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EAE atrele i porentynaaeats : earthen archi as aH, ae anit Nt ita Doe aaa tf sas fdr detec wen nt: Hee eter teal tn ante Aa Tp ena Pia La pon ei purely chia “ wanes seyret ated eta bis pasa taht Pal re a ‘ Hse ane ae Hi a ay ‘ yeaa ts Bracers para Bangs dshsune AD yar int ht aha ‘ger 4 sane 4 sp Pot rate age ons f ‘ Be atah ‘ Tip ar ait SA 4 3 “hiatatonatetels el meat atin iota ees aerate a reais noe etre if Ruane aies id atiehineet ash te Panett zoe a Rea .& — ~— = - NS Mad —— Pe we < = << = < = = = = 2 Senet z = z RNS = > = (o) 3 co) <= 9 SS *& x= fo) x= ZN 8 Z g ZR 8 B a = 2 = 2 = . 2 = 8 Fr . 2 a 2 7 a ie = — = S SJINYVYSIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3IYVYSIT LIBRARI 7) S 2) = wy > ce oD 2 mi n pas 20 es Oo MS ul 7) a = (wee, = o st WAS z = = > = > > = ir "DL. > = : = E i fit. i zs = a - zm Hue 2 = m 2 m 2 = n* : = a) wo z wo z ap) = <2) = S,Saluvydi7 LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS Saluvudi7 LIBRARI z ce aa = cays z = =<. = z =] = \, = = z SS : Z NX z z fe) x fe) rT OWE SG re) re = = = re S\S Z, 2 E > s —. —_, 2 a 2 ee: S z N INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS S31YVYE!IT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILS LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN = (ap) = w = = 22) o uw a wl & Fe w = log = NS a = % = oa < VAG. < ‘ < S a Cc s&s o iS (= oc 4 a RONEN 4 = 5 z 5 Tt 2 5 3 a 2 -! za = 2 z =) S$ S3IYVYdIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILALILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3IYVYUYEIT LIBRARI = a eS = z ie z Sy ° o < ee) =) = ° wo = Be] = 7 = 7 E a = = ES oa = pa = ba rs a S 2 F 2 E a Zz Ay Zz | o z oD _ 2 o N_INSTITUTION ,, NOILOLILSNI_ NVINOSHLINS SAINWH AIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN _ a < & = = = BE KN = = 3 ~ 5 = SNS F 3 z | a \ wo a Dy 2 We 2 a w = 2 = 2 SWS 2 = Zz = > = > = vik go> = > %) i n ae 77) ies nv = IS S3JIYVYEIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI oe a ws - a a dg 2 en ige i 2 2 z = GE = we at x SI cake ip 4h SI x 4 a 4o c Wy iP S = e = e oc = x Yi 4 4 =4 co 5 a YG ro) 2 fo) = fe) S Zz m Zz 4 = yes 2 IN_INSTITUTION | NOILNLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS [SA1dVYdIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN, INSTITUTION _ NOILALILS \» = fo) = f) = fo) = io) oO a es] ; = wo = oO — ee) = 2 \. 8 x 5 a 5 = : = Wwe > : : : : : = WY E : 5B OE? 5 oP z Sg dal be it z oD z IS Saluvyaly a «SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILALILSNI _NVINOSHLINS SAlUWe att = < s : = < = > oj z a a z st Z. E Nv 2 Z, E Z, E 2 a XS S = = 2 a N_ INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLIWS LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILALILS oe ILNLILSNI BRARIES SMITHSONIAN LLALILSNI LLALILSNI 3RARIES LLNLILSNI BRARIES BRARIES = " es = < = < = fe ley, z = z aS z = Se th “a (Se) ¥ Se \ at NEO NE? 4% a 2 E 2 = 2 S 2 = = z = = F e = = ~ = ‘ rd 2 & THSONIAN _INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS Sa 1YvVYalti LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NO = ; = 7p) S 3 = 6 @& & w G ul = feed = WS « = « 2 cx =| < a) Ry tee 4 ” 3 "= w > = ak a a < = < a ses Eas ~’ oc S o = oc S a Si © = mo. = a = o Sok =) z -_) z =) Fe =N 7 THSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S31YVYUEIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NO Ly = za £ z ir z a] ° WS ° o 2 «oO = af aa - S- i Pe) = Ps] - ( $Y > =) = > 2 4 > =e ws, = | ome = > Fe {5 Cs 2 - = 2 = a = aK 3 nw aa g m 2 E 2 NOSHLINS S31YVYUE!IT LIBRARIES NOILANLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S31YVYUEIT LI NVINOSHLINS S31Y¥WvYsIT n z = ” z ” Zz = 2 XS = SP = = Be Ce 09 AY ro) rT SLX re) oie Oo § B 2 RY 2 tM % fe a z = NS cS 2% = z = & a . 2 es ; a ai THSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILMLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS S3IYVYAIT_ LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN _ INSTITUTION | NC Sw ; - ~ 1o w a a ow a wl o us = o 4 gs WG x = x. = a /, = < = Was < 4 < = = re ~ a = ee) = D = 2D SX 5 » [; = = = = = > SSE > | a 2 ee = t = W'S = te o S o be aes o ITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILMLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S31uvuaIT_ LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NC eS 2) z ” Za re ” Zs 7) aah: = < = Sad = < = x = a z = z \, a 8 Ng Z 8 E (8 NAG § WANE ‘ SS . a Rae . aS q x > Ws ro) 36 ro) Se a re) x s WY Sg E Nyy Zz. = z SRN S E Nv 2 See 3 = eae = Velie INOSHLINS SAIYVYEIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILOLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS S3IYWYaIT_LI S ” = ” x = uw a ul a us & w S = = era x - XY fae a << =I < KA < Mg < STE a ay foo ie = a = SO oo = MYA PY) dO) Tih th Neel ate JLT Ii Ne “f YHEZX F’sBes seq lll fem er ol.21, No.1 < = JANUARY 1959 FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE United States Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FRED A. SEATON, SECRETARY FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ARNIE J. SUOMELA, COMMISSIONER BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES DONALD L. MCKERNAN, DIRECTOR DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES HAROLD E. CROWTHER, CHIEF A review of developments and news of the fishery industries prepared in the BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. Joseph Pileggi, Editor H. M. Bearse, Assistant Editor Mailed free to members of the fishery and allied industries. Address correspondence and requests to the: Chief, Branch of Market News, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Department of the Interior, Washington 25, D. C. Publication of material from sources outside the Bureau is not an endorsement. The Bureau is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions contained in material from outside sources. Although the contents of the publication have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely, reference to the source is appreciated. The printing of this publication has been approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, May 21, 1957. 5/31/60 COVER: A 800-pound otter-trawl catch of Gulf of Mexico red snappers on the deck of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries chartered ex- ploratory fishing vessel Silver Bay. The red snappers were caught in September 1958 during an exploratory trip, the purpose of which was to obtain more facts on the distribution and availability of snapper and grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. (See November 1958 issue, p. 38.) Page A Survey of the American and Japanese Albacore Tuna Fisheries in the Pacific Through Examination of Catch Statistics, PANO bina uo OOH oom D MOO OOo CO OD ODDO Fb OD Had blo CO OOO OD OO moo oD Oo Huns Aon 200015 1 The European Common Market and the United States Fishing Industry, by Thomas G. Lopp 13 Page RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES: ........ 21 TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS (Contd.): Technical Note No. 49 - Measurement of Rancidity in North Atlantic Fisheries Investigations: Fishery Products by 2-Thiobarbituric Acid Method, Fall 1958 Haddock Surveys Indicate Poor Catches by Boyd A. Ryan, and M. E. Stansby ........... 21 Until 196 Olin vcneitetecetelaeie) eielieliellelle «Me il=tel-Uelns 36 TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS: .........-+..+- 24 Instruments Used with Television Camera Calibrated Alaska: (M/V Albatross IIL Cruise 121)........ athe 37 Sea and Land Areas Surveyed for New Maps and Oysters: _ Cad Soo odadopoocondonudopavodeno 4 24 Deep-Water Chesapeake Bay Oyster Losses Due to California: Oxygen Deficiency .......+--e+2+0+e+- 200s 38 Aerial Census of Commercial and Sport Fishing Con- Divers Study Behavior of Starfish and Industry Con- tinued (Airplane Spotting Flight 58-18) ........ 24 troleMethodsticis ss cherstelon ceed one ceede totem some 39 Salmon Catch Lower but Spawning Higher in 1958 . . 25 Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Oyster Set Poor in 1958 4) Sardine Population Survey Off Coast of Central Baja Oyster-Setting Experiment in Artificial Pond Shows California (M/V Alaska Cruise 58-A-5) ....... 25 IDA HMAAdOoA SOO NOG OUDoodAdos D5 42 Canned Tuna, Salmon, and Sardines Purchasing Pat- Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations: ternsyUnder Study) eeieleieiencacrenstelstersnelsn elell=Naiilie) is 27 Tuna Feeding Behavior in Line Islands Area Studied Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products, January- (M/V Charles H. Gilbert Cruise 42) .......... 42 Septemberel 9 oSirpea-n-ieieeaed en sitaa Menai ame uieie tien 27 Tuna Tagging Returns Reveal Growth Rates and ColumbiavRiver Basin Fis sce eevee yisislis) = 16 + 6 28 Movements! 200 0 ees oe ee ee ens 43 Federal Purchases of Fishery Products: Young Tuna Caught with New-Type Midwater Trawl Department of Defense Purchases, January-October (M/V Hugh M., Smith Cruise CUM SwotAunanc. oO olaceo.0 © 44 WEE boob atganas deeb pa do Dodon nO KOOoDO 28 Salmon: Lue eE Florida: Aerial Census Used to Count Salmon Egg Nests In MisheniesReseanch oN. je tele ana eMepattallll-MeyiMellon= lea’ 29 Columbia River Basin .........:..:-- ena 45 Fur Seals: New Oregon Salmon Hatchery Completed ....... 45 Prices Higher for Alaska Fur-Seal Skins at Fall Sea Lions: INIGNN Goo bo te HOw dio oOo Oo O.0 010000 0'0.6 30 Population off California Coast Increases .......- 46 Great Lakes: Tuna: Lake Trout and Whitefish Markets at Chicago, California Pack and Cannery Receipts Set New Record 47 byGAeA ALD ANON yejeiteliclellaisieeelehols lite) irii= kei eMelo meats 31 United States Clipper Surveys Tuna Resources off Lampricide Testing Extended to Canada ........ 32 West African Coast ........-. Looqodonanep. 47 Great Lakes Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research: United States Fishing Fleet Additions ........... 48 New Program for Great Lakes Started ......... 33 United States Fishery Landings, January-October 1958 48 Lampara Seines Tested in Smelt Fishery (Cruise 1, U. S. Foreign Trade: Ole ars, WERE) “Goole amon oo uo mo dodo 6 33 Edible Fishery Products, August 1958 .........- 50 Great Lakes Fishery Investigations: Groundfish Fillet Imports, October 1958 ........ 50 Survey of Western Lake Erie Fish Populations Con- Imports of Canned Tuna in Brine Under Quota 50 tinued (M/V Cisco Cruise 11) ........... ks 34 Wholesale Prices, November 1958 ..........+---. 51 Western Lake Superior Herring and General Fishery FOREIGN: ep-cetletieucychetelstanoiehelerlelesietellolshiclelleliejfelellonaie 52 Survey Continued (M/V Siscowet Cruise 7)...... 34 International: Maine Sardines: Food and Agriculture Organization: Canned Stocks, November 1, 1958 .,.......... 35 Malaya Becomes Member of Indo-Pacific Fisheries North Atlantic Fisheries Exploration and Council yayecsvch her vicacmatenarel dioMonleleweloteieial uve 52 Gear Research; U. S. Government Appoints Liaison Officer for Sec- Exploratory Fishing for Launce off Southern New ond World Fishing Vessel Congress ......... 52 England and Long Island Unsuccessful (M/V Dela- Many Early Registrations Received for Second ware! Cruise (6) of 0. 26 cin wi kei « sc je = = ieyallal 36 World Fishing Vessel Congress ........... 52 Contents Continued Page 97. sy i") wl = want snntttl COMMERCIAL F January 1959 Washington 25,D.C. Vol.21,No.1 A SURVEY OF THE AMERICAN AND JAPANESE ALBACORE TUNA FISHERIES IN THE PACIFIC THROUGH EXAMINATION OF CATCH STATISTICS By Tamio Otsu* CONTENTS Page Page meat BO a a oo ooo oa 6 OG. ooMoeG 1 Albacore Landings in the United States and Japan 4 Major Pacific Albacore Fisheries: ........ 2 Trends in the Japanese Fisheries:......... 6 Japanese Spring and Summer Live -Bait Fishery . 2 Temperate North Pacific Fisheries ....... 6 United States West Coast Summer and Fall Fisheries in the Tropical Pacific ........ 7, HiQS5/ oo Oo 0 poo Do Quic. 6. 00-0 ama 2 Relationship of Albacore Taken in the Various 8 Japanese Winter Long-Line Fishery....... 3 BASHeTieStWlets,. «orc Momeni neem mene Cte ehety Oyoke 8 Other Japanese Fisheries for Albacore:...... 3 DIES Hope obodab ooo os boohoo 10 Mothership-Type Fishery. ........... 3 SiMe eo bodatos0s 6h ooo ot Oi 10 Rorerqu—Based!hisheries) Wii's «ilies! ie sic) se PiterdtcHreiGited mesial lomeltememelte 6 oo c00 Duo oO 12 ABSTRACT Catch statistics of the American and Japanese albacore fisheries in the temperate and tropical Pacific Ocean are presented. There has been a fourfold increase in Pacific albacore landings since the prewar years. The Japanese account for about 75 percent of the landings. Judging by catch statistics alone, the two Japanese North Pacific fisheries appear to be quite stable, even at the present high level of production. There is no indication of a declining resource. While the Japanese South Pacific fisheries are relatively recent in origin, and have not stood the test of time, the present status is encouraging. The A- merican fishery has been beset with marked fluctuations in landings but there is no evi- dence that fishing has adversely affected the stock. All indications on the present status of the albacore fisheries point to the parallel rise in effort and catch. INTRODUCTION The three major fisheries for albacore tuna, Germo alalunga (Bonnaterre), in the Pacific, all of which are located in the Temperate Zone of the North Pacific Ocean are: (1) the Japanese spring and summer live-bait fishery, (2) the United States west coast summer and fall fishery, and (3) the Japanese winter long-line fishery. In addition, the Japanese tuna long-liners catch much albacore in the trop- ical Pacific (see fig. 1). Statistics from each of these fisheries are presented. Certain biological infor- mation is also examined for possible clues to the relationship of fish making up the stocks in the various fisheries. By examining the statistics, it is hoped that enough evidence can be gathered which will lead to a knowledge of the population structure of the Pacific albacore, and more important, to a definition of the present status of this important resource. For a population study, much more detailed statistics than are available would be required. * Fishery Research Biologist, Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Honolulu, dhs Et 2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 This study as well as others pertaining to the albacore resources in the Pacific are being conducted by the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations of the U. S. Bu- reau of Commercial Fisheries under Public Laws 329 (80th Congress) and 466 (Sal- tonstall-Kennedy Act, 83rd Congress). MAJOR PACIFIC ALBACORE FISHERIES JAPANESE SPRING AND SUMMER LIVE-BAIT FISHERY: A description of this fishery has been given by Van Campenl/, and only a few of the more important points are repeated here. This fishery is conducted near Japan from late April to July, and is a part of the more extensive pole-and-line fishery for skipjack (Katsu- wonus pelamis). Boats fishing for skipjack tuna, which appear in early spring off southern Japan, begin to fish for albacore which become available off central Hon- shu, Japan, about late April or early May. The surface schools of albacore follow the northward extension of the warm Kuroshio Current along the coast of Japan; JAPANESE Deen JAPANESE Wy LIVE BATT ONG-LINER JAPANESE TROPICAL peep |. AUSTRALIA ils cou: co Fig. 1 - General localities of the major Pacific albacore fisheries. their availability quickly reaches a peak in June, and then rapidly drops off as schools move farther offshore to the eastward. During July, the boats begin to return to skipjack fishing as the albacore go out of range or disperse and become harder to locate. Van Campen has pointed out that in recent years there was an eastward ex- tension of the albacore grounds from about 155° E, to 165° E. longitude, and that this undoubtedly reflects the growing proportion of larger vessels in the fleet which are able to go farther offshore in pursuit of the fish. UNITED STATES WEST COAST SUMMER AND FALL FISHERY: The albacore occurs along the Pacific Coast of North America from southern Baja California to Alaska between latitudes 25° and 59° N. (Clemens 1955). Since 1945 the majority of the fish have been caught in an area between Baja California and San Francisco with- in 400 miles of the coast, while between 1937 and 1945 large quantities were also taken off Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. The year 1956 marked the re- turn of the albacore to Pacific northwest waters after several years' virtual ab- i1/Van Campen, W. G. Manuscript. The Japanese Summer Albacore Fishery. Submitted for publication. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3 sence. Typically, the fishery begins in June off southern California, develops rap- idly inJuly, reaches a peak in August and September, declines during October and November, and ends in December. Like the Japanese live-bait fishery, it is based on surface schools of albacore. The fish are taken by trolling and live-bait fishing. As the season progresses the fishery tends to move northward along the coast and also outward from the coast. JAPANESE WINTER LONG-LINE FISHERY: This fishery is conducted between November and April over a broad area of the Temperate Zone of the North Pacific extending from the coast of Japan to the vicinity of 175° W. longitude generally be- tween 30° and 40° N, latitude (Nakamura 1951, Suda 1954). The fishing ground grad- ually shifts southward as the season progresses, being centered between about 34° and 40° N. in November, and between 26° and 329 N. in March. This southward movement ceases in March and there is a reversal in the movement of the fishery beginning in April. The winter long-line fishery is terminated in April, and the live- bait fishery begins soon after. The description of this fishery as well as that of the live-bait fishery are over- ly simplified versions of a more complex picture. Van Campen!/ pointed out that while Japanese writers often imply that all pole-and-line fishing is done in the spring and summer and all long-lining in winter, some albacore are taken by both methods in all months of the year. OTHER JAPANESE FISHERIES FOR ALBACORE Two relatively new fisheries, which yield significant amounts of albacore for the Japanese, are the mothership-type fishery and the so-called ''foreign-based fish- ery,'' both of which exploit albacore along with other species of tunas in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Fishing is done by the long-line method. The mothership-type tuna operations began soon after World War II, while the fisheries based in foreign ports are of more recent origin. MOTHERSHIP-TYPE FISHERY: The first large-scale commercial mother ship- type tuna expedition in Japanese fisheries history was undertaken by the Taiyo Fish- ing Co., Ltd., in June 1950 following a directive issued by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers which permitted the Japanese to send expeditions to certain defined areas of the high seas adjacent to the Caroline, Marianas, and Marshall Is- lands, This expedition was composed of a 10,000-ton mothership and 25 long-line boats ("catchers''), which fished for a period of 24 months. Details of this venture and several which followed, as well as the history of this type of operation in the Pacific, are presented by Shimada (1951), Ego and Otsu (1952), and Van Campen (1952). Such expeditions were authorized under the premise that fishing vessels operate only within a specified area, and under the rigid control and supervision of a mothership. That the Japanese found these large-scale ventures successful is at- tested to by the fact that they have been continued even after all restrictions on movements on the high seas were removed by the ratification of the Peace Treaty. The announced plans for 1958 mothership operations involve three separate ex- peditions as follows: A 3,000-ton mothership and 23 catchers operating from May 20 through September 30, a 3,800-ton mothership and 35 catchers operating between May 10 and September 20 fps an 11,000-ton mothership with 50 catchers operating in August and November. These operations are reported to be similar in scope to the 1957 operations. FOREIGN-BASED FISHERIES: At the present time there are two fisheries op- erating out of foreign ports in the Pacific; one at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and 1/See page 2. 2/Fisheries Economic News. 4 COMMERCIAL FISHE RIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 the other at Pago Pago, American Samoa. No statistics are available for the opera- tion based in New Hebrides; an enterprise reportedly involving American, British, and Japanese capital. According to information available, the fishing base was com- pleted in November 1957, and operations were under way in July 1958 with about eight Japanese tuna long-line boats. The fishery in American Samoa, a joint enterprise between a large United States west coast cannery and certain Japanese fishing firms, began in 1954 (Van Campen 1954), Starting with a small fleet of 7 Japanese tuna boats, this operation has ex- panded considerably, and today the American Samoa cannery is being served by a fleet numbering more than 30 long-liners. Albacore, along with other tunas and spearfishes, are landed throughout the year, There is no clear seasonal variation in albacore landings but the more productive months appear to be from August through February. ALBACORE LANDINGS IN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN Annual United States west coast and Japanese albacore landings are presented in figure 2. These and other statistics given in this article are in short tons. The source data are those cited by Van Campen.!/ The Japanese landings include fish taken by the two major fisheries as well as lesser amounts landed by independently - o z ° te ive ° rh) fa) z aq Qa > So xr - Fig. 2 = Japanese and United States west coast annual albacore landings, 1930-57.* *The 1957 Japanese landings were obtained from statistics provided by the Nankai Regional Fisheries Research Laboratory, Japan. operating tuna long-liners from tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, The statistics do not permit segregation of Pacific and Indian Ocean albacore land- ings. However, since most of the albacore are taken in Pacific waters, it is proba- bly of little consequence to ignore the distinction, and perhaps even consider the In- dian Ocean as a further extension of the Pacific grounds. There are certain irrecon- cilable discrepancies. Judging from the landings shown in figure 2 and the annual landings of the two major fisheries shown in figure 4, it appears that Japanese land- ‘ings accounted for by other than the two major fisheries are included in the figures of total Japanese landings only for certain years. The figures as given by Japanese sources are presented without any adjustments. The United States landings of albacore were at an extremely low level during the early 1930's. Albacore providied the major portion of the tuna pack from the ° beginning of the industry in California in 1903 to the early 1920's. There were aver- age landings of about 9,000 tons a year between 1916 and 1925--the years for which statistics are available. Following a record year in 1925 when about 11,000 tons 1/See page 2. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 5 were landed, albacore suddenly failed to appear on the West Coast in its usual abun- dance. For the next 12 years the albacore catch was negligible in the United States. In waters off the Pacific Northwest, albacore showed up in commercial quantities for the first time in 1937, and a commercial pack was put up in Oregon and Wash- ington in 1938 (Powell and Hildebrand 1950). This marked the beginning of a fishery in the Pacific Northwest which grew for several years and reached a peak in 1944 with landings of 17,000 tons. This fishery then declined until virtually no landings were made in 1952. In 1956 the albacore again returned in commercial quantities to waters off the Pacific Northwest. 60 |-—— THOUSANDS OF TONS cad 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 Fig. 3 - Total annual albacore landings (United States and Japan), 1930-57. Following the recovery of the fishery around 1938, there have been some mark- ed fluctuations in the landings from year to year, reaching relatively high levels in 1944 (26,000 tons) and in 1950 (36,000 tons), After peak landings in 1950, there was a gradual drop to a low of 13,500 tons in 1954. But in the last few years landings have again increased, The Japanese began to export albacore to the United States in 1931 following the drastic drop in landings on the United States west coast. Prior to the establishment of this important export market, which has grown steadily over the years and has in recent years become a matter of serious concern to the United States fishing indus- try, ES als fishermen had never sgQught this fish for domestic consumption (Van Campenl/ ). The albacore is considered too soft in texture, too pale in color, and even tasteless, by the Japanese who customarily eat tuna raw (''sashimi''), The ex- port market, which developed in response to the failure of the California albacore fishery in the late 20's, has continued to grow because of the increasing demand in the United States for canned albacore which could not be supplied by United States landings alone. Like most large commercial fisheries, the albacore fishery in the United States occasionally suffers serious setbacks due to economic difficulties. For example, Samson (1955) points out that had price disputes not hampered fishing in the middle of the 1955 season, albacore production that year could have been much greater be- cause there apparently were unusually heavy runs of albacore at that time. However, i/See page 2. ‘ 6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 1 it appears that in general the West Coast landings have fluctuated according to the availability of fish along the West Coast. Japanese landings of albacore are also dependent upon economic considerations, to perhaps an even greater extent than the United States fishery. This situation is aggravated by the fact that nearly all albacore are exported. It has been reported that when an unfavorable export situation exists, and prices are low for albacore taken in the spring live-bait fishery, many of the boat owners are reluctant to go in- to winter long-lining for albacore, and may instead, turn their efforts toward fish- ing in the tropical Pacific or engage in some other fisheries such as that for mack- erel (Anonymous 1958). In the live-bait fishery also, it is possible that when con- ditions are unfavorable many of the boats may continue fishing for skipjack rather than fish for albacore. It is not within the scope of this paper, however, to deal with the complex economic considerations. The Japanese landings fluctuated little between 1930 and the onset of World War IL, averaging a little over 16,000 tons a year (fig. 2). Fishing for albacore apparent- ly continued for a few years after the start of the war but no statistics are available. Following the war there was a very rapid recovery, and by 1950 the production ex- ceeded the prewar levels. The rapid development of this fishery canbe seen more clear- ly if we examine the average landings for different periods. The 1930-35 landings averaged 16,706 tons a year, and during the 1936-40 period the average was 16,110 tons. After the war, from 1946 to 1950, the average dropped slightly to 14,344 tons. The average landings in the most recent period, 1951 to 1957, climbed to 56,771 tons, or more than three times those of prewar years. In comparison with this increase in the level of landings, the United States land- ings increased at a far less spectacular rate. From an average of 5,562 tons ayear in the 1936-40 period, during which there was a recovery from the virtual failure in the fishery, landings increased to an average of 22,755 tons a year during the post- war period of 1946-50. In the recent period, 1951-57, the average landings have been 18,976 tons, thus showing a slight decrease from the preceding period. The combined yearly albacore landings of the United States and of Japan for 1930 to 1957 are shown in figure 3. With the exception of the war years, total land- ings of the two countries have shown a rather marked upward trend. From average annual landings of just under 17,000 tons in the 1930-35 period, the present level has reached approximately 76,000 tons (1951-57). This fourfold increase over the prewar period reflects the greatly increasing United States demand for canned tuna, of which albacore is the most highly prized. That Japan is the leading producer of albacore is clearly seen in figure 2. On- ly during the war years and a few years following did the United States take the lead in total production. From 1951 to 1957, Japan accounted for an average of 75 per- cent of the total combined landings of the two countries. TRENDS IN THE JAPANESE FISHERIES TEMPERATE NORTH PACIFIC FISHERIES: Annual Japanese landings of the spring live-bait and winter long-line fisheries are compared in figure 4. Similar statistics are unavailable for 1938-1945, From 1931 through 1937 there was a steady decline in the landings of the live-bait fishery. The long-line fishery, on the other hand, showed some increase around 1935. This increase was due largely to a con- certed effort made by the Japanese Government to compensate for the decline in pole-and-line catch by exploring grounds farther offshore beginning in 1933. The exploratory program resulted in an extension of the long-line grounds eastward. The landings correspondingly increased to a point where this fishery constituted the major source of albacore to the Japanese for a few years following. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 7 In recent years the live-bait fishery has come to dominate tuna landings. Be- tween 1951 and 1957, the live-bait fishery accounted for an average of 64 percent of the landings made by these two fisheries. This increased yield of the live-bait fishery has also been accompanied by an extension of grounds eastward, which was made possible by the addition of larger vessels in the fleet. 7) z o = re o o fe} z a oO =) ce} =r = Fig. 4 - Comparison of the landings of the Japanese live-bait and long-line albacore fisheries. (Long- line landings do not include fish taken on mothership -type operations or by vessels based in foreign ports. ) The 1957 figures are estimated from monthly statistics provided by the Nankai Regional Fish- eries Research Laboratory, Japan. FISHERIES IN THE TROPICAL PACIFIC: For convenience in discussing the catch statistics of tropical albacore, two distinct fisheries have been described for the tropical Pacific, (1) the mothership-type fishery, and (2) the foreign-based fish- ery. In (1) the fishing vessels operate around a mothership using the latter asa base, and in (2) the vessels work out of a foreign land base. But there is little basis for considering these as separate fisheries. Both exploit subsurface tunas by the long-line method, and there are no clear seasonal or area differences that would make each distinct from the other. While not given a special designation like the other fisheries, the numerous in- dependent Japanese long-liners which ply the waters of the tropical Pacific and east- ern Indian Oceans are nevertheless important contributors of long-line albacore. These vessels, capable of operating for considerable periods without logistic support of motherships or land bases, account for significant quantities of tropical tuna, Their contributions are reflect- ed in the tremendous increase inover- all Japanese albacore landings (fig. 2). Table 1 - Albacore and Yellowfin Landings of Japanese Mothership Fleets!/ The annual albacore landings by the mothership-type operations are given in table 1. For purposes of comparison the landings of yellowfin tuna (Neothunnus macropterus) areal- so shown. 1/1957 figures are unavailable. Sources: Annual Reports of Catch Statistics on Fishery and Agriculture, Statistics and Survey Division, Japanese Min- istry of Agriculture and Forestry, 1955 edition; 1956 fig- ures, source cited as the Japanese Fisheries Agency. Yellowfin dominated the mother - ship landings during the first few years of operation, while albacore has be- come an important constituent only in more recent years. This is mainly a reflection of the shift in area of operations of the fleets, which during the period of restrictions exploited waters of the U. S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, lying to the north of the Equator, where the predom- inant tuna species are the yellowfin and big-eyed (Parathunnus sibi) tunas. Probably 8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 because of the favorable acceptance of long-line caught albacore in the market, many of the fleets now operate in more southern waters, such as in the vicinity of Fiji and Tonga Islands, where albacore are found in great numbers. In 1955 and 1956, alba- core landings outweighed, yellowfin landings by 40 and 45 percent, respectively. Un- questionably there has been a shift in emphasis on the part of the Japanese toward a higher production of albacore in recent years. Table 2 - Albacore and Yellowfin Landings Table 2 lists the annual landings of of Japanese Foreign-Based Vessels the foreign-based vessels. These are essentially landings of long-liners based Lis ...| in American Samoa since the New He- brides operation did not begin until No- vember 1957. The albacore and yellow= fin are also the major tuna species tak- en by this fishery. Here again, a shift Sources: 1954 and 1957 figures are from records of cannery in dominant species is seen, similar to in America Samoa. Weights of gilled and gutted yellow- that shown by the mothership-type fish- fin were roughly adjusted to round weights by adding 9 per- er cent; 1955 and 1956 figures ascribed to Japanese Fisheries y- Agency. In 1954 yellowfin was the predom- inant species, and albacore accounted for only 30 percent of the combined albacore and yellowfin landings. In 1955, albacore accounted for 53 percent; in 1956, 64 per- cent; and in 1957, 78 percent of the combined landings of these two species. Thus there has been a gradual tendency for albacore to figure more importantly in the Samoa catch each year since the inception of this fishery. This shift has come about from a movement away from the old fishing grounds, which in 1954 and early 1955 were chiefly in the vicinity of Samoa and to the north. As vessels began working in more distant and southerly waters (e.g. Tonga Islands), catches of albacore increased noticeably. Today, more and more fishing is done in waters productive of albacore, a shift in emphasis which can be attributed largely to the good canning quality of these long-line caught tropical albacore and the higher price this species generally commands. RELATIONSHIP OF ALBACORE TAKEN IN THE VARIOUS FISHERIES At present little is known of the relationship of albacore found in different parts of the Pacific Ocean. As mentioned, the bulk of the Pacific albacore production is from the Temperate Zone of the North Pacific with Americans and Japanese conduct- ing seasonal fisheries for the species. Available evidence from tag returns leads us to believe that there is a single population of albacore in the North Pacific (Blunt 1954, Ganssle and Clemens 1953, and Otsu MS2/), Albacore tagged off the United States west coast have been retaken off the coast of Japan, and those tagged in mid- ocean north of Hawaii have been retaken in the Japanese fishery as well as in the United States west coast fishery, thus showing that there is considerable movement of fish from one fishery to the other. The tag returns, therefore, support the con- tention that the Americans and Japanese are both exploiting a single, intermingling population of albacore in the Temperate Zone of the North Pacific. Furthermore, examination of gonads of albacore from various areas has shown that the Temperate Zone North Pacific fish are without exception juveniles, or are sexually-immature adults which evince no signs of incipient or past spawning (Otsu and Uchida, in press). It appears then that the North Pacific albacore are but a seg- ment of a much larger population which is ecologically separated into spawning and nonspawning components. This same study suggests that the spawning segment of the population occurs in tropical or subtropical waters, There may be a movement 3/Otsu, T. Manuscript. Albacore Migration and Growth in the North Pacific Ocean as Estimated from Tag Recoveries, Prepared for publication in Pacific Science, January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 9 of the larger fish from Temperate Zone waters into subtropical waters, possibly in- to the North Equatorial Current area where some spawning appears to take place (Ueyanagi 1957, Otsu and Uchida, in press), or possibly farther south into the equa- torial Pacific. It may be that these large fish spread out over a vast area in the tropical Pacific, or, as postulated by Suda (1956), the albacore occurring in the trop- ical South Pacific may comprise a spawning group of another population to be found in the southern hemisphere. The latter implies that the north Temperature Zone albacore is unrelated to the albacore of the tropical South Pacific now being exploit- ed by the Japanese. Obviously, there is much to be learned about the population structure of this valuable resource, While there does not appear to be any serious problems of over- exploitation facing any of the Pacific albacore fisheries at the present time, a knowl- edge of the population structure would be of vital importance in formulating conser- vation or management policies should they prove to be necessary. If there are sev- eral discrete populations of albacore, the depletion of one would of course not affect a fishery based on another population. If however, the Americans and the Japanese are exploiting a single population of albacore in the North Pacific, then the problems concerning the resource would necessarily be of mutualconcern. In this situation the effect of overexploitation would not be confined to whatever fishery is responsible, but would be shared by the other fishery as well. It is clear that the knowledge of the population structure constitutes a valuable adjunct to the understanding of problems inherent in these fisheries. reference is made to the apparently close relationship between the major North Pa- cific albacore fisheries, that good and bad years appear at the same time in both the American and Japanese fisheries. If such a relationship does exist, it would be well worth noting because the American fishery follows the Japanese live-bait fishery in time, and the American industry is ina position to benefit by an advance indication of the relative magnitude of the season's landings. Although not well documented, frequent | o 2 ° a ve fo} wo a 2 q o Ey [e) x = Fig. 5 - Comparison between the landings on the United In figure 5, landings on the United States west coast and by the Japanese live-bait fisher- States west coast and by the Japanese live- “’ ee. bait fisheries are compared. For the more recent years, after 1950, the landings show some corresponding trends. For example, 1952 was a particularly good year in both fisheries, and 1954 and 1955 were relatively poor.in both. This apparent re- lationship breaks down if the earlier years are included. From the point of view of fish sizes exploited by these two fisheries, with the American fishery taking smaller fish in general than the Japanese fishery (Otsu, T.3/), it would appear more reasonable to expect correspondence in landings not on a year-to-year basis, but rather between year N in the American fishery and year N/1 or N/2 in the Japanese fishery if the fluctuations in annual landings are reflections of actual abundance. This assumes that availability factors remain the same from year to year, which of course is not entirely true for the albacore. While it is possible that an exceptionally good year in the Japanese fishery would be follow- ed by a good season in the American fishery, or vice versa, there are probably oth- er factors which affect the occurrence of fish in the two fisheries to such an extent that any clear relationship in the landings could not be expected. B/Seeipagelsee Gey Ail . Mads GIs 10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW WOK Als INO, 1 DISCUSSION It has not been possible to compile satisfactory statistics on fishing effort to be examined in relation to the gross landings statistics presented in this report. It is known that following the war the Japanese have continued to enlarge their fish- ing fleets, and have built larger vessels capable of fishing in more distant waters. A recent survey conducted by the United States Department of the Interior (Anony- mous 1958) found that the number of Japanese fishing vessels had doubled since 1951. This expansion, although not applied to the albacore fishery alone, has never- theless affected the catch of albacore, particularly in that portion of the landings accounted for by the numerous independently-operating long-liners fishing indistant tropical waters, While the Japanese have increased their fishing capacity with a view toward increased production, the situation on the United States west coast has been quite different. According to the same survey, the United States albacore fleet has been reduced from 3,000 to 1,000 boats in recent years. The general situation can perhaps be deduced from conditions prevailing in the tuna industry as a whole. According to Samson (1957), the 1957 California tuna clipper fleet (vessels over 50 gross tons) numbered only 146 as compared to the 1951 total of 210. Similarly, the tuna purse-seine fleet underwent a drastic reduction of from 163 vessels in 1947 to 58 by the end of 1957, The available data on fishing effort do not permit a detailed analysis of the ef- fect of effort on the level of landings. Judging from gross catch statistics alone, it might be reasonable to deduce, however, that there was perhaps a parallel increase in catch with increasing effort in the Japanese fishery. The fact that their present landings are triple those of prewar years attests to this. It is of course possible that the catch has not kept pace with effort, and that there is a general leveling off of catch relative to the rising effort. It is not possible to determine this without de- tailed data on effort, but in the face of the continued high level of production in the last several years, it seems unlikely that exploitation has seriously affected the albacore stock. While it is true that the Japanese have had to build larger vessels and go farth- er from Japan in order to meet their catch goals, it must be realized that the pres- ent level of albacore landings is significantly higher than the prewar level. Their two North Pacific fisheries appear to be quite stable, even at the present high level of catch. There is no indication of a declining resource. While the South Pacific fisheries are relatively recent in origin and may not have stood the test of time, the present status of the Samoa-based fishery or the mothership operations is encourag- ing as far as albacore catch is concerned. Catch statistics, although not reliable when considered alone, indicate that the albacore resources in the Pacific are extensive, and that production can probably - be increased particularly by exploitation of new grounds, as shown by the Japanese in the South Pacific. In the absence of catch per unit-of-effort data it is not possible to evaluate the situation in the present North Pacific grounds with any degree of con- fidence. While the annual fluctuations in the landings of these fisheries from ''good" through ''poor'' years may possibly indicate that much heavier exploitation will not substantially increase production, it also appears unlikely that these fisheries are being overexploited at present. All indications on the present status of the albacore fisheries point to a parallel rise in effort and catch through a background of erratic natural fluctuations. SUMMARY 1. Catch statistics are presented for the major Pacific albacore fisheries which include: (1) the United States west coast summer to fall fishery, (2) Japanese winter midocean long-line fishery, (3) Japanese western Pacific spring to summer live-bait January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW iat fishery, (4) Japanese tropical Pacific mothership fishery, (5) Japanese tropical Pa- cific foreign-based fishery. 