Mull

ull

MARCH 1951

FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE

United States Department of the Interior

Washington, D.C.

UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

OSCAR L. CHAPMAN, Secretary ALBERT M. DAY, Director

@ SOMMERCATREVIEW @

A REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS AND NEWS OF THE FISHERY INDUSTRIES
PREPARED IN THE BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
A. W. Anderson, Editor

R.T. Whiteleather, Associate Editor
Wm.H. Dumont and J. Pileggi, Assistant Editors

Applications for COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, which is mailed tree to members ot the
fishery industries and allied interests,should be addressed to the

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, 25, D.C.

The contents of this publication have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely; however, reference to
the source will be appreciated. The Service assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of material from outside sources.

The printing of this publication has been approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, December 15, '949
a eS

‘CONTENTS

COVER: INSPECTING AND TRIMMING ROCKFISH FILLETS IN A
WEST COAST FILLETING PLANT PRIOR TO PACKAGING AND
FREEZING. EACH YEAR MORE AND MORE OF THE FISH PRO-
DUCED IN THE UNITED STATES |S BEING FILLETED, PACK=
AGED, AND FROZEN.

USE OF ECHO SOUNDERS IN THE FISHERIES, BY EWING LAWRENCE, JR. secrererererecorererssecsstscssscseccsesescsassceresescses 1
CONTROL OF FISH SPOILAGE BY ICING AND FREEZING, BY HAROLD E, CROWTHER eseresocesescrcrcscrccssccerersssseresosesssosores 6

eoseee

PAGE PAGE

RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES: .eeseseeeseee-sseeccceces 11 | FOREIGN (cont. ):

TECHNICAL NOTE NO. 10 ~ PAPER BAGS FOR FISH MEAL, BY COSTA RICA:

GEORGE M. PIGOTT, .cccccecicccccrcccrevecermserererersces IF CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH U. S. SUBSIDIARY FISHERY FIRM
TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS: .ceeeeesseeee dee e ene as eens eooe 15 PROVIDES FOR FISHING INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT .-s.eseees 27

ADDITIONS TO THE FLEET OF JU. Ss. FISHING VESSELS weccecee 19 CUBA:

FISHERY BIOLOGY NOTES: PLANS TO MOTORIZE FISHING SCHOONERS ceccecceccrereces 28

TECHNIQUE FOR REVEALING GROWTH RINGS IN TUNA VERTEBRAE 15 THIRTY DEEP=WATER FISHING VESSELS DISCONTINUE
FEDERAL PURCHASES OF FISHERY PRODUCTS ....ceereserorerss 16 OPERATIONS «oc .ccacccoceccccccssecsernsevcccreccsscas 26
GREAT LAKES FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS: GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC:

DISAPPEARANCE OF LAKE TROUT IN LAKES HURON AND MICHIGAN FIRST DIESEL-ELECTRIC TRAWLER LAUNCHED . «ee 28
ATTRIBUTED TO SEA LAMPREY ...+.-ceesceescccsssscaroses 16 DEEP-SEA FISHING INDUSTRY, 1950 wevescrceee aoe 29
GULF EXPLORATORY FISHERY PROGRAM: GREECE:
GROOVED SHRIMP LOCATED BY OREGON OFF FLORIDA WEST COAST NEW FISHING RECORD BY GREEK RESEARCH VESSEL ....+.+.. 30
ONLY IN: KNOWN AREAS csccececcsceccaceccrccecerssescses 17 DEVELOPS OYSTER FISHERY .sscsescscceccssvcrscesoreres 30
NORTH PACIFIC EXPLORATORY FISHERY PROGRAM: JAPAN:
JOHN N. COBB EXPLORES EXTENT OF SHRIMP POPULATIONS OFF JAPANESE POST-TREATY FISHERIES STATEMENT ....s+e++00. 30
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA .cccccesececcreserecerecsscreseces 17 STATEM_NT ON JAPANESE FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION ....6. 32
PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION MEETS ..e.eserereees 18 KENYA PROTECTORATE:
PACIFIC OCEANIC FISHERY |NVESTIGATIONS: FIRM TO ATTEMPT FISHING OFF SEYCHELLES ISLANDS ...... 33
HENRY O'MALLEY DECOMMISS|ONED AND OFFERED FOR SALE .... 19 MEXICO:
PACKAGING MATERIALS SHORTAGE FORESEEN ..eeescreccecseees 19 WEST COAST SHRIMP INDUSTRY HAS GROWTH DIFFICULTIES .. 34
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES: SPINY LOBSTER EXPORTERS GRANTED SUBSIDY .c.e+e-see+e- 36
WHOLESALE PRICES, JANUARY 1951 sessssececereeeserereree 19 MULLET CLOSED SEASON MODIFIED .ccesecescsererseesores 36

ADJUSTMENT OF CONSUMERS! PRICE INDEX weasesccecone 21 NORWAY:

RETAIL PRICES, JANUARY 1951 .cseccseserccesesoroce sierra RESEARCH ON FROZEN FISH covccecceccerecccerercseveses 30
ECA PROCUREMENT AUTHORIZATIONS FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS 22 EVALUATION OF WINTER HERRING FISHERY cseccccsecessees 7
FOREIGN: | cccccevccccccecncevccercceserecccecovesccercseces (24 RECORD SLOE-HERRING CATCH REPORTED OFF WESTERN NORWAY 37
INTERNATIONAL: “NEW GROUNDS FOR SUMMER HERRING FISHING ....ceseeceeee 38
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGAN! ZATION: WHALING EXPEDITION TO HUNT SPERM WHALES . 39
RECOMMENDATIONS OF UNITED STATES ON LONG-TERM ACTIV- PERU:

UTES) OF FAO vcgccccceccccveccceseccccsccerccecsccsee 24 REGULATIONS FOR THE |MPORTATION AND SALE OF EDIBLE .
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION MOVES TO ROME ...... 25 AQUATIC PRODUCTS ,oserorecescscvsreccseree 39
INDO-PACIFIC FISHERIES COUNCIL ACCEPTED BY CAMBODIA .. 26 NEW FISHERIES LAW SUBMITTED TO LEGISLATURE o..06 39
INDO=PACIFIC FISHERIES COUNCIL ACCEPTED BY VIET-NAM .. 26 PORTUGAL:

HUNGARY WITHDRAWS FROM FAO ...eseceeccecccvesreseseres 20 SARDINE INDUSTRY CONFRONTED WITH SERIOUS TIN PLATE
BERMUDA: SHORTAGE .sscccccceccsccecccerererscesccssccs-ssasee 40
HINTS OF NEW FISHING GROUNDS OFF BERMUDA ..esecesneencs 26 ARTIFICIAL DRYING PLANT FOR FISH ..csssccncessevesses 40

CONTENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 63

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COMMERCIAL F

March 1951 Washington 25,D.C. Vol.1

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USE OF ECHO SOUNDERS IN THE FISHERIES

By Ewing Lawrence, ur.”

INTRODUCTION

Since early times man has been interested in fish. Almost as long as he has
been interested he has taken fish cammercially to sell or trade to others, but the
tools of the commercial fisherman have changed little in recorded history. True,
bone hooks have long since been replaced by steel. Fabric netting has in somecases
given way to nylon or other synthetics. "Elbow grease" has in some instances been
replaced by powered net hoists. But there have actually been few significant or
revolutionary advances. Of course, gasoline or Diesel engines for motive power have
also replaced oars and sails in fishing boats and automatic power reels have been
introduced to aid the deep-water line fisherman, but of all the advances in the fish-
ery industries, the most outstanding has been the introduction and use of echo-sound—
ing gear.

Echo-sounding gear has given the commercial fisherman new eyes—eyes that see
through water, clear or cloudy, to depths once thought unfathomable. "Underwater
Radar," "Electronic Fish Finder," "Underwater Road Map," are only a few of the fa-
miliar nicknames given to this equipment by fishermen.

Echo-sounding gear is revolutionizing the methods of operation of almost all
types of commercial fishing. Fishermen throughout the world, at first somewhat
cautious in accepting this new idea, are now demanding this gear in such quantities
that mamfacturers are hard pressed to meet the demand.

PRINCIPALS OF ECHO SOUNDING

For a thorough understanding of the importance of this revolutionary gear, it
is necessary first to understand the principles of echo sounding as now employed.

Echo sounding-——the name is ultimately descriptive—is literally the function
of measuring the depth of water by means of echoes bounced off the bottom and timed
in their passage. The equipment to accamplish this function could be, and once was,
simply an audible sound-making device, a stop watch or other timing mechanism, and
a sound amplifier for reception of the echo, Actually, the sound employed for this
purpose may be of any frequency within the audible or superaudible range. Years of
research and practice, however, have shown that frequencies of fram 20 to 50 thousand
cycles per second are best suited for this purpose. Fortunately, sound frequencies
anywhere within the sonic and ultrasonic range have the characteristic of traveling
at essentially the same speed in the same medium and of being affected but little by

changes in the degree of salinity or temperature of the water.

* CO-OWNER, ELECTRONICS DISTRIBUTORS, JACKSONVILLE, FLA., REPRESENTING PACIFIC DIVISION,
BENDIX AVIATION CORPORATION. : (

NOTE: THIS ARTICLE 1S AN ABSTRACT OF A PAPER ( THE USE OF ECHO SOUNDERS IN FISHERIES )
PRESENTED AT THE FISHERY EXPLORATION AND TECHNOLOGY SESSION OF THE GULF AND CARIBBEAN
FISHERIES INSTITUTE HELD ON NOVEMBER 16, 1950, AT MIAMI BEACH, FLA.

2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3¢

To be scientific, however, it must be admitted that the changes in the charac—
ter of the water do cause inaccuracies. Actually, the speed of sound in any liquid
is given by the relation: velocity in meters per second = the square root of k/p
(where k is the adiabatic bulk modulus of elasticity, and p is the density of liquid).
In fresh water at a temperature of 8° C. (46.4° F.), this velocity is 1,427 meters
(4,681.7 feet) per second. In sea water of 35-percent salinity, the relation be-
comes: velocity in feet per second equals 4,756 (13.8 + O.12t2 where t is the ten—-
perature of the water). At 80°C. (46.40 F.) the velocity from this relation is
4,858.7 feet per second. It will be noted that the difference in velocity between
fresh water and salt water at the same temperature is small enough to be of interest
only to surveyors and of no importance to the comercial fisherman. As most echo
sounders are designed for use in sea water and not provided with compensators for
changes in density or temperature, the maximum error of approximately 177 feet per
second (only 3.6 percent) is encountered only by the unusual fishing boat which may
operate in both sea water and fresh water.

Incidentally, some time ago, a rumor was circulated to the effect that the en-
ergy emitted from some echo sounders was harmful or disturbing to fish. Thisrumor
was without foundation. In fact, there is conclusive evidence that fish are oblivi-
ous to energies of the strength and frequency emitted by most echo—sounding devices.

Present—day mechanisms for producing the sound, timing the passage, andreceiv—
ing and indicating the echo are generally combined into a single—unit system. The
timing, which is the heart of the mechanism, is accomplished by means of a constant
speed motor drive which carries the transmitter keying contact and some means for
producing an indication of the echo, and relating the time of reception to the time
of transmission along a graduated scale. An indicating echo sounder commonly employs
a revolving disc to which is attached an electric lamp. At the zero position of the
disc, the transmitter is energized and the sound is emitted from the underwater sound-
head or oscillator mounted in the hull. When the echois received and amplified, it
causes a flash in the electric lamp which has meanwhile been rotated to an angular
position corresponding to the elapsed time. The indicator is so constructed that
the flash of light from the lamp is immediately camparable to a graduated scale marked
in units of depth so that a direct reading of depth is obtained. To obtain maximum
benefit and utility from such an indicator it would be necessary to observe the
flashes continuously and to record the data thus obtained in the form of a graph.
This would require two operators, one to observe and one to record. For this reason
the depth indicator has limited application except for purely navigational purposes,
as a single operator finds it impossible to observe the indications continuously and
to visualize the true contour or other characteristics of the surfaces from which
echoes are received.

A recording echo sounder employs the same basie principals as the indicator,
but produces its data as a permanent (or in some machines semi-permanent) mark on a
graduated chart, thus doing automatically and instantaneously the complete jobwhich
might be done by an indicator and two highly efficient operators. Therecorder com—
pletes the job only started by the indicator, and produces a camplete picture, in
profile, of the bottom contour or of the size, shape, and density of reflective mat-—
ter between the surface and the bottom. There is hidden importance in this last
statement as it is from this ability that the name "Fish Finder" and a whole new
field of application has. arisen,

OPERATION OF RECORDING ECHO SOUNDERS

All technical details and references to actual application and installations
of recording and direct-reading echo sounders which follow refer in most cases to

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3

one manufactured by a West Coast aviation corporation. It is used as an example in
order to clarify the operations of such devices.

The direct-reading echo sounder produced by the West Coast company produces
its record on dry, graduated paper by means of a moving wire stylus through which
the amplified echo is passed to remove, electrically, the light gray coating from
the surface of the record paper so that the black of the graphite—bearing paper bulk
shows through. (However, devices manufactured by other canpanies use inking pens
or wet paper.) The recording and direct-reading echo sounder under discussion pro-
duces a very detailed record as the amount of surface coating removed is dependent
upon the strength of the echo which, at a given depth, is dependent upon the hard—
ness and compactness of the bottom or other reflective surfaces. Sonic energy has
the ability to penetrate most matter to a greater or lesser extent, and echoes are
obtained from the depth of the penetration, descending in strength with the depth
of penetration. Thus, by the darkness of the initial echo indication and by the
fine degrees of shading resulting from the penetrating energies, the record produced
gives an accurate indication of the hardness or compactness of the bottom. It is,
therefore, possible to distinguish readily between rock, sand, and mud. With some
experience and familiarity with the minute peculiarities of a particular machine,
it is possible to go further and determine the approximate consistency of mixed bot-—
toms or to detect small patches of harder material embedded in soft mud or sand, etc.

USES OF A SONIC DEPTH RECORDER IN MARINE AND FISHING OPERATIONS

As a navigational aid, the depth recorder is extremely valuable. By following
the contour of the bottom, grounding and stranding may always be avoided, and pin-
point positioning may be obtained by comparing the record graph with navigational
charts. Thus, a depth recorder may be considered a necessity for navigating shoal

Pg External mounting kit

EF (Stuffing tube)

Recorder unit with power
cable and transducer

TYPICAL 100-FATHOM RANGE DEPTH RECORDER. (1 LLUSTRATION COURTESY OF PACIFIC DIVISION,
BENDIX AVIATION CORP. )

4 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

waters, particularly in uncharted areas or areas unfamiliar to the boat's navigator.
The bottomcontour is shown in great detail—the presentation of bottom irregulari-
ties being most faithful and dependent only on the number of soundings per lineal
unit of bottom covered and the scale range of the device. For the utmost in accu-
racy, the depth recorder used should take the maximum possible number of soundings
per lineal unit of bottom covered and should have a scale range not exceeding the
maximum depth of interest, so as to obtain greatest enlargement of contour. Refer-
ence to soundings per lineal unit may be misleading as this will actually depend
only upon the lineal speed of the boat. The rate of sounding is limited by the
scale range as sufficient time mst be allowed between the soundings for passage of
sound from the soundhead to the bottom and return, and for recovery of theelectronic
circuits. Thus, soundings cannot be emitted more frequently than given by therela-
tion: soundings per second = v/2d (where v is the velocity of the sound and d is
the depth in feet). Assuming a nominal velocity of 4,800 feet per second, it maybe
seen that for a depth range of 400 fathoms, soundings cammot be taken more often
than one per second, as it would take approximately one second for the sound to
travel to the bottom and return. Actually, the recovery time of electroniccircuits,
the necessity for avoiding any possibility of overlap, and certain mechanical con—
siderations dictate that soundings be taken at from 1/4 to 1/2 of this maximumrate.
As the: lineal distance traveled by the boat between soundings may be sufficient to
result in a serious loss of bottom detail, it is important that, when ultimate in
bottom detail is required, the boat be held to a low speed. For average use, how-
ever, sonic depth recorders have been designed to give sufficient detail at average
boat speeds of from § to 15 miles per hour.

As has already been mentioned, the sonic depth recorder has the ability to de-
tect and present the evidence of any reflective matter suspended in the water between
the soundhead and the bottom. Thus, heavy masses of seaweed or suspended debris may
be detected, and most important to fisheries, schools of fish may be detected. There
is much which is not yet known about the abilities of various materials to reflect
sonic energy, but the following have been determined by actual experience.

Light and occasional patches of underwater vegetation will not be indicated.
Sponge and soft coral, unless in growths of considerable mass, will not be detected.
Wrecks, whether of wood or steel will be detected, with steel generally producing a
much stronger echo.

Pelagic fish, either at surface or in deep water will be detected and the pene-
tration of the sonic energy into the school will provide an immediate indication of
the density and/or thickness of the school. These functions have brought the sonic
depth recorder to a position of prominence in fisheries operations to the extent that
this equipment is now becoming standard equipment on most new boats and is being in-
stalled on thousands of older boats.

Echo-sounding electronic devices have taken out the guesswork or the "prospect-—
ing" element in trying or finding new fishinggrounds. Before the use of these de-
vices, fishing banks were found by pure chance or by the study of hydrographiccharts.
Now the master of any fishing vessel equipped with a sonic depth recorder can accu-
rately locate the richest fishing banks.

All types of fish that school closely and at not too great a depth, such as
tuna, sardines, mackerel, herring, anchovies, etc. (taken mostly with purse seines)
can be located with a sonic depth recorder. In addition, the tonnage of each par—
ticular school can be closely estimated. Since the bottom conditions that will be
encountered can be determined before beginning a seine set, such a device will serve
as insurance against damaged gear and will aid in making bigger catches possible.

Mareh 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Sy.

Because gill—net fishermen find that by placing their nets along the edge of
a ledge at a certain specified depth that catches are considerably larger, a sonic
depth recorder makes it possible for this type of fisherman to determine exactly
where a ledge is and in which direction it runs, regardless of visibility. The de-
vice enables the fisherman to spot his gear near the edge of the ledge and assures
him that it will be set where he wants it.

Trawlers have found that generally it is often considered not econamically
feasible to fish where unknown bottom conditions exist because serious damage or
loss of trawl nets coupled with the loss of time involved can make this type of
fishing a losing proposition. However, a sonic depth recorder should aid the trawler
captain to determine bottom conditions. This will aid him to avoid obstructions and
to fish the types of bottom most likely to contain fish. It is also reported that
an experienced user of a sonic depth recorder aboard a trawler can frequently spot
fish on the device several minutes before his trawl reaches them and, if necessary,
he can change his course so that his net will pass through the heaviest concentration.

Sonic depth recorders have applications and uses also in trolling, set—line
fishing, the shrimp fishery, and live-bait fishing. As the use of sonic depth re—
corders in the fisheries increases, new applications or variations of older appli-
cations are being and will be discovered,

Neil
— &—
NZ

& cha

ATLANTIG COAST MACKEREL PURSE SEINE

Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) is one of the most important food
fishes caught along the Eastern Coast of the United States, with
the average annual production amounting to about 35,000,000 pounds.
There are approximately 100 vessels and1,000 fishermen participating
in the catching of these fish. In general, the mackerel season
begins in late March, or early April, in the Chesapeake Bay area,
and as the season advances, catches are made further north along

the Atlantic Coast. June and July find the mackerel in the Gulf
of Maine and as far north as Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The
mackerel schools begin to break up in September but occasionally
some reappear off Cape Cod where a few may be taken as late as
December. The fish then disappear until the following spring when
they repeat. the same cycle.

—Fishery Leaflet 373

6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

CONTROL OF FISH SPOILAGE BY ICING AND FREEZING

By H. E. Crowther™

INTRODUCTION

The average person who handles fish and shellfish, from the fisherman on the
boat to the clerk in the retail store, knows through experience that in orderto keep
these products from spoiling some form of refrigeration must be used. But it is
probably safe to say that 80 percent of the people who chill or freeze fish and shell-—
fish do not know why the lowering of temperature preserves these products. Perhaps,
if those concerned did know, they would be much more careful with icing and freezing
operations, which are of paramount importance to assure quality products.

The information in this article is not entirely new. It is known by a number
of people, but I am afraid that most of them are technologists—and technologists
themselves handle very little fish. Therefore, this brief description of the spoil-—
age processes of fish at various temperatures is presented with the view in mind that
wider dissemination of this information will aid in bringing out the need and impor—
tance of properly chilling or freezing fishery products in order to preserve the in-
herent excellent quality of these products. There is no doubt that the direct re-—
sults will be increased appreciation and consumption of fish and shellfish, and the
benefits of these to the fishing and allied industries are self-evident.

PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF FISH SPOILAGE

The principal causes of fish spoilage are bacterial action and autolysis. Al-—
though bacteria are sexpnenely, small] apamey Oe be seen onlywith the aidof a microscope,
— : “they can produce almost unbe-—
ae M iievable results. A single bac—
terium can do little by itself—
the power of bacteria lies in
their number, for they grow or
| multiply at an unbelievable rate.
Bacteria grow not by becoming
larger but by multiplication. Un-
der ideal growth conditions, bac-—
teria multiply about once every
20 minutes. At this rate one bac-
terium would produce 8 in one hour,
262,144 in 6 hours, and about
68,000,000,000 in 12 hours. This
phenomenal growth of bacteria is

2% : ' probably the reason that prompted
: . Dr. L. B. Jensen of Swift and Co.
y : _ to state that food—-packing oper—

PREPARING FISH FILLETS FOR FREEZING IN ONE-POUND UNITS 2%i0ns are likened to a race be-
IN A WEST COAST FISH-PROCESSING PLANT. tween the micro-organism and man

to see who gets the food first. Unfortunately, there have been too many times when
the microbes have won the race by an obvious margin, but the fish dealers have not
conceded defeat. The secret of preservation is to make sure that favorable condi-
tions for bacterial growth, such as high temperatures, do not exist.

