken
but were discarded. After the middle of June bait was taken in adequate quantity
with the lift net near the outside beaches of Chandeleur Island, Louisiana; Horn
Island, Mississippi; and Petit Bois Island, Alabama. This bait was chiefly a spe—
cies of anchovy not yet identified. It appeared to have excellent behavior charac-—
teristics as bait and lived well in the tanks. Anchovies of this or a similar spe-
cies taken in the Florida Keys lived in the Oregon bait tank for 47 days before use.

Tuna Fishing: Relatively few schools of tuna were seen in the Florida Straits
or south of Cuba during the few days of good fishing weather. Between 75 and 100
tuna were taken, all under 10 pounds—-about evenly divided between blackfin andwhite
skipjack. Only one blackfin was taken on trolling lines during the entire cruise
although trolling lines were used at all times when under way. A relatively large
number of little tuna (Eut hynnus alletteratus) were taken while sailing over the
continental shelf, but deep-water trolling catches, other than the single blackfin
tuna, consisted of dolphin, wahoo, and barracuda. No porpoises were seen offshore
or near the small tuna schools in the Straits of Florida or south of Cuba, but birds
were working over most of them.

Most of the tuna were taken on May 9, 40 to 60 miles north of Havana. The ra-
tio of fish caught to strikes was low indicating probably that the squids and poles
were not right for the size fish present. Some larger fish were present, but were
deep and would not rise to the squids. A number of other schools were fished with
poor success. On May 16 mechanical difficulties forced a return to Key West. Bad
weather prevented fishing during the first week of June. One school of tuna—about
30 fish and probably yellowfin weighing over 25 pounds—were found in company with
a pair of whale sharks off Mobile over a depth of 600 fathoms on June 11. They were
feeding on clouds of small bait fish accompanying the whale sharks and would not
take the Oregon's bait except at too great a distance from the stern for fishing.

Snapper Fishing With Aid of "Fischlupe:" On several occasions the Oregonmoved
in from deep water after dark to anchor on the continental shelf, passing over rocky
places or lumps suitable for red snappers. Good correlations of trial hand-line
catches were found with indications of fish on the "Fischlupe." Conversely, no fish
or few fish were hooked over good—appearing rocky bottom where the "Fischlupe" fail—
ed to show fish. One spectacular showing on the "Fischlupe" appeared during the
night and was noted while the vessel was at anchor. Snapper hand lines were tried
immediately and catches were always made before the leads hit bottom, and continued
until the shoal of fish, as indicated by the "Fischlupe," moved away. Then catches
stopped. Judging from the catches, the shoal of fish consisted of medium and small
size snappers with white trout (Cynoscion arenarius) in a layer over the top of the
shoal, The shoal extended from the bottom upward about 8 fathoms at a depth of 50
fathoms, It was not possible to predict the size of the fish from the "Fischlupe"
readings, and the interpretation of some indications which may have resulted from
bottom growth such as Alcyonarians were uncertain. More experience with the instru—-
ment under Gulf conditions might be expected to give better results.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 27

Indications of fish in deep water were noted many times on the "Fischlupe,"
but in most cases fishing was not attempted because of gear limitations and posi-
tive correlation of indications with fish caught on hook and line were made only
for red snappers. Readings that we were unable to interpret at all were fairly fre-
quent. For example, a "false bottom" appeared at 180 fathoms where the depth was
approximately 600 fathoms and above this "false bottom" (between 80 and 150 fathoms)
were scattered indications with about half the intensity of usual fish showings.

S

Japanese Frozen-Cooked Tuna Shipped to U. S. in Unsealed Cans

On June 15 a shipment of 100 cases (48 No. 4 cans) of Japanese frozen-cooked
tuna in unsealed cans was received by a broker in San Francisco, reports the Serv—
ice's Fishery Marketing Specialist in California. Previously, small samples of this
product were received by several canners and brokers for experimental purposes, the
first shipment of which arrived in southern California late in 1952.

It is understood that in Japan the cans are filled with solid—pack tuna, fro-
zen without lids, and packed 48 cans to a carton for shipment. A sheet of card-
board is placed between the layers of cans in the carton and the product is kept fro-
zen in transit. The tariff rate for this import was 124 percent ad valorum.

It is also umerstood that the experimental lots received earlier were handled
in this country by simply adding oil and salt, sealing with a lid, and processing
in a retort.

/

pF

Metal Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products, January-April 1953

Total shipments of metal cans for fish and sea food in January-
April 1953 amounted to 22,520 short tons of steel (based on the a-
mount of steel consumed in the manufacture of cans), 10 percent more
than the 20,483 short tons shipped in the similar period in 1952.

oe % This is pagadl on a June 22 report issued by the Bureau of the Census.
NOTE: STATISTICS COVER ALL COMMERCIAL AND CAPTIVE PLANTS KNOWN TO BE PRODUCING METAL CANS.
REPORTED IN BASE BOXES OF STEEL CONSUMED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANS, THE DATA FOR FISHERY

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

tig
wb
North Atlantic ei nied rit aarp

ocean a were the objectives of the Service's research vessel Albatross lil ona
9-day cruise completed at Boston, Mass., on June 17. The areas investigated includ-
ed the vicinity of Jeffries Ledge in the Gulf of Maine, and the southeast part of
Georges Bank.

Six tows in the Gulf of Maine yielded several hundred young ocean perch of 5
to 10 cm. (2 to 4 inches). This was more than the number sought.

28 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

Fifty-three tows were completed on Georges Bank to test the effect of covers
upon escapement of small haddock through the cod end. Covered and uncovered cod
ends of 3-inch (inside measurement) mesh were fished alternately. Several tows with
a partial cod end cover were made to determine the most important part of the cod
end for releasing small haddock. An abundance of small haddock on Georges Bank
provided an abundance of data on the effect of cod-end covers.

Pacific Coast Halibut bee

ing at 11:59 ‘De me (2s Sot ae July 7, 1953. The Commission estimated that by that
date the quota of 28,000,000 pounds for Area 3A would have been attained. Area 1A,
which had no established quota, would close at the same time as Area 3A. Pacific
halibut fishing this year opened on May 17 instead of May 14 as in 1952.

Areas 3A and 1A this season were open to fishing for 52 days—the shortest sea-
son on record—compared to 60 days in 1952, 56 days in 1951, 66 days in 1950, 73
days in 1949, 72 days in 1948, and 109 days in 1947.

Areas 2A and 1B closed at 11:59 p.m. (P. S. T.), June 9, 1953. These areas
were open to fishing this season for 24 days—also the shortest season on record
for these areas——compared with 26 days in 1952, 28 days in 1951, 32 days in 1950,
34 days in 1949, 32 daysin1948, and 39 days in 1947.

Prior to 1951 the closure of Areas 3A and 1B would mean the end of all halibut
fishing in the Pacific, except for halibut caught incidentally. However, 1953 reg—
ulations established subdivisionsof certain areas to increase the production of hal—
ibut on some underfished banks. These subdivisions are: Areas 2B and 2C, scheduled
to be opened to fishing for 10 days beginning July 31; and Areas 3B and 4 scheduled
to be opened to fishing for 25 days beginning August 5. Areas 2B and 2C were first
established in 1951, and Area 3B was first established in 1952.

Regulations for the retention of incidentally—caught halibut during the 1953
season are similar to those issued in 1952.

die

Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations

TUNA ATTRACTANTS TESTED BY "CHARLES H. GILBERT" (Cruise No. 8): Tests with
liquid tuna extracts to attract skip; kipjack schools and study tudy their reaction were made
by the Service's Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations research vessel Charles H.
Gilbert on a 7-day cruise completed at Honolulu on March 3. Three skipjack tuna
schools were chummed successfully to the stern of the boat and liquid tuna extract
was cast among them by several different means. In one instance it appeared as
though the individuals of the school were attracted, and in two instances the results
were negative. In the instance that the individuals of the school appeared to be
attracted, about six fish appeared to dart around for several seconds within the
cloud of material breaking the surface and exhibiting the typical feeding reaction
observed in the Coconut Island ponds at Hawaii. However, even in this instance the
school itself disappeared and within 60 seconds the six fish observed within the
cloud of extract also disappeared and only reappeared at the stern of the vessel
when chumming was again resumed.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29

Experiments were carried out where the extract was cast in a straight line and
also in a large circle hoping to attract schools of skipjack without the use of chum.
In all cases where chum was not used, no skipjack were observed close to the mate-
rial in the water nor could any feeding reaction be observed. It was found to be
very difficult to keep contact with the fish without the use of live bait.

Attempts to chum 7 schools of skipjack were successful in bringing 3 schools
to the stern of the boat and catching fish from all 3 schools. Many other schools
were seen but since bait was scarce chumming was not attempted. It was concluded
that schools were successfully chummed without any adverse reaction of the schools.
In one instance fish appeared at the stern of the vessel apparently attracted by
the turbulence from the propeller; no chum was thrown,

An attempt was made to capture viable tuna to return to the Coconut Island
ponds, but only one little tuna (kawakawa) remained alive at the end of the trip.
Three yellowfin placed in the live—bait wells died within 3 days after being placed
in the wells.

A Navy noise-measuring set was used to detect sounds emanating from tuna. No
unusual noises which could be attributed to tuna were heard when the sensitive ele-
ment was lowered over the stern in the vicinity of a school of skipjack.

An attempt was made to study the deep scattering layer by the use of an Edger-
ton underwater camera. The camera was lowered on two separate nights for a total
of 210 minutes off Waianae on leeward Oahu and off Port Allen on Kauai. No partic-
ularly important photographs were obtained from this attempt.

Surface trolling was carried on systematically using various boat speeds in an
attempt to study trolling as an effective means of quantitative sampling for surface
skipjack schools. Trolling was carried out for a total of 56 hours and 20 minutes
and only 8 fish were caught—-l skipjack, 4 yellowfin, 1 little tuna (kawakawa), and
2 "mahimahi," Trolling as it is now being carried out is not an effective means of
quantitatively sampling the surface skipjack schools.

An echo-sounder was used consistently when near bird flocks or other signs of
surface skipjack schools, Excellent traces of surface schools were made by the use
of the instrument.

se eS

(Cruise No. 12): In order to keep almost constant tabs on the abundance and the
movements of skipjack tuna schools in Hawaiian waters during the fishing season,
three series of weekly cruises were planned for the research vessel Charles H. Gil-
bert. The second series of cruises was completed on June 3 and lasted 25 days. The
principal objectives of the cruise were: (1) to test fish attractant solutions at
sea; (2) to continue the weekly two-day hydrographic section through Kaiwi Channel;
(3) to secure viable skipjack and other tuna for the Coconut Island ponds; (4) to
test new methods of tagging skipjack tuna; (5) to further test the Banner plankton
trap inshore and offshore.

Three different fish attractant solutions were used during the cruise: Preserv—
ed yellowfin tuna flesh extract, preserved skipjack gut extract, and frozen skipjack
flesh extract. Sea trials were attempted on six fish schools variously composed of
skipjack, frigate mackerel, and dolphin, Results were inconclusive or negative.

The three 2-day hydrographic sections were a continuation of the series started
on Cruise 11. The results of oceanographic observations from the cruises so far cam—

30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No.) 7

pleted indicate a striking parallel between the warming of the water around the
Hawaiian Islands in the spring and the seasonal increase in the abundance of the
skipjack or aku. If further work bears out this relationship, the use of water
temperature as an index of skipjack abundance may be of value for predicting the
catch in local waters and for guiding the skipjack sampan fleet to new fishing
grounds south of its present range of operation during the winter, when the tuna
are scarce around the Hawaiian Islands.

A total of 30 active and apparently viable skipjack were captured and trans—
ferred to the Coconut Island pond. All were dead within a day. Fifteen of these
fish were tagged with numbered hooks through: the crest of the back just back of the
second dorsal fin. These hooks remained in place without tearing out even whenthe
fish swam at high speed in the pond.

The Banner plankton trap was set overnight at inshore anchorages on 3 occasions.
Catches were good enough to justify further consideration of this type of trap.

Good radar observations on a few bird flocks were secured under calm sea con—
ditions in the Waianae lee,

cK HK

ee OOO eee a oO OO? re

15): After a two-month exploratory fishing cruise across the equatc equatorial yellowfin
tuna grounds, the Service's Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations research vessel
John R. Manning returned to its Pearl Harbor base on June 16. The expedition
brought back valuable data on the seasonal and geographical fluctuations in abun-
dance of tuna and also provided an opportunity to test a new and promising type of
fishing gear. It was found that the new long-line gear, which has very short branch
lines with a free-swiveling attachment to the mainline, were remarkably immune to
tangling, and caught about 40 percent more yellowfin than the conventional gear.

The vessel went south along the meridian of 150° W. longitude, stopped at Canton
Island, and returned along 170° W. longitude. The rich zone for yellowfin tuna fish-
ing was found at 3° to 4° N, latitude on 150° W.and between 19S. and 4°N. on 170°W.,
Catches reached a maximum in the rich zone of 10 yellowfin for every 100 hooks
fished, approximately 4 times the average in local waters. Umsually large numbers
of albacore, averaging about 40 pounds, were taken at all the more southerly sta-
tions on both longitudes.

The operation of a mid-water trawl to sample the forage fish in the same area
was abandoned after two trials due to failure of the diving vane.

The modified long-line gear used worked exceptionally well. It caught fish at
about three-fourths the rate of the standard gear and yet because of the special con—
struction nearly eliminated the tangling; with the smaller amount of line per basket
it was possible to haul it almost twice as fast as the standard gear, or at a rate
of about 200 hooks per hour. Salted baits were found to be slightly superior to
fresh baits.

Both surface and subsurface temperatures were quite unusual during this cruise
because the current and countercurrent system was nearly at a standstill. The sur-
face temperatures increased while crossing the equator from north to south instead
of decreasing at the equator as they usually do. The only evidence of the easterly
countercurrent was found close to the equator where the surface currents usually are
westerly.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERI®S REVIEW 31

At several stations it was possible to obtain full stomachs of big-eyed, yel-
lowfin, and albacore simultaneously for a study of the comparative food of the three
species. Big-eyed tuna were found in spawning condition and ovaries collected for
laboratory study. The albacore had evidently spawned some time previously. Excel-
lent material for racial study of albacore was collected. Several specimens of the
mako shark were found to be the Atlantic species Isurus oxyrhynchus rather than the
Pacific species Isurus glaucus.

U. S. Foreign-Flag Fishing Vessel Regulations
Do Not Apply to Guam and American Samoa

Foreign-flag vessels engaged in certain fishery operations are permitted to
land their products at Guam and American Samoa. This opinion was issued by the
Bureau of Customs, Treasury Department, as a guide to collectors of customs and in
reply to an inquiry from a West Coast fishery association. The Bureau's reply to
an inquiry which asked whether section 4311, Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C. 251), as
amended by the Act of September 2, 1950 (64 Stat. 577), has application to Guamand
American Samoa, follows:

",..eYou ask whether the Bureau has settled the question of the statute's ap-
plication to Guam and American Samoa, and if so, under what authority of law the
settlement was determined. The section of law cited prohibits, except as permitted
by treaty or convention, a foreign-flag vessel, whether documented as a cargo ves—
sel or otherwise, from landing in a port of the United States its catch of fish
taken on board on the high seas or fish products processed therefrom, or any fish
or fish products taken on board such vessel on the high seas from a vessel engaged
in fishing operations or in the processing of fish products.

"The Act of August 1, 1950 (ch. 512, 64 Stat. 384-393; 48 U.S.C. Supp. V. 1421-
1424b.), declaring Guam to be an unincorporated territory of the United States and
setting forth its form of government, also states that no law of the United States
thereafter enacted shall have any force or effect within Guam unless specifically
made applicable by act of the Congress, either by reference to Guam by name or by
reference to 'possessions.' The Act of September 2, 1950 (64 Stat. 577), being a
‘law of the United States thereafter enacted,' nas no force or effect within Guam
because the act is not specifically made applicable, either by reference to Guam by
name or by reference to 'possessions.'

"American Samoa is an unorganized, unincorporated territory appurtenant to the
United States. As such neither American Samoa itself nor any port or place therein
is a 'port of the United States! within the purview of section 4311 of the Revised
Statutes, as amended, unless it can be made to appear that Congress intended other-
wise. To this Bureau, it does not so appear.

"The Bureau therefore is of the opinion that a foreign-flag vessel is not pro-
hibited by section 4311 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, from landing in Guam
or American Samoa its catch of fish or fish products taken on board such vessel on
the high seas from a vessel engaged in fishing operations or in the processing of
fish or fish products,"

The Bureau also was asked about the dutiable status of fish when landed at a
port of the United States after the fish (products of a Japanese fishery) are dis—
charged at Guam or American Samoa from a Japanese fishing vessel coming from the
high seas. The Bureau states that "fish landed in Guam or American Samoa by a Jap-
anese vessel and then transshipped to any port in the customs territory of the Unit—

32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

ed States would be subject to customs treatment, including rates of duty, as though
the importations were made directly from Japan. Such shipments would also be sub-—

ject to applicable tariff quotas."

NOTE: SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, APRIL 1953, P. 26.

U. S. Pack of Pacific Coast Sea Herring, 1952

The United States pack of Pacific sea herring in 1952 totaled 40,333 standard
cases, valued at $280,237 to the canners, or an average price of $6.95 per case

Table 1 - U. S. Pacific Sea eerrt Pack By Style of Pack,j/Table 2 - U. S. Pacific Sea pea Pack by Can and Case Size,
195:
mayStacepand gem | ameeany Valuelito | CAvesiPrice Pen | comin cx cia out n| npaan aa EES: [Ave. Price
style of Pack Sar tease] [_Omm ont caso Sizoo | Quantity
Std. Cases2 $

30,941 208, 733 6.75
9,392 71,504 °

15 ounces net (48 cans) .
5 ounces net (100 cans) .
(Other sizes (converted to

(California:
NaturalS/ ......
In tomato sauce ,|

Total ee ers ae
LU/PREWUMINARY = co. SODN2 TANTS SUR RONNN RRR Oc a

1/PRELIMINARY,

2/CASES OF VARIOUS SIZES CONVERTED TO THE UNIFORM BASIS OF 48 NO. 1
TALL CANS TO THE CASE, EACH CAN CONTAINING 15 OUNCES NET.

3/INCLUDES A SMALL PACK IN OLIVE OIL.

(table 1). All the Pacific sea herring was canned in California; 9 plants packed
in 1952. Of the total pack, 77 percent was put up natural style and the remaining

23 percent in tomato sauce,

- U. S. Canned Pacific Sea Herring Pack, 19
Canners Std. eee)

TOS 22) ee (li wran! nie Nanegie
1951 @@®eecervrCececrresesececeeeces Geeee
1950 @oceaes Cceeresreeveere eo eee eee

1949 @Ceeorceeereveeee22e000 eee 228 08

ae SOSOOOOOOOOOUODO OOOO OOOOOG

©2000 7022200000 e Ooo oO oo

I/CASES OF VARIOUS SIZES CONVERTED TO THE UNIFORM BASIS OF 48 NO. 1- TALL CANS TO THE CASE,
EACH CAN CONTAINING 15 OUNCES NET.

Wholesale Prices, May 1953

Wholesale prices for edible fishery products rose from April to May because of
lighter-than-normal production and an increase in demand. The over-all edible fish
and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) wholesale index for May was 106.5 percent
of the 1947-49 average (see table)—-7.7 percent higher than in April and 8.7 percent
higher than in May 1952, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor

reports.

Prices in May were higher for all varieties included in the drawn, dressed, or
whole finfish subgroup except West Coast halibut and salmon. Lighter landings in
May caused the ex-vessel price of large drawn offshore haddock at Boston to rise
78.1 percent above April. All fresh-water varieties in this subgroup were priced

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33

higher in May due to lighter production on the Great Lakes. On the other hand,
prices of West Coast halibut and salmon at New York City were down 4.1 and 3.2
percent, respectively, due to large inventories and weaker markets. Compared with
May 1952, the over-all May price index for this subgroup was down 15.8 percent--
each item in the subgroup was priced substantially lower than a year earlier.

Fresh processed fish and shellfish prices were 8.8 percent higher than in
April and 35.3 percent above a year earlier. Shrimp prices continued to rise as
stocks were’ further reduced and production continued light--from April to May
fresh large shrimp prices at New York City rose 15.0 percent and they were 78.6
percent higher than in May 1952. Small haddock fillet prices at Boston in May
were up 12.5 percent from the previous month because production was light, but
&.5 percent lower than a year earlier. Shucked oyster prices remained the same
as in April, but were 5.6 percent above May 1952.

Table 1 - Wholesale Averuse Prices and xevised Indexes for sdibl2 Fish and Shellfish,
hay 1952 and Camparisons

Group, Subgroup, Point of Avg. Prices Indexes
and Item Specification Pricing [Unit (3) (1947-49 = 100)
May Ayril May
1952 11953 1952
FISH AND SHELLFISH (Fresh, Frozen, and Canned) ..ecsocecsecscccecens Rinveletetastors 105.8

Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products: cjc/icc cc cles colle ccccevcveciviseccscevievieccccee ie BO Pe
Drawn, Dressed, or Whole ATCA SI Hie fatclointelalelelateleleisielctcine cies 6
Haddock, large, offshore, drawn, fresh ....... Boston
Halibut, Western, 20/80 lbs., dressed,
fresh or fTOZeN wee rvccccccccceccccccvcers eee N.Y.C.
Salmon, king, lge. & med., arossoal eresh or
FIOZON occcececccceccccccccseccccrecccerscses
Whitefish, mostly Lake Superior, drawn
(dressediig freshiyce's slcjcicisiclecicicee wlelsissieitreisiels sieje | Chicago
Whitefish, mostly Lake Erie pound or gill nets
Found, FLESh cercccccecccccvcecccccccccccccce N.Y.C.
Lake trout, domestic, mostly No. 1, drawn
(dressed) mrreshwslaicie sts atecistalejemleis\eiieicicia.e/cisiaite Chicago
Yellow pike, mostly Michigan (makes RON
& Huron round Fresh cccccccccccesscecccccs N.Y.C.
Processed, Fresh (Fish and Shellfish): ..,.cccccccsccssocsoceees
Fillets, haddock, sml., skins on, 20-lb. tins Boston
Shrimp, lge. (26-30 count), headless, fresh
OF FLOZED .cccccccccccccrescreccccscccccccccs
Oysters, shucked, Standards ...ccsscecscccccces

N.Y.C.
Norfolk

Processed, Frozen (Fish and Shellfish): ..........
Fillets: Flounder (yellowtail), skinless,
LO=Ub. Kg. sicccccecccccvecice eeeee
Haddock, sml., skins on, 10-lb.
COLLO=DACK ececcccciccccecccccccce

Ocean perch, skins on, 10- ib. ecmile=

PACK elelelsisleleleiuisiatalerctelststcieiclslclelsic/s)+lelele

Shrimp, lge. (26-30 count), 5-1b.-pkg. .......

Canned Fishery Products: csscocsscercccccrcsccces
Salmon, pink, No. 1 tall (16 oz.), 48 cans

DOLACASE) Tels clcicis\erciclsletele(s’ele’n ccieicisie)civieieveicic.e esis oes

Tuna, light meat, solid pack, No. 4 tuna

(7075). 48) cans per Case) sisjieleieiclcte cislcie eleiefeieislo
Sardines (pilchards), Calif., tomato pack,

No. 1 oval (15 oz.), 48 cans per case ..cecceee
Sardines, Maine, keyless oil, No. + drawn

(3k oz.) , 100 cans per case .s.cecccesecces sists‘

1/REPRESENT AVERAGE PRICES FOR ONE DAY (MONDAY OR TUESDAY) DURING THE WEEK IN WHICH THE 15TH OF THE MONTH OCCURS.