2. The American fishery has been beset with marked fluctuations in produc- tion, With the establishment of the canning industry in California in 1903, albacore landings increased until 1925 when the species suddenly failed to appear on the west coast in its usual abundance. Landings were negligible until around 1938. In the last decade, the landings have shown a downward trend following the peak year of 1950 with 36,000 tons until 1954 when approximately 13,500 tons were landed. The last few years again showed a trend toward greater catches. 3. The Japanese landings of albacore, which averaged a little over 16,000 tons a year between 1930 and the onset of World War II, have in recent years increased to an average of more than 55,000 tons (1951 to 1957), or more than three times those of prewar years. This tremendous increase reflects the increasing demand in the United States for canned albacore, since the bulk of the Japanese landings are exported to the United States for that purpose. 4, Japan accounts for an average of 75 percent of the combined albacore catch of the two countries, United States and Japan. 5. Of the several Japanese fisheries for albacore described, the two oldest, and also the most important, are the winter long-line and the spring-summer live- bait fisheries. Both of these fisheries are conducted in the Temperate Zone of the North Pacific. The live-bait fishery is the leading source of Japanese albacore. 6. The tropical fisheries are relatively recent in origin. Two distinct tropical fisheries, the mothership and the foreign-based, are described. There is a third category, not considered in this report due to lack of separate statistics, and this is the group of independent Japanese tuna long-liners which operate in tropical wa- ters without benefit of either a mothership or a foreign base. These vessels un- doubtedly account for significant quantities of albacore. In the tropics all albacore are taken by the long-line method, and seasons are not clearly defined as in the Temperate Zone North Pacific fisheries. It is shown that albacore has come to fig- ure more prominently in the landings of these fisheries in recent years, and this is believed due to a purposeful shift in species emphasis. 7. Since frequent reference is made to the apparently close relationship be- tween the American and Japanese fisheries, that good and bad years appear at the same time in both fisheries, the landings of the American fishery were compared with landings of the Japanese live-bait fishery. A relationship as alluded to is not clearly evident. 8. Although detailed data on albacore fishing effort are not available, the gen- eral situation prevailing in the tuna industries of the two countries may be indica- tive of any general trends. This shows that the Japanese have been building larger vessels and have continued to enlarge their fishing fleet ever since the end of World War II. In addition, they have expanded their fishing grounds to include more dis- tant waters. Along with this increasing effort, there was a parallel rise in the level of albacore landings. The situation is apparently quite different in the American al- bacore fishery and it is unlikely that there was any increase in fishing effort over the last few years. 9. Catch statistics of the various albacore fisheries show no evidence that ex- ploitation has had any detrimental effect on the albacore stock. There appears to have been a parallel rise in effort and catch through a background of erratic natural fluctuations. 12 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No: 1 LITERATURE CITED ANONYMOUS 1958. Winter Albacore Tuna Fishery Curtailed. Com- mercial Fisheries Reyiew, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 49-50 (source of article ascribed to the Nippon Suisan Shimbun, Dec. 9, 1957). 1958. Report of the Secretary of the Interior to the President and the Congress on Fresh or Frozen Yellowfin, Skipjack, and big-eye tuna. U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Washington, D. C. BLUNT, uCerEes) Ure 1954. Two Mid-Pacific Recoveries of California- Tagged Albacore. California Fish andGame, vol. 40, no. 3, p. 339. CLEMENS, H. B. 1955, Catch Localities for Pacific Albacore (Thunnus germo) Landed in California, 1951 through 1953. California Dept. of Fish and Game, Fisheries Bulletin, 100, 28 pp. EGO, K, and OTSU, T. 1952, Japanese Tuna-Mothership Operations in the Western Equatorial Pacific Ocean (June 1950 to June 1951), Commercial Fisheries Re- view, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 1-19. (Also Sep. No. 315.) GANSSLE, D. and CLEMENS, H. B. 1953. California~Tagged Albacore Recovered off Japan. California Fish and Game, vol. 39, no. 4, p. 443. NAKAMURA, H. 1951. TunaLong-LineFishery and Fishing Grounds. Association of Japanese Tuna Fish, Coop., Tokyo (Translated from the Japanese by W. G. Van Campen as U. S, Fish and Wild- life Service, Spec. Sci. Rept.: Fish. 112, 1954, 168 pp.) OTSU, T. and UCHIDA, R. N, In Press, Sexual Maturity and Spawning of Albacore in the Pacific Ocean. Scheduled for Publi- cation as U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fishery Bulletin. POWELL, D. E, and HILDEBRAND, H., A. 1950. Albacore Tuna Exploration in Alaskan and Adjacent Waters--1949, Fishery Leaflet 376, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 33 pp. SAMSON, V. J. 1955. California Fisheries, 1955, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Market News Service, 27 pp. 1957. California Fisheries, 1957. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Market News Service, 26 pp. SHIMADA, B. M. 1951, Japanese Tuna-Mothership Operations in the Western Equatorial Pacific Ocean. Commer- cial Fisheries Review, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 1-26. (Also Sep. No. 284.) SUDA, A. 1954, Albacore Studies - I. Size Compositionof Alba- core Taken in the North Pacific During the Period of Southward Movement. Bull. Jap. Soc. Sci. Fish., vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 460- 468. (Translation from the Japanese by W. G. Van Campen in U. S, Fish and Wildlife Serv- ice, Spec. Sci. Rept.: Fish. 182, pp. 6- 14.) 1956. Albacore of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Tuna Fishing, vol. 34, pp. 11-15. (Transla- tion Gomis Japanese by W. G. Van Campen in the files of Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investi- gations Library.) UEYANAGI, S,. 1957. Spawning of the Albacore in the Western Pa- cific. Rep. of Nankai Rea. Fish, Res. Lab. No. 6, pp. 113-124. ( No Tanslation from the Japanese by W. G. Van Campen in the files of Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations Library.) VAN CAMPEN, W. G. 1954, Japanese Mothership-Type Tuna-Fishing Op- erations in the Western Equatorial Pacific, June-October 1951. (Report on the seventh, eighth, and ninth expeditions.) Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 14, no. 11, pp. 1-9. (Also Sep. No. 326.) 1954. Tuna Fishing at American Samoa, January - April 1954, Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 16, no, 11, pp. 1-9. (Also Sep. No. 382.) SWIMMING SPEEDS OF FISH Swordfish can swim at speedsup to 70 miles an hour; the wahoo can hit 37, the blue shark 24, salmon 24, trout 23, pike 20, bass 12, carp 7.6, and man 4.01. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 13 THE EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET AND THE UNITED STATES FISHING INDUSTRY By Thomas G. Lopp * CONTENTS Page Page STIG o GuayoG aco O lo) GWG ees 13 Menhaden Oil Competes in the Six Countries May Revise Import European Organic-Oil Market. ...... 17 IMAG IETEDS RIS 6 6A) 6 ati tee ole oo one 14 Common Market Countries May Increase Trade Restrictions May Affect Organic-Oil Production. ....... ees United States Menhaden Industry .....- 15 Researchers Seek New Uses for Fish Oils. . 18 The United States Menhaden Other United States Fisheries Little HSE? 9. SIGIO (616 0 a0) OsOES ORG Clcnc A 16 Affected by Common Market. ......- 19 SUMMARY Six western European nations--Belgium Netherlands, Luxembourg, Federal Re- public of Germany (West Germany), France, and Italy--have agreed to unite their economies by eliminating tariffs among themselves and by establishing a uniform external tariff structure toward the rest of the world. To permit gradu- al adjustments to new conditions, the six countries will develop this new economic union, known as the ‘y European Common Market (also AG known as the European Economic Community), l/ overa period of 12 to 15 years and arrive at a com- plete customs union at the end of H 4 NETHERLANDS © 4 FEDERAL soe REPUBLIC® 4 ‘. OF ny BELGIUM 5 GERMANY. that period. The United States and py Sa other parties to the General Agree- * BOURG ment on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) : will seek to insure that the six FRANCE countries form their new tariff structure in conformance with the principals of that Agreement. Since the United States exports up to 90 percent of its production of menhaden oil to the Netherlands and West Germany, the United States has a direct interest in the Common Market tariffs to be established on this and other competitive oils. The six Common Market coun- tries tentatively plan to base the new tariff rates on the averages of pres- ent import fees. At present, men- haden oil enters the Netherlands and West Germany duty free. Belgium and Luxem- bourg have an import tax on fish oils; France and Italy have import duties on these * Commodity -Industry Analyst, Branch of Special Reports, Division of Industrial Research and Services, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Washington, D.C. 1/ Includes the overseas territories of Belgium, France, Netherlands, and Italy with some special provisions, Note: The European Common Market is not to be confused with the European Free Trade Area, which is a proposal now being negotiated. The Free Trade Area would associate the United Kingdom and 10 other member countries of the Or- ganization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) with the six-nation Common Market. A free-trade area differs from a customs union (such as the European Common Market) in that, while both eliminate internal restrictions, only the customs union has a common external tariff. Each member of a free-trade area maintains its own tariffs against imports from nonmembers. 14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 oils. A new uniform tariff rate on menhaden oil based on the average import fees of the six countries might be as high as 13 percent ad valorem. Margarine producers in the Netherlands and West Germany use United States menhaden oil as an ingredient of margarine because they can obtain it in large vol- ume at a low price. Several organic oils are used somewhat interchangeably, the proportion of each depending on the price of individual oils and on the grade of mar- garine being produced. Since menhaden oil enters this trade on the basis of its low price, an import duty established by the Common Market countries would lower its competitive position. In addition to tariff changes, the Common Market includes an agriculture-ex- pansion program and a program to fully use and develop the resources of member nations. These programs may also retard the imports of menhaden oil. Under these programs, should the six nations decide to expand their own production of organic oils, imports may be limited or excluded. Even without trade restrictions, the European margarine processors who now use menhaden oil may turn to the use of other ingredients. In anticipation of a need for new markets, United States chemists are attempting to find new uses for men- haden oil. On other United States fishery products the European Common Market probably will establish import tariffs that will be higher than the tariffs now enforced by the principal importing countries of the new economic union. The six countries also could exclude imports of fishery products altogether in an attempt to build up their own fisheries under the proposed programs mentioned. However, the United States now exports only small quantities of canned salmon, canned sardines, and other food fish to Common Market countries and even the complete exclusion of those fishery products would have little immediate effect on the food-fish fisheries of the United States. But in the future, if the Common Market countries improve their economy and develop increased purchasing power for dollar goods, and if liberal trade polic- ies prevail, the six nations may increase their buying capacity for United States fish- ery products. SIX COUNTRIES MAY REVISE IMPORT REGULATIONS On January 1, 1958, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, West Germany, France, and Italy signed a treaty to create a Common Market to improve their economies. If the treaty is enacted as planned, the pattern of European economic life will change markedly over the next few decades, and the effects of the change will be felt through- out the world. The countries formed the Common Market on January 1, 1959, Once the Common Market becomes fully effective, goods will move among the six coun- tries free of duty and the countries will have a uniform tariff on imports from the outside world. The basic idea of the Common Market appears simple, but the six nations face the complex problems of setting up a new tariff schedule that will put a minimum import burden on their own industries. At the same time, the six countries must meet their trade and tariff obligations to the rest of the world. The first real step toward integrating the six economies was the lowering of in- ternal tariffs and the liberalizing of import quotas on January 1, 1959. The Common Market countries had planned to begin to eliminate internal tariffs on January 1, 1959, and to begin to harmonize external tariffs on January 1,1962. They expect to complete the new tariff structure in 12to 15 years. Gradual modification over the long period will ease the strain on affected producers (both inside and outside the Common Market area), who must adjust to the new tariff structure. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 15 Temporarily, pending final negotiations for the 17-nation Free Trade Area, the Common Market countries have deviated from their original plan and have applied their January 1, 1959, tariff cuts toward all GATT nations. They did this as a ges- ture of good will--mainly toward other OEEC nations who fear a loss of trade. The OEEC nations had been invited to join the Common Market, but they chose to retain their economic sovereignties and form the less stringent Free Trade Area through which they not only hope to avoid loss of trade but hope to receive some of the bene- fits of the Common Market. Although the Common Market countries will cut their purchases of goods from the outside at first, under the originally proposed plan several factors indicate that the economic union can ultimately benefit outside countries. The Common Market system should stimulate more efficient production within the area and subsequently greater purchasing power with which to pay for imports. The Common Market treaty contains antitrust provisions against certain practices of cartels. In addition, the six countries may ease import-license and foreign-exchange restrictions, which now form stringent trade barriers in France and Italy. Statesmen of the six countries assure that the commercial policies will be designed to increase the Common Mar- ket trade with the rest of the world. The six countries propose to base most common external tariff rates on an a- rithmetical average of the tariff rates in effect on January 1, 1957. As these coun- tries begin to trade freely among themselves, producers on the outside--who wish to export goods into the Common Market area--may face new competition. Reduced internal tariffs and increased external tariffs may necessitate marketing adjustments for products with established markets in any of the six countries. In designing the new economic union, the Common Market countries must con- sider their individual foreign trade commitments. Since the six countries propose to reduce the tariff rates to each other and to form a common external tariff based on an arithmetical average of present tariffs, they must either obtain waivers from present tariff commitments and obligations contained in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), or renegotiate new duty rates. The GATT was organized to improve world economy by increased international trade; its members include the United States, the Common Market nations, and most of the other free nations of the world. Under the Gatt, if one member country re- duces or binds a duty to another, that duty shall apply equally to all GATT countries. Inasmuch as the GATT favors the establishment of free-trade areas and the advance- ment of world trade--and the Common Market proposes both--the GATT countries generally approve of the basic plan proposed by the six Common Market countries, although they do not approve in all cases of the proposed increased tariff rates. The United States will have a voice in shaping the structure of the Common Mar- ket when its representatives discuss with representatives of other Gatt countries the formation of the Common Market in relation to the GATT. The United States will encourage the Common Market to establish a tariff structure that will permit liberal entry of United States goods. TRADE RESTRICTIONS MAY AFFECT UNITED STATES MENHADEN INDUSTRY Unification of the tariffs of the six Common Market countries may create re- strictions that will affect the United States menhaden fishery. During recent years, up to 90 percent of the United States production of menhaden oil has been marketed in West Germany and the Netherlands where it has entered duty free. If the Com- mon Market should place a duty on menhaden oil under its proposed uniform tariff structure, United States producers could lose their price advantage, and thereby their principal market to closely competitive products. 2/ 2/ See p. 20 for latest information on eft +ct of Common Market on Netherlands importation of menhaden oil. 16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 The tariff rates on menhaden oil in the Common Market countries are as follows: For the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) and Italy there is no duty; West Germany also has no duty, except that oil containing more than 50- percent fatty acids is dutiable at 4 percent ad valorem; and France has a duty of 18 percent ad valorem which has been sus- pended temporarily. Other import trade Menhaden Oil, 1950-57 restrictions exist: Belgium-Luxembourg fYear ‘| Quantity! has a sales tax of 5 percent on duty-paid US$1,0 value; France has an import tax of 24 percent and a stamp tax of 3 percent of total cus- toms charges; and Italy has a sales tax of 3 percent on duty-paid value. France and Italy now restrict the quantities of fish oil imported from dollar countries through import-license requirements. A new external tariff rate on menhad- en oil based on the arithmetical average of official import duties for the four Com- mon Market customs areas would be 44 percent ad valorem. If a new rate is based on the arithmatical average of import duties and import taxes combined, the duty would be about 13 percent ad valorem. 1/ Converted from gallons at 7s pounds per gallon. Source: Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. Fishery Statis- tics of the United States, 1950-56, and Fish Meal and Qil, 1957. In 1956, a concession on menhaden oil was granted by the Benelux countries at the GATT Conference inGeneva. The concession granted in negotiations with the U- nited States consisted of binding the duty-free status of menhaden oil. This product is also exempt from Netherlands monoply fees or corresponding Belgium-Luxem- bourg charges if imported for further processing. Under the rules of the GATT, now that the duty-free status is bound, Benelux cannot place a duty on menhaden oil unless they would compensate by granting the United States another concession to offset any loss in trade caused by an increased duty. THE UNITED STATES MENHADEN INDUSTRY The United States now accounts for practically all the world's catch of menhad- en. Additional stocks of menhaden exist beyond the range of present operations of the United States fishing fleet, but commercial fishing possibilities are uncertain. The United States menhaden industry could increase its landings by establishing menhaden reduction plants in remote areas or by building floating reduction plants. Rather than expand fishing operations, the immediate concern of the menhaden in- dustry is to maintain existing markets for its products or develop new markets. Table 2 - United States Exports of Crude Fish-Body and Fish-Liver Oils, 1952-57 Country Quantity | Value ee 1955 r956 | 1957 | 1952 195s | 1954 TSG Ln re (1;000:1:bs2)arssacaansearce cian ae STi ances (USe 1000), (Common Market Countries: Netherlands henna: 23,933 17,827 87,385! 80,519 49,648 27,815 1,884 1,238 6,655 Belgium-Luxembourg .. . 17 1,527 o! 2,197 1,499 1,323 7 108 0 DENG 6 bo oh oo oo Bb mo 298 14 0 5 0 9 27 3 0 WestiGermanym en. isce 10,268 72,311 20,962] 21,006 63,484 52,593 756 5,018 1,637 ai s tal yiaematet Waa eee 440 56 39 65 120 350 49 10 4 8 Total wats | 7 | 108,386 | 103,792 | 114,751 82,090 7 6,377 8,296 8,707 10,457 | Other Countries....... 7,746 14,844 32,397| 38,386 25,830 32,688 647 [,127 | 2,607 ; 2,384 GrandTotal. [42,702] 106, 140,783[ 142,178 [ 140,581 [114,778 [| 3,370 7,504 | 10,903 Source: Bureau of the Census. United States Exports of Domestic and Foreign Merchandise, 1952-57. Between 1950 and 1956 landings of menhaden doubled, whereas landings of other fish in the United States declined. The sharp increase in menhaden landings follow- ed an apparent increase in abundance of menhaden along the Atlantic coast and in- creased menhaden fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. A decline in the availability of Cali- fornia sardines contributed to a greater demand for meal and oil produced from menhaden. In 1956 landings of menhaden reached a peak at 2.1 billion pounds. Then January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW IL) in 1957 the catch declined to 1.7 billion pounds because bad weather restricted fish- ing operations and fewer menhaden were available. In 1958, bad weather and lack of fish have again limited the catch, and the year's landings were somewhat lower than those in 1957. Menhaden meal is used in the United States mainly as feed for poultry. Men- haden oil is used mainly as an ingredient of margarine in the Netherlands and West Germany. The margarine producers prefer oil from Gulf-of-Mexico menhaden over oil from Atlantic menhaden. As the menhaden fishery in the Gulf of Mexico expand- ed, the relative importance of the sales of menhaden oil increased. in 1949, oil ac- counted for about 15 percent of the value of menhaden products, meal accounted for about 85 percent, and a negligible amount of salted menhaden accounted for less than 1 percent. By 1956 the oil accounted for about 30 percent of the value of men- haden products. Production of menhaden oil doubled between 1950 and 1956--increasing from 76.6 million pounds to 168.2 million pounds (table 1). Menhaden oil is not classified separately in Bureau of the Census export statistics, but is included in a single cat- egory with other inedible fish oils. United States exports of fish oils (mostly men- haden oil to the Netherlands and West Germany) reached a peak in 1956 at 142.2 million pounds; of this total, 114.8 million pounds went to Common Market countries (table 2). Since 1956 the market for menhaden meal has remained rather stable, but the market for menhaden oil has weakened because of increased competition in the Netherlands and West Germany from other organic oils. The average wholesale price of menhaden oil, f.o.b. Baltimore, declined from approximately 93 cents a pound to 83 cents in early 1957, and from 83 cents to 74 cents in mid-1958. MENHADEN OIL COMPETES IN THE EUROPEAN ORGANIC -OIL MARKET New trade restrictions by Common Market countries could change the channels of trade in United States menhaden oil. In Europe, fish oil is used mainly by mar- garine and shortening manufacturers. Since menhaden oil produced in the United States is available in large volume at a low price, it has become an established in- gredient in the margarine produced in West Germany mainly by one large refining company and in the Netherlands by a similar company. Menhaden oil competes with other organic oils, including herring oil, pilchard (sardine) oil, numerous vegetable oils, whale oil, and the byproduct oils from the meat-packing industry. Generally, menhaden oil sells for at least 10 percent less than whale oil and competitive vege- table oils. Organic oils may be used interchangeably to a large extent, but each oil has chemical properties which tend to channel it toward certain industries. Within the individual industries price plays a major role in determining the proportion of each oil used in a given product. In Europe, the proportion of fish oil in margarine has varied from none to 60 percent, depending on the grade of margarine and on the relative price of fish oil. Common Market countries produce little raw materials for organic oils. They do have a small production of fish oil from the wastes of her- ring canning plants, but the major supply of fish oil consists of the mehnaden oil ob- tained from the United States. The demand for United States menhaden oil slackened somewhat in 1957 and again in 1958 possibly owing to the increased amounts of soybean oil available in Western Europe. When the average wholesale price of menhaden oil dropped to 83 cents a pound in early 1957, margarine processors in West Germany and Nether- lands continued to absorb United States production. The stability of the menhaden oil market in Europe varies according to the following factors: (1) availability of dollar currency, (2) demand for the various grades of margarine, (3) butter production, 18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 (4) world demand for fish meal since fish oil is a byproduct of fish meal, (5) the production of South African pilchard oil, (6) whale-oil production, (7) vegetable-oil and oil-seed production, (8) the relative facilities for and merits of crushing oil seeds in the Common Market area, and (9) new technological advances in oil uses. COMMON MARKET COUNTRIES MAY INCREASE ORGANIC -OIL PRODUCTION The Common Market countries may try to develop a large supply of organic oils of their own. The Common Market treaty includes an agriculture-expansion program for increasing production and earnings, stabilizing markets, and guaranteeing sup- plies of agriculture and fishery products. To accomplish this, the Common Market countries plan to apply import controls and subsidize industries where necessary. Should the Common Market countries increase their production of fish oils, animal oils, or vegetable oils, their requirements for imported menhaden oil will decline. At present most of their organic oils are derived from imported oil seeds. Domes- tic sources of organic oil are whales, herring wastes, and domestically-grown oil seeds. With the overseas territories of France and Belgium included in the Com- mon Market area, the capacity for raw, organic-oil production in the Common Mar- ket will be several times larger. At present, Western Europe imports sizable quan- tities of palm oil, palm-kernal oil, and other tropical vegetable oils from these over- seas territories. Table 3 - United States Exports of Edible Fishery Products, 1957 =I Fresh or Frozen a Cured Canned onan a] Salmon r o Salmon pee Shellfish Salted Other| Salmon | Sardines Qiner Shrimp Ree Total Pickled sielclchakcieleRelclekehelokekchoheteRel-hegelielepelrstenenst.s (ot I heaaroiae Gomcbouinom eb oaGemo aon Soo ‘common Market Countries1/: Netherlands =en-n-neictenenenonenet-s« 0 19 15 28 0 171 4 0 1 0 238 Belgium-Luxembourg....... 43 2 12 yf 1 59 52 2 49 0 237 Pen 5.5 Gop DOomoOED OOO 90 35 15 10 2 3 0 1 3 2 161 WiestiGermanyaererener-metei-uenehe 4 0 3 67 6 0 0 2 5 4 91 MEINE Sao dabogankooado8G 0 0 13 0 1 1 0 9 3 13 40 Belgian|Congo sis \.. 200908 0 0 0 0 0 23 2 40 5 0 70 Frerich Pacific Islands ...... 0 0 0 0 0 2 40 6 0 0 48 French Somaliland......... i) ) 0 0 0 0 1 0 tt) 1 ota lamrmetansteaee cw, Welcuseamswens 137 6 58 | 122 0 255 98 61 66 9 886 Other 'Countriesimiii. 2. eee 0 96 2319 04 66 4,48 »68 4,424 44 J,66 GrandiLotalianncecneilcr anaes 447 ,O19 2,437 226 376 L 4,740 IC 2,779 | 4,485 0 1,632 [20,551 [17 Includes selected territories. Source: Bureau of the Census, United States Exports of Domestic and Foretqn Merchandise, 1957. Another factor to be contended with is the duties that will be assessed under the Common Market for competitive vegetable oils. Any new duties placed on fish oils and any duty changes on vegetable oils and oil seeds will be important considera- tions in the fish-oil market. RESEARCHERS SEEK NEW USES FOR FISH OILS In preparation for the possibility that the Netherlands and West Germany may reduce purchases of menhaden oil, United States chemists are studying fish oils to find new uses. Menhaden oil, as well as other fish oils, can be used as an ingredient in over 100 food and industrial products, including soaps, paints, varnishes, leather conditioners, cooking oils, and poultry feeds. But, in many cases, fish oils are less desirable than other organic oils, primarily because they are chemically less stable and more likely to turn rancid. For the past three years, the U. S. Bureau of Com- mercial Fisheries and other groups have worked to develop new uses for fish oils. One approach would utilize these unstable properties as valuable assets in the man- ufacture of chemically-modified products. Other work is aimed at improving the stability of the oil. The most promising development so far appears to be the use of fish-oil con- stituents for ore collection, by the flotation process. This is a project conducted by the University of Minnesota School of Mines and Metallurgy under a Bureau contract January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 19 with funds made available through the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act of 1954. Once the product is perfected, the iron-ore processing industry can use large quantities of menhaden or other fish oil to recover iron from low-grade ores. Years ago the in- dustry used low-cost fish oils to float iron ore away from impurities. Now that the high-grade ore fields in the United States have been depleted, the industry may use fish oils again. But under the proposed process, the fish-oil constituents would be used to float the impurities away from the iron ore. Meanwhile, other laboratories continue to work on other applications for fish oils and on improved processing techniques. Possible new applications include the use of fish oils in fungicides, insecticides, pharmaceuticals for coronary disease, and heat-resistant paints. OTHER UNITED STATES FISHERIES LITTLE AFFECTED BY COMMON MARKET Among the edible fishery products imported by the Common Market countries from the United States are frozen salmon, canned salmon, cured salmon, canned California sardines, and canned shellfish. As far as these products are concerned, the value of United States shipments to Common Market countries in recent years has been small (table 3). Canned salmon, the second most important fishery product exported by the U- nited States to the Common Market countries, typifies the present insignificant role of United States edible fishery products in the trade of Common Market countries. Before World War II, United States exports of canned salmon to those countries in- creased from about 1 million pounds in 1935 to about 4 million pounds in 1938. Trade was cut off during World War II. In 1946, when foreign aid programs were strong, the United States shipped about 1 million pounds to the six countries. Following the establishment of the Marshall Plan in 1948, which encouraged greater self-sufficien- cy in Western Europe, canned salmon exports declined to less than 250,000 pounds. But, as the economy of Europe improved, imports increased to the present rate of about 500,000 pounds a year. Nearly all canned salmon shipped to the Common Mar- ket countries from the United States is imported by the Benelux countries free of duty. For many years shipments of canned salmon to Common Market countries have accounted for less than 1 percent of United States production. Currently, the United States accounts for less than 10 percent of total imports of canned salmon by Common Market countries. The present tariff rates on canned salmon in the Common Market countries are as follows: In the Benelux countries, the official duty of 15 percent ad valorem has been temporarily suspended; Italy has a 10 percent ad valorem duty; Germany, 20 percent; and France, 20 percent. The principal territory that imports canned salm- on, the Belgian Congo, has a duty of 15 percent and an import sales tax of 5 percent of the duty-paid value. Belgium and Luxembourg have a sales tax of 5 percent. Italy has a sales tax of 3 percent, and France has an import tax of 30 percent anda stamp tax of 3 percent of the import duty and importtax. The Governments of France and Italy restrict canned-salmon imports by permitting only small quantities to be received by holders of government-issued import licenses. Until early 1957, West Germany also had import-license restrictions on canned salmon. The Common Market tariff on canned salmon will be 123 percent ad valorem if based on the arithmetical average of actual duties of January 1, 1957. If based on an arithmetical average of official tariff rates, it will be 173 percent ad valorem, or about 27 percent if based on aggregate import fees. At the GATT conference at Geneva in 1956 the official tariff in Benelux countries was reduced from 20 percent to 15 percent in a concession granted to the United States. At the same conference Italy granted a concession to Canada on canned salmon, reducing the duty to 14 percent. 