CHIEF, TECHNOLOGICAL SECTION, BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERV-
1CE, WASHINGTON, D. C. - =
NOTE: THIS ARTICLE 1S BASED ON A PAPER ( THE FREEZING OF FISH’) PRESENTED AT THE FISHERY
EXPLORATION AND TECHNOLOGY SESSION OF THE GULF AND CARIBBEAN FISHERIES INSTITUTE HELD
ON NOVEMBER 16, 1950, AT MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 7

Cooperating with bacteria in the spoilage processes is autolysis or self—diges—
tion of the flesh. Autolysis is simply the action of the enzymes of the living flesh
which continue their work after the fish or shellfish dies. When the fish is living,
these enzymes are prevented from attacking the living cells, but when the fish dies
the protective system breaks down and the enzymes begin their softening action on
the flesh. Bacterial action appears to be much more important than autolysis inthe
spoilage of fishery products.

Practically all foods contain bacteria, and many foods, such as meat and milk,
may contain large numbers of them, but very few foods are in such an unfortunate
position as fish and shellfish.

First of all, refrigeration, the one satisfactory method of keeping most food
products fresh, is partially ineffective in the fisheries. Because the unusual types
of bacteria which contaminate fish and shellfish are resistant to ordinaryrefriger-
ation temperatures, the "keeping time" of these products under non-freezing refrig—
eration is relatively short. For this reason it is necessary to take full advantage
of all that is known about the preservation of fish by refrigeration.

SOURCE OF BACTERIA FOUND IN FISH

In order to understand something about the unseen enemy we are fighting, let
us trace briefly where these bacteria come from and how they attack fish and shell-
fish. Most of the fish-spoiling bacteria are brought into the packing plant on the
fish themselves. The heaviest concentrations are in the slime and in the entrails
of the fish. Of course, other bacteria are picked up in the handling process fram
the hands of men, etc., but these are not too important for they grow very slowly
under ordinary refrigeration. The bacteria of sea origin are much more hardy for
they are accustomed to living in cold sea water and can grow rapidly at temperatures
not very much above freezing.

Knowing where the troublesome bacteria come from—the next problem is to deter-
mine how they attack the fish and in what areas. On the skin surface and in the
entrail cavity of fresh fish there are millions of spoilage bacteria, but the meat
itself is sterile. The maximum bacterial growth is in the lining of the entrail
cavity and in the blood vessels under the backbone. If there is a break in theskin
or the cavity lining, the bacteria will quickly invade the meat. But even though
the bacteria may not penetrate the meat, they still can spoil the fish by producing
an objectionable, strong, "fishy-smelling" substance, such as trimethylamine, which
is easilydiffused into the meat or muscle,

CONTROL OF FISH SPOILAGE BY USE OF ICE

If the spoilage bacteria can grow at refrigeration temperatures, how can we
control spoilage? Through work which has been carriedout by Castell (1949) in Canada,
we know that the temperature at which fish are stored is very important aay For most
common foods, storage at 37° F. is almost as effective as storage in crushed ice at
32° F, for the bacteria present will not grow at either temperature. With fish this
is not the case. Experiments have shown that cod fillets stored at 32° F. kept twice
as long as fillets stored at 37° F.—twice the "keeping time" with a change in tem-
perature of only 5 degrees. This would not be important if fishing boats and plants
carefully iced their fish in plenty of finely crushed ice—-but unfortunately this
is not always the case. Temperatures higher than 35° and 40° F. are not uncommon
17 CASTEL, C. H. (ATLANTIC FISHERIES EXPERIMENTAL STATION, HALIFAX, N. S.) FISHERIES RESEARCH

BOARD OF CANADA, PROGRESS REPORTS OF ATLANTIC COAST STATIONS, NO. 44, 8-12 (JANUARY, 1949).

8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

for iced fish in the hold of fishing vessels. Ice will bring the temperature of fish
down to 32° F.or below, but to obtain these temperatures care is required in packing
the fish in ice. A shovelful of ice on top of a box of fish is not sufficient. The
fish must be surrounded by ice. According to a British scientist who is now work-—
ing on the preservation of fish in ice, temperatures as low as 260 F. may be ob—
tained if the fish are properly iced. He found the average temperature to be between
30° F. and 31° F. However, to date these results have not been verified.

CONTROL OF FISH SPOILAGE BY FREEZING

This brings us to the freezing point of fish—25° to 280 F. Below this temper-
ature our problem changes somewhat. As in the non-freezing temperature range, the
bacterial spoilage processes continue to slow down as the temperature of the frozen
fish is lowered, but other problems appsar. First of all, much more is expected of
frozen fish than of iced fish. Instead of aiming at a keeping time of several days,
the frozen fish are expected to keep for many months. From the results of experi-
mental work and from practical experience it is known that in order to maintain
quality in frozen fish a storage temperature of 0° F. or lower mist be maintained,
and the lower the storage temperature the better the fish. Fish stored at -—20° F.
will be of noticeably higher quality than those stored at 0° F. Unfortunately, many
of the present commercial freezers are not equipped to economically maintain tem—
peratures as low as -15° F. to -20° F. However, there is now a general trend in de-
signing new frozen-storage warehouses to provide for these low temperatures.

Not long ago there were two generally accepted theories regarding the freezing
of fish. One was that the speed of freezing is the most important factor in main-
taining the quality of frozen fish. The second was that one of the principal causes
of deterioration in frozen fish during storage is fluctuation in temperature. Both
of these theories have now been cast aside.

In regard to speed of freezing, it was believed that the more rapid the freez-—
ing -— the better the product, because the small crystals formed by fast freezing
would not penetrate the cell walls. It was reasoned that the large ice crystals
which formed during relatively slow freezing punctured the cell walls and freed the
juices which caused "drip" on thawing. Research has shown that the temperature of
storage is far more important than the rate of freezing.

In regard to fluctuating temperatures, there is now evidence that the quality
of frozen fish is dependent on the mean storage temperature - and that the main
disadvantage of a fluctuating increase in temperature is to increase the mean tem-—
perature. Of course, high storage temperatures (above 100 F.) should always be
avoided because of the relatively rapid rate of deterioration.

Although it has been shown that the rate of freezing is secondary to the stor-
age temperature, some care must be exercised during the initial freezing operation.
First, if the freezing is too slow, large ice crystals may form and make the product
unattractive when thawed for cooking. Even more important is the possibility that
a relatively warm freezer temperature may permit spoilage of the fish before the
actual freezing takes place, There have been numerous instances where spoilage of
large lots of fish has occurred in the freezing rooms. In same cases this has been
caused by overloading a freezer room with warm packaged fillets, the packaging ma-
terial acting as effective insulation against the cold air of the freezer.

Part of the trouble experienced in the frozen fish industry of the U. S. is
caused by the practices of using the freezers as a means of "saving" the "not to

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 9

fresh" fish. The fish which are landed when strictly fresh are the ones which are
sold in the fresh market; while fish of lesser quality often go to the freezer.
This seems to be a logical step, for the producer realizes that the amount of time
required to get fresh fish to market and to the consumer is much greater than the
time required for the same fish to reach a safe preservation temperature in the
freezer. What he may not realize is that the quality of frozen fish is directly
dependent on the condition of the fish when frozen. If the fish are of question-
able quality when they go in the freezer, they will be even worse when they are re-
moved and thawed. If a fish producer intends to build or maintain his frozen fish
business on quality he will freeze only strictly fresh fish.

Very few realize that one of the regular phases of deterioration of quality
in fish is loss of flavor. During this phase the fish appears fresh for the flesh
has no off-flavor or odor. In fact, there is practically no odor at all. But the
sea-fresh flavor and odor are gone. In this stage many people condemn the species
as being tasteless - not realizing that they are not eating top quality fish.

NEW PROJECT TO DEVELOP METHODS OF MARKETING "SEA-FRESH" FISH

The Fish and Wildlife Service now has underway a project by which it hopes to
devise a means of enabling the fishing industry to market "sea fresh" fish and fish
fillets. It is referred to as the "Freezing-fish-at-sea" project. Laboratory and
pilot plant tests have indicated that it is possible to freeze at see strictly fresh
fish in the round, bring them to port, hold them in frozen storage for a period; and
then remove the fish from storage, thaw and fillet them, package the fillets in the
usual manner, and refreeze them.

To test the method under commercial conditions, the Service has obtained a New
England trawler. One-half of the hold of the vessel will be heavily insulated and
equipped with freezing equipment. The other half of the hold will be used foricing
down the fash, as is now the general practice, in order to campare the quality of
the frozen and iced fish and to get information on the cost of the two methods. If
the freezing—at-sea process can be successfully worked out, it will have these ad-
vantages over the present methods:

(1) There will be no question of freshness, for the fish will
be frozen almost as soon as they come from the water. (At
present there is same question about freshness because fish
caught by New England trawlers must be held in ice as long
as 8 to 10 days before being filleted. The distance of the
fishing grounds from the filleting plants makes it impossi-
ble to land all fish in less than this time.)

(2) The vessel can remain on the fishing grounds until it has a
full load of fish.

(3) The liver and all other material now discarded at sea will
be brought ashore in perfect condition for conversion into
byproducts and pharmaceuticals.

(4) The shore plants and labor will be able to operate ona
fixed work schedule since the round fish will be drawnfrom
the freezer as needed. This will eliminate the troubles
caused by the glut and slack seasons which now occur each

year e

10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

HAULING OUT FROZEN HALIBUT FROM AN ALASKAN COLD STORAGE PLANT FOR SHIPMENT TO SEATTLE.

Above all, however , is the advantage that all the fish and fish fillets pro-
duced by this method will be of uniform high quality.

It is realized that in this article many important phases of freezing of fish
have not been mentioned, such as glazing, dehydration, and oxidation problems with
oily fish. Time does not permit a complete discussion of all methods but it is
hoped that the few points on the icing and freezing of fish which have been dis—
cussed will aid in producing quality fish and thus help both individual businesses
and the fishing industry as a whole. What benefits the individual fish producer
or dealer will benefit the industry, and what benefits the industry as a whole,
benefits the individual business firm in the industry.

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 11

jae SS We
cc Y _'N SERVICE LABORATORIES OM

WHOM PUTO be sn

February |95|

CANNING: Handling Frozen Salmon for Canning: Canned packs from frozen whole
sockeye salmon stored at O° and ~20° F.,, respectively, were prepared for comparative
tests to determine whether storage of the frozen fish at low temperatures would
minimize adverse changes in the frozen salmon used for canning, The frozen fish,
stored at these temperatures for 22 weeks, were thawed and canned in S-pound flat
cans using the regular process, Both lots of frozen salmon had been wrapped be=
fore storage to prevent evaporation of the ice glaze, Both lots were in excellent
condition; however, it was apparent, after the fish were thawed and Greseed, that
those gtored at -20° F. were superior in quality to those stored at 0° Fr. The thawed
salmon whichwere stored frozen at O° F, had a definite "fishy" off-odor in compari-
son to the fresh-fish odor of those stored at ~20°F, Examinations of the canned
packs will be made after they have been stored for 60 days to allow proper "curing,"

* OK Ok

Organoleptic examinations have been almost completed on the series of canned
pink salmon processed after the fish had been frozen and stored under various con=
ditions, The following tentative conclusions have been made, Additional samples
are being tested currently in order to confirm the indicated trends with respect to
the adverse changes in texture, All comparisons were based on control samples proce
essed from the same lot of fresh fish used for the storage tests,

1, Pink salmon thawed and canned after one week of storage at 0° F, were
rated slightly lower in quality than the control pack prepared from
fresh fish,

2. Pink salmon thawed and canned after 6 weeks of storage at O° F, were
rated definitely lower in quality than the control pack but were con=
sidered of marketable quality,

3, Pink salmon thawed and canned after either 16 or 2) weeks of storage
at 0° F, were rated unmarketable or on the borderline in comparison
with control samples,

4, Pink salmon thawed and canned after increasing periods of storage at
0° F, showed the development of adverse changes in texture, excessive
curd formation on the surface, and off-flavors in the flesh close to
the skin, These changes occurred in greater intensity in fish frozen
and stored for the longer periods,

5, The examination of pink salmon thawed and canned after various periods
of storage at 0° F, indicated that slightly lower yields of free oil

12 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 13, No. 3

and liquid should be expected in comparison to canned pink salmon pre-
pared from fresh fish, Inasmuch as the quantity of free oil in pink
galmon is not a highly important index of quality for marketing purposes,
it is felt that this trend alone is not sufficient to limit its markete-
ability.

6, Adverse texture changes in pink salmon thawed and canned after various
periods of storage at 0° F, were excessive firmess, dryness, and a
"gawdust-like" texture, Pink salmon canned after only 1 week of storage
at 0° F, lacked the normal moist, flaky texture of pink salmon canned

' from fresh fish,

7. ‘There was little difference in the average quality between salmon stored
for 6 weeks at O° F, @lazed and those stored unglazed; however, wide
variations in the flavor scores were found in samples prepared from the
unglazed fish, The occurrence of occasional cans with a strong rancid
or off=flavor in the pack prepared from unglazed salmon suggests that
glazing is of considerable importance if a pack of uniform quality is
to be obtained, (Ketchikan)

*

REFRIGERATION: Freezing and Storing Alaska Shrimp and Dungeness Crab: Frozen
coonestripe (Pandalus hysinotus) and side-stripe (Pandalopsis dispar) shrimp were
examined organoleptically after 3 months of storage at 0” F, These experimental
semples were fresh-frozen aboard the Service's exploratory vessel John N, Cobb,
Coon=stripe shrimp frozen raw in the shell had a satisfactory flavor but were
slightly soft in texture, This was especially true of the shrimp frozen whole as
compared to frozen tails, Side-stripe shrimp meats cooked 4 minutes in a 10=per=
cent sodium chloride (salt) solution and frozen in #=-pound flat cans were com-
pletely unmarketable because of toughening and the development of off-flavors,
Side-stripe shrimp which were cooked in water and peeled had satisfactory texture
and flavor and were of marketable quality, The addition of ascorbic acidto side~
stripe shrimp cooked in brine minimized the development of rancidity; however, a
definite "hay-like" off=-flavor was present,

Fe

Frozen side-stripe shrimp were examined after a secondary storage at o° F, for
2 months, These packs were prepared from shrimp frozen whole at sea on the vessel
John N, Cobb and thawed, processed, and refrozen after one month of initial storage
at O° F. Shrimp vacuum packed in d-pouna flat cans were slightly superior in color
and flavor to those hermetically sealed in the same type can with plastic top, There
was little difference in the color, flavor, and texture of the brine=cooked shrimp
before freezing, although shrimp which had been cooked four minutes in 10-percent
brine were considered slightly salty, Shrimp cooked 20 minutes at 5-pounds-steam
pressure in a retort before freezing had a slightly mealy texture and a definite
off-flavor, Judging from these samples it would appear practical to freeze the raw
shrimp at sea for leter thawing, packaging, and refreezing ashore, The soft texture
of the frozen whole shrimp is counteracted, apparently, by brine-cooking before re-
freezing, All packs were considered of marketable quality with the exception of
shrimp steam cooked in the retort before refreezing,

x * &

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 13

Frozen whole Dungeness crab were examined after 4 months of storage at 0° and
=-20° F, in connection with the study of the effect of freezing the whole crabs both
cooked and raw, Because of the limited number of samples examined these results are
considered tentative; however, there is a definite indication that storage at =20° F,
minimized the toughening of crab meat from frozen cooked whole crab, Loss of normal
color and flavor developed in lots stored at -209 F, for the 4=month period, Evi-=
dently low temperature storage does not solve the problem of flavor change in cooked
Dungeness crab frozen in the shell, Meat from raw-frozen whole Dungeness crab was
unsatisfactory with regard to both texture and flavor, (Ketchikan)

7 kK

Palatability and Cold-Storage Life of Various Species of Rockfish: A study is
being made of the cold-storage life of various ous species of rockfish in an effort to
determine whether some species have a greater coldestorage life than certain others,
Results obtained during the month indicated that after six months in cold storage at
0° F, only the samples of Sebastes marinus (Atlantic rosefish or ocean perch), Sebas=
todes alutus (long=jawed rockfish), S, paucispinis (bocaccio), "idiot" (scientific
name name unknown), and S, goodei (7?) (child pepper") were still of edible quality but
showed signs of incipient rancidity, The samples of S, minatus (vermilion rockfish),
S. ruberrimus (red rockfish), S, pinniger (orange rockfish), and S, diploproa (lobe-
jawed rockfish) were inedible, (Seattle)

a OR

NUTRITION: Utilization of Salmon Cannery Waste for Hatchery Food: Arrangements
were made by the Seattle laboratory with a local fish company for the collection of
100,000 pounds of salmon waste at Petersburg, Alaska, next summer for use by Federal
fish hatcheries for production of hatchery fish, Frozen viscera and preserved and
frozen eggs will be collected at Petersburg and shipped to hatcheries in Washington
for large-scale feeding tests, Results of experimental fish feeding tests with salmon
waste indicated the feasibility of using selected portions of the waste,

This large scale test should demonstrate whether or not it is practical to obtain
such material for hatchery feed from Alaska if it is not available in quantity in the
Puget Sound and Columbia River areas,

A portion of the salmon eggs will be preserved in accordance with methods devel-
oped and tested in the laboratory, Best results so far were obtained on eggs pre=
served with bisulfite,

This large-scale feeding study is part of an over-all hatchery-food project being
carried out by the Seattle laboratory in cooperation with Federal fish hatcheries and
various State organizations, The objective of the investigation is to develop optimum
nutritional diets of lowest cost for use in artificial propagation of salmon in fish
hatcheries, (Seattle)

TECHNIGAL NOTE NO. IO- PAPER BAGS FOR FISH MEAL

Paper bags have become a permanent fixture in the West Coast fish meal industry,
Complaints voiced in the early days of their use, such as "easy to break," "hard to
handle," and "oily stains on bags" are seldom heard due to improvement in bags and

14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 13, No, 3

handling techniques, Shortage of burlap has hada great deal to do with the general
shift to multi-wall paper bags, Now that burlap is easier to obtain, the pendulum
is still toward paper, As long as paper competes economically, this situation will
continue,

As with any other container, every producer has his own preferences as to size
of bag, strength of paper, filling and closing techniques, and storage methods,

Bags now being used for packing 100 pounds of meal are about23 inches wide and
from 35 to 41 inches long, The length depends on the size of the gussets along the
edges, A good average bag would be 19 x Ls x 40 inches; that is,awidth of 19 inches,
a gusset of Ls inches, and a length of 40 inches, When the bag is spread flat, the
gusset would make the total width 233 inches,

Most bags used are made of heavy 50-pound (per ream) kraft paper. Plys vary
from 3to 5 with 4 being the minimm recommended by bag manufacturers, If meal is to
be shipped over long distances or by boat, it is a good idea to add one ply of asphalt
paper for protection, Starting from the inside, the first ply would be 50=pound
kraft; the second ply, 75-pound asphalt tar sheet; and the next three plys, 50=-pound
kraft, Many manufacturers use this asphalt paper for all shipments including local
orders, and others declare this an unnecessary expenses, It mst be stressed, how=
ever, that the asphalt ply is necessary in long-distance shipping to reduce fire haze
ards caused by heating meal. A great deal of this heating is stopped in asphalt bags
due to the stoppage of air (oxygen) from permeating the paper,

Meal bags are filled by placing or hanging them under hopper spouts, The amount
of meal in the filled bag is controlled by several different methods, Most simple
among these procedures is to manually release the hopper door until sufficient meal
has falleninto the sack which is sitting on a tared scale, Newer methodsconsist of
automatic scales sometimes integrated with constantly revolving turrets,

After it is filled, the meal sack is placed on a conveyor belt which passes
under the closing or stitching machine, Most meal producers use a double-locked
stitch with five=- or sixeply twine, Afiller threadis sometimes used, but has been
found unnecessary, Tape along the top seam is also not required but does make a
neater looking package that will eliminate any possible sifting, Thefew plants
that tape the top seam use 90-pound (per ream) natural kraft tape,

There is much disagreement among producers as to whether meal should be cooled
before sacking in paper bags, Some let the meal cool on the floor or in bins for
a day or so before sacking; others sack the meal asit comes directly from the dryer
at 110° F, to 130° F, In no instance are the filled paper bags allowed to cool
before stacking, Practically no fires caused by heating meal are being reported so
these ccoling methods mst be fairly adequate,

The kraft multi-wall bags now in industrial use are so popular that only a
shortage of paper will prevent their contined use,

=--George M, Pigott, Chemical Engineer
Fishery Technological Laboratory,
Seattle, Washington

ey

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 15

—S—

SS —S—_ > —

mies | RENDS Spee

Additions to the Fleet of U. S. Fishing Vessels

A total of 44 vessels (5 net tons and over) received first documents as fishing
craft during December 1950--19 less than in December 1949. Florida led with 12 ves-
sels, followed by California with 10, the Treasury Department's Bureau of Customs
reported,

During 1950, a total of 812 vessels were documented as compared with 1,002
during 1949.

Of the vessels receiving their first documents as fishing craft during December,
31 were built during 1949 and 1950 and the remainder were built prior to 1949.