Continued rising shrimp prices caused the over-all frozen processed fish and
shellfish index for May to increase 7.8 percent. However, the 21.8 percent rise

in shrimp prices from April to May was the only increase among the items in this
subgroup. Prices of frozen fillets of flounder, haddock, and ocean perch were all

down in May because inventories continued fairly heavy and the market was somewhat

weak. Compared with May 1952, the index for frozen processed fish and shellfish
was up 21.5 percent due entirely to the large increase in shrimp prices, while
frozen fillet prices dropped substantially.

3h COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Voll. Ie Now?

Canned Maine sardine prices dropped 3.4 percent from April to May--the only
canned fishery product to show a price change. Canned salmon, tuna, and Califor-
nia sardine prices remained at the April level. Compared with May 1952, canned
fish prices were down 4.1 percent: lower prices (25.4 percent) for Mainesardines
were offset somewhat by higher prices for pink salmon and tuna.

Fishery Products Marketing Prospects for July-September 1953

Consumption and Retail Prices: United States civilian per-capita consumption
of fishery products during January-June was somewhat smaller than a year earlier.
The decline occurred almost entirely in fresh fish; the movement of both the canned
and the frozen products into civilian markets was about as large as in the first
half of 1952. Retail prices of fishery products through midyear averaged moderate-
ly lower than a year earlier. Prospects for the next few months are that civilians
may take about as much fresh and processed fishery commodities per person as in the
same period of last year. Retail prices for these products are not expected to av—
erage as high as those of a year earlier.

Civilian consumption of canned fishery products through mid—1953 was about as
large per person as a year earlier, according to trade information. Some seasonal
increase will occur this summer, but the consumption rates are not expected to be
much different from those of last summer,

Catch: The total commercial catch of fish and shellfish through midyear was
moderately smaller than for the same months of 1952. This reduction was the com—
bination of several factors: unfavorable weather in both the New England and Gulf
areas hampered commercial fishing operations, and the relatively small catch of tuna
from the usual fishing grounds. During the third quarter of 1953, commercial fishing
operations and landings of fish and shellfish will reach seasonal peaks.

Freezings and Holdings: Freezings of fish and shellfish in the United States
and Alaska from January to June totaled 101.2 million pounds, 27 percent smaller than
for the comparable months of last year. Probably one of the most important factors
which discouraged freezing activity was the fear of declining prices due to the large
stocks of frozen fishery products early in the year and anticipated competition from
imported frozen fish fillets.

Frozen fishery products (edible and inedible) in storage on July 1 totaled142.7
million pounds, 6 percent less than a year earlier, The net movement of fishery prod—
ucts out of cold storage was unusually large during the first 5 months of 1953inre-
sponse to some price cuts at the wholesale level. The seasonal build-up of frozen
fish and shellfish stocks which began in June will continue well into the fourth quar—
ter of the year.

Foreign Trade: Imports of fishery products this year will be large, but are not
expected to reach the 1952 total. Receipts of major fishery products from abroad dur-—
ing the first four months of 1953 were about as large as a year earlier, with asharp
reduction in frozen groundfish (including ocean perch) fillets not quite offset byin-
creased imports of canned fishery products. Exports of canned fish are expected to
be much smaller in total this year than in 1952 principally because of the short sup-—
plies of California sardines.

This analysis appeared in a report prepared by the Bureau of Agricultural Eco—
nomics, U. S. Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the U. 8. Fish ami Wild—
life Service, and published in the former agency's July-September 1953 issue of the
National Food Situation.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35

St errs ats = ~ Se

= FORE IGN =

_ —

of the tripartite North Pacific Fisheries Treaty took place on June 12 in Tokyo,
according to word received by the Department of State. The treaty entered into
force on the date of the exchange of ratifications.

The International Convention for the High Seas Fisheries of the North Pacific
Ocean was signed May 9, 1952, at Tokyo by representatives of the United States, Can—
ada, and Japan. The Convention, which was negotiated at the Tripartite Fisheries
Conference held at Tokyo in late 1951, marks a further step in the conservetion of
international fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean. Japan now becomes @ joint part—
ner with the United States and Canada in cooperative measures to preserve and ver-—
petuate the fish stocks of the North Pacific.

——SS— OC

tons of Antarctic baleen whale oil, including a small carryover of the 1952 output.
remained unsold as of mid-May 1953, reports the June 15 Foreign Crops and Markets
of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Of this quantity, Panama held 44,800 tons,

Short Tons
nited Kingdom .... | Br. Ministry of Food 81,000
outh Africa ...... | Br. Ministry of Food 25,760
Br. Ministry of Food 28 , 000 170.00
Germany 23,800 175.00-180.00
Sweden 5,600 175.00
France 9,520 175 00-180 .00
Denmark 11,200 175.00
Belgium 4,200 175 .00-181.25
Netherlands 15,680 175.00-181 .25
Norwegian Hardeners 25,760 175.00
Norwegian Dealers 22 ,4,00 193.75
Norwegian Dealers 2,800 206.25
0000000 Netherlands Goverment 193.75
aie exevevetefereisvese Domestic Not Available

engins Argentine Dealers
2 eccecesee\| Argentine Dealers

JAPAN cocccccccccece

Argentina 7,280 tons, and Japan 29,120 tons. However, the bulk of the Japanese hold-
ings probably have been disposed of; negotiations for the sale of 23,500 tons were
in process at the time this report was written.

36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

Unsold quantities were being offered at &78 to L80 per long ton (US#195—$200
per Roere ton) but buyers were scarce and willing to pay only 170 to L72 (US$175-
$180) .

The British Ministry of Food purchased the entire British and South African
production before the 1953 season started at 176 per long ton (US$190 per short
ton), compared with L90 to 110 (US$225-$275) paid in 1952. Whale-oil prices are
related to the general fats and oils market which has been weak, at least compared
with the previous year. The range of whale-oil prices this year, fran L68 to 183
(US$170-$207.50), is somewhat less than last year and is disappointing to whaling
companies in view of higher operating costs.

WORLD MARINE-OIL PRODUCTION, 1952: Preliminary data indicate that world pro-
duction ofmarine oils in1952 is estimated at 950,000 short tons, a decline of about
5 percent from1951. Thedecrease in1952 occurred infish and sperm whale oils—-in
contrast to 1951 when production of both these oils was up. The1952 decline was due
to generally lower prices and reduced fish landings. Whale-oil output, however, in-
creased moderately. Since baleen whaling largely is restricted by international
regulations, whale-oil output has remained fairlyconstant in recent years. In 1952
world trade in fish oilsdeclined about 11 percent. United States exports fell 12
percent while European trade is believed to havedropped by about a fourth. Indi-
cations point to a further decline in marine-oil exports in 1953.

Whale Qil: World production of baleen whale oil in 1952 is estimated at 460,000
short tons as as compared with 435,000 tons in 1951 and 545,000 tons in 1935-39 (table
1). Antarctic pelagic (open sea) production of whale oil, although restricted by

: al am
Table 1 — World Whale—Oil Production by Major internation aes CONE origi

Producing Countries, 1952 with Comparisons 1952 or 85 percent of the world's

; Average production. Another 25,000 tons
ae 1935-39 was produced from South Georgia
shore-station operations. Most
INOTWAY ccoccccccccocce of the remaining 1952 whale—
United Kingdom .e.coo oil output resulted mainly from
ELPA, Btaleleleie/e\cisie elefesere minor shore-station activities
Netherlands .....ccee| in scattered parts of the world,
PANAMA sos ccccccwccce E ss including Australia, Norway,

nion of South Africa South Africa, Japan, Canada,
and Iceland.

World total a ele 6 5L5 Norway continued as the

2/BREAKDOWN NOT AVAILABLE. in 1952 with some 192,000 short
tons, 43 percent of the world
total and slightly less than in 1951. The United Kingdom's output of nearly 80,000
tons was the second largest, followed by Japan, the Union of South Africa, the Soviet
Union, Panama, and the Netherlands. The same number of expeditions (19) operated in
the Antarctic in 1952 as in the preceding season.

A moderate drop in whale-oil production is in prospect for 1953, as Antarctic
output dropped to 350,800 tons, The pelagic catch of baleen whales in the 1953sea-~
son amounted to 14,855 blue—whale units, or more than 1,000 units under the 16,000-
unit quota esteblished by international agreement. Norway accounted for about 5,000
units, as compared with 7,151 units in 1952. The yield of whale oil from Norway's
catch was reported at 137,800 tons, a drop of almost one-fourth from the preceding
season.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 37

A total of 16 expeditions participated in the 1953 Antarctic pelagic season,
3 fewer than last year; and included 7 Norwegian, 3 British, 2 Japanese, and 1 each
from South Africa, the Soviet Union, the Netherlands, and Panama, The three ex-
peditions withdrawn from service this year were Norwegian.

Sperm Oil: Sperm-oil production in 1952 is estimated roughly at 80,000 short
tons, a drop of one-third from 1951 but still more than twice the average quantity
produced in the 1945-49 period (table 2). The large output in the past two years

eee Paseo ns raplera Weridss pemisOilProdiction by Mayor

ae eee Producing Countries, 1952 with Comparisons

from the Korean conflict.
Sperm oil has a strategic
military value due to its
non—gumming characteristic Norway ....cccccsccoe
under high temperatures. United Kingdom ......
Sperm whaling is not sub- |Japan ......ceccrccce
ject to the same strict Netherlands .......06
international regulations |Union of South Africa
that govern the catching Soviet Union....seeee
of baleen whales, although [Others ....c2ceeeccce
some limitations have been Worldly totes ss

introduced. 1/PRELIMINARY.
2/UNOFFICIAL ESTIMATE.
3/BREAKDOWN NOT AVAILABLE.

Country

Nearly 65 percent of
the estimated 1952 sperm-—
oil output, or 51,200 tons, came from the Antarctic. South Georgia shore stations
produced only 1,200 tons. Complete data are not available regarding production in
other areas in 1952. However, the large production of sperm oil in 1951 and early
1952 proved more than sufficient to restore depleted stocks and to meet the increas-—
ed demand. Thus, the subsequent slump in prices is believed to have reduced pro-
duction in areas outside the Antarctic to less than half the 71,000 tons produced
in 1951.

Norway, as in 1951, was the largest producer of sperm oil with about 25,000
tons or almost 30 percent of the world total. Other principal producers in 1952
were the United Kingdom, Japan, and the Soviet Union.

In 1953 production of sperm oil again is expected to decrease. Returns fron
expeditions operating during the recent season in the Antarctic indicate a sharpre-
duction in sperm-oil production in that area.

Fish Oils: World output of fish oils in 1952, including liver oils, amounted
to approximately 410,000 short tons (table 3). This is a decrease of 35,000 tons
from the 1951 record nostwar output, but almost 50 percent above the 1945-49 aver—
age. Most of the 1952 reduction occurred in Iceland, Norway, Canada, and the Unit-
ed States.

Output of Norway—-the largest of any country in the past two years—dropped
about 7 percent in 1952 to 116,000 tons, The sharpest drop in 1952, however, was
in Iceland where production fell to about one-fifth of the 26,000 tons produced in
the previous year. Fish-oil output in the United States, exéluding liver oils, was
59,600 tons against 69,200 tons in the previous year. The 1952 decline was prima—
rily due to the continued small catches of sardines off California and herring off
Alaska. Canada produced only 12,100 tons of fish oils in 1952 as compared with
23,700 tons in 1951. Landings of sea fish in Canada were 10 percent lower than in
the previous year, a reflection of lower prices paid for fish by processing firms.

38

COMMERCIAL FISH@RIES REVIEW

Vol. 15, No. 7

South African production of fish oils has been increasing markedly in recent years

with output in 1952 reaching almost 24,000 tons.

Japan, the United Kingdom, and

the Soviet Union also produce substantial quantities of fish oil.

United States «2. ccc.
NOWayitelereterelerevelelereveyere

CO

@eervescce2ee ec oe

Union of South Africa
United Kingdom....cce

eereeecceeeeeoe

@eeeesceoereeeoe

Worlidntovalaieesislele

1/\NCLUDES FISH-LIVER OILS.
2/PRELIMINARY.
3/AVERAGE 1939-43.

TORIES.

Table 3 — World Fish-0il2/ Production by Major
Producing Countries, 1952 with Comparisons

4/AVERAGE 1936-39; INCLUDES |MPORTS FROM JAPANESE TERRI -

World trade in fish oils
(including liver oils) in
1952 is estimated at 120,000
tons, a decrease of 15,000
tons fran 1951 and 11 percent
below the prewar average. Ex—
ports from the United States
of 22,000 tons were 12 per—
eent less than in 1951 and
42 percent less than in 1950,
partly because of decreased
production, Canadian ship—
ments of fish oils in 1952
increased to 13,400 tons from
12,000 tons in 1951. European
trade in fish oils last year
was around 60,000 tons, or 2h
percent below exports in the
preceding year.

Average
1935-39

The major exporting coun—

tries in Europe are Norway and normally Icelard with smaller quantities being ex—

ported by the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
fish oils also are exported by Japan, Angola, and the Union of South Africa.

Sizable quantities of
Ex-

ports of fish oils in 1953 may decline some from 1952 because fish landings in the
North Sea area were reduced by extensive storms.

NOTE:

ABSTRACTED FROM FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL CIRCULAR FFO 18-53 ( JUNE 5, 1953) !SSUED BY THE

FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISHERIES COMMISSION

Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries convened at New Haven, Conn., onMay

25, 1953.

The meeting continued through May 30.

A three-day meeting of the Spe-

cial Committee on the Commission's research program preceded the Commission meeting.

Excerpts from the report of the United States Commissioners follow:

At this third meeting, the Commission (1) se-
lected Halifax, Nova Scotia, as the site for its
permanent headquarters, (2) adopted and provided
for the initiation of a comprehensive research pro-
gram for the Convention Area, (3) amended a propos~
ai, adopted at its second meeting, for the regula—
tion of the haddock fishery in Subarea 5, (4) con—
sidered and acted upon a number of technical and
procedural matters, (5) adopted a budget for the
fiscal year 1954, (6) decided that its next annual
meeting should be held at Commission headquarters
beginning on the second Monday in June 1954, and
(7) elected a Chairman and Vice-chairman for the
next two years.

All ten signatory nations were represented by
Commissioners. All of the delegations, except the
Italian, consisted of Commissioners and Advisors.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations and the International Council for the Ex—
ploration of the Sea were represented by Observers.

The Officers of the Commission were Dr. John L. Kask,
of the United States, Chairman, and Mr. A. T. A. Dob-
son, of the United Kingdom, Vice-chairman,.

Since the bulk of the business before the Com—
mission was conducted during meetings of the twoStand—
‘ing Committees, the more important items of the Agen—
da are treated in two groups: those referred to the
Committee on Research and Statistics, and those refer—
red to the Cammittee on Finance and Administration.

The Committee on Research and Statistics: Pos-
ssibly the most important work of the Third Annual
‘leeting was done during four sessions of this Commit—
tee. In addition to Items 10 and 11 of the Agenda,
wnich were referred to it at the first plenary session
of the Commission, the Cammittee had before it a num—-
ber of problems dealing with the collection of statis—
tics and several miscellaneous items of a technical
nature.

July 1953

Item 10 - Report of the Special Canmittee on
the Commission's Research Frogram., A report con-
taining a.draft research program was prepared and
circulated to all Commissioners after the Copen-
hagen meeting of the Committee on September 26-27,
1952. This program was refined and supplemented
during a meeting atNew Haven on May 21-23, 1953, and
submitted to the Commission for its consideration
at the first plenary session of the Third Annual
Meeting.

Briefly, the program designates cod, haddock,
redfish (ocean perch), and halibut as the four spe-
cies of most importance in the Convention Area and
poses three fundamental questions with respect to
these species which must be answered if the Commis-—
sion is to achieve its objectives. The questions
are:

a. What principal fish stocks are there,
where, how divided, and how now used?

b. How do intensity and method of fishing
affect the stocks and the long-term
yield?

c. How are the stocks affected by natural
factors?

The program then outlines the work to be done in
answering these questions, specifying (1) essential
records on all fisheries which must be collected
by all countries, i.e. statistics on catch and ef-
fort, and samples of catch for analysis of length
comrosition; (2) essential records to be obtained
cooperatively, not necessarily by every country,
i.e., data defining the stocks and their movements,
data making possible the assessment of the sizes of
stocks and rates of mortality and recruitment, and
data making possible a determination of the effects
of natural factors on abundance and distributions;
and (3) contributory information to be obtained as
opportunity permits, e.g., measures of basic pro—
ductivity which will give the rate of production
of the organic material on which fish ultimately
depend. The program then describes how the work
should be coordinated. It is contemplated that the
work will be carried out by national research agen—
cies in centers far removed one fram another. If

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

39

presently engaged in research in the Convention Area,

The Standing Committee on Research and Statistics
considered this report at its second session on May
27 and agreed to transmit it without amendment tothe
Commission for approval. The Committee also recom—
mended that che Cammission approve the appointment by
the Cammittee of three working parties, as suggested
in the Comprehensive Research Program. At its second
plenary session on May 27, the Commission approved
both the Research Program and the supplementary recom—
mendation of the Cammittee.

Item 11 - Report on Haddock Regulations in Sub—
area 5 including Revised Research Program and Propos—
als for Amendments to Mesh Regulations: At its Sec-—
ond Annual Meeting, the Commission adopted and trans—
mitted to the Member Governments for their approval,

a proposal for regulation of the haddock fishery in ©
Subarea 5, Essentially, the proposal would prohibit
the taking of haddock in Subarea 5 with trawling nets
having an average mesh size less than 43 inches when
measured wet. The proposal was accepted by the Mem—
ber Governments and entered into force on June 13,
1953. During the past year, Canadian and United States
scientists have been testing the effect of the 43-inch
mesh and have, as a result of these tests, concluded
that the proposal should be amended insofar as it spe—
cifies methods of measuring mesh size. The suggested
amendment and a report on research in Subarea 5 to be
conducted by the United States were considered by the
Committee at its first session on May 25 and it was a-—
greed to recommend adoption of the amendment to the
Commission. At its second plenary session on May 27,
the Commission adopted the amendment with a minor
change in wording proposed by the United States.
amendment adopted by the Cammission follows:

The

«.»eeDelete Paragraph 1 of the Cammission's proposal
and substitute the following:

"That the Contracting Governments take appropri-
ate action to prohibit the taking of haddock (Melano-
grammus aeglefinus) in Sub-area 5 by persons under
their jurisdiction with a trawl net having a mesh size
less than four and one-half inches when measured wet
after use, or having a mesh size when measured dry be-
fore use less than the equivalent of four and one-half
inches wet measurement after use. For the purposes

it is to be effective, with no duplication of effort,| of this proposal, the four and one-half inch mesh size
special provision must be made for pooling the varied] when measured wet after use shall be taken to be:

knowledge and experience, for the coordination of
the work, and for the development of sound, agreed
conclusions and recommendations.

The program proposes four measures to accom—
plish this coordination, i.e., (1) the establish-
ment of three working parties on cod and haddock,
redfish (ocean perch) and halibut, and hydrography,
respectively, to consist of active research workers
and to be responsible to the Standing Committee on
Research and Statistics; (2) provision of opportu—
nity for working scientists to make visits to the
research stations and ships of other countries to
observe and practice techniques and develop ideas;
(3) maintenance at Commission headquarters of anup-—
to-date register of scientists engaged in the vari-
ous branches of the Commission's work; and (4) ex-
change, through the Executive Secretary, each Decem—
ber or as soon thereafter as possible, of programs
for the ensuing year, The program also contains a
schedule of field activities in the Convention Area,
an inventory of the research facilities available
for the Commission's work, and a list of scientists

a. In the cod end of the net, the average of
the measurements of each mesh in any
series of fifty consecutive meshes run-
ning parallel to the long axis of the
cod end and beginning at the after end
of the cod end, such series to be at
least ten meshes from the lacings and
to be measured with a flat, wedge—-shap-
ed gauge having a taper of two inches
in nine inches and a thickness of three
thirty-seconds of an inch, inserted in-
to the meshes under a pressure of not
less than ten nor more than fifteen
pounds, amd;

b. In any part of the net other than the cod
end, the average of the measurements of
each mesh in any series of twenty consec-—
utive meshes, such series to be at leest
ten meshes from the lacings and to be ~
measured with a flat, wedge-shaped gauge
having a taper of two inches in nine inch-

40

es anda thickness of three thirty—
seconds of an inch, inserted into
the meshes under a pressure of not
less than ten nor more than fifteen
pounds.

Consideration of Statistics: The Committee had
before it several papers prepared by the Secretari-
at dealing with the collection of statistics from
Contracting Governments. Generally speaking, these
papers reviewed the several aspects of the sysiem
for the collection of statistics established at pre-
vious meetings of the Commission, pointed out defi-
ciencies, and suggested means of improving the’ sys-
tem. The Committee. studied the recommendations of:
the Secretariat and adopted certain of themfor trans-—
mittal to the Commission, deferring action on others
to the future. At its second and third plenary ses—
sions on May 27 and 29, the Commission accepted the
recommendations: of the Committee. ©

Publications: The Committee agreed: to recom—
mend to’the Commission through the Committee onFi-
nance and Administration, that the Commission's pub—
lications be established in two series, one a sta-
tistical bulletin and the other annual proceedings
to contain the report of the Commission together
with scientific papers specially prepared for the
annual meeting.

The Committee on Finance and Administration:

A number of items on the Agenda were referred to
this Committee, but the most significant were:

Item! 5 - Review of Panel'Membership: The Com-
mittee was presented with a paper reviewing panel
membership as accepted at the Second Annual Meeting
and indicating the desires of France and Italy for
membership on Panels I, II, III, and IV, and Portu-
gal's desire for membership on Panels I, III, and
IV. The Committee was informed verbally by the Com—
missioner from Portugal that his government desired
membershipon Panel II also. After reviewing these
requests in accordance with Article IV,-2 of the
Convention, the Committee agreed to recommend to the
Commission that it approve Panel memberships as list-
ed. The Commission accepted this recommendation at
the third plenary session.

Publications: The Committee received a report
from the Committee on Research and Statistics rec-

Recommendations of Committee on Research and Statistics

mission:

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 15; No. 7

ommending that’ the Commission's publications be in
two series. and, after hearing the opinions of the
Chairman of the latter Committee, -agreedito recom—
mend its acceptance to the Commission with the un=
derstanding that special papers might be separate—
ly published on the recommendation of the Chairman
of the Committee on Research and Statistics and the
Executive Secretary and the approval of the Commis=
sion. This recommendation-was adopted by the Can—
mission at its third plenary session.