20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 If the GATT members should hold Common Market countries to previous commit- ments, the Common Market may not set the tariff above 14 percent without granting a compensatory concession. The United States exports a number of other fishery products to the Common Market countries--mainly to the Benelux countries where liberal trade policies now prevail. But except for the menhaden industry and a few food-specialty proc- essors, the volume of trade is so small that changes in the import duties, taxes, or quotas ‘of the Common Market countries should have little direct effect on the United States fishery industries at their current levels of production. If the Common Market countries successfully expand their economy they may develop a greater buying capacity for dollar goods, and thereby be able to import a larger volume of United States fishery products. At present, the concern of most United States fishery producers is to supply and maintain the markets that they have already developed in those countries. EFFECT OF COMMON MARKET ON NETHERLANDS IMPORTATION OF MENHADEN OIL The Netherlands Ministry of Finance has confirmed that at present menhaden oil imports may enter the Netherlands free of duty and will continue to be allowed free entrance for atleast four years after the Common Market Treaty has become effective, that is up to January 1, 1962. Thereafter the status is still uncertain, but the Benelux countries have urged the full inclusion of this oil in the free list. Menhaden oil is at present included in item 103 of the Benelux import duty tariff 'Fats and oils of fishand sea animals, whether or not refined" and accord- ingly free. Under the common market tariff item 15.04 bears exactly the same commodity definition, but has been split into two sub-items, raw and refined fish oils (according to Common Market definition fish oil is considered as refined when it contains more than 50 percent free fatty acids measured by weight). The raw will continue to be free, the refined will finally be subject to a 3-percent import duty, to be imposed in three steps of 1 percent each. Accordingly, the import duty on refined menhaden oil will be 1 percent on January 1, 1962, 2 percent on January 1, 1966, and 3 percent on January 1, 1970. The Netherlands Government has proposed to exempt all refined fish oils, except cod-ltiver oil, but it is not certain that this proposal will be accepted by the other Common Market countries, expeciallyGermany., At present Germany levies a 4-percent duty on refined menhaden oil, which will have to come downto 3 per- cent after the integration of Common Market tariffs has been completed, unless the Netherlands proposal for full exemption is accepted. Whatever the final duty may be under the Common Market Treaty, it will ap- ply equally to imports of menhaden oil into the Netherlands, Germany, and/or the other four Common Market countries. Oneofthe principal provisions of the Com- mon Market Treaty is that all member countries will have equal import duties to- ward outside countries after the final provisions of the treaty have been effected. (United States Embassy, The Hague, report dated December 18, 1958.) January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21 YE" senvice TECHNICAL NOTE NO. 49 - MEASUREMENT OF RANCIDITY IN FISHERY PRODUCTS BY 2-THIOBARBITURIC ACID METHOD ABSTRACT This short study of rancidity in frozen herring indicated that TBA values give some correlation with organoleptic tests. INTRODUCTION Measurements of rancidity in fishery products recently have been enlarged from organoleptic, peroxide, and carbonyl methods to include the 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method (Yu and Sinnhuber 1957). The purpose of the present study was to compare this new method with organoleptic tests. PROCEDURE GENERAL; In designing this experiment, we thought it desirable to compare the TBA and organoleptic tests by using fish that were becoming rancid under two conditions: one not favoring the development of rancidity and the other somewhat favoring the development, so that a small but definite differ- §=£~—————— pemeeely eee ence would exist in the two [ | groups. It is known that fish r frozen in blocks and heavily 0.15 | glazed with ice are somewhat more resistant to rancidity than are fish frozen in evacuated = polyethylene bags. (Polyethyl- 28 F ene has an unusually high per- meability to oxygen among ma- terials commonly used to pack- age frozen foods.) Advantage was taken of this fact. ~ (Ey 1 TBA VALUE The general procedure of the experiment was to allow i the fish to become rancid un- oer Lage a der the two conditions and pe- r riodically to determine the ex- tent of rancidity inboth groups by means of the organoleptic test and the TBA test. Herring | five was the experimental fish used {___j _j L [See because of itshigh fat content, 2 He 45 60 75 a1 tendency to become rancid, and | SER SEL EE PASS) availability at the time the ex- Fig. 1 - Effect of method of packaging on rancidity of whole herring periment was started. held at 0° F. 22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vols 2iyiNowe: SPECIFIC: From Anacortes, Wash., 100 medium-to-large day-old herring were procured. At the laboratory they were cleaned and randomly divided into two groups. One group consisted of lots of five fish that were lightly ice-glazed and sealed in evacuated polyethylene bags; the second group consisted of lots of five fish frozen in blocks of tap water. The two groups then were stored side by side at 0° F. On the day of examination, one bag of each of the two groups was removed from storage, thawed, and filleted. The right fillet of each fish was prepared for organo- leptic examination by being baked in foil. The left fillet of each fish was carefully skinned and boned in preparation for the TBA measurement. Five fillets were blended with their weight of water (1:1 dilution) in a pint jar, and 1.9 to 2.1 grams of the homogenate was removed by means of a large-tip pipette and weighed into a tared 250-milliliter round-bottom flask. The remainder of the procedure followed exactly that described by Yu and Sinnhuber except that it was found desirable to store the TBA solution in a refrigerator and to mix it in the solution of citrate buf- fer used, just prior to adding it to the sample. The red color that develops when the TBA reagent is refluxed with the sample of fish was measured at 535 millimicron on a Beckman DU spectrophotometer, the value being reported in terms of E nie cm. RESULTS The data showing the effect of the two methods of packaging on TBA value of herring held at 0° F. are given in figure 1. The fillets from the two groups were compared and scored for odor and taste immediately after removal from the oven. Results are given in table 1. - Organoleptic Rating of Frozen In this experiment, Herring Stored at 0° F, trace rancidity, as de- Organoleptic Rating termined organoleptic- Herring Stored in Herring stored in ally, was first evident Ice Blocks Polyethylene Bags at a TBA value of 0.05 1% (E len: A later stage Good odor and flavor |Good odor and flavor Good odor and flavor | Trace rancidity of rancidity, which can Good odor and flavor | Trace rancidity be described as slight- Trace rancidity Trace rancidity ly rancid,'' occurred at Trace rancidity Trace to slight rancidity] a value of 0.10. Ex- Trace rancidity Slight rancidity treme rancidity occur- Trace rancidit Strong rancidit red at 0.17. In both packaging methods, an initial rise in TBA value (corresponding to de- velopment of trace rancidity) was followed by a period in which the TBA value re- mained relatively constant. Unfortunately, in this intermediate stage of slight ran- cidity, the TBA test gave somewhat inconsistent and overlapping values (compare results in table 1 and figure 1). In the case of the polyethylene-wrapped samples, a second rise in TBA value occurred corresponding to development of extreme ran- cidity at the end of the induction period. The ice-glazed samples had not developed sufficient rancidity by the time this experiment was ended to show this second in- crease in TBA value. This experiment indicates the high efficiency of an ice glaze to protect frozen fish against rancidity and, also in confirmation of previous findings, suggests that polyethylene offers relatively inferior protection against entrance of oxygen into packages of frozen food wrapped in this material. The findings in this experiment therefore are in line with previous observations. Nevertheless, owing to the re- striction of the test to one species of fish under one set of conditions, we are not necessarily implying that similar correlation would be obtained if conditions were varied. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23 Since the start of the tests reported here, Sinnhuber and Yu (1958) have sug- gested an alternate method of reporting TBA values in terms of equivalent malo- naldehyde content of the sample. If our data are expressed in terms of this new TBA number (milligrams of malonaldehyde per 1,000 grams of sample), 2.3 is ob- tained for trace rancidity, 4.6 for slight rancidity, and 7.8 for extreme rancidity. CONCLUSIONS 1. In the present single series of storage tests at 0° F. with herring lightly glazed and sealed in evacuated polyethylene bags or frozen in blocks of tap water, the 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test for rancidity correlated with the organoleptic test. 1 2. When the data obtained were expressed at TBA values (E ess 0.05 was obtained for trace rancidity, 0.10 for slight rancidity, and 0.17 for extreme rancid- ity. 3. When the data were expressed in terms of milligrams of malonaldehyde per 1,000 grams of sample, 2.3 milligrams was obtained for trace rancidity, 4.6 milli- grams for slight rancidity, and 7.8 milligrams for extreme rancidity. 4, Owing to the restriction of the test to one species of fish under one set of conditions, a similar correlation of TBA value with organoleptic test would not necessarily be obtained if the conditions were varied. LITERATURE CITED SINNHUBER, RUSSEL O., and YU, T. C. 1958, 2-Thiobarbituric Acid Method for the Measurement of Rancidity in Fishery Products. Il, The Quantitative Determination of Malonaldehyde. Food Technology, vol. 12, no. 1 (January), pp. 9-12. YU, T.C., and SINNHUBER, R, O. 1957, 2-Thiobarbituric Acid Method for the Measurement of Rancidity in Fishery Products. Food Technology, vol. 11, no. 2 (February), pp. 104-108. --By Boyd A. Ryan, formerly Chemist, and os M., E. Stansby, Chief, Pacific Coast Technological Research, Fishery Technological Laboratory, vi Division of Industrial Research and Services, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Seattle, Wash, TREATING SALMON WITH NITRITE DIP FOR BETTER PRESERVATION Treatment of salmon with nitrite by dipping for 2 to 3 minutes ina 0.2-percent solution of the preservative showed slight improvement in the keeping quality of the iced fish. The 5-minute dipped samples de- veloped brownish black discoloration during 2 weeks of iced storage. The pink color of the gills disappeared more quickly than normal and there were spots of strong rancidity. After frozen Storage x of untreated and nitrite-dipped salmon for 7 or 8 months at -20° C. (-4° F.), no bad effect ofa 2-minute dip could be shown but the 5 minute dipped samples resulted in serious quality deterioration including discoloration and rancidity (Arsberetning fra Fiskeriminsteriets Forsogslaboratorium for 1957, Copenhagen, Denmark). 24 ‘a > f' ys RD 4 Ss Bk 7 ee COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW —— TRENDS & AND — (DEVELOPMENTS & Vol. 21, No. 1 a fiw Alaska SEA AND LAND AREAS SURVEYED FOR NEW MAPS AND CHARTS: The unheralded arrival of five ships in Seattle, Wash., in October 1958 marked the completion of six months work of gathering information on the icy waters which fringe the shores of Alaska, The Director of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, U.S. Department of Commerce, announced November 23, 1958, that the information onthe northern waters would soon be converted into charts and maps for the future development and defense of our 49th State. Probably no other place on earth has a greater need for modern maps and charts. Alaska, covering 586,400 square miles, has little more than 4,000 miles of highways and one railroad. Its commerce depends almost entirely upon water and airtransportation. The familiar bush-pilot plane and interisland steamer are as common inAlaska as taxis and buses in older states. During the past six months these five ships, equipped with sonic-sounding gear, and electronic navigation and surveying instruments have succeeded in obtaining infor- mation covering 1,500 square miles of fog-shrouded water. The ships operating as individual units filled in gaps from southeast Alaska to Atka Island, far out in the Aleutian chain, The survey ships, which left their home port of Seattle last April, were: the Pathfinder, the Explorer, the Lester Jones, the Hodgson, and the Patton. This year’s surveys, which plumbed the depths around suchplaces as Kasaan Bay, Clarence Strait, Sumner Strait, north shore of the Alaskan peninsula, Soda Bay, Dutch Harbor, and barren Atka Island, were a far cry fromthe meager beginning of the monumental task that was under- takenin 1867 while negotiations for the purchase of Alaska were Still under way. Operations have been extensive enough to survey almost 500,000 square miles of ocean, to produce more than 200 nautical and aeronautical charts covering the area, thou- sands of miles of geodetic surveys, and volumes of related information on tides, currents, magnetism, gravity, and special earthquake studies. Not all operations were confined to the sea. In many cases landing parties were put ashore on the volcanic islands of the Aleutians to establish permanent geodetic control points for the offshore surveys. Thousands of similar points already had been established in the interior of Alaska by accurate geodetic surveys which allow for the curvature of the earth in determining the geographic positions needed for the preparation of large-scale topographic maps. Most of the field surveys are preceeded by aerial photog- raphy that is done with a special 9-lens aerial camera flown in a U. S, Coast Guard aircraft as a joint Coast and Geodetic Survey-Coast Guard project. The 9-lens camera was designed for this specific task and provides much greater coverage per photograph than a Single lens camera. These photographs are then used to map the land information needed on nautical and aeronautical charts. This unique photographic mission has photographed thou- sands of square miles of coastline inrecent years and maps have been made of most of the coastline of arctic and west- ern Alaska and of the western Aleutians. Although the survey has come a long way since 1867, there still remains more than one-half million square miles of water composed of the Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean that are unsurveyed or inadequately surveyed by Coast and Geodetic Survey standards. The present program of the Coast and Geodetic Survey in Alaska will be carried on to promote the commercial and industrial potential of Alaska. Future economic de- velopments of the State of Alaska depends on accurate com- prehensive surveys of all Alaskan waters and the 34,000- mile tidal coastline. California AERIAL CENSUS OF COMMERCIAL ANDSPORT FISHING CONTINUED (Airplane Spotting Flight 58-18): The inshore area between Monterey and the Russian River was surveyed from the air (Oc- tober 10-14, 1958) by the California Department of Fish and Game Cessna 3632C to determine the dis- tribution and abundance of pelagic fish schools, sport fishermen, abalone pickers, and clammers within the boundaries of the area surveyed. The entire area was covered each day for shore fisher - men and on two of the days a census was made of clammers and abalone pickers. Pelagic fish could not be spotted on October 11 and 12 due to fog. On both October 12 and 13, two separate counts of shore fishermen were made over a portion of the area. It was hoped a tally of clammers and aba- lone pickers could be made on October 14, but the low tide proved to be too late in the day for suc- cessful aerial observation. Pelagic Fish: Fewer anchovy schools were seen on this flight than on any flight since April 1958. The largest concentrations were off Drakes Bay and Santa Cruz. Most of the schools were in deeper water farther from shore than previously noted this year. No schools of sardines or mack- erel were observed. Clammers and Abalone Pickers: The low tides on October 12 and 13 were ideal for clammers and abalone pickers. A coverage of the coast from Monterey to the Russian River was made on Octo- January 1959 ber 12 and the area from Monterey to San Fran- cisco was covered on October 13. The largest concentrations of clammers were in Monterey Bay where 849 inquestof pismoclams were tallied. Most of them were at Moss Landing and Sunset Beach State Park. The 64 ocean clam- mers at Bolinas were seeking littleneck clams north of the jetty on the ocean side. The 48 clam- mers at Tomales and 60 at Bodega were digging on the mud flats inside the bays. Over 200 abalone pickers were tallied on Octo- ber 12 in the area from Monterey to the Russian River--69 at Pigeon Pt. and 50 at Montara. Shore Fishermen: Two flights were made daily on October 12 and 13 over a portion of the coast where a striped bass "run" had attracted large numbers of shore casters to the beaches. One tal- ly was made during high tide and the other during low tide. Fewer shore fishermen were tallied during the low tide; however, the number of rock fishermen didnot decrease as muchas the number of surf fish- ermen. In fact, on October 12, the number of rock fishermen increased during the low tide period at Santa Cruz and at Pigeon Pt. a te SALMON CATCH LOWER BUT SPAWNING HIGHER IN 1958: COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25 Russian River - Anchovy school group. - Ten mile section Aerial survey of northern California coastal waters (Flight Report 58-18, October 10-14, 1958.) OK OK Catches of salm- on in 1958 by California commercial and sports fishermen were down over previous years, but there were more spawning-bound salmon in the rivers than in the last two years. The California Department of Fish and Game said the spawning report is based on preliminary observations obtained from a spawning-bed census. The lack of rain, resulting in low flows in many streams, prevented entry of salmon into the smaller tributaries. Spawning activity was moderate, but rain was needed to bring the salmon upstream and enable them to overcome barriers made impossible by the day weather. Preliminary figures show commercial troll landings in 1958 will be less than 4 million pounds, the lowest since 1941 when just under 3 million pounds were land- ed, Average landings from 1941-1957 were a little more than 6 million pounds. The average since 1916 was about 5.5 million pounds, about the same total as the 1957 landings. Sports fishing party boats reported 43,100 fish through September 1958 as com- pared to 44,300 for the first 9months of 1957, and a totalcatchin1957 of 44,700 fish. The commercial salmon trolling season closed September 15, 1958, and sport fishing closed on November 16 in ocean waters and bays south of Tomales Point, except for bays in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers east of Carquinez Bridge. (California Department of Fish and Game press release, November 28, 1958.) % OK OK OK 3K SARDINE POPULATION SURVEY OFF COAST OF CENTRAL BAJA CALIFORNIA (M/V Alaska Cruise 58-A-5): The inshore area off central Baja California from Santa Maria Bay northward to Pt. Canoas was surveyed by the California Depart- ment of Fish and Game's research vessel Alaska on September 4-22, 1958. The objectives were: (1) to collect samples of the fall spawning and the spring spawning groups of sardines from central Baja California for detailed subpopulation studies; 26 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW (2) to sample the 1958 year-class of sardines off central Baja California in order to determine its relative abundance; (3) to test the new modified blanket net as a sampling tool; to conduct tests with colored lights, preliminary to a more detail- ed study of the reaction of sardines to various col- ored lights; and (4) to troll for albacore when fea- sible. A 1,500-watt night light was used on 27 (one- hour) stations, and two 1,500-watt night lights were used on 31 stations. When two lights were used, one was suspended over the water amidships on Fig. 1 -California Department of Fish Game's research vessel M/V Alaska. the starboard side and the other placed near the stern, also on the starboard side. Both lights were illuminated for one hour, whereupon the after light was extinguished and the forward light dimmed. The blanket net was then set promptly. Samples were obtained of at least one of the four pelagic species--sardines, Pacific mackerel, jack mackerel, and anchovies--on 24, or 41 per- cent, of the stations. Sardines were sampled at 20 stations (34 percent), anchovies at 8 (14 percent), Pacific mackerel at 9 (16 percent), and jack mack- erel at 3 (5 percent). Seven samples of postlarval sardines resulting from the 1958 fall spawning and 7 samples of juve- nile sardines resulting from spawning inthe spring of 1958 were obtained. In addition, 8 samples of adult sardines and 1 sample of very small juve- niles from 65-75 mm. in length were collected. Young sardines resulting from spawning in the spring of 1958 appear to have had a moderately successful survival off central Baja California. Fish born in 1957, which were abundant off South- ern California in the summer and fall of 1957, and which are contributing heavily to the present Cali- fornia commercial sardine fishery, were not notice- ably abundant off central Baja California, Thus it would appear that the 1957 year-class was primarily of anorthernoriginandthe 1958 year-class may be somewhat weaker and of amore sourtherly origin. Postlarval sardines from spawning in the fall of 1958 were more abundant in the areas in which the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries South Pacific Fishery Investigations found the heaviest Wolk, Zils IN@, i concentrations of sardine eggs one month earlier, This is the area south of Cedros Island and in the lower portion of Sebastian Viscaino Bay. Although sardines were sampled frequently throughout the surveyed area, it was felt that the increased efficiency of the new blanket net rather than an increase in the sardine population was re- sponsible for the high number of samples. The new net was similar to the Bevington Blanket described by Radovich and Gibbs in California Fish and Game (vol. 40, no. 4). Besides being larger and deeper the new net was made of finer-gauge black-marlon LEGEND: POST LARVAL SARDINES ~ resulting from spawning during the fall (late summer) of 1958, - VERY SMALL SARDINES - fom spawning after spring but before fall of 1958. ~ JUVENILE SARDINES ~from spawn- ing during the spring of 1958. ~ PACIFIC MACKEREL, = JACK MACKEREL. = NORTHERN ANCHOVY. == - VESSEL TRACK, ° ® ® @ ~ Aovuit saroines. 4 a x Fig. 2 - M/V Alaska cruise 58-A-5 (September 4-22. 1958). webbing. All of the manila lines used in the con- struction and operation of the net were also dyed black. The black net absorbed light, making it practically invisible when viewed from above the surface of the water. From observations of the reactions of fish to the black net it seemed that they did not see it either. On many occasions sar- dines and other pelagic fish, actively feeding on the surface, continued to feed without any visible fright reactions after being completely impounded by the net. Fish were captured at every station at which they were present under the light at the time the net was set. Larger pelagic fishes such as bonito, sierra, yellowtail, and barracuda were caught with ease, On many occasions these larger species were ob- served swimming headlong into the webbing from the outside after the net was set. Various colored lights were tested to determine the intensity of light at different distances from the January 1959 light source. On one occasion a school of fish, mostly anchovies, attracted to white light was sub- jected to a red underwater light and the white light was extinguished. The illuminated area around the red light appeared spherical and was about 10 feet in diameter. The school of anchovies became very densely compacted into a ball within the spherical illuminated zone and remained in this position until daybreak, approximately an hour, when they dis- appeared. During the time the fish were under the red light a shark approached to within 3 feet of the lamp without the school showing any apparent re- action, It is felt that the present blanket net will sam- ple pelagic fish adequately provided they are at- tracted to the light. Further investigation is need- ed to determine the optimum light colors and in- tensities for attracting each of the pelagic species under a variety of oceanic conditions. Sea-surface temperatures in the area surveyed ranged from 20.6° C. (69.19 F.) one-half mile east COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 27 of Blanca Bay to 27.8° C. (82.0° F.) four miles southeast of Cape San Lazaro. This was between 2° and 3° C. warmer than the 1949-55 September average in the same area. The Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission has asked that vessels engaged in California Coopera- tive Oceanographic Fishery Investigations cruises troll for albacore whenever feasible, and lines were put out during daylight hours when the ves- sel was under way.. No albacore were caught. Seven dolphin, seven yellowfin tuna, one skipjack, one black skipjack, andfour sierra were taken on September 7, 8, and 9 between Abreojos and Santa Maria Bay. Approximately 2,000 live sardines were de- livered to San Diego Harbor for the South Pacific Fishery Investigations and numerous samples of barracuda, black sea bass, and other species were collected for futher studies ashore. In addition, several live specimens were transported by truck to the Steinhart Aquarium, San Francisco, and to the Marineland of the Pacific. Canned Tuna, Salmon, and Sardines Purchasing Patterns Under Study A marketing study to point up consumer purchasing patterns for canned tuna, salmon, and sardines was started on November 6, 1958. The study is being made by the Market Research Corporation of America, of New York City, under a contract with the U. S. Bureau of The money is provided by the Sal- Commercial Fisheries for $43,200. tonstall-Kennedy Act of 1954, Data will be gathered on a nationwide basis over a period of one year. Results will be made available monthly to the fishing industry and to other interested individuals, firms, or associations. ly releases will be followed by an annual report containing a general summation of the monthly findings plus considerable data relative to The month- market concentration, purchases in relation to size of the family, family income, age and employment status of the housewife, and other market information, The data will be based upon weekly diaries of a national panel of 6,000 families which will record their purchases of a selected list of products. The monthly re- ports will show the number of standard cases of each type or variety of canned tuna, salmon, and sardine purchased; the number and percentage of families buying each variety or type; the average purchase; the average price paid; the type of store where purchased; and other pertinent data. Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products, January-September 1958 Total shipments of metal cans during January-September 1958 a- mounted to 94,283 short tons of steel (based on the amount of steel con- sumed in the manufacture of cans) as compared with 94,888 tons in the first nine months of 1957. Fish canning in September for salmon and 28 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 Maine sardines was declining, but tuna and California sardine packing was at a high level, Note: Statistics cover all commercial and captive plants known to be producing metal cans. Reported in base boxes of steel consumed in the manufacture of cans, the data for fishery products are converted to tons of steel by using the fac- tor: 23.0 base boxes of steel equal one short ton of steel. —— =. 4 Columbia INTERIOR DEPARTMENT URGES FURTHER FISHERY STUDIES FOR PROPOSED SNAKE RIV- ER DAM: No additional dam construction on the Middle Snake River below the mouth of the Imnaha River should be considered until the possibilities of providing additional water storage elsewhere have been fully explored, stated the Secretary of the Interior on October 29, 1958. The Secretary of the Interior in a letter to the Secretary of the Army pointed out that the Middle Snake River Basin, up to and including the water- shed of the Imnaha River, an Oregon tributary, is the key remaining Columbia River Basin area for anadromous fish. The letter stressed the prob- lem of passing anadromous fish over high dams, both upstream and downstream. He pointed out that the U. S. Department of the Interior, with help from the U. S. Corps of Engi- neers, has been advancing biological and engineer- ing research on this matter; that while consider- able progress has been made there remains much to learn before the problem can be successfully met; that even after solving the fish-passage prob- lem there remains the loss of spawning and rear- ing areas as a result of flooding by the reservoirs. The letter was based upon an understanding that the Corps of Engineers is presently considering a River Basin number of dams on the Middle Snake River below the confluence of the Imnaha, an area which the Interior Department regards as essential to the Columbia River fisheries and one which the Nation can not afford to sacrifice at this time. Preliminary studies by Interior's Bureau of Reclamation show that there are storage sites a- bove the Imnaha of considerable potential which can be developed now. These reservoirs, taken together with other projects in the general area which can be undertaken after the fish-passage problem is satisfactorily solved, will meet the objective of full comprehensive development. The Secretary of the Interior recommended that the Department of the Army join with Interior in the adoption of a firm policy of "orienting our planning for the undoubted water-control needs of the Pacific Northwest" to areas other than this critical portion of the Middle Snake River unless specifically required by the Congress, until ''we can be sure we will not needlessly harm the vital fishery resources," for ''once this resource is de- stroyed it will be difficult if not impossible to re- store it for a particular stream or river basin" even with future development of satisfactory fish- passage facilities. Federal Purchases of Fishery Products DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PURCHASES, JANUARY-OCTOBER 1958: Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products: For the use of the Armed Forces under the Depart- ment of Defense, 1.5 million pounds (value $855,000) of fresh and frozen fishery products were purchased in October 1958 by the Military Subsistence Market Cen- ters. This amount was 9,2 percent less than the pur- chases made in September and 6.3 percent under the Table 1 - Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products Purchased by Military Subsistence Market Centers, October 1958 with Comparisons QUANTITY purchases of October 1957. However, the value of the October Jan. -Oct. purchases in October 1958 1958 | 1957 was up about 5.7 percent from October 1957, OKO IES) GG aoe 1.6 | 19.4 For the first 10 months 1/Not available. of 1958 purchases totaled 19.4 million pounds, a decrease of 4.6 percent from the 20.3 million pounds purchased in the same period of 1957. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29 Prices paid for fresh and frozen fishery products by the Department of Defense in October 1958 averaged 56.7 cents a pound, or 6.4 cents more than the October 1957 average of 50.3 cents a pound. Part of this increase was due to the higher prices that prevailed in October 1958 and partly to purchases of more expensive fishery products like shrimp and scallops. Table 2 - Canned Fishery Products Purchased by Military Subsistence Market Centers, October 1958 with Comparisons 7 TA 0 1958 [1957 | 1958 1,000 Canned Fishery Products: Salmon was the only canned fish- ery product purchased for the use of the Armed Forces in October 1958. Total purchases of canned tuna, salmon, and sardines for the first ten months of 1958 a- mounted to 6.8 million pounds-- about 58.1 percent more than the 4.3 million pounds in the same period of 1957. Sardine .. 1/Values unavailable. Note: Armed Forces installations generally made some local purchases not included in the data given; actual total pur~ chases are higher than indicated, because it is not possible to obtain local purchases. et Florida FISHERIES RESEARCH: The Marine Labora- tory of the University of Miamicarries on research on fisheries with funds provided by the Florida State Board of Conservation, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and private sources. The research of interest to commercial fisheries contained in the Laboratory's October 1958 Salt Water Fisher- ies Newsletter follows: Sea Trout Tagging: The softness of the sea trout makes it hard to tag successfully with any kind of outside tag. The solution reached several years ago on the middle Atlantic coast is to make a small cut in the belly of the trout and slip in a bright-colored plas- tic tag. Fishermen cleaning their catch find these inside tags and return them. One great difficul- ty is in getting the tags back, since many are miss- ed, or at least are not noticed until it is too late to get good data on where and when the fish was caught. A total of 575 tags were put in spotted sea trout on the Florida west coast in July, August, and Sep- tember 1958. Most of these--374 tags--were in- serted in the fish at Cedar Key and the remaining 201 at Fort Myers. The tags used in the present experiment are green in color. One side bears a number and the other side instructions for their return. Shrimp Tagging: A total of 2,180 pink shrimp were tagged in the third quarter of 1958. The tag- ging was done on the Tortugas grounds in South Florida, from regular commercial trawlers. Earlier taggings of shrimp on Tortugas result- ed in an average return of about 25 percent. This Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, September 1958, p. 36. is exceptionally high, and the latest returns (those from July and August taggings) have only been a- round 2 percent. It seems likely that reduced fish- ing effort, which occurs every summer, is a major reason for this decline in tag returns. Perhaps increased eating of tagged shrimp by fish is anoth- er reason, since it was noticed in some of the sum- mer taggings that little tuna were eating many shrimp as they were tagged and released. Since the shrimp sheds its shell frequently, the tag must be designed to hold in the muscle while allowing the carapace to split off. None of the commonly used tags is completely satisfactory, but the Petersen tag, consisting of two small plas- tic discs fastened by a nickel pin, is the one used. Despite its relatively good results with adult shrimp, it is not useful for small shrimp, being apparently too heavy. ''Biological'' stains, which color the gills of the shrimp but do not harm them, are being tested as a substitute by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Artificial Crab Bait: The project to develop an “artificial” crab bait is continuing. Field ex- periments conducted last year with a wide variety of baits made from fish oils, fish meal, and vari- ous chemicals were unsuccessful, so a new ap- proach is being tested. Instead of setting traps with the experimental baits, crabs are beingplaced in a salt-water tank containing two standard com- mercial traps. These are baited with the test sub- stances and the attraction of the baits is measured in terms of the number of crabs caught in each trap. So far no bait has been shown to be equal in effectiveness to the fish now used as bait by crab fishermen. 30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 Fur Seals PRICES HIGHER FOR ALASKA FUR-SEAL SKINS AT FALL AUCTION: At the semi-annual sale of Alaska fur-seal skins held in St. Louis on October 17, 1958, 20,900 dressed and dyed Alaska fur-seal skins brought $1,876,000 for the account of the United States Government. The skins are products of the scaling operations of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries on the Pribilof Islands. Gorbatch Rookery, St. Paul Island, Alaska. Several harems at season when harems are well knit, before pups start to move out in large numbers. Fur-seal skins offered at this auction were 4,500 skins less than the number sold at the spring auction held on June 7, 1958, but due to the higher prices bid for the skins the total value was higher by 3.7 percent. The black-dyed skins sold at the fall auction averaged $92.70 per skin, dark- brown (Matara) averaged $80.12, and the dark shade Kitovi averaged $88.54. Com- parable prices for the spring auction were: black-dyed, $81.04; Matara, $67.84; and Kitovi, $64.26. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, July 1958, p. 27. I January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 31 Great Lakes LAKE TROUT AND WHITEFISH MARKETS AT CHICAGO: Lake trout and Lakes commercial fishery. At the present time the United States Great Lakes fish- ery for these species provides only a very small percentage of the supplies demand- ed by Midwestern consumers who place them at the top of preferred lake fish vari- eties. United States Great Lakes catches of lake trout and whitefish have decreased steadily since 1951--the 1957 whitefish catch was only 51 percent and lake trout 40 percent of the 1951 yield. Whitefish catches in all of the Great Lakes have been low, but it is not known how much of the blame can be placed on the sea lamprey as whitefish are subject toran- Lake Trout dom fluctuations. ee Fresh and frozen whitefish receipts at Chicago in 1957 totaled more than 8 mil- lion pounds--86 percent Canada-produced fish and only 14 percent from United States Great Lakes production, Chicago's 1958 whitefish receipts were especially heavy during June-September when close to one million pounds was reported for each month. The September 1958 whitefish receipts of one million pounds included 0.9 million pounds fresh whitefish, principally from Alberta and Manitoba shipping points, and ; ees: less than 0.1 million pounds Ne from the United States Great VAAN Weis Bisa Lak i OHTA La at eR enna th — © es fishery. Whitb The 1958 lake trout re- sae 2 ceipts at Chicago followed a- (Coregonus clupeaformis S bout the same pattern, also reaching a high point in Sep- tember when 0.7 million pounds of fresh and frozen lake trout (predominantly Ca- nadian fish) was reported for the account of Chicago dealers. The 1957 United States Great Lakes whitefish catch of only 1.4 million pounds brought out a number of significant changes in the catch pattern of several of the Lakes regarded as important producers. The pattern in Lake Erie indicated asmall but gradual increase for several years and in 1957 landings from that Lake increased 69 percent from the previous year. This catch trend was reversed in Lake Superi- or--a steady decline since 1954 with a sharp 41 percent drop in the 1957 catch as compared with 1956. The 1957 whitefish yield was almost negligible in each of the other Great Lakes, dropping to a mere 33,000 pounds in Lake Michigan as compared with a catch of more than one million pounds in 1953. The lower 1957 lake trout catch was no surprise because of greater sea lam- prey infiltration in Lake Superior--the last and only stronghold of the Great Lakes lake trout fishery. The operation of electrical sea lamprey control devices was con- tinued in 1958. More recent developments in sea lamprey control have been the ex- perimental application of selective larvicides to streams and tributaries where lam- preys spawn. These have been reported as outstandingly successful and hold prom- ise of a highly effective control program. This could develop a more productive Lake Superior trout fishery and possibly re-establish lake trout in Lakes Michigan and Huron. The closed season of the United States Great Lakes commercial fishery for these species invariably creates a supply shortage and higher prices at the Chicago 32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 Wholesale Market. The closed season for taking lake trout during October was fol- lowed by a closed whitefish season in November at most Great Lakes areas. The whitefish scarcity at Chicago during November of 1958 was more pronounced because of the virtual halt in large- scale whitefish supplies from Canada's northern lakes. The Chicago Wholesale Market re- lies heavily on supplies from points as far north as Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, from Lesser Slave Lake in Alberta, and numerous smaller lakes scat- tered throughout the Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Fresh whitefish supplies at Chicago during November 1958 were very light. Deliv- eries of Lake Superior white- fish were only a trickle from Ontario and Minnesota pro- eke i 2a ie Anes. : jaa j imi ed domestic an a i -wat i ed up inside a wholesa ducers. Supplies were limit” ‘ish house in the Chicago Fulton Market area ra region, and spotty fishing operations at some of Canada's northern lakes before the start of winter fishing also contributed to firm markets and high whitefish whole- sale prices. There was no fall fishing season at Red Lake in 1958 where the white- fish catch is sizable during the short period of operations. As a contrast, the November 1957 closed season for taking whitefish at Great Lakes areas did not impose any supply hardship during that period. Fresh white- fish supplies flooded the Chicago market from Minnesota and Canadian Lake Superi- or shipping points. Market supplies were also supplemented by deliveries from Minnesota's Red Lake, the International Lakes region, and from Alberta's Pigeon Lake. A seriously oversupplied market in November 1957 caused sharp price de- clines, particularly for the Minnesota and Canadian varieties that were marketed at low prices. Great Slave Lake (Chicago's foremost supplier of lake trout and whitefish cov- ers an area of over 11,000 square miles and is the deepest lake on the North Ameri- can continent) is the Continent's largest producer of lake trout and whitefish com- bined. This Lake is reported to support the only known large fresh-water commer- cial fishery studied from its inception in 1945 and regulated according to scientific findings. Informed fishery observers believe Great Slave Lake will continue for years as a producer of about 9 million pounds of fresh-water fish annually--princi- pally lake trout and whitefish. --By G. A. Albano, Supervisory Market News Reporter, Market News Service, Division of Industrial Research and Services, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Chicago, Ill. He re ais ok ok LAMPRICIDE TESTING EXTENDED TO CANADA: The lampricide testing pro- gram of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the Great Lakes was extend- ed in the summer of 1958 to Canada when Canadian scientists treated the Pancake River, which enters Lake Superior about 50 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33 with the lampricide. As hasbeenthe case when used in streams of the United States, the lampricide (trifluromethyl nitrophenol) performed well by killing sea lamprey larvae. In the Pancake River test 30,000 dead lamprey larvae were collected. The lamprey kill in the treated portion of the river was believed to be practically 100 percent. *c es x Great Lakes Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research NEW PROGRAM FOR GREAT LAKES STARTED: The U.S. Bureau of Commer- cial Fisheries Great Lakes Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research program was established in April 1958 with headquarters at Ann Arbor, Mich., to assist the com- mercial fisheries of the entire region. The first project to be started by this program was begun in Lake Erie, in co- operation with the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the Ohio Commercial Fishermen's Association. Technical advice and assistance is being given by Bureau of Commer- cial Fisheries fishing gear specialists to fishermen who are conducting experiment- al trawling operations for smelt. This fish is not sought by United States fishermen in Lake Erie at the present time. The Lake Erie Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research station was opened in Sandusky, Ohio, in early September 1958. The current program objective is experi- mental smelt fishing with a lampara seine. Lampara seines and other types of pe- lagic fishing gear, new to Lake Erie, will be tested to determine whether they may be introduced to the commercial fishery as a practical and economical means of capture of underutilized fish having commercial potential. 