Of the total vessels documented in 1950, 441 were built in 1950, 84 in 1949, and
the balance (287) in years prior to 1949. :

Section

New England @odOeeeHecceeGOLeeoeZOFeSBOES22L2OL2O2EEEOCE
Middle Atlantic sccccccccccceccccccrceccs ceccccccece
Chesapeake Bay @Coeeesececceecoecsceser0o2esr eo ee 20202000
South Atlantic and Gulf cccccccccccccecesscoeccccce
Pacific COaStE ececccccccecccccecvecccececceceeresece
Great LakeS ccoccccccsecccccccerercccceecnenceccecce

HAWALL ecccececc cc ccc ccc ccc cence eles 00sec eceence

at
Alaska @9OKCLCHCOSSOEOHRFEHSHHLCSHSCHOHOTHOLAETEHHHSSHHTSHL2ED 3
1

nknown POOF LEC CO SHLCHOHSSLSOSESHOSCHOLCHLFLHRLCHOLOLESSTES2LED bad rend il |
TOC EE eee eee iat toval eicio:a.siettlelelais eisieisralereveierad (NAA: uj] MO ORMMIIO LEN NEL OOR
Note: Vessels have been assigned to the various sections on the basis of their
home port.

for revealing growth rings in tuna vertebrae has been developed by the Laboratory
Director of the Service's Shellfish Laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass, This technique
has been developed at the request of the Service's North Atlantic Fishery Investiga=
tions, The procedure consists of treating the bones with potassium hydroxide solu=
tion, staining with alizarin Red S, and clarifying in glycerine,

16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No, 3

Federal Purchases of Fishery Products

FRESH AND FROZEN FISH PURCHASES BY
DEPARTVENT OF THE ARMY, JANUARY 1951: Pur= [Purchases of Fresh and Frozen Fisher
chases of fresh and frozen fishery products Products by Department of the Army
during January this year by the U, S, Army January 1951 and 1950)
Quartermaster Corps for military feeding
amounted to 1,705,128 pounds (valued at
$732,373). This was an increase of 24,7
percent in quantity and 26.6 percent in
value as compared with December 1949, and
45.8 percent in quantity and 46,5 percent
in value over January 1950 (see table),

1951

lbs. 16
705,128}1,169,7

— ee ES S.-C

PREY: A few people unacquainted with lake trout fishery trends have suggested that
the decline of this fishery in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan was the result of overe
fishing; hence, the present industry distress is but just retribution for a wanton
and destructive exploitation of the stocks, Complete and detailed statistics, bee
ginning with 1929, on actual quantities of gear lifted that produced lake trout
demonstrate conclusively that overfishing could not have brought about the collapse
in the lake trout fishery in the United States waters of Lake Huron or in the State
of Michigan waters of Lake Michigan, according to a January report from the Service's
Great Lakes Fishery Investigations, Fishing pressure in both areas tended to be
below the modern average in
the years immediately pre-
ceding and during the recant
decline, The outside possi-
bility that some obscure and
# altogether unsuspected factor
may have destroyed the lake
trout populations of Lakes
Huron and Michigan cannot be
SEA_ LAMPREY ignored, However, the most
(PETROMYZON MARINUS) careful consideration of
presently available evidence
nevertheless permits only
the conclusion that the sea
lamprey was the major, per-
THE SEA LAMPREY, WHICH FEEDS ON THE BLOOD AND FLESH OF FISH, haps the only significant,

1S PREYING ON THE LAKE TROUT OF THE GREAT LAKES AND 1S cause of the lake trout de=
THREATENING THAT FISHERY. crease in both lakes,

4% qe

Ne

1 pels Bak ‘>

4 2A Ss Seer, ean
Bt

ho eel ee ee

MOUTH OF SEA LAMPREY

At prevailing market prices the actual cash-income loss to the commercial fish=
ermen of Lakes Huron and Michigan resulting from decreases in the lake trout catch
amounts to approximately $3.5 million, At an interest rate of 4 percent, this amount
represents an annual return from a capital investment of $87.5, When one also applies
the income decrease to fish wholesalers and retailers, transportation companies, and
manufacturers of fishing equipment and supplies, and then adds to the above the value
of other species of fish that have been harmed by the sea lamprey, the real gravity

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 17

of the economic losses suffered and the urgent need of sparing no effort to bring the
parasite under control become even more obvious,

Although the sea lamprey was first reported in Lake Superior in 1945, its effects
On lake trout have been only local in that Lake, Production of lake trout has held
up, but no comfort should be taken from Lake Superior production data because records
prove that (1) the catch per net is declining and the yield has been maintained in
recent years only by increased fishing pressure; and (2) experiences in Lake Huron and
especially in Lake Michigan, prove complete collapse of the fishery can take place in
only a few years,

Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program

GROOVED SHRIMP LOCATED BY "OREGON" OFF FLORIDA WEST COAST ONLY IN KNOWN AREAS;
Locating pink groov grooved shrim shrimp grounds in the southeast Gulf of Mexico was the main
purpose of Cruise.No, 6 of the Service's exploratory fishery vessel Oregon, The

vessel left Pascagoula on January 8, 1951, and returned on January 28, 1951.

A series of shrimp trawls were made on Campeche Bank in depths between 14 and
120 fathoms, The area covered was found unsuitable for trawling and only one speci-
man of the pink grooved shrimp was taken,

The area between Tampa Bay and Dry Tortugas was worked in depths from 2 to 80
fathoms, Commercial concentrations of the pink grooved shrimp were found only in
the area of the present fishery grounds. Trawling in the areas north to Tampa Bay
produced very small catches of shrimp,

Trawling stations were made comparing the effectiveness of a "bottomless"
trawl to that of the flat and "balloon" trawls in areas where dense sponge beds
made conventional trawling prohibitive, Im this series, the "bottomless" trawl
picked up approximately 1/5 of the sponge taken in the other trawls, As yet, the
"bottomless" trawl has not been tested and compared to other trawls in the catch=
ing of shrimp, However, in the stations already made it caught as many shrimp as
did the other nets,

Two widely scattered schools of little tuna were observed about 90 miles
north northeast of Alacran reef on January 10, Trolling lines failed to produce
any catch although the Oregon was able to pass through the middle of the school
of fish,

A series of 150-fathom bathythermograph recordings were made at 30-mile in-
tervals from the Mississippi Coast to Campeche Bank, Plankton tows were made in
the north and central Gulf,

——_ eee ——— Oo —————_— n— Oe Oe OOOO

The purpose “of Cruise No. 7 of the John N, Cobb is to ascertain the extent ‘and 3i: Bice
of the shrimp and other shellfish populations in the waters of Icy Strait, Lynn

18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 13, No, 3

Ganal, and adjacent areas; and to determine if concentrations of shrimp or other
shellfish are found in these waters in quantities sufficient to support a commercial
fishery, The John N, Cobb, one of the Service's exploratory fishing vessels, left
Seattle about March 1 and was scheduled to return to Seattle between April 20 and
May 1,

Several types of gear will be fished, including beam trawls, and shrimp and
crab pots, Otter trawls will also be employed as a means of sampling the bottom
life, Trawlability of the bottom will be ascertained by use of recording "Fatho=
meter" traces, and oceanographic and other scientific observations will be made at
each fishing station,

Experiments will be continued on freezing and canning shrimp at sea, These
will be carried out by members of the staff of the Fishery Products Laboratory at

Ketchikan, Alaska,
Lay
a

Se

Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission Meets

A meeting of the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission was held at San Francisco,
California, on December 4-5, 1950. Included in the business of the meeting was a
discussion of the City of Tacoma's application to the Federal Power Commission for
@ permit to construct two dams on the Cowlitz River in Washington, Resolutions
pointing out the effects of dams on salmon runs and requesting that the Federal
Power Commission deny such permit were adopted by both the Pacific Marine Fisheries
Commission and its Advisory Committee,

Research on the following fisheries was presented and discussed by representa~
tives of the three Pacific Coast States, Canada, and Alaska:

Albacore: The size composition of the 1950 albacore catches as indicated by
market samples taken at the various ports along the coast was reviewed, The group
of small albacore (about 54 centimeters in length) which appeared in the 1949
catches was not present to any extent in the 1950 landings, Progress on racial
studies on local and Japanese albacore was discussed as were methods of age deter=
minations,

Otter Trawl: Research reported on the otter trawl fishery included tagging,
age determinations, and sampling of the catches, Recoveries of tagged flatfish
indicated, in general, but little migration of English, Dover, and petrale soles,
The sampling program was directed primarily toward determining the composition of
the catches as they are brought aboard the trawlers and prior to being culled for
market, In this manner the changes occurring in the stocks both of commercial and
non-commercial species is being measured,

Sablefish: About 4,000 sablefish (blackcod) were reported tagged along the
Pacific Coast in 1950 in order to study the migrations of this species, The pro~-
gress of racial analyses of these fish from various areas along the coast was dis=-
cussed as were studies on age determinations, market sampling, and early life
history,

Troll Salmon: Further findings concerning the ocean migrations of chinook
and silver salmon as revealed by offshore tagging operations were conducted by

Mareh 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 19

the various fisheries organizations along the Pacific Coast and extended from Calie
fornia to Alaska, Chinooks tagged off Alaska were recovered as far south as the
Columbia River, Those tagged off California were recovered chiefly in the Sacramento-
San Joaquin River system although a few were recaptured to the northward, Tagged
silver salmon, in general, migrated shorter distances than the chinooks, Silvers
tagged off California and Oregon moved northward while those tagged off Alaska

tended to move southward in somewhat less directional migrations,

To supplement the tagging experiments, large numbers of fingerling chinook and
silver salmon are being fin-marked and released in various rivers along the coast to
migrate to the ocean, The subsequent recapture of these marked fish by the troll
fishery will indicate the contribution of the several rivers to the troll fisheries
of the different offshore areas,

a OO

feasible to repair the vessel for research purposes, This vessel is one of the three
research vessels used by the Service's Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations,

Early in February the Henry O'Malley, a 128-foot tuna bait boat, was offered
for sale by the U, S, Fish and Wildlife Service, The vessel was sold for $127,501
on February 16 in San Pedro, California,

Packaging Materials Shortage Foreseen

A discussion of the outlook for packaging materials was the main item of busi-
ness at the February monthly meeting of the Federal Specifications Committee on
Packaging, according to a staff member of the Service's College Park Fishery Tech-
nological Laboratory, who attended the meting, The general opinion expressed was
that all types of packaging materials, lumber, paper products, moisture-vapor proof
films, and metal foils are already in short supply and the outlook is bearish,

The need for a continuous and active campaign of conservation of all packaging
materials was stressed repeatedly by the Chairman of the meeting, This should con-
sist of "doing without," reducing quality or grade when possible, and the salvaging
and reuse of every possible material,

Wholesale and Retail Prices

WHOLESALE PRICES, JANUARY 1951: Because of an improvement in the production
of and a slight decline in the demand for fresh and frozen processed fishery prod=
ucts, there was a small over-all drop in the January prices for these products, On
the other hand, increased demand for canned fishery products and the short salmon

pack this past season pushed prices for canned fish still higher,

20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 13), Noss

The edible fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) wholesale index for
January was 113.7 percent of the 19,7 average (see table 1)--Q,7 percent higher than
the previous month and 10,0 percent above January 1950, the Bureau of Labor Statis-
tics of the Department of Labor reports,

Heavier landings of haddock in New England and a better supply of fresh-water
fish from the Great Lakes (mostly from Canada) resulted in a decline of 2,8 percent
in the drawn, dressed, or whole fin fish subgroup from December 1950 to January 1951,
but this index was still 2,2 percent higher than in January 1950. Compared with
January 1950, average prices in January this year for large drawn offshore haddock
were 12,3 percent lower, while for frozen dressed Western halibut they were 19,6 per=
cent higher and for frozen large and medium king salmon, 15.1 percent higher,

GROUP, SUBGROUP, AND ITsM SPECIFICATION POINT OF FRICING | UNIT | AVERAGS PRICES ($) J INDEXES (1947 = 100)

Jan.1951 Dec.1950 | Jan.1950,
aatTESEaa| 7 nes =

Drawn, Dressed, or Whole Finfish:
Haddock, large, offshore, drawn, fresh .... Boston
Halibut, Western, 20/80 lbs., dressed,
fresh or frozen New York City
Salmon, king, lge. & med.,
fresh or frozen
Lake trout, domestic, mostly No. 1, drawn
(dressed), fresh
Whitefish, mostly Lake Superior, drawn
(dressed), fresh
Whitefish, mostly Lake Erie pound net,
round, fresh
Yellow pike, mostly Michigan (Lakes
Michigan & Huron), round, fresh
Processed, Fresh (Fish and Shellfish): .
Fillets, haddock, small, skins on,
20-1b. tins
Shrimp, lge. (26-30 count), headless,
fresh or frozen New York City wy
Oysters Norfolk area
Processed, Frozen (Fish and Shellfish):
Fillets: Flounder r (yellowtail), skinless,
10-1lb. boxes ag
Haddock, small, 10-1b.cello-pack o ry
Rosefish, 10-1b. cello-pack Gloucester LJ
Shriz lge. (26- — fount) 5- to 10-1b.bxs. g W

be

per case
Tuna, light meat, solid pack, No. $ tuna
(7 oz.), 48 cans per case
Sardines (pilchards), California, tomato
pack, No. 1 oval (15 0z.), 48 cans per case ..
Sardines, Maine, keyless oil, No. 4 drawn
Sr oz. 100 cans pe

Although the fresh processed fishery products subgroup index this January rose
3.2 percent over December 1950, it was only 0.6 percent higher than in January 1950,
Compared with December 1950, prices quoted during January for fresh haddock fillets
and large headless shrimp were higher, but they were still considerably below the
corresponding month a year earlier,

With cold storage holdings at the highest point for the year but still below a
year earlier, the January index for processed frozen fish and shellfish increased
1.7 percent over December 1950, but was 2.8 percent below January 1950. During this
period price increases were reported mainly for frozen rosefish fillets (holdings of.
which are below a year earlier) and shrimp (in spite of heavy imports from Mexico
and large cold storage holdings), But larger catches of haddock at Boston increased
the processing of frozen haddock fillets and«conseyuently prices quoted for this
product dropped slightly this January, On the other hand, compared with the corres
ponding month a year earlier, January prices for frozen haddock fillets and frozen
shrimp were substantially lower, while quotations for frozen rosefish (ocean perch)
fillets were substantially higher,

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21

Pricesof canned fishery products increased substantiallyin January, The month's
index for this subgroup was 2,5 percent higher than December 1950, and 26.3 percent
greater than in January 1951. Higher prices were reported during January for each
canned product under this subgroup, Compared with January 1950, quotations this
January were 52,6 percent higherfor pink salmon,15,2 percent higher for California
sardines, 4.5 percent higher for tuna, but 14.5 percent lower for Maine sardines,

zation period have been incorporated in tnis index issued by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, U, S, Department of Labor, according to a February 20 news release from
that Bureau, The improved index was recalculated back to January 1950 so that it
will measure price changes over the critical periods before and after the outbreak
of the Korean conflict, These recalculated indexes will replace those released by
the Bureau each month during the year 1950,

The adjustments introduced as of January 1950 include the revision of popula-
tion weights, correction of the "new unit bias" in the rent index, the addition of
new items, and the revision of commodity weights, Revised population weights for
use in combining data for individual cities into a United States average were calcu-
tated, using the population figures from the 1950 Decennial Census, Among the new
items added were frozen foods, but as far as fishery products are concerned the
Bureau has been pricing quick-frozen fish since March 1950.

No changes have been made in the pricing procedures or specifications for fish-
ery products, However, in revising the commodity weights, the importance of fishery
products in the "all foods" category has dropped from 3,4 percent under the old index
to 3.0 percent under the adjusted index, The Bureau reports that "the importance
attached to the various items and groups of items in the index calculations have been
adjusted to reflect present-day family spending habits, These adjustments of ‘weights!
are based on recent studies of what families buy and how much they spend,” The Bureau
has relied principally on its own studies of family expenditures in seven cities since
1947; and valuable information has been drawn also from recent food consumption sur-
weys by the Department of Agriculture, and from trade and official sources on produc-
tion, marketing, sales, and other facts pertinent to consumption and expenditures,
Data from all these sources were used to estimate 1949 quantity consumption at 1950
prices, as a basis for adjusted index weights,

Indexes calculated with the adjusted weights have been linked to the "old series"
at January 1950 to form a continuous series, Therefore, the original base periods
have not been changed and the major characteristics of the Consumers' Price Index re-
main unchanged, ‘The adjusted series is an improved measure of the movement of prices
of goods and services purchased by moderate-income families in large cities, No
change has been made in the basic index formula, the calculation procedures, or the
price collection method, In the case of fishery products, the only change is the
drop in commodity-weight value within the "all foods" category and the indirect ef-=
fect that the use of 1950 Decennial Census populations figures will have on the index
as a whole and its components, including the fishery products component,

RETADL PRICES, JANUARY 1951: Retail prices of fishery products bought by mod-
erate-income urban families continued their rise between December 1950 and January
this year (table 2), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U, S, Department
of Labor, However, the increase in fishery products was not as great as that for
all foods as a group,

22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 13, No, 3

Retail prices of fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) increased abs 5)
percent, on the average, between mid-December and mid-January, On January 15, the

Table 2 - Adjusted Retail Price Indexes for Foods and Fishery Products,
January 15, 1951, with Comparative Data
ade BLP Stine Rie nonce aca Seidel LusBaSOn. aad tN 0) TS

Jan.15,1951)Dec.15,1950 |Jan.15,1950
221.9 216.35 196.0

EEE OOS ereretel ofelelelsleietetetotelevele rele
All fish and shellfish

(fresh, frozen, & canned) ...
Fresh and frozen fish .weccccce
Canned salmon: pink ..ccocecce

1935-39 = 100
3545.35

do
1938-39 = 100 283.0 — 279.5 272.2
do 493.7 484.5 309.9

adjusted all fish and shellfish index was 345.3 percent of the 1935-39 average--
1.3 percent higher than the previous month and 14.4 percent above mid-January 1950,
Again the major portion of the increase in the fishery products index was due to
higher prices quoted for canned fish, especially canned salmon,

In mid-January prices of fresh and frozen fishery products rose 1.3 percent
above those which were quoted in mid-December, and they were 4,0 percent higher
than in mid-January a year earlier,

Prices for canned pink salmon continued to climb and the index on January 15

this year was 493.7 percent of the 1938-39 average--1.9 percent above the previous
month and 38,7 percent above mid=January 1950,

Table 3 - "Old Series" Retail Price Indexes for Foods and Fishery Products,

Tan.15, 1951

All fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen,
and canned) Ceercececeecocccecesceeororoece
reshwandetrOZENw 11'S ls velelejele evelelerelelelsierele
Canned salmon:

pink ©82000000 2020000000

In the future, the retail index data published under this section will refer
to the improved, adjusted series, However, for this month the January 5 ake ph.
and the December 15, 1950, index data from the "old series" is shown in table 3
for purposes of comparison to show how the improved, adjusted index series has
affected the fishery products components of the index series,

ECA Procurement Authorizations for Fishery Products

Among the procurement and reimbursement authorizations announced by the Eco=
nomic Cooperation Administration during February this year was $350,000 tobe used
for the purchase of canned fish from the United States and Possessions, Of this
amount, $150,000 was to be used by Greece for the purchase of canned fish (except
shrimp, crab meat, lobster, salmon, or tuna) and the remaining $200,000 was to be
used by Belgium-Luxembourg aiso for canned fish (except shrimp, crab meat, or lobe
ster),

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23

There were no cancellations or decreases during February affecting previous
authorizations for fishery products,

ECA procurement authorizations for fishery products for the period April 1, 1948,
through February 28, 1951, totaled $29,783,000 ($17,094,000 for edible fishery products;
$11,149,000 for fish and whale oils; and
$1,540,000 for fish meal), Of this total
$10,694,000 was used for purchases in the
United States and Possessions (canned
fish $7,606,000; salted fish, $9,000;
fish and whale oils, $3,079,000), Also,
during the entire period $220,000 was
authorized under the Far Eastern Aid Pro-
grams for use by Korea for the purchase
of fish and whale oils from the United
States and Possessions,

In addition to fishery products,
there were authorizations for the purchase
of various types of equipment used in the
fisheries, such as vessels, materials for
construction of fishing vessels and plants,
etc,, but exact amounts for these authori-
zations cannot be determined since in most
eases they are in broad categories which
include other industries besides fisheries,

PACKAGED FISH--|I949
DO YOU KNOW,.....

That the total production of groundfish (cod, cusk, haddock, hake,
pollock) and rosefish fillets during 19,9 in continental United States
amounted to 140,078,191 pounds, valued at $32,055,819

to the processors,

Importsof these fillets during the year amounted
to 47,322,265 pounds, valued at $8,728,272.

xk OX

That about 590,000,000 poundsof round fish were required to produce
the 194,011,159 pounds of packaged fish produced in 1949 in the United
States,

--Current Fishery Statistics 579

2h COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

‘Internationa
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

RECOMMENDATIONS OF UNITED STATES ON LONG-TERM ACTIV—
ITT'S OF FAO: The recommendations of the United States
Government on the long-term activities of the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations were re-
leased on Feoruary 16 by the Secretary of State. These
recommendations were made at the request of the Director
Generel of FAO, according to a Department of State news
release.

The recommendations submitted for the Fisheries Di-
visicn of FAO and their activities in world fisheries
are as follows:

The United States has consistently recommended improving its distribution in those coun-
that the program of the Fisheries Division be care— tries which are so much in need of the
fully examined to determine whether its scope and technical information it contains.
the number of projects were not beyond the limitea~
tions imposed by the funds and personnel available, 3 The Fisheries Bulletin should be continued.
For example, the United States position on the Pro- The inclusion of important current statis—
gram of Work and Budget for 1951 was that, "in the tical data of international significance
absence of additional funds the Fisheries Division should be stressed as long as the Yearbook
should bear in mind the need for consolidating, cur- of Fishery Statistics remains a biennial
tailing or eliminating some projects in order not to publication. The additional material in
endanger others of greater importance." The United the Bulletin should include items which
States also suggested that, "the initiation of a meet specific needs and are at least re-
Latin American fisheries Council (FI. 5.3.1) beheld gionally significant and useful to large
in abeyance and that the Fisheries Division's efforts groups. As in the case of World Fisher—
in this field be devoted to establishing firmly the ies Abstracts every consideration should
two Councils already in existence." The Report of be given to correcting any deficiencies in
the Committee on Financial Control, C50/5, August 14, distribution.