The Panels: The International Convention for
the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries provides for the
establishment of Panels for each of the Subareas
of the Convention Area, which Panels shall be re—
sponsible for keeping under review the fisheries
of the Subareas and the scientific and other infor—
mation relating thereto. Prior to the Third Annual]
Meeting, four Panels had been organized. France
and Italy, having ratified the Convention during
the past year, the fifth Panel, Panel Il, was or-
ganized at the Third Annual Meeting. Each of the
Panels met at least once during the current meeting,
With the exception of Panel II, each heard reports
on the status of the fisheries in its Subarea and
explanations of the research to be conducted during
the coming year. The meeting of Panel» IZ was organ-
izational only. In Panels IV and V alone did the
condition of the fisheries warrant any action other
than the coordination’ of research, Panel IV heard
a report presented by Canadian scientists which in-
dicated a decrease in the abundance of cod in the
Subarea and a considerable destruction of small had=
dock at sea. Concerned with this evidence of deple=
tion, the Panel appointed a committee of scientists,
similar to that previously organized by Panel V, to
maintain a close watch over these fisheries and re=
port to the Panel at future meetings. © Panel V-con=
sidered and adopted for recommendation to the Com=
mission the amendments to the haddock regulation

final plenary session on May’30, the Commission e-
lected Mr. Stewart Bates, Camissioner from Canada,
Chairman to succeed Dr. J. L. Kask, and Commander
Tavares de Almeida, Commissioner from Portugal, Vice-
Chairman to succeed Mr. A. T. A. Dobson.

Adopted by the Com

Some of the more pertinent recommendations which the Commission adopted

in accepting the Final Report of the Committee on Research and Statistics follow:

Statistics

1. That all Contracting Governments be request-
ed to make those observations onthe changes inweight=
of fish from the fresh round state to the various
processed states which seem, in consultation with
the Commission's Statistician, to be necessary to
obtain accurate statistics.

2. That the Contracting Governments be request-—
ed to submit statistics in terms of fish inthe state
in which they are first weighed and to provide the
Commission with the conversion factors necessary to
calculate the fresh round weights.

3. That, in view of the usefulness of such in-
formation, the participating Governments report sta—
tistics of: landings to the Commission according to
commercial size categories already in use by the in—
dustry and report annually the definition of such
categories of fish sizes,

4. That the participating Governments be re-
quested. to report in summary form information onthe
numbers of vessels of various types and sizes fish—
ing in the Convention Area during each year andthat,
to provide the basis for classification of fishing
vessels, each Government report the name, gross ton—
nage, horsepower, and type of fishing gear for each
vessel fishing in the Convention Area in 1953..0.6

6. That, in order to provide indices of rela-
tive abundance, the Commission Secretariat be re—
quested to arrange for the collection of more re-
fined fishing effort data for representative types
of vessels and methods of fishing.

7. That the participating Governments be request
ed to compile their statistics .of catches and fish-
ing effort on a monthly basis.cee

July 1953

Research Reports

1. That the present practice of obtaining sum—
maries of research by countries for publication in
the Annual Report be continued for the time being,
but that there also be included in the Annual Report
a brief summary of research by subareas, prepared
by the Executive Secretary....

Sampling, Tagging, and Planning of Hydrographic
and Biological Research

1. That the Commission approve of the instruc-
tions for sampling incorporated in the First Report
of the Subcommittee on Cod and Haddock for the guid-—
ance of research personnel in this field.

2. That the Commission request participating
Govermments to take responsibility for the collec—
tion of tags taken by their fishermen, with infor-
mation concerning the recaptures; for the payment
of rewards for these tags; and for the exchange of
full information concerning each tagging.

3. That the Commission instruct the Executive
Secretary to prepare and distribute posters, ineach
language used by the member nations, with illustra—
tions of the types of marks used, a statement con-
cerning the purpose of tagging, a request for spe-
cific information about each recapture, and details
of the reward.

4. That further research on cod in Subarea 1
proceed mainly on three lines: (a) the relation to

Ratifications:

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

AL

temperature, (b) the identity of stocks, and (c) the
correct measurement of mortality.

5. That the Cammission approve the recommenda—
tions regarding redfish research set forth in the
Report of the Subcammittee on Redfish and Halibut,

6. That the Camission adopt the draft program
of hydrographic research drawn up by the Hydrograph-
ic Subcommittee at the Second Annual Meeting of the
Camission as a satisfactory minimm for the present
and request participating Governments to make avail-
able to the Commission, as soon as possible, the ap—
propriate temperature salinity sections with brief
reports on them.

7. That, since the Camission's hydrographic
problems are not circumscribed by the Commission's
area boundaries, consideration must be given in the
Camission's research programs to the water move—
ments (a) to the east of Greenland, (b) to the west
of Ireland, and (c) through the Florida Straits.

8. That the European countries, and the United
Kingdom in particular, be requested to undertake a
section approximately from the sathwest of Ireland
to a position about 51° N. lat., 31° W. long., toa
depth of 500 m. and in some stations to at least
1,000 m.

9. That during their travels members of the
Secretariat be asked to discuss with the various
countries how best to avoid unnecessary duplication
of hydrographic effort.

The Executive Secretary announced ratification of the Conven-

tion since the Second Annual Meeting by Portugal on July 19, 1952, Italy on Au-

gust 19, 1952, and France on January 27, 1953.

ada, Denmark
nited States)
mission.

NOTE:

Allten signatory Governments (Can-

France, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, U-
have now ratified the Convention and have become members of the Com—

ALSO SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, JUNE 1953, PP. 42-43; APRIL 1953, P. 37.

NORTH EUROPEAN OVERFISHING COMMISSION

PERMANENT COMMISSION HOLDS FIRST MEETING:

At the first meeting of the Perma-

nent Commission of the Overfishing Convention held in London on May 5, 1953, del-
egates attended from all the signatory countries--Belgium, Denmark, France, Ice-
land, Irish Republic, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,

and the United Kingdom.

An observer from Western Germany was also present, a May

22 U. S. Embassy dispatch from London states.

The meeting lasted a week and the emphasis was largely upon organizational
and financial arrangements whereby the Commission could be put upon a working ba-
sis. It was decided to establish the office of the Commission in London.

Among other matters considered during the meetings: rules of procedure were
adopted; arrangements were approved for submitting a budget to the various govern-
ments concerned; agreement was reached on the need to collaborate with other in-
ternational fisheries organizations; the scope of the Commission's field of work
was discussed; some statements were put forward by several delegations dealingwith
various problems of conservation, and arrangements were made for the further study
of the problems in consultation with the International Council for the Exploration
of the Sea, in preparation for the next meeting of the Commission which is to be
held in London next November.

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

42

The Icelandic-British dispute on Iceland's territorial waters was brought up.
The British Minister of State when answering a question in the House of Commons
on May 20, stated: "...Her Majesty's Government have themselves taken the initi-
ative in raising in the Permanent Commission under the Overfishing Convention the
question of conservation of fish stocks in the neighbourhood of Iceland. At the
first meeting of the Commission early this month all member countries, including,
of course, Iceland, agreed that the International Council for the Exploration of
the Sea should be asked to study the fisheries in northern waters generally, in-
cluding those in the neighbourhood of Iceland, and to give the Commission their
advice. While this action does not bear directly upon the dispute, I hope, none-
theless, that it will prove a usefuland helpful step inthis unfortunete situation."

The next meeting of the Permanent Commission of the Overfishing Convention
will take place in November.

NOTE: SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, APRIL 1953, PP. 35-36.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS IN LATIN AMERICA: A review of the fisheries
development problems in Latin America is included in a study prepared by the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations at the request of the UN Eco-
nomic Commission for Latin America. The review points out that Latin America as

a whole has shown steady progress in the development of its fisheries since the

end of World War II.

The report shows that certain limited areas of
Chile, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, and Mexico already
have the nuclei of large fishery industries, includ-
ing secondary processing industries like freezing
and canning. In general, however, it states, the
industry is still at an elementary stage of economic
develorment where primitive techniques and small-
scale production prevail.

The study, "Present Status and Prospectives of
the Fishery Industry in Latin America," was prepared
by Jorge d'Alarcao, an FAO fisheries economist. It
is based largely on unpublished reports of FAOtech-
nical assistance experts working in the region and
on the reports of the FAO Fisheries Regional Office
for Latin America.

Statistical tables appended to the report rep-
resent an initial effort to correlate the data a-
vailable in national publications in a simpler form
for interpretation of the region's problem, FAO
points out.

The report states: "Developing the fisheries
industry to its full capacity is a process that calls
for well-developed business management in handling
and trade, and technological standards which only a
highly developed economic structure can normally
support." Per capita income has to be high enough
to provide a consumers! market, and the economic
structure has to be able to permit a higher labor
productivity than is customarily found in underde-
veloped countries,

As large-scale mechanization is very expensive,
FAO experts feel that it should not take place in
Latin America before mass demand has been secured.
But sound policies of small-scale mechanization on
the basis of existing types of craft and gear, par-
ticularly when combined with social and credit
schemes for the benefit of small producers in the
region, can result in a substantial rise in labor
productivity.

A summary of the salient points of the report follows:

Cooperatives have proved very effective in this
respect in Brazil, Mexico, British Guiana, and cer-
tain Caribbean countries. The Brazilian law, for
example, requires that fishermen belong to societies
which must have a minimum of 150 members. These
societies levy a 3-percent tax on the catch, out of
which certain services are provided. These include
education, medical care, and loans for financingthe
purchase of boats and gear.

Advanced methods of fish processing have com-
paratively minor importance in the economy of the
industry, except in a few industrial centers in
Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.

A freezing industry has developed in Mexicoand
Peru largely because of a steady demand for shrimp,
tuna, and tuna-like products in the United States
market. But in Mexico, where almost all frozen
shrimp is exported to the United States, the plants
do not normally work at full capacity owing to lack
of raw material; but the resources could be more in-
tensively exploited. In Peru, where vessels with
refrigeration facilities and shore freezing plants
can freeze 460 metric tons and store 6,600 metric
tons of fish a day, the domestic consumption is only
about 200 metric tons a year. Total annual landings
were 105,550 metric tons in 1951. Ten percent of
this was frozen, mostly for export, well below the
freezing capacity.

The author comments: "This situation illus-
trates how far the freezing industry still is from
its main role of stabilizing the volume of supplies
in the domestic fresh fish market with the result
of increased demand for fish on the basis of aprice
structure much less sensitive tc seasonal fluctua-
tion than that of fresh fish."

Curing is the most important form of fish proc-
essing in Latin America, and sales of cured fish are
second only to those of fresh fish on the domestic
markets. However, in general, except in Argentina,

July 1953

Chile, and Peru, the technological methods are prim-
itive, and the product low in grade.

Canning is one of the most industrialized sec-
tors of the fishing industry in the entire region,
particularly in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico,
Peru, and Venezuela where local products have been
competing successfully with foreign products since
the War. Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela have evensuc-
ceeded in entering the international trade in canned
fish products which before the War was monopolized
by such traditional world suppliers as Norway, Por-
tugal, Spain, Japan, and the United States.

However, effective production for canning in
Peru in 1951 was less than 17 percent of the capa-
city of the present industrial setup. Swift estab-
lishment of such a capacity is an impressive a-
chievement, but the author suggests that it needs
to be backed up on a regional basis. Internation-
ally-recognized quality standards for the product
and the can must be established, and a cheaper and
more reliable supply of tin plate must be found be-
fore possible domestic and foreign markets can be
fully exploited.

Food production in Latin America has not kept
up with population growth since the War, but the in-
crease in fisheries production has been well ahead
of the birth rate. The value of the increase is,
however, lessened by the fact that it is so unevenly
spread geographically. Chile, southern Brazil, Peru,
Venezuela, and Mexico contribute more than 80 per-
cent of the total landings in the region, while 15
other countries with analogous marine resources con-
tribute less than 20 percent.

The findings of FAO's experts indicate: "Among
the many factors which are hampering the growth of
fisheries production in these underdeveloped areas,
the limitations imposed by the peculiar economic and
social structure predominate. Lack of reasonable
marketing organization and an efficient transport
system to handle perishable foodstuffs, high costs
of distribution, and deficiency in purchasing power
in the lower-income brackets of the population un-
doubtedly are the main reason for the low levels of
productivity observed."

Governments and the fishery industries now re-
alize that expanded domestic market outlets are
needed for rational economic development of fisher-
ies, and are taking steps to build up such outlets.

Annual per-capita consumption of fish for the
region ranges from 0.1 kilogram (4 pound) in British
Honduras to 15.8 kilograms (35 pounds) in Venezuela,
and most of this consumption takes place in the
coastal areas and in the large urban centers near
the coast. This is a very low per-capita consump-
tion compared with that in fish-producing countries
in Europe. It becomes lower when figures are broken
down to show consumption of processed fish.

The author reports that this is "a very signi-
ficant indication of the fact that the many possi-
bilities observed in industrialized countries for
diversifying and improving preserved fish products
in order to attract consumer preference and raise
the general level of consumption have so far remain-
ed unfulfilled in the region."

Such improvements as more hygienic handlingand
storage of fish on board, wider use of ice at sea

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

43

and during transportation and retailing, and more
attractive presentation of fishery products could
eliminate most of the checks on consumer demand, al-
though one very important check would still remain.
That check is the high retail price. Better market-
ing and storage organization and the elimination of
unproductive links between fishermen and consumers
would help drive down prices and permit low-income
groups to buy fish.

An illustration of the growth of the Latin
American fisheries is provided by foreign trade sta-
tistics. The total value of exports for the region
(21 countries) rose from approximately US$5 million
in 1938 to US$55 million in 1950, an increase in
nominal value of 1,000 percent. This figure, while
representing only 0.8 percent of the total exports
from the region, still exceeds that of many other
primary and secondary industries, and is a definite
contribution to the regional trade balance.

However, the study indicates that trade re-
strictions, particularly in the United States, have
meant that post-1950 export figures are substanti-
ally lower, and prospects of any significant expan-
sion of foreign markets are not very bright. The
more industrialized countries--Mexico, Chile, and
Feru, for example--built up industries with a capa-
city beyond that of their domestic markets in reply
to steady foreign demand during the hungry postwar
years. Investment rose from insignificant prewar
levels to nearly US$40 million. As early as 1951
these countries had reached a very critical situa-
tion with regard to the disposal of their surpluses.
Expansion of the domestic market seems to be the
only rational approach to the problem of rescuing
the industry from its present situation.

In spite of problems of local surpluses, the
great need over the whole area, including those coun-
tries which have already developed productive nuclei
of industrialized fisheries, is for increased sup-
plies of cheap, good-quality fish for human consump-
tion. The FAO Second World Food Survey, published
in November 1952, says that a 26 percent increase
in the gross supplies of fish over recent Latin
American levels is necessary to meet immediate tar-
gets of improvements of nutritional standards inthe
region.

The spectacular expansion in a few centers in
Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela compares
favorably with the highest rates of increase of pro-
duction anywhere in the world. The author states:
"This may indicate that, given the right social and
industrial structure for a well-balanced fisheries
development, the region has large possibilities for
the economic exploitation of marine and inland re-
sources which, although capable of yielding four or
five times the actual production of the area, are
at present largely unproductive."

The main economic causes of the low level of
fish production in the region are (1) low produc-
tivity per fisherman, (2) defective techniques in
marketing and transportation, (3) consumer prefer-
ence for other foodstuffs, (4) the availability of
other sources of food supplies competitive in price
and nutritional value with fishery products and,
(5) principally, the inadequate purchasing power of
the lower-income groups of the population. Wartime
food shortages at home and abroad provided incen-
tives for the capital investment which led to large
and successful industrial exploitation of fisheries

hh COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

resources in a few areas of Latin America. There large potential domeStic market, which will become
is still an incentive to much greater capital in- an active consumers! market with steady fish sup-
vestment, by the governments, private sections of plies at stable prices and, above all, with improve-
the economy, or by foreign investment in all 21 ments in processing, transport, and sanitary distri-
Latin American countries. That incentive is the bution.

Australian Canned Fish Pack, 1951-52
1952 1951

Australian salmon
Barracouta ...cc.
WME oooldoo00b000
EAN, Goggo00
HUN Gaocoo0o000
owen osodonans

CANNED FISH PACK, 1952: Australian
canned fish production in 1952 totaled
6,954,728 pounds, a 6.8 percent increase
from the 1951 production of 6,511,456 pounds,
reports the April 1953 Fisheries Newsletter,
an Australian trade magazine. Australian
salmon (Arripis trutta) was the leading
species canned and comprised 52 percent of
the total; followed by barracouta (Leionura
atun), 35 percent.

PROGRESS ON FISHERIES NEGOTIATIONS WITH JAPAN: The Australian Minister of
Commerce and Agriculture on May 13 issued a statement on the progress of negotia—
tions with Japan for an agreement on fisheries, a May 15 U. S. Consular dispatch

from Canberra states. Excerpts of the statement follow:

"Negotiations which began in Canberra on April 13 with representatives of the
Japanese Government have now reached a stage where broad agreement has been reached
on the necessity for control and conservation of pearl-shell fisheries in waters
adjacent to Australia. Detailed discussions are now proceeding on the methods by
which such control and conservation should be carried out.

"Questions under discussion include sizes and quantities of products to be
taken, the designation of closed or open seasons, the designation of prohibited
areas, and the prohibition of specific catching methods or gear.

",..1n view of the stage which discussions have now reached, and the assurance
of the Japanese Government that the operations of the (pearl-shell) fleet will be
managed in such a way as not to prejudice a successful conclusion to the negotia-
tions now in progress, the Australian Government has not sought a further postpone-
ment."

BRINE-FREEZING OF FISH AT SEA: Investigations of brine-freezing of fish at
sea are being conducted at the Pacific Fisheries Experimental Station (of the Fish-
eries Research Board of Canada) at Vancouver, B. C., reports the April 1953 Trade

News, a Canadian Department of Fisheries publication.

Brine freezing fish at sea has not previously been investigated in Canada, al—
though it is the oldest known method of artificially freezing fish and is used to

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45

a considerable extent in fish freezing. The aim of the present investigations is
to find a method of applying brine freezing suitable for conditions on the British
Columbia coast with regard to species, type of vessel, and the form in which the
fish are marketed,

The work accomplished to date has been with the apparatus illustrated in
figure 1. The brine used is an eutectic solution of sodium chloride (common salt)--
one containing 23.3 percent sodium chloride by weight--which freezes at -6° F.to
a homogeneous material (eutectic ice) without preliminary separation of either
water ice (as from a weaker brine) or solid salt (as from a stronger brine). The
operating sequence consists of first cooling the brine to its freezing point, then
freezing a considerable quantity of eutectic ice onto the evaporator, The fish
is then immersed in the brine and frozen. The circulating pump operates through-
out and maintains the brine temperature at -6° F. except for a few minutes when
the fish is first introduced. There are several reasons for freezing brine on
the coils: (1) it permits cooling the brine to its freezing point, whereas in

5 ; conventional brine coolers some margin of safety must
be left to avoid freezing and plugging the heat exchanger;

Freon 12 (2) it provides a reserve of refrigeration whichprevents
“Condensing Unit) the rise of brine temperature when the fish is first in-
troduced and gives up heat at a rate exceeding the capa-
city of the small condensing unit; and (3) it allowsthe
condensing unit to operate in periods of noload or part
load, providing refrigeration in the form of eutectic

ump

Eutectic Ice ice, for future use.
APPARATUS USED IN BRINE
FREEZING FISH AT SEA EX- Considerable work has been done to examine the ex-
PERIMENTS.

tent of salt penetration into the fish to determine if
it is a serious detriment to brine freezing species likely to be frozen inBritish
Columbia. Three possible adverse effects are: (1) acquirement of too salty a
taste; (2) impairment of a glaze that may be applied after freezing; and (3) pro-
motion of rancidity. Table 1 shows typical analyses for salt in different species
of fish.

The variation in skin salt content recorded is probably due to the fact that
the fish were all rinsed in fresh water immediately after freezing to remove ad-
hering brine. However, it can be seen that the salt content of even the first
layer under the skin is well below the generally accepted level for palatability,

which is usually taken
= Columbia Fish ul
Salt Content
In Skin] Under Skin Under Skin | Portion

on brine-frozen fish
which had been rinsed
after freezing appeared
to be as good as those
on air-frozen control
samples. This is being
examined further instor-

been reported to be a

most serious drawback to brine freezing of fish. Possibly this belief was a re-
sult of the high storage temperatures prevalent in the days when brine freezing

was commercially tried in the British Columbia coastal area. Storage tests are

now being carried out on brine-frozen samples in an effort to determine if there
is any acceleration in the effects of rancidity.

Attempts are being made to find if freezing at close to the eutectic-freezing
point has an effect on reducing salt penetration beyond that reduction which can

46 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

be accounted for by the speed of freezing. A theory has been offered that if fish
is immersed in a brine and the brine held at its freezing point, no salt penetra-
tion can occur since the removal of salt from the brine would reduce its concen-
tration and hence raise its freezing point. This would in turn freeze the brine
and stop the action. Freezing at the exact eutectic-freezing point cannot be ac-
complished, but it may be that freezing in close proximity to the eutectic—freezing
point will retard salt penetration. Results of tests indicate this is true, but
they are not as yet conclusive.

If brine freezing proves practical, it could provide a very compact and ef-
ficient freezing system for small craft. For example, a tank 16 by 30 by 36inches
operated by a 5-hp. condensing unit could freeze 100 pounds of fish per hour.
Little structural alteration would be needed and the condensing unit would require
few automatic controls and would operate with a minimum of attention.

HHH TE

GOVERNMENT ADOPTS INSURANCE PLAN FOR FISHERMEN: A plan to assist fishermen
against abnormal capital losses was agreed upon by the Canadian Parliament on
May 14, reports a May 15 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Ottawa. An item covering
this plan was approved in the expenditure estimates for the Canadian Department

of Fisheries for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 1952. The item reads....

"To authorize and provide for the establishment of one or more special ac-
counts in the consolidated revenue fund for the purposes of a plan to be known as
the fishermen's indemnity and loan plan, to be administered in accordance with
regulations of the governor in council, for the purpose of assisting fishermen to
meet abnormal capital losses; and to authorize payment from the accounts in the
current and subsequent fiscal years, in accordance with the regulations of indem-
nities, loans and administrative expenses, the accounts to be credited with all
amounts received by way of premiums, recoveries and repayments, and with advances
to the said accounts in accordance with the regulations, such advances not at any
time to exceed, C$250,000."

The Minister of Fisheries stated that the protection scheme will cover the
five Atlantic Provinces and British Columbia, but will not be extended to the
Prairie fishermen for the first year. He stated further: "We propose to offer to
the fisherman, by July 1 of this year, or as soon as the administrative details
can be worked out, the opportunity to insure his boat and its fixed equipment-—-
that is the engine--up to a maximum value of C$7,500 for a premium of one percent
of the appraised value. In cases of total loss, there will be an indemnity of 60
percent of the appraised value. In cases of serious damage--damage of over 30per-
cent of the appraised value--there will be an indemnity of 85 percent of the amount
by which the repair bills are in excess of the 30 percent minimum. We are having
to include in this scheme the same deductible amount, to cover minor damage, as is
common with automobile insurance,"

In addition to this plan, the Canadian Government will also instigate a plan
to insure lobster traps on an experimental basis. This will be the start of a
far-reaching gear-insurance program if such a plan is found feasible. The Govern-
ment proposes to offer to the lobster fishermen, commencing with the opening of
the fall season on August 10 in the Northumberland Strait area, the opportunity of
securing partial coverage for lobster traps at a premium of C$7.50 per 100 traps
for the legal fishing season, The premium will be C$15.00 each for two seasons or
a single season of six months. Some areas have only a single two-months' season,
and will have a premium rate of C#7.50 per 100 traps. In areas with 2 two-months'!
seasons or a six-months! season, the premium will beC#15.00 per 100 traps.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 47

The normal annual loss on lobster traps through wear and tear is about 25
percent. The fishermen will have to take responsibility for the first 25 percent
loss and there will be an indemnity of C#1.50 for each trap lost in excess of 25
percent. For example, a fisherman with 200 traps will pay a premium of C4#15.00
for the regular two-months! season, and he willreceive C#1.50 for each trap lost
in excess of 50, which would be his normal wear and tear on 200 traps for a short
season.