3) ee) OK) oie) OK LAMPARA SEINES TESTED IN SMELT FISHERY (Cruise 1, October 1-31, 1958): A systematic depth-recorder survey was made of Lake Erie between Vermi- Tion, Ohio, and Erie, Pa., to determine whether surface schools of smelt and other schooling fish were available to lampara seine gear. A total of seven lampara seine sets were made with a 100-fathom cotton net where good fish recordings were ob- tained. No commerciallly-important catches were obtained. Three sets off Vermi- lion, Ohio, in 30- to 45-foot depths caught emerald shiners in amounts ranging be- tween 50 and 75 pounds. Although sizable concentrations of fish had been indicated on the depth-recorder, most fish were too small for the mesh size of the net in use. One set off Fairport, Ohio, in 35-foot depths fouled on an obstruction and the catch was lost. This is the first cruise (October 1-31, 1958) of a series to be made to test fish- ing gear not generally used in the Great Lakes Fisheries. The first part of this cruise was made by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries chartered vessel Pat, a small trap-net boat. Since the boat was not available after October 15, 1958, work was continued without interruption with the chartered M/V Thelma H. Extensive unidentified midwater tracings were found widely scattered over western Ohio waters, Tracings from eastern Ohio waters, over a large area, re- vealed sizable concentrations of fish near the bottom, but these were unavailable to the lampara seine, Samples taken from these schools with a 16-foot try-net trawl identified them as smelt and yellow perch. During more than half the cruise period, operations were hampered consider- ably by high winds and rough waters. These conditions are not suitable to seine op- 34 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolls Ail, ING, i erations for a small vessel such as the typical 40-foot trap-net boat. During the first week of operations several trials, under favorable weather conditions, demon- strated the practicability of setting and hauling the lampara-type seine using the regular trap-net reel and standard deck winch. Great Lakes Fishery Investigations SURVEY OF WESTERN LAKE ERIE FISH POP- LATIONS CONTINUED (M/V Cisco Cruise 11): Regular trawling was continued during the Octo- ber 21-31, 1958, cruise--the final cruise of the 1958 season--by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries research vessel Cisco in 10 areas in western Lake Erie. The composition of the catch- es was similar to that of cruise 10 but with fewer adult sheepshead and young-of-the-year white bass and more adult smelt. Yellow pike (walleyes) con- tinued to be scarce. Adult yellow perch usually made up the bulk of the catch. Emerald shiners, spottail shiners, trout-perch, and young-of-the- year sheepshead, yellow perch, smelt, and ale- wives were often numerous. Taken in smaller numbers were gizzard shad, white suckers, gold- fish, carp, silver chubs, channel catfish, brown bullheads, stonecats, log-perch, johnny darters, and young-of-the-year white crappies and black crappies. A single, large sea lamprey (21.9 inch- es) was also caught. Young-of-the-year fish, which now have prob- ably completed their year's growth, have attained the following approximate average total lengths: yellow perch, 4.1 inches (3.6 inches in Sandusky Bay); alewife, 4.3 inches; sheepshead, 4.1 inches; smelt, 2.7 inches; channel catfish, 2.9 inches; giz- zard shad, 3.6 inches in Sandusky Bay and 4 inch- es for the few taken in the open lake. Surface water temperatures cooled steadily throughout this cruise, averaging about 11°C, (51.89 F.) at the close of the cruise. Extremes were 10.30 C, (50.5° F.) and 15.4° C. (59.79 F.). The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries research vessels Cisco and Musky, and the SP-2and SP-5 from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, cooperated in kK WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR HERRING AND GENERAL FISHERY SURVEY CONTINUED (M/V Siscowet Cruise 7): The three index stations oc- cupied during cruises 1 and 3 were visited again (October 15-November 4, 1958) by the U. S. Bu- reau of Commercial Fisheries research vessel Siscowet during this cruise to obtain a measure of fishery and environmental conditions during the fallmonths. These stations are located (1) north of Little Girls Point, Mich., (2) southeast of Stock- ton Island, and (3) northeast of Bear Island (two of the Apostle Islands, Wis.). In addition to these, two additional stations were established for exper- imental fishing on Gull Island Shoal and just north of Rocky Island. Fish were collected with gill nets at each index station where samples were taken for analyses of synoptic surveys of western Lake Erie on Octo- ber 28, 29, and 30. The vessels followed essential- ly the courses established during the synoptic sur- veys of May and August (cruises 3 and 7), Water samples and surface temperatures were obtained at 2-mile intervals by each vessel. Two hundred drift bottles were released and extensive meteoro- logical data were recorded. Bathythermograph lowerings were made by the Cisco and Musky, and analyses of water for total alkalinity and turbidity were made on these vessels. Fluorescein dye was released from the SP-2, SP-5, and Musky to gath- er information on the surface currents around the islands and in the littoral areas. Preliminary analysis of 18 drift-bottle returns indicate that in the open area of the lake the sur- face currents were toward the south, apparently caused by the strong north winds that blew on the day of release and following release. All 18 re- coveries were from the Ohio shores with the ex- ception ef one found near Monroe, Mich., and one from Middle Bass Island. It appeared from the drift-bottle returns that a current along the south shore was flowing from west to east. The fluores- cein dye experiments substantiate very well the movement of the drift bottles. Offshore the dye flowed to the south, whereas at inshore areas off Ohio the dye flowed from west to east, and out the South Channel. Preliminary analysis of turbidity, surface wa- ter temperature, and totdl alkalinity suggest that Maumee River water was confined to a narrow band flowing eastward along the south shore. The main flow of Detroit River water appeared to be further south than it was during the May and Au- gust synoptic surveys. KOK plankton, bottom fauna, and water chemistry. Bath- ythermograph casts were made at all stations. Trawl tows were made in 300 feet of water be- tween Stockton and Madeline Islands. Two species of muddlers were captured in great numbers and were tentatively identified as the slimy muddler and and deep-water sculpin (Myosocephalus guadricor- nis thompsonii). Several hundred ninespine stickle- backs as well as a few chubs (Leucichthys hoyi and L. zenithicus) were taken. Young-of-the-year smelt were predominant in a tow made in the same general area but in shallow water (30-60 feet). Catches in the experimental gill nets at the three index stations were far greater than the catches made during cruises1 and 3. At station 1, smelt, herring, burbot, and longnose suckers dom- January 1959 inated the catch. At.this station during the previ- ous cruises chubs dominated the catch. At station 2, smelt. jake trout, menominee whitefish, and longnose suckers dominated the catch. Practically no smelt were taken at this station during previous cruises, but many whitefish and menominee white- fish were taken. At station 5, 482 chubs (L. hoyi, L. kiyi, and L. zenithicus) and 37 herring were captured, compared to 273 chubs and no herring during cruise 3. This station was not fished dur- ing cruise 1. Experimental small-mesh gill nets were set on Gull Island Shoal to determine what predation, if any, occurred on lake trout eggs. Lake trout were known to have spawned inthis area a few days previ- ous. The gang consisted of 1-,15-,24-, and 44-inch nets. Thesenets were lifted two consecutive days with atotal catch of 172 longnose suckers, 40 meno- minee whitefish, 34northern lake chubs, 11 herring, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35 and 1 lake trout. Stomachs from each species were examined but no signs of lake trout eggs were found. No smelt were captured, although they have been suspected by some of general predation on lake trout eggs. Another experimental set was made in the shal- low waters (11-30 feet) just north of Rocky Island in an effort to capture spawning whitefish. This experimental gang consisted of 44-, 5-, 53-, and 6-inch nets. No whitefish were taken; the total catch consisted of 4 longnose suckers. This area will be visited again in further attempts to capture mature whitefish. Surface temperatures varied from 52.7° F, at station 1 to 47.5° F. at station 27, north of Rocky Island. Bottom temperatures varied from 49.59 F, at station 1 to 40.09 F. at station 5, northeast of Bear Island. SE Maine Sardines CANNED STOCKS, NOVEMBER 1, 1958: Distributors' stocks of Maine sardines totaled 312,000 actual cases on November 1, 1958--14,000 cases or 4.7 percent more than the 298,000 cases on hand November 1, 1957, according to estimates made by the U. S. Bureau of the Census. Canners' stocks on November 1, 1958, totaled 1,037,000 stand- cases (100 33-0z. cans), 300,000 cases (22 percent) less than on November 1, 1957. The 1958 pack from the season which opened on April 15,1958, to November 1, 1958, amounted to about 1,850,000 standard cases as compared with 2,035,000 cases packed in the same period in 1957. The 1958 season pack to November 15 was 1,967,000 cases, The pack for the entire 1957 season totaled 2,117,151 standard cases. anned Maine Sardines--Wholesale Distributors’ and Canners! Stocks, November 1, 1958 with Comparisons 5 5 1,000 Distributors | Actual Cases T,000 StandardCasest/| 1-087 ia 1/100 33-02. cans equal one standard case. 1337 The total supply as of November 1, 1958, totaled 2,263,000 standard cases, or 8.2 percent less than the total supply of 2,464,000 cases as of November 1, 1957. Shipments from April 15, 1958, to November 1, 1958, amounted to 1,226,000 stand- ard cases as compared with 1,124,000 cases during the same period in 1957. GE? ee, CLs 36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Viol 215 Nore North Atlantic Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research EXPLORATORY FISHING FOR LAUNCE OFF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND LONG ISLAND UNSUCCESSFUL (M/V Delaware Cruise 6): To assess the commer- cial potential of the launce or sand eel (Ammodytes americanus) off the New Eng- land coast was the aim of the second in a series of cruises (October 23-31, 1958) by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial seen AIS Fisheries exploratory fishing ves- a aay Rete oe sel Delaware, Seven tows, with a /~ ~"“| trawl, made between Block Island and off the south coast of Long Is- land during the second port of the trip, failed to yield any launce. But some commercial concentrations Wen: of butterfish (Poronotus triacanthus) ‘ were found in the Atlantic Ocean NEW YORK ¢~~ ~ \ < ~ 3 = : Pas num a as Too. 8 oe # area off Eastern Long Island. The SS pressure of butterfish in commer- M/V Delaware (Cruise 58-6). cial quantities all over the area surveyed is to be expected during the fall months. The catch rate was 500 pounds per hour tow on one drag and 600 pounds on another drag, A No, 41 trawl, equipped with rollers and lined with small- mesh twine from the Holland launce trawl was used on these two tows, The gear used allowed towing of the small-mesh cod end by the Delaware and yielded small quantities of anchovies (Anchoa nepsetus and bone squid (Loligo pealei) of 4-1 inch, showing that the gear fished properly for small fish. The cruise was a coordinated survey of the Bureau's M/V Delaware and com- mercial fishing vessels from Point Judith, R. I. Prior to this cruise, the Point Judith trawler David D., using one of the Bureau's launce trawls, caught about 2,000 pounds of launce in three tows off Block Island in Cow Cove. Bad weather hindered fishing by the Delaware. No stocks of launce were found. Tows were made in mod- erate seas and one trawl was destroyed completely due to the vessel's surge in rough seas, j a | y North Atlantic Fisheries Investigations FALL 1958 HADDOCK SURVEYS INDICATE POOR CATCHES UNTIL MID-1960: There is little hope for relief in the New England haddock fishery until 1960, ac- cording to results of surveys in October-November 1958 by the U. S. Bureau of Com- mercial Fisheries research vessel Albatross III. During this period the vessel sur- veyed the areas of principal interest to the New England haddock fleet (Georges Bank, the Gulf of Maine, and Browns Bank). The survey was planned to estimate the abundance of fish which are at present too small to be caught by commercial nets but which will be entering the catch dur- ing the next two years, The Albatross III found insufficient quantities of these to forecast any material increase in catches before the spring of 1960. The forecast by quarters for the next two years in terms of market-size had- dock on Georges Bank is: 1959: lst quarter - fair; 2nd quarter - fair; 3rd quarter - poor; and 4th quarter - poor. 1960: 1st quarter - poor to fair; 2nd quarter - fair to moderate; 3rd quarter - moderate; and 4th quarter - moderate to good. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 37 A haddock year brood first appears in the catches when it is two years old. The number of fish taken from any particular brood thereafter are high for three or four years and then taper off. When there is a successful spawning of haddock every year, anew group of two-year olds appear each summer, and there is a con- tinual supply of young fish and older fish as well. In recent years there has been a successful spawning only every other year, and the industry has come to rely more and more on scrod haddock (under 2.5 pounds) which appear in alternate years, for some reason in even-num- beredyears. This cycle was bro- ken, however, thisyear. The 1956 year brood failed to materialize. This placed the haddock fish- ery iu the worst position it has been in for many years as far as the natural resource is concern- ed. Haddock landings at Boston from July-October 1958 were only 25 million pounds as com- Service's research vessel Albatross II. pared with 37 million pounds last year for the same months. The catch per trip in those months dropped from 80,000 pounds in 1957 to 55,000 pounds in 1958. The future of the resource now depends upon those fish spawned after 1956. There have been two broods, The 1957 brood is on the banks as one-year-old-fish. The 1958 brood has just settled to the bottom where it can be sampled and counted. The Albatross III found very few one-year olds, so there is little hope for an abun- dance of scrod next summer. However, some concentration of the 1958 year-class was found, so the picture is brighter for a scrod catch in the summer of 1960. Between the summer scrod seasons the catches will hold up fairly well since the abundance of older fish on Georges Bank has not been reduced much below the average for recent years. The Browns Bank stock of older fish, which is normally fished in the winter and spring, appears to be about average also. Diversion of the fleet to Nova Scotian and Newfoundland banks will not help as haddock are scarce on these banks also, Some relief may be gained by concen- trating more upon other species such as pollock and cod, Pollock stocks appear to be good, and cod stocks appear to be recovering after a long period of scarcity. The reason for the failure of recent haddock broods is not fully understood, There is no reason to believe that it is related to the size of the spawning stock, and there is no evidence that the fishery is responsible. The mesh regulation, of course, improves the catch from any given year brood, but it operates only on what- ever quantity of small fish nature provides. % OK Ok KK INSTRUMENTS USED WITH TELEVISION CAMERA CALIBRATED (M/V Alba- tross II Cruise 121): Instruments used with the television camera and nets for _ measuring water temperature, depths, and currents were calibrated over a meas- ured mile off Provincetown, Mass., by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries research vessel Albatross II, November 4-6, 1958. All of the instruments functioned well. Water temperature varied only 0.29 C. (about 0.36° F.) on individual tows. The current through the cod end varied from 38 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 almost no difference from the speed of the vessel through the water to a current of one half a knot less than the vessel speed through the water. The speed of the ves- sel towing a No, 41 trawl was approximately half its speed without the trawl. A rough relation of cod-end mesh size and over-all size to the speed of pass- age of water through the cod end could be seen but further work is required to prop- erly specify the effect of different cod ends. Preliminary data suggests that a cov- er somehow promotes a greater flow through the cod end. le Oysters DEEP-WATER CHESAPEAKE BAY OYSTER LOSSES DUE TO OXYGEN DE- FICIENCY: During the fall of 1958, oystermen from a number of areas in Maryland reported finding most of the oysters dead on the deeper portions of certain bars. At the same time oysters on the shallower parts of the bars were thriving and in good condition. Fortunately, most Maryland oysters are caught in water less than 20 feet in depth, and a number of the deeper bars occur where strong currents prevent the stagnation of bottom water that may cause oyster deaths. The unusually large extent of water areas that were ''stagnant,'' or lacking in oxygen during the summer of 1958, was most evident in August at the time that many crabs were found dead in crab pots and dead fish observed at several points along the Bay shore. The fact that oysters in deep water might also be expected to show an unusually high death rate was pointed out following these August observations. Scientists at Maryland's Chesapeake Biological Laboratory about 20 years ago first noted that large masses of deep water without oxygen occur in many mid-Chesa- peake Bay areas during the summer months, Through continuing research, the causes of this condition are now known. The oxygen dissolved in water comes most- ly from the air at the water's surface. Wave action and currents tend to mix sur- face water with the layers of deeper water so that for much of the year sufficient oxygen for fish oysters, crabs, and other animals is found even in the deepest part of the Bay. In the summer, however, the surface water becomes considerably warm- er than bottom water and this makes it lighter in weight so that it tends to remain floating at the surface. Also, fresh water from rain and streams is lighter than salt water and tends to float above it. The result is that a two-layered system is formed with warm, fresher water near the surface and cool, saltier water near the bottom. The division between the layers may be quite distinct with very little mixing. De- composition of animal and plant remains and respiration by animals and plants soon consume the dissolved oxygen present near the bottom, and inability to mix with sur- face water cuts off a renewed supply. The result during most summers is that the dissolved oxygen becomes exhausted at depths of about forty feet or more in certain portions of the bay and tributaries. This limits the depth at which oysters can grow and in which oysters or crabs can remain at this season, Winds can cause unusual and exceptional local conditions, In the summer of 1958 an unusually extensive oxygen deficiency or stagna- tion was found in the Chesapeake Bay. It extended over a wide area from the mouth of the Rappahannock River north to the waters near Kent Island. The mouth of the Bay and the head of the Bay, for reasons which are known, but are somewhat complex, did not show severe depletion. Many locations in the Bay and in themouth of the Potomac River were totally lacking of oxygen in all waters more than 20 feet below the surface. Observations by the Chesapeake Bay Institute, the Virginia Fish- eries Laboratory, and the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory indicated that the past season produced the most extensive low oxygen mass in the Chesapeake Bay during the last ten years of careful study. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 39 Because of the enormous area involved, it is not possible to know how long any one group of oysters was exposed to this dangerous condition. It is probable that all oysters in the Potomac River and the middle of the Bay, in water deeper than 20 feet, were in danger and that some of them were killed. The combination of heavy rainfall and lack of strong winds during this summer contributed much to this condition. The heavy rains during the spring and summer brought unusually large quantities of nutrient salts and of plant and animal debris in- to the Bay. The nutrient salts stimulated extensive blooms of tiny plants that dis- color the water and added their material to the bottom layers as they died and set- tled. A type of bacteria, that grows when oxygen is lacking, flourished upon the plant and animal debris at the bottom and released into the water a poisonous gas known as hydrogen sulphide. Samples of deep water in the affected areas smelled strongly of this gas. It may have been the direct cause of many of the deaths of fish, crabs, and oysters, but its presence was due to the chain of natural occurrences described. In some cases this year winds caused the lethal water to be pushed unusually far over more shallow areas for, in at least one instance, crabs were reported to have been killed in pots set at 12 feet along both the Eastern Shore and the Western Shore. Fortunately most fish and crabs are able to move out of the affected water so that crabs confined in pots were the chief sufferers. Dead fish were not abundant and were mostly bottom dwellers, such as hogchokers and toadfish. Probably less than 5 percent of the State's oysters grow in the deeper water so that losses among them were limited and chiefly of local concern, Nevertheless, this represents an additional drain upon our already too low reserve supply of oysters. Little can be done by man to prevent losses of this kind except through such measures as remov- ing crab pots from deep water at times of oxygen deficiency, and concentration of oyster cultural practices upon bottoms that are unaffected. In many areas of the world far more disastrous natural kills have occurred than have thus far been seen in the Chesapeake Bay (Maryland Tidewater News, September-October 1958), A OK Ne He DIVERS STUDY BEHAVIOR OF STARFISH AND INDUSTRY CONTROL METHODS: The lack of good oyster sets since 1945, the repeated destruction of oyster beds by hurricanes, and the presence of a large number of oyster drills in many areas have led to a serious decrease in the production of oys- ters in Connecticut waters. The tenfold increase in the number of starfish in Long Island Sound, which occurred in 1957, placed the Connecticut oyster industry in a precarious position. In anticipation of a long and difficult struggle against hordes of starfish, the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory at Milford, Conn., included in its program of assist- ance to the oyster industry a series of studies to evaluate the methods now employed in fighting star- fish, offer suggestions to make these methods more effective, and develop new methods. The biologists decided that, simultaneously with observations on the performance of different types of starfish-des- troying apparatus, studies should be conducted on the behavior of the starfish themselves. These studies were initiated in the summer of 1958 and were carried on underwater by SCUBA divers, all biologists of the Bureau, The program was planned to study the efficiency of regular oyster dredges, suction dredges, the turtle dredge, starfish mops, and the methods of spreading quicklime on the surface and bottom of oyster beds. The studies were made with the cooperation of the Connecticut and New York oys- ter industries and the Connecticut Shell Fish Com- mission, Since the studies were only of short duration and, in many respects, of a pioneering nature, conclusions drawn from the studies may not be final. These studies will be extended considerably in 1959 by carrying them out under a more diverse set of conditions and for a longer period. Under- water television cameras will also be used. Asa result of these studies, the biologists hope to offer a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation of the starfish predator problem. Observations made in the summer of 1958 show- ed that every device used is now, or can easily be made, quite effective in clearing starfish from the path the device actually covers. But in each case, a certain percentage of starfish was pushed around the leading edge of the dredges and were not picked up. For example, the 30-inch dredge of the Bu- reau's research boat, Shang Wheeler, left a path almost free of starfish, yet it picked up only about 53 percent of those encountered. The low percent- age of catch was due, in part, to the starfish being pushed around the leading edge of the dredge, and partly because the dredge cables removed some of the starfish from the path. This type of loss was apparent with each piece of equipment tested, but the percentage of loss seemed to decrease as the width of the dredge increased. The loss of starfish 40 increased and the efficiency of the dredge decreased as the dredge filled up with sand, shells, and star- fish, which obstructed the passage of water through the dredge bag. Obviously, certain improvements in the design of the dredges are needed to increase its efficiency. Some of these changes will be based on the design of a special starfish dredge used on the oyster and mussel grounds of Holland. Another defect noticed in connection with the use of standard oyster dredges was the largemesh of the bag which allowed small and, sometimes, medium starfish to pass through meshes. It was demonstrated in one instance that by using small- er mesh such a loss would be virtually eliminated. In observing the action of suction dredges, it was noticed in one case that the dredge dragged too flat on the bottom and, therefore, the suction base in the front part of the suction head pushed approximately 50 percent of the starfish aside and out of reach of the suction intake. However, in the case of two other dredges which had suction heads inclined at an angle of about 30 degrees, the bot- tom ahead of the suction opening was not appreci- ably disturbed. Only a few starfish were pushed around the leading edge of these suction dredges, and most of them were captured. The divers reported that each of the suction dredges tested was powerful enough to utilize a water head, or ''wings,'' to funnel the starfish into the suction opening, thus picking up many more starfish per unit of effort. In studying the action of starfish mops, it was noticed that the bar to which the mops are attach- ed often bounced along the bottom and only from 20 to 40 percent of the surfaces of the mops were on the bottom at times. However, almost all the starfish that were disturbed by the mop action on the bottom were caught by entangling in the mops. Only those at the end of the bar were pushed out- ward and lost. Again, as in the case of mechanical and suction dredges, certain improvements in the design and structure of the mops suggest them- selves and should be incorporated in the newly- designed mops. Studies of the effectiveness of these mops will be made in 1959. The effectiveness of quicklime in killing star- fish depends, to a very large extent, upon the prop- er method of application and the concentration used, When the lime was spread on the surface at the rate of ¢-ton per acre, the divers could observe the particles settling through the water and esti- mated that about 85 percent of the starfish were hit by them, These lime particles were about 14 inch- es apart on the bottom, Since during the liming process the tide was running at almost 2 knots, it is obvious that such a strong current could carry many lime particles, especially the finer ones, far away from the point where they first entered the water. When the ime was spread on the bottom by a boat belonging to an oyster firm, one particle of lime was found per quarter-of-an-inch of bottom surface. About 95 percent of the starfish were hit by the lime. The observers believed that the industry liming boat performed this operation very efficiently. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wols Zils INO, Al It is believed that to achieve more effective re- sults with lime the mechanical aspects of the meth- of should be further developed and perfected. In principle, it is an excellent and cheap means of fighting starfish and this has been demonstrated on many occasions under laboratory and field con- ditions. By misusing it, because of a lack of the necessary facilities for uniform and proper spread- ing, too light or too heavy concen- trations, using in- ferior grades, or spreading the lime when the tide runs too swiftly, the method may be dis- credited. In 1959, with the coopera- tion of several oys- ter companies, Bureau biologists hope to conduct further studies on the application and effectiveness ° of lime as a method of fighting starfish. While studying various aspects of the perform- ance of the devices used in fighting starfish, the divers had the opportunity to make extensive ob- servations on the behavior of starfish under nor- mal conditions. Starfish were seen feeding on oys- ter spat, clams, moon snails, several other species of mollusks, and dead crabs. A large starfish was observed with its stomach pressed to a shell cover- ed with oyster spat. When the starfish was pull- ed away by the diver, all the small oysters which had been under the stomach of the starfish were killed, while those outside this area were alive and apparently normal. This observation shows that a single large starfish can feed on several small oys- ters simultaneously. Another rather important observation was that starfish can protrude their stomachs into the si- phon hole of hard clams (Venus mercenaria) and consume them. This ability of starfish to kil clams that are dug in may account for the unexplained mortality of thousands of medium and large hard clams noted in New Haven Harbor while observing the operation of the suction dredge Quinnipiac. The divers also studied starfish movements. They reported that if the current is less than one knot, starfish glide along in any direction, with only their tube feet at the tips of the rays touching the bottom. The observed rate under these condi- tions was about 6-8 inches a minute, or somewhat less than the maximum that we reported by our earlier experiments. Since starfish are so nearly neutral in buoyancy and seem to be firmly attached only when feeding, any spurt of current can carry them for several feet if they become detached. A current of about two knots is strong enough to ac- complish this. When the current reached this strength or exceeded it, the starfish were observed floating parallel to the bottom singly, in two's and three's, and sometimes in larger groups. Some in- dividuals were seen tumbling along ''end over end." In some instances, usually when the current was very strong, starfish were seen with the tips of their rays curled, forming an open ball, and were readily rolled along by the current. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 41 The observations showed that the movements of starfish by currents can result in distribution over a large area in a comparatively short time This was sustained by another observation that within 15-30 minutes after the passage of dredges or mops, the path which was almost completely clean of starfish would sometimes again contain just as many starfish, which had been brought into the cleared zone by the current. Because of such rapid movements of starfish from adjacent areas, evaluation of the killing effect of lime may not al- ways be accurate if only comparatively narrow areas are covered. For example, in some in- stances, starfish showing effects of lime were found outside the limed area in about the same numbers as were within the limed zone, Obvious- ly, starfish from the limed area which had been hit by particles of lime were scattered over the adjacent areas, while starfish in the untreated areas had entered the limed zone. The actual number of starfish on the bottom varied from 2 individuals per 50 square yards on Lot 152 in the New Haven, Conn., area, where energetic measures for fighting starfish were em- ployed, to 681 individuals per 50 square yards in some Milford areas, where no control measures were applied. Lot 152, New Haven, was selected to determine the effectiveness of intensive efforts to control starfish. This lot was intensively dredged and mopped from about the middle of June to the mid- dle of July, the period prior to the planting of cultch. The mopping was followed by liming of the areas surrounding this lot. Moreover, outside the limed zone, the bottom was continuously mopped to reduce the number of starfish. On August 22 the divers examined this lot and found three starfish per 50 square yards. In the limed areas surround- ing the lot, they found six healthy starfish and a few with lime lesionsper 50 square yards. In the mopped area outside of the limed zone there were MARYLAND'S CHESAPEAKE BAY OYSTER SET POOR IN 1958: A complete picture of 1958 oyster setting in Chesapeake Bay waters of Maryland must await the end of the 1958 setting season and completion of counts throughout the State, according to biologists of the Maryland Chesapeake Bio- Fertilized logical Laboratory. There Egg are early indications, how- ever, that the Maryland set in 1958 was poor in many areas. Up to late September 1958 there had been little or no setting in most of the Patuxent River, the adjacent Chesapeake Bay, the St. Marys River, and upper Fishing Bay. Preliminary reports show a similar condition in the East- ern Bay area. A below-aver- age set was observed inSmith Creek, Honga River, Tar Bay, and the Manokin River area. Oyster spat 5 hours The best set observed was at after attachment Holland Straits, where a good Mature larvae just before setting 12 starfish per 50 square yards. Thus, it appear- ed that the intensive efforts mentioned above had kept Lot 152 and adjacent bottom comparatively free of starfish. On August 26, a large number of starfish was again found on the lot, making it necessary tomove the oyster set from that area. The heavy invasion would probably have occurred much sooner if the lot had been less actively protected. Its occur- rence indicates the virtual impossibility of keeping a relatively small lot free of starfish without re- ducing their number within adjacent areas so as to create a wide safety zone around the cultivated oys- ter bed. Biologists and practical oystermen real- ized this in the past, and we recommended this ap- proach many years ago, However, a much larger oyster fleet than the present one is needed to fulfill this task. The starfish do not complete their life cycle in a single year but may live for a long time. This has been demonstrated by keeping adult starfish in our laboratory for several years after they had be- come fully mature. Some of them were marked with vital stains and, therefore, their identity was unmistakable. European biologists have kept close- ly related starfish species in aquaria for five and six years. Observations on distribution and occur- rence of starfish in Connecticut waters also indicated that it takes several years before a year-class shows a decided decrease in its numbers. This sug- gests that the oyster industry cannot hope that the large number of starfish now present in Long Is- land Sound will soon disappear. On the contrary, it is expected that the starfish will remain in Long Island waters for several years and oystermen should be prepared to combat them most energet- ically to save the remaining oyster beds. With such a purpose in mind, the Milford Laboratory will continue to work on the development of better methods of starfish control (Bulletin No, 4, Fish- eries, Biological Laboratory, Milford, Conn.). % phe ah 3 but not exceptionally heavy set was indicated. These statements are based upon test-shell findings com- pared with similar observations during previous years. The final picture may be altered by poor survival of the spat observed, or by unexpectedly late setting which is possible up until about mid- October. Many factors may cause great variations from year to year in oyster spawning, the survival of oyster larvae, and the attachment of spat. Among these are: abundance of brood stock, salinity of the water, temperature conditions, food for larvae, scattering of larvae by tides and currents, chemi- cal conditions, cleanliness of ''cultch" or shells, presence of diseases that affect larvae and spat, abundance of enemies that feed upon larvae and spat, silt deposits on shells, smothering by fouling growths, and many others. A favorable combina- tion of all these factors seldom occurs. Few of them can be changed by man except the abundance of brood stock and the presence of clean shell as cultch in places where oyster larvae tend to con- centrate naturally. By providing these two, how- ever, the average amount of set can be increased under most conditions, 42 At least three unfavorable factors were apparent in 1958: (1) Adult oysters or brood stock were too thin- ly scattered in many areas for most effective spawning. The spawn of one sex in the water will stimulate spawning by the opposite sex. Oysters close together in beds tend to spawn completely while widely-scattered oysters may spawn very little. A good oyster market in recent years has increased the drain on the oyster beds. (2) Extensive areas of bottom water have been deficient in oxygen. This not only has killed some oysters in deep water and affected the amount of spawning, but has offered a great hazard to the survival of oyster larvae during the two weeks that they drift with the tide before setting. (3) Exceptionally low salinity has existed this spring and summer throughout the Chesapeake ok OK ole COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 1 area. It always has been noted that setting ismore abundant towards the lower bay and that setting generally is better in the saltier areas if other conditions are favorable. Recent and important research upon the survival and growth of clam and oyster larvae at different salinities has been con- ducted at the Milford Biological Laboratory of the United States Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. This research demonstrated effectively that even oysters which live in low salinity water (Hodges Bar) required a salinity of between 10 and 15parts per thousand for best development of their eggs. Oysters grown in more salty water needed ahigh- er salinity. Over most of the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake, salinities during the spring and early summer of 1958 were generally below the above figure and it is probable that this may have been the principal reason for the poor setting that occurred over most areas. It seems significant that the setting thus far observed occurred in the higher salinities represented (Maryland's Tide- water News, Sept.