1950, for the recent Special Session of the Confer—

ence. incorporated a United States suggestion that, 4,. Improved pondfish culture practices should

"if additional funds cannot be made available, a be introduced in those countries, especially

more efficient utilization of funds might result from in the Near Fact and Far East, where such

a desigrétion of priorities, and the eliminationof procedures are adaptable to the environment.

same of the rrajects of lower priority." In these countries the production ef pond-
fish probably offers one of the greatest

It is recommended that tho Fisheries Division potential contributions to the supply of
concentrate its efforts on fewer projects, choosing local fishery foods.
those of demonstrated value, international signifi—
cance, and of the greatest possible importance. 5, Improved methods of producing, processing

and distributing fish and fishery products

In adapting its program to meet these criteria should be taught in those countries where

increased local supplies can bs achieved by
greater exploitation of available fishery
resources, by introducing processingmethods
that preserve the raw material for longer
periods, and by remedying distribution prac—
tices that limit the markets to theseacoasts.

the following specific recommendations are made:

1. The Yearbook of Fishery Statistics
should be continued. Improvement inits
coverage should ve sought as well as
eventual issuance annusliy rather than

biennially. :
oot 6. Service to countries requesting assistance

should be predicated on securing the utmost
possible aid from the countries involved in
order to Tt) insure a mitual interest that

2. World Fisheries Abstracts should be con-
tinued with particular stress leid on

March 1951

Te

8.

will guarantee successful completion of
the project, and (2) the most effective
use of available FAO funds and personnel.

The limited staff of the Fisheries Divi-
sion should make itself most effective

in introducing improved techniques by
utilizing methods which will multiplyits
efforts. The staff should teach groups
of teachers rather than groups of indi-
viduals. Technical handbooks should be
developed. Demonstration manuals should
be prepared. The establishment of fish-—
ery centers should be stimulated and those
in existence aided. Where possible exten-
sion service practices should be adapted
to local needs. Improving local methods
should not be stressed unless the introduction
of totally new techniques is well within
the immediate abilities of the underde—-
veloped countries.

Despite the need for demonstrating results
annually to the Conference, the Fisheries
Division should balance its program be-
tween long-term and short-term projects.
To meet the demand for assistance in carry-
ing out the numerous minor, short--term
projects of a localized nature, the Fish—
eries Division should develop a list of
fishery consultants in the industrial,
governmental, and educational fields to
which the interested countries could be
referred. The contribution of the Fish-

*HEH EH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION MOVES TO RQME:

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25

eries Division in these projects should
vary with their regional significance from
a review of the contemplated procedures
and reference to qualified consultants to
large-scale participation.

With regard to regional fisheries councils
and the development of local fisheries,
the Fisheries Division should be guided by
the position endorsed by the Fifth Session
of the Conference in November 1949 which
is as follows:

"The Conference notes with satisfaction
the progress made in establishing regional
fisheries councils. The Conference feels,
however, that the Organization, in contin-
uing consultation with governments to carry
out the mandate of former sessions, should
give full consideration to work being car-
ried on by international fisheries commis—
sions or similar bodies already function-
ing in international waters. Finally, care
should be taken in the formation of further
regional fisheries councils, that there is
sufficient technical fisheries personnel
available in the potential member countries
to ensure the council's success.....

The Conference draws attention to the need
for emphasizing the guidance of underdevel-
oped countries in the development of local
fisheries for improved nutrition of local
populations rather than for export."

Removal of the Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations from temporary headquarters in Wash—
ington, D. C., to its permanent seat in Rome, Italy, got underway on February 17,

when the first FAO contingent sailed fram New York.

Others were scheduled to go

on three subsequent sailings on March 1, 22, and April 4, according to a February 16
news release from FAO.

agriculture problems.

This agency has made its temporary home in Washington since its founding in
October 1945, when 44 nations agreed to work together to help solve world food and

FAO now has a membership of 65 nations.

Following the vote

of the 1949 Conference to establish permanent headquarters in Rome, FAO has been
working on the complex task of transferring and housing the staff and their fami-
lies, and of moving organization archives with a minimum of interruption in its

world-wide activities.

Of a staff of 600, about 200 are moving.

Clerical and main-

tenance staffs will be replaced largely by local employees in Rome.

FAO library.

FAO moves fran its temporary headquarters building in Washington, D. C.,

into a building provided by the Italian goverrment in the ancient part of Rome,
alongside the Circus Maximus, not far from the Coliseum. A second building, adjoin—
ing the first, will be completed later this year, and will include additional FAO
offices, a conference room with modern equipment and facilities, and an expanded

The library will include thousands of volumes from the former Inter—

national Institute of Agriculture at Rome, making the combined library one of the

largest in the world on agricultural subjects.

KHHEHE

26 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

INDO-—PACIFIC FISHERIES COUNCIL ACCEPTED BY CAMBODIA: _The Government of Cam—
February 28, 1948, for the formation of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council. Noti-
fication was received by the Food and Agriculture Organization on January 20, 1951.

eHeHEKE

INDO-PACIFIC FISHERIES counciLl/ ACCEPTED BY VIET-NAM: The Government of the

Philippines, February 28, 1948, for the formation of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries
Council. Notification was received by the Food and Agriculture Organization on
January 3, 1951.

1/ SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, JULY 1950, P. 23.

KHER

HUNGARY WITHDRAWS FROM FAO: The People's Republic of Hungary has given notice
of withdrawal from FAO, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organiza—
tion of the United Nations advised member goverrments of FAO on January 7. This
will take effect one year after the date of its communication to the Director-—Gen-
eral, subject to provisions of the FAO Constitution.

Bermuda
HINTS OF NEW FISHING GROUNDS OFF BERMUDA: There is a possibility that new

fishery resources may be opened up within the next few months a few miles off the
the shores of Bermuda, according to Dr. Louis W. Hutchins, Director of the Biologi-
cal Station of Bermuda. Sonic depth findings (500 fathoms) in a recent research
survey have shown trat there is a constant echo from samething at that depth, re-

ports a January 22 American consular dispatch from Hamilton.

It is hoped by local promoters that the reason for this constant echo may be
shrimp or other valuable food, and that experiments may open up commercial fishing.
There is sane secrecy surrounding this research effort of the Bermuda Biological
Station, which is operating on Government orders. Private interests are working
simultaneously and are ready to exploit the new resources if they materialize.

Every effort is being made to make the first attempt of trawling these grounds
with nets now on order from England and other countries before the Oceanic Fisher-—
ies Conference meets here on May 28, 1951.

There has been a lot of international interest shown in the matter already.
Invitations to view the tests have been sent to fishing experts in many countries
and several replies have been received. Representatives from the Bahamas will
attend, together with groups from the United States.

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 27

Costa Rica

Sr ee ee eee

DUSTRY DEVELOPMENT: The Government of Costa Rica has renewed the contract under
which a United State subsidiary refrigeration company at Puntarenas operates, ac-—
cording to a January 25 American Embassy dispatch from San Jose. This refrigeration
company is a subsidiary of a large United States west coast fishery firm. Condi-
tions now imposed on the contractor provide for normal development of the Costa
Rican fishing industry. In effect, an export tax has been imposed on tuna caught
outside Costa Rican waters and landed in Costa Rica for refrigeration and trans—
shipment to the United States.

The contract under which the refrigeration company at Puntarenas operates in
Costa Rica has been extended for a period of 15 years, renewable for an additional
period of 15 years.

For several years Costa Rica has been giving serious consideration to devel-
opment of a policy for expansion of the country's fishing industry. Among the fac-
tors which have been discussed have been (1) the possibility of maintaining a fish-
ing fleet, (2) the possibility of fertilizer for national needs from the catch of
a national fishing fleet, (3) the development of the local market for fresh fish,
and (4) the development of Puntarenas as an operating base for tuna fishing boats
supplying the American market. The provisions of the contract extension would in-
dicate that the present policy envisages development of the local industry within
its foreseeable possibilities.

The extension of the contract specifies that the contractor is not given a
monopoly or exclusive concession. At the present time, however, the contractor
operates the only refrigeration plant in Puntarenas and so in this position is
better prepared to take advantage of the expansion that might take place in the
industry than would be prospective newcomers in the field. Perhaps in nature of
payment for the preferential position the contractor enjoys, he is now under obli-
gation to provide certain services for all fishing boats, whereas heretofore serv—
ices available through the plant facilities could have been restricted or offered
at the discretion or pleasure of the contractor. Also, he is now obliged to pro-
vide fuel and other petroleum products required by fishing boats that may call on
him for them as well as storage facilities for these products.

That provision of the current extension of the basic contract which permits
exceptions from the provisions of the Labor Code as to percentage of Costa Ricans
employed (and apparently from percentage of payroll paid them) raises the question
of its consonance with provisions of the Labor Code.

The contractor must pay US$2.00 per ton gross weight on fish or shellfish
shipped out of the country from the refrigeration plant. Practically all of such
shipments consist of tuna caught by United States fishing boats outside of Costa
Rican waters and actually under ownership of the United States boat owners or im—
porters. That tuna is landed at Puntarenas only for refrigeration and shipment to
the United States. In effect, therefore, the Govermment of Costa Ricais assessing
an export tax on that tuna which has been temporarily in Costa Rica for processing
and transshipment, and a great part if not.all of which is of American ownership.

Finally, charges imposed by the renewed contract are specified in UnitedStates
rather than in Costa Rican currency.

28 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

Cuba

PLANS TO MOTORIZE FISHING SCHOONERS: It has reportedly been agreed tomotorize
some 30 fishing schooners, thereby enabling them to fish outside the nine-mileMex—
ican territorial waters zone until such time as an agreement on jurisdictional wa-
ters is reached. Funds for themotorization of the fleet are to be procured from
the newly-created Bank for Agricultural and Industrial Development, a February 2

American Embassy dispatch from Habana states.

HHH UST

ative of Fishing Outfitters in mid-December 1950 formally notified the Cuban Min-

istry of Agriculture that on March 31, 1951, nearly thirty tank boats ("'viveros")

would discontinue operations. This Cooperative controls a fleet of about 60 deep-
water fishing vessels and this action means that half its fleet will remain idle,

reports a December 19 American consular dispatch from Habana.

The Cooperative's communication to the Ministry, published in the Habana press
of December 16, stated that the fleet of tank boats for the past ten years had been
operating under most unfavorable conditions "because the (Cuban) Government has not
solved with Mexico the problem of jurisdictional waters and these boats consequently
have been prevented fram penetrating into the zone of three to nine miles off the
Mexican coast." It reported that the boats habitually fished in this area in the
past, but since they have not been able to fish in the area in question, the catch.
has progressively declined. "To the reduction of the catch are added continued
extraordinary disbursements caused by repeated. detentions of these vessels in Mex-—
ico," the Cooperative continued.

The above decision apparently was taken not only because of losses resulting
to the outfitters from the Nexican Government's assertion in 1935 of sovereignty
over nine miles of waters off Mexico's coast, but also because the Cuban fleet of
tank boats admittedly is largely antiquated, its operation consequently being un-
profitable. It is understood that the other half of this Cuban deep-water fishing
fleet, consisting of about 30 ice-laden vessels ("neveros"), will continue to oper—
ate.

German Federal Republic

FIRST DIESEL-ELECTRIC TRAWLER LAUNCHED: A Bremerhaven fishing company on Sep—
tember 20, 1950, took over the trawler Freiburg—im—Breisach—the first German Die-—
sel-electric trawler. The vessel will be statiored in Cuxhaven and is one of a :
trio—the sisterships, the Tubingen and the Darmstadt, are now in the construction
stage. The first two are Diesel-electrically propelled, whereas the Darmstadt is
direct Diesel driven, a September 19 American consular dispatch from Bremerhaven
reports.

Propulsion of the Freiburg-im-Breisach is by three single-acting, 6-cylinder,
four-stroke-cycle supercharged Diesel engines of 700 shaft h.p. at 110 revolutions
per minute. It is 160 feet in length over-all; with a beam of 28 feet, and a
draught of 14 feet; measures 4/9 gross registered metric tons and 180 net registered
metric tons. The vessel hes a large fish storage capacity—a little less than 268

March 1951 CQMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29

PROFILE OF THE FIRST GERMAN DIESEL-ELECTRIC TRAWLER--THE FREIBURG-IM-BREISACH. NOTE THE
RAKED STEM AND TURTLEBACK FORECASTLE WHICH HAS FOR SOME YEARS BEEN A FEATURE OF THE LARGER
TYPES OF GERMAN TRAWLERS. AN UNUSUAL CHARACTERISTIC 1S THAT THE STRUCTURE AFT IS BUILT UP
INTO A LONG POOP DECK WHICH IS NOW A FEATURE OF MODERN BRITISH MOTOR TRAWLERS.

metric tons or a cubic measurement of 17,390 cu. ft. There is also storage for
18.2 cubic feet of liver oil. The fuel tank has a capacity of 102 metric tons.
The vessel is to be manned by a crew of 22 men. On the port side, the superstruc—
ture is flush with the hull. There is no open deck along the superstructure as
far as the liver—boiling house, allowing the crew to be quartered in the stern.
However, fishing can be done only on the starboard side.

The sistership Tubingen is similar to the Freiburg-im—Breisach, but there are
some differences in the Darmstadt.

eK EHHE

DEEP-SEA FISHING INDUSTRY, 1950: Fishing Fleet and Leading Port: The West
German fishing fleet consisted on January 1, 1951, of 231 fishing trawlers, total-
ing 95,000 gross registered metric tons, a January 31 American consular dispatch
from Hamburg states. This includes the 52 new vessels built during the year and
makes allowances for the 34 antiquated trawlers which were retired. Most of the
new vessels are said to have been financed with the assistance of foreign capital,
while before the war German capital supported the fishing industry almost entirely.

Bremerhaven maintained its position as the leading fishing port in Germany
with 121 of the 231 vessels in the fishing fleet operating from that port. Fifty-
four vessels were registered in Cuxhaven, 48 in Hamburg, and 8 in Kiel.

Gatch: The total catch for 1950 was estimated at 365,400 metric tons as com-
pared with 343,000 tons the preceeding year. This small increase in the catch was
not commensurate with the 25 percent increase in catching capacity. This year's
herring catch was especially small, totaling only 137,000 metric tons against
173,000 last year. Although higher prices were obtained for fish landed, these
are said to have not canpensated for increased operating expenses.

Totals given above do not include an estimated 75,000to 85,000 metric tons of
fish landed at the smaller coastal ports which reach only local markets.

Imports and Consumption: Imports of fish during 1950 totalled 113,000 metric
tons, valued at about $15,500,000. Over half of these: imports consisted of fresh

30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

herring (74,000 metric tons), with the major portion of the balance being 20,000
metric tons of salt herring. The fact that this year's German catch was little
larger than in 1949 and that the total imports were less than half of the 1949
imports of 291,000 metric tons (valued at about $31 million) indicates that fish
consumption in Western Germany decreased by nearly a quarter during the year.

ae

Greece
NEW FISHING RECORD BY GREEK RESEARCH VESSEL: A new fishing record was estab-

lished in the Aegean Sea by the Greek Government fisheries research vessel Alkyoni,
financed under Marshall Plan aid, when 6,000 pounds of fish were caught in a sin-

gle haul of the net.

The haul was made in northern Aegean waters, the Economic Cooperation Admin-
istration reported on January 26. According to all available records, it was the
largest single catch made in the Aegean Sea in modern Greek history.

The Alkyoni has been carefully charting fishing possibilities of Greek waters
for more than a year. Scientists had susvected the existence of a large fish popu-
lation far below levels usually fished by commercial fishermen. Locating a new
fishing bank with the vessel's depth recorder, the crew lowered their net to about
220 fathoms, The big haul resulted. ;

KHKRHEHKH

DEVELOPS OYSTER FISHERY: The well-known "Portugais" oyster, long a popular
item on French menus, may soon be available on the Greek market, according to an
Heonoemic Cooperation Administration news release dated February 9. Early in Feb—
ruary 1,540 pounds of the Portuguese-type seed oyster were planted in the oyster
beds at Nea Krini, near Salonika, as the first of a series of experiments in pro-
ducing cheaper and better oysters for Greece.

The seed oyster, brought from Arcachon, France, under the Marshall Plan fish-
eries program for Greece, will be watched closely by Greek and American fisheries
experts. in its home waters, the Portugais is one of the most prolific of European
oysters. Better than any present Greek type, and with a much shorter growing per-
jiod, it should, if successful in Greek waters, permit Greek merchants to offer oys-—
ters at considerably lower prices.

Japan
JAPANESE POST—TREATY FISHERIES STATEMENT: In an exchange of letters between

United States Ambassador John Foster Dulles and the Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru
Yoshida, the Japanese announce that they will voluntarily prohibit their resident
nationals and vessels from carrying on fishing operations in presently-conserved
fisheries (salmon, halibut, herring, sardine, and tuna fisheries in the waters of
the eastern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea) where conservation measures have already
been taken. The letters were dated February 7 and were released in Tokyo on Feb-
ruary 13. Copies of the letters follow:

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW | 31

"My Dear Ambassador:

"In connection with converstaions which we have had about fisheries, I am glad to
advise you as follows:

"The Japanese people largely depend upon fish for their food supply. They have,
therefore, a very special interest in the conservation and development of fisheries.
The Japanese Government recognize that the problem of conserving and developing
fisheries located in the high seas is a difficult one, and that these fisheries may
be quickly exhausted unless there is concerted action for the conservation and de-
velopment of fisheries. We are aware of the fact that certain countries have adopted
international agreements and voluntary self denying ordinances to prevent the ex-
haustion of high seas fisheries which are readily accessible to fishermen of their
own country, and that if these conserved fisheries were to be subjected to uncon-
trolled fishing fram other countries, the result would be international friction
and the exhaustion of the fisheries themselves,

"Accordingly, the Japanese Goverrment will, as soon as practicable after the res—
toration to it of full sovereignty, be prepared to enter into negotiations with
other countries with a view to establishing equitable arrangements for the develop—
ment and conservation of fisheries which are accessible to the nationals of Japan
and such other countries.

"Tn the meantime, the Japanese Govermment will, as a voluntary act, implying no
waiver of their international rights, prohibit their resident nationals and vessels
from carrying on fishing operations in presently conserved fisheries in all waters
where arrangements have already been made, either by international or domestic act,
to protect the fisheries from over-harvesting, and in which fisheries Japanese na-
_ tionals or vessels were not in the year 1940 conducting operations, Among such
fisheries would be the salmon, halibut, herring, sardine and tuna fisheries in the
waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.

"The Japanese Government will set up a commission, composed of representatives of
both government and industry, whose duty it shall be to see that the above men—
tioned prohibition is fully observed, and duly appointed representatives of inter-
ested foreign governments will be invited to sit on the commission as observers.

"Any party the Commission finds guilty of violation shall be subject to substantial
penalty, including revocation of his fisheries license.

"T trust that the foregoing voluntary arrangements will constitute convincing evi-
dence of the desire of the Japanese Government to deal with this whole problem in

an equitable manner, designed to promote good will and the mutual interest of all

who, directly or indirectly, depend for their livelihood upon fishing in the high

Ssease

"JT remain with the highest consideration,
"Most sincerely yours,

Shigeru Yoshida Prime Minister."

32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, Noe 3

™y Dear Mister Prime Minister:

"J am in receipt of your letter of February 7 with relation to high seas fisheries.
I note with gratification the position of your government as therein set forth.

"Tt is a good omen for the future that the Japanese Goverrment should already now
indicate its willingness voluntarily to take measures for the protection of con—
served fisheries.

"The Government of the United States, and I am confident other governments con-
cerned, will be prepared, promptly after the restoration to Japan of full sover—
eignty by a peace treaty, to enter into negotiations with a view to establishing
equitable arrangements for the development and conservation of fisheries which are
accessible to the nationals of our countries. I am confident that our government
will approach these negotiations in a spirit of good will corresponding to that
which motivates your letter to me.

SSincerely yours,

John Foster Dulles."

HKHeKREHE

STATEMENT ON JAPANESE FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION: A visiting expert consultant
to assist and advise the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and Japanese Gov—
ernment officials ay the development of a coordinated and unified fisheries admin—
istration program Croker, who is Chief of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
of the California Fish and Game Commission, issued the following press statement
on Japanese fisheries administration after his survey, reports the December 23
Weekly Summary of SCAP's Natural Resources Section:

The Japanese fishing industry has made great advances during the past several
years. Production of many species is at a high level, and important reforms have
been effected. The extent of the industry's recovery during the four years since
I left Japan is most gratifying.

However, expansion has brought its problems. The very great increase in the
numbers of fishermen and fishing boats has resulted in an overcrowding of the
coastal waters and increasingly intensive competition for the available fish. In
their efforts to catch the fish before someone else does, growing numbers of fish—
ermen are ignoring the regulations and building new boats even when permits to do
so have been refused. They fail to realize that the regulations are enacted to
protect tne fish so there will be samething to catch in years to came.

At the same time, the fisheries departments of the national and prefectural
governments have not kept pace with the advance of the industry. Their organiza-
tion is cumbersome, and liaison between the various bodies is slow or lacking.

The fishing industry is governed by lews enacted by the Diet, by ordinances
issued by the Minister of Agriculture and.Forestry, and by regulations issued by
the prefectural governors, The basic laws have been improved recently, and the.
Fisheries Law of 1949 is a remarkably fine step forward. However, the ordinances

and regulations are out of date and cannot cope with modern conditions. The na-
17 SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, DECEMBER 1950, P. 69. :

March 1951 é COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33

tional Fisheries Agency and many of the prefectural organizations realize this
condition and have begun their modernization. They are to be congratulated for
making this decision and should be encouraged to press this matter vigorously.

The weakest point in the administration of the fisheries is the absence of
an effective method for enforcing compliance with the regulations, Laws, ordi-
nances, regulations, license requirements, and agreements between prefectures are
useless unless compliance is required. Unless compliance improves, the fishermen
will soon destroy the productivity of the fisheries upon which they depend for
their living.

In order to enforce compliance with the requirements an efficient fisheries
patrol system is essential. The national Fisheries Agency now has authority under
the law to maintain a patrol. However, in order to operate an effective patrol,
an enforcement department must be established in this agency. The duties of this
fisheries patrol department would be the detection of violations, apprehension of
violators, preparation of evidence, and delivery of violators and evidence to the
procurators.

For the sake of efficiency and economy, the patrol department should start as
a rather small unit, growing as it gains experience. The patrol boats for appre-
hending violators along the coast and on the fishing banks should be small and fast.
For open waters, boats of about 20 meters in length are most suitable. In sheltered
waters, high-speed launches of eight meters are best.

The patrol staff of the national Fisheries Agency should be supplemented by
similar units in the prefectures to enforce the regulations that concern the local
fisheries.