HEHEHE

NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY SUBSIDIES AND ASSISTANCE: The Province of Newfoundland
this fiscal year will receive C$2,631,0 ,000 from Canada as fishery assistance money,
a May 18 U. S. consular dispatch from St. John's reports. Of this sum, C$1,250,000
is a special grant for Newfoundland's "take-over" of the Island's bait services:
The Premier stated that the operation of the Island's bait centers has resulted
in an average loss of C$177,000 a year for the past 3 years. Newfoundland will
also receive from Canada a supplementary C$1,000,000 for technical services to
fishermen and the fisheries. In turn, Newfoundland will provide C#1,400,000 for
the current fiscal year.

Also, the Newfoundland Assembly early in May voted C$#40,000 to be paid to
fishermen for equipment damaged by storms in the fall of 1952.

It is reported that C$50 million might be spent by the Federal and Provincial
Governments in modernizing the Island's fisheries. The program has not been fully
revealed. A St. John's newspaper (The Daily News) reports that the Provincial
Government proposes to use the facilities of a large St. John's fishery firm in
the evolution of its new policy.

NEWFOUNDLAND TAKES OVER BAIT DEPOTS: The Premier of Canada announced in April
that the Province’ would take over all bait depots from the Federal Government, and
these depots will be made centers for integrated fishing operations. It is believed
there are 21 such depots in Newfoundland. A St. John's fishery firm will operate
these centers and the bait service under a 20-year lease. They will supply facil-
ities for fish driers, natural flakes, refrigeration, and processors of fresh and
salted fish. Operations will expand progressively and will eventually result in

a centralized fishery operating around mechanized plants, handling fresh, frozen,
and salted fish.

Ceylon

CANADA TO SUPPLY FISHING TRAWLERS: Under the Colombo Plan, Canada will sup-
ply Ceylon with two 44-foot British Columbia-type trawlers and alsowillrecondition
for Ceylon a 145-foot trawler purchased in the United Kingdom. Canadians will

train _Ceylonese in the use of the vessels and gear, reports the February 1953 Indo-

fice at Bangkok, Thailand. Specially designed for service in waters off the coast
of Ceylon, the British Columbia vessels will be powered with 80-hp. Diesel engines
and provided with equipment including fathometer, radio, and fishing gear.

Arrangements are also being made to supply Ceylon with a modern fish refrig-
eration plant with fish-freezing, fish- and ice-storage, and mechanical-drying fa-
cilities. A pilot fish-canning plant for experimental processing of different spe-
cies and a mechanical salt-fish drier will also be provided.

48 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

Colombia

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS LIFTED FROM CERTAIN FISHERY PRODUCTS: An additional list
of fishery products have been exempted from Colombian import restrictions, states
a May 7 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Bogota. Decree 988 of April 16, 1953, adds
the following fishery products items to the list of imports permitted with export

certificates under Decree 1830:

Tariff Item Description
20 Fish: salted, dried, or smoked only. (May not be packed in

tins, jars, crocks, or other hermetically sealed containers.
Includes dried codfish. )

211/ Crustaceans and molluscs, fresh, even though boiled or salted.
a) Lobsters, spiny lobsters, sea or river crabs, shrimps and
other crustaceans.

b) Oysters, mussels, snails, and other molluscs.

1/WHERE SUBCLASSIFICATIONS AE SPECIFIED ONLY THE SPECIFIC SUBCLASSIFICATIONS ARE INCLUDED
WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS DECREE.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW L9

Tariff Item Description
119 Caviar and other prepared or preserved fish eggs similar to
caviar.
121 Crustaceans or molluscs, preparedor preserved, different from

those included in Item 21. (Includesthose prepared other
than bysimple salting or boiling and those in hermetically
sealed containers. )

Egypt
UNITED STATES-—EGYPTIAN TECHNICAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT INCLUDES FISHERIES

PROGRAM: The governments of the United States and Egypt on May 21 signed anagree-
ment for a cooperative technical program in Egypt in the fields of agriculture,
forestry, and fisheries, reports a May 29 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Cairo. The
program will be financed equally by both governments--the U. S. through June 30,
1953, will contribute US$769,000, plus funds to pay salaries and other expenses
of the technical mission. The U. S. Technical Cooperation Administration will
furnish a group of technicians and specialists to collaborate in carrying out the
program. Funds needed for subsequent years to carry out the program from June 30,
1953, through December 31, 1960, will be determined or agreed upon later. This
agreement was made under the General Agreement for Technical Cooperation signed
by the two governments on May 5, 1951.

The objectives of this program are: (1) to facilitate the development of the
“economy of Egypt in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries through
cooperative action on the part of the two governments; (2) to stimulate and in-
crease the interchange between the two countries of knowledge, skills, and tech-
niques in these fields; and (3) to promote and strengthen understanding and good
will between the people of Egypt and the United States of America.

This cooperative program will include,to the extent that the parties from
time to time agree upon in specific project agreements, activities of the follow-
ing types: (1) studies of the needs of Egypt in the fields of agriculture, for-
estry, and fisheries and the resources available to meet such needs; (2) the for-
mulation and continuous adaptation of a program to help meet such needs; and (3)
the initiation and administration of activities in the fields of agriculture, for-
estry and fisheries, such as research and experimentation, and extension service
to maximize adoption by the people of Egypt of the proven results of research and
demonstration, the maximizing of production, and the best utilization of products;
(4) related training activities both inside and outside Egypt; and other projects
within the scope of the agreement.

In the field of fisheries this program may consist of projects which shall

bring about the fuller exploitation of existing and the development of new marine
and fresh-water fishery resources, propagation of fish, and improved utilization

practices.

ee aed

50 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

Iceland

STOCKFISH: A Reykjavik exporter of stockfish recently returned from a sur-
vey trip to West Africa, reports a May 15 U. S. Legation dispatch from Reykjavik.
The exporter reported good marketing pivspects for Icelandic stockfish in Nigeria
with a possibility for developing a market in the Gold Coast, which now imports
its stockfish from Portugal.

The 1952 production of stockfish in Iceland was 41,720 bales, or 1,857 metric
tons, which was sold for 16.3 million Icelandic kronur (US$1 million).

TRAWLERS TO LAND AT BRITISH PORTS AGAIN: Representatives of the Union of
Icelandic Trawler Owners visited London in May and signed an agreement with a
British businessman covering the sale of iced fish. The resumption of fish land-
ings by Icelandic trawlers at British ports is to begin in August, and the trips
will be sold to this man at a fixed price not yet announced. The number oftrawler
catches to be purchased has not yet been agreed upon, but it was stated in the
press that it was likely to be between 2 and 5 trips per week. Unconfirmed re-
ports in the Danish press were quoted by an Icelandic paper to the effect that

some of this fish will be re-exported to North America, India, and Africa.

cy

Japan

NEW CANNED TUNA EXPORT PRICES: New and higher prices for Japanese canned
tuna for export were recently announced by the Tokyo Canned Tuna Sales Company,
the principal firm selling canned tuna to Japanese exporters for shipment toUnited
States importers, reports a May 12 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Tokyo. The new
prices as compared with Japanese Government check prices (floor prices) are listed
in the following table.

Japanese Canned Tuna Export Prices to Importers

Cans Net New Prices

Product Per Contents In
Case Per Can Brine Oil Brine| Oil

Light-meat tuna
(Skipjack of yellowfin):

ENA SO OOOO ODOOOOUOOUGOOUGOL

White-meat tuna
(Albacore):

Many: Am cscs ol cletersielercielctelle e\eveteie

1/F.0.B. JAPAN: 2-PERCENT COMMISSION FOR BROKERS INCLUDED.

2/F.0.B. JAPAN.

3/NO GOVERNMENT CHECK PRICES FOR BETTER GRADES CANNED IN BRINE. CHECK PRICES ON "FANCY A”
AND "FANCY B' CANNED IN BRINE WERE ELIMINATED IN APRIL 1953.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Bit

The new prices represent an increase of 30 to 60 U. S. cents per case on
some items as compared to the company's previous price. The decision to raise
prices may have been influenced by increased competition between exporters and
canners for the round tuna landed by the fishermen. Ex-vessel prices for round
tuna have been gradually increasing for the past several months. United States
packers have maintained a brisk demand for frozen tuna from Japan. Also according
to some Japanese sources, United States importers of Japanese canned tuna have
shown steady interest for some time.

During the Japanese 1952 fiscal year (April 1, 1952, to March 31, 1953), the
Japanese Government limited exports to canned tuna to the United States to a quota
of 1,120,000 cases. The Government has not yet announced its policy on the expor-
tation of tuna (canned or frozen) for the fiscal year 1953.

KHHK HK

TUNA EXPORTERS COMPETE FOR RAW PRODUCT: Japanese exporters of canned tuna
and exporters of frozen tuna are in keen competition for the purchase of tuna from
the fishing vessels, an
April 27 U. S. iHmbassy dis-
patch from Tokyo reveals.
The canners are buying tuna
at more ports; previously
they bought tuna mostly at
the main ports such asYaizu
and Misaki. Ex-—vessel prices
for albacore, the leading
export item, averaged ¥480
per kan (16 U. S. cents per
pound) in April as compared
with ¥450 per kan (15 U. S.
cents per pound) in January
and February. The canners
recently announced an in-
crease in the price of canned
tuna, f.o.b. Japan, claiming it was necessary to help offset the increased ex-ves-
sel prices.

Yellowfin, the second leading tuna export item, is scarce with seasonal pro-
duction depending on the mothership operations in equatorial waters that got under
way in May. Some producers and exporters of frozen tuna are urging the Japanese
Government to either set a separate quota for yellowfin or no quota at all. They
point out that yellowfin tuna is produced only in the summer months. Under present
demand for tuna, the yearly quota could be filled, or largely so, even before the
yellowfin fleet lands its first fish in late summer.

In general, the Japanese tuna industry expects a continued brisk demand for
frozen tuna and to a relatively lesser extent for canned tuna for United States
buyers. Japanese producers will thus benefit from relatively high ex-vessel prices.

HHH HE

CANNERS MEET: A convention of Japanese canners was held at Shimizu, the cen-
ter of the canning industry, on May 8, according to a recent State Department re-
port. Attendance included canners and bottlers of all types of products (fish,
fruit, vegetables). Resolutions included:

52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

(1) that efforts be made to attain an annual production goal of
15,000,000 cases of all products, of which 8,000,000 cases are intended
for export and 7,000,000 cases for domestic consumption;

(2) that efforts be made to acquire tin plate for cans at a lower
cost;

(3) that better coordination be achieved between production and
sales activities;

(4) that study be made of the financial problems of the industry
and means for their solution;

(5) that efforts be made to secure a reduction in the UnitedStates
tariff on canned tuna;

(6) that import duties on materials for canning be abolished;

(7) that campaigns be undertaken to promote greater sales at home
and abroad; and

(8) that the Food Sanitation Law be revised for more practical
adaptability to the canning and bottling industry.

HHHH

MOTHERSHIP-TUNA EXPEDITIONS TO PACIFIC EQUATORIAL WATERS IN 1953: One of the
largest Japanese fishing firms will send a mothership-tuna fleet to Pacific equa-
torial waters in the near future, a May 29 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Tokyo re-
ports. This company has engaged in mothership-tuna expeditions each year since
1950.

Comparison of the proposed 1953 fleet with the same company's operations in
1952 is as follows:

Mothership .......---|1 — penyo Maru(11,224 gross tons)|Same vessel siz

30 - (ranging from 60 to 240gross :
atcher boats .......| tons-—-averaging 130 gross tons seen ogee
each

2 - Banshu Maru No. 35 (1,000 2 - Taiyo Maru No. 2(499

arriers ........eee.-| gross tons), and Banshu Maru gross tons) and Taiyo
No. 37 (1,000 gross tons) Maru No. 38

Period of Operation . poem cae gone: ee, June 22 to August 25

Easterly of Solomon Islands
g Estimated Lbs.

Yellowfin tuna ....
OChereCUNaws ic cloterciers
Other fishies cieiciers
OUASetetetcleletetelsiote

A second large Japanese fishing company, which has also participated in pre-
vious operations, has not announced if it will operate a fleet in equatorial waters
in 1953; one of its mothership-type vessels, Settsu Maru, was lost in Antarctic
whaling last winter.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53

One other Japanese fleet is definitely scheduled to engage in mothership
tuna fishing this summer, This fleet will be headed by the mothership Saipan, re-
cently purchased froma U. S. firm, Operators will be a newly organized firm.
Make up of the Saipan fleet is not yet fully known. It is expected to sail for
the fishing grounds in July and will fish primarily for yellowfin tuna.

HHHH EH

U. S. FREEZERSHIP BOUGHT FOR TUNA MOTHERSHIP: The freezership Saipan, pur-
chased by a Japanese firm in October 1952 from a United States firm, is expected
to make three expeditions to southern waters as a tuna-fleet mothership, starting
July 1. All of the yellowfin tuna taken in these operations are scheduled for
delivery to the former owner in the United States, according to a Japanese news
report (Nippon Suisan, June 4). The Saipan will carry six 10-ton catcher boats
which are expected to make 81 trips and produce 1,300 metric tons of tuna. The
three cruises will be completed by the spring of 1954.

The Japanese firm purchased the Saipan for US#430,000, The firm obtained
US$210,000 in foreign exchange from the American Bank, US$170,000 from its own
funds, and the US$50,000 balance with a 6-months' note.

Plans call for using the Saipan in the North Pacific salmon fishery in 1954.

HHH HH

GOVERNMENT TO FINANCE TUNA VESSEL CONSTRUCTION: Plans for the financing of
fishery development in 1953 by the Japanese Fisheries Agency and the Development
Bank include the construction of 15 large tuna boats, reports the Japanese press
(Nippon Suisan Shimbun, June 11). Included are 1 vessel in the 200-ton class, 8
in the 300-ton class, 1 in the 320-ton class, and 1 in the 350-ton class. The
total cost will be US$3,257,000 of which US$1,548,600 will be sought from the De-
velopment Bank.

HetHHH

= Se

tons), attached to the Tokyo Fisheries College, sailed from Tokyo on June 6 for
the first deep-sea training cruise in 14 years. The cruise will take 3 months,
and 32 students of the College's Department of Fishing are aboard, according to
the Japanese press (Nippon Suisan Shimbun, June 11).

The voyage will take in Bristol Bay and Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians forcrab
and salmon; and Hawaii, the Solomons, and New Guinea for tuna fishing. Thestudents
will train with Loran, radar, and sonic fish detectors.

HHH

NORTH PACIFIC SALMON EXPEDITION PLANS FOR 1953: Plans for the Japanese North

Pacific salmon expedition call for three fleets. The expedition includes 3 factory-

1,633,800 | 2,028,000__| 5,487,000 |

5h COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

ships (Kaiko Maru, Meisei Maru, and Tenyo Maru No. 3), 85 drift-net catchers of
50 to 70 gross tons each, and 13 attached carrier boats. In addition, 8 chartered
fishing boats will be used by theGov-
ernment for research purposes. These
research ships will engage in explor-
atory fishing in addition to other
assignments. The expedition was
scheduled to sail on April 30, reports
aU. S. Embassy dispatch from Tokyo.
The expedition is expected to return
to Japan in late August.

150° 160° 170° 180° 170° 160°
|

LSs

60%

The catch target for 1953 is ap-
proximately 5,500,000 salmon, compared
with a catch of 2,102,787 fishin 1952.
An estimated 40,000 cases of canned
A salmon will be processed aboard the

PA | | | mothership Meisei Maru from its catch
ee COMBE he tH ed target of 2,024,000 fish, while the
PACIFIC | OCEAN remainder of the catch will be frozen.
| | While the number (three) of mother-
1c ae ships is the same as in 1952, two are
APPROXIMATE AREA (AREA ENCLOSED WITH DIAGONAL - considerably larger. Only 50 catcher

LINED STIPPLING) OF OPERATIONS FOR PLANNED boats were used by the 1952 expedition.
1953 JAPANESE MOTHERSH!IP=TYPE SALMON FISHING

IN THE NORTH PACIFIC.

Area of operations: (lat. 48°N.
long. 156° E.), (lat. 48° N. longitudinal line passing the west point of Atka Is-
land), (lat. 55° N. long. 175° E.), (lat. 55° N. long. 170° E.), (lat. 53930' N.
long. 170° E.), (lat. 53930' N. long. 163° E.), and (lat. 48° N. long. 156° E.).

The position of the factoryships in their operations will be more than 50
miles from the above stated lines and the coast lines of islands lying within the

fishing area.
NOTE: SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, APRIL 1953, PP. 50-51.

HHH E HE

journal.

Trial operations by the motherships Umisachi Maru and Tenyo Maru No. 3 the
previous night had produced catch rates of 2.5 fish per shackle. The order was
then passed to begin fishing, and by 7:00 a.m. on May 10 more than 100 vessels had
their nets in the water. Hauling of the nets began on May 11, and catches were
good. The highest take by any one boat was about 750 fish.

As of May 15 the three North Pacific salmon fleets were operating successfully
in the vicinity of 50° N., 177° E., the May 21 Nippon Suisan Shimbun reported. The
over-all average catch rate was 1.66 fish per shackle of gear, with signs that the
catch rates were improving. One fleet, with 39 catcher boats operating, had taken
a total of 36,599 salmon; the second fleet, with 36 catchers, had a total of 30,118
fish; and the catch of the third fleet with 27 boats, was 29,275 salmon. The first
carrier of the year, the Taiyo Maru No. 18, left the fishing grounds for Tokyo on
May 14 with 148,860 pounds of fish, The weather was reported to be worsening, with
north winds and snow flurries.

HRR HE

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55

NORTH PACIFIC CRAB EXPEDITION REPORTS FISHING BELOW EXPECTATIONS: The first
Japanese North Pacific crab fishing operation since World War II began fishing on
April 20, reports the Nippon Suisan Shimbun of May 14, a Japanese trade journal.
On May 5 the mothership Tokei Maru was at 55° N., 163° W. in the Bering Sea. A
total of 277 trawl hauls had been made and 12,520 crabs were caught. Tangle nets
set totaled 19,391 shackles, with 11,734 shackles hauled, for a total catch of
39,338 crabs. The pack was 2,528 cases of first-grade and 579 cases of third-

grade crab meat.

The fishing grounds seem to have suffered a change since former times; re-
sults have not been up to expectations because over a wide area tanner crabs are
preventing the increase of the king crabs. Despite all efforts, trawling success
has been below expectations. The southern part of the fishing area, which form-
erly was good grounds, now gives catches of around 100 tanner crabs per shackle
of net. The expedition reported that it was scouting for better grounds.

As of May 15 the mothership was at 56923' N., 161947! W., and had packed an
additional 1,830 cases. A total of 30,097 crabs was taken with tangle nets and
2,486 by trawling, reports the May 21 Nippon Suisan Shimbun.

HEHEHE

NORTH PACIFIC WHALING EXPEDITION, 1953: The Japanese whaling expedition to
the North Pacific departed Japan on May 10, states a May 19 U. S. Embassy dispatch
from Tokyo. It will be the second such expedition in the postwar period; thefirst
was in 1952. A comparison of the 1952 and 1953 expeditions follows:

1953 1952
Fleet:
Factoryships ............} (Baikal Maru, 1
4,744 gross tons)
Catcher boats .......% sae 4 4
Carriers sci. coe G80000KS als} 8
MANKSGS |everey leila Te.0 cilesevetolshieiel 2 1
Period on whaling grounds |May 20-Sept. 30 |July 20-Sept. 20
Actual
(No.
De)
213
37
1h
319
Estimate Actual
Products: weeee.e (Metric Tons) ......
Whale OL shrewinecs ales 5 AB: 4,091 2,313
Blubber and meat ........ 8,898 5,118
OUEST Feri steteloys, eusver's earteyelterts 0 Pala 104
Total’. statues te Belseeeeisieio | EEL ONQOO LE LONE Te5O5

Same as in 1953
Especially in
vicinity of
53°30! N. late;
158°0' E. long.

High seas north
of lat. 46° N.

in the North Pa-
cific, including
the Bering Sea.

Area of Operation .......

Operation of the expedition in 1953 will be jointly by the same two companies
as in 1952.

Lr ur tar tr uy

56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

gram to curtail overfishing in the coastal waters of Japan, the Japanese Fisher-
ies Agency is continuing its effort to reduce the number of small and mediumtrawl-
ers. The coastal waters account for approximately 85 percent of Japan's total
annual fish production of about 4.5 million metric tons, reports an April 30 dis-
patch from the U. S. Embassy at Tokyo. This is a 5-year plan that commenced in
November 1951, to reduce the fleet from 35,000 boats of 98,000 gross tons to
28,000 boats of 68,000 gross tons.

Boats already withdrawn from service have been sunk or converted to less—
crowded fisheries, fish carriers, or common cargo transports. Owners of the fish-
ing boats are compensated by the Japanese Government in accordance with a fixed
formula. Financial assistance is extended to help these operators convert to
other fisheries or activities.

Reductions to date have been: 233 boats in 1951 and 2,127 in 1952. The
planned reduction in 1953 is for an additional 1,224 boats. This will bring the
total reduction by the end of this year to 3,584 boats or 51 percent of the 7,000
boats to be withdrawn during the 5-year period.

HHH HE

INTEREST IN NEGOTIATING INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES AGREEMENTS: Inasmuch as fish-
eries in overseas areas furnish a significant source of export income, there is
considerable interest in negotiating international fisheries agreements, a May 22

U. S. Embassy report from Tokyo states.

The Tripartite Fisheries Treaty with Canada and the United States has been
consummated. Attention now is being directed to negotiations with the Republic
of Korea concerning the controversial issue of fishing grounds in the East China
Sea; and with Australia with regard to pearl-shell fishing in the Arafura Sea, and
tuna fishing in equatorial and South Pacific waters.

) Favorable reception is being accorded requests from Southeast Asian countries
for technical assistance in the development of their fisheries, on condition that
mutually advantageous agreements can be concluded.

HHKHE

SARDINE INDUSTRY, ae AND OUTLOOK FOR 1953: Canning: The production of
canned sardines (seasoned) in Japan during 1951 amounted to 213,893 actual cases

Japanese Canned Sardine Pack, 1951 (see table), states a May 8 U. S.

se ————————————— —MbassyGilspaLchierromPhOkyORmmune
total 1951 sardine catch was about1.5
Can Contents| to Case tual Cases! 431140n pounds, of which 60 million
No. pounds (or 4 percent) were used for
canning. The total sardine catch in
1952 was about 1.4 billion pounds, but
data on the amount used for canning

are not yet available.

OvalNo. 3,
Other types
and sizes

The principal sardine-canning
season is from October to March.

The production goal for canned
sardines in 1953 planned by the Japanese Fisheries Agency is as follows: in tomato
sauce 750,000; in oil 30,000; and seasoned 40,000; a total of 820,000 cases.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Bi

Meal and Oil: The Japanese meal and oil industry utilized 78.1 millionpounds
of sardines in 1951--5.3 percent of the total catch.

Exports: A total of 601,469 actual cases of canned sardines were exported
from Japan in 1952--544,062 cases in tomato sauce and 57,407 cases natural and
seasoned. Hong Kong was the largest receiver of Japanese sardines (135,290 cases),
followed by Africa (129,592 cases), Singapore (123,586 cases), and Burma(107,024
cases). The oval No. 1 can, packed 48 to the carton, comprised 65 percent of the
total sardine exports.