-Oct. 1958). ci ee OYSTER-SETTING EXPERIMENT IN ARTIFICIAL POND SHOWS PROMISE: cessful methods for obtaining an oyster set is to release large numbers of oyster larvae which are about to set, These experiments are being made by U. 5. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries shellfish biologists. By this method a set of native oys- ters was obtained which grew well under local conditions. The experiments indicate that this method may be the simplest one for obtain- ing a commercial oyster set in artificial ponds or tanks. This is due to the difficul- ties encountered in maintaining a proper balance of temperature, salinity, chemical balance, food content, and other factors in artificial ponds long enough to permit normal development of oysters from the egg stage to the setting stage. ediey Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations TUNA FEEDING BEHAVIOR IN LINE ISLANDS AREA STUDIED (M/V Charles H. Gilbert Cruise 42): The feeding behavior of skipjack and yellowfin tunato chumming with bait and water sprays was studied during the (an). Frall a eS) | October 9-November 17, 1958 fe cruise of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries research 1 vessel Charles H. Gilbert. The first half of the cruise was spent in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands, but because of Legend: b2o-— - NUMBER OF SCHOOLS SIGHTED. = NO]- NUMBER OF SCHOOLS FROM WHICH F SJ — SKIPJACK- YF — YELLOWFIN UN — UNIDENTIFIED, 'SH WERE CAUGHT. HAWAI/ the scarcity of tuna schools little was accomplished. This led to gi : : | the decisionto continue the cruise ° eh a ie in the vicinity of the Line Islands where, as was expected, schools of tuna were found. 1958). Fig. 1 - Location of schools sighted and fished in the Hawaiian Is- lands. M/V Charles H. Gilbert Cruise 42 (October 8-November 17, January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 43 During 9 days of active pole-and-line-bait fishing in the Line Islands area, 69 fish schools were sighted. Of these 38 schools were positively identified as skip- jack or yellowfin; and at least 6 of those identified were large schools estimated at 10 to 15 tons of fish each. = Legend: — NUMBER OF SCHOOLS SIGHTED. [NO] - NUMBER OF SCHOOLS FROM WHICH FISH WERE CAUGHT. SJ — SKIPJACK. YF — YELLOWFIN. RR — RAINBOW RUNNER. UN - UNIDENTIFIED. So} ° ra | al / 44 161° 160° 159° i Fig. 2 - Location of schools sighted and fished in the Line Islands. M/V Charles H. Gilbert Cruise 42 (October 8-November 17, 1958). Island. The bait was predominantly 3-8 inch mullet. Observations were made from a submerged caisson or chamber and the behavior of both skipjack and yellowfin to lamp black dye so- lutions in the water, to chumming with tilapia and mullet, and to wa- ter sprays was studied. This was the first opportunity the biologists have had to observe yellowfin tuna and to compare their behavior with that of skipjack, In general, the reactions were similar for both species except that the yellowfin swam below the skipjack, at about a depth of 10 feet, and made dashes upward to feed upon the tilapia or mullet bait. Two days were spent bait fish- ing in the Line Islands, one day each at Fanning Island and Palmyra Sixty-six buckets were caught at Fanning Island and 133 buckets (40 of which were released) at Palmyra Island. The successful fishing in the Line Islands area emphasizes the seasonal nature of the Hawaiian fishery. In Hawaii, surface schools of skipjack are not abundant enough to support a satisfactory fishery during 4 or 5 months of the year. Due to high capital investments associated with tuna fishing, this seasonal pattern can nev- er furnish a fully satisfactory basis for a prosperous fishery. It's equally obvious that during the Hawaiian off-season fish are fairly abundant in reasonably nearby areas, At the moment the principal reason why these areas cannot be fished from Hawaii is the lack of a bait fish sufficiently hardy to withstand a 3-5 day journey at sea. Two approaches are being used to break this bottleneck: (1) the intensive production of tilapia as tuna bait; and (2) the introduction of other bait species to Hawaii. One of these programs, the introduction of the Marquesan sardine to Ha- waii, has shown great promise, for the sardine has definitely spawned in Hawaiian waters and may well become abundant over the next few years. The other, the cul- ture of tilapia, is already being utilized by the industry to a limited extent. a 3K 2K OK Ok TUNA TAGGING RETURNS REVEAL GROWTH RATES AND MOVEMENTS: Skipjack tuna from Hawaiian waters tagged with the dart tag developed by U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries biologists during 1957 and 1958 continued to be recovered during October 1958. Of the total of 12 recoveries, 11 showed random movement within the fishery. The other recovery was of particular interest in that it provided additional information on the rate of growth of these tuna. was tagged and released off Hilo, Hawaii, early in September 1957. This fish When captured near the end of October 1958, its weight had increased from about 4 to 18 pounds, a growth rate of about a pound a month. There has been at least one recovery of tagged skipjack each month since the release of the 3,200 tagged fish in September 1957. 44 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 1 Two albacore tuna tag recoveries were reported during October 1958, bringing the albacore tag recovery total to 16 (1.3-percent recovery rate). The 15th recov- ery was made by the California albacore boat Mable on July 21, 1958, at 34°00'N., 122°10' W. This fish had been tagged on November 21, 1956, by the M/V Charles H. Gilbert of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries at 35921' N., 123957" W. Thus, this fish made a net movement of only 130 miles in 607 days within the area of the west coast fishery. The 16th recovery was made from the boat Daiho II during the trip of August 12-29, 1958. This fish had been tagged on November 16, 1956, by the Charles H. Gilbert at 36°48' N., 127933! W., and when retaken at 32938'N., 123000! W., it had been at liberty for about 640 days and had traveled a net distance of 345 miles within the West Coast fishery. SK ok) 3k 3k: YOUNG TUNA CAUGHT WITH NEW-TYPE MIDWATER TRAWL (M/V Hugh M. Smith Cruise 47): Larger Num- bers of young tuna were caught by biol- gists of the U. S. Bureau of Commer - cial Fisheries with the use of a new- type midwater trawl developed by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. The young tuna were taken by the Bu- reau's Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investi- gations research vessel Hugh M. Smith during an October 9-November 11, 1958, is cruise from Hawaii to a few degrees south of the Equator. Collection of young tuna is of special interest be- cause they are rare in collections. In addition to the young tuna, a great many varieties of fish of impor- tance as tuna forage were taken. The comparative abundance of tuna forage from place to place is of importance in the study of the distribution of tuna since the abundance of available food influences distribution. 102 This cruise marks the first s+ time the new-type midwater trawl has been used in the central Pacific. The trawl is about 40 feet across the mouth and was towed at speeds up to 4 knots at depths ranging from the surface down to 800 feet. Other than the collections of young tuna andof tuna o-+ forage obtained through the use of the | | trawl, the catches included large num- bers of rare fishes, © FANNING |. QUCHRISTMAS |. In addition to the fishing with the trawl, oceanographic observations were made during the cruise in the extension ih Gents s_| of the California Current southeast of Hawaii and in the newly-discovered un- dercurrent flowing east along the Equa- M/V Hugh M. Smith cruise 47 (October 9-November 11, tor as a follow-up to studies made in 1958). the spring of 1958, January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45 Contrary to expectations, no tuna schools were sighted in the region of the Cali- fornia Current so plans for live-bait fishing and stomach sampling were not accom- lished, and unfavorable weather prevented the use of the Canadian midwater trawl. Hauls were made with the Isaacs-Kidd trawl, however, and with the 1-meter plank- ton net. Very few tuna schools were sighted during the cruise. Five skipjack schools were chummed using tilapia as bait but no fish were caught. The schools were small in size and very wild. Surface trolling was conducted with two lines during the day- light runs. The catch consisted of 7 dolphin, 1 wahoo, 1 skipjack, and 1 yellowfin tuna. Salmon AERIAL CENSUS USED TO COUNT SALMON EGG NESTS IN COLUMBIA RIV- salmon nests in the Columbia River Basin. Weekly surveys were made by Washing- ton State and Bureau biologists in 1958 to determine the peak of spawning. One sur- vey is made after the peak count is attained. Spawning chinook salmon females in gouging out a nest overturn brown algae- covered gravel and small rocks exposing fresh, light-colored surfaces. The "redds'' (salmon nests) appear as bright spots in the gravel and are readily seen from the air. Biologists in small light planes count the number of nests in a river systemas an index of the number of fish utilizing a spawning area. These surveys are repeat- ed annually (since 1948) for comparison of changing abundance in salmon spawning populations. Information obtained from the aerial surveys is used to determine the size ofa spawning area and how many spawners are involved in the region of each proposed dam. The count is made for each section of the river. For example, for the Priest Rapids Dam this information was sought--what is the extent of spawning in the vicin- ity and how much spawning area will be lost when the hydroelectric project is com- pleted? With the facts at hand, biologists seek to work out programs for the conserva- tion of the salmon runs whether it be artificial spawning areas as is being tried at McNary Dam on the Columbia River, additional hatcheries for rearing salmon, or other projects. Plane surveys of salmon nests are also made by the Idaho Fish and Game De- partment and the Oregon Fish Commission, the state agencies charged with the pro- tection and wise utilization of the fisheries resource. The actual fish--pink, red, and chum salmon--are counted in aerial surveys by fisheries scientists in Alaska. kK Ok OK NEW OREGON SALMON HATCHERY COMPLETED: The new Cascade $500,000 salmon hatchery, located on Oregon's Eagle Creek just above Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, was opened officially by the Oregon Fish Commission late in Oc- tober 1958. "Nine million fall chinook eggs obtained from fish returning to Eagle Creek are scheduled for rearing at the new hatchery next spring,'' the Commission's Director of Fish Culture stated. 46 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 1 "Cascade hatchery can rear about 11 million salmon annually," he reported, "and its activation brings to 16 the number of Commission-operated units in the State, producing at the present time an average of 25 million salmon and 3 million steelhead each year to provide fish for both commercial and sport fishermen. The hatchery was constructed under the Federally-financed Columbia River fisheries development program--a program started in 1948 to offset losses of mi- gratory fish runs resulting from Federal dam construction of the main Columbia River. Cascade is the second completely new hatchery constructed for Commission use under the Columbia River program. The first is located at Sandy, Ore. Four other hatcheries have been renovated under this program. Seanivenc POPULATION OFF CALIFORNIA COAST INCREASES: The sea lion population off the California coast increased from 8,700 in 1947 to 19,700 in 1958, according to the California Department of Fish and Game, At least 10 percent of the increase, and possibly more, is due to the fact that pups were counted for the first time this year, In 1947, photographic census takers, who made the count from a slow- moving blimp on loan from the United States Navy, were able to distinguish between pups and adults. But only adults were enu- merated due to uncertain- ty as to how many pups survived the hazardous early days ashore or un- til able to swim, Many of them are crushed to death by the ponderous andcare- less adults. In 1958 the census was made by a fast plane, which was more efficient because the entire count took only 3 days, compared to 3-4 weeks in 1947. Since adults and pups could not be distinguished one from the other on the photos, all were counted as sea lions, Sea lions on rookery about one week before height of breeding season. Most of the population increase occurred in the channel islands of Southern California where 12,450 were counted, compared to 2,680 for the same area in 1947, The increase in Northern California over the 11-year period was only 2,000, or from 5,000 in 1947 to 7,000 in 1958. The three channel islands which had the heaviest populations are: San Miguel, 5,190 (650 in 1947); San Nicolaus 3,070, (660 in 1947); and San Clemente, from zero to 1,500. In addition to the sea lions, the Department counted 444 sea elephants, all of them on San Miguel Island. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 47 Tuna CALIFORNIA PACK AND CANNERY RECEIPTS SET NEW RECORD: The Cali- November 10-15, 1958. An estimated 10.3 million standard cases of tuna were pack- ed through November 15 from 207,200 tons of tuna received by the canneries. This sets an all-time annual record and was 700,000 cases above the California annual 1956 pack of about 9.6 million cases. California cannery tuna receipts for January-October 1958 totaled 201,000 tons-- an all-time record, exceeding the previous high ten-months receipts in 1956 by 22,000 tons or 12 percent. Record-high frozen tuna imports of 60,663 tons and a record-high tuna purse-Seine catch of 39,000 tons accounted for the new record in cannery tuna receipts in 1958. Cannery tuna receipts during the first 10 months of 1958 also exceeded any previous full year's total except for 1956 and 1954. He Xe He Ok OK UNITED STATES CLIPPER SURVEYS TUNA RESOURCES OFF WEST AFRICAN COAST: The United States tuna clipper Chicken of the Sea, owned and operated by a Pacific Coast cannery, arrived at Accra, Ghana, on November 8, 1958, for a tuna fishing survey off the West African coast to determine the feasibility of operating in that area, The arrival of the tuna clipper was preceded by preparatory arrangements to permit the vessel to fish for live bait in Ghana's territorial waters and obtain port amenities in return for an agreement to make available to the Ghana Government the results of the survey and take a Government fisheries officer as observer a- board the survey vessel. The tuna clipper, which arrived in African waters in October, is surveying the tuna and bait fisheries from the Senegal coast to Ghana. Most observations are made beyond the territorial waters of the countries concerned. The vessel's captain stated informally that tuna fishing grounds in the West African area are very prom- ising in general and that those off the coast of Ghana are particularly impressive. Fishing trials made 20-30 miles off Ghana's Cape Three Points on November 7 pro- duced a catch of about 30 tons of tuna. Fishing had to be suspended due to lack of live bait. Bait supplies off the Ghana coast were not promising during this period, according to the clipper's captain. Fisheries officers confirmed the fact that the continental shelf bait fisheries are highly seasonal, while the off-shelf supply has not been firmly established. Following the visit to Ghana, the tuna clipper planned to replenish live-bait sup- plies by fishing within territorial limits and to proceed with the tuna survey wellout to sea. The clipper will land in Puerto Rico as soon as it is capacity-loaded. The Pacific Coast cannery that owns the clipper also has a cannery in Puerto Rico, Assuming that both tuna and bait fisheries are suitable for commercial fishing, the United States cannery may draw up plans to fish off the African West coast and land catches on the United States east coast and, concurrently, to establish a fishing, cold storage, and canning industry in Ghana. 48 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vols 21s Nowe United States Fishing Fleet 1! Additions AUGUST 1958: A total of 58 vessels of 5 net tons and over was issued first documents as fishing craft in August 1958. Compared with the same month of 1957, this was a decrease of 1 vessel. The Gulf States continued to lead with 20 vessels, the South Atlantic area was second with 18, and the Chesapeake third with 10. First Documents as Fishing Craft, by Tonnage, August 1958 IMbiclolie ANlewoneie |) PA el ak th alt MQ) BSN SLO) AM) 4g 5 a ose 0-0 Chesapeake... MO ORY Gh P OA 20) te) BE) 5 5 6 Ge 06 Srobhila, “ANleraoe 4 al} | ake} |] EH AGN ALK) © YO) ko) BI) og ga pe oo O Oko ooo DD Fishing craft that were issued documents as fishing craft during the first eight months of 1958 totaled 500 vessels--an increase of 79 vessels as compared withthe . same period of 1957. Of the vessels documented for fishing, 40 percent were re- ported from the Gulf States. i/Includes both commercial and sport fishing craft. 2/Revised. Note: Vessels assigned to the various sections on the basis of their home ports. United States Fishery Landings, January-October 1958 Landings of fish and shellfish in the United States and Alaska during the first ten months of 1958 were over 5 percent below those of the same period of 1957. At the end of September 1958, landings were only one percent below those for last year; however, during October 1958 the catch of menhaden was much smaller than in Oc- tober 1957. Sardine landings in California were 148 million pounds greater through Novem- ber 25 this year than for the same period of 1957. Salmon landings on the Pacific Coast including Alaska during the 1958 season were up 41 million pounds. Tuna landings in California for the first ten months of 1958 were over 15 million pounds higher than for the same period in 1957. Ocean perch landings in New England were up 15 million pounds over a year ago. Menhaden landings were 203 million pounds behind 1957 at the end of October. Jack mackerel landings were better in October but were still 65 million pounds un- der the ten-month total for 1957. Herring landings in Maine (134 million pounds) were slightly above those of last year for nine months. Herring production in Alas- ka, however, was short by 37 million pounds. Anchovies in California were down around 31 million pounds. Whiting in New England continued to fall behind last year's catch, although there was some improvement in October. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 49 Table 1- United States Fishery Landings of Certain Species |Table2- United States Fishery Landings by States for Periods for Periods Indicated, 1958 and 1957 1/ Indicated, 1958 and 1957 1/ : Total Period 1958 1957 Period 1958 1957 1957 Cod: EN IG IANS ate G SOStOM Iwate) elis\ oe Gloucester Bostonis ie. Gloucester .. New Bedford . Provincetown , INGINE ere eiaten che SOStOM) 60 0. 6 Gloucester 8 New York2/~ on Halibut 2/; New Jersey2/.. 3 Juma Wash, & Ore... 15,626] 15,430 lit 10 » IN ENS | CIR 19,972 20,733 9. Total halibut 8 Herring: 9 MAINE 7.) svete 8 Alas Kahed tin ou : ; 8 Maine& Mass. 3/10 mos 116,294 | 118,029 8 Mackerel: Fi 9 ACTOR aan aera 10 mos, 11,042 75,976 9 Pacifier. 2.58 NOM 15,710 39,788 Menhaden... Salmon 37 Ocean perch: Other... 99,478 Mae TS access 10 mos. 63,770 56,864 64,723 BOSON ese aes 100 2,106 3,322 3,819 |California: GIGUEESTEN ay.se en) LO 68,032 58,598 65,389 | Certain species 4/ 459,866} 529,391 Total ocean perch TA TE 784 IEBYERT | Ole as Sapo 43,922} 86,862 9 mos, 46,276 39,871 43,273 616,253 x 7,736 10,839 11,354 —<—<——— | Alaska... 2. Year 248,000 | 203,437 203,437 |Rhode Island, Middle Sardines, Pacific |to Nov. 25| 178,912 | 30,462 | 45,800 | Atlantic, Chesa- peake, South At- . |10 mos, 12,973 | 14,324 16,451 | lantic, and Gulf Shrimp (heads-on),| States (menhaden South Atlantic and ONLY)!" srevereteteke Gulf States ...| 7 mos. 82,862 96,229 166,737 |Alaska: WES, lug Soo Oru | some 5,465 1,392 2,458 | Halibut 5/,.... 20,733 megane seeierstet (Be 1,392 286 403| Herring .... } : 118,290 Squid, Calif, ... | 9 mos. 4,862 10,670 12°449)|| ‘Salmon. o.. < ; 203,437) 203,437 _Tuna, Galifon00 | LO 280,696 | 265,456 291,234 IMGINIEY We. cians 9 mos, 23,319 15,727 15,810 SS SS SSS SS Gloucester.) .)|10) = 44,775 74,952 76,521 Total whiting, 68,600 91,655 93,333 Grand Total 5 1/Preliminary, y) 7 Total all above items | 2,948,317] 3,127,612 | 3,449,768 Dexetides iienhaden. 9 |8/Landed weight, 4/Includes catch of anchovies, jack and Pacific mackerel, Pa- cific sardines, squid, and tuna. Data on sardines are Others not listed i 586,772 | 1,329,232 Grand Total 3,516,495 | 3,714,384 | 4,779,000 : ; - through November 25, 1/Preliminary. 3/Excluding. menhaden, S/ieesEek seine 2/Dressed weight, 4/Landed weight. . }6/Data not available. Note; Data principally represent weight of fish and shellfish as landed except for mollusks which represent the weight of meats only, 50 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol 2 Now: U. S. Foreign Trade EDIBLE FISHERY PRODUCTS, AUGUST 1958: Imports year resulting from the very light packs of California sar- of edible fresh, frozen, and processed fish and shellfishin- dines, mackerel, and anchovies. to the United States during August 1958 were down 9.9 per- United States Foreign Trade in Edible Fishery Products, August 1958 With Comparisons cent in quantity and 11.0 percent in value as compared with July 1958. The drop was due to sharply lower imports of frozen groundfish fillets, and to a lesser degree, a drop in SSS SSS Quantity Value Item Year | August Year 1958 | 1957 1957 [1958] 1957] 1957 the imports of sardines and lobsters, These declines were (Millions of Lbs.) (Millions of $) partly offset by a 5.3-million-pound increase in the imports of frozen tuna. Compared with August 1957, the imports this August were higher by 4.0 percent in quantity and 5.9 percent in value due tohigher imports of groundfish fillets, shrimp, and tuna. Compensating, in part, for the increases was a drop inthe imports of canned salmon. Fish & shellfish: Fresh, frozen, & 87.5 25.2] 23.8/248.4 91.0 ee tt [ 9 6 |1/Includes pastes, sauces, clam chowder and juice, and other specialties. United States exports of processed fish and shellfish in August 1958 were higher by 28.1 percent in quantity, but were 10.0 percent lower in value as compared with July 1958. Compared with the same month in 1957, the exports in August 1958 were down by 56.8 percent in quantity and 52.4 percent in value. The exports this August as compared with the same month in 1957 continued the trends ofthe past IE xports: Fish and shellfish: Processed only 1/ (excluding fresh & ok 3k kK ce 3k GROUNDFISH FILLET IMPORTS, OCTOBER 1958: United States imports of cod, haddock, hake, pollock, cusk, and ocean perch fillets (including blocks) during October 1958 totaled 19.9 million pounds--an increase of 784,000 pounds, or 4 per- cent, compared with the same month of last year. Although shipments from Canada dropped 3 percent below October of 1957, it still ranked first in volume as supplier with 15.7 million pounds. During the first ten months of 1958, imports of groundfish fillets (including blocks) amounted to 130.9 million pounds. This was still a gain of 5 percent com- pared with the same period of 1957. Imports from Canada accounted for 73 percent of the total, followed by Iceland with 13 percent, and Denmark with 7 percent. Im- ports from nine other countries made up the remaining 7 percent. The quota of groundfish and ocean perch fillets and blocks permitted to enter the United States at 1<¢ cents per pound in calendar year 1958 is 35,892,221 pounds, divided into a quarterly quota of 8,973,055 pounds. The quota for the calendar year 1957 amounted to 37,375,636 pounds. Imports during any quarter in excess of the established quarterly quota enter at a duty of 24 cents a pound. Note: See Chart 7 in this issue. na oS ae ES Be IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA IN BRINE UNDER QUOTA: The quantity of tuna canned in brine which may be imported into the United States during the calendar year 1958 at the 124-percent rate of duty has been established as 44,693,874 pounds. Any imports in excess of this established quota will be dutiable at 25 percent ad valorem, Imports from January 1-October 31, 1958, amounted to 42,349,036 pounds, ac- cording to data compiled by the Bureau of Customs. This leaves a balance of 2,344,838 pounds of the quota which may be imported during the balance of 1958 at the 124-percent rate of duty, Last year from January 1-November 2 a total of 34,923,285 pounds had been imported. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW ol Wholesale Prices, November 1958 Wholesale prices for selected edible fishery products in mid-November 1958 continued to fall off slightly from the two preceding months, but remained higher than for the same month in 1957. The November 1958 edible fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) wholesale price index (128.6 per- cent of the 1947-49 average) was down by 0.8 percent from the previous month, but was up 6.1 percent from November a year ago. October 1958 prices for the drawn, dressed, and whole finfish subgroup were down 2.3 percent as compared with a month earlier. From October to November prices rose for large drawn haddock (up 2.2 percent) and Lake Superior whitefish (up 11.5 percent). These increases were offset by lower prices for the other fresh-water varieties and frozen halibut and salmon. When compared with November 1957, the subgroup index in November 1958 was higher by 19.6 percent due to higher prices for all the subgroup items except fresh whitefish at New York City. The fresh processed fish and shellfish subgroup index for November 1958 was down by 1.5 percent from October due to lower prices for fresh haddock (down 4 percent) and fresh shrimp (down 2.4 percent). The index in November 1958 as compared with November 1957 was lower by 2.5 percent due to a 7.4-percent drop in fresh shrimp prices at New York. Higher prices for fresh haddock fillets (up 3.2 percent) and fresh shucked oysters (up 2.1 percent) failed to offset the lower shrimp price. Table 1 - Wholesale Average Prices and Indexes for The November 1958 index for the frozen processed fish and shellfish subgroup was the only one to show a Slight increase (1.8 percent) over the preceding month, and it was due to the rise in frozen shrimp prices at Chicago. From November 1957 to November 1958 prices for selected fro- zen processed fish and shellfish increased 8.3 percent. All the items were priced higher (haddock up 22.7 percent) in November 1958 than in the same month a year earlier, Canned fishery products primary broker prices in No- vember 1958 were down slightly (0.7 percent) from October, but were higher by 1.1 percent than for November 1957, From October to November this year lower prices for canned pink salmon and California sardines were respon- sible for the over-all decline. As compared with Novem- ber 1957, wholesale canned fish prices were higher in November 1958 for Maine sardines (up 27.6 percent from abnormally low prices in November 1957) and for tuna (up 4.0 percent), and prices were lower for pink salmon (6.5 percent) and California sardines (3.5 percent). The market remained firm for the below-average pack of Maine sardines and for salmon. But a heavy pack and im- ports of tuna and a large pack of California sardines con- tinued to depress the market for these two products. The prospects for the market for the relatively large pack of California sardines (about 2.1 million cases) was poor. Edible Fish and Shellfish, November 1958 With Comparisons Group, Subgroup, and Item Specification Drawn, Dressed, or Whole Finfish: . Haddock, lge., offshore, drawn, fresh . . ... Halibut, West., 20/80 lbs., drsd., fresh or froz. Salmon, king, lge. & med., drsd., fresh or froz, Whitefish,L. Superior, drawn, fresh . . Whitefish,L. Erie pound or gill net, rnd., fresh Yellow pike, L. Michigan& Huron, rnd., fresh Processed,Fresh (Fish & Shellfish): . . 5 Fillets, haddock, sml., skins on, 20-lb, tins . Shrimp, Ige, (26-30 count), headless, fresh . Oysters, shucked, standards Processed, Frozen (Fish & Shellfish): . Fillets: Flounder, skinless, 1-lb. pkg. . Haddock, sml.,skins on, 1-1b. pkg. Ocean perch, skins on, 1-lb. pkg. Shrimp, lge. (26-30 count), 5-lb. pkg. . . Canned Fishery Products: . . 5.055 . . Point of Pricing Avg. Prices1/ ($) Indexes Unit (1947-49=100) ~ Salmon, pink, No, 1 tall (16 oz), 48 cans/cs. F Tuna, lt, meat, chunk, No. 1/2 tuna (6-1/2 oz.), ABiCANIS/ESs: Mente ve, tet eee Seats ve he Sardines, Calif,, tom, pack, No, 1 oval (15 02.), DQAICANS/CSo424 yale felch celike. treassuteas Sardines, Maine, keyless aie Noe 1/4 drawn (8-3/4 oz.), 100 cans/cs..........- These prices are published as indicators of movement ice ‘Fishery Products Reports’’ should be referred to 1/ Represent average prices for one day (Monday or Tuesday) during the week in which the 15th of the month occurs, Sept. 1958 130.1 er aaeeen st Ps ee 147.9 | 149.2 Saal ys aoes pee deo boas 156.5 | 160.2 | 158,1}130.8 Boston bb. el 15 152.3 149.0 151.9 New York |1b, 34 34 105.2 106.2 113.2 New York | lb. cites ||) sill 177.0 | 182.6 174,2 Chicago lb. «13 .65 IBS ET Walle || alsa New York |b. «15 -90 151.7 182.0 200.2 New York |]b. 0} .59 117.3 | 138.4 | 140.7 Boston an Db. ] 48] .50 New York |lb, 81 83 Norfolk gal, | 6.00} 6.00 ay tn iene en 135.5. [13351 134,7 42 42 108.6 108.6 107.3 41} 41 IDE || aba eal 124.0 .30 .30 120.8 120.8 116.8 86 .83 132.7 128.5 133.5 6 nen ina deed pais 1 10r | 101,8 | 101,9 Seattle cs, a1, 50 21.75 112.2 113.5 109.6 Los Angeles}cs. | 11.95 |11.95 86.2 86.2 86.2 LosAngeles|cs. | 4,15 | 4.30 96.9 | 100.4 | 123.7 New York |cs. | 8.22 | 8.22 87.9 87.5 87.5 and not necessarily absolute level, Daily Market News Serv- for actual prices, 52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 International FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION MALAYA BECOMES MEMBER OF INDO-PACIFIC FISHERIES COUNCIL: The Federation of Malaya on Septem- ber 3, 1958, informed the Food and Ag- riculture Organiza- tion that it had ac- cepted the Agree- ment for the Es- tablishment of the Indo-Pacific Fish- eries Council. In accordance with the provisions of Article IX ofthe Agreement, Malaya became a party to that Agreement on September 15, 1958, date of receipt of the instrument of ac- ceptance, he sd U. S. GOVERNMENT APPOINTS LIAISON OFFICER FOR SECOND WORLD FISHING VESSEL CONGRESS: A. W. Anderson, Assistant Director, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Washington 25, D. C., has been appointed by the Government of the United States to be the official liaison officer for the forth- coming second World Fishing Boat Con- gress, sponsored by the Food and Agri- culture Organization(FAO). The Congress will be held at FAO headquarters in Rome April 5-10, 1959. Naval architects, boat builders, marine engineers, and others wishing to attend the Congress should ap- ply to A. W. Anderson for details. ’ More than 40 governments have now appointed liaison officers to the Congress which, it is anticipated, will be attended by several hundred participants. "These will include not only govern- ment representatives but also naval ar- chitects, boat builders and designers, marine engineers, boat owners, skippers, and fishermen from all the leading fish- ing nations," stated the Chief Naval Ar- chitect of FAO and Secretary of the forth- coming Congress, speaking at FAOhead- quarters late in October 1958. The Congress will take ''performance"' for its theme and will deal with fishing tactics, construction of fishing vessels, sea behavior of fishing boats, and pro- ductivity of boats. The papers and discussions at the Con- gress are expected to yield much practi- cal design data, cost particulars, opera- tional experience, and other information which will help designers in all parts of the world to build more efficient fishing boats. MANY EARLY REGISTRATIONS RECEIVED FOR SECOND WORLD FISHING VESSEL CONGRESS: By November 1958 about 200 private consulting naval architects, boat builders, fishing boat operators, and others had sent in their preliminary registration for the Second World Fishing Vessel Con- gress. Organized by the Food and Agri- culture Organization, it will be held A- pril 5-10, 1959, in Rome at FAO head- quarters. As of November 1958, regis- trations of Government delegates had not been received, but they are expected later. Judging from the experience of similar meetings arranged by FAO and prelim- inary interests, it is believed that par- ticipants in this Congress may total 500. Se ste sles 5 January 1959 International (Contd.): INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION INTERNATIONAL WHALING CON- VENTION AMENDMENTS ENTER INTO FORCE: Certain amendments to the schedule of the International Whaling Convention of 1946 were adopted at the 10th meeting of the International Whaling Commission, The Hague, June 23-27, 1958. The amend- ments adopted were to paragraphs 6 (1), 6 (2), 8 (a), and 8 (c) of the schedule to the Convention. Amendments 6 (1) and 6 (2) entered into force October 6, 1958. Amendments to paragraph 8 (a) and (c) have not yet entered into force, accord- ing to the November 10, 1958, issue of the U. S. Department of State Bulletin. INTERNATIONAL NORTH PACIFIC FISHERIES COMMISSION FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING HELD IN TOKYO: The International North Pacific Fish- eries Commission held its fifth annual meeting in Tokyo, Japan. The three- nation treaty organization includes Ja- pan, Canada, and the United States. After preliminary meetings of several com- mittees, the plenary session of the Com- mission itself was held from November 4-10, 1958. The effect of Japanese high-sé€as gill- net fishing for salmon on the stocks orig- inating in North American streams high- lighted the agenda. Other agenda items concerned the halibut, herring, and king crab fisheries of Alaska and the North- west. Japan in signing the Convention agreed to abstain from fishing halibut, herring, and salmon of North American origin for five years. The ''abstentionclause"' states that Japan will abstain fishing those three species in the eastern North Pacific, and Canada from catching salmon in the east Bering Sea. The United States is not re- stricted. The five-year period was up at the meeting. The decision that had to be made by the Commission was whether these three species should continue to qualify for further abstention. Absten- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53 tion has been based on the principle that these three species are fully utilized by North American fishermen. No changes were approved at this meeting. Another point that came up for discus- sion was the moving of the provisional salmon line westward. This line now runs north and south along the 175th me- ridian west longitude. On November 4 the Commission in- structed its protocol committee to inves- tigate further whether more restrictions are needed on Japanese salmon fishing in the North Pacific. The salmon fishing boundary line was not changed at the meeting. The United States proposed the present boundary be shifted toward Japan up to 175 degrees east longitude to prevent the Japanese from fishing east of that line. The pres- ent line (175 degrees west longitude) rat- ified in 1953 will continue in force for at least one more year. It restricts Japan- ese fishermen from fishing east of the line. The Commission said that "extensive intermingling of salmon from the two continents exists over a broad area ex- tending from 170 east longitude to 160 west longitude. However, sufficient quan- titative information on the extent of in- termingling has not been determined by commission investigations." A Russian report on salmon research was presented to the Commission although Russia is not a member of the Commis~- sion. A Soviet observer at the meeting expressed the hope that his country would be invited to join the pact between Canada, Japan, and the United States. Fifty delegates from the United States, Canada, and Japan attended the sessions of the Biology and Research Committee of the Commission prior to the general meeting. Full plenary sessions of the Commission began on November 4. The sixth annual meeting of the Com- mission is scheduled for Seattle, Wash., starting November 2, 1959. 