If Japanese fisheries are to continue providing food for the people of the
nation, it is imperative that the regulations be enforced strictly. The fisheries
patrol system will provide the means for enforcement. If the fisheries patrol de—
partment is, to succeed, the men who direct and operate it must possess ability,
leadership, and courage. Everyone connected with the patrol, from the Director of
the national Fisheries Agency down to the newest enforcement officer, must bedeter-
mined to uphold the law in spite of any pressure that may be brought on him to re-
lax. Only with such leadership and preformance can any hope be held for insuring
continued fisheries production.

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

Pv

Kenya Protectorate

FIRM TO ATTEMPT FISHING OFF SEYCHELLES ISLANDS: A firm located at Mombasa
has acquired the 250-ton steam trawler Derna and and will soon try fishing off the
Seychelles Islands, according to a February | 7 American consular dispatch from that
city.

Formerly owned by an East African company, the vessel attempted deep-sea
trawling off the East African coast=/ in November 1948. This enterprise was un-
successful because the trawler was unable to locate remmerative fishing grounds
before its owners went bankrupt. For more than a year thereafter, the Derna was
anchored at Mombasa until purchased by the present owners.
T/ SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, FEBRUARY 1949, PP. 32-4,

3h COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3.

In general, the Derna intends to fish hand lines in the Seychelles area, but
trawling may:also be attempted. This is the same area that the Colonial Develop—
ment Corporation hopes to exploit from a Seychelles base.

With time and adaquate financing the new expedition should succeed. As aside
line the Derna expects to catch and also to buy crayfish from the native fishermen
for freezing and export to the United States.

\e

ma

Mexico

shrimp fishing and freezing industry, which has enjoyed a boom period of almost
phenomenal growth during the past four years, is presently being troubled by a
number of production and distribution problems, a January 24 American consular dis-
patch from Guaymas reports. These include a general fear that the industry has
expanded to quickly, the possible failure of some important operators, anda drive
by the operators to secure a reduction of Mexican export taxes on shrimp.

The operations of the shrimp fishing fleet have been to a large extent largely
financed, especially in the early stages of each season, by credit advanced by
freezing plants, merchants, and banks, In turn, the freezing plants have beengen-
erously aided by the large distributing firms of the United States who often ad-
vance money for buying shrimp, the plants! raw material, and sometimes for all op-
erating expenses.

The most common sequence of this financing system results in the boats deliv—
ering their shrimp to the freezing plants in return for 50 to 60 percent of the

March 1951 - GOMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35

prevailing price in cash and a written promise of the plant to settle and pay the
balance immediately upon receipt of payment in full for that lot of shrimp from
its distributor in the United States. The plants freeze and ship the shrimp to
distributors in the United States who pay from 55 to 60 percent of the prevailing
wholesale price immediately and promise to pay the balance, less certain expenses
and a commission, usually within 40 days after selling the shrimp.

In past years, this system has worked quite satisfactorily. The people in
the industry knew approximately when to expect the final liquidations; they made
basic credit arrangements for supplies and repairs to allow for this time lag; the
partial payments for shrimp delivered allowed them to pay their basic operating
costs such as labor, fuel, and administrative expenses; and upon the final sale of
the shrimp, the proceeds flowed back through the system to complete the credit
cycle.

In the 1950-51 season, the following four factors combined to create the pre-
sent difficulties of boat and plant operators: (1) during December and early Janu-
ary the shrimp fishermen were not able to find, catch, and deliver the amount of
shrimp which experience had taught them to expect in this part of the season (the
best available estimates indicate the total catch from December 1, 1950,to Janu—
ary 15, 1951,was about 20 percent less than in the previous season); (2) lower
prices in the United States caused distributors to delay selling shrimp caught in
October and November and consequently the liquidations of full payment to plants
and boat operators for much of the early season catch have not arrived; (3) plant
and boat owners invested heavily in boats and equipment in preparation for a re-
cord season and have little in the way of reserves to draw upon; and (4) there are

at least two more freezing plants on the west coast of Mexico than in previous
seasons, and an estimated 20 percent more boats fishing for shrimp.

After initial credits established at the beginning of the season were ex—
hausted, many boat owners had only the partial payments made on shrimp at time of
delivery to use for financing the continued operation of their boats. When the
catch of shrimp fell off seriously, aggravated by the fact that this smaller catch
was split among more boats than operated previous to this season, even the funds
normally available to boat owners for running’ expenses became exceedingly short.
The main factors which brought on the present situation, namely, the failure of
the shrimp catch to expand in proportion to the investment in boats and plants and
what were considered by the operators as relatively poor prices obtainable for
frozen shrimp which were and are not subject to the control of the boat and plant
operators. Their aggressiveness in expanding their facilities has resulted in
their being less able to cope easily with the present crisis. Unless prices and/
or the volume of the catch during the remainder of the season is above present ex-
pectations, these operators feel that the present season will be a poor one eo far
as their returns are concernede :

While admitting the above, many operators tend to place a part of the blame
for their position on the Mexican export tax levied on frozen shrimp. They are
expected to make strong efforts to have this tax lifted, claiming that the tax!'s
primary purpose when imposed (to draw off the windfall profits caused by devalua-
tion of the peso), has been outdated, and that it is a strong deterrent to the
growth of an important infant industry.

*%EEE

36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

SPINY LOBSTER EXPORTERS GRANTED SUBSIDY: A subsidy has been granted to Mex—
Embassy dispatch from Mexico reports. According to the Order (dated January 11,
1951) which appeared in the January 30 Diario Oficial, the subsidy will amount to
75 percent of the 15 percent ad-valorem export surtax imposed by the Mexican Gov-
ermment. To secure this subsidy, exportations must be made through, or with the
permission of, the National Bank for the Development of Cooperatives. The subsidy
is retroactive to January 1, 1951, and will remain in force to December 31, 1951,
subject to reduction should the circumstances warrant it.

The Order states that the subsidy was granted because of the difficulty now
being encountered by Mexican exporters in shipping spiny lobsters to foreign mar-
kets (mainly the United States) due to competition from the Australian and South
African product. Since the increase in production costs and the low price received
for Mexican spiny lobsters in foreign markets do not permit the Mexican exporters
to cover completely the Mexican surtax of 15 percent ad valorem, the Mexican Gov-
ernment is hopeful that Mexican exporters with this subsidy will be in a better
position to compete in foreign markets.

KKRHH HK

MULLET CLOSED SEASON MODIFIED: The Mexican closed season on mullet (various
species of the genus Mugil) was modified by an Order which appeared in the Diario
Oficial of January 25, an American Embassy dispatch dated February 6 from Mexico
states. Taking of mullet is prohibited from January 16 to February 28 of each
year. The.Order, which became effective thirty days after its publication in the
Diario Oficial, was issued as a conservation measure.

Norway

RESEARCH ON FROZEN FISH: The research division of the Norwegian freezer Lab-
oratory in Bodo (northern Norway) has concentrated on Lofoten cod and large pollock.
These two species are the most important in the 337s ==
Norwegian frozen fish industry, according to a —
report in the December 21 issue of Fiskaren,
which quoted the newspaper Tromso.

During last season's Lofoten fishing oper-
ations, the laboratory prepared, packed, and
froze a number of samples of cod and pollock
taken with various types of gear, Variations in
the Lofoten fish were much greater than in spe-
cies from other areas. It appears that the
Lofoten fish are relatively unlike in physio—
logical characteristics. There are striking
differences between the males and females.

"ONE-POUND PACKAGE OF NORWEGIAN FROZEN
; F : FISH FILLETS DESTINED FOR THE SWISS OR
The seine fishery has played an important FRENCH MARKET.

part in the frozen fish industry, but tests show that seine-caught cod are not es—
pecially well suited as raw material for filleting, even if handled very carefully.
Seine-caught fish raise a number of special problems, but changes in seining tech-
niques may make them usable for filleting. Use of smaller seines, which will limit

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Si/

the catch, may be a solution. Also, fillets of gill-net fish were rough and partly
of poor quality.

The Norwegian frozen fish industry has started to use varieties of fish which
earlier were of little or no interest. One of these is wolffish (catfish), which
is especially suited to filleting and freezing and has opened new possibilities for
both fishermen and processors. There is hope of similar development for rosefish
(ocean perch), halibut, and haddock.

HtHeEE

in the January 27 issue of the Bergen newspaper Nacsuieicen, Winter herring usu-
ally makes up one-third of the market value (value of fish after it has been pre-
pared for sale) of all fish caught. The reason the market value is not as greatas
would be expected is due to the fact that the catch is so large and the season so
short that with the present labor shortage there is insufficient time to prepare it
properly in order to secure higher market prices—-it is a matter of selling itwith
as little preparation and handling as possible.

The principal problem of the Norwegian winter herring industry is to get the
catch out of the way as quickly as possible after landing and on to home and world
markets with a minimum of handling andpreparation. Duringrecent years, daily catches
of fram 36,000-45,000 metric tons, have been common, and because of the shortage of
labor and shore facilities, the problem of handling these catches appears to be
almost insurmountable. Canning is a detailed process and takes considerable time
and labor, however, the demand for canned winter herring (kippers) varies to a con-
siderable degree and it has now decreased to the point where production is. negli-
gible. The easiest way to prepare fresh herring for sale is to ice it, i.e., pack
it in crushed ice. However, iced herring spoils if sent farther south thanBoulogne,
France—a serious limitation on sales. Freezing appears to be one way of meeting
this problem, but this process increases the cost of the fish by almost 50 percent
and also changes its physical characteristics, reducing the number of uses towhich
it can be put.. Salted herring will not keep in hot climates and sale is conse-
quently confined to the northern temperate zone where competition is very keen.

The winter herring fishery's safety valve is the tremendous mass which canbe
used by the herring meal and oil factories. This industry's modern unloading equip—
ment, expanding storage facilities, and increasing ability to utilize a great amount
of herring each day is chiefly responsible for the increase in and present import—
ance of winter herring fishing. It is estimated that the herring meal and oil in-
dustry uses approximately three-fourths of the total catch.

HERE EH

RECORD SLOE-HERRING CATCH REPORTED OFF WESTERN NORWAY: The 1951 fisheries of
sloe herring off western Norway, which came to an end February 15, produced a re—
cord catch of 630,000 metric tons—-almost 20,000 tons more than last year, the

Norwegian Information Service reported on February 22.6

First-hand or landed value of this year's sloe-herring catch is estimated at
about $15,400,000.

More than 45,000 tons of the herring will be exported—considerably more than
in 1950. Most of the catch (about 470,000 tons) will wind up as meaj. or oil, while

38 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

63,000 tons have been salted for sale to Norwegian consumers. Canning factories
have bought 7,000 tons.

KHeEH ET

ee

1950, to prove the hypothesis that herring exist in the cold water flowing between
Jan Mayen and Iceland and to the south in the direction of the Faeroe Islands, a
January 25 American consular dispatch from Bergen reports. This stream also makes
a sharp turn in the direction of the Norwegian coast. The vessel, which returned
from this trip on January 23, 1951, has found that the hypothesis mentioned above
is correct.

Finn Devold, the fishery consultant aboard the vessel, stated that herring
was found for the first time on December 12, when they were quite far north and
northeast of the Faeroe Islands. Large streams of herring were found in water
having a temperature of 3° C.

An article on this trip of the G. 0. Sars,which appeared in the January 24
issue of Bergens Arbeiderblad, states that during the summer, herring in the North
Atlantic frequent warm waters where there is a good supply of food. The herring

becomes very fat, and when their food supply disappears from surface waters in the
autumn, they are forced to go through a fasting period which lasts throughout the
winter. Herring, while fasting, must seek the coldest water possible in order to
make the layer of fat they accumulated during the summer last as long as possible,
It appears that this fat breaks down more rapidly when the herring remain in warm

waters.

It seems that there is a comparatively small current of cold water flowing
northeast of the Faeroe Islands towards the Mére coast (that portion of the Norwe-—
gian coast around Aalesund). The vessel found that the herring followed this cold
current towards the Norwegian coast and was not to be found either north or south
of it. When this cold current was finally absorbed by the warmer Gulf Streamclose
to the coast, the herring changed their swimming pattern from a rather compact
group extending vertically to a depth of approximately 200 meters (650 feet) with
a front of same 100 meters (328 feet) to one of only 30 to 40 meters (98-131 feet)
in depth and covering a considerable area in the top layer of the Gulf Streamwhere
the coldest water is found.

The "fathometer" on the vessel was suitable for tracing the herring groups in
a vertical or almost vertical direction only; this is unsuitable for shallowcoastal
waters so the herring was lost when it came close to the coast. It is expected
that the G. 0. Sars will be equipped with a "fathometer" sending out sound waves in
a horizontal direction next year in order to be able to trace the herring in shal-
low water. It was, however, able to trace the herring within 40 nautical miles of
land.

The few vessels following directions given by the G. 0. Sars caught approxi—
mately 1,677-metric tons of herring in one day at sea, far from the usual fish banks,
prior to the arrival of the herring in tha usual fishing areas.

17 SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, JANUARY 1951, P. 68.

Kk eH

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 39

WHALING EXPEDITION TO HUNT SPERM WHALES: A Norwegian whaling expedition was
scheduled to leave the first part of February for Peru with eight whale catchers
to hunt sperm whales, according to the December 21.issue of Fiskaren, a Norwegian
fishery periodical. Manned by 280-290 men, the expedition will be operating for
about 9 to 10 months. A portion of the expected production is destined for the
United States.

The whale catchers, at the time of this report, were being repaired in Norwe-
gian shipyards; however, the factory ship Anglo-Norse had been repaired in Kiel,
Germany, and wes reported to have left “or Peru.

Peru

sale of similar domestic products have been established in Peru by Supreme Resolu-
tion No. 2 dated January 29, 1951. This Resolution was published in the official
gazette El Peruano of February 7.

The main provisions require that edible aquatic products in any form must be
subjected to inspection of, and approval by, the Technological Laboratory of the
Peruvian Bureau of Fish and Wildlife, which must extend a quality certificate in
every case, reports a February 14 American Embassy dispatch from Lima.

Peruvian customhouses will not permit clearance of products lacking such cer—
tificates. Adulterated foreign products will be rejected and subject either to
reexportation or confiscation. Domestic products will be likewise confiscated if
found unsuitable for consumption. A period of 90 days from the date of the resolu-
tion is allowed to local fish—-preserving enterprises for the codificationl/ of
their products in order to identify the origin. Campanies which fail to fulfill
this requisite will not be permitted to undertake processing activities. Inspec-—
tions and examinations will be made in conformity with the rules of the Bureau of
Fish and Wildlife regarding the control and sanitary condition of edible aquatic
products.

The preamble of the resolution states that this measure is taken because it
has been found that the quality of certain foreign and domestic—preserved fish and
shellfish sold in the Peruvian market is unsuitable for human consumption; that in
several cases statements on the labels do not correspond to the contents; that the
Technological Laboratory of the Bureau of Fish and Wildlife has the technical per—
sonnel and facilities required for such inspection; and that it is the duty of the
Government to safeguard the interests and health of the consumers.

KHER

NEW FISHERIES LAW SUBMITTED TO LEGISLATURE: A new fisheries law, prepared by

a cammission representing goverrment, fishermen, and the fishery industry, was sub—
mitted to the Peruvian legislature for enactment on December 6, 1950. Reports re-
ceived from the Director of Fisheries indicate that it is very possible that this
legislation will be enacted without any drastic changes, states a January 29 Ameri-
can consular dispatch from Lima. wi ioe a
1/OFFICIALS OF THE BUREAU OF FISH AND WILDLIFE REPORT THAT CODIFICATION MEANS THE SERIAL

NUMBER, DATE, AND TIME OF ELABORATION, AND THAT THIS |S REQUIRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILI -

TATING FINDINGS IN CASE OF POOR QUALITY LOTS.

40 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

In its present form, the new fisheries law is reported to be entirely satis—
factory to those American firms already operating in the Peruvian fishery industry.
Every facility appears to be offered by the new law to protect and develop this
phase of the Peruvian economy by both Peruvian and foreign capital.

Portugal

cording to a January 18 American consular dispatch from Lisbon.

The sardine industry had sufficient tin plate to meet its requirements for the
current season which ended about January 15, but was campletely bare of stocks for
the new season which starts about May 1. Efforts to purchase tin plate in the
United States continued unsuccessfully, but there were hopes that it might become
available from Belgium, where a new tin plate mill was expected to come into pro-
duction in February.

KHRAK HK

ARTIFICIAL DRYING PLANT FOR FISH: Portugal's first artificial drying plant

for cod was inaugurated at Alcochete, across the river fram Lisbon, on January 27.
The artificial-—drying fish plant, built from Portuguese—Italian patents, uses con-
ditioned air distributed by large electric fans, reports a February 2 American con-
sular dispatch from Lisbon. The plant has a capacity of 21 metric tons of cod, and
the process takes 36 hours. In addition, there is an area to be used forsun—drying,
when the weather permits, with a capacity of 240 metric tons. The plant also has

a refrigerated storage space for salted cod awaiting drying with a capacity of 3,600
metric tons.

Spain
FISHERIES REVIEW FOR 1949: Introduction: The activities of the Spanish fish—
ing industry during 1949, while better than in the previous year, were still far
from satisfactory, states a December 14 American consular dispatch from Vigo. How-
ever, the removal of goverrment controls during the second half of the year andthe
lifting of ceiling prices on the sale of fish for a temporary period were very help—
ful to the industry in offsetting increased operation costs.

Fuel supplies for the fleet, which for years has been one of the main problems
of the industry, improved substantially during 1949, especially for coal—burning
ships, since adequate stocks of English and Spanish coal were made available. The
supply of adequate fishing equipment, however, continued unfavorable. Spanish sub-
stitutes, in addition to being of poor quality, were not readily obtainable. thus
forcing the trade to go into the free market for replacements, which were muchmore
expensive.

Type and Size of Fleet: Well informed and reliable trade sources estimate the
Spanish fishing fleet to number about 37,500 units of all types (250,000 gross

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW AL

registered metric tons). However, according to a semi-official trade paper Espaka
Pesquera (January 1950) published by the National Fishing Syndicate, the number of
fishing craft as of January 1, 1950, was 38,241 with a gross tonnage of 224,324,
and a declared total value of 1,038 million pesetas (approximately $94,795,000).

The fleet operates out of numerous ports scattered along the Spanish littoral,
but the focal point of the deep-sea fishing industry is centered in the northern
and northwestern sections of Spain, between the French and the Portuguese borders,
where the three principal fishing ports of the country, Vigo, Pasajes de San Juan,
and La Coruna, are located. The combined fishing craft of these two regions are
reported to represent over 50 percent of the total Spanish fishing fleet.

The wide variety of small steamers, motorboats, row boats, and sailing ves—
sels which are used for fishing along the coast and protected waters, constitute,
by far, the largest percentage of the units and tonnage.

Many important improvements have been developed during recent years in the
construction and propulsion of fishing vessels and at present a substantial number
of the deep-sea fishing fleet is made up of steel craft with Diesel engines, dis—
placing from 150 to 250 metric tons. But coal-burning craft, with wooden hulls,
still outnumber steel ships.

While the opinion is repeatedly expressed that many of the difficulties con—
fronting the Spanish fishing industry are the result of an over-sized fleet, im-
partial appraisers state that rather than the size of the fleet, the old fishing
methods, the deteriorated condition of equipment, and the old and expensively op—-
erated coal-burning ships are responsible for the situation.

Fishing Grounds: The Purcupine banks (near Ireland), the Grand and Petit
Soles, the coast near La Rochelle in the north, and the waters between theCanary
Islands and the African coast in the south camprise the main areas for deep-sea
fishing, which is an important item in the fresh fish industry. However, thescar—
city of fish that has been developing since 1947 in these waters, which since1929
were the normal fishing grounds of the offshore fleet, forced operators to leave
these grounds for the banks off Iceland and Newfoundland during the last half of
1949. Catches brought in from the latter, being abundant and remunerative, helped
to cushion the poor returns of the first half of the year. The operation of the
fleet in such distant waters, however, required the refitting of the ships and
since the industry was not able to undertake such additional costs, operations in
those grounds were limited to the larger steel craft.

The coast of Africa and the South Atlantic coast of Spain are the areas where
tuna and some specimens of the cod family are caught.

The north coast of Spain, and the coast of Portugal supply nearly all sardines
and other preservable varieties, as well as a large number of species for fresh
consumption. In addition to the catches by the fleet, there is a fair volume of
fish which is caught fram the shore with nets.

-Gatehes: While total catches for 1949 increased 4.4 percent over the previous
year (table 1), they were 1.9 percent below 1947. The fishing grounds in which the
fleet usually operated commenced to show the first signs of depletion early in1949,
resulting from intensive dragging and the killing of immature specimens. Catches
in 1949 were 6.2 percent below 1946, which was the peak year of the Spanish fish—
ing industry in the past decade. The increase in the 1949 production was due al-
most entirely to the larger cod catches. Almost without exception the catches

42 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

of all other spec—
ies upon which the
greater part of the
fishing fleet de-
pends were smaller
than in 1948.

Table 1 -— Spanish Fisheries Production
Quantity and Landed Value), 1940 and 1946-9

Pi ins ie | Quantity: alco...» 2 Vlaie ae aaa
1,000 U.S. $

1,000 lbs. 1,000 Pesetas

Falshw-ode cies s(t 227,049 1,925,454 175,810 .

Crustaceans oe - 38,782 133,765 12,216 Catches Uti-

Mollusks ccccce 0,08. 103,262 (ep lized Mainly For
Total....| 1,226,015 3,162,481 197,186 Human Consumption:

With the exception

ish ocecsos| 092,867 1,645,851 ont felotetns 210) 122i

Crustaceans coe : 31,368 "130,931 cLitkbabataeeaaee

Molusks\cceces 47 1962 0 80 tHE si me) y
Totalesses| 1)17h,797 Bea 170,535 BISOAE G.I Ae

canning and pick-—
ling industries,
the output of the
fishing industry
is consumed through

NOL wccccscceccce | 2,032,046
NG Owisteisicieieleiecisiere 1,715,951
UGH O icleiecicioleicisieice 725,788

185,575
156,708
66,282

the fresh fish markets of the country.