The latest price of canned sardines for a case of 48 No. 1 oval cans (12-1/3
oz. net weight) is US$#8.50-9.00 per case, f.o.b. Japan.

No sardines were exported to the United States in 1952, but 100 cases were
shipped to Hawaii. However, about 20,000 cases have been exported to the United
States during the first four months of 1953.

The Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry is planning on can-
ned sardine exports in 1953 of 700,000 actual cases--600,000 cases in tomato sauce
and 100,000 cases of other style packs.

KERR KE

PEARL-SHELL EXPEDITION SAILS FOR ARAFURA SEA: The postponed Japanese pearl-
shell expedition to the Arafura Sea sailed from Kushimoto on May 14, reports a

May 29 U. S. Embassy dispatch from Tokyo. Also on May 14, the Japanese Government
announced publicly that the expedition had been authorized to depart Japan follow-
ing a broad agreement with Australia on pearl fishing in waters adjacent to that
country. Sailing was originally scheduled for early March, but held up by the
Japanese Government during the fishery talks with Australia which began on April1l3.
The problem of pearl-shell fishing in 1953 was given special consideration. Japa-
nese news items (Nippon Times and Mainichi, May 15), indicate the talks at Can-
berra have been centered mainly on "control and conservation of pearl fisheries."
No definite agreement has been reported on other considerations, such as open or
closed seasons, prohibited areas, or bans on certain methods or gear for pearl
fishing.

Details on the Japanese expedition are as follows:

1 mothership, Ebisu Maru (196 gross tons)

1 carrier (not yet selected)

25 diver boats (45 to 80 gross tons)

2 patrol boats to supervise fishing; Taiyo Maru
No. 5 (197 gross tons), Shinyo Maru No. 10(145
gross tons)

Sailing date, May 14, 1953

Return date, December 23, 1953

Catch target, 1,250 metric tons

Fishing grounds "on the high seas" within the
area bounded by the following coordinates:

125° E. longitude - 50° S. latitude
125° E. longitude - 13° S. latitude
137° E. longitude - 13° S. latitude
137° E. longitude - 5° S, latitude

JAPANESE GOVERREENT

FA

58 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

Mexico

GUAYMAS SHRIMP FISHERY, APRIL 1953: The most interesting development in the
shrimp industry at Guaymas in April was a new plan discussed by producers, U. S.
importers, and the Mexican Government. This project would eventually have most
of the Mexican west coast shrimp production handled through a single distributor
in the United States, providing that such an operation would not violate United
States anti-trust laws.

Most of the Guaymas shrimp-boat operators operating out of Salina Cruz,
Oaxaca, have returned to Guaymas, and the boats will head northward. The catch
was quite good for most operators at Salina Cruz, and is reported to have saved
several from going out of business. The high price of shrimp in the UnitedStates
aided these producers.

Another plan reportedly under discussion to assist the boat operators would
have the U. S. importers advance 80 percent of the agreed price on landing ofthe
catch, and the remaining 20 percent on delivery. However, of the remaining 20
percent, more than half would be absorbed by handling, freight, and distribution
costs, so that the Mexican shrimp operators would only have to wait for 7 or &
percent of the price.

Shrimp men are reported optimistic about the prospects of the coming season's
fishing out of Guaymas. Fishing. has been good in the estuaries this season, and
dased on past experience that means good fishing in open waters the following sea—
son, a May 5 U. S. consular dispatch from Guaymas reports.

HER H ER

MAZATLAN SHRIMP FISHERY TRENDS, APRIL 1953: The Mazatlan shrimp industry
was bolstered considerably during April by the discovery of shrimp beds close by,
a May 10 U. S. consular dispatch from Mazatlan reports. Boats fishing near the
Creston breakwater brought in from 3 to 4 metric tons on each trip. Shrimp is
also reported to have appeared in fairly good quantities in the Altata and El
Castillo Bays in northern Sinaloa. The shrimp from this area was the brown vari-

ety with a green vein. It sells for a lower price than the lighter colored shrimp.

Another factor which favorably influenced the industry was the recent U. S.
price increase.

Mazatlan shrimp exports for March and April were as follows:

Month 1953 1952
Lbs. Lbs.
April ccs) Met. 6808933 291, 766
Manchiverercielers ce coos HONS 19S 550,491
N23
SD
Netherlands

WHALE-OIL PRODUCTION, 1953: The Netherlands! only 1953 Antarctic whaling ex-
pedition produced 16,965 tons of whale oil during the 74-day season which ended
on March 16, compared with 15,500 tons in 64 days during 1952. The total output
had been sold in advance to the Netherlands Government at Fl. 817 (US$215) per long
ton, reports the May 23 Foreign Trade, a Canadian Department of Trade and Commerce

publication.
coe

:
‘

eee

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59

New Zealand

SPINY-LOBSTER FISHING REGULATIONS CHANGED: The minimum size at which spiny
lobster (crayfish) can be legally taken has been increased from 9 inches to 10
inches by the New Zealand Government's revised regulations, states the March 1953
Australian Fisheries Newsletter. In addition, the taking of female spiny lobster
showing external eggs is prohibited; the practice of de-tailing spiny lobsters at
sea and throwing the remainder overboard has been restricted to the more inacces-
sible grounds in the southern part of the South Island.

Because of the phenomenal increase in spiny-lobster fishing, the Minister of
Marine stated that it was necessary to adopt measures which would insure that stocks
would not be unduly depleted.

New Zealand exports of spiny lobsters (mostly tails) have increased from
263,760 pounds in 1947 to 1,837,584 pounds in 1951.

SF

Nicaragua

———— Oo -_ C =

the U. S. firm to operate in Nicaragua's jurisdictional waters, a June 2 U. S.
Embassy dispatch from Managua points out. The contract was published in the offi-
cial gazette (La Gaceta) of May 28, and was the first contract of its kind to beso
published. The contract was signed for Nicaragua by the Minister of Public Works
and Development, but final decisions on fisheries concessions still must be rendered
by the President of Nicaragua. The Minister stated that this contract can serve

as a pattern for future parties interested in the fisheries in Nicaragua's juris-
dictional waters,

Highlights of the contract, reflecting Nicaraguan policy on foreign private
investment, are set forth in the following provisions:

(a) During the first six years of its ten-year contract, the U. S. company is
authorized to import duty-free and exempt of customs surcharges, its trawlers,
engines, machinery, replacement parts, tools, and miscellaneous equipment needed
for the operation, on sea and land, in the country; no exemption is granted for
payment of other taxes or levies.

(b) Paragraph II, Item (f) provides that in accordance with Article 14 of the
Basic Foreign Exchange Law of November 9, 1950, the U. S. investor report to the
Issue Department of the National Bank the amount of its foreign capital investment
so that the bank can authorize remittances in the same currency and amount.

(c) The U. S. company is required to sell 5 percent of its production in
Nicaragua at a price not to exceed 25 percent over production cost.

(d) Skilled workers brought to Nicaragua by the foreign investor must have
political views that concord with those of nations with which Nicaragua enjoys
friendly international relations.

(e) The U. S. company agrees to pay the government of Nicaragua US$25 per
short ton (20 quintals) of shrimp, shellfish, or fish exported, payment to be made
bimonthly. In return, the U. S. company is exempted from the foreign exchange reg-
ulation requiring the sale of its foreign exchange to the National Bank.

60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

(f) Commercial arbitration is the means prescribed for the adjustment of
trade differences. The U. S. company specifically is enjoined from recourse to
diplomatic missions for settlement of any difficulties. The latter action con-
stitutes grounds for cancellation of the concession.

(g) The contract may be transferred to any other person subject to approval
by the Ministry of Public Works and Development, provided it is not a foreign gov-
ernment or an agency of such a government.

(h) Paragraph III, Item (g) states that a minimum of 75 percent of theworkers
employed by the company be Nicaraguan nationals, subject to exceptions set forth
in the country's labor code. The 75-percent clause does not apply to managers,
directors, superintendents, and technical employees.

Another U. S. concern of Ft. Meyer, Florida, is conducting some exploratory
shrimp fishing on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. Although this firm is oper-
ating on the basis of a direct contract with the President, it is presumed that,
should it desire to continue, a similar contract will be signed and published in
La Gaceta.

—_m—

ad

Norway

COD FISHING OFF GREENLAND REPORTED GOOD: Preliminary reports from the 50-odd
Norwegian vessels fishing off western Greenland indicate good catches of cod. The
first catch was landed on April 29, about three weeks earlier than normal, the
Norwegian Information Service reported in a May 21 bulletin. In view of reports

of ice-free waters, the vessels left Norway a month earlier than usual.

A substantial number of the fishing vessels are for the first time equipped
with dragging gear, while the Terten of Bergen features modern refrigeration fa-
cilities. On its first trip the Terten will try filleting ocean catfish (stein-
bit), which has found a ready market in the United States. If the experiment
proves successful, other Norwegian fishing vessels are expected to follow suit.

The bulk of the fish caught off western Greenland is cod, which is salted in
barrels. Smaller catches of halibut are frozen fresh and shipped to European ports
in refrigerated transports. Many fishing vessels have special equipment for ex-
tracting cod-liver oil.

Under an agreement recently signed by Faroese, Danish, and Norwegian chandler-
ies, fishermen of the three nations now have equal access to harbor and shore fa-
cilities in the Greenland port of Faringehavn. Well over half of the Norwegian
vessels work under contract with the new company formed by the cooperating chan-
dleries. Operation of the facilities in Faringehawn are jointly managed by a
Faroese, a Dane, and a Norwegian.

The new company is planning substantial investments to develop facilities in
the Greenland port. A refrigerated warehouse, now under construction, is expected
to be finished this summer. Another project, due to be started in 1954, calls for
construction of a much needed salt silo.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61

Panama

NEW BAIT—FISHING REGULATIONS PROPOSED: A projected decree to alter the Pan-
amanian bait-fishing regulations has been . announced, reports a June 11 U. S. Em-
bassy dispatch from Panama. The new decree would provide for a 3-months! closed
season from November 1 until February 1 of each year for bait fishing in placeof
the present 4-months' closed season, provided in Article 4 of Decree No, 30 of
December 22, 1952. The projected decree would also reduce the fee for bait-fish-
ing licenses from US$15 for each net ton of the vessel's weight to a fee of US$11
per ton. Also, the licenses would be valid for a period of one year from thedate
purchased instead of merely for the duration of the season in which purchased.

It was believed that the new decree would be issued by the Panamanian Govern-
ment shortly.

Union of South Africa

SOUTH-WEST AFRICA'S EXPORTS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS, st South-West Africa's

L2,442,931 (US$6,840,208), reports a May 5 U. S. a dispatch from Cape Town
(see table) . This is an increase of 75 percent in quantity and 89 percent invalue
as compared with 1951 exports.

South-West Africa's ports of Fishery Products, 1951 and 1952

Se ee
Lbs.

Fish, fresh .....| 7,520,211
Fish, preserved . 8,945,070
i 96,02

Fish meal was the principal fishery item exported from South-West Africa and
comprised 85 percent of the total. Compared with 1951, exports were up for fish
meal by 93 percent and for preserved fish by 40 percent, but fresh fish exports
were down 8 percent.

HHH EK HE

FISH OIL AND MEAL OUTPUT SETS NEW RECORD IN 1952: A record output of 21,970
short tons of fish body oil was produced in the Union of South Africa and South-
West Africa during the year ending September 30, 1952, reports the May 18 Foreign
Crops and Markets, a U. S. Department of Agriculture publication. Production in
1951 totaled 17,420 tons, and 1950 output was 11,340 tons. Of the 1952 production,
13,290 tons were produced in the Union and 8,680 tons in South-West Africa. Pro-
duction of fish oil in 1953 is expected to be at least as large as last year.

The supply of fish oil in 1952 exceeded local requirements and substantial
quantities were exported. January-September 1952 fish-oil exports were approxi-
mately 5,870 tons, as compared with about 2,078 tons, mainly refined oil, in the
corresponding period of 1951. The great bulk of the domestically-consumed fish
oil was used in industrial oils for the paint and varnish industry, although some
was refined for edible purposes, Stocks of fish oil on hand as of September 30,
1952, amounted to 1,240 tons.

62 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

Fish-meal production during the year ending September 30, 1952, reached a
record 85,704 short tons, as compared with 60,000 tons in the previous year.
Total fish-meal exports amounted to 50,024 tons, and 31,200 tons (or over 60 per-
cent) was exported to the United States. Stocks on September 30, 1952, were about
3,780 tons.

HeHK*E

PILCHARD CATCH LIMIT ESTABLISHED: To prevent overfishing, the South African
fishing industry has agreed to limit its annual catch of pilchards to 500,000
metric tons--250,000 tons for the Cape and 250,000 tons for Walvis Bay (South-West
Africa), reports a May 5 U. S. consular dispatch from Cape Town. The pilchard
fishing fleet (about 150 boats in St. Helena Bay and 100 boats in Walvis Bay) is
to be limited to the number of boats operating or on order as of January 31, 1953.

The South Africa Division of Fisheries, which controls the industry, is anxious
to avoid imposing quotas on factory production and is consequently increasing the
present 2-month closed fishing season to 4 months--September 1 to December 31.

It is believed that the new restrictions will prevent further rapid expansion,
but will not seriously affect the prosperity of the industry. The industry will
now be able to concentrate on more efficient and economical catching and process-

ing methods.
NOTE: SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, MARCH 1953, P. 66.

Guz”

United Kingdom

Hull and Grimsby, are faced with what approaches a crisis due to financial losses
from unsold heavy fish landings, a May 1 U. S. Embassy dispatch from London re-
ports. Apparently consumers in Great Britain are not buying normal amounts of
fish. A committee of the Humber Distant Waters Development Scheme has taken steps
to introduce a system of "planned production" in an effort to balance the supply
of fish with the demand. Landings would be restricted in a manner similar to the
schemes of 1937 and 1938.

FISHING PORTS PLAN TO RESTRICT LANDINGS: The two main British fishing ports,

To avoid the glut which threatens during the coming summer (1953), when con-
sumption of fish is at its lowest, the plan provides for a tie-up of 20 percent of
the deep-water fleet during May and June; and those vessels which do fish will be
limited to 70 percent of their capacity--30 percent of this to be salted. Many
vessels are due to be laid up for their annual overhaul during the summer months
so this is not as drastic as it may seem. To some extent German vessels have been
replacing the Icelandic vessels with 7 or 8 trips a week at Grimsby—-Hull has banned
such landings. Under the plan these landings are to be restricted to three trips
a week at Grimsby.

HEHEHE E

BUSINSSSMAN GETS EXCLUSIVE CONCESSION FOR LANDINGS OF ICELANDIC TRAWLERS IN
BRITAIN: An agreement, signed in London on May 10, gives a British businessman
an exclusive concession for a number of years to handle the catches of Icelandic
trawlers landing in Britain, reports The Fishing News of May 16, a British trade
magazine. Signing for Iceland were the president of the Icelandic Trawler Owners!
Federation, the Icelandic Vice-Consul at Grimsby, and the Federation's Grimsby
representative.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 63

The British businessman revealed that he hoped to bring 5 Icelandic trawlers
each week into Grimsby (the main base) and Liverpool. Each trip will have about
200 to 300 metric tons of fish, making a weekly total of about 1,200 to 1,500 met-
ric tons. "We are starting at the end of August," he said, He hoped to provide
Icelandic fish--at the cheapest possible prices, "much lower than those prevail-
ing." "I am now trying to fix the marketing arrangements. This is the first
time that one man has contracted to buy up the entire exportable catch of the
Icelandic fishermen."

KHHEK E

WHITE FISH SUBSIDY EXTENDED: The subsidy (due to end on March 31) to vessels
fishing for white fish in the inshore, near, and middle waters was extended to
July 31, 1953, reports the April ll issue of The Fishing News, a British trade
periodical. As before, the subsidy was not payable to vessels of 140 feet and
over.

There was no change in the rates or conditions of payment for trips by ves-
sels between 70 and 140 feet in length, but in addition, a flat-rate payment was
to be made on all landings for human consumption from trips entirely within near
and middle waters by these vessels. The rate: 4d. per stone (US#0.33 per hundred-
weigh) for white fish sold otherwise than by retail; 3d. per stone (US#0.25 per
hundredweight) for most varieties if landed round. No flat rate was to be paid
for fish sold other than for human consumption,

The rates to inshore boats less than 70 feet remained at 10d. per stone
(US$0.83 per hundredweight) for white fish sold other than by retail; 8d. per
stone (US$0.67 per hundredweight) for most varieties if landed round.

HeKEKHE

WHITE FISH AUTHORITY TO REDUCE EX-VESSEL FISH TAX: A reduction in the gen-
eral levy on ex-vessel sales of white fish from 3d 5d. “to id. per stone (from 4 to

2 U. S. cents per hundredweight) was announced recently by the White Fish Author-
ity. The reduction will probably go into effect about June 1, reports the Aprill1l

issue of The Fishing News, a British trade magazine.

The Authority reviewed the levy arrangements at the close of the 1952/53
financial year. One of the objectives during the 16 months since the levy came
into force was to create an adequate financial reserve. The authority now esti-
mates that after providing for increased expenditures, mainly on publicity, exper-
iments, and research, and despite the proposed reduction in the rate of levy, its
finances will meet its short-term requirements. Loans and other capital expendi-
tures are financed by other means. The Authority emphasizes however, that plans
for reorganization and development of the industry may require the reintroduction
of a higher rate of levy at some future date.

HHH HH

FISH CANNERIES FACE CRISIS: The British fish-canning industry is facing a
crisis which is attributed to the Government's efforts to clean out its stocks of
foreign-canned fish, and the temporary loss of the Australian and New Zealand ex-
port markets. The manager of a fish-canning firm claims that because the Ministry
of Food flooded the market with foreign-canned fish at half price, it was impossible
to compete, reports the April 11 issue of The Fishing News, a British fishery mag-
azine. Canneries at Dundee, Fraserburgh, and Looe, have been forced to release
most of their workers.

64 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

Importation of South African pilchards and competition from canned herring
thrown on the British market because of overseas restrictions are blamed for a
falling-off in the demand for Cornish pilchards. Owing to the slump, thousands
of cans of pilchards have piled up at the Looe plant.

The price paid to the fishermen for pilchards fell from 4s. to 2s. per stone
(from 4 to 2 U. S. cents per pound). Even at the lower price no more fish were
wanted, and many fishermen have stopped fishing.

The Looe Fishermen's Protection Association has drawn up a petition calling
attention to the serious position of the pilchard industry, which is in the throes
of its worst depression for years. Copies of the petition have been sent to St.
Ives, Newlyn, Porthleven, Par, Mevagissey, Polperro, and Plymouth with a request
that they should be signed by the fishermen of these ports and returned to Looe
for submission to Government departments.

The Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee is seeking either a guaranteed market
for home-canned pilchards or a restriction in imports, especially from SouthAfrica,
"Although the present plight of the fishermen is bad," said the committee's clerk,
"their future prospects are even worse unless something can be done at the high-
est level to insure that on the domestic market canned Cornish pilchards shall be
given priority over imported canned fish."

BRITISH TRAWLER ALMOST SETS NEW TIME RECORD

The British trawler St. Leonard recently approached the all-time record
for a fishing trip from the port of Fleetwood (England) to the Icelandic
fishing grounds and back, some 1,400 miles. The trawler completed the
trip in 10 days, 4 hours--shorter by 2 or 3 days than a normal fishing
trip to that area. The St. Leonard landed at Fleetwood the last week in
May with a total catch of 9,000 stones (126,000 pounds) of cod and haddock
valued at £2,250 (US$6,300) ex-vessel.

The all-time record was established a year earlier by the Fleetwood
trawler Woolton. In July 1952 the Woolton made a fishing trip to grounds
off Iceland under 10 days. The catch landed totaled 12,000 stones (168,000
pounds), valued at £5,004 (US$14,000) ex-vessel. However, there are those
who contend that "in the good old days this record was beaten," too.

--The Fishing News,
May 30, 1953, and June 6, 1953

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 65

FEDERAL }
'# ACTIONS

Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENTS TO ALASKA COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REG-
ULATIONS: The Secretary of the Interior gave notice in the Federal Register of
June 18 that he intends to adopt amended regulations permitting and governing
the time, means, and methods for the taking of commercial fish in the waters of

Alaska, and related matters.

The regulations are to be effective beginning about February 1, 1954, and to
continue in effect thereafter until further notice.

Interested persons are hereby given an opportunity to participate in consid-
ering changes in the regulations by submitting their views, data, or arguments in
writing to the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the In-
terior, Washington 25, D. C., on or before November 20, 1953, or by presenting
their views at a series of open discussions scheduled to be held as follows:

Alaska: Alaska (Contd. ):
Dillingham - August 1 Wrangell - October 14
Kodiak - September 18 Petersburg - October 15
Anchorage - September 21 Sitka - October 19
Cordova - September 25 Juneau - October 21
Ketchikan - October 12 Seattle, Wash. - November 4, 5, and 6

The hour and place of each meeting will be amnounced by the local represent-
ative of the Fish and Wildlife Service at the places indicated above.

S

Mutual Security Agency
GREECE AUTHORIZED TO PURCHASE CANNED FISH: Greece has been authorized by the

herring, pilchards, mackerel, and/or squid; packed natural style. Greece is au-
thorized to make this MSA-financed purchase in the United States and Possessions,
a June 17 news release from that Agency reports. The contract period covering
these purchases is from June 15, 1953, to October 31, 1953. The terminal delivery
date is December 31, 1953.

* OK OK OK *

THAILAND AUTHORIZED TO PURCHASE FISH CARRIERS: Thailand has been authorized
by the Mutual Security Agency to spend $19,000 for the purchase of fish carriers
for a fisheries project. Thailand is authorized to make this MSA-financed pur-

chase in the United States and Possessions, a June 23 news release from that Agen-

66 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

cy reports. Procurement will be carried out through another U. S. Government a-
gency. Firms wishing to receive further details should write to the Office of

Small Business, Mutual Security Agency, 806 Connecticut Ave., NW., Washington 25,
DeGie

Eighty-Third Congress (First Session)
JUNE 1953

Listed below are public bills and resolutions introduced and referred to com—
mittees or passed by the Eighty-Third Congress (First Session) and signed by the
President that directly or indirectly affect the fisheries and allied industries.
Public bills and resolutions are shown in this section only when introduced and,
if passed, when signed by the President; but also shown are the more pertinent re-
ports, hearings, or chamber actions on some of the bills shown in this section from

month to month.

BILLS INTRODUCED:

Distribution of Fishery Products: H. R. 5829
(Bates) — A bill to further encourage the distriou-
tion of fishery products, and for other purposes;
to the Committee on Nerchant Marine and Fisheries.
This bill provides that from funds available tothe
Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the provisions
of section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, 49 Stat.
774, as amended, $1,000,000 a year shall be transfer-
red tothe Secretary ofthe Interior. Of this, $750,000
shall be used to promote the free flowof domestically-
produced fishery products in commerce by conductings
fishery educational service and fishery technologi-
cal and related research programs; and $250,000 to
develop and increase markets for domestic fishery
products. Similer to S. 1731 (Saltonstall).

Food and Drug Factory Inspection Authority: H.
R. 5740 (wolverton) — A bill to amend the Federal
Food, Drig, and Cosmetic Act, so as to protect the
public health and welfare by providing certain au-
thority for factory inspection, and for other pur-
poses; to the Committee on Interstate Commerce.