54 International (Contd.): The sixth annual meeting of the Com- mission is scheduled for Seattle, Wash., starting November 2, 1959. TRADE AGREEMENTS ICELANDIC -EAST GERMAN TRADE AGREEMENT INCLUDES FISH: Iceland has concluded a new trade a- greement with East Germany, providing for an increase of some 25 percent in the level specified in the 1957 agreement (renewed for 1958). The East Germans are to supply US$5,304,000 worth of a wide variety of machinery, electrical and chemical goods, and consumer articles, the largest single category ($630,000) being fishing boats and gear. Iceland will supply fish, meat, and wool, with the largest item being frozen fillets ($2.8 million), an increase in both volume and price from the $2.4 million in the previ- ous agreement. The Icelanders have been straining to increase shipments to East Germany to pay for twelve 250-ton fishing vessels. The U.S.S.R. agreed in August 1958 to take over the financing of this $3-million purchase on longer credit terms than East Germany could afford. The Iceland- ers, who had already paid over $250,000 towards the vessels, found themselves in a surplus position with East Germany-- the only clearing country with which Ice- land is currently a creditor. Because Iceland does not recognize the German Democratic Republic, the agreement is negotiated by the Icelandic Barter Trade Association with East Ger- many's Chamber of Commerce. *K oe ok kK Ok NORWAY-RUSSIA THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT INCLUDES FISH: A new trade agreement signed in Oslo on October 28, 1958, for the period Jan- uary 1, 1959-December 31, 1961, between Norway and the Soviet Union includes fish, The agreement replaces the three-year agreement which expires at the end of 1958, Under the agreement Norway will ex- port these fishery products: hardened COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolly 7AiL, IN@,) 1 marine fats, salt herring, frozen fish fil- lets, and vitamin concentrates. Norwe- gian imports from Russia do not include any fishery products. The annual value of trade in both directions is estimated at Kr. 250 million (US$35 million). An- nual fishery commodity deliveries from Norway to the Soviet Union 1959-61 are: salted herring 25,000 metric tons; fro- zen herring and fish fillets 10,000 tons, The previous three-year agreement con- tained fewer commodities and the value was estimated at about Kr. 215 million (US$30.1 million) annually. The major changes concerning fish- ery products in the new three-year agree- ment is the reduction by 50 percent in Norwegian exports of salt herring or from 50,000 metric tons to 25,000 met- ric tons. UNITED NATIONS LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTION CLOSED FOR SIGNATURE: Forty-nine nations have signed the Convention on the High Seas. This was one of four international conventions which were adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in Gen- eva on April 27, 1958, and were open for signature through October 31, 1958. The Convention on the Continental Shelf has been signed by 46 countries; the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone by 44 countries; and the Convention.on Fishing and Con- servation of the Living Resources of the High Seas by 37 countries. The Optional Protocol of Signature, whichalso emerged from the conference, has 29 signatory nations. Signatures on all instruments adopted by the Law of the Sea Conference must be followed by ratification. Countries which have not signed may still accede to the Conventions at any time. Twenty- two ratifications or accessions are re- quired for any of the Conventions to en- ter into force. No nation has yet ratified. Convention on the High Seas: Provides for freedom of the high seas and regu- lates practices on the high seas, includ- ing matters as prevention of pollution of waters by radioactive waste and jurisdic- tion over vessels. January 1959 International (Contd.): It has been signed by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Byelorussia, Canada, Ceylon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, German Fed- eral Republic, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakis- tan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, U.S.S.R., United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Yugoslavia. Convention on the Continental Shelf: Deals with the seabed that constitutes the prolongation of a continent, and reg- ulates the exploitation and exploration of resources such as offshore oil or pearl- bearing oysters. It has been signed by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Byelorus- mia, Canada; Ceylon, Chile, China, Co- lombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovak- ia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecua- dor, Finland, German Federal Republic, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, Indon- esia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zea- land, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, U.S.S.R., United Kingdom, U- nited States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Yugoslavia. Convention on the Territorial Sea and dical character of territorial waters, sets out criteria for delimiting the ter- ritorial sea (the Geneva Conference did not agree on a maximum width for the territorial sea), establishes specific rules for the right of innocent passage of ships through territorial waters, and sets forth conditions in which that right can be exercised or suspended. Ina section on contiguous zones, it states the right of each nation to exercise fiscal, im- migration, customs, and sanitary con- trols within a zone extending not more than 12 miles. This Convention has been signed by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Aus- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55 tria, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Byelorussia, Canada, Ceylon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Liberia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Paki- stan, Panama, Portugal, Romania, Switz- erland, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, U.S.S.R., United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Yugoslavia. Convention on Fishing and Conserva- tion of the Living Resources of the High Seas: Establishes regulations on the con- servation of fisheries, lays down rules under which measures promulgated by one nation are applicable to other coun- tries, and sets out arbitration procedures, The Convention has been signed by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bo- livia, Canada, Ceylon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Ghana, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Fanama, Portu- gal, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, U- nited Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Yugoslavia. Optional Protocol of Signature: Deals with the compulsory settlement of disputes. It has been signed by: Austria, Boliv- ia, Canada, Ceylon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, German Fed- eral Republic, Ghana, Haiti, Holy See, Indonesia, Israel, Liberia, Nepal, Nether- lands, New Zealand, Panama, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, and Yugoslavia. (United Nations news release, November 4, 1958.) Argentina NEW JAPANESE-ARGENTINE FISHING FIRM TO SUPPLY TUNA TO CANNERS: An agreement was signed on Novem- ber 18, 1958, between the Mar del Plata Chamber of Fish Industries and a Japan- ese-Argentine fishing enterprise, for a regular supply of tuna to Mar del Plata canneries. 56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Argentina (Contd.): The new fishing firm is bringing from Japan a vessel specially equipped for tuna fishing. The vessel, using Mar del Plata as its home port, will make one fishing trip each month. A catch of about 150 tons a trip is expected. All the land- ed tuna will be processed by Mar del Plata canneries. The article (which ap- peared in La Nacion of November 19, 1958) expresses the hope that canned tuna from these operations may eventually be exported to the United States (United States Embassy in Buenos Aires, Novem- ber 19, 1958). Australia MEASURES TAKEN TO CONSERVE SPINY LOBSTER STOCKS: Measures to conserve the stocks of spiny lobsters in Australian waters are being taken by the Commonwealth Gov- ernment. An increased demand for spiny lobster tails for export has led to a rap- id rise in the number of lobster fisher- men and depletion of stocks in State ter- ritorial waters. As the shellfish move into Common- wealth territorial waters, they are pro- tected by two new conservation meas- ures--a minimum legal length of 43 inches and a closed season from Septem - ber 1 to October 15 each year. These regulations aim at giving the spiny lobsters some protection during the period in which the females are carrying eggs and also aim at ensuring that they are not taken before reaching a size giving a reasonable return in weight of meat. A spiny lobster with a carapace length of 4; inches would weigh on the average about 1} pounds--(Aus- tralian) Fisheries Newsletter, Septem- ber 1958. pe a th SHRIMP INDUSTRY TRENDS: ~ Since 1947, a great change has taxenplace in Australian commercial shrimp fishing. With the location of shrimp grounds -off the coast of New South Wales and Queenlaad and, to a lesser extent, in Westera Australia, the indus- try has received a consideraole boost. Catches have al- lowed sufficient for home consumption and for export. Viol 2eNon Of the 30 species known to exist in Australian waters, only six are of importance to the industry. Tney are the king prawn; Western Australian king prawn; tiger prawn; banana or white prawn; greentail or greasyback prawn; and the schoo! prawa. Shrimp trawling in Australia is done with otter-trawl gear by day in inshore waters, seldom deeper thaa 30 fathoms. With one exception, where the vessel is rigged with fore and aft gallows, the trawl is shot and hauled over the stern. At the end of each haul the cod end of shrimp is lifted over the side with the derrick, generally on to the afterdeck, or contents spilled on to a sorting table built to a height convenient for sorting in a standing position. Mud and sand are washed out prior to lifting from the sea. After sorting, the shrimp are carefully washed in tanks supplied with clean running sea water, then put in an insu- lated fish hold with crushed ice. Sometimes coarse salt is i ! scattered among the shrimp as they are iced down. Oa many boats the shrimp are cooked after washing and cooled quickly before being placed in the hold. > Trawler crews consist of from 2 to 4 members, depend- ing on vessel size and weight of catch taken, and upon whether the catch is cooked at sea or iced raw. Trawling bottom is usually sand, sand and sponge, sand and shell, mud, or sand and mud, while average trawling speed is around 2 knots. A straight course is not neces- sarily kept while trawling, the vessel being maneuvred to avoid known obstacles on seabed; to keep clear of other boats; or to turn on a reciprocal course when working a concentration of shrimp. At day’s end most trawling vessels return to port with the catch where it is weighed, cooked (if raw), and packed with crushed ice for consignment to market, or held for further processing before market. At some ports shrimp are left raw for market. Some trawlers, however, remain oa grounds for 2 to 3 days before returning to port with the caten. This happens in the Hervey Bay (Queensland) fishery, the locale of some of the biggest shrimp catches at present. Here king and tiger prawns at least 12 inches loag or more are being caught in about 25 fathoms. January 1959 A very satisfactory type of winch is installed in the better- class shrimp trawler, It is chain or belt-driven through a power take-off from the main engine. In the short history of Australia’s ocean shrimp fishery a highly efficient overhead type of hauling gear has evolved. Peculiar to Australian ves- sels, it is best situated just abaft of amidships. Vessels which had been built for Danish seining, for trap- ping fish or spiny lobsters, or for line fishing were rigged for participation in the newly discovered shrimp fisheries in the early stages. However, with the increase of interest in ocean shrimp trawling, vessels have been specifically built for this purpose, powered with a Diesel engine, and equipped with ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore radio. Two are provided with echo-sound- ers. Australian trawlers range in size from a single-manned 17 ft. 6 in. decked boat to trawlers of about 70 feet manned by a crew of four. Some indication of Australia’s offshore shrimp fisheries can be obtained from table 1. Table 1 - Australia’s Shrimp Landings 1/, 1956/57 1,000 Lbs, 2,500 2,386 189 A/As landed, including raw headless and cooked headless. Australia's totalshrimpexports for 1956/57 amounted to 317,377 pounds, of which 224,000 pounds was raw shrimp (table 2), and 93,000 pounds cooked headless (mostly to New Guinea and Caledonia). [able 2 - Australia’s Raw Headless Shrimp Exports by Country of Destination, 1956/57 Country of Destination 1/Less than 1,000 pounds. Both landings and exports for 1957/58 were much greater. (World Fishing, October 1958). se oe oe ke ok KK OK OK OK OK SPINY LOBSTER INDUSTRY, FISCAL YEARS 1956/57-1957/58: Exports: Australian exports of both tails of and boiled whole spiny lobsters--6,584,470 pounds-- for fiscal year 1957/58 (July 1957-June 1958) were at a record level and 1,633,739 pounds more than in 1956/57 fiscal year. Tail exports of 5,836,120 pounds were the highest ever; exports of boiled whole of 748,350 pounds were also a record. While tail exports increased by about 26 percent, exports of whole more than doubled as compared with the previous year. Shipments to the United States and dependencies were 6,443,750 pounds or 97.9 per- cent of total exports of tails and whole boiled. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 57 In addition to increased exports, good prices were received for most consignments to the United States, even though prices on that market dropped. The average price for Western Australian ship- ments, approximately 8s. 3d. (93 U. S. cents) a pound f.o.b., was a decrease from the previous year's average price. Western Australian consign- ments accounted for 79 percent of total Australian shipments. Australian Exports of Spiny Lobster Tails and Boiled Whole [ Table I - Countries nited States... INew Guinea & Pacific Is. In the absence of more precise information as to the value of exports from other States, the average for Western Australia, as in past years, has been applied to all shipments. However, as some South Australian tails normally yield higher prices, this average price may be too low. Probably final fig- ures when available will show that dollar earnings will exceed US$6 million for 1957/58, almost 16 percent more than the previous fiscal year. In Western Australia midget tails accounted for 28 percent of total exports, smalls 30 percent, mediums 22 percent, large 15 percent, and jumbo 5 percent. Final grade details from other States are not yet available, but on present indications it would seem that gradings will approximate those of 1957/58. Although United States imports of Australian spiny lobsters increased considerably in 1957 as compared with 1956, total imports from all coun- tries were up in 1957. However, Australia retained its position as number three on the list of major suppliers of all lobsters. Exports of lobsters from Canada and spiny lobsters from the Union of South Africa decreased in 1957 as compared with 1956. Table 2 - Australian Exports of Spiny Lobsters by States, 1956/57-1957/58 United States imports from New Zealand once more were up from the previous year--3.2 million pounds in 1955, rose to 3.9 million pounds in 1956, and to 4.2 million pounds in 1957. Production: Production in New South Wales is down and is the lowest for some years. In Victor- 58 Australia (Contd.) ia, production is also down slightly. Tasmania's production has increased slightly and output is second only to the record year 1954/55. South Australian production is also up and represents a new record for this State. The same position ap- .%lies in Western Australia (table 4). ‘Table 3 - United States Imports of Lobsters!/, Calendar Years 1956-57 Country of Origin BP io ater tnacl acu 22,218 space Sats 6,908 Austra litany ic8 oy stay. cpatales eanne 5,369 4,688 Gubaine cea yac ata cbeaee nae 4,249 4,303 R Ppt cue genea aie 4,204 3,852 FRGeGUO ip Bea Osu LaaLO. 6 2,109 1,955 aH oloig Gb6.0 on. mo 1,965 1,591 heath eee 3,327 1,844 pS a eee an nemoes 50,399 , The New South Wales Superintendent of Fisher- ies has advised that the drop in that State's produc- tion was due almost entirely to a substantial fall in the catch taken by inshore fishermen, that is, fishermen licensed to operate in State territorial waters. The Director of Fisheries and Game in Victoria has written that while there has been a slight de- crease in Victorian production, no great signifi- cance should be placed on this fact and, of course, production in this State has been almost static for the last three years. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 Brazil WHALING INDUSTRY TRENDS: The Brazilian whaling company which was taken over by Japanese interests early in 1958 had captured 104 whales as of September 1, 1958, andatake of 200 whales was likely before the end of the season. The Japanese have added new equipment to the plant which now has an annual capacity of 9,000 tons, states an October 7, 1958, dispatch from the United States Consul in Pernambuco. The reactivation of the Brazilian whal- ing company with the help of Japanese capital and know-how has provided more employment and provided low-cost whale meat for human consumption. In addition, the operation provides an increasing vol- ume of whale oil which helps to reduce the drain on scarce foreign exchange. It is estimated that Brazil consumes about 20,000 barrels of whale oil annually. Canada FISHERIES MINISTER ACCEPTS NEW RESEARCH VESSEL: piny Lobster Production!/, 1951/52-1957/58 |_ Table 4 - Australian S 1957/58 1956/57 1955/56 1954/55 1953/54 1952/53 1951/52 1/ Live weight. The Tasmanian Secretary for Fisheries has stated that the increase in catch in Tasmania was due to two factors: firstly, quite a number of new boats worked the fishery last season and, second- ly, weather conditions were more suitable than the previous year. The Chief Inspector of Fisheries and Game in South Australia has written that the record year in that State was achieved notwithstanding the fact that a total closed season against fishing during October, was enforced for the first time during the year. The Western Australian Superintendent of Fish- eries has advised that the increase in production was due to the increased number of fishermen op- erating in the fishery. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, March 1958 p.41. * he The New ultra modern $1,750,000 fish- ery research vessel A. T. Cameron was officially accepted by the Canadian Fish- eries Minister on October 17 at Montre- al. Built along trawler lines, the 177- foot vessel is Diesel-powered with a speed of 12 knots, and her hull has been strengthened for navigation in ice. She is fitted with up-to-date equipment and gear, as well as for oceanographic, hy- drographic, and survey work. Instead of a large cargo fish hold, which is usual on a trawler, she has an 1,800-cubic-foot insulated and refrigerated fish hold for unfrozen and frozen fish. Depth-sounding and other electronic devices have been built into the vessel, which will have two radar sets to pro- vide for long, intermediate, and short- range protection. When one set is being used in survey operations, the other can be used for safe navigation. The main electrically-welded hull of the vessel is steel, while the superstructure is of alu- minum. There are three sets of record- ing echo-sounding equipment of different January 1959 Canada (Contd.): types to ensure great accuracy at ex- treme, medium, and shallow depths. The vessel has five laboratories. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59 Fish handling laboratory contains fa- cilities for the sorting, dissecting, and anatomical examination of the freshly- caught fish. The requireddeterminations include the measuring of the fish, the ex- traction of ear bones for age determina- Hydrographic laboratory will be equip-| tion and gonads for sex, state of maturity ped with instruments and facilities re- quired for studying and mapping the forms and so on. Provision for microscopic ex- amination of fish tissues is provided. Fig. 1 - The A. T. Cameron passing the Victoria Basin tower in Montreal, and physical features of the contour of the sea bottom and of winds, tides, cur- rents, and the like in order to relate these to the presence of sea organisms of importance to the fisheries. Fig. 2 - The wheel room (bridge) of the A. T. Cameron equipped with gyroscopic control, Chemical laboratory has instruments and facilities for carrying out chemical studies on water samples and bottom samples and possibly for doing simple chemical determinations on specimens Fig. 3 - The deck laboratory aboard the A, T. Cameron, Deck laboratory has devices and fa- cilities for the taking of physical deter- mination connected with specimens, some of which will be subjected to further study in other laboratories aboard ship or on shore. Fig. 4 - The hydrological laboratory aboard the A. T. Cameron. taken from the sea. Such properties as the temperature, salinity, turbidity, and hydrogen ion concentration, also dissolved oxygen and the chemical characteristics of sea water are of importance in the ex- ploration for the different species of fish and other organisms. 60 Canada (Contd.) Plankton laboratory has space for storing and sorting plankton or the small free-floating organisms which form bas- ic food of fishes. Among these floating organisms are found fish eggs and the very young of important fishes. Space is provided for microscopes and other lab- oratory equipment for the study and i- dentification of these usually very small organisms. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 with 17 million people. Our country has earned this distinction for two principal reasons. First, because of the resource- fulness and daring of our fishermen, and secondly, because of our proximity to very rich fishing grounds. There is no need to document these further. Our fishermen have earned a high and well- deserved reputation over the centuries and the Atlantic fishing banks off our shore were fished last year by highly modern and efficient fishing units of twelve nations. Fig. 5 - The drum used on the A, T. Cameron. Deck equipment will include a special and most up-to-date trawl winch and three hydrographic winches, also a long- line hauler. Fig. 6 - Storage space aboard the A. T. Cameron. "Although fishing is among Canada's and the World's oldest industries, its mechanization and modernization is rel- atively recent; but, since the end of World Be Se - = = on = vietlaeel on pe a , Se Fig. 7 - Profile drawing shows design of new research vessel. In his speech of acceptance, the Fish- eries Minister pointed out: ''Canada ranks sixth among fishing nations of the World. This is a high rank for a country War II, one fishing nation after another has invested heavily in modern scientif- ically-equipped fishing fleets and factory- ships and sent them to all oceans of the January 1959 Canada (Contd.): world, including our shores for richhar- vests. Last year, the fishermen of 12 countries fished on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and on the Nova Scotia Banks. "Canada in the past has always enjoy- ed the advantage of nearness to rich fish- ing grounds andnearness to markets; but COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61 us in Canada to further mechanize our operations and to make better and fuller use of our fishery products. This can only be done through research and through the directed development of our fishing industry. "This modern research vessel which we are commissioning today,.is in part Canada's answer tothis changing scene... . Deck with the increase in size and efficiency of the fishing and processing units of our foreign partners and competitors, this advantage is fast being lost. Asinother fields of endeavor, to remain in a com- petitive position, it will be necessary for Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, August 1958 p. Wheelhouse "This new and modern vessel places us in even a more commanding position to serve ourselves and our international partners in the field of oceanographic re- search... .. 60. Costa Rica COMMERCIAL FISHING IN GULF OF NICOYA RESTRICTED: Commercial fishing and the use of mechanically-drawn nets in the interior portions of the Gulf of Nicoya are banned by Costa Rican Law No, 14, which went into effect on October 30, 1958. The law was published in La Gaceta on the same date. Commercial fishing permits for the closed area previously granted by the Minister of Agriculture and Industries are automatically cancelled. The closed area includes the waters inside an imaginary line extending from "Ta Panta'' of the peninsula on which the port of Puntarenas is located to the Isle of Cedros and from there to the peninsula of Nicoya. The new law reserves the closed area for amateur fishermen, domestic consump- tion, and scientific research. Both Costa Rican sport and commer- cial fishermen have been concerned for some time with the drastic drop in the fish resources of the Gulf of Nicoya. The area formerly supported heavy commer- cial and game fish populations. Cuba NEW COD-FISHING TRAWLER RENAMED: An official ceremony was held in Cuba on October 15, 1958, to re-name the German-built cod trawler Arktis, ac quired by the Cuban National Fish- reies Institute with the financial as- sistance of the National Bank of Cuba and the Economicand Social Devel- opment Bank, to stimulate Cuban fish- ing activities. The vessel was re-chris- tened the Codfisher I (Bacaladero 11))p 62 Cuba (Contd.) The vessel reportedly makes 14 knots and has modern trawling gear, including winches and other machinery. It is said to have four power plants, of which three are European-designed Diesels. The crew of 22 is mostly Spanish and Ger- man seamen, but they will gradually be replaced by Cuban fishermen, some of whom will sail to Newfoundland on the next trip as trainees. The captain isa Spaniard and the engineer is a German. A German expert in the construction of cod-drying tunnels is also expected in Cuba in the near future, the United States Embassy in Havanareports in an Octo- ber 22, 1958 dispatch. Denmark DANISH MINISTER COMMENTS ON FAROE ISLANDS FISHING LIMITS: The Danish Minister of Finance (also Chairman of the Danish Delegation that visited Great Britain and the Faroe Islands to discuss the proposed ex- tension of fishing limits from 3 to 12 miles by the Faroese) commented on the problem from the standpoint of the Faroese in an article published in a Danish newspaper on October 13, 1958. In recent decades the export of fish from the Faroe Islands has represented about 95 percent of all exports. Under these circumstances it is nat- ural that the question of fishing limits in Faroese waters as well as elsewhere in the North Atlantic Ocean where the Faroese engage in fishing is of economic and political importance to the people of these Islands. The political importance is enhanced by the fact that Iceland extended her fishing limits to 12 miles a few months ago and just shortly be- fore elections were held on representation in the Lagting, the local Government of the Far- oe Islands, Before the first World War, when the total Far- oese catch amounted to 20,000-25,000 metric tons annually, about half came from Icelandic waters. In the beginning of the 1920's the total catch had in- creased to 35,000-40,000 tons, the major part of which was caught in Icelandic waters, while at the same time the catch in home waters had shrunk to 4,000-5,000 tons. Toward the end of that period the Faroese began to fish in Greenland waters. This did not influence the extent of their opera- tions in Icelandic waters. Fishing in Faroe Is- lands waters further declined to a few thousand tons annually. During the favorable period about 1930, 50,000 tons were caught in Icelandic waters and 20,000 tons in Greenland waters. Toward the end of the 1930's fishing in Icelandic waters de- clined, whereas fishing in Greenland waters and in the Barents Sea assumed growing importance. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21 No. 1 After World War II the total catch gradually in- creased and in the period between 1952 and 1956 the average catch amounted to 80,000 tons, of which 13 percent were caught in Faroese waters and 22 percent in Icelandic waters. By far the major catches were made in Greenland waters (41 per- cent) and in the Barents Sea (23 percent). In re- cent years, however, fishing in Faroese waters has increased somewhat, but still out of the 90,000 tons which are now caught annually, barely 15 per- cent is caught in domestic waters. These figures do not include the many tons of herring caught north of the Faroes. The rather limited extent to which fishing is carried on in Faroe Island waters by the Faroese themselves should not be interpreted as an indica- tion that there are not any fish there, The fact is that the total catch of fish--not including herring and ocean perch--in Faroese waters during the past five years averaged nearly 70,000 tons an- nually, of which about 15 percent was caught by the Faroese. Practically all the balance was caught by British vessels, or on an average of 41 and 37 percent, respectively, Norway and Germany are the only other two countries that have operated in Faroese waters and that they have done on a minor scale. There are in all 1,700 small craft engaged in Faroese fishing, most of which are equipped with motors. However, the greater part of domes- tic fishing is carried on by larger motor vessels. The fact is that the Faroe Islands export markets prefer primarily large cod, salted and/or dried. Unless large meshes are used, trawling produces a greater variety of fish, including smaller fish. Owing to the uneven bottom of the waters surround- ing the Faroes, fishing by means of a trawl net is a costly affair since the equipment is frequently damaged. Therefore (in a paradoxical attempt to economize), the British are chiefly using trawlers which are too small or in too poor a condition to compete with the modern trawlers in the northern waters. Before World War II the Faroe Islands fishing fleet consisted, in addition to the crafts already named, of about 150 sloops and schooners and a- bout 10 steam trawlers. Four trawlers and 30 schooners were lost (as well as the lives of many of the Faroese fishermen). After World War II the Faroe Island fishing fleet was augmented by a number of old obsolete trawl- ers purchased from aboard. Much money was spent in the 1950's to modernize older steam trawl- ers and to provide for larger and more modern Diesel trawlers. Up to now 5 new vessels of this type have been procured and two have been modern- ized. In addition, there exist 3 older Diesel trawl- ers in good condition, while 3 new trawlers are under construction. It is furthermore under con- sideration at the moment to build an additional trawler. It is a great problem in the Islands as to how provision shall be made for the construc- tion of additional trawlers in order that the many Faroese, who have been working in Iceland in re- cent years, may find occupation at home. This might be accomplished by the construction of smaller craft, as there is considerable interest in the Islands for the type of small steel craft now beginning to operate in Danish waters. January 1959 Denmark (Contd.): The existing legislation concerning the estab- lishment of a Mortgage Credit Institution which may finance half of the sum needed for new vessels, constitutes the basis for the modernization of the fishing fleet. Under these circumstances it may seem sur- prising that the Faroese are attaching such great importance to an extension of their fishing limits. In this connection the Minister points toward the fact that a recognition of the 12-mile limit in Ice- land will cause a reduction in Faroe Island's fish- ing in Icelandic waters and cause vessels of other nations, especially the British, to seek fishing grounds in Faroese waters. Therefore, the Minis- ter finds it quite understandable that the Faroese in principle assume the standpoint that if the 12- mile limit is to be introduced in Iceland a corres- ponding fishing territory must be established a- round the Faroes. This is so much the more nat- | ural because the Icelandic action takes place ata time when fishing around the Faroes is increasing. One cannot blame the Faroese for adhering to the | obvious view that they could secure a larger per- | centage of the catch in Faroese waters if fishing limits were extended. The Minister explained the difference in the status of Iceland and the Faroe Islands from the point of view of international law, and refers in this connection to the agreement concluded by the Faroes with Great Britain in 1955, fixing the fishing limits at 3 miles except towards tne west, where it ex- tends somewhat farther. Considering how things have developed in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is no doubt generally admitted today that these fishing limits are obsolete and that a con- siderable extension must take place. The existing viewpoint that the special conditions prevailing in the North Atlantic (i.e., the presence of British, Scotch, Norwegian, German competitors) make it necessary to protect the interests of the Icelanders and Faroese, would also appear to be a natural one. The Minister would like to see the whole problem of the North Atlantic solved by an international a- greement. He feels it is likely that the discussions in the United Nations will result in setting up of a conference of experts to negotiate an international agreement. The great problem today is the question of the extent to which overfishing is taking place. Prior to the War, this was apparently the case in the Faroes, but technical experts today are of the opin- ion that this reduction now only applies to certain minor categories of fish, among which is halibut. Today fishing in the Faroe Islands shows almost a maximum catch. Even if no overfishing takes place in the Faroes at the moment, this may prove to be the case during the next few years if fishing is al- lowed to expand, Limitation in the number of for- eign vessels fishing in Faroe Island waters will in- crease the fish stock and the average size of the fish. It is important in this connection that the ex- port of the fish from the Faroes consists principal- ly of large fish. An increase in the fish stock would presumably also improve the possibilities for the traditional fishing done from open vessels. A reduction in trawling would constitute a great advantage to line fishing. . . COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 63 In conclusion the Minister stressed the impor- tance of carrying on biological research work in fisheries with Danish support as well as the im- portance of reorganizing the policing of fisheries in the Faroes and Greenland. Instead of naval ves- sels, which are now performing such services, the Minister would give preference to fast armed trawlers equipped with helicopters. It is not suf- ficient to desire an extension of the fishing limits, but the object must also be that of having it recog- nize internationally. se ose ook oe cK OK nT 7 7K FISHERY TRENDS, THIRD QUARTER 1958: In the third quarter of 1958, the total catch landed at Danish ports was about 220,000 metric tons, 12 percent higher than the catch in the same quarter of 1957. Actually, the catch in July and August was less than for the same months of 1957. How- ever, the September catch was estimated at 90,000 tons. Despite the decrease in catch, exports for July and August showed gains over 1957. Including September estimates, 52,000 tons were exported, a gain of 31 percent over the 1957 quarter. Exports were valued at approximately 93 million kroner (US$13,465,000), 22.5 percent higher than in the 1957 quarter. In the earlier part of the third quarter 1958, exports of fish fillets, herring, fish meal, and solubles were relatively higher, whereas cod exports were lower. Exporters of pond or rainbowtrout are indifficulties, caused by Japanese competition, Although the export price of trout was lowered by about 4.3 U. S, cents a pound earlier inthe summer, the export advantage afforded by the decrease was short-lived. In the middle of August the Danish trout growers learned that Japan had lowered its export price by about 6.6 U. S. cents a pound. This news had almost immediate consequences. Since the Danish production of pond trout in 1958 is reported to be the highest in history, the Association of Danish Trout Pro- ducers decided it was necessary to unload the excess on the domestic market. By early September it became possible to purchase fresh pond trout at retail prices only slightly higher than those prevailing for non-luxury fish. The gradual conversion from small cutters to modern long- | range cutters (some constructed of steel) is shown by the loan figures of the Fisheries Bank which were released at the end of September. In the course of the past year 51 loans were granted at an average amount of 108,600 kroner (US$15,723). In the previous year 64 loans were granted, averaging 71,600 kroner (US$10,366). While part of the increase may be due to increasing costs, the figures for new building loans indi- cate conversion to larger cutters. In 1957 the number of such loans fell from 50 to 43, but the total amount loaned increased from 3,580,300 kroner to 4,669,100 kroner (US$518,000 to US$676,000). COCR. Ecuador TUNA CANNERY OPERATIONS: Located in the west central Ecuadoran seaport of Manta is atuna cannery operated by a firm which is United States-owned and managed. This is the only company in Ec- uador which packs canned tuna for domestic saleandexport. Originally organized by an American citizenas afreezer-storage plant in 1951, in May 1956 it became a sub- sidiary company ofa San Diego, Calif., fish cannery. It is now owned jointly by the A- merican citizen and the company, the latter having a controlling interest. 64 Ecuador (Contd.): The plant manager reports that pro- duction is not sufficient as yet to neces- sitate fully automatic devices. All spare parts and equipment acquired by the plant, as well as raw materials needed for the canning operation, including tin plate, soybean oil, and packaging labels, are imported from the United States. Because of the rough surf during three months of the year at Manta which makes anchoring for fishing vessels dangerous, the company maintains its own repair facilities at the small port of Bahia de Caraquez, about 30 miles north of Manta. The company now has contracts with the owners of 20 vessels for the supply of fish to the plant. According to com- pany officials, this number could be ex- panded to 30 in view of the current favor- able season for tuna-fishing operations. Only two vessels of the present fleet possess freezing equipment. Since tuna vessels presently do not stay more than two days out of port, such equipment is not considered necessary. Six of the vessels are stated to have been constructed in the United States. At the time of this report only one vessel was of American registry. This vessel, a tender ship which carried fuel and possessed re- frigerating equipment, was subsequently destroyed by fire while at sea on Sep- tember 24, 1958. The company is re- ported to have contracted for another United States-registered tuna vessel from San Pedro, which is expected to enter the company's fleet shortly. At present, tuna vessels contracted for by the company normally make only one-day trips out for fishing operations, returning to port nightly to unload their catches, No need has arisen to schedule fishing voyages of longer duration, in view of the current good volume of catch- es being registered within a short dis- tance off shore. The principal type of tuna now caught is skipjack. Yellowfin is being caught in much less quantity, ap- parently due to bait conditions, Fisher- men report that the yellowfin do not feed on the ''colorada''-type bait generally caught locally. Total production capacity of the plant is estimated at 300,000 cases yearly. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Viole 21 Nose Current production is averaging about 160,000 cases, of which 20,000 are for domestic sale and the remainder are prepared for export. All tuna is packed in imported soybean oil. Canned tuna for domestic sale is packed usually in 198-gram(7 0z.) cans, although the com- pany has recently attempted to develop sales of a new 400-gram (14 oz.) can, containing salmon-type tuna in brine. Tuna in the smaller cans is of two types, grated and solid pack. Tuna for export is packed in 4-pound cans and is shipped exclusively to the United States cannery. This tuna is uti- lized in the United States for the produc- tion of frozen tuna pies and for sale to restaurants. Remnants from fish cleaning and can- ning operations are utilized for the pro- duction of fish meal. Output is on a rel- atively small scale. Meal is packed in large bags and sold locally in Ecuador to stockbreeders. With the possible exception of Panama hats, the canned tuna exported by this company is unique in that it represents the only industrialized product exported at present from Ecuador. Until recent- ly, the company's efforts to maintain adequate stocks of raw materials, includ- ing tin plate, oil, and labels, as well as spare parts and accessories for plant and fishing operations, had been hamper- ed by complex import regulations involv - ing advance approval by the Ecuadoran Central Bank for all such imports, as well as other regulations involving for- eign exchange licensing permits. Ap- parently due to strong complaints by company officials, these regulations were considerably relaxed by a Government decree in mid-September. The plant manager estimates that of the approximate 20,000 inhabitants of Manta, about 3,000 are now dependent for their livelihood upon the plant's op- erations. About 300 fishermen are em- ployed in fishing operations. The total labor force at the plant averages about 175 people. Women are used exclusively in the cleaning and packing of fish. Av- erage wages are about 15 sucres (US$1) daily for women and 18 sucres (US$1.20) for men. January 1959 Ecuador (Contd.): The plant is currently producing ata level below its estimated total capacity. In view of both the present good tuna- fishing season and the steady rise in lo- cal consumption of canned tuna, the com- pany is hopeful that domestic sales will increase to the point of assuming a great- er share in total plant output. Factors which the company states should en- courage this trend are: (1) the low re- tail prices for tuna packed for domestic sale--3 sucres (20 U. S. cents) for grated style and 6 sucres (40 U. S. cents) for solid packed; and (2) the development of better highway facilities, which enables the company's products to have easier access to inland cities. The company is also attempting to produce frozen shimp for export and canned sardines, though on a scale much lower than canned tuna. (United States Consulate dispatch from Guayaquil, October 28, 1958.) German Federal Republic TRAWLER CATCHES FULL LOAD OF OCEAN PERCH OFF LABRADOR: The West German trawler Falkland in the fall of 1958 returned to Bremer- haven with a full load of ocean perch-- 4,700 boxes or 235 metric tons--taken about 120 nautical miles off the south coast of Labrador on Hamilton Bank. The trip took no longer than the usual trip to the Icelandic grounds, according to the report in Dansk Fiskeritidende (October 10, 1958), a Danish fishery trade journal. TWO NEW FACTORYSHIP FREEZER TRAWLERS: A Greek fishing firm has contracted for two new factoryship freezer trawlers from an Austrian shipyard. These new vessels will be added to the three pres- ently being operated by the firm in At- lantic waters. The three vessels now fishing were purchased from a West Ger- man company. Greece COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW | (October 24, 1958). 65 The new factoryship trawlers are 219.8 feet in length, beam about 36.1 feet, mould- ed depth 27.9 feet, and the 1,580 h.p. en- gine will provide a speed of 14-15 knots. Freezing capacity will be about 18-20 metric tons in 24 hours and the fish hold capacity will be close to 500-550 metric tons of frozen fish. The new vessels will have over double the frozen fish storage space of the three factoryships now op- erating. Iceland FAILS TO GET UNITED NATIONS TO ADOPT INTERNATIONAL FISHING LIMITS REGULATIONS: Iceland's efforts to have the United Nations General Assembly adopt inter- national regulations on fishing limits have been unsuccessful, the Icelandic Foreign Minister announced in a radio address on the eve of United Nations Day He advised that it was now safe to assume that a second Law of the Sea Conference will be held. The Foreign Minister said: ''The Ice- landic delegation at the U. N. General Assembly has protested the plan to hold anew conference. The delegation main- tains that the United Nations Organiza- tion must itself find an international so- lution of the problem which establishes the reasonable rights of coastal states and takes fully into consideration the special position of those states which de- pend chiefly upon fisheries (off their own coasts) for their existence, such as Ice- land.” On his attendance at the U. N. General Assembly, the Foreign Minister reported in part: ''Advantage was also taken of the opportunity--in a speech--to charge the British with aggression against the Icelanders. A formal charge was not made, as such action would have resulted in separate discussions of Iceland's ter- ritorial waters issue, and the matter would have been referred to the Security Council, in which Britain is represented and enjoys veto power. I shall make no prediction as to what will develop at the prospective conference. ...'' 66 Iceland (Contd.): The Icelandic President took up the same theme in his United Nations Day address October 24, and said that the United Nations is now far advanced in preparing a second Law of the Sea Con- ference. Had it not been for internation- al cooperation, said the President, Ice- landic fishery affairs would not have made as much progress as has been a- chieved. The United Nations General Assembly agenda contains the question of whether or not to convene a second conference on the Law of the Sea under United Nations guidance. Iceland's claim to 12-mile fishing limits is not on the agenda. MIGHT ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL COURT JURISDICTION IN FISHING LIMITS DISPUTE: Reviewing the fishing limits issue be- fore the Reykjavik Social Democratic Society on November 4, 1958, the Ice- landic Foreign Minister intimated that Iceland might be willing to have the dis- pute taken before the International Court of Justice. Recalling that the British Foreign Minister had proposed this, in a speech before the United Nations Gen- eral Assembly, the Icelandic Foreign Minister suggested two ways in which this could be done: (1) the British could charge Iceland with a violation of inter- national law, or (2) the British could in- vite the Icelanders to agree to submit the matter to the International Court of Justice. The Icelandic Coast Guard Service issued a press release on November 1 stating that a total of 113 British trawl- ers had been charged (some more than once) with illegal operations within the new fishing limits of 12 miles (unilateral- ly announced by Iceland). According to Morgunbladid (Novem - ber 4, 1958), the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, during its COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW recent meeting in Strassburg (October 10- 18), discussed Iceland's fishing limits issue in the general political debate. Vol. 21; No. 1 FALL HERRING CATCH POOR THROUGH OCTOBER 30, 1958: As of October 30, 1958, Icelandic drift- net catches for the autumn herring were light. The prospects are that this sec- ondary herring season off Iceland's South- west coast and in Faxa Bay will turn out to be as greatafailureasin1957. There- fore, Iceland will not be able to meet the advance sales commitments. Contracts have been made for 85,000 barrels (50,000 to Russia, 20,000 to Poland, and 15,000 to East Germany), but only 35,000 have been caught. Towards the end of October, however, the herring again ap- peared off the Reykjanes peninsula, and the Icelandic Herring Board was hopeful that the contracts could be fulfilled. Hy co ceesnasic FREEZING PLANTS PROSPEROUS IN 1958: Iceland's production of frozen fillets had reached 62,310 metric tons by Oc- tober 15, 1958, or more than the entire 12-months production in 1957. Thetrawl- ers are still coming back from Labrador with holds and decks filled with ocean perch. The Icelandic Freezing Flants Corpo- ration, whose associated companies pro- duce some 85 percent of frozen fish ex- ports, had turned out some 30 percent more frozen cod and about 50 percent more ocean perch fillets than during the same 103 months in 1957, The General Manager of the Corpora- tion pointed out the improved market in the United States, which had already taken 14,000 tons with deliveries siill going strong, compared to some 11,000 tons for all of 1957. lran FISHERY TRENDS, NOVEMBER 1958: The Iranian fish cannery at Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf is proceed- ing with the installation of US$60,000 worth of new cannery machinery provided by the United States Overseas Mission to Iran. The fish cannery manager stated January 1959 Iran (Contd.): that the cannery probably would not be ready until the spring fishing season of 1959, The cannery manager also expressed some concern about the future of shrimp resources in the Persian Gulf, which are being exploited by the Japanese. believes that a study of the migration patterns and spawning habits is urgently needed to avoid depletion of the shrimp resources. He SHRIMP FISHERY TO EXPAND: Two shrimp fishing vessels are op- erating in the Gulf of Oman and the Per- sian Gulf for a Swiss-registered fishing company of Bandar Abbas, Iran. Accord- ing to reports from British fishermen, who had been working on the company's shrimp vessels on a six-months con- tract, the company plans to send 20 more vessels and a mothership to those areas to process and store the catch, The British fishermen reported that record catches of about 6 tons daily were made, as compared with maximums of 4- 5 tons daily in other parts of the world. Another indication that shrimp are abundant in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is the retail price of 10 U. S. cents a pound (probably heads on) in the bazaar at Bandar Abbas (United States Consul at Istahan, November 8, 1958). Japan CANNED SQUID PACK LOWER FOR 1958 SEASON: The Japanese peak squid fishing sea- son (July and August) yielded a catch only about 30 percent of normal in 1958. Usually Japan exports about 80,000 cases of canned squid annually, chiefly to the Philippines and Singapore. The poor catch has resulted in a tripling of ex- vessel prices and up to the first part of COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 67 Prior to the start of the squid fishing season in 1958, new Japanese trading companies had taken orders for canned squid at US$2.90 a case, or about 40-50 cents a case lower than the 1957 price. The low selling price, coupled with the poor catches and high ex-vessel prices, has created a severe shortage, estimated to be about 30,000 to 40,000 cases. (Suis- san Tsushin, September 8, 1958.) K ok ok 3K EXPORTS OF SELECTED FISHERY PRODUCTS TO THE UNITED STATES, JANUARY-JUNE 1958: During the first six months of 1958, Japanese exports of 28,708 metric tons of frozen tuna to the United States were valued at US$8,348,000, anincrease of 18.3 percent in quan- tity and 16.8 percent in value, as compared with the same period in 1957. Canned tuna exports (8,719 tons) to the United States January-June 1958 were valued at US$7,118,000, an increase of 35.2 percent in quantity and 18.7 percentin value over the first six months of 1957. Exports of other canned fish (mostly salmon and oysters) and of fish and whale oils were also up sharply from the same period in Japan's Exports of Selected Fishery Products to the United States, January-June 1958 (Metric Tons) (US$1,000) 8,348 7,118 2,928 8,042 3,248 FISHERMEN'S EARNINGS NORTH PACIFIC MOTHERSHIP SALMON OPERATIONS: The over-all gross earnings per catch- er boat engaged in Japanese North Pacif- ic mothership salmon operations for the 1958 season amounted to ¥16.5 million (US$45,833). This is a sharp drop from the average of ¥23 million (US$63,710) earned for the 1957 season, according to an article ("A General Accounting of the Northern Salmon Fishing") in Suisankai, journal of the Fisheries Society of Japan. For the fleets operating east of Kam- chatka the average gross earnings per catcher boat ranged from a high of ¥19 million (US$52,630) for the Shinano Maru October only 10,000 cases had been pack- /fleet to a low of ¥14.5 million (US$40, 165) ed. 68 Japan (Contd.): for the Shoei Maru fleet. The Tenyo Maru fleet, which fished west of Kam- chatka, had a lower average--¥12.7 mil- lion (US$35,179). The salmon gill-net catcher boats ac- companying the motherships range in gross tonnage from 50-85 tons (the pres- ent maximum legal limit for vessels of this type), with an average of about 60 tons. These vessels carry crews of 18- 22 men. The share system on these salmon catcher boats differ somewhat from one part of the country to another. On boats from Chiba Prefecture, for example, each man gets a guarantee of about ¥10,000 (US$28) a month, plus a share in 20 percent of the boat's earnings. The fishing captain gets1.8 shares, the chief engineer 1.7, the paper captain and the radioman 1.5, the deck engineer and bosun 1.3, and ordinary fishermen 1.0 share. Miyagi Prefecture boats: the crew's guaranteed salary is about ¥13,000 (about US$36) a month, and they share 10 per- cent of the boat's earnings up to ¥10 mil- lion (US$27,708), 13 percent of the next ¥5 million (US$13,850), 15 percent of the next ¥5 million, and 17 percent of earn- ings above ¥20 million (US$55,500). According to estimates published in the Shukan Asahi of July 13, 1958, if the boat grossed ¥15 million (about US$41,550), an ordinary Chiba Prefecture fisherman would take home about ¥170,000 (US$470) and a Miyagi Prefecture fisherman about ¥130,000 (US$360) for his 4 months! work. This is considered very good pay, andthe mothership-type salmon fishing is the most remunerative part of the year's work for the fishermen fortunate enough to participate in it, the United States Em- bassy in Tokyo reported in a dispatch dated October 20, 1958. se ook ose ok She So os FISHERY IMPLICATIONS OF CHINESE 12-MILE TERRITORIAL WATERS ZONE CONSIDERED: The Fisheries Society of Japan called an ''Emergency International Fisheries COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 Committee" meeting on September 6, 1958, to consider the fishery implications of Communist China's recent declaration of a 12-mile zone for territorial waters. The meeting decided that it would not be proper for the fishing industry to issue a statement onthe matter, as the Govern- ment had already made Japan's position (inability to accept the declaration) clear. The committee further resolved to sup- port a speedy solution of the territorial waters problem by the United Nations. Meanwhile, press reports from Naga- saki, an important base for trawlers which fish off the Chinese coast, were that industry circles there expected no important effect on their operations from the Chinese declaration. They have been scrupulously observing the closed zones established under the unofficial Sino- Japanese fisheries agreement, even though the agreement itself lapsed June 12, 1958, and under that arrangement they stay from 12 to 60 miles off the coast. (Suisan Kei- zai Shimbun, September 7, 1958.) ane ok OK OK OK Ok FROZEN TUNA PRICE TRENDS: Early in September 1958, the Japan- ese press reported that the price of fro- zen yellowfin tuna, which had been rising since spring, had turned down from its mid-August peak of US$300 f.o.b. Japan per ton for 20-80 pound ''clipper' (ship- frozen) fish. By the end of August the price was down to the April-May level of $270 for "clipper" fish and $260 for Ice- boat fish, and showed signs of softening further. The rise was explained in Japan by the good market for canned tuna in the United States this past summer and the short Japanese summer albacore catch. The drop was due to the fact that the big United States packers had bought all of their requirements and the California sardine catch was so good that it diverted packing effort to sardines. Frozen skipjack tuna prices also reach- ed a peak in mid-August 1958 at $215 for 15-pound fish, but fell suddenly late in the month, and at the beginning of Sep- tember were $180 for 7-10 pound, $190 for 10-15 pound, and $200 for fish over 150 pounds. The mid-August price was considered quite good, in view of ex-ves- sel prices at that time of $147-$171 for January 1959 Japan (Contd.): large skipjack from the Bonins area. Al- though exports of frozen skipjack to the United States were only 21 tons last year and 73 tons in the year before, it was estimated that about 2,000 tons had been sold to United States canners up to the first of September 1958 (Suisan Tsushin, September 1 and 2, 1958). HK OOK OK ok OK PLANS FOR MOTHERSHIP-TYPE TRAWLER FLEET FISHING IN NORTH PACIFIC: With the end of the salmon mothership operating season, Japan had completed plans for 1958 mothership-type trawler fleet fishing in the North Pacific. Plans called for four fishing fleets. Two (the Chiyo Maru and Miyajima Maru) in the Bering Sea and two (the Tenyo Maru and the Itsukushima Maru) in the Sea of Ok- hotsk. Last year six fleets took part in the fishery, four of them in the Bering Sea. Expected production of about 20,000 metric tons will be about one-third less than in 1957. The cutback in effort in this fishery is blamed on a weak domestic market for frozen flatfish. Last season the operators started out selling their catch at 4-43 cents a pound (with the break-even point at about 5 cents), and after the end of the year the price fell drastically, until in February and March the companies had to dispose of their large holdings at around 2 cents a pound. All four fleets sailed for the grounds between August 25 and 27, 1958, with the end of fishing scheduled for the latter part of October. The two motherships in the Bering Sea will employ four or five 600-ton otter trawlers each, while the Okhotsk fleets will use 8 to 10 small (75- 80 ton) trawlers. Planned production totals 18,800 metric tons of frozen flat- fish and 1,210 tons of salted cod. (Suis- an Tsushin, September 4, 1958, Suisan Shuho, August 25, 1958.) Kl Shy cet Pe GE Ae Ee COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 69 SEED OYSTER EXPORTERS REACH AGREEMENT ON EXPORTS: An agreement among the three largest exporters of Miyagi Prefecture seed oys- ters to the United States was approved in August 1958 by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade. Under the previous agreement, 59,943 cases were exported at the highest prices in history. This year the exports will be limited to 55,000- 60,000 cases at US$7.00 a case for cut cultch and US$6.50 for the uncut, f.o.b. Shiogama. The agreement was reached in order to prevent excessive price com- petition among the exporters. (Suisan Tsushin, August, 29, 1958.) sk ook ok ok ok ok ook ok Ok ok STUDY EFFECT OF END OF BRITISH CANNED SALMON IMPORT CONTROLS: Japanese salmon producers and ex- porters have been busy trying to predict the effects on their business of the end of British canned salmon import controls. As of September 24, 1958, the British re- moved all quantity restrictions on canned salmon imports from areas other than the Soviet Bloc. Although the Japanese be- lieve the change was made to placate Canada, which had a record pack of red salmon in 1958, it could result in an in- crease in Japanese sales of canned salm- on to the British market. The British an- nouncement was completely unexpected, even by the London offices of Japanese trading firms, and the Japanese exporters appear to feel that they must rush plan- ning of new sales policies if they are to take full advantage of the new situation. Prior to World War II the United King- dom received about 2 million cases of Japanese canned salmon annually, but under the present trade agreement be- tween the two countries, with salmon in the specific license category, imports have been held to less than 1 million eases. This leads the Japanese to think that a broad increase in exports to Brit- ain is possible; however, they foresee that this means a shift of emphasis from the United States to the British market, with a sharpening of competition with U- nited States and Canadian producers. The anticipated surge toward the newly-ex- panded British market may also bring about increased competition among Jap- anese traders, andastrengthening of the 70 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Japan (Contd.): controls exercised by the Canned Salmon Joint Sales Company is thought to be de- sirable (Suisan Tsushin, September 19 and 20, 1958.) brs bbe as ES THIRD TUNA MOTHERSHIP FISHING FLEET SAILS FOR TROPICAL PACIFIC GROUNDS: The third Japanese tuna mothership fleet of 1958 sailed for the tropical Pa- cific, replacing another fishing company's No. 2 Tenyo Maru in the area south of Fiji. On August 25, the fishing company operating the third fleet ordered its 7,600-ton Koyo Maru (which had return- ed only 4 days earlier from Bering Sea salmon operations) to sail from Tokyo for the Fiji area. The mothership was scheduled to begin taking fish aboard on September 8, 1958, and to continue opera- tions until about November 5, witha production goal of 6,325 short tons. The sending of this mothership to this area, where good albacore catches have been reported lately, probably re- flects the poor summer albacore catch this year, and the consequent shortage of frozen albacore for export to United States packers. (Suisan Keizai Shimbun, August) 25°0L058: maa a TRANSSHIPMENTS OF ATLANTIC TUNA TO UNITED STATES: During the summer of 1958, arrange- ments for transshiping tuna caught by Japanese vessels in the Atlantic Ocean to the United States through various South American and Caribbean ports have been attracting attention. Three schemes have already been approved, and another Japanese trading firm re- portedly has applied for approval. The three transshipment schemes presently in operations are: One Japanese fishing company is using three vessels (the Kin- ryu Maru, Kairyu Maru, and No. 2 Ban- shu Maru) to deliver a total of 2,300 tons of tuna to the Puerto Rico tuna cannery via Haiti--2,100 tons of yellowfin at US$245 c. & f. and 200 tons of albacore at US$345 c. & f. Another company, Viol= Zi Noe using its No. 30 Hoko Maru, is selling 450 tons of yellowfin tuna, through a trading firm, to a United States West Coast canner. The transshipment point is Cristobal, Panama, and the prices for the 50 tons of round fish are US$275 for 20-80 pound fish and US$265 for 80-100 pound fish; for the 400 tons of fillets the price is US$280 a ton. A third company, using the No. 15 Kaiko Maru, is selling 500 tons of yellowfin funa fillets to east- ern United States packers via the British Island of Trinidad at a price of US$265 a ton. The Japanese Fishery Agency has con- sulted with the Foreign Office and the Ministry of International Trade and In- dustry on the matter of direct delivery of tuna abroad by Japanese fishing boats for export to the United States. Because it appeared that the regulations in force might operate, under the present circum- stances, to obstruct the development of the tuna fishing industry, the following new policies have been worked out: Per- mission to land fish abroad will be grant- ed separately for each trip, after con- sultation with the two ministries (how- ever, this does not apply to landings at American Samoa and New Hebrides); permission will not be granted where it appears that it would impede develop- ment of the Japanese tuna fishing indus- try and export trade; no landings abroad will be permitted which are not in accord with export regulations applied within Japan; permission will be granted only where the price appears to be in balance with the prices for which tuna is export- ed from Japan; in the case of vessels fishing in the Atlantic, permission will be limited to vessels which, before sail- ing from Japan, had been granted permis- sion to deliver fish abroad for export elsewhere than to the United States; transfer of the catch from one vessel to another will not be permitted. These policies are in effect as of September 2, 1958. (Suisan Tsushin, September 8, 1958.) January 1959 Libya ADHERES TO LAW OF THE SEA RESOLUTIONS: The Libyan Council of Ministers ap- proved the adoption of the resolutions passed by the delegates to the United Na- tions Conference on the Law of the Sea, held in Geneva during February and March 1958. The Libyan Council also instructed the Ministry of Communica- tions to implement its decision extend- ing Libya's territorial waters to 12 miles, the United States Embassy in Tripoli reported on November 10, 1958, Mexico SHRIMP BREADING PLANT PLANNED: The shrimp freezing plant at Coatza- coalcos, Veracruz, on the Gulf of Mexico, plan to produce breaded shrimp for the United States market. This plant will also produce individually-frozen shrimp for export. Since this is a new venture for Mexico, productive capacity is not yet known. When the plant comes into full production it will have two United States-manufactured peeling and devein- ing machines--one for individually-fro- zen shrimp and one for breaded butter- fly shrimp. (November 6, 1958, dispatch from the U. S. Embassy in Mexico.) Morocco CANNED SARDINES SURPLUS: The Moroccan sardine season ended in October 1958. Another large surplus of canned sardines is expected, for which mar- kets arefarfromassured. Exports in 1958 to France (the principal market for Moroc- can sardines) were less than 60 percent of 1957 shipments, according to figures avail- able by October 1958. Also, prices for 1958 are about 20 percent lower than in 1957. From that month, only five months re- mained to sell what was left of the 1958 French quota for Moroccan sardines, which may enter France under favorable customs treatment. But sales were poor. se se oak ook ok yo ee es ESS COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 71 FISHERY TRENDS: The chief problem of Morocco's com- mercial fishing industry (mainly canned sardines and tuna) remains that of find- ing foreign markets. With a heavy back- log of canned fish from 1957, 80 percent of the fishermen were not fishing and most of the canneries were shut down in October 1958. Lack of markets is becoming a chron- ic problem. Some attempts are being made to reverse this trend. One com- pany now produces a metric ton a day of fish meal processed for human consump- tion, and hopes to market the high-pro- tein product in Africa and Asia as well as locally. According to a Moroccan exporter, exports of fresh and frozen fish are far less than last year. Italy, for example, received 120 metric tons, only one-fifth of the 1957 exports of fishery products to that country. i SHRIMP FISHERY TRENDS: Early in November 1958, 40 shrimp vessels were fishing off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. In July 1958, about 55,600 pounds of shrimp (export value US$24,370) and in August 37,400 pounds (export value US$15,149) were landed by the vessels. Nicaragua All fish exploration licenses were due to be cancelled on December 31, 1958, but firms or individuals planning to op- erate after that date were eligible to ap- ply for permanent licenses. Two of the active fishing companies, one of which is establishing a fish meal plant at Blue- fields, have already applied for perma- nant licenses, the United States Embassy at Managua reported on November 6, 1958. pin 72 Norway COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS CHANGES IN FISHING INDUSTRY: The report by a committee on the Norwegian fisheries (set up by the Nor- wegian Government in 1957) was re- leased to the press on November 10, 1958. The committee, established to study the cod-fishing sector in particular, has con- ducted a thorough investigation of the en- tire fishing industry to find means of in- creasing the profitability of the fisheries. Its chairman is the Director of the Bank of Norway and at one time was Minister of Finance and of Commerce. The views and findings of the Committee will serve as the basis for determining future Nor- wegian fishing policies. Among the far-reaching and forward- looking recommendations in the report, according to press accounts, are the fol- lowing: (1) The industry should engage in more year-round deep-sea fishing and build up a fleet of large ocean-going trawlers. (2) Increased efforts should be made to sell more quality fish prod- ucts such as salted fish and frozen fish fillets to the high-price markets; less stockfish and klipfish should be produced. (3) The Government should establish a condemnation fund for the replacement or scrapping of inadequate vessels. (4) The state should set up a special fund for con- ducting experiments with new fishing gear and methods. (5) Certaintax concessions should be granted. The Committee also recommended the development of new industries in the coastal districts to draw labor away from unprofitable fish- ing enterprises. The report will first be distributed to the various fisheries organizations. It will next be studied by the Ministry of Fisheries in the light of views of the fisheries organizations and then will be submitted to the Storting for considera- tion and possible action. It is expected that there will be con- siderable opposition from the fishermen to many of the Committee's proposals. Norwegian fishermen, who have tradition- ally preferred one-man or family enter- prises, and who in many instances en- gage in part-time farming, will be reluc- tant to give up their freedom of operation COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wool, Ail, IN@," i to become employees of trawling com- panies. The prospect of increased in- come, however, from employment by such companies would serve as a con- siderable inducement. * ok ook ok ok HERRING SALE TO RUSSIA: With the sale of 2,500 metric tons (25,000 barrels) of Norwegian-caught Iceland herring to Russia, all of the 1958 catch has been sold. The herring were shipped in November 1958 and the price to the Russians was the same as a year earlier. The sale of the Iceland herring was made under the three-year trade a- greement which expires December 31, 1958, the United States Embassy in Oslo reported in a November 14, 1958, dis- patch. Philippines SECOND FLOATING FISH CANNERY RECEIVED FROM JAPANESE: A 2,000-gross-ton floating fish can- nery was due to be delivered to the Phil- lipine Government on November 19, 1958, under the Japanese reparations program. The M/S Estancia, with a canning capac- ity of 840 cases of half-pound cans per day, is the second floating fish cannery to be delivered to the Philippines. The first cannery, the M/S Magsaysay, was delivered to the Philippine Government on September 20, 1958. Portugal CANNED FISH EXPORTS, JANUARY-AUGUST 1958: Portugal’s exports of canned fish during January~August 1958, amounted to 38,267 metric tons (2,383,100 cases), val- Portuguese Canned Fish Exports, January~August 1958 i Metric Species Tons Sardines in olive oil Sardinelike fish in olive oil Sardine & sardinelike fish in brine . . Tuna & tunalike fish in olive oil .... Tuna & tunalike fish in brine Mackerel in olive oil January 1959 Portugal (Contd.): ued at US$20.4 million, as compared with 30,886 tons, val- ued at US$19.1 million, for the same period in 1957. Sar- dines in olive oil exported during the first eight months of 1958 amounted to 25,847 tons, valued at US$13.7 million. During January~August 1958, the leading canned fish buy- er was Italy with 7,191 tons (valued at US$3.7 million), follow- ed by Germany with 5,982 tons (valued at US$3.2 million), Great Britain with 3,882 tons (valued at US$2.0 million), the United States with 3,708 tons (valued at US$2.7 million), and Belgium- Luxembourg with 2,680 tons (valued at US$1.4 million). Ex- ports to the United States included1,747 tons of anchovies. (Conservas de Peixe, October 1958.) gle se ole cle ook Hk OK OK Kk OK CANNED FISH PACK, JANUARY JUNE 1958: The total pack of canned fish for January-June 1958 a- mounted to12,619 metric tons as compared with 15,508 tons for the same period in 1957. Canned sardines in oil (6,818 tons) accounted for 54.0 percent of the January-June 1958 total pack, higher by 4.2 percent than the pack of 6,545 tons for the same period of 1957, the October Conservas de Peixe reports. 7 Portuguese Canned Fish Pack, January-June 1958 Canners’ Product Weight Value Metric US$ Tons 1,000 In Olive Oil: SEUCCHNGE Gio Ofa.ned Sia ce aro 8. ceowrd 6,818 3,688 Snel SUI GS 6 eo oe Boe 991 490 BITCHOVMMIIULEtS ee) cle (ars cee Giels) « 1,748 1,502 WUE - co osdoo bon Gn Sco ub moe 1,357 1,003 Other Species (Incl. shellfish)... . 239 165 sarge os acddd6s 1,117 190 Soy eso asooddsae 349 123 12,619 7,161 FISHERIES TRENDS, AUGUST 1958: Sardine Fishing: During August 1958, the Portuguese fishing fleet landed 15,086 metric tons of sardines (valued at US$1,658,260 ex-vessel or $110 aton). InAugust1957,a to- tal of 10,634 tons of sardines were landed (valued at US$1,506,608). Canneries purchased 63.6 percent or 9,591 tons of the sar- dines (valued at US$1,116,000 ex-vessel or $116.36 a ton) during August. Only 9 tons were salted, and the balance of 5,486 tons was purchased for the fresh fish market. Matosinhos leadall otherports in August landings of Sardines with 8,980 tons or 59.5 percent, followed by Portimao 2,102 tons (13.9 percent), and Setubal1,069tons (7.1 percent). Other Fishing: The August 1958 landings of fish other than sardines were principally 4,763 tons (value US$277,565) of chinchards, 4,028 tons (value US$340,556) of anchovies, 1,842 tons of mackerel (value US$1 31,200), 538 tons of tuna (value US$130,052), and 54 tons of bonito (value US$8,104), (Conservas de Peixe, October 1958). COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 73 Rhodesia FRESH FISH SHIPPED BY RAIL FROM CAPE TOWN: "Fresh fish can now be distributed to retailers in Southern Rhodesia daily, in- stead of only twice weekly, with the open- of a £70,000 (US$196,000) cold-storage plant in Salisbury. Supplies to the new plant will be main- tained by regular ''freshfishtrains" from Cape Town, South Africa, twice each week. The first of these arrived shortly before the official opening of the plant. The fish, straight from the trawlers, were packed in crushed ice, and the temperature had risen only 7 degrees during the journey. Special refrigerated trucks carrying frozen fish and other food products come to the plant with products from the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, and Holland. Six freezers capable of holding 236 tons and an ice room of 45 tons capacity ensure that the fish is kept in good con- dition for distribution later. (The Fishery News, November 7, 1958.) Singapore PLANS FOR TUNA CANNERY AND FREEZING PLANT NEAR COMPLETION: - Plans for the tuna cannery and freez- ing plant to be built jointly with Singapore and Japanese capital are now near reali- zation. A Japanese fisheries mission was in Singapore in November 1958 studying the plans and conferring with Govern- ment officials. The manager of the Sing- apore Industrial Promotion Board ina public statement said that an agreement on establishing a tuna fishing industry in Singapore is expected by the end of 1958. Plans call for the investment of M$5,000,000 (US$1,633,000), with the Ja- panese providing 51 percent and local sources the remainder. It is expected that 250 people will be initially employed at the plant, the United States Consul at Singapore reports ina November 14, 1958, dispatch. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, March 1958 py 94. goo00g000 74 Sweden DELEGATES REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL FISHING CONFERENCE HELD IN PARIS: The delegates representing the Swed- ish Fishermen's National Association at the October 1958 International European Fishing Conference held in Paris on fish- ery questions, reported that because of recent incidents in Icelandic waters, it was natural that the question about fish- ing boundaries attracted great interest at the conference. The two delegates stated in a press interview that in many countries there is great uneasiness as to the future with respect to this matter of territorial wa- ters. In order to prevent, if possible, further ''desperate boundary extensions" the conference adopted a resolution urg- ing all governments in the countries con- cerned to make a real effort to convene an international conference as soon as possible to solve this question. The res- olution also appealed to the governments not to make any changes whatever until the international conference concluded its work, the main purpose of which would be to assure that fishing rights with his- toric traditions are respected. The Paris conference also discussed certain proposals presented by the Inter- national Labor Organization on minimum age of employment in the fishing trade, certain health questions, and other mat- ters, The European common market was another subject for discussion, evi- dently rather a delicate one. The lead- ing fishery nations apparently differed widely in their opinions. At the Paris conference the text of the bylaws of anew organization was final- ly agreed upon, and many of thedelegates were prepared to join the new organiza- tion, the name of which would be the Western European Fishery Conference. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW The countries represented at the con- ference were Sweden, Great Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, West Germany, Spain, Portugal, Norway, and Denmark. (Report from the United States Consulate at Goteborg, November 10, 1958.) me oe ke ook oe Wool, Ail, IN@, al PROPOSED SCANDINAVIAN COMMON MARKET CAUSE OF CONCERN TO FISHERMEN: In replying to a formal question by the spokesman for the fishermen's or- ganizations inthe Swedish parliament, the Minister of Commerce stated that the fishermen's organizations will be given an opportunity to make a statement re- garding the supplemental report of the Scandinavian Economic Cooperation Com- mittee on the Scandinavian common mar- ket. The Minister also said that ''no de- cision as to a Scandinavian common mar- ket is expected to be reached at the ses- sion of the Nordic Council now meeting in Oslo, but perhaps the Council will be called to an extra session next year for final discussion of the question.'' A com- mon market as to fishery products could probably not be carried through as aniso- lated event, the Minister said, but only as a link in a Scandinavian common mar- ket for all or practically all branches of trade. Swedish fishermen, according to a statement made by their spokesman in Parliament, are very uneasy about Scan- dinavian cooperation. Fish imports into Sweden, he said, have increased heavily during the last few years while it has be- come increasingly difficult to sell Swed- ish fish in the international market. Agriculture and fishery, he stated, are working under similar conditions, It would therefore be desirable, he argued, that their products be treated in an iden- tical manner and occupy the same posi- tion in Scandinavian common trade. He also stressed the fact that the fishermen's organizations as well as private individ- uals have invested large sums of money in machines for fish fillets for the Swed- ish market. For this reason, he main- tained, imports from Norway and partly also from Denmark, constitute aproblem, Furthermore, he said, Swedish fishing grounds are far off in the North Sea while the Norwegians have theirs close by, and therefore competition does not take place under identical conditions. For these rea- sons, he appealed to the Minister of Com- merce to accord identical treatment to fishery products and agricultural prod- ucts at the Scandinavian negotiations, the January 1959 Sweden (Contd.): United States consul in Goteborg report- ed on November 12, 1958. *k ok SUMMER HERRING CATCH LOWER: The landings of herring by Swedish trawlers from July 1-September 30, 1958, totaled 12,400 metric tons as compared with 25,900 tons in the same period of 1957. The quantity of herring salted at sea declined from 4,600 tons to 3,200 tons, and herring salted ashore from 5,100 tons to 1,600 metric tons during this three months period. Due to the reduced herring catch, Swedish west coast fishermen are facing difficulties in fulfilling the export agree- ment for 1958 with East Germany. The Fladen herring fishing season was ended and West Coast fishermen hoped that the winter herring fishing would give a better yield, the United States Consulate at Goteborg reported on November 10, 1958. cin poy se AS He 5k SK ok 3k TWO STEEL TRAWLERS CONTRACTED FOR IN HOLLAND: The keel of a new steel trawler or- dered by Swedish fishermen was recent- ly laid at a Dutch shipyard in Zaandam and will be delivered in March 1959, The trawler has an over-all length of 23.7 meters (77.7 feet), a breadth of 5.80 me- ters (19.0 feet), and a molded depth amid- ship of 2.85 meters (9.3 feet). The trawler is being built in conform- ity with the highest class of the Norwe- gian classification society (Norske Veri- tas), with ice strengthening in the fore- part of the hull and with 12 millimeter (about 3 inch) steel plate in the bow, The machinery will consist of two twin 8-cylinder Diesel engines of 400 horse- power coupled to a single shaft. Since the trawler will be fishing in distant wa- ters provision is made for a large supply of fresh water and fuel oil. The hull will be divided into four wa- tertight bulkheads. One section will con- tain space for gear and fuel tank, two COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 75 sections for fish holds (one of which is in- sulated), one section for engineroom, and one section for stern cabin. Profile and deck views of new steel trawler built for Swed- ish fisheries. Another steel trawler for Swedish ac- count is being built in Holland. The or- der for this trawler was placed at a Dutch shipyard in Amsterdam. The trawler was launched during the middle of Novem- ber 1958. This trawler, somewhat larger than the trawler under construction at the Zaandam yard, has a length of 26.4 me- ters (86.6 feet), a breadth of 6.2 meters (20.3 feet), adepthof 3.1 meters (10.2 feet), and a gross tonnage of about 100 tons. This trawler, powered by a 460-horse- power Diesel engine, has a maximum speed of 13 knots. All types of modern equipment, such as radiotelephone, echo- sounding device, and a direction finder were installed. The Swedish contractor plans to sell this trawler to a fishing team on the Swedish west coast and hopes that this type of trawler may serve as a prototype for other trawlers which could be built at Swedish yards. 