Byproducts Industry :2/ The Spanish fishing fleet does not operate for proc—
essing purposes other than canning, pickling, and salting. Occasionally, however,
particularly during the summer months, because of the low prices that prevail due
to large catches of jurel, some of these catches are diverted to fish-meal produc—
tion. The Spanish byproducts industry must depend for its raw materials on the
residue of the canning plants. There are in Spain 42 fish byproducts plants with
an average output of 27,739 metric tons per year, valued at 85,878,677 pesetas
(about $7,843,000). The output of this industry, which employs about 332 persons,
is as follows (in metric tons): fish oil, 13,280; fish meal, 13,928; other fish
byproducts, 500.

Composition of Catches: As may be seen from table 2, notwithstanding the dis—
appearance of sardines from its former breeding grounds along the coast, this speo-
ies, which is the main source of revenue for the coastal fishing craft, continued
to lead all others followed by small hake and cod. The last two species are brought
in by the larger vessels engaged in offshore fishing.

Fish Canning Industry: The critical situation in which the Spanish fish can—
ning industry found itself in 1949 on
account of the raw material shortages
stands out clearly when one considers’
that in 1935, the last normal year for
fish canning, 1,501,668 standard cases
(clubs, 30 mm.) were shipped abroad as
against 355,980 cases for 1949. On
the whole, however, canning activities
for 1949 were the best since the ter-
mination of World War II, and showed
an important improvement over 1948.
Shortages of raw materials, while still
acute, improved during 1949 by the ; 5 (eg
allotment and receipt of larger quan-— Be : eRe

tities of Spanish tin plate and €S- — propucTioN LINE IN SPANISH SARDINE CANNERY--WOMEN
pecially by the arrival of several TAKE FISH FROM SPECIAL SHAPED WIRE BASKETS, CUT
T/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, TO CONVENIENT SIZE, AND PACK IN CANS. FISH ARE

PLACED IN THE BASKETS DIRECTLY FROM THE BRINE

OCTOBER 1950, PP. 66-8.
TANK.

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 43

Table 2 — Spanish Fisheries Production by Species (Quantity and Landed Value), 1948~9

Weasinalh i190, 0iiwH a enn BiG Sat 1ORB no | Fe ob raaay |
Species See ee Ee HEE ee
U.S.

Sardines ...cceccce 5 253.407 21,429
Anchovies..cccece 86,565 8,298
Bonito and tuna.. 169, 692 9,858
HV On 550000000000 256,208 21,547
Smal] hake.ccccce 262,616 245949
Goda etifal ee ciate 103,028 5,783
Othlericrcleistelcislelsiciels Ds Ah, 193,938 6 6 8
MOGI ereleleleieleisielo 1,925,454 < T0406
Crustaceans:
Lobster. .cccecces
Barnaclesecccccce
Cralbietelslelsieislelelele/ele
Langostino.cecccoe
Giant shrimp.....
SHYimpeccccccccce
Other. .ccccccccce
Totals sscccccce

Siquilidicteisieleleleleleieiele
Cuttlefish. cscooe
Octopus ccccccccce
CillamS\sietsisieicielsielelele
Mussels. cccccecce
Razor clamSececce
Oystersecccccccce
Other ccoccccccccce

eee eae °

[rand Sotadssss]ij206,005 | 2 teaquet 97 he6 [TTI 77 770,335

l/ Includes only Sanction by ies aeaening fleet, and not Gace oF smaller vessels
which are included in "other."

small but substantial shipments of American tin plate. The latter shipments per-
mitted exports of canned fish to the United States that could not otherwise have
been made since Spanish tin plate (because of its lack of uniformity of calibra-
tion, excess of lead content, and other technicalities) does not meet the standard
requirements of the United States and other foreign markets.

The establishment of the more favorable export rate of Pesetas 21.90 per $1.00
and permission to retain 13 percent of the foreign exchange received by packers for
their exports, which could be freely invested in the purchase of materials and
equipment, was also an incentive for the resumption of packing operations. In ad-
dition to enabling packers to renew contacts with former buyers and markets from
which they had been isolated for a number of years , because of their inability to
compete at the high prices resulting from conversion at the fictitious rate of ex-
change applied to exports by the Spanish goverrment, the small balances of foreign
exchange created by the more favorable rate enabled packers to place orders, al—
though small, for some of the more essential raw materials, such as tin plate and
rubber, thus permitting the industry to operate at a higher output than BoE ors:

In addition to the shortages of raw materials, another problem pressing the
industry was that of reducing costs of production wihtich were necessarily high be-
cause of low output, thereby placing the cost of the finished product campletely
out of reach of foreign markets. While the industry's claims for the removal of
controls and application of a more favorable export rate received more sympathetic

AL COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No. 3

consideration by the government during the year under discussion and in general
operated under better conditions than in the previous year, it still had a long
way to go before it approached its prewar level. First of all it needed financial
revitalization, the longer period of idleness having practically exhausted its
ready capital and forced it to operate on bank credit.

Exports: Table 3 shows the quantities of canned fish that have been exported
from Spain for the past twenty years. The gap between 1937 and 1942 (Spanish Civil
War and World War II years) covers a period during which there was an embargo on
exports, the total production during that period having been consumed in the na-
tional markets in substitution for other food products not then available.

aaa EE SnEEESSE nee SRSRSSNSENC= I EPIL POURING W = ¥en aa
Table 5 - Spanish Sxports of Canned, Salted, Smoked, and Frozen Fish, 1931-5 and 1942-9

Salted, Smoked,
ozen Fish

14,603,776
12,486 ,067
12,048,269
10,498,213
11,767,026
3,350,026

6,052,845
11,874, 421
61,503,638
81,236 ,286
54,895,445
61,527,077
79,227,764

1/WHILE EXPORTS OF CANNED FISH COMPRISE A VARIETY OF SPECIES, THEY CONSIST PRINCIPALLY OF SAR-
DINES, ALBACOR AND ANCHOVIES IN OIL.

Spain's exports of preserved fishery products in 1949 totaled 19,340,858 pounds,
valued at 26,100,785 gold pesetas (U. S. $8,527,126). United States imports of
these products comprised 31 percent of the quantity and 25 percent of the value.
Exports to the United States of canned sardines made up 60 percent of the total
quantity and 63 percent of the value.

The United States is the most important export market for Spanish canned sar—
dines, followed by Italy, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. For all other canned
fish, Italy is the leading importer, followed by Switzerland, France, Egypt, and
Cuba. For salted, smoked, and frozen fishery products, Spain's best customer is
the United Kingdom, followed by Brazil, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, and the United
States.

Total Spanish exports to the United States of preserved fishery products
amounted to 6,003,498 pounds, valued at 6,651,011 gold pesetas (U. S. $2,172,885).
Of this total, 5,746,305 pounds, valued at 6,389,646 gold pesetas (U.S.$2,087,497)
consisted of sardines in oil; 135,388 pounds, valued at 192,387 gold pesetas (U.S.
$62,853) of other canned fish in oil; 121,805 pounds, valued at 68,978 gold pesetas
(Ws So $22,535) of salted, smoked, and frozen fishery products.

NOTE: VALUES IN U. S. DOLLARS BASED ON 10.95 PESETAS EQUAL U. S. $1.00 AND 1 GOLD PESETA

EQUALS U. S. $0.3267.
pai

SV

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45

United Kingdom

WHITE-FISH SUBSIDY CONTINUED: The subsidyl/ granted by the British Government
to catchers of white fish in the inshore, near, and middle waters (inaugurated in
July 1950 for six months, ending January 30, 1951) has been extended another six
months, reports the January 27 issue of The Fishing News, a British fishery periodi-
cal. - This interim subsidy was originally initiated to secure improvement for the
white-fish industry until the White-Fish Authority would be able to apply long-term
remedies, In addition, it is meant to encourage the catchers of prime fish tomain-
tain supplies of the better types of fish.

Certain changes were made in the scale of payments for vessels over 70 feetin
length, but there were no changes in the rates payable to inshore fishermen with
boats not exceeding 70 feet in length—-10d per stone (about 82 cents per hundred-
weight) for fish sold other than at retail, reduced to 8d per stone (66 cents per
hundredweight) for most varieties if landed round. As originally administered, the
subsidy will not be payable to vessels of 140 feet and over. As a condition of re-
ceiving the subsidy during the extended period, owners of vessels fishing in the
near and middle waters will have to furnish the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisher-
ies or the Scottish Home Department by the end of April with detailed accounts of
the operations of their vessels for the year 1950.

The maximum subsidy payment varies from L10 (about $28) to b12 ($33.60) per
day at sea or from L100 ($280) to £168 (4470.40) for the voyage, and also varying
according to the gross earnings of each voyage, the type and size of vessel, and
the fishing grounds. No subsidy is payable if gross earnings (including subsidy)
reach or exceed either 645-90 ($126-252) per day at sea or b450-1,260 ($1,260-

528) for the voyage, dependi on the type and size of the vessel.
1/ SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, AUGUST 1950, PP. 59-60.

LEFTLE | TUNA
( Euthyimer atiatieretaa |

Recent developments offer some encouragement for the commercial
canning of "little tuna," Euthynnus alletteratus, along the Atlantic
and the Gulf Coasts, Formany years this fish has been caught in varying
amounts in these areas. From Cape Cod to the Florida Coast, and also
along the Gulf, the little tuna has been reported in abundance at certain
seasons of the year. It has also been reported to be in fair abundance
in various parts of the Caribbean Sea.

—Fishery Leaflet 353

4,6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 13, No, 3.

Department of Commerce
y]
NATIONAL PRODUCTION AUTHORITY :

MAINTENANCE, REPATR, AND OPERATING SUPPLIES ORDER ISSUED: Civilian industries
and institutions are granted the right to use a priority rating to procure equipment
and supplies for maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) of their present facilities
by Regulation 4 issued on February 27 by the National Production Authority,

Regulation 4 (February 27, 1951): The MRO program provided for in this regula=
tion is permissive in character, No one is required to use the ratings assigned to
purchase his MRO supplies, but if he does so, he becames bound by the limitations of
the regulation,

The regulation permits applioation of the rating, identified as D0=97, by busi-
ness concerns and other institutions without individual authorization by NPA, The ©
rating may be used solely to acquire maintenance, repair, and operating supplies and
may not be used to purchase production material (i.e, material or components to be
incorporated in end products) nor to purchase major capital items, The rating is
equal to all other DO ratings and is fully extendible, Ratings are applied in ac
cordance with the provisions of NPA Regulation 2,

If a concern elects to use a D0-97 rating even on a single occasion, it mst
then limit its MRO purchases in accordance with Regulation 4,

Under the regulation, MRO purchases are limited in any one calendar quarter to
one=fourth of the firm's dollar purchases for maintenance, repair, and operating
purposes in 1950 (or the fiscal year ending nearest to December 31, 1950), If this
quota is too small to provide sufficient MRO supplies, the firm may file with NPA
an application for an increased quota,

To provide for seasonal businesses, the new regulation permits quarterly MRO
quotas equal to the amount spent by the business for MRO in the corresponding quarter
of 1950 (or fiscal year),

Businesses which were in operation only a part of 1950 are permitted a quota
in proportion to the amount they spent for MRO while they were in operation, with
reasonable adjustments for seasonal and other variable factors, New firms started
after December 31, 1950, are permitted to acquire for MRO purposes the minimum
amounts nécessary for operation, up to $5,000 a quarter, They mist obtain special
NPA authorization for MRO expenditures above this amount, When the quarterly quotas
for these businesses exceed $1,000, the NPA must be informed in writing of the base
period used, the reasons for selecting it, and what adjustments have been made,

1/COPIES OF REGULATIONS, NOTICES, PRESS RELEASES, ETC., ISSUED BY THE NPA ARE AVAILABLE FROM
THE NATIONAL PRODUCTION AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, WASH INGTON 25, D0. C., OR FROM
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FIELD OFFICES.

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW L7

Small businesses are permitted to extend D0-97 ratings for MRO purchases up to
$1,000 a quarter, without regard to the quota restrictions, All other firms making
MRO purchases under DO-97 ratings are required to follow the procedures established
in the regulation for figuring their quotas,

In all cases where DO-97 ratings are used to procure MRO supplies, the firm is
required to charge against its MRO quota purchases made without use of the rating,

Direction 1 (February 27, 1951): To provide for the orderly transition to the
MRO program, NPA also issued a direction (Direction 1 to Reg, 4) governing MRO pro~
curement during the remainder of the first quarter of 1951,

Regulation 2 as Amended and Interpretation No, 1 (February 27, 1951): This
order states the basic rules of the priorities system to be administered by the

National Production Authority in the Department of Commerce, It states what kind
of orders are rated orders, how to place them, and the preference status of such
orders, These rules apply to all business transactions within the jurisdiction of
NPA,

x kK OK X

PROVIDES FOR REPAIR AND CONVERSION OF SEAGOING VESSELS: Steel products will
be provided during April through June this year for delivery to United States

shipyards for the repair and conversion of ‘seagoing vessels, the National Production
Authority announced on February 16 in issuing Supplement 4 to Order’ Mul (Repair and

Conversion of Seagoing Vessels),

. Under the terms of Supplement 4 to M=-1, persons engaged in the repair and cone
version of seagoing vessels may apply to MPA for an authorization to issue certified
orders for specific tonnages of specific steel products for shipment in the months
of April, May, and June 1951 and, if authorized by NPA, may place certified orders
for such specific products,

While the major part of the allowed tonnage has already been allotted to named
yards participating in the Repair and Conversion Program, a reserve has been set
aside for small unnamed yards, Shipyards engaged in the repair and conversion of
seagoing vessels who are experiencing difficulty in obtaining steel may apply by
letter, in triplicate, to the Maritime Administration, Division of Maintenance and
Repair, A detailed justification should be presented, including the following in=
formation:

1, Type and volume of repairs to meee vessels the yard has
customarily performed,

2. Present inventory position,

3, The specific quantities of specific steel products for which
authorization to place certified orders is requested for
shipment in the months of April, May, and June 1951, Quan-
tities and specifications should be set forth fully just as
they would be shown on a purchase order,

The quantities requested mst be minimum quantities actually required and
should be limited to such basic shapes and forms as are carried by a steel warehouse,

* ee OK

FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON USE Gf ALUMINUM: Stepped up military requirements for

aluminum require greater savings in civilian uses, the National Production Authority
announced February 3,

48 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 13, No, 3

To effect the savings needed to meet the increased defense demands, NPA announced
these steps:

1, Rules for handling defense orders for aluminum under the priorities
system are revised (M5, Amend, 1) to require aluminum producers and
fabricators to accept a larger percentage of defense rated (DO)
orders, There is no change in the percentage of DO orders distribu~
tors and jobbers mst accept, and the 60-day "lead time" provision
of the previous order is also continued,

2, The aluminum conservation order is amended (M-7, Amend, 2) to provide
the necessary savings in civilian uses, The revised order lists
more than 200 less essential items in which aluminum may notbe used
after April 1, It does not permit the use of aluminum in the manu=
facture of decorative or ornamental items, or the use of more or
better grade aluminum than is necessary for the functional operation
of any item, In addition, the revised order continues the previous-
ly announced aluminum use limitations of 75 percent in February and
65 percent in March of the average monthly use during the first half
of 1950.

NPA explained that although aluminum production was expanded greatly during
World Wax II and further expansions are underway, the present rapid acceleration of
the mobilization program requires that larger supplies of aluminum be made available
for defense purposes in the second guarter of this year, -

Inevitable dislocations will occur in certain industries, under the new controls,
NPA said, The action was taken only after very careful review, however, and is neces~
sary to assure sufficient aluminum for defense and essential defense~supporting needs,

Provision is made for appeals in cases where an undue and exceptional hardship,
not suffered by others in the sams trade or industry, occurs,

NPA Order M-7, Amend, 2 provides that:

1, Effective April 1 aluminum cannot be used in the manufacture or as~=
sembly of more than 200 items, The list includes the following
items of interest to the fishing and allied industries:

Cans, including ignition coil and motion picture humidor,
Kitchen utensils and tools, and food processing equipment
(except cooking and baking utensils)
Marine construction:
Boats: pleasure boats and fittings of all kinds
Canoss
Rowboate
Sailboats
Foil for:
Capsules
Over wraps (except food)
Pleasure boat fastenings, fittings and hardware

2. Effective April 1 the use of more or better grade aluminum than is
necessary for the functional operation of any item is prohibited,

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 49

3. Effective June 1 aluminum cannot be used in the manufacture of any
item to be used solely for decorative or ornamental purposes,

However, the items on List A of this order may be completed if they were in the
process of manufacture on or before March 31, and completed by May 31. Items on the
list which are completed by May 31 may be sold after that date,

* ok ROK OR

SUFFICIENT TIN TO CAN PERISHABLE FOODS PROMISED: Assistance in obtaining suf~

ficient pig tin for packaging foods was requested by the representatives of the tin
plate industry on February 15 from the National Production Authority,

NPA informed the industry advisory committee that sufficient tin would be made
available to can all perishable foods, but that it might be necessary to further re-
duce the amounts of tin available for less essential purposes,

The present tin plate and terneplate order requires certification of all non=
defense use of tin plate and terneplate, The metal can order permits the unrestricted
packing of perishable foods, but reduces the weight of tin coating on all cans wherever
possible, Some non-food products, and beer and pet foods, are allowed to pack 90 per~
cent of their first quarter 1950 or first quarter 1949 base in tin cans,

Reference was made to new developments in plating procedures, such as a process
recently initiated in one plant to.reduce the tin coating on the outside of the con=
tainer, Wide use of such processes, however, will depend on the success of the initial
experiments, industry said,

The committee recommended that NPA require consumers to certify, at the time of
purchase, the end product in which the tin plate will be used, It also expressed
concern over the possibility of losing skilled workers who would be difficult to re-
place,

NPA officials cited figures indicating that some 26 million hotedip plated con-
tainers will be required this year, 25 million of which will be used to pack food,
They said more than 42 million are expected to be electro-plated and about 17 mil-
lion will be made of black plate,

eK K ROK

SHORTAGE OF GEASS CONTAINERS AND CARTONS FORECAST: Members of the Glass Con-
tainers Manufacturers Industry Advisory Committee informed the National Production
Authority on February 1 that the need for glass containers created by the shift from

eritical defense materials is taxing their present productive capacity,

Committee members said that a lack of basic materials is retarding an increase
in the production of jars, bottles, and other glass containers now in demand because
of steel, tin, and other metal shortages,

They said that the shortage of paper for cartons is beginning to be felt by
the industry, and they feared the situation would become worse,

NPA appointed a task group to study glass container simplification techniques,
which the industry said would boost production rates, Officials said a paper con=
servation and salvage system is being considered, which if adopted, would make more
carton stock available, Industry members said that paper conservation is important,
and that they are taking steps to save paper wherever possible,

xk OK OK OK

50 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, No, 3

TIGHT COOPERAGE INDUSTRY FACED WITH SCARCITY OF PRODUCTION MATERIALS: Members
of the Tight Cooperage Industry Advisory Committee on February 9 discussed with
the National Production Authority problems which may develop in their industry as
the use of other containers is curtailed to conserve critical materials for the de—

fense effort,

Committee members said they are faced with a scarcity of barrel staves and
headings (tops) and steel for hoops, They explained that lack of demand for staves
last year forced wood mills to cut back production, For this reason, they added,
most barrel makers are now operating below capacity,

Industry representatives told NPA they are studying substitution but pointed
out that their products can be used to supplement use of steel and other containers,

NPA appointed a six-man task group to study production bottlenecks and stan-
dardization of barrels and their components,

—[>

Economic Stabilization Agency
OFFICE OF PRICE STABILIZATION

RETAIL CEILING PRICE REGULATION 7 DOES NOT INCLUDE FOODS: Certain retail items
were brought under a "margin" type of price control on February 28 by the Office of
Price Stabilization, Major retail items not affected by Ceiling Price Regulation 7
are food, beverages, fuel, building supplies and hardware, and a number of other

items,

This regulation is the first of a series designed to replace the General Ceiling
Price Regulation, // the freeze order of January 26, 1951, with an effective price
control system for stabilizing the economy, according to the Office of Price Stabil-
ization ¢
1/SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, FEBRUARY 1951, P. 85.

ee KR OR

"HIGHEST PRICE" PROVISION OF GENERAL PRICE CEILING REGULATION AMENDED: In
order to reduce the prices of some manufacturers and wholesalers, who were taking
advantage of isolated sales before the freeze to establish abnormally high ceiling
prices for their goods and services, the Director of Price Stabilization on Feb-
ruary 23 issued Amendment 2 to the General Price Ceiling Regulation, The amend=
ment also corrects certain pricing distortions which have arisen as a result of the
freeze, and clarifies certain sections of the original order,

Under the general freeze order of January 26, sellers' prices were set at the
highest price they "delivered" goods and services during the base period of Decem=
ber 19, 1950, to January 25, 1951, to the same class of purchaser, Some manufac=
turers and wholesalers have claimed ceilings at substantially higher prices than
those which they were generally charging in the base period because of a few iso~
lated sales,

To remove inequities among sellers! the GCPR has been amended so that the
"highest price" provision will apply only to sales which amounted to 10 percent or
more of all deliveries to a class of purchasers during the base period, In other
words, prices charged in fewer than 10 percent of all deliveries to a class of
customers during the base period will not serve as a legal basis for ceiling prices,

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

51

The amendatory provisions of Amendment 2 (dated February 23, 1951) to General

Ceiling Price Regulation follow;

AMENDATORY PROVISIONS

The General Ceiling Price Regulation
is amended in the following respects:

1. Section 3 is amended to read as
follows:

Sec. 3. General ceiling prices—(a)
Ceiling prices for all sellers for com-
modities or services sold in base period.
Your ceiling price for sale of a com-
modity or service is the highest price at
which you delivered it during the base
period to a purchaser of the same class.
If you did not deliver the commodity|less than 10 percent of your base period
or service during the base period, your)deliveries to that class were made at the
ceiling price is the highest price at which| higher price.
you offered it for base period delivery) (ii) General increases to several classes
to a purchaser of the same class. The|of purchasers. If, during the base pe-
offer must have been made in writing,|riod, you announced in writing a gen-
but in the case of a retailer may haveleral increase for sales to more than one
been made by display. If you are Alclass of purchasers and if you made de-
manufacturer or a wholesaler, you can-|jiyeries which, under the preceding par-
not, unless permitted by paragraph (b) lagraphs of this section, established the
(i) of this section use a price as your|increased price or prices as the ceilings
ceiling price to a class of purchaser uN-|to all purchasers of one or more classes
less you made at least 10 percent of yourjand if those classes accounted during
total deliveries during the.base period|tne year 1950 for at least 30 percent of
to that class of purchaser at that price.your dollar sales of the commodity, then

(b) General increases by manufac-|the announced increased prices are your

aa Cea soe we cae ceiling prices for all classes of purchasers
m a “|for whom increases were announced.

modity, you may apply the following pro-

visions
prices.