Labeling of Foreign-Produced Trout: S. 2033
(Dworshak) - A bill relating to the labeling of
packages containing foreign—produced trout sold in
the United States, and requiring certain informa—
tion to appear on the menus of public eating places
serving such trout; to the Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce. This bill defines the spe—
cies covered as including all species of trout,ex-
cept Salvelinus namaycush (lake trout), belonging
to the following genera: Salmo, Salvelinus, Cristi-
vomer, Hucho, and Brachymystax.

Social Security Coverage for all Fishermen: H.
R. 5480 (Mack) — A bill to extend coverage under
the Federal old-age and survivors insurance system
to employees performing services in the catching,
taking, harvesting, cultivating, or farming of any
kind of fish, snellfisn, or other aquatic forms of
animal or vegetable life; to the Committee on Ways
and Means. xpand coverage to include fishermen
not included under present Social Security regula-
tions.

Trade Agreement Authority: S. 2138 (Kefauver for
himself and 10 other Senators) -— A bill to extend
the authority of the President under section 350 of
the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, to repeal cer—

‘tain provisions of the Trade Agreements Extension

4ct of 1951, and for other purposes; to the Commit—
tee on Finance.

Also H. R. 5495 (Simpson)....(Same as S. 2138.)

Trade Agreement xtension Act: H. R. 5496 (Simp-
son of Penn.) — A bill to amend the Trade Agree-
ments Extension Act of 1951 and certain other pro—
visions of law to provide adequate protection for
American workers, miners, farmers, and producers;
to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Also H. R. 5894 (Simpson of Penn.)....(Same as

H. R. 5496.)
Water Follution Control: 4. R. 5623 (Radwan) —

A bill to amend tne Water Pollution Control act,

so as to confer authority upon the Surgeon General

to assist in the elimination, control, and abatement

of pollution in certain international waters; tothe

Committee on Fublic Works.

Alaska Statehood: H. R. 2982 was reported to the
House by the Cammittee on Interior and Insular Af—
fairs, Bill provides for the admission of Alaska
into the Union, amended (H. Rept. No. 675).

Collisions at Sea: Senate Camittee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce ordered favorably reported H.
R. 2456, making certain technical changes in Rules
and Regulations for the Frevention of Collisions at
Sea.

Continental Shelf Submerged Lands: Committee on
Interior and Insular Affairs reported to the Senate
S$. 1901 to provide fcr the jurisdiction of the Unit-
ed States over the submerged lands of the outer Gon-
tinental Shelf, and to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to lease such lands for certain purposes;
with amendments (S. Rept. No. 411).

July 1953

Defense Production Act: House Comittee on Bank—
ing and Currency on June 6 reported S. 1081 with
amendment to the Committee on the Whole House on the
State of the Union (H. Rept. No. 516). Bill provides
authority for temporary economic controls. The meas—
ure was ordered reported with amendment as follows:
Strike out all of the Senate bill after the enacting
clause and substitute the House amendment. The amend—
ment in effect eliminates the wage, price, and serv—
ices freeze provisions, as well as all credit con—
trol provisions passed by the Senate; approved sec—
tion 104 (fats and oils control provisions) as con—
tained in the 1952 act; extends for 1 year instead
of 2. Other minor amendments were made for clarifi-
cation and to make the act as a whole conform with
the changes made.

Interior Department Appropriations: Senate Commit-—
tee on Appropriations in executive session completed

the markup of H. R. 4828, Interior appropriations for
1954, and ordered the pill favorably reported to the
Senate with amendments (S. Rept. No. 445).

Labeling of Foreign—Produced Trout: Senate Commit-—
tee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce favorabley re—
ported without amendment S. 2033, relating to the
lebeling of foreign—produced trout sold in the U.S,

(S. Rept. No. 305).

Trade-Agreements Authority: The House Committee
on Ways and Means ordered reported to the full House,
H. R. 5495, extending the trade agreements program
for an additional year and establishing a study com-
mission as requested by the President (H. Rept. No.
521).

The Committee on Finarce favorably reported to the
Senate with amendments H. R. 5495, to extend the au-
thority of the President to enter into trade agree—
ments under section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1932
(S. Rept. No. 472).

BILLS PASSED:

Collisions at Sea: H. R. 2456, making certain tech—
nical changes in Rules and Regulations for the Pre—
vention of Collisions at Sea, was passed without a-
mendment by the Senate and cleared for the President.

Continental Shelf: Senate passed, with amendment,
H. R. 5134, to provide for the jurisdiction of the
U. S. over the submerged lands of the outer Continen-
tal Shelf, which was first amended by substituting
for the text therof the language of S. 1901, a sim-
ilar bill, on which some of the actions taken on
amendments were: Adopted: Long amendment respect+
ing submission to Congress each fiscal year of re-—
port on moneys received and expended in administra-
tion of this act; Daniel amendment authorizing Sec-
retary of Interior to utilize State conservation
facilities available to him in administration of
act; and Long amendment of a technical clarifying
nature; Rejected: Ellender amendment permitting
States adjacent to Contintental Shelf to extend
their jurisdiction and laws to the seabed of the
shelf and to artificial islands and fixed structures
thereon; on division, Long amendment giving congres-
sional consent to any coastal State to extend its
seaward boundaries to end of Continental Shelf; and
Long amendment providing for reimbursement toStates
of expense of services furnished to persons engaged
in operations connected with development of Conti-
nental Shelf. Clarifying sentence in bill states:
"this Act shall be construed in such manner that
the character as high seas of the water above the

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 67

Outer Continental Shelf and the right to navigation
and fishing therein shall not be affected," Senate
requested conference on the bill and appointed con-
ferees,

Defense Production Act: The House passed by a
voice vote S. 1081, to provide authority for tempo—
rary economic controls, after adopting a committee
substitute amendment that supplied new text forthe
Senate-passed provisions. The committee amendment
provides for a l-year extension of the allocation
and priorities provisions of title I and the pro-
duction expansion and procurement provisions of
title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950.
No authority is included for the 90-day standby
wage, price, and rent freeze. Adopted amendments
to the committee amendment designed to-—prevent ex-
tension of section 104 of title I relating to the
authority for exercise of import controls; to in-
sure equal treatment of industries in the alloca-
tion of materials; supply a new definition of "na-
tional defense" as regards priorities and alloca-
tions. Also adopted an amendment relative to dis—
closure of information by theOffice of Price Stabi-
lization. The committee substitute amendment de-
leted provisions dealing with Small Defense Plants
Administration; and an amendment was adopted pro—
viding for the insertion of the text of H. R. 5141
(Small Business Administration) as passed by the
House on June 5. Rejected amendments that sought
to—enlarge the functions of the Joint Committee on
Defense Production. Restored title VIII of the
Senate bill dealing with temporary price, wage, and
rent ceilings.

House adopted the conference report on S. 1081
Defense Production Act amendments of 1953, and sent
the measure to the Senate. The conference report
on the differences between the House— and Senate-—
passed versions of S. 1081 was filed on June 17.
Agreements reached by the conferees are as follows:
(1) adopted House declaration of policy (title I,
sece 2), and the House title; (2) adopted House a-
mendments to eliminate from the bill titles VI (con-
sumer and real-estate credit), and VIII (90-day
freeze provisions); (3) adopted Senate definition
of national defense; (4) adopted House provisions
providing for establishment of an Independent Smal]
Business Administration (SDPA to expire June 30,
1953); (5) accepted Senate provision to extend the
bill for 2 years; and (6) approved House provisions
stipulating that confidential information received
by the OPS may not be disclosed except to the Jus—

.tice Department, to Congress, or other agencies de-—

signated by the President.

By 42 yeas to 47 nays, Senate rejected conference
report on S. 1081. Defense Production Act amendments
of 1953, following which Senate asked for a new con=
ference and instructed its corferees to strike out
title II of the bill, as amended by the House, com—
prising the Small Busiress Act of 1953, and to sub-—
stitute therefor provisions in the original Senate
bill providing for a Small Defense Plants Administra—
tion.

Both House and Senate adopted conference report
on S. 1081, Defense Froduction Act amendments of 1953,
clearing this bill for the President.

Interior Appropriations: Senate passed, with amend—
ments, H. R. 4848, Interior appropriations for 1953
(includes funds for the Fish and Wildlife Service).
Amendments include Dirksen-—Potter amendment provid—
ing additional $200,000 to Fish and Wildlife Service

for eradication of sea lampreys in Great Lakes area,

68

Labeling of Foreign—Produced Trout: S. 2033, re-
lating to the labeling of foreign—produced trout sold

in the U. S., was passed without amendment by the
Senate and cleared for the House.

Trade Agreement Authority: House passed, by a
rollcall vote of 363 yeas to 35 nays, H. R. 5495,
to extend the authority of the President to enter
into trade agreements under section 350 of the Tar—
iff Act of 1930. This bill seeks to—extend for 1
year to Jure 12, 1954, the authority of the Presi-
dent to enter into reciprocal trade agreements; re-—
duce from 1 year to 9 months the period within which
the Tariff Commission must make its investigation and
report on applications for relief under the escape
clause; increase the membership of the U. S. Tariff
Commission from 6 to 7; establish a Commission on
Foreign Econamic Policy which will provide for a
thorough examination of our foreign economic policy.

BILL SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT:
\
Collisions at Sea: H. R. 2456, making certain tech—
nical changes in Rules and Regulations for the Pre-
vention of Collisions at Sea. Signed June 26, 1953
(P. L. 82).

COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

Defense Production Act: Joint Committee conferees
agreed to file a conference report on the differences
between the Senate- and House—passed versions of S.
1081, Defense Production Act amendments of 1953. Re-
sults of the conferees' actions are as follows: (1)
Accepted the House provisions to extend for 2 years,
until June 30, 1955, title I (allocation and priori-
ties), title III (expansion of productive capacity
and supply), and necessary sections of title VII (so-
called housekeeping provisions) of the Defense Pro-
duction Act; and (2) Extended until July 31, 1953,
section 714 of the Defense Production Act (continua-
tion of the Small Defense Plants Administration) , so
that during the month of July further consideration
may be given to H. R. 5141 (and other similar bills
now pending before the Senate Banking Committee) to
create a Small Business Administration.

CONGRESSIONAL REFORTS:

Committee reports on bills reported in this sec-
tion of interest to the fishery and allied indus-—
tries available only from the committee submitting
the report.

Authorizing the President to Proclaim Regulations
for Preventing Collisions at Sea, Senate Report No.
385 (June 10, 1953, 83d Congress, lst Session), 2
Pe, printed. The Committee on Interstate and For-—
eign Commerce reported favorably on H.R. 2456, with-
out amendment, and recommended passage of the bill.
The bill provides for slight technical changes in
Rules and Regulations for the Prevention of Colli-
sions at Sea. Committee adopted House Rept. No.
357 on this same bill. Report indicates changes in
existing law.

Defense Production Act Amendments of 1953, House
Report No. 516 (June 6, 1953, 83d Congress, 1st Ses~
sion), 29 p., printed. This is a report fram the
Committee on Banking and Currency to accompany S.
1081, to provide authority for temporary economic
controls, and for other purposes, with an amendment.
Committee recommended passage of the bill as amend—

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 15, No. 7

ed. The report discusses the provisions of the Sen—
ate bill and the Committee amendment; background of
the legislation; priorities and allocetions; import
controls; expansion of production capacity and sup—
ply; the general provisions of Title VII (adminis—
trative provisions necessary to carry into effect
the substantive provisions provided in the other
titles of the act) of the act; authorityto requisi-
tion and condemn; credit controls; and standby eco—
nomic freeze controls. A section-by-section analy—
sis of the bill as amended, the changes in existing
law and minority views are also included.

Interior Department Appropriation Bill, 1954,
Senate Report No. 445 (June 18, 1953, 83d Congress,
lst Session), 39 p., printed. This is a report from
the Committee on Appropriations, making appropria—
tions for the Department of the Interior for the fis-
cal year ending June 30, 1954, and for other pur-
poses, With amendments. As reported, the bill would
provide for a total of $451,256,940, an increase
over the House-passed figure of $406,130,343. In-
cluded in this total is $4,260,000 for the Fish and
Wildlife Service's Investigation of Resources (in-
cluding the Branch of Commercial Fisneries)—an in-
crease over the House-passed figure of $3,000,000.

Labeling of Foreign-Produced Trout, Senate Report
No. 395 (June 11, 1953, 83d Congress, 1st Session),

5 pe, printed, to accompany S. 2033, relating tothe
labeling of packages containing foreign—produced
trout sold in the United States, and requiring cer-
tain information to appear on the menus of public
eating places serving such trout. Committee on In-
terstate and Foreign Commerce reported the bill to
the Senate without amendment and recommended passage.
The report discusses the purpose and need for the
legislation, and contains a section—by-section anal-
ysis. The billincludes all species of trout belonging
to the following genera: Salmo, Salvelinus, Cristi-
vomer, Hucho, and Brachymystax. However, it spe-
cifically excepts lake trout (Salvelinus namycush ) «

Quter Continental Shelf Lands Act, Senate Report
411 (June 15, 1953, 83d Congress, lst Session),

68 pe, printed. This is a report fram the Committee

on Interior and Insular Affairs, together with minor-
ity views, to accampiny S. 1901, to provide for the
jurisdiction of the United States over the submerged
lands of the outer continental shelf, and to authorize
the Secretary of the Interior to lease such lands for
certain purposes. An amendment to the wording of sec-
tion 3 (b) of the bill makes abundantly clear the un—-
equivocal legislative intent of the committee that
the jurisdiction asserted is a "horizontal jurisdic-
tion," extending only to the seabed and subsoil, and
does not in anywise affect the character as high seas
of the waters above that seabed and subsoil nor their
use with respect to navigation and fishing.

Providing for the Admission of Alaska into the
Union, House Report No. 675 (dune 26, 1953, 83dCon—
gress, lst Session), 25 p., printed. This is a re-
port fran the Cammittee on Interior and Insular Af-
fairs to accompany H. R. 2982, to provide for the
admission of Alaska into the Union, with amendments.
The report explains the purpose of the Bill, gives
historical background on Alaska, discusses the na—
tional interest, and presents reports and comments
of the Executive Departments, conclusions, and-an
analysis of the provisions of the bill as introduced
together with the proposed amendments: In this re—
port the Cammittee on Interior and Insular Affairs
recommends the admission of Alaska into the Union as

July 1953

a State in the belief that statehood is in the best
interests of the Nation and the Territory, The Com—
mittee felt that Alaska has met the traditional re-
quirements for statehood, and the enactment of the
bill was recommended.

Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1953: House Re-
port No. 521 (June 9, 1953, 83d Congress, lst Session),

12 p., printed, to accompany H. R. 5495~ This is a
report fran the Committee on Ways and Means to extend
the authority of the President to enter into trade a-

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

69

relief under the escape clause; (3) increase the mem-
bership of the Tariff Commission from 6 to 7; and
(4) establish a temporary bipartisan camission tobe
known as the "Cammission on Foreign Econamic Policy"
which will provide the mechanism for a thorough ex-
amination of our foreign econamic policy as recom-
mended by the President. Discussed in the report are
the organization, compensation of members, duties,
and powers of the Commission. Changes in’ existing
law, supplemental views, and views of the minority
members of the Commission are also presented.

greement under section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1930,
as amended. The purposes of the bill are to—(1) Ex-
tend until June 12, 1954, the authority of the Pres—-
ident under section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1930,

as amended, to enter into trade agreements as request—
ed by the President; (2) reduce fran 1 year to 9months
the period within which the Tariff Camission must
make its investigation and report on applications for

Senate Report No. 472 (June 26, 1953, 83d Congress,
lst Session), 7 p., printed,to accompany H. R. 5495,
from the Committee on Finance. Points out the pur-
poses of the bill,discussesthe amendments, presents
a general statement on the legislation, and lists
the changes in existing law.

PACIFIC COAST STATES FISHERIES, 1951

Pacific Coast States Fisheries--1951, C. F. S. No. 876, is an annual
summary of the fisheries in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Cali-
fornia. The report includes tables summarizing the number of fishermen,
vessels, and gear by districts; and the catch by species by states.

During 1951, the production of fish and shellfish in the Pacific
Coast states of Washington, Oregon, and California amounted to 1,067,155,800
pounds, valued at $97,403,492 ex-vessel. This represented a decrease of
30 percent in quantity and 10 percent in value as compared with the land-
ings of the previous year. Pilchard landings (328,894,400 pounds) were
down 54 percent. Tuna receipts (317,210,200 pounds) dropped 19 percent;
while the salmon catch (97,634,700 pounds) was up 53 percent.

The number of fishermen operating in the Pacific Coast states de-
ereased from 31,691 in 1950 to 28,528 in 1951. There were 3,508 fishing
vessels of 5 net tons and over operating in this area during 1951; 17
less than the number operating in 1950.

Copies of C. F. S. No. 876 are available free upon request from the
Division of Information, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington 25,
D. Ce

70 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

CI ROT =

FIS

INDICATORS |

ERY

Se

CHART | - FISHERY LANDINGS for SELECTED STATES

CUMULATIVE DATA

6 MQS. 1953 - 82.0)
6 | 1952 - 116.4)

12 1952 - 295.8}

FLORIDA
CUMULATIVE DATA

S mgs. 1953 - 76.7
5 1952 - 76.8

1952 - 212.5

5 mgs. 1953 -
5 US 1952 -
12 1952 - 220.6)

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

CALI FORN| A2/

CUMULATIVE DATA

6 MS. 1953 - 254.3
6 |, 1952 - 184.2
12 1952 - 611.8

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

2/ONLY PARTIAL--INCLUDES PRODUCTION OF MAJOR FISHERIES ANO MARKET FISH
LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

UMULATI VE DATA

5 MQS. 1953 - 143.2
5 |, 1952 - 174.8
n2 1952 - 504.7

LOUIS! ANAL/

CUMULATIVE DATA

6 MQS. 1953 - 30.2
l2] 6 f 1952 - 29.2
1952 = 62.5

y JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
T/ONLY PARTIAL--INCLUDES LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS.

CUMULATIVE _DATA

6 mgs. 1953 - 32.8)
24 6 x 1952 - 46.1

12 1952 - 127.1

CUMULATIVE

S mgs. 1953 -
l2 5 i 1952 -
12 1952 -

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

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW (als

CHART 2

LANDINGS for SELECTED FISHERIES

In Millions of Pounds

HADDOCK

¢ OCEAN PERCH
(Maine and Massachusetts) |

(Maine and Massachusetts)

. 1953 - 58.6
Ss 1952 - 65.8
1952 - 141.2

S. 1953 -
1952 = 56.4

1952 - 189.0

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV

SHRIMP

WHITING
Gulf States!/including Florida West Coast

(Maine and Massachusetts)

CUMULAT) VE_DATA

S mgs. 1953 - 4.2
24]5 "° i952 - 9.2
12 1952 - 72.8

» 1953 - 48.9
RS 1952 - 51.4)
1952 - 156.1

U/LA. & ALA.
COMPLETE.

DATA BASED ON LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS AND ARE NOT

In Thousands of

MENHADEN
(East and Gulf Coasts)
CUMULATIVE DATA x

« 1953 -'196.9].
6 , 1952 - 185.7
1952 - 643.8

PACIFIC AND JACK MACKEREL
(California)

CUMULATIVE DATA

1953 - 17.0
1952 - 14.7
1952 - 82.9]

6 MQS.

PILCHARD
(Cali fornia)

TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH
(Cali fornia)

(CUMULATIVE DATA

6 MQS. 1953 - 72.2
24 a 1952 - 66.9
1952 - 179.8

Legend
1952/53

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

bees

Y AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE

72 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

CHART 3 - COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS
of FISHERY PRODUCTS x

In Millions of Pounds

U. S. & ALASKA FREEZINGS

UMULAT| YE DATA

. 1953 - 111.2
x 1952 - 137.8]
1952 - 313.2

U. S. & ALASKA HOLDINGS

NEW ENGLAND HOLDINGS!/

SW

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

J/MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, AND CONNECTICUT.

MIDDLE WEST HOLDINGSS/ GULF & SOUTH CENTRAL HOLDINGS4/

0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
B/OHIO, IND., ILL., MICH., WIS., MINN., IOWA, MO., N. DAK., NEBR., & KANS. A/ALA., MISS., LA., TEX., ARK., KY., & TENN.

WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA HOLDINGS CALIFORNIA HOLDINGS

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

0 JUAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC

*Excludes salted, cured, and smoked products.

July 1953 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 73

CHART 4- CANNED PACKS of SELECTED FISHERY PRODUCTS

In Thousands of Standard Cases

TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH - CALIFORNIA : MACKEREL!/— CALIFORNIA

CUMULATIVE DAT

» 1953 - 3,223.3 6 mgs. 1953 - 331.1
6 1952 - 213.4
1952 - 1,558.1

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
J/\NCLUDES PACIFIC MACKEREL AND JACK MACKEREL’.

ANCHOVIES - CALIFORNIA SALMON - ALASKA

CUMULATIVE DATA

CUMULATIVE DATA

= 1953 - 1,
1952 - 47.2

« 1953 - 1,663.0
| 1952 - 2,007.7
"1952 - 3,530.5

Variety No.Cans Can Designation Net Wat.
SARDINES & drawn 3h 02.
= 5
No. % tuna 6&7
No. | oval 15
|-pound tal 16

4 Ib. 8

MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC

SARDINES - CALIFORNIA SHRIMP - GULF STATES

CUMULAT| VE DATA erent SEIS CUMULATIVE DATA

1952/53 SEASON, Ses 951/52) 1952/53 SEASON,

AUG. -JULY - 879.8
1951/52 SEASON,
AUG. ~JULY - 787.5

UG.-JAN. SHS
1951/52 SEASON,
AUG.-JAN.

G SEPT OCT NOV DEC UAN FEB. MAR APRUMAY JUNE

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

7h COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

CHART 5 - U.S. FISHERY PRODUCTS IMPORTS

In Millions of Pounds

GROUNDFISH (INCLUDING OCEAN PERCH) FILLETS, FILLETS & STEAKS OTHER THAN GROUNDFISH,
FRESH & FROZEN

FRESH & FROZEN
CUMULATIVE DATA

- 1953 - 43.6 QS. 1953 - 18.6
1952 - 53.2 n 1952 = 17.2
1952 - 107.8 1952 - 52.9

CUMULATIVE DATA

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

SHRIMP, FRESH & FROZEN, FROM MEXICO

LOBSTER & SPINY LOBSTER, FRESH & FROZEN

CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA
. 1953 - 12.3 5 QS. 1953 - 18.9
1952 - 13.3 5 |, 1952 - 16.5
1952 - 33.8 12 1952 - 39.0

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

TUNA, FRESH & FROZEN

CUMULATIVE DATA

S MgS. 1953 - 32.7
5 | 1952) =.23)5)
12 1952 - 69.0

UAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC

ANNED SARDINES
(IN/OLL_AND NOT _IN OIL)

CUMULATIVE DATA

S MQS. 1953 - 12.9
i Leet Gee © Ghz)
12 1952 - 21.4

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

>,

RO MN a ee + Ale a Oa Es a

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 75

——

Brat,

(a 0 owe eT tans BS:

Recent publications of interest tothe commercial fishing industry are listed

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS

THESE PROCESSED PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE
DIVISION OF INFORMATION, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, WASH-
INGTON 25, D. C. TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIGNATED AS FOLLOWS:

CFS - CURRENT FISHERY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES

SSR.-FISH. - SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORTS--FISHERIES

SEP.- SEPARATES (REPRINTS) FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES

below.
AND ALASKA.
FL = FISHERY LEAFLETS.
(LIMITED DISTRIBUTION).
REVIEW.
Number Title

CFS-872 — Frozen Fish Report, May 1953, 8 p.
CFS-877 -— Massachusetts Landings, 1952, Annual
Summary, 15 p.
CFS-878 — Fish Meal and Oil, April 1953, 2 p.
CFS-879 - Florida Landings, March 1953, 6 p.
CFS-881 -— New Jersey Landings, April 1953, 2 p.
CFS-884 - Mississippi Landings, April 1953, 2 pe
CFS-885 - Maine Landings, April 1953, 4 p.
CFS-887 — Florida Landings, April 1953, 6 p.
CFS-888 — Texas Landings, May 1953, 3 pe
CFS-889 — Imports and Exports, 1948-1952, Annual
Summaries, 8 p.
CFS-890 — Massachusetts Landings, March 1953, 8 p.
FL -168 - Commercial Fishery Laws and Regulations
(Revised), 7 pe
Sep. No. 351 — Construction Details of Tuna Long-
Line Gear Used by Pacific Oceanic
Fishery Investigations.
Sep. No. 352 — Oyster Growth as Affected by Lati-
tudinal Temperature Gradients.