76 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wool, Zils IN@,; 2 Sweden (Contd.): Indications are that the trend towards larger boats willcontinue. Thenew boats are built for high-seas fishing which for various reasons is taking place farther and farther away from the home ports, reports the United States Consul in Gote- borgina report dated November 18, 1958. Union of South Africa SOUTH AND SOUTH-WEST AFRICA PILCHARD-MAASBANKER INDUSTRY, 1958: In the first week of August 1958 the fishing industry of the Union of South Africa Cape west coast passed the 250,000- metric-ton annual quota for pilchard and maasbanker (jack mackerel) for the first time since this limit was imposed in 1953. With some good fishing periods during the month of August, landings were expected to bring the total Cape catch to just under the 300,000-ton mark for the season. As the result ofanarrangement made in 1955, the indus- try was permittedto continue fishing through August but all catching stopped at the end of August and factories and boats now have a four-month lay-up period. Several factories have already been stripped down, and plants will undergoa thorough overhaul before the next sea- son starts in January 1959, In South-West Africa Walvis Bay the 1958 season was also drawing to its close as the catch approached the 250,000-ton limit. Each of the six Walvis Bay factories, however, has its own quota and so there is no sudden end to fishing as in the Union, Although the year still has more than three months to go, the 1958 season is already certain tobe one of the best ever for most sections of the industry. Fish products are mov- ing steadily into local markets and exports have been at a high level through most of the first nine months of the year. Between May and September, the South African Fish Meal Producers’ Association chartered five vessels to carry South and South-West African meal to the United Kingdom andthe European Continent. Other vessels were chartered to take bulk exports of fish-body oil. According to figures released by the Division of Fish- eries, the Union of South Africa Cape west coast catch in July was 25,613 tons pilchards, 1,109 tons maasbanker, and 1,151 tons mackerel. The month's total catch of 27,873 tons brought the total for the first seven months of the year to 271,323 tons, comprising 187,823 tons pilchards, 61,394 tons maasbanker, and 22,106 tons mackerel. The quota fish (pilchards and maasbanker) total January-July was 249,217 tons. The July 1958 catches compare with 1,911 tons pilchards and 403 tons maasbanker in July 1957. The July 1958 catch yielded 5,408 tons fish meal, 113,441 gallons fish oil, 626,253 pounds of canned pilchards, 506,208 pounds of canned maasbanker, and 356,028 pounds of canned mack- erel. The pilchard catch at Walvis Bay January-July totaled 182,369 tons. (The South African Shipping News and Fish- ing Industry Review, September 1958.) th! ee hath oh sci oiciekiokinol SPINY LOBSTER MEAT USED TO MAKE CRACKERS: Attractive crackers prepared from shrimp and tapioca flour, imported into South Africa caused the Fishing Industry Research Institute, Cape Town, to inves- tigate the use of spiny lobster meat in crackers. While the shrimp crackers when im- mersed briefly in hot oil before serving expand and take on a light, foamy, but crisp texture, this was not easily obtain- ed when similar crackers were prepared from lobster meat. The Institute then ex- perimented with tapioca dough and found that crackers made from a finer flour with a higher moisture content (8.9 per- cent) gave, when cooked, better expansion with larger bubbles than those with a low- er moisture content made from coarser flour. (Australian Fisheries Newsletter, October 1958.) WirS.295 R: BRITISH FROZEN COD FILLETS SALE TO RUSSIA INCREASED: The 4,000-ton contract for frozen cod and coalfish or coley fillets between the Soviet Union and United Kingdom proces- sors, for delivery by Britain between March and September 1958, was increased to 6,050 tons. Hull will supply about 57 percent, Grimsby 35 percent, and Fleetwood 8 percent of the total--(Australian) Fisher- ies Newsletter, October 1958), = Sh oh Ab fk th aK OK Ok SK oo EXPANSION OF ANTARCTIC WHALING FLEET: The first of three new whaling factory - ships has been launched by the Russians and will participate in the 1959/60 Ant- arctic season. The new factoryship ex- pedition, named Sovjetskaja Ukraina, will consist of the factoryship and 20 modern fast whale catchers according to the Oc- tober 1958 Norsk Hvalfangst-Tidende (The Norwegian Whaling Gazette). sk sk ook sk ook sk ok ook ook ok January 1959 WoSo Sot, (Ctorawel,))e FREEZERSHIPS FISH SARDINES OFF AFRICAN WEST COAST: Russian freezerships have fished sar- dines off the west coast of Africa, ac- cording to a report of the annual Inter- national Refrigeration Institute meeting in gian fishery trade paper. The catches were frozen on board the vessel. The frozen COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 77 sardines were landed in Russia and canned. The results were so good that additional vessels are expected to participate. The Russians also reported that they cooled small herring anchovies immedi- ately after they were caught. Cooling was accomplished by pumping the small fish in ice-cold ocean water through a hose 10cm. (almost 4 inches) indiameter which was 30 meters (98 feet) long. B=") United Kingdom PRESERVATION OF FISH BY IRRADIATION STUDIED: __ Significant increases in the keeping properties of fish have been achieved by subjecting them to irradiation, accord- ing to Food Investigation, 1957, publish- ed by the British Department of Scientif- ic and Industrial Research. Samples of haddock, mackerel, herring, cod, and sole were irradiated at Harwell inanexperiment by the staff of the Torry Research Station and the Low Tempera- ture Research Station. Cod and sole were least affected in odor and flavor by ir- radiation, while cod exposed to compara- tively low doses of radiation were found to remain palatable for 13 days, com- pared with 9 for untreated fish of the same kind. The best results were obtained with fish which had been irradiated and then treated with an antibiotic solution. These remained edible for 23 days when stored at freezing temperatures. The report also contains information on experiments carried out to determine the usefulness of freezing at seaasa means of preserving fish. ROLE OF FISHERY PRODUCTS IN FAMILY FOOD FURCHASES Approximately 28 percent of all spending for food is for meat, poultry, and The proportion expended for each remains When incomes rise, a larger proportion is then spent for beef and turkey, and a smaller proportion for pork, chicken, and fish, according to Nation's Business. fairly constant at all income levels. fish, The average family spends $380 a year for meat, poultry, andfish. Approxi- mately $295 is spent for meat as follows: for hot dogs and other luncheon meats. Spending for poultry is $55, whereas only $125 for beef, $105 for pork, and $38 $30 is spent for fish. This is $8.00 less than the amount for hot dogs and other luncheon meats. canned varieties. This presents a challenge. The bulk of the expendutures for fish are forthe frozen and Since indications are that beef supplies will not be as heavy during the next two years, we must make every effort to increase the consumption of fishery products and thus obtain a larger share of the pro- tein food market. 78 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Sor TERE ail Federal Trade Commission BROKER OF SEAFOOD PRODUCTS ADMITS "TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS" OF ILLEGAL BROKERAGE LAW: Replying (Answer 7024 Seafood Prod- ucts) to Federal Trade Commission charges of granting illegal brokerage to some customers, a Seattle broker of seafood products on October 10, 1958, conceded his challenged payments might be ''technical violations" of law, but de- clared they were made to increase rather than injure competition. The Commission charged in its com- plaint of July 23, 1958, that the broker favored certain buyers, or theiragents, with large allowances in lieu of broker- age through price concessions or re- bates. The complaint alleged this prac- tice violates Sec. 2(c) of the Robinson- Patman Amendment to the Clayton Act. In his answer, the broker states that, in order to reduce freight costs and de- lays in delivery, buyers normally ob- tain their basic stock in one combination order covering several types of seafood. Admitting that price concessions have been offered to obtain such large orders, he asserts this is done when a buyer ob- jects to a particular item's price andthe packer refuses to reduce it. The broker must absorb the difference or lose the sale, but this does not mean that the price actually given was inconsistent with the market, he continues. Asserting that he is a small operator, the broker points out that his gross sales and net income were less than $400,000 and $4,500, respectively, in 1956. Dur- ing that year he admits making price re- ductions totaling $565 in 16 transactions invoiced at $79,000. > FEDERAL @ 4, ACTIONS § Vol. 21, No. 1 Summing up, the broker ''concedes that within the transactions questioned may be found technical violations ... as by the Commission contended, but re- spectfully submits that such violations, were they not considered per se, in no way injured the public, were in further- ance of, rather than restraint of com- petition, and thus tended to preserve rather than defeat the purpose of the an- titrust laws." CONSENT ORDER PROHIBITS SEAFOOD PACKER FROM PAYING ILLEGAL BROKERAGE: A consent order (7147, Seafood), re- quiring a Washington State seafood pack- ing company to stop making illegal bro- kerage payments to its customers, was approved by the Federal Trade Com- mission on November 10, 1958. This action represents the adoption by the Commission of an initial decision by one of its hearing examiners based on an order agreed to by the company and the Commission's Bureau of Litiga- tion, A Commission complaint, issued on May 8, 1958, said the company gen- erally sells its canned salmon pack through brokers who are paid commis- sions ranging from 2 to 5 percent. However, the complaint charged, the company made many sales to brokers purchasing for their own account for resale, and granted them discounts or allowances in lieu of brokerage. Sec- tion 2(c) of the Amended Clayton Act forbids this practice. Joined in the order is the company's president and treasurer. January 1959 The agreement is for settlement pur- poses only and does not constitute an ad- mission by the respondents that they have violated the law. Interstate Commerce Commission TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 1958 FISHERY EXEMPTION TRUCK AMENDMENT INCLUDES SPECIALTY PRODUCTS: The Bureau of Motor Carriers, Interstate Commerce Com- mission (I,C.C.), issued late in 1958 Ruling 110 which clears up most of the questions about the fishery exemption amend- ment (exempts fresh and frozen fishery products and special- ties from I.C.C, regulated motor carrier regulations) in the Transportation Act of 1958. The fishing industry was in doubt as to how I.C.C. would consider specialty items such as fish dinners and fish cakes because the ‘‘basic ingredient’’ prin- ciple was deleted from the Act prior to passage. In addition to the usual fresh and frozen fishery products, Ruling 110 specifically shows the following fishery items as exempt: Fish (including shellfish): breaded, cooked or un- cooked, frozen or fresh; cakes, codfish, cookedor uncooked, frozen or fresh; clam juice or broth, cooked or uncooked, fro- zen or fresh; cooked or partially cooked fish or shellfish, fro- zen or fresh; croquettes, salmon, cooked or uncooked, frozen or fresh; deviled crabs, clams, or lobsters, cooked or un- cooked, frozen or fresh; dinners, cooked or uncooked, frozen or fresh; fried fish fillets, oysters, or scallops, frozen or fresh; sticks, cooked or uncooked, frozen or fresh, The Ruling also points out that imported fishery products have the same status as domestic. A spokesman for the I.C.C. said that canned salted fish would be exempt if the canning process or the salting process was not a treatment for preserving. In other words, if it were necessary to include some other preserving media such as re- frigeration, it would likely be considered exempt. Also oyster stew that is frozen uncooked would probably qualify, but cooked oyster stew would be nonexempt. TRUCKERS REQUIRED TO AMEND "GRANDFATHER RIGHTS" APPLICA- TION TO INCLUDE FRESH AND FROZEN FISH: Shippers of less than truckloads of fresh or frozen fish and shellfish were reminded by the Interstate Commerce Commission (F.C.C.) of the Decem- ber 10, 1958, deadline for motor car- riers to file applications under ''grand- father rights.'' Those shippers using carriers that carry, for example, fro- zen fruits and vegetables in the same truck with fresh and frozen fishery prod- ucts were affected. Carriers who desired common or con- tract carrier rights could amend their application for ''grandfather rights" to include fresh and frozen fishery products. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 79 If a carrier who was satisfactory to ship- pers failed to amend his application for "grandfather rights,'' that carrier is ex- cluded from carrying exempt fishery products in the same truck with regu- lated products. Applications for ''grandfather rights" were to be made on Form BOR-1 for those ''exempt" carriers who were car- rying before May 1, 1958, commodities that became regulated August 12,1958. For those carrying those commodities subsequent to May 1, 1958, applications for "Interim" rights were made on Form BOR-2, The application forms do not provide for other ''exempt'' commodities that did not become regulated even though the carriers had been handling that type of commodity. Through the ef- forts of fishing industry representatives, the I. C. C. issued ''Second Supplement to Information Bulletin No. 1"' which pro- vides that applicants may make an a- mendment to the application to include commodities still in the "exempt" category. The Interstate Commerce Act pro- ‘vides that ''for hire'' motor shipment in interstate and foreign commerce of "exempt'' commodities in the same truck with "nonexempt'' commodities, subjects the ''exempt'' commodities (fresh and frozen fishery products) to both econom- ic and safety regulation. Therefore, truck operators must also have rights for fishery products to haul those prod- ucts mixed with regulated products. Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ADDITIONAL HEARINGS ON COMMER- CIAL FISHING REGULATIONS HELD: Six additional public hearings on the 1959 Alaska commercial fishing regula- tions were held in Alaska in accordance with instructions received from the Secretary of the Interior on November 19, 1958. 80 Thus, in accordance with past practice, hearings were held in eight fishing com- munities in Alaska and in Seattle, Wash., on the proposed regulations. The original announcement scheduled hearings in Seattle on December 4, 5, and 6; in Juneau on December 10, 11, and 12; and in Anchorage on December 17, 18, and 19. The additional Alaska hear- ings were scheduled for Kodiak (Jan. 6, 1959), Dillingham (Jan. 7), Cordova (Jan. 9), Sitka (Jan. 12), Wrangell (Jan. 8), aad Ketchikan (Jan. 6). The Secretary on November 8, 1958, instructed the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to propose the elimination of fish traps in Alaska in order that the De- partment of the Interior could adjust its "actions as quickly as possible to the de- sires of the Alaskans in regard to the disposition of their natural resources." Every effort will be made to publish the 1959 Alaska fishing regulations as early COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 1 as possible. The fishing seasonnormal- ly opens around May 1. After visiting with many Alaskans on his current trip to Alaska--his fourth since he became Secretary of the Inte- rior--the Secretary informed the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries that fhe keen interest and concern shown by Alaskans in their fishery resources promptedhim to expand the original schedule of public hearings. At these additional local hearings fishermen throughout Alaska will have an opportunity to discuss the fisheries conservation program and ex- press their views on regulation changes needed for the coming year. As announced by the Secretary on November 8, 1958, in the annual Notice of Intention to adopt amendments to existing Alaska fishing regulations, allinterested persons were invited to present their views in writing to the Director, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, or in person at the public hearings. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, December 1958, p. 86. BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES PROPOSED FROZEN HADDOCK FILLET GRADE STANDARDS: Proposed United States grade stand- ards for frozen haddock fillets were published in the November 8, 1958, Fed- eral Register. These regulations, when effective, will be the first issued by the Department of the Interior prescribing grade standards for frozen haddock fillets. The proposed standards describe the product and grades, recommended weights and dimensions, quality factors, definitions and methods of analysis, lot certification tolerances, and score sheets. The notice of proposed rule making as published in the Federal Register follows: Fish and Wildlife Service [ 50 CFR Part 174] UNITED STATES STANDARDS FOR GRADE OF FROZEN Happock FILLETS * NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING Notice is hereby given, pursuant to section 4 (a) of the Administrative Pro- cedure Act of June 11, 1946 (60 Stat. 238, 5 U.S. C. 1003), that the Director of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries pro- poses to recommend to the Secretary of the Interior the adoption of the regula- tions set forth in tentative form below to establish grade standards for frozen haddock fillets. These regulations are to be codified as Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 174—United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Haddock Fillets, and are proposed for adoption in accordance with the authority contained in Title 0 of the Agricultural Marketing 1Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Act of August 14, 1946, as amended (7 U. S. C. 1621-1627). Functions under that act pertaining to fish, shellfish, and any products thereof were transferred to the Department of the Interior by sec- tion 6 (a) of the Fish and Wildlife Act of August 8, 1956 (16 U. S. C. 742e). These regulations, if made effective, will be the first issued by the Department of the Interior prescribing grade standards for frozen haddock fillets. Prior to the final adoption of the pro- posed regulations set forth below, con- sideration will be given to any written data, views, or arguments relating there- to which are received by the Director, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington 25, D. C., on or before November 20, 1958. Dated: November 4, 1958. A. W. ANDERSON, Acting Director, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND GRADES Sec. 174.1 Product description. 174.2 Grades of frozen haddock fillets. WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS 174.6 Recommended weights and dimen- sions. FACTORS OF QUALITY 174.11 174.12 Ascertaining the grade. Evaluation of the unscored factor of flavor and odor. Ascertaining the rating for the fac- tors which are scored; appearance, size, defects, and character. Appearance, Size. Defects. Character. 174.13 174.14 174.15 174.16 174.17 DEFINITIONS AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS 174.21 Definitions and methods of analysis. LOT CERTIFICATION TOLERANCES t7.a5 Tolerances for certification of offi- cially drawn samples. SCORE SHEET 174.31 Score sheet for frozen haddock fillets. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND GRADES § 174.1 Product description. The product described in this part consists of clean, whole, wholesome fillets or pri- January 1959 marily large pieces of clean, whole, wholesome fillets, cut away from either side of a haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus; the fillets may be either skin- less or with skin on. They are packaged and frozen in accordance with good com- mercial practice and are maintained at temperatures necessary for the preser- vation of the product. (This part does not provide for the grading of pieces of fish flesh cut away from previously frozen fish blocks, slabs, or similar products.) § 174.2 Grades of frozen haddock fil- lets. (a) “U.S. Grade A” is the quality of frozen haddock fillets which possess a good flavor and odor; and for those factors which are rated in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this part have a total score of 85 to 100 points. (b) “U. S. Grade B” is the quality of frozen haddock fillets which possess at least a reasonably good flavor and ordor; and for those factors which are rated in accordance with the scoring system out- lined in this part have a total score of not less than 70 points: Provided, That no factor receives maximum point score deduction. (c) “Substandard” is the quality of frozen haddock fillets which fail to meet the requirements of U. S. Grade B. WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS § 174.6 Recommended weights and di- mensions. (a) The recommendations as to net weights and dimensions of pack- aged frozen haddock fillets are not in- corporated in the grades of the finished product since net weights and dimen- sions, as such, are not factors of quality for the purpose of these grades. (b) It is recommended that the net weights of the packaged frozen haddock fillets be not less than 12 ounces and not over 10 pounds. FACTORS OF QUALITY § 174.11 Ascertaining the grade. The grade of frozen haddock fillets is as- certained by observing the product in the frozen and thawed states and after representative portions have been cooked in a suitable manner. The following factors are evaluated in ascertaining the grade of the product: Flavor, odor, ap- pearance, size, defects, and character. (a) These factors are rated in the following manner: (1) Flavor and odor. These factors are rated directly by organoleptic evalu- ation. Score points are not assessed (see § 174.12). (2) Appearance, size, defects, and character. These factors are rated by score points expressed numerically on the scale of 100. (b) The four factors and the max- imum number of points that may be given each are as follows: COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW (Melanogrammus aeglefinus); and is free from staleness, and off-flavors and off-odors of any kind. (b) Reasonably good flavor and odor. “Reasonably good flavor and odor” (min- imum requirement of a Grade B product) means that the fish flesh may be some- what lacking in good flavor and odor; and is free from objectionable off-flavors and off-odors of any kind. § 174.13 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored; appear- ance, size, defects, and character. The essential variations within each factor which is scored are so described that the value may be ascertained for each factor and expressed numerically. Point deduc- tions are alloted for each degree or amount of variation within each factor. The value for each factor is the maxi- mum number of points allotted for the factor less the sum of the deduction- points within the factor. § 174.14 Appearance. (a) General: The factor of appearance refers to the color of the fish fiesh, and to the degree of surface dehydration of the product. (b) For the purpose of rating the fac- tor of appearance the schedule of de- duction-points in Tables I and II apply. Haddock fillets which receive 25 deduc- tion points for this factor shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score for the product. This isa limiting rule. TABLE I—Score DEpucTIONS FOR COLOR SURFACTOR Deduction points “Light” col- ored portion comprising main portion “Dark” colored por- tion occurring under skin Color of fillet mainly along lateral line No discoloration _--------- i) 0 Slight yellowing ___ = 2 1 Moderate yellowing_----_- 4 2 Excessive yellowing and/ or any rusting-_-----.--- 13 12 TABLE II—ScorE DepucTIONS FOR DEHYDRATION SUBFACTOR Surface area affected (percent) Dedye- Degree of dehydration tion points Over—| Not over— Slight—Shallow and not color masking - ----.------ 0 1 0 1 50 2 50 100 6 Moderate—Deep but just deep enough to easily scrap off with fingernail _- 1 25 25 50 50 100 1 Excessive—Deep dehydra- tion not easily scraped off. 1 25 12 25 100 25 TABLE III—ScorE DEDIcTIONS FOR PIECES S1zE OF FILLET Factors: Appearance -. Number of fillet pieces less than 2 Bivene=s . ounces per pound i Defects -- Dedbetlon Character Over— Not over— SOL AL SCORS tee ee eee eee 100 0 0 § 174.12 Evaluation of the unscored 2 0 factor of flavor and odor—(a) Good 3 15 flavor and odor. ‘ie 2 “Good flavor and odor” (essential requirement for a Grade A product) means that fish flesh has good flavor and odor characteristic of haddock § 174.15 Size. (a) General: The fac- tor of size refers to the maximum num- 81 ber of small pieces under 2 oz. allowed per pound, (b) For the purpose of rating the fac- tor of size the schedule of deduction- points in Table III apply. Haddock fillets which receive 20 deduction points for this factor shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score for the product. This is a limiting rule. § 174.16 Defects. (a) General: The factor of defects refers to the degree of freedom from improper packing, cutting and trimming imperfections, blemishes, and bones. (1) Improper packing. “Improper packing” means poor arrangement of fillets, presence of voids, depressions, frost, and the imbedding of packaging material into fish flesh. (2) Cutting and trimming imperfec- tions. “Cutting and trimming imper- fections” means that the fillets have ragged edges, tears, holes, or are other- wise improperly cut or trimmed. (3) Blemish. “Blemish” means a piece of skin (except for skin-on fillets), scales, blood spot, a bruise, a black belly lining, a fin, or extraneous material. One “piece of skin” consists of one piece at least % square inch in area; except that any skin patches larger than 14% square inches shall each be considered as two pieces of skin. “Blood spot” is one of such size and prominence as to be considered objectionable. ‘Black belly lining” is any piece longer than ¥2 inch. Each aggregate area up to 1 square inch of identifiable fin or parts of any fin shall be considered as one “instance of fin’. Each aggregate area up to 1 square inch per fillet of one scale or group of scales shall be considered one “instance of scales”. “A bruise” consists of an affected area of % square inch or more in area; except that any bruise larger than 114 square inches shall each be con- sidered as two bruises. (4) Bones. “Bones” means any bones that can be identified, and are objection- able. One instance of bone means one bone or one group of bones occupying TaBLeE 1V—ScorE DepucTIONS FOR DEFECTS Defects, sub- | Method of determining sub- Deduc- factors factor score tion points Improper Moderate defects, noticeably 2 packing. affecting the products ap- q pearance. Excessive defects, seriously 4 affecting products sappear- ance. Blemishes_...{ Number of blemishes per 1 lb. of fish flesh: Over 0 not over 1____ moe 1 Over 1 not over 2__ 3 Over 2 not over 3. 5 Over 3 not over 8 Over 4 not over 16 Over 5 not over 6_- 30 Over Gee =h= 40 Bones_......- Number of instances per 1 lb. of fish flesh: Over 0 not over 1___- — 0 Over 1 not over 2__ =| 5 Over 2 not over 3. 10 Over 3 not over 15 Over 4 not over 30 Oven Gene aete : 40 Cutting and | Slight defects, scarcely notice- 0 trimming. able. Moderate defects, noticeable 4 but not affecting the use- ability of any fillets. Excessive defects impairing: : (a) the useability of up to 8 44 of the total number of fillets. (b) the useability of over 16 \ but not more than 1% of the total number of fillets. (c) the useability of over 14 40 of the total number of fillets. 82 or contacting a circular area of 1 square inch. (b) For the purpose of rating the factor of freedom from defects, the schedule of deduction-points in Table IV apply. § 174.17 Character. (a) General: The factor of character refers to the amount of drip in the thawed fillets, and to the tenderness and moistness of the properly cooked fish flesh. (b) For the purpose of rating the fac- tor of character, the schedule of deduc- tion-points in Table V apply. Haddock fillets which receive 15 deduction points for this factor shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score for the product. This is a limiting rule. TABLE V—ScoRE DEBUCTIONS FOR CHARACTER Character, Method of determining sub- subfactors Deduc- factor score i tion points Texture of the cooked fish: (a) Firm, slightly resilient but not tough or rubbery; moist but not mushy. (b) Moderately firm; only slightly tough or rubbery; does not form a fibrous mass in the mouth; moist but not mushy. (c) Moderately tough or tubbery; has noticeable o ~ Texture-__.-- ) tendency to form a fibrous ) Excessively tough or 15 y has marked tendency to form a fibrous mass in the mouth; or is very dry; or is very mushy. Percent of drip: Amount of Over 0 not over 5-_-. drip. Over 5 not over 6_ Over 6 not over 8- Over § not over 10 Over 10 not over 12_ Over 12 not over 14_ Over 14 not over 16_ Over 16 pe ANOABNHO DEFINITIONS AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS § 174.21 Definitions and methods of analysis—(a) Percent of drip. “Percent of drip” means the percent by weight of “free drip” (the fluid which is not re- absorbed by the fish tissue when the frozen fish thaws, and which separates freely without the aid of any external Department of Labor PUERTO RICO FOOD PRODUCTS COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW forces except gravity) in an individual package as determined by the following method: (1) Apparatus and materials. Water bath. Gi) Balance, accurate to 0.1 gm; or 0.01 ounce. (ii) Pliable and impermeable bag (cryovac, pliofilm, etc.). (iv) Vacuum source (Vacuum pump or water aspirator). (v) U.S. Standard No. 8 mesh circular sieve (both 8 and 12 inch diameters). (vi) Stirring motor. (vii) Identification tags. (2) Procedure. (i) Weigh pliable and impermeable bag (cryovac, pliofilm, etc.). Gi) Remove frozen material from container (container consists of the carton and the inner and outer wrap- pings). (iii) Place frozen product, plus scraps of any material remaining on the con- tainer, into the pliable bag. (iv) Weigh bag and contents and sub- tract tare to determine the net weight of the product. (v) Evacuate air from bag by use of suction so that bag closely fits contour of product, with no air pockets. (vi) Crimp the open end of bag and tie off (a secure and leakproof closure may be created by tying close to product and then folding excess bag and tying again). (vii) Completely immerse bag and contents in a circulated water bath maintained at 68° F. plus or minus 2° F. (viii) Allow to remain immersed until the product is defrosted (a “test run”, in advance, is necessary to determine time required for each product and quan- tity of product) (ix) Remove bag and contents from bath and gently dry outside of bag. (x) Open bag and empty contents onto U.S. Standard No. 8 circular sieve so as *The purpose of the “test run” is to de- termine the time necessary to thaw the product. The complete thawing of the prod- uct is determined by frequent but gentle squeezing of the bag until no hard core or ice crystals are felt. This package which has been squeezed can not be used for drained weight calculations. (i) Vol. 21, No. 1 to distribute the product evently, inclin- ing the sieve slightly to facilitate drain- age, and allowing to drain for two min- utes. (xi) Weigh sieve and its contents and calculate drained weight. The drained weight is the weight of sieve and fillets less the weight of the dry sieve. (xii) Calculate percent drip: Net weight (iv) —drained weight (xi) 100 Net weight =Percent of drip (b) Cooking in a suitable manner. “Cooking in a suitable manner” shall mean that the product is cooked as follows: Place the thawed unseasoned product into a boilable film-type pouch. The pouch and its contents are then immersed in boiling water and cooked until the internal temperature of the fillets reaches 160° F. (about 20 minutes). LOT CERTIFICATION TOLERANCES § 174.25 Tolerances for certification of officially drawn samples. The sample rate and grades of specific lots shall be certified in accordance with Part 170 of this chapter (regulations governing processed fishery products, 23 F. R. 5064, July 3, 1958). § 174.31 Score sheet for frozen -had- dock fillets. Gabel presses reeea aan Size and kind of container: _-_ Container mark or identification: Actual net weig Standards score points Sample Factor score Appearance Uniformity- Defects__ Characters eea eee Plavorjand|odonin-2--coca--onnesannen ene e ence Rinallpradeessese ences nee e sense re ae Reena eee sons covered by the minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act ... INDUSTRY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE FOR TUNA CANNING: A minimum wage rate in Puerto Rico of 85 cents an hour for tuna canning operations was found as economically feasible by the U. S. Department of Labor Industry Committee No. 41-B for the Food and Related Products Industry in Puerto Rico. This was included in the report, findings of fact, and recommendations made by the Committee after hearings held in Puerto Rico September 11-15, 1958. Under the yeast and canned tuna industry classi- fication, the Committee's findings on tuna canning were as follows: "This classification is presently composed of two establishments employing a total of 367 per- "The record reveals that under the provisions of a union contract prevailing in the tuna fish can- nery, wage rates range from 65 cents an hour, the currently effective minimum wage rate, to $1.40 an hour, and that average hourly earnings in the plant amounted to slightly over 70 cents an hour during a recent payroll period. Profits on sales of this establishment amounted to 9.7 percent during the year ended May 31, 1958, and, according to testimony, for that year profit on investment a- mounted to 9 percent. The firm, whichhad a defi- cit as of March 30, 1957, had an earned surplus of almost $625,000 as of May 31, 1958. "On the other hand, the record reveals that competition in the canning of tuna and tunalike fish and related activities is relatively intense. Also, January 1959 imports of canned tuna fish from Japan increased from $14.3 million in 1956 to $16.2 million in 1957. Although data on such imports in early 1958 indi- cate that they are below comparable period 1957 levels, the Committee feels that they are of signi- ficance. Furthermore, the Committee finds that an offset in the minimum wage rate in Puerto Rico is justified on the basis of peculiar costs deriving from operation of an establishment of this kind in Puerto Rico. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 83 "On the basis of these facts and on the en- tire record, the Committee finds that a mini- mum wage rate of 85 cents an hour for this classification is economically feasible. The Committee finds that this rate will directly af- fect a fairly substantial number of employees but will not result in substantial curtailment of employment." cae 4 Treasury Department COAST GUARD HEARINGS HELD TO IMPLEMENT FEDERAL BOATING ACT OF 1958: The proposed changes in maritime safety standards and regulations to im- plement the Federal Boating Act of 1958 were published in the Federal Register of November 1, 1958. Undocumented fishing vessels of all types of more than 10 hp. will be affected. A public hearing was held by the Merchant Marine Coun- cil on December 9, 1958, in Washington, D. C., to receive comments, views, and data on the proposed standards and reg- ulations as set forth in Items I to III, inclusive, of the Merchant Marine Coun- cil Public Hearing Agenda (CG-249), dated December 9, 1958, and in the Fed- eral Register of November 1, 1958. The unprecedented boom in the use of small vessels, principally pleasure craft, on the waterways of the nation prompted Congress to pass the Federal Boating Act of 1958. This Act modernizes Fed- eral boating laws and provides means for meeting the current needs for great- er safety. Briefly, this Act provides: (a) Effective immediately, the op- erator of a vessel shall stop and render assistance if involved in a boating ac- cident, and shall furnish his identifica- tion to others involved. Further, the operator is required to give notice to and file a written report with the cog- nizant authorities. (b) The Coast Guard is authorized to impose civil penalties for reckless or negligent operation of vessels, includ- ing pleasure craft of all types. (c) Every State may assume concur rent jurisdiction on navigable waters of the United States within such State and enter into enforcement agreements with the Federal government. (d) The present Coast Guard system for numbering of undocumented vessels shall be continued until April 1, 1960, un- less aState assumes the functions of num- bering prior to that date. Onand after April 1, 1960, the Coast Guard will re-num- ber all undocumented vessels propelled by machinery of more than 10 horsepower, unless a State shall have assumed the func- tions of numbering within thatState. An undocumented vessel is one without a ma- rine document issued by the Bureau of Customs. (e) The Coast Guard shall compile, analyze, and publish information obtained from reports of boating accidents together with the findings concerning the causes of such accidents and recommendations for their future prevention. (f) The Coast Guard shall establish standards, rules and regulations with re- spect to some of these functions as de- scribed in the law. The Secretary of the Treasury by Treasury Department Orders 120, dated July 31, 1950 (15 F. R. 6521), and167-32, dated September 23, 1958 (23 F. R. 7605), assigned the functions in the Act of April 25, 1940, as amended (46 U.S. C. 526-526t), and the Federal Boating Act of 1958 to the Commandant of the Coast Guard. The proposed standards, rules and reg- ulations required to be prescribed are set forth in the November 1 Federal Register. For convenience, the proposals are divid- ed into three categories, as follows: 84 Item