(i) General increases to all of a class
of purchasers. If, during the base pe-
riod, you announced in writing and put
into effect a price increase for a class of
purchaser by making all deliveries to
that class for the remainder of the base
period at the higher price (except de-
liveries pursuant to firm commitments
made before the price increase), the in-
creased price becomes your ceiling price
for that class of purchaser, even though

in determining your ceiling

This amendment became effective on March 7,

OK KK Ok

ADDITIONAL DISTRICT OFFICES:

(iii) General increases on _ several
items. If during the base period you an-
nounced in writing a price increase on a
list of commodities, and if you made de-
liveries which, under the preceding para-
graphs of this section, established the in-
creased price or prices as the ceilings to
all classes of purchasers of one or more
of the commodities covered by the price
list, and if those commodities accounted
during the year 1950 for at least 30 per-
cent of your dollar sales of the commodi-
ties covered by the price list, then the
price list prices are your ceiling prices
for all the items on the list. eG

2. Section 22 is amended by striking
out of the definition of the word “‘Seller’’
the words ‘‘at retail’; by striking out of
the definition of the word “Commodity”
the words “and contracts to buy, sell or
deliver any of the foregoing”; and by
striking out of the definition of the word
“Service” the words “and contracts to
sell or supply such service.”

(Sec. 704, Pub. Law 774, 81st Cong. Interpret
or apply Title IV, Pub. Law 774, 81st Cong.;
E. O. 10161, Sept. 9, 1950, 15 F. R. 6105)

This amendment shall become effec-
tive the 28th day of February 1951.

MICHAEL V. DISALLE,
Director of Price Stabilization.

The opening of 29 additional district offices

was planned for February and March, the Office of Price Stabilization announced on

February 6,

These will be in addition to 42 district offices which already have been opened

in the 14 OPS regions,

The opening of the 21 district offices on or about February 19 were to be

cated in Springfield, Mass,; Rochester, N, Y.;

lo-

New York, N, Y,; Trenton, N, J.;

Erie, Pa,; Raleigh, N, C,; Nashville, Tenn,; Montgomery, Ala,; Miami, Fla.; Toledo,
Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Mich,; Peoria, Ill,; Green Bay, Wis.; St, Paul,
Minn,; San Antonio, Texas; FortWorth, Texas; Shreveport, La,; Tulsa, Okla,; Oak-

land, Calif.; and Spokane, Wash,

The opening of the 8 other district offices planned on or about March 5 were
to be located in Syracuse, N, Y.; Camden, N, J,; Norfolk, Va.; Savannah, Ga, ;
Springfield, I11.; Duluth, Minn,; Lubbock, Texas; and San Diego, Calif, ;

WAGE STABILIZATION BOARD

sibilities under the provisions of the Defense Production Act of, 1950,

Executive

52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 13, No, 3

Order 10161, General Order No, 3, and General Wage Stabilization Regulation 1 of
the Economic Stabilization Administrator,has issued several General Regulations re-
garding the stabilization of wages and salaries,

General Regulation No, 1, issued on January 30, is a statement of the adoption
by the Board of General Wage Stabilization Regulation 1,

General Regulation No, 2, issued on January 30, reports in part that "Collective
bargaining conferences, arbitration proceedings and other proceedings directed to
the resolution of wage questions were in progress prior to January 25, 1951, the
effective date of General Wage Stabilization Regulation 1, In same instances col-
lective bargaining agreements were reached, wage determinations made and awards
issued prior to the effective date of that regulation, In the interest of further-
ing and maintaining sound working relations including collective bargaining and
avoiding the imposition of inequities and hardships it is necessary and desirable
to recognize and give effect to such agreements, determinations and awards applic-
able to work performed within a relatively short period of time after January 25,
1951, without prior approval of the Wage Stabilization Board." Approval of this
regulation by the Board was not unanimous and a dissenting opinion was released on
January 31 by the three industry members of the Board,

General Regulation No, 3 issued on January 31 is an authorization for "increases
in wages, salaries, and other compensation to bring such wages, salaries and other
compensation into compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended,
and such other statutes and orders establishing minimim rates of compensation,"

General Regulation No, 4 issued on January 31 applies to increases in wages,
salaries, and other compensation of state, county, municipal and other non-federal
governmental employees, whose wages, salaries, and other compensation are fixed
by statute, ordinance, or regulation of duly constituted authorities of such govern-
mental bodies, Prior authorization of the Board, subject to certain provisions, is

not required for these increases,

NOTE: COPIES OF THESE GENERAL REGULATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE ECONOMIC STABILIZATION

AGENCY, WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

Federal Trade Commission

AMENDS STIPULATIONS REGARDING USE OF WORD "LOBSTER": The unqualified word
"Lobster" may not be used in advertising to describe any species of food fish
other than that properly known as lobster (the macrurous crustacean of the genus
Homarus), but the common names "Spiny Lobster™ and "Rock Lobster" may be used to
describe a species of the crawfish (Panulirus interruptus) if the word "spiny" ©
or the word "rock" appears in direct connection with the word "lobster" and in
type of equal size and prominence,

This was the purport of two amended stipulations accepted by the Federal
Trade Commission from Hudgins Fish Co,, West Palm Beach, Fla,, and East Coast
Fisheries, Inc,, Miami, Fle,

Previously the Gcmmission had approved stipulations whereby the firms agreed
not to use the word "lobster" as descriptive of any food fish other than the true
lobster unless the term "lobster" was accompanied by “appropriate language identi-
fying the species or lecality of such product,"

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53

The amended stipulations were approved by the Commission in accordance with
its policy of encouraging law observance through cooperation in certain types of
cases where there has been no intent tn defraud or mislead,

fh

Department of State

POINT FOUR AGREEMENT WITH PAKISTAN INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF A FISH HARBOR:
Pakistan and the United States on on February 9 coneluded a General Point Four Ag: Agree=
ment, the Department of State announced, The signing took place in Karachi, Three
other South Asian nations»-India, Ceylon, and Nepal--have already signed agreements
providing for cooperation under President Truman's Point IV Program,

Like the General Agreements previously concluded with Middle Eastern, African,
Latin-American, and other South Asian countries, the Pakistan agreement sets forth
the basic terms of cooperation and paves the way for specific project agreements,

At the present time the Pakistan Government has 92 development projects under
active consideration, many of which have already received final approval, Included
among these is the construction of a fish harbor at Karachi,

wey

Eighty-Second Congress (First Session)
FEBRUARY 1951

Listed below are public bills and resolutions introduced and referred to com-
mittees, or passed by the Bighty-Second Congress (First Session) and signed by the
President, that affect in any way the fisheries and allied industries, Public
pills and resolutions are shown in this section only when introduced and, if passed
when they are signed by the President, The more pertinent reports, hearings, or
chamber actions on some of the bills shown in this section from month to month are
also listed,

BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED: Food Prices: H, R. 2333 (Yorty) - A bill to amend
the Defense Production Act of 1950 so as to authorize
Columbia River Waters Apportionment: H, R. 2470 the President to control food prices under that act
(D'Ewart) - A A bill granting the consent of Congress to to the sams extent as other commodities; to the Com-
the States of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, mittee on Banking and Currency,
Washington, and Wyoming to negotiate and enter into
a compact for the disposition, allocation, diversion, wee Trade Agreements "Peril Points": H, R,
and apportionment of the waters of the Columbia River 2194 (Scudder) - A bill to provide: for the determina-
and its tributaries, and for other purposes; to the ae of "peril points" with respect to foreign trade
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, agreements, for the taking of action to incorporate
: an "escape clause" in existing and future foreign
Facilities to Protect Federal Resources Affected trade agreements, and for other purposes; to the Com-

by Dan Dam Projects: S. 989 (Murray) - A bill to provide mittee on Ways and Means,
for the installation of improvements and facilities

needed for the protection, development, and utiliza- Great Lakes Sea Lampreys Investigations Appropria-
tion of Federal resources affected by dam and water tions: H., R. 2995 (Potter) - A bill to amend the ©
Teservoir projects constructed by the Federal Govern- joint resolution of August 8, 1946, as amended, with
ment, and for other purposes; to the Committee on In- respect to appropriations authorized for the conduct
terior and Insular Affairs, of investigations and studies (Great Lakes sea lam-

preys) thereunder; to the Committee on Merchant Marine
Fishery Products Distribution: H. R. 2482 (Kennedy) -{ and Fisheries,

A bill to further encourage the distribution of fishery
products, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Japanese Fishing Vessels: Memorial of the Legis-
Merchant Marine and Fisheries, lature of the Territory of Alaska was presented to the

5k COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

House, relating to their senate joint resolution No, 1
urging that in the peace treaty with Japan there be
included a provision prohibiting Japanese fishing ves-
sels from engaging in fishing in certain waters of the
Pacific coast; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Navigation Laws: H. R, 2641 (Hart) - A bill to re-
vise, consolidate, and codify the navigation laws relat-
ing to admeasurement, documentation, entry, clearance,
coastwise trade, foreign trade, and United States fish-
eries, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Mer-
chant Marine and Fishericas,

Price and Wage Roll-Back to June 25, 1950: H, R.
2615 (Mansfield) - A bill to roll prices and wages back
to the June 25, 1950, level and to impose a 100-percent
tax on excess profits; to the Committee on Ways and
Means,

Water Pollution Control: H. R. 2752 (Simpson of
Pennsylvania) - A bill to encourage the prevention of

water pullution by allowing the amounts paid for in-

Vol, 13, No, 3

dustrial waste treatment works to be amortized at an
accelerated rate for income-tax purposes; to the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means,

CHAMBER ACTION-HOUSE:

Trade Agreements Extension: Passed by voice vote,
H. R, 1612, to extend for 3 years, the authority of
the President under section 350 of the Tariff Act of
1930 to enter into foreign-trade agreements, A motion
to recommit the bill was rejected by a voice vote,
Prior to passage a psril-point amendment was adopted
providing for congressional notification by the Presi-
dent prior to any reduction of tariffs below a level
determined by the Tariff Commission to be a peril
point, Adopted an amendment barring extension of any
tariff reductions or trade concessions to Russia and
Soviet-dominated countries, as a result of any trade.
agreements hereafter entered into, Adopted an escape-
clause amendment designed to provide a simple procedure
whereby industries injured by tariff reductions can
get relief upon appeal to Tariff Commission,

THE MEXICAN AS HERIES#IN DU SiR,

The next most important fishery in Mexican waters and the most
important from the Mexican industry standpoint is that for shrimp, The
Pacific area at present most heavily fished is in the Gulf of California

between San Felipe, Baja California, and Altata, Sinaloa,
represents the principal shrimp fishery of the Republic,
grounds not now being heavily fished lie between Mazatlan

This section
Other shrimp
and Cape

Corrientes and between Salina Cruz and the Guatemalan border,

On the Gulf of Mexico the heaviest concentration of shrimp is found

in the Campeche-Tabasco area,

The shrimp catch in this region is large,

while there is more limited shrimp fishing along the coast of Veracruz

and Tamaulipas in the Gulf of Mexico,

Indications are that both the

shrimp fishery inthe Gulf of California and that off the coast of Tabasco
and western Campeche have already reached their maximum productivity and
that the future production in these areas will depend upon the variation

in the annual productivity of the shrimp,

There are no other known

areas along the Mexican coast that even approach the potentiality for
shrimp production of the Gulf of California and the Campeche areas,

-ishery Leaflet 339

March 1951

LANDINGS AND

: In Millions of
MAINE - LANDINGS
NOT INCLUDING IMPORTS

COMPARATIVE DATA
(iN ACTUAL PouNDS)

1950 TRTAL - 353,279,886
1949 |, = 292'203;570
= 305,037,517

1948

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

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

Sate pouNos)

2 MOTHS 1951 - 25,400,000
1950 - 25) 900, 000

" 1950 - 173,970,059

12

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

GULF - SHRIMP LANDINGS
HEADS OFF - FOR ALL USES

COMPARATIVE DATA
(IN ACTUAL POUNDS)

ae TQTAL - SO, 125,625
1949 | = 45) 754. 7750
- 38; , 763, 7250

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

In Thousands of
CALIFORNIA - PILCHARD LANDINGS

COMPARATIVE DATA
(1N ACTUAL TONS)
1950/51 SEASON TQTAL - 317,530°
1949/50, = = 335,
= 159,848
*PRELIMINARY.

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

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

eye)
RECEIPTS

Pounds

; MASSACHUSETTS - LANDINGS
BOSTON , GLOUCESTER , NEW BEDFORD , & CAPE COD

COMPARATIVE DATA
(IN ACTUAL POUNDS)

1950 TQTAL - 522,636, 098
i (64,825,638

1948 = ay 119; 518)

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

CHICAGO - RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH
WHOLESALE MARKET

SeeSe |,

2 MOWTHS 1951 - 14,600,000
1950 - 16, 100; 000 12
1950 - 107, 000, 000

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

SEATTLE - RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH
WHOLESALE MARKET , LANDINGS , & IMPORTS

su es DAT.
1N POUNDS
2 MONTHS 1951 - 9,600,000

n 1950 - 6,400,000
12 1950 - 88;900;000

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

Tons

CALIFORNIA- TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH a6

COMPARATIVE DATA
(IN ACTUAL TONS)

Face see - 190,966°

- 159; 660
1 - 156; 134
*PRELIMINARY

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

56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 13, Noe 3

COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS

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

UMULATIVE DA
(IN POUNDS

180

2 MCYTHS 1951 - 20,943,129)
2 4 1950 - 16,620,417
12 1950 - 287}189)592

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

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

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

CHICAGO - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH GULF - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA - - Su
HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH CALIFORNIA - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FI

ob
fe

orw ££ OH N Oo ©

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

March 1951

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW ; 57

CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS

In Thousands

MAINE - SARDINES, ESTIMATED PACK

STO, CASES
- 3,900, 000°
- 350745523

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

CALIFORNIA - TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH

1950 TQTAL -
1949, -

- 6,437,996
®PRELIMINARY

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC.
510
CALIFORNIA - MACKEREL

COMPARATIVE DATA

350)
1950 TOTAL - 7 S55. 200
1949,

= 916/810
300F| i048 = 1,0187973

WO
oe farse a

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

WASHINGTON - PUGET SOUND SALMON

1950 TQTAL -
1949 -
S60f} i048" - 432,013
(INCLUDES IMPORTED FISH PACK)
300} PRELIMINARY

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

of Standard Cases

UNITED STATES - SHRIMP

3|240
CUMULATIVE DATA
1950/51 SEASON, 210
JULY 1 - MARCH 3, 1950 - 596,785
1949/50 SEASON, q
JULY 1 = MARCH 4, 1950 - 590,181]}) ‘60
150
M420
90
60
30

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

CALECRNIA - PILCHARDS

COMPARATIVE DATA
STD. CASES:
1950/51 SEASON,
AUG.-DEC. - 4,652,796
1949/50 SEASON,
AUG.-DEC. - 3,674,587
1949/50 SEASON TOTAL,
AUG.-JAN. - 4,284,410

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

ALASKA - SALMON

COMPARATIVE DATA

$10, CASES
1950 TRTAL - 3,235,828°
1 - 5,515,985
4)014)542

pure >
*PRELIMINARY

einen ae Ne

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

STANDARD CASES
Variety No.Cans Can Designation Net. Wat.
SARDINES 100 1 drawn 3 1/4 oz.
SHRIMP 48 — 5 oz.
TUNA 48 No. 1/2 tuna 7 oz.
PILCHARDS 48 No. 1 oval 15 oz.
MACKEREL 48 No. 300 15 oz.

SALMON 48 l_pound tall 16 oz.

58

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol. 13, No. 3

PRICES . IMPORTS and BY-PRODUCTS:

BOSTON - WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE
ON NEW ENGLAND FISH EXCHANGE IN @ PER POUND

CUMULATIVE DATA

2 MOYTHS 1951 - 8.81
2, 1950 - 9.85
12 1950 - 7.86

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

In Millions
U.S. - IMPORTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FILLETS
OF GROUND FISH, INCLUDING ROSEFISH

COMPARATIVE DATA
(IN ACTUAL PouNDS)

- 66,618,167
- 47,776,990]
53,727,697

In Millions

U.S.- IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA
AND TUNA-LIKE FISH

COMPARATIVE DATA
7 (1N ACTUAL POUNDS)

1
7
*PRELIMINARY.

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

U.S. & ALASKA - PRODUCTION OF FISH MEAL
a IN THOUSANDS OF TONS
- :

COMPARATIVE DATA
(IN ACTUAL TONS)

3

1950 - 218,360°
ZoL| 1949 - 237,180
1948 - 199/519
2
20

*PRELIMINARY

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

MAINE - IMPORTS OF FRESH SEA HERRING
IN MILLIONS OF POUNDS

COMPARATIVE DATA
(iN ACTUAL POUNDS)

1950 - 39,200,000
1949 - 36,500,000
1948 - 58,200,000

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC.
of Pounds ;
U.S.- IMPORTS OF FRESH AND FROZEN
SHRIMP FROM MEXICO

COMPARATIVE DATA
(1M ACTUAL PouNDS)

1950 TETAL - 39,652,640
1949 | = 29,382/193
1948 = 21,477,390

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

of Pounds
U.S- IMPORTS OF CANNED SARDINES

( Include in oil and not in oil )

COMPARATIVE DATA
(iN ACTUAL POUNDS)
1950 - 30,392, 642°
1949 - 21,788,245 42

1 ,
*PRELIMINARY

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

U.S. & ALASKA - PRODUCTION OF FISH OIL
__ IN MILLIONS OF GALLONS

COMPARATIVE DATA
(1N ACTUAL GALLONS)

1950 = 22,102,750°
1949 - 16,343) 407

1948 - 17,083,544
*PRELIMINARY

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

March 1951 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59

Vang Ct ae
Wage oe yp

Recent ~
A F ISHERY PUBLICATIONS —

Se —

FO ME A a Ole Os Is at a Ome Pes Da. pss

TE ce

Recent publications of interest to the commercial fishing industry are listed
below,

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS

THESE PROCESSED PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE DIVISION
OF INFORMATION, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
TYPES OF PUBL! CAT! ONS ARE DESIGNATED AS FOLLOWS:

CFS - CURRENT FISHERY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA.

MDL = MARKET DEVELOPMENT SECTION LISTS OF DEALERS, LOCKER PLANTS,
ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.

SEP.- SEPARATES (REPRINTS) FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW.

SSR.-FISH. - SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORTS--FISHERIES (LIMITED
DISTRIBUTION).
Number Title Number Title
CFS-601 - Massachusetts Landings, Sertember 1950, MDL-1,5 (Revised) - Utah, 4 p,
14 Dp. MDL-6 (Revised) - West Virginia, 1 p.

CFS-604 - Fisheries of the United States and Alaska,
1948 Annual Summary, 14, p.

CFS3-606 - Frozen Fish Report, 1950 Annual Summary, 14 p.

CFS-607 - Frozen Fish Report, Final, January 1951, 10 p,

CFS-610 - Fish Meal and Oil, December 1950, 2 p,

CFS-611 - Massachusetts Landings, October 1950, 14 p.

CFS-613 - Florida Landings, December 1950, 4 p.

CFS-618 - Maine Landings, December 1950, 4 p.

Sep. 270 - Preliminary FisheriesSurvey of the Hawaiian-
Line Islands Area, Part II - Notes on the
Tuna and Bait Resources of the Hawaiian,
Leeward, and Line Islands,
Sep. 271 - Preliminary FisheriesSurvey of the Hawaiian-
Line Islands Area, Part III - The Live-Bait
Skipjack Fishery of the Hawaiian Islands,
Sep, 272 - Effect of Fluctuating Storage Temperatures
Refrigerated Locker Plants: on Quality of Frozen Fillets,
MDL-3 (Revised) - Tennessee, 4 p,
MDL-7 (Revised) - Indiana, 9 p.
MDL-17 (Revised) - Kansas, 12 p,
MDL-20 (Revised) - Illinois, 13 p,
MDL-23 (Revised) - Rhode Island, 1 p,
MDL-26 (Revised) - Colorado, 6 p,
MDL-28 (Revised) - Vermont, 2 p,
MDL-29 (Revised) - Virginia, 3 p.
MDL-36 (Revised) = Arkansas, 3 p.
MDL-39 (Revised) - Florida, 2 p.
MDL-44 (Revised) - South Dakota, 7 p.

SSR-Fish, No, 55 - Natural History of the Sea = amprey

(PETROMYZON MAI MARINUS) in Micnigan,
Vernon C, Applegate, 259 pas ee 1950.

SSR-Fish. No, of the and
ite Secs - Part VIII, Area VII -

Snake River, above Payette River to upper
Salmon Falls, by Zell E, Parkhurst, 19 p,

illus, , December 1950.

THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ARE FOR SALE AND ARE AVAILABLE
ONLY FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

cussed in this publication. Also included are re-
sults of tests on the relative value of preserva-
tives when used on gear submerged in Philippine
waters, Comparative costs of the various treat-
ments are shown,

Bacteriological Studies of Philippine Fishery Prod-
ucts, by John A, Clague and Crisanto Almario,
Research Report 27, 12 p., printed, 10 cents, 1950.
To obtain information on the bacteriological
quality of Philippine fishery products, tests were
made on oysters and overlying waters from oyster

farms, and on freah and processed fish and shell- | Liver Oil Properties of Philippine Sharks and

Rays,

fish from the Manila markets in the Philippines,
The data gathered is presented in this publication,
Im addition, the authors present recommendations
for improving the bacteriological quality of Philip-
pine fishery products,

Fishing Gear Preservatives for Philippine Waters, by

John A, Clague and Bienvenido Datingaling, Research
Report 22, 23 p., illus., printed, 15 cents, 1950,
The. types of gear preservatives most commonly used
and the method of applying them are briefly dis-

by William S, Hamm, Research Report 23, 5 p.,
printed, 10 cents, 1950. The Philippine Fishery
Program obtained numsrous samples of ahark and
other fish livers to assay as potential sources of
vitamin A. While this assay work was underway,
certain other physical and chemical properties of
shark oils were also determined on as many samples
as time permitted and these data are presented in
this report, These values are of interest if the
oile are to be usad for industrial purposes,

60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 13, No, 3

THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ARE FOR SALE AND ARE AVAILABLE
ONLY FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

Qutlook for Development a Tuna Industry in the Phil-
~~ dppines, by Herbert ae oa Research Report 28,
40 p, illus,, printed, 20 coutae 1950, The tuna re-
sources of the Philippine seas are relatively unex-
ploited at present and represent the largest single
opportunity for the expansion of the fisheries of
that nation, The results of 23 years of study and
exploration of this resource and the prospects for
developing it are presented in this bulletin, A
tuna-canning industry of modest proportions could
be established, using the long line-trawl technique
to capture the fish, Limitations of the supply of
bait fishes preclude extensive development of live-
bait fishing, American tuna-fishing techniques have
not been successful in the Philippines to date and
are probably too exvensive, since Philippine waters
are probably less than one-half as productive as
those of the eastern Pacific, Included in this re-
port is a discussion of the Philippine tunas; the
history of the Philippine tuna fishery; recent ex-
ploration for tuna (including live-bait fishing ex-
periments, long-line trawl experiments. trolling |

MISCELLANEOUS

experiments, and the trap fishery); and production,
The author also gives a number of recommendations
regarding the development of a Philippine tuna
fishery,

Temperature and Salt Purity Effects on the Manufacture

John A, Clague, Rasearch Report 24, 13 p., illus.,
printed, 10 cents, 1950. Bagoong (fish paste) and
patis (fish sauce) are two of the primary preserved
fish products prepared in the Philippines, Similar
products are prepared in othar countries of south-
east Asia, The Philippine Fishery Program experi-
mented with the manufacture of these products under
various controlled conditions in order to investigate
the possibility of reducing costs by accelerating
the aging process, The investigation included a
study of some bacteriological, chemical, and physi-
cal changes which occur in the mixture during fer-
mentation and storage, The results of these experi-
ments and investigations are presented in this bul-
letin,

PUBLICATIONS

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES ISSUING THEM.
CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING PUBLICATIONS THAT FOLLOW SHOULD BE ADDRESSED
TO THE RESPECTIVE AGENCIES OR PUBLISHERS MENTIONED. DATA ON PRICES,

IF READILY AVAILABLE, ARE SHOWN.

"an Easy Method of Separating King and Silver Salmon,"
by Fred B, Hagerman, article, California Fish and Gane ,
January 1951, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 53-4, illus, , Saprinted:
Division of Fish and Gam, State Fisheries Laboratory,
Terminal Island Station, San Pedro, Calif, Explains a
simple efficient method of distinguishing between the

king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytacha) and the silver
salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch),

"An Investigation of the California Sand Dab, Citharichthys
sordidus (Girard) ," by Harbans Lall Arora, article,
California Fish and Gams, January 1951, vol. 37, no, 1.
pp. 3-42, illua., printed, Division of Fish and Gam,
State Fisheries Laboratory, Terminal Island Station,
San Pedro, Calif. An investigation of the California
sand dab (Citharichthys sordidus) is presented in this
report, The general morphology and systematic char-
acters of the species are described on the basis of the
literature and from material obtained from Monterey Bay
and the fishing grounds off San Francisco, Included is
a discussion of methods employed, maturation and spawn-
ing period, age and growth, age and size at first matu-
rity, length-weight relationship, relationship between

wildlife activities of the Fish and Wildlife
Service are also covered,

Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research,

December 1950, vol, 1, no, 2, 115 p,, plus Plates,
illus,, printed, 7s6d per issue (approx, 85 cents).
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organization, 31, Albert Street, East Melbourne,
C2, Victoria, Published as a medium for the pub-
lication of the results or original investigations
on sea, estuarine, and fresh-water fisheries and
related subjects, In this issue the following
articles appear: The Tasmanian Whitebait, Lovettia
gealii (Johnston), and the Whitebait Fishery, by

M, Blackburn; The Effect of a Period of increased
Legal Minimm Length of Sea Mullet in Western
Australia, by J, M, Thomson; Studies on the Age,
Growth, and Life History of the Pilchard, Sardinops
neopilchardus (Steindachner), in Southern and West-
erm Australia, by M. Blackburn; Shell Movements of
the Freshwater Mussel, Hyridella australis Lam,
(Lamellibranchiata), by I, D, Hiscock,

total and standard length, and a description of the Biennial Report for 1949-1951 of the Fisheries Experi-

species,

Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior (Fiscal
~~ Year Ended June 30, 1950), 438 p., printed, indexed,
$1.00. U. S, Department of the Interior, Washington,
D, C, (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents,
Washingtor, D, C.) Contains the annual reports of
the various agencies of the Department of the Interior,
including the Fish and Wildlife Service, Included in
the latter report are summaries of the various activi-
ties of the Service, Specifically covered are the
Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations; utilizing the
fishery resources (which includes the activities of the
Branch of Commercial Fisheries); administration of
Alaska fisheries; research in fishery Management (ma-
rine, coastal, and inland fisheries); maintaining the
inland fisheries; international cooperation in conser-
vation (international conservation agreements, inter-
national technical cooperation, and rehabilitation of
Philippine fisheries); and :dministration of Federal
statutes for protection of fish and wildlife, ‘the

mental Commission of Alaska, 8 p., processed, Fish-
ery Products Laboratory, U, S, Fish and Wildlife
Service, Ketchikan, Alaska, The Fisheries Experi-
mental Carmmission was created by Territorial law

in 1937. The basic aim of the Commission as estab-
lished by the legislative act is to aid in the de-
velopment of the unutilized resources of the Terri-
tory. This includes the improvement of existing
fishery products and processes, the development

of new fishery products from existing fisheries,

and the development of new fishery industries, es-
pecially those which will support the econ my of the
Territory during the off-season, This-report dis-
cusses the expenditures and activities of the Com-
mission during the 1949-51 biennium, Included is a
report on the cooperative activities with the Fish
and Wildlife Service, cooperation with other govern-
ments agencies, and technological activities (oc-
currence of toxicity in Alaskan butter clams;
freezing and storing Alaska pink salmon fillets;
utilization of salmon cannery waste; survey of

March 1951

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61

THESE PUBLICATIONS. ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM JHE FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGENCIES ISSUING THEM.

commercial fishery possibilities of the Seward Penin-
sula and adjacent areas; and a list of the pubdlica-
tions issued covering the investigations,

California Cooperative Sardine Research Program (Prog-
ress Report 1950), by ‘California Academy of Sciences,
California Division of Fish and Game, Scripps Insti-
tution of Oceanography, and U, .S, Fisn and Wildlife
Service, 54 p., printed, illus, Marine Research Con-
mittee, California Department of Natural Resources,
State of California, Pier 47, Foot of Jones Street,
San Francisco 11, Calif. This report presents an
over-all picture of the California Cooperative Sar-
dine Research Program, which has been under way for
almost three years, The aim of the Program is to
seek out the underlying principles that govern the
Pacific sardine's behavior, availability, and total
abundance, Included is a summarization of the work
done on this program since its inception through
1950 and a statement of plans for work in 1951,

(ECA) Tenth Report to Congress of the Econamic Cooper-
ation Administration (For the warter Ended Septem-
ber 30, 1950), 158 p., illus., printed, 40 cents,
Economic Cooperation Administration, Washington,

D. C., February 1951. (For sale by Superintendent of
Documents, Washington 25, D. C.) Reports on the.
activities under the Eoonomic Cooperation Act of
1948 as well as the progranis of economic aid to
Korea and the general area of China, Edible fiash-
ery products and whale and fish oils are listed as a
group in some of the tables, Included is an ap-
pendix summarizing the status of the United States
Foreign Relief Program and the U, S, Foreign Aid
Program,

Fisheries Research Program of Japan, by Willis H, Rich,
Preliminary Study No, 42, 40 p., processed, Natural
Resources Section, Supreme Commander for the Allied
Powers, Tokyo, Japan, January 1951, (Reports may be
purchased only in photostat or microfilm from the
Office of Technical Services, U. S, Department of
Commerce, Washington 25, D. C.) This is a report
prepared by the author while serving as visiting
expert consultunt in Japan in the Fisheries Division
of SCAP's Natural Resources Section, ‘The primary
purpose of the study was to aid the Japanese in
developing a sound, modern fisheries research pro-
gram, The first part of this report treats of the
general features of the Japanese fisheries research
program, including the structure of the program, the
nature of research, some current problems (shortage
of research manpower; inadequacy of library facili-
ties; need for accurate and adeyuate statistics;
and need for continuing long-term research pro-
grams), and a summary of recommendations, the
second part examines in detail four important re-
serch programs: (1) herring fishery; (2) salmon
fishery; (3) inland sea fishery; (4) and trawl fish-
ery of East China Sea, (A short summary of this
report appears in the February 1951 issue of Com-
mercial Fisheries Review, pp. 61-2.)

Fiskeri-Beretning for Aret 1949, 170 p., printed in
Danish with English foreword, I Kommission Hos
G, E, C, Gad, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1950, This re-
port contains detailed statistics on the Danish
fisheries for the year of 1949. Included in the
report are data on number of fishermen, number of
fishing craft, value of fishing vessels, the catch
by species, the landed value of the catch, resumes
by fisheries, imports and exports of fishery prod-
ucts, and a summary of the trends in the fishery
industries,

Laws for the Oyster Farmer, by G, Robert Lunz, Contri-

butions from Bears Bluff Laboratories No, 10, 14 p.,
printed,illus. Bears Bluff Laboratories, Wadmalaw
Island, S, C,, January 1951, This is a non-techni-
cal summary of the existing South Carolina oyster
laws, It covers leases, planting requirements,
regulations, taxes and licenses, and restrictive
measures, The last part of the pamphlet discusses
Suggestions for changes in the oyster laws,

Times, Supplement to the Issue of December 1-8, 1950,

84 p., printed, $.7.00 (about 50 U. S, cents), Andean
Air Mail & Peruvian Times S, A,, Jiron Carabaya 928,
Lima, Peru, This is a special supplement devoted to
the Peruvian fisheries, Most of the articles are in

.English and some in Spanish, These are some of the

more important articles in English: Peruvian Fish-
ing Industry and the Bureau of Fish and Wildlife;

The Hundred Fathom Curve; Canned Peruvian Bonito in
the United States; Peruvian Fish Hatcheries; Sword-
fish Heaven; and Big Shipment of Swordfish Arrives at
New York, In addition, tnere are two lists of Peru-
vian industrial fishing companies--one alphabetical
and one by zones,

of the Columbia, by John T, Gharrett and John TI,
Hodges, Contribution No, 13, 31 p., illus. Oregon
Fish Commission, Portland, Oregon, December 1950,
This report is the first of a series dealing with

the fisheries management on rivers south of the
Columbia, In addition to a discussion of the past
regulation of the fisheries, the booklet discusses
each individual species of salmon (chinook, silver,
and chum), factors affecting the population, and
management programs, In their conclusions, the
authors state that "in spite of the progressive re-
strictions of the commercial river fishery during

the past fifty years, the trend of the salmon popu-
lations of the coastal rivers has been downwara, It
is almost impossible to isolate and analyze separately
the causes of this decline, and uny attempt to saddle
one factor with the responsibility is an oversimplifi-
cation of the facts," The report points out that the
stream surveys and other observations indicate that
the coastal rivers and their salmon populations are
not beyond redemption, and that under proper manage-
ment can be made to yield annually several times
their present production,

Scientific and Common Names Applied to Tunas, Mackerels

Geographic Distribution, 246 p., processed, Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Wash-
ington, D, C,, December 1950. This is a progress
report on the compilation of scientific and common
names of important food fishes, The first Conference
of the Food and Agriculture Organization held at Quebec
in 1945 recommended that a study be made of the names,
both common and scientific, of important food fishes of

the world with a view to clarifying or at least analyzing

some of the difficulties in nomenclature, This present
work represents a first step in such a study, Because
the tunas, mackerels, and spearfishes include species
with wide and varied distribution, and because they are
becoming increasingly important as food fish and in
world trade, and also because there exists a variety of
opinions as to nomenclature or taxonomic position of its
members, this group was examined first, This study is
in no way an attempt at taxonomic revision but is rather
a survey and a compilation of existing information on
the names and naming of the species, All names, both

62

Seasonal Patterns of Food Consumption, City Families, 1948

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW

Vol, 13, No, 3

THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE

SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED

scientific and common, which occur inthe literature re-
ferring to the same or very similar species have been
extracted and placed togetner and indexed for quick
identification, The authors! notes or quotations from
experts in taxonomy in this field are often given in
order topoint out relationships, or difficulties, ‘the
geographic distributions included have been worked out
from actual records of occurrence as cited in the
literature, and are recorded with their limits for
each species or at least closely related species,

(Based on Food Consumption Surveys of 1948-1949),
Special Report No. 3, 19 p., processed, Bureau of
Human Nutrition and Home Economics, U, S, Department
of Agriculture, Washington 25, D. C,, February 1951.
Season patterns in food consumption (including fish
and shellfish) of United States urban families are
presented in this report, The patterns were derived
from data on types and quantities of foods consumed
by housekeeping families in four cities in diverse
sections of the country during various seasons of
1948 and 1949. For the group "meat, poultry, and fish"
consumption, as a whole, is stable the year round, but
for fish consumption is low in the summer and highest
in the winter, the report indicates,

United States and to the Governors and Legislatures
of Washington, Oregon and California), 24 p., printed,
Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission,. Portland, Oregon,
The activities and a short resume of the meetings of
the Commission during 1950 are given in this report,
Also, there is e short summary of the reports sub-
mitted by the participating States and cooperating
agencies on the research conducted in 1950 on the fol-
lowing marine species and fisheries: ocean salmon,
albacore tuna, sardine (pilchard), soupfin shark,
sablefish (black cod), and the otter trawl fishery,

Trade Lists

The Commercial Intelligence Branch, Offi-e cf Inter-

national Trade, U, S, Departmens of Commerce, has pub-

Pete

—

FROM THE AGENCIES ISSUING THEM.

lished the following mimeographed trade lists, Copies
of these lists may be obtained by firms in the United
States from that office or from Department of Commerce
field offices at $1.00 per list,

Canneries - Argentina, 8 p, (December 1950);
lists, among others, firms canning fish-
ery products, Name, address, products
handled, and, in some cases, size of
firm are indicated,

Frozen Foods - Processors and Exporters--
Denmark, 3 p. (January 1951); lists the
names, addresses, and size of about 10
firms processing and exporting frozen
fishery products,

Oils (Animal, Fish, and Vegetable) Importers,
Dealers, Producers, and Refiners, Argen-
tina, 11 p., (January 1951); lists the
names and addresses, products handled,
and size of Argentina producers of and
dealers in animal, fish, and vegetable
oils,

Oils (Animal, Fish, and Vegetable) Importers,
Dealers, Producers, Refiners: and Ex-
porters--Brazil, 56 p., (January 1951);
lists the names and addresses, products
handled, and size of Brazilian producers
of and dealers in animal, fish, and vege-
table oils, Includes a few dealers in
fish oils, mainly importers,

Oils (Animal, Fieh, and Vegetable) Importers,
Dealers, Producers, Refiners, and Ex-
porters--The Netherlands, 20 p., (Feb-
ruary 1951); lists the names and addres-
ses, products handled, and size of pro-
ducers of and dealers in animal, fish,
and vegetable oils in The Netherlands,

PACKAGING FROZEN FISHERY PRODUCTS
New packages and methods of packaging can help in merchandising

| frozen fishery products.

Self service makes it easier for the consumer
to decide for himself which product he will choose.

Quality of product

and the use of attractive packages and informative labeling can aid

materially in furnishing the customer
| chasing.

With the
will come the
can be frozen

development of improved

expansion of markets for fishery products.
when supplies are plentiful and held until needed by the

the required incentives for pur-

packaging and freezing techniques

These products

consumer, By packaging and quick freezing immediately, they are preserved

at their peak of quality.

—Fishery Leaflet 324

Mareh 1951

COMM@RCIAL FISHERIAS RaVIEW

63

GONTENTS, GONTINUED

FOREIGN (CONT. ):
SPAIN:
FISHERIES REVIEW FOR 1949 .....cecsecccccerecerecesers
UNITED KINGDOM
WHITE-FISH SUBSIDY CONTINUED .
FEGERAIMA GT LONScmmtets arsteiete tae taieteretelore stcialais claelete(eleieieleievcieicieiels
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE:
NATIONAL PRODUCTION AUTHORITY:
MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND OPERATING SUPPLIES ORDER
ISSN GAGA don 4 bospoolonobdaosDSbuLecoabob bobodeouG
PROVIDES FOR REPAIR AND CONVERSION OF SEAGOING VESSELS
FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF ALUMINUM ....eseeceere
SUFFICIENT TIN TO CAN PERISHABLE FOODS PROMISED .....
SHORTAGE OF GLASS CONTAINERS AND CARTONS FORECAST ...
TIGHT COOPERAGE INDUSTRY FACED WITH SCARCITY OF
PRODUCTION MATERIALS ...cescceccsecccscscevecccccere
ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AGENCY:
OFFICE OF PRICE STABILIZATION:
RETAIL CEILING PRICE REGULATION 7 DOES NOT INCLUDE
OOS wetereteletetel ae ietatereratele tate nictare inte oibista erste tare oiclointe cinloreiarate
"HIGHEST PRICE PROVISION OF GENERAL PRICE CEILING
REGULATION AMENDED .....ccccceceecccceccesrcscsssece
ADDITIONAL DISTRICT OFFICES .ecseveccvcccscscvososors

eee eoee "

PAGE

50
SI

PAGE
FEDERAL ACTIONS (CONT.):
ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AGENCY (CONT.):
WAGE STABILIZATION BOARD:
SEVERAL CLARIFYING REGULATIONS
AND SALARIES .....0.0-.
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION: = 3
AMENDS STIPULAT!ONS REGARDING USE OF WORD LOBSTER .. 52
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
POINT FOUR AGREEMENT WITH PAKISTAN

ISSUED AFFECTING WAGES

ec cccseteree Ol

INCLUDES CON-

STRUCTION OF A FISH HARBOR 2.2... ccccccccsccsecersses OF
EIGHTY-SECOND CONGRESS (FIRST SESSION), FEBRUARY 1951 . 53
GRAPHS? cece cwcene corse evesccccrcccoscececssessisvcssecree OO
LANDINGS AND RECEIPTS .scocccocnercccseerecsersereseses OD

COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS AND FREEZINGS OF FISHERY
PRODUCTS ...eeeececeens
CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS ........
PRICES, IMPORTS, AND BYPRODUCTS .
RECENT FISHERY PUBLICATIONS: ..c-csceeee .
FISH AND WILOLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ...
MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS ..0.0-c+ceseeece-

Illustrator-- Gustaf T. Sundstrom
Compositors-- Jean Zalevsky, Carolyn Wood, Betty Coakley

Photograph credits:

Page 6--R. P. Elliott; p. 10--N. B. Wigutoff.

INTERIOR--DUPLICATING SECTION, WASHINGTON, D. C.

JOB #92055

es

OOES 'BDV1SOd AO LNAWAVd

ALBACORE TUNA EXPLORATION IN ALASKAN AND ADJACENT Wé MT iii

To study further the range of the albacore tuna andto explore the possibilities
of establishing a commercial fishery for this tuna off the Alaskan coast, the
Exploratory Fishing and Gear De-
velopment Section of the Branch
of Commercial Fisheries, U, S,
Heap or cottm ine} 2 ish and Wildlife Service, used

ee the 100-foot all-steel tuna
clipper Oregon out of Seattle
in the summer and autumn of
1949. Fishery Leaflet 376,
Albacore Tuna Exploration in
Alaskan and | Adjacent Waters-—

1949, 1949,isa report of this oper=-
Braided Hylon or ation,

Linen Leader
5 Fathaas

AFPTER-DECEK PLAN OF THE ORE! MAKE-UP OF TUNA TROLLING LINE
GEAR RIGGED FOR SURFACE TROLL: ca
[Beer Bumper

Included in this 33-page
leaflet is a discussion of the
history of the West Coast alba-
core fishery; the purpose and
plan of the Oregon's explora-

DIAGRAM OF TROLLING GEAR USED BY THE OREGON tion; abundance and location of
albacore; effectivenessof gear

used; water temperatures; size of albacore; analysis of albacore food; use of live
bait and its problems; and tuna indicators,

The 1949 exploration, discussed in this report, undertaken with the view of
studying albacore movements in the northeastern Pacific and the possibility of
establishing a tuna fishery in Alaskan waters, represents only a small beginning,
and much more exploration must be carried on over a period of years before any
definite picture of tuna migration can be formed, The Oregon took albacore over
several seamounts, and future work may shed light on the possibility of accumula-
tion of tuna in these areas, Oceanographic data collected furnishes some reason
for believing that commercial quantities of albacore may be present in Alaskan
waters at certain times, but this needs verification,

NOTE: DATA ON 1950 ALBACORE TUNA EXPLORATIONS IN ALASKAN AND ADJACENT WATERS BY THE JOHN N.
COBB, A FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE EXPLORATORY VESSEL, WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEAR
UTURE.

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