SSR-Fish. No. 78 — Oceanographic Conditions and the
Black Tuna Fishery, by Takeshi Kawana (Translat-
ed from the Japanese language by Wilvan G, Van
Campen), 34 pe, illus., processed, July 1952.
Reports on observations concerning the fishing
situation, habits, and oceanographic conditions.

Original report in Japanese was published in1934.

SSR-Fish. No. 90 — Experimental Surface Gill Net
Fishing for Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) in Ha-
Waiian Waters, by Walter M. Matsumoto, 22 p.,
illus., processed, November 1952. Covers the

trial of gill nets as a possible means of taking

skipjack in commercial quantities without the use

of bait. A surface gill net designed totake
skipjack was fished experimentally in Hawaiian
waters a total of 284 hours, of which 2333 hours
were fished at night. Fishing was done only in
the lee of the larger islands because of diffi-
culty in handling the gear in rough water. How-
ever, part of the experiment was performed inan

area known to be a productive skipjack ground and
during the known season of abundance of this spe-—
cies. The total catch of 28 fish, of which only
6 were skipiack, showed a very poor catch per unit
of effort. It is concluded from the results of
this experiment that surface gill-netting shows
little promise as a commercial fishing method

for skipjack in Hawaiian waters.

SSR-Fish. No. 91 - Reaction of Tunas and Other Fishes

to Stimuli--1951, 88 p., illus., processed, Novem-
ber 1952. (This report is also Contribution Nos.
22-26, Hawaii Marine Laboratory, University of Ha-
waii.) This report is divided into five parts:
Part I—Background and Summary of Results, by Al-
bert L. Tester; Part II—Observations on the Chemo—
reception of Tuna, by P. B. van Weel; Part IIlI—
Observations on the Reaction of Tuna to Artificial
Light, by Sidney C. Hsiao; Part IV—Observations
on Sound Production and Response in Tura, by Iwao
Miyake; and Part V—Notes on the Response of a
Tropical Fish (Kuhlia sandvicensis) to Interrupt-
ed Direct Current, by Albert L. Tester. In the
study of chemoreception in tuna (Part II), it was
found that both the yellowfin tuma (Neothunnus
macropterus) and little tunny (Euthynnus yaito)
have a well-developed sense of smell or taste where—-
by they may be attracted to certain food substances.
They were strongly attracted to clear, colorless
extracts of tuna meat. Moreover, it was found that
the attractant was contained in the "protein" rather
than in the "fat" fraction of the clear extract.
In general, the reactions of the tunny were more
pronounced than those of the yellowfin. On the
other hand, there was no positive reaction of ei-
ther species to "conditioned" water in which bait
fish had been living, nor, to extracts of either
bait fish or squid. Two chemicals, other than food
substances, were tried—-asparagine, a possible at—
tractant; and copper acetate, a known shark repel—
lent. The former did not prove to be an attract—
ant. The latter was a repellent to tuna, although
its effect was not as pronounced as on fish of oth-

76

er species which were also present in the tank,
Part III describes the reaction of the tuna to
artificial light generated from an are lamp, a
projection lantern, and electric light bulbs.
Experiments were performed after dark, with the
tank illuminated constantly by two 60-watt bulbs.
It was found that both yellowfin and tunny were
attracted to continuous white light over arange
of moderate intensity (about 70 to 450 foot-can-
dles). However, they were not attracted by a
light of weaker intensity, and theywere repelled
by a light of stronger intensity. Both species
were attracted to colored lights of moderate in-
tensity, but to no greater extent than to white
light. Similar results were obtained with in-
terrupted white light. There appeared to be no
relationship between the strength of the reac-
tion and the frequency of interruption of the
light. It was noted that although the tuna ap-
proached an interrupted light of moderate inten-
sity, they were repelled from the near vicinity
at the instant the light flashed either on or
off. Part IV describes an attempt to discover
(1) if tuna produced any sound, and (2) if they
could be attracted or repelled by sounds of var-
ious frequencies. Using a listening frequency
which ranged from about 100 cycles to 70 kilo—
cycles per second, it was possible to identify
low frequency sounds produced by the sudden move—
ment of the tail of the yellowfin in the tank.
This might have some significance in respect to
the mechanism of school formation. No sounds pro-
duced by the tuna at moderate, high, and super—
sonic frequencies were detected. In attempting
to attract or repel tuna by continuous sound stim—
uli, sounds were produced at many frequencies with-
in the 100 cycle to 70 kilocycle range. No pos—
itive results were obtained. However, there were
several indications that thetuna might react pos-
itively to complex sounds of low frequency. Part
V describes a study of the reaction of the ahole—
hole or "mountain bass" (kuhlia sandvicensis) to
interrupted direct current in a small wooden tank
of sea water. It was found that by progressive
shortening of the on-fraction of a cycle at afre—
quency of 15 cycles per second the downward trend
in average current necessary to attract the fish
was continued. The relationship between source
voltage and electrode size was also clarified.
Part I discusses the background of the projects
and summarizes the results.

Georges Bank, 1947-51, by Ernest D. Premetz, 36
pe, processed, May 1953. Includes the results of
port interviews for the years 1947 to 1951, and
the samplings at sea for the year 1951. During
the period 1947 to 1951, the annual destruction
of undersized haddock on Georges Bank by the Bos-
ton fleet alone averaged over 43 million pounds
(based on skippers! estimates as reported to port
interviewers). This quantity represented over 6
million individual fish. Most of the destruction
occurred between the months of June and October
during which time most of the 2=year—old fish, which
were caught in great numbers, were under one pound
in weight and ummarketable. The areas of great-
est discard were the northern edge and southeast
part. Areas of lesser destruction were the west—
ern side and the southern end of South Channel.
Areas of most intense discard coincided with areas
of most intense fishing. During 1951, observers
went to sea on seven commercial trips to analyze
the catch, Skippers' estimates of pounds discard-

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 15, No. 7

ed were found to be within 12 percent of estimates
made by the Fish and Wildlife Service observers
at sea. The size of fish discarded varies with
the size of the catch. Smaller fish are saved
when the catches are small. The 50-percent point
on the average cull curve was 13-3/4 inches (0.9
pounds). Practically all fish of this size were
2 years old. The smaller fish discarded includ—
ed many l-year-olds while the largest individuals
in the discards included many 3-year-olds.

SSR-Fish. No. 97 - Sea Lamprey Spawning: Wisconsin and
Minnesota Streams of Lake Superior, by Howard A
Loeb, 38 pe, illus., processed, June 1953. Lam—
preys have been reported from the St. Louis, Suck=
er, and Knife Rivers in Minnesota in recent years.
Although actual spawning records are absent from
both Minnesota and Wisconsin, the persistent and

eneral increase in scarring of lake trout and
other fish along both shorelines is an indication
of actual utilization of the local streams for
spawning purposes. Lampreys are occasionally
taken by commercial fishermen of both States. As
many as 10 percent of the fish in certaincatches
have been scarred. It is likely that the sea
lampreys which cause the scarring would attempt
to use the local streams for spawning (unlessthe
scarred fish migrated from the eastern portions
of Lake Superior where large lamprey populations
are known to exist). Many streams in Wisconsin
appear to be suitable for sea-lamprey spawning.
Minnesota streams appear to be generally less
suitable. Nevertheless, at least 22 of the 156
streams examined along the north shore of Minne-
sota are considered to be quite suitable for
spawning, despite the fact that some of them con-
tain barriers a short distance above the mouths
or are subject to rapid fluctuations in water
levels. The author believes that all of tife
suitable streams in both Wisconsin and Minnesota
and also those considered to be marginal should
be rechecked in the future to determine the ac-
tual extent of utilization by sea lampreys. (Re-
checks of certain Michigan streams surveyed in
1950 have revealed a slight increase in the num-
bers of nests present). From observations to
date, it is believed that the streams of Wiscon-
sin and Minnesota-(although less suitable than
those in Michigan) can support spawning runs of
considerable size. The 1952 survey of the streams
of Wisconsin was inadequate insofar as it told
little about the productive potentials of the
streams, and nothing about the actual extent of
utilization of the streams; little control work
of any nature is possible in this area until a
great deal more information is gained.

SSR-Fish. No. 99 - Trial of Denil-type Fish Ladder
on Pacific Salmon, by Leonard A. Fulton, Harold
A, Gangmark, and Scott H. Bair, 18 p., illus.,
processed, May 1953. An experiment was designed
to compare the effectiveness of the pool-type and
Denil—type ladders as fish-passage devices. Ob—
servations were made in a side-by-side installa—
tion at Dryden Dam on the Wenatchee River approx—
imately 17 miles above the confluence of the
Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers... Interest in the
Denil-type fish ladder constructed at the Herting
power dam in Sweden led to the construction of a
similar installation at Dryden Dam. Comparison
of the Denil-type and pool-type ladders was fa-
cilitated because it was possible to construct a
Denil-type ladder in one-half of the existing pool—
type ladder at Dryden Dam. During the actual time

July 1953

that counting observations were conducted in 1949
and 1951, the Denil-type was preferred by fish
utilizing the ladders. In110 hours45 minutes,
1,828 fishused the Denil-type ladder, and in 96
hours 55 minutes a totalof 226 fish were counted
through the pool-type ladder. The Denil-type
ladder at Dryden Dam occupies essentially the
same amount of space as the pool-type ladder.
There is, therfore, some advantage in the Denil
construction in conservation of space, both from
the standpoint of its narrowness and shorter
length made possible by a steeper slope. It was
concluded that because of the baffles and higher
flume wall construction of the Denil-type ladder,
there is mo sutstantial saving in cost of con-
struction over the standard pool-type ladder.
With regard to flow requirements, the data col-
lected revealed that the Denil-type ladder pass-—
ed a greater number of fish per second-foot of
flow and required less attention. With only 40
percent more flow than in the pool-type ladder,
the Denil-type was utilized by 89 percent of the
fish counted through the ladders. Probably the
most desirable feature of the Denil-type was the
attraction flow it presented to fish.

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

1

SSR-Fish. No. 100 - Zooplankton Volumes off the Pa-
cific Coast, 1952, by the Staff of the South Pa-
cific Fishery Investigations, 43 p., processed,
May 1953. This report contains a record of the
volumes of zooplankton taken on the survey cruis—
es of the California Cooperative Sardine Research
Program during 1952, along with information on
the plankton hauls.

SSR-Fish. .No. 102 - Pilchard Eggs and Larvae and
Other Fish Larvae, Pacific Coast--1951, by Elbert
H. Ahlstrom, 56 p., illus., processed, May 1953.
This report containsthe results of quantitative
sampling of pilchard (Sardinops caerulea) eggs and
larvae off the west coast of California and Baja
California during 1951. Although the collections
were designed primarily to yield information on
the distribution and abundance of pilchard eggs
and larvae, information was also gathered on a
number of other fishof present or potential com-
mercial importance. Records are included of the
larvae of Siete these: Woe anchovy (En-
graulis mordax), jack mackerel (Trachurus sym-
metricus), hake (Merluccius roductus), Pacific
mackerel (Pneumatophorus diego), and rockfish
(Sebastodes sp.).

THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ARE FOR SALE AND ARE AVAIL-

A Contagious Disease of Salmon Possibly of Virus
Origin, by R. R. Rucker, W. J. Whipple, J. R.
Parvin, and C. A. Evans, Fishery Bulletin 76
(From Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife
Service, Volume 54), 15 p., illus., printed, 15
cents, 1953. A disease, possibly of virus origin,

is described which affected blueback salmon and
kokanee fingerlings (Oncorhynchus nerka), but did
not infect fingerlings of the chinook salmon (0.

tshawytscha), silver salmon (0. kisutch), or cut-

throat trout (Salmo clarki clarki)!

MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS

LIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES ISSUING

THEM.

ON PRICES,

"Australia's Tuna Industry," by Feter Knox, arti-
cle, The Fishing News, March 14, 1953, no. 2082,
pp. 9-10, illus., printed. The Fishing News, 9
Northinston Street, Gray's Inn Road, London,

W. C. 1, England. Describes Australia's tuna
industry and its great potentialities. Progress
in the industry, methods of capture, and the
growinz demand for tuna are also described.

(Califernia) Forty-second Biennial Report of the
Department of Fish and Game for the Years 1950-
1952, 187 p., illus., printed. California De-
partment of Fish and Game, San Francisco, Calif.,
January 1953. This report covers the period
during which the agency went through the transi-
tion stage from a division of the Department of
Natural Resources to full departmental status.
Toward the end of the biennium the new depart-
ment was i:ndergoing reorganization to a decen-
tralized form of administration. Both of these
changes are described. The report reviews the
activities of the various branches of the De-
partment in fostering the conservation of fish
and game in California, summarizes the important
Folicy statements of the Fish and Game Commis—
sion, and descrites the legislative action af-

CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING PUBLICATIONS THAT FOLLOW SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED TO THE RESPECTIVE AGENCIES OR PUBLISHERS MENTIONED.
IF READILY AVAILABLE, ARE SHOWN.

DATA

fecting fish and game. Among the reports includ-
ed, that of the Bureau of Marine Fisheries dic—
cusses the emmercial fisheries of Califor:iia——
salmon, bottom fish, sarcine, tuna, mack -rel, live-
bait, abalone, crat, oyster, and clam. Also re-
viewed is the work of California's research ves—
sels and the statistical unit of the Bureau. Ma-
rine fisheries statistics are included in an ap—
pendix—total production of fishery products; land—
ings (quantity and value) by species; status of
cammercial fishing fleet by ports; and number of
licensed commercial fishermen.

Fish Cook Book, Fawcett Book 174, 144 p., illus.,
printed, 75 cents. Fawcett Publications, Inc.,
Greenwich, Conn. Contains 300 selected recipes
for cooking fish and shellfish and general in—
structions for baking, broiling, steaming, and
poaching. Same U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
kitchen-tested recipes are included.

(FAO) 1950-51 Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics (An-
ruaire Statistique des Feches, Incluye un Suple-
mento en Espanol), 307 p., printed in English and
French), US33.50. Food and Agriculture Organiza—
tion of the United Nations, Rame, Italy, 1953.

78 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 15, No. 7

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND

WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES

ISSUING THEM.

(Also available from Columbia University Press,
International Documents Service, New York, N. ve)

This is the third Yearbook to be prepared by
the FAO Fisneries Division. It continues, re-
vises, and expands the statistics whicn were pub-
lished in the two earlier issues of 1947 and
1948-49. Information available as of July 31,
1952, is included. The statistical tables inthe
first two Yearbooks were to a certain extent still
in the experimental stage; this latest issue in-
corporates the many suggestions received by FAO
from the users of the preceding two volumes. Now
that effective liaison has been established with
a larger number of member countries, it has been
possible to incorporate more comprehensive and up-
to-date information.

The first tables in the Yearbook (1-4) con-
stitute the "Catch" section and present the a-
vailable recorded and estimated figures for coun-
try and continental totals, as well as catch sta-
tistics for about 20 producing countries by major
species groups. One table presents the catch of
nine marine species groups by country. In this
issue the national statistics by individual spe-—
cies are not repeated as these are available
through the specific national publications, In
the second section, on "Utilization," one table
shows how the catch was used in the major fish-
ing countries in 1950 and 1951, while other tables
provide data on the net product weight of the
principal types of processed commodities prod—
uced in the major producing countries in 1938 and
1947-51. The third section deals with external
trade. The first series of tables are summaries
showing imports and exports of each of the major
commodity groups and of some selected items of
primary importance, These summaries are follow-
ed by detailed country tables for imports and exe
ports, showing quantities and values for each of
the principal items arranged by commodity groups,
giving a breakdown of the quantities of each im-
portant item by principal countries of origin or
of destination. The fourth section, "Fishing
Craft," provides national statistical tables on
craft, broken down by categories characteristic
of each country. FAO points out that at the
present stage it is virtually impossible to pre-
sent craft data in an internationally standard—
ized form, but it hopes that the inclusion of
these more detailed statistics on craft will en-
courage the supply of fuller information which
can be incorporated in future tables, This ap-
plies equally to data dealing with fishermen and
processing establishments, which it is hoped to
incorporate in future issues.

As a step towards éventual clarification,
the current Yearbook provides, in the notes on
species grours, on conversion factors, and on
classification of external trade items, fairly
detailed comments on classifications and defini-
tions, Readers are referred to the nomenclature
section contained in the 1948-49 Yearbook which
listed scientific and common names by country as
an aid to identifying the species referred to by
local common names in the national landing tables.

The FAO Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics is
not intended to replace national publications;
it is designed to suvplement 1ational sources by
providing internationally comparable data, in
summary form, with world and regional t>tals and

commodity summaries as the necessary background
material for the better utilization of the nation-
al publications.

Three principal sources of information pro-
‘vided the basis for the statistics presented: first,
the various official publications on export and
import statistics; second, the communications from
a number of the governments to whom the 1948-19
Yearbook tables, and drafts for the new tables,
were referred for comment and completion; third,
the FAO Questionnaire: Preliminary Report on Land—
ings and Utilization, which, with some revisions,
has been circulated annually since 1946. The met—
ric system is used, except in some of the national
tables on craft statistics. Values are expressed
in the national currencies shown in the original
sources and in some cases have been rounded off.
Time series are usually confined to the five post—
war years, 1947-51, which, wherever possible, are
compared with a prewar year, usually 1938. Ina
few cases where no data were available for these
years, other years have been selected. The calen—
dar year is normally used; those few cases where
the countries provided data for 12-month periods
other than the calendar year are indicated by foot—
notes. To aid Spanish-speaking readers in the use
of the English-French tables, Spanish notes on
the tables have been included.

"FAO Fisheries Statistics," Reprint from Monthly Bul-

letin of Agricultural Statistics and Economics,
April 1953, 4 p. printed. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, Rame, Italy.
Includes statistics on fish landings in 10 coun-
tries in 1952 and external trade in fish and fish-
eries products of 9 importing and 9 exporting coun—
tries in 1952, compared with the corresponding pe-
riod of 1951.

(FAO) The Work of FAO 1951/52 (Report of the Director-

General), 38 p., printed, US$1.00. Food and Agri-
culture Organization of the United Nations, Rome,
Italy, October 1952. Summarizes the principal e-
vents and trends during the period from mid-1951
to mid-1952 which affect and are of interest to
FAO, The widened interest in the food and popula-
tion problem and the accelerated progress of the
technical assistance program are discussed. In
reviewing FAO's drive to increase the supply of
technicians, it is pointed out that among the va—
rious types of training centers set up are several
on fisheries in Latin America and the Far East.

In the discussion of the growth of regional action
programs, fisheries programs in Europe, Mediterra—
nean Area, Latin America are covered. The publi-
cation reports on the new emphasis on goals and
programs for increased food production, the move—
ment for agrarian reform, and proposals for meet—
ing acute food shortages and famine. The chapter
on the growth of country development projects in-
cludes a- discussion on the improvement of fisheries.
The last chapter deals with continuation of world-
wide technical services by FAO.

Greek Trade Manual (Revised Hdition), 444 p., print—

ed. Mutual Security Agency, Special Mission to
Greece for Economic Cooperation, Athens, Greece,
1953. (Also available from the Mutual Security
Agency, Washington 25, D. C.) This second edition
of this manual is designed to facilitate further
development of trade relationships between busi-
nessmen of Greece and the United States, with par—
ticular reference to those smaller manufacturing
and exporting firms in both countries whose for-—

July 1953

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM TH

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW i.

E
WILOLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES

ISSUING THEM,

eign trade opportunities may be aided by this
information. It includes a summary of import
and export procedures, together with an alpha-
betical directory of import and export firms
in Greece as well as manufacturers arranged by
commodities (including fishing equipment, oils,
sponges, and fish) and geographical locations.

Guide to the Fishes of Colorado, by William C. Beck-

man, Leaflet No. 11, 111 p., illus., printed,
$1.00. University of Colorado Museum, Boulder,
Colo., December 1952. This guide is intended
to help identify the fish of Colorado, giving
descriptions and general information on the life
history of each species. It has been prepared
for use both by the amateur and by beginning
students, and therefore includes both non-tech-
nical and technical material. Keys to families,
genera, species, and subspecies have been con-
structed, and an explanation of the terms and
measurements used in the keys and descriptions
is given. A tentative list of the fish expect-
ed to be found in Colorado is also included. In
Colorado waters one may expect to find 89 dif-
ferent fishes at the present time. Of these, 54
are native to Colorado, 33 have been introduced,
and 2 are potential residents having been taken
within a short distance of the border in neigh-—
boring states.

How to Eat a Maine Lobster, 4 p., illus., printed.

Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries, Augusta,
Maine. Descrives, with illustrations, how to
eat boiled and broiled Maine lobsters. Also
contains an illustrated orief account of how
Maine lobsters are caught and packed.

(India) Report on the Marketing of Fish in the In-

Is

dian Union (Second Hdition), Marketing Series
No. 65, 174 p., illus., printed. Manager of
Publications, Civil Lines, Delhi, India, 1951.
Presents a list of the chief commercial fish and
shellfish of India, and annual production data.
Also discusses the gear and methods of fishing;
type of fishing vessels; preparation for market;
demand and utilization; and assembling, storage,
transportation, and distribution. A short chap—
ter is devoted to the nature of fisheries re—-
search now being undertaken with suggestions as
to how these activities should be coordinated
and extended to make the fishing industry play

a significant role in solving India's food prob-
lem.

Pesca, by Alejandro Quesada, 277 p., printed in
Spanish. Fondo de Cultura Economica, Mexico,
1952. This publication is the "Fisheries" sec—
tion of the Economic and Social Development of
Mexico, a report recently issued in Mexico. The
entire report is a study made by the Combined
Mexican Working Farty of the International Bank
far Reconstruction and Development and the Mexi-
can Government (Nacional Financiera). This book,
La Fesca, is an economic analysis of the Mexican
fisheries and their potential. All available
data from official sources was draa#n upon in or-
der to conduct this study. Although the data are
as complete as possible, the author points out
that the information was drawn from reports which
cover the fisheries only partially and certain
fundamental aspects of the fisheries are omitted.
The study required a visit to most of the fish-

ing centers on both coasts of Mexico. Both fresh-
and salt-water fisheries are covered. Inanalyz-
ingthe relevant aspects of the Mexican fisheries,
comparisons andreferences to similar aspects of
the fisheries of other countries have been in-
cluded. Economic, human, natural, technical, and
financial aspects of the fisheries are reviewed.
A list of the principal species and their dis-
tribution along the Mexican coasts, fishermen's
cooperatives, working conditions, wages, fish-
ing fleet statistics, plants handling and packers
of fishery products, fishing methods and typesof
gear, oceanographic investigations, fish culture,
catch, distribution, foreign trade, legislation
affecting the fisheries, amd the outlook of the
Mexican fisheries are some of the subjects dis-
cussed. The book also contains a bibliography
and an index. This is a complete study of the
Mexican fisheries from all aspects.

(MSA) Monthly Report of the Mutual Security Agency

to the Public Advisory Board (Dataas of March 31,
1953), 104 p., illus., processed. Jivision of
Statistics and Reports, Mutual Security Agency,
Washington 25, D. C. Included are charts and
tables summarizing important activities under the
economic assistance and defense support programs
of the Mutual Security Agency and its predecessor,
the Economic Cooperation Administration, through
March 31, 1953. Charts and appendix tables on
the European program cover MSA/ECA operations be-
ginning with April 3, 1948. Charts and appendix
tables on the Far East program cover MSA/ECA op-
erations under the China Area Aid Act of 1950.

A section of the report deals with U. S. foreign
trade.

Operation of the Trade Agreements Program (Fifth Re-

port, July 1951-June 1952), 289 p., processed.
United States Tariff Commission, Washington, D.C.,
1953. During the period covered by the report,
the United States concluded no new trade agree-
ments. The report, however, discusses the con-
cessions that the United States granted and ob-
tained in the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade in 1950-51 at the Torquay Conference, and
analyzes the effects of all trade agreement con-
cessions on the level of the United States tar-
iff. It also covers, for the last half of 1951
and the first half of 1952, important develop-
ments respecting the General Agreement. Like the
earlier reports, the fifth report also discusses
such matters as changes in tariffs, exchange con-
trols, and quantitative restrictions on imports
by contracting parties to the General Agreement;
changes in tariffs, exchange controls, and quan-
titative restriction on imports by countries with
which the United States has bilateral trade agree-
ments; and United States measures relating to im-
ports of trede agreement items. This report on
the Operation of the Trade Agreements Programwas
prepared in compliance with Executive Order 10082,
of October 5, 1949. The first report in the se-
ries (issued in 1948) covered the period from June
1934 through April 1948; the second report (is-
sued in 1949) covered the period from May 1948

to April 1949; the third report (issued in 1951)
covered the period from April 1949 through June
1950; and the fourth report (issued in 1952) cov-
ered the period from July 1950 through June 1951.
(Copies of the earlier reports may be purchased

80

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 15, No. 7

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE

H AND

El
WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES

ISSUING THEM.

from the Superintendent of Documents, United
States Government Printing Office, Washington 25,
D. C.)

(Oregon) Fish Commission Research Briefs, vol. 4, no.

1, 39 p.,illus., printed, free. Fish Commission
of Oregon, Portland 1, Oregon, December 1952. Con-
tains short "progress" reports on some of the cur-
rent studies by the Commission. Summaries of two
reports of special interest to commercial fish-
ermen and industry members follow:

"A Review of the 1951 Albacore Season," by
Edwin K. Holmberg. - The author summarizes his
report as follows: "In 1951, the landings of
albacore in Oregon reached a new low “ust under
3 million pounds. Landings of albacore in Ore-
gon have been erratic, ranging from a peak of
22.5 million pounds in 1944 to the 1951 low.
After the peak of 1944, the annual landings drop-
ped to 4 million pounds in 1946. The 1947 total
Was up to 9.5 million pounds, but a steady de-—
cline has occurred since then. The landings in
Oregon do not reflect the trend of the coastwise
landings since 1947; however, the 1951 decline
was apparent throughout the fishery.

"There are only two principal size groups
(presumably also age groups) in the fishery.
Fisheries exploiting a small number of age groups
have a greater tendency toward large fluctuations
in the catch. The effects of oceanographic and
meteorological conditions on the abundance of al-
bacore are not known.

"The northern tuna fleet ‘is composed of ves—
sels which also fish for halibut, ocean salmon,
and bottom fish. There are a few vessels which
fish exclusively for albacore.

"Albacore were scarce off Oregon inthe 195)
season, but same good catches were made off cen-
tral California. In early November, landings
were made in Oregon by vessels returning to their
home ports from California.

"Racial population studies are being con-
tinued in Oregon.

The length-frequency samples have beenweight—
ed by the catch."

"Results of Preliminary Shrimp Explorations
Off the Oregon Coast," by Alonzo T. Pruter and
George Y. Harry, Jr. The authors summarize their
report as follows: "During the months of October
1951, and March, April, and May 1952, a total of
80 exploratory shrimp drags were made off the Or-
egon coast between the Columbia River and the
Rogue River. Pink shrimp (Pandalus jordani)were
taken in sizable quantities in most of the areas
explored.

"The largest concentrations of shrimp were
taken in areas with a green mud or mixed mud and
sand bottom.

"No pink shrimp were taken in less than 50
fathoms, and the center of abundance was found
to occur at depths between 60 and 80 fathoms.

"Four definite size groups of pink shrimp
are present in the catch; two are males and two
females,

"Less than 3 percent of the females taken
on October 5 through October 8, 1951, were carry-
ing eggs, but 42 percent of the females examined
about three weeks later were egg-bearing. On
March 22, 1952, eleven percent of the females
were egg-bearing; on April 4, twenty-four percent
were egg—bearing; and on May 28, no females in
the samples carried eggs.

"The larger females apparently do not attain
the egg-carrying stage before the smaller females.

"An inverse relationship was found between
the number of shrimp and the number of fish taken:
drags producing the most shrimp usually yielded
the smallest number of fish.

"The Fish Commission of Oregon will continue
the shrimp explorations as opportunity permits."

Also included are the following reports:
"How May Fish Hatchery Foods Needs be Met," by
Russell O. Sinnhuber; "Second Frogress Report on
Spring Chinook Salmon Diet Experiments," by Thomas
B. McKee, Ernest R. Jeffries, Donald L. McKernan,
R. O. Sinnhuber, and Duncan K. Law; and "The 1950
Willamette River Spring Chinook Sport Fishery,"
by Chester R, Mattson and John B. Dimick.

illus., printed. U.S. Coast Guard, Washington,
D. C., 1953. Examples of espionage and subver—
sive activities are pictured in this booklet with
the suggestion that if such are seen they should
be reported to the local COTP and FBI offices.
Addresses of these offices are listed in the last
two pages of the booklet.

"The PFothead Whale Industry of Newfoundland," by
D. E. Sergeant, article, Trade News, March 1953,
vol. 5, no. 9, pp. 3-4, 18, illus., processed.
Department of Fisheries, Ottawa, Canada. Describes
an unusual fishery in the eastern bays of Newfound-
land—the driving of herds of pothead whales, Globi-
cephala melaena, and their processing for meat and
oil. The pothead whale, known elsewhere as black—
fish, pilot whale or caa'ing whale, related
to the beluga or white whale. It is found onboth
sides of the North Atlantic and is hunted also in
the Faeroe Islands, where the technique of driving
is very similar to that pursued in Newfoundland.
Sporadic driving takes place also in Iceland, Green—
land, and North Norway.

Marine Laws (Navigation and Safety), by Frederick K.
Arzt, 1,212 p., printed, $6.95. Equity House,
Equity Publishing Corporation, Stony Brook, L. I.,
N. Y., 1953. This is a successor of the author's
previous book, Navigation Laws of the UnitedStates,
1940. Presents up-to-date federal laws and inter-
rational conventions covering marine matters, with
amendments to January 20, 1953, included. Forty-
six chapters deal with such aspects of marine law
as admeasurements of vessels, load lines, inspec—
tion of vessels, documentation, ship mortgages, in—
surance, radio, clearance of vessels, and death on

July 1953

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 81

WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES

ISSUING THEM.

the high seas. Terms of the Intermational Conven-
tions for Safety of Life at Sea, 1929 and 1948, are
presented. Those vessel operators engaged in for-
eign and domestic markets, carrying of passengers,
mail service, and fishing will find sections deal-
ing with their special problems. Aids to Naviga-
tion, pilotage, consul's services to vessels, anti-
smuggling, immigration, crimes, legal procedure,
and nautical education are covered. The Nerchant
Marine Act, 1936, and related statutes are present—
ed for easy reference. Operators of fishing ves-
sels will find those international rules which are
now in effect and those which are tentatively sched:
uled to became effective next year. Especially
valuable to the layman are the "comments of author"
throughout the text which explain with background
information the laws and give additional sources
of information. A useful appendix includes a
schedule of navigation fees, customs collection
districts and ports of documentation, and Coast
Guard districts and marine inspection offices.

--D. E. Powell

(Prince Edward Island) Fisheries Statistics of Can-

ada, 1951, 4 p., printed, French and English, 25
cents. Department of Trade and Commerce, Domin-
ion Bureau of Statistics, Ottawa, Canada. Con-—
sists of tables giving the production and value
of the prircipal species of fish and shellfish
landed in Prince Edward Island in 1949-51; quan-
tity and value of manufactured fishery products
for 1950-51; capital equiyment in the primary
fisheries operations; the number of persons en-
gaged in the fisheries; and the vessels used in
the sea fisheries.

"The Sea Lamprey in Inland Waters," by Truman T.

Guard, article, Michigan Conservation, May—June
1953, vol. XXII, no. 3, pp. 14-15, 19-20, illus.,
printed. Michigan Department of Conservation,
Lansing, Nich. Describes a survey conducted by
the author in the spring and summer of 1952 to
determine the distribution of the sea lampreys
in the inland lakes of Michigan. Also describes
the characteristics of the sea lampreys, which
annually enter many Michigan streams from the
Great Lakes, and four mative lampreys: the Amer-
ican brook lamprey, Michigan brook lamprey, chest-
nut lamprey, and the silver lamprey.

Survey of Fishery Activities, 1953, compiled by the

Branch of Federal Aid, 138 p., processed, May
1953, A catalogue of current research and man-—
agement projects pertaining to the sport fish-
eries of the United States. More than 500 pro-
jects designed to help perpetuate sport fishing
are now in progress throughout continental and
territorial United States. The activities de-
scribed in this bulletin fall into two main cat-
egories: fishery research and fish management.

The bulletin cites projects under way inthe
48 States, Alaska, Hawaii, Fuerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands. About one-fourth of them are be=
ing supported by Federal funds made available to
States and territories under the Federal Aid in
Fish Restoration Act, better known as the Dingel)-
Johnson program. The remaining projects are be-
ing financed directly by State fish and game de-
partments, the Fish and Wildlife Service, Soil
Conservation Service, Forest Service, State health

departments, and a number of colleges and univer-
sities.

Research is being conducted to obtain need-
ed information on such matters as fish migration,
spawning habits, feeding habits, food supplies,
age and growth, survival, polluted waters, habitat
requirements, control of excessive weed growths,
fishing pressures, angler harvests, effects of
siltation, rough fish control measures, effects
of power projects on fish populations, and devel-
opment of improved methods such as the use of e-
lectricity in catching fish for study purposes.
While most of the research projects deal with
fresh water species, studies of marine sport fisn
are under way in several of the coastal States.

Management projects are concentrating on
such activities as weed control, rough fish con-
trol, fish cultural operations, habitat improve-
ments, constructing and maintaining public fish-
ing lakes, fertilizing fishing waters, increasing
fish food supplies, constructing and maintaining
fish ladders and diverting fish into tributary
streams to circumvent power projects in rivers,
reducing fish losses in irrigation canals, remov—
ing log jams and other streamflow obstructions,
and improving watersheds to stabilize streamflows.

(Due to a limited printing, the publication

will not be available to the general public but

persons interested in studying the contents will

find reference copies at Fish and Wildlife Service
regional offices in Portland, Oregon; Albuquerque;
Minneapolis; Atlanta; Boston; and Juneau, Alaska:
or at State fish and game department offices.)

The Technology of Herring Utilization (Report of the

FAG Meeting on Herring Technology, Bergen, Norway,
Sept. 24-29, 1950), edited by Mogens Jul and Mog.
Kondrup, Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,
Rome, Italy. Fiskeridirektoratets Skrifter, Serie
Fiskeri, vol. II, no. 1., published by the Norwe—
gian Director of Fisheries, printed by A. S. John
Griegs Boktrykkeri, Bergen, 1953. 405 pages.

Contains the papers and discussions at tne
FAO meeting on Herring Technology in Bergen, Nor-
way, September 24-29, 1950. The material has been
arranged according to subject so that the book can
be used as a handbook. The following chapters are
included: 1. Scope and results of the meeting.
2. The herring industries. 3, The herring-market—
ing situation. 4. Possibilities for finding mar-
kets for herring products in Asia and Africa. 5.
Fish protein products made by fermentation or chem-
ical hydrolyzation. 6. Fresh herring. 7. Evis-
cerating, boning and filleting machines. 8. Freez—
ing of herring. 9. Salted and spiced herring. 10.
Herring delicatessen and marinated products. ll.
Smoking, drying and dehydration of herring. 12.
Herring canning. 13. Manufacture of herring oil
and meal. 14. Fish solubles, whole meal, etc.

The Government Printer, Entebbe, Uganda, 1952. In-
cludes a section on the fisheries of the Uganda
waters of Lake Victoria; Lake Albert (including
the Albert Nile and associated fisheries); Lake

82

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 15, No. 7

WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES

ISSUING THEM.

Kyoga and waters of eastern Uganda; and Lakes George,
Edward, and waters of Western Uganda. Tables give
the 1951 catch of fishery products by months for
Lake George and Lake Edward and Kazinga Channel;
and quantities and values of dried (salted) and
smoked fish exported in 1951 from Lakes Edward,
George, and associated fisheries. The Uganda Fish
Marketing Corporation, orices of dried fish, the
East African Fisheries Research Organization, fish
farming, boat building, the quantities and values
of fishing nets imported, and angling are some of
the other subjects covered.

Whalemeat: Bacteriology and Hygiene, by R. H. M.

Robinson, Mh. Ingram, R. 4. M. Case, J. G. Ben—
stead, and H, E. Daniels, Food Investigation Spe-
cial Report lio. 59, 62 p., printed, illus., 2s.
net (30 U. S. cents net). Department of Scientific
and Industrial Research, Cambridge, ingland. (For
sale by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London,
England.) Describes at length the types and num-
bers of bacteria found in the meat of the whale at
the various stages of processing. Two main groups
of bacteria are recognized; those present fromthe
outset throughout the carcass of the whale and
those which reach the meat during dressing and
handling. The report points out that although
with the present methods of catching whales
little can be done to reduce the numbers of bac-
teria initially, two measures can be taken to
limit their subsequent multislication. The first
is to reduce to the minimum the time between the
death of the whale and the freezing of the meat,

The second is to bleed the carcass and slit the
belly wall as soon as possible after death. Tha
contamination of the meat during dressing is
largely eliminated by proper attention to sani-
tary handling of the carcass and meat. This phase
is dealt with in the final sections of the re-—
port. The first part of the booklet discusses
the species of whales hunted, capture and de-
livery of whales to factory or land station, dis-
membering the carcasses, and post-mortem changes
of bacteriological significance in whale muscle,
The second part concentrates on the bacteria in
whale meat.

Whalemeat: Production and Preservation, by J. G.

Sharp and B. B. Marsh, Food Investigation Spe—
cial Report No. 58, 54 p., printed, illus., 2s.
6d. net (35 U. S. cents net). Department of Sci-
entific and Industrial Research, Cambridge, Eng-
land. (For sale by Her Majesty's Stationery Of—
fice, London, England.) Surveys the whaling in-
dustry, the methods used in slaughtering and
handling the carcasses, and the general problems
arising in the production and preservation of
whale meat. This booklet discusses the Antarctic
whaling industry; changes occurring in themuscle
tissue of whales after death; chemical composi—
tion, color, and texture of whale meat; palati-
bility and flavor of whale meat; changes occur-
ring in frozen whale meat during storage; and
differences in the condition of the fresh meat,
bacteriology, and storage behavior.

Editorial Assistant--Ruth V. Keefe

Compositors--Jean Zalevsky,

Ke HK HK

Photograph Credits:

Betty Coakley,

Illustrator--Gustaf T. Sundstrom

Alma Greene, & Kathlyn Brophy

Pageby page, the following list gives the source or pho-
tographer for each photograph in this issue.
were obtained from the Service's file and the photographers are unknown.

Photographs on pages not mentioned

Page 48--Food and Agriculture Organization.

INT.-DUP. SEC., WASH., D.C. 47262

July 1953

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

CONTENTS, CONTINUED

FOREIGN (CONTD.):

CANADA (CONTD.):

NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY SUBSIDIES AND
ASS | STANCE

NEWFOUNDLAND TAKES OVER BAIT DEPOTS ...

CEYLON:
CANADA TO SUPPLY FISHING TRAWLERS
COLOMBIA:

|MPORT RESTRICTIONS LIFTED FROM CERTAIN

FISHERY PRODUCTS ......
EGYPT:

UNITED STATES-EGYPTIAN TECHNICAL COOP-
ERATION AGREEMENT (INCLUDES FISHERIES
PROGRAM aleltoeleeienuioeieisiels Gcieieiete

| CELAND:

STOCKF1SH

TRAWLERS TO LAND AT BRITISH PORTS AGAIN

JAPAN:

NEW CANNED TUNA EXPORT PRICES

TUNA EXPORTERS COMPETE FOR RAW PRODUCT

CANNERS MEET .....

MOTHERSHIP-TUNA EXPEDITIONS TO PACIFIC
EQUATORIAL WATERS IN 1953

U. S. FREEZERSH|P BOUGHT FOR TUNA
MOTHERSH | P

GOVERNMENT TO FINANCE TUNA VESSEL CON-
STRUETICN scosccoudacoabndoosododuadOC

FISHERIES COLLEGE USES DEEP-SEA TRAIN-
ING SHIP

NORTH PACIFIC SALMON EXPEDITION PLANS
FOR IES) Soosoeodonoe

NORTH PACIFIC SALMON FLEETS REPORT GOOD
CATCHES

NORTH PACIFIC CRAB EXPEDITION REPORTS
FISHING BELOW EXPECTATIONS ..e-eseroee

NORTH PACIFIC WHALING EXPEDITION, 1953

TRAWLER FLEET REDUCED TO CURTAIL
COASTIAISIOVEREIISHIIING mevereieieieters orerelerevelelers
INTEREST IN NEGOTIATING INTERNATIONAL
FISHERIES AGREEMENTS ...e-e.-

SARDINE INDUSTRY, 1951-52 AND OUTLOOK
FOR IES) cocadodboonsopodooooeedaoaaca

PEARL SHELL EXPEDITION SAILS FOR
ARAFURA SEA

MEX1CO:

GUAYMAS SHRIMP FISHERY, APRIL 1953 ....

MAZATLAN SHRIMP FISHERY TRENDS, APRIL
NOSSE See cise sarees

NETHERLANDS:

WHALE-O|L PRODUCTION, 1953 .....e.eseee

NEW ZEALAND:

SPINY-LOBSTER FISHING REGULATIONS

CHANGED .....

eo rr)

rn

ee ee

Ce ee

eres ercr esses oerceose

ee ee ac

ee ee er esse er cess eoreore

eres or er er er eresor cr orore

PAGE

FOREIGN (CONTD.):
NICARAGUA:
GOVERNMENT SIGNS FISHERIES CONTRACT
WITH U. S. FIRM we.
NORWAY:

Ce oo iy

COD FISHING OFF GREENLAND REPORTED GOOD

PANAMA:
NEW BAIT-FISHING REGULATIONS PROPOSED
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA:
SOUTH WEST AFRICA'S EXPORTS OF FISHERY
ANCPWCIS., IE oododogccannpsGondbeon
FISH O|L AND MEAL OUTPUT SETS NEW REC-
ORD IN 1952 sielele!ejels!sialele|els/c sie ats
P|LCHARD CATCH LIMIT ESTABLISHED
UNITED KINGDOM:

FISHING PORTS PLAN TO RESTRICT LANDINGS

BUSINESSMAN GETS EXCLUSIVE CONCESS1ON
FOR LANDINGS OF |CELANDIC TRAWLERS IN
BRUNTAUING Be ctecererely eters roicintese cave atnretteran

WHITE FISH SUBSIDY EXTENDED ........0-
WHITE FISH AUTHORITY TO REDUCE EX-
VESSELUUEARSHINWA Ker rete reteie noeieis stances
FISH CANNERIES FACE CRISIS
FEDERAL ACTIONS: ...seeee-
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR:
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE:

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ADOPT AMEND-
MENTS TO ALASKA COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
RECULATIONS: SéccnccoccccnapoopDG00De

MUTUAL SECURITY AGENCY:
GREECE AUTHORIZED TO PURCHASE CANNED

FAUST Bayete sccstet evelar svevokevele etn /nee wersvorave neiaies

THAILAND AUTHORIZED TO PURCHASE FISH

CARRIERS! -steiepsisie cls vere/gestoievale)ereisiats asetele) evere

EIGHTY-THIRD CONGRESS (FIRST SESSION),
JUNE 1953

see cerr eros

Cr oO i Oe i

FISHERY INDICATORS? wccccncccereresssoves
CHART 1 - FISHERY LANDINGS FOR SELECTED
STATES wecccescvcsercrccecncecccvecseres
CHART 2 - LANDINGS FOR SELECTED F1SHER-
VES ceccccecratoercncrcccrecessscceveses

CHART 3 - COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS AND
FREEZINGS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS ....e.c0.

CHART 4 - CANNED PACKS OF SELECTED
FISHERY PRODUCTS
CHART 5 - U.S. FISHERY PRODUCTS
RECENT FISHERY PUBLICATIONS:
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS
MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS

IMPORTS

CORRECTION

June 1953 issue, p. 32.

paragraph should read:

The first sentence of the last
"The 1952 canned shad production was

26 percent less in quantity and 30 percent lower in value
than the 1951 production (table 2)."

eoeeceseesecoce

eoecesere seers

83

PAGE

59
60

61

61

61
62

62
62
63
63

63
65

65

TT

Special Scientific Report: Fisheries No. 104, Survey of the Domestic Tun
» is a detailed report requested from the Department of the Interior 7
six Pacific Coast Senators. The tuna industry's position in the domestic econo-
my is analyzed in the report. Quitea numberof the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Serv—
ice's specialists worked on the vari-
ous phases of the report. Under the
discussion of the history of the
United States tuna industry are in-
cluded the following subjects: de-
scription of tunaand tuna-like fishes,
the United States tuna industry, im— |
| ports of tuna and tuna-like fishes,
YELLOWFIN TUNA (NEOTHUNNUS MACROPTERUS ) tuna fishing gear, tuna fishingcraft,
tuna canning processes and types of
packs, and tuna byproducts. Other chapters analyze consumption, world produc-
tion, domestic production, processing, relationship of the industry to the na-
tional interest, distribution, and Government assistance in the United States
and competing countries. A set of conclusions and recommendations is included.

SURVEY OF THE DOMESTIC TUNA INDUSTRY

Each subject is covered in considerable detail and represents the results
of exhaustive analysis by experts in specialized fields after months of prelimi-
nary work. For the principal subjects covered the report contains the following]
observations: consumption--outlook bright; world production—landings can be
maintained and increased; domestic production and processing——prospects of large]
relative cost reduction rather bleak; distribution--no great prospects of cost
savings.

Interspersed throughout the report are many tables and charts which provide}
a wealth of statistical detail on various subjects related to the tuna industry.

A free copy of Special Scientific Report: Fisheries No. 104 is available
upon request from the Division of Information, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Washington 25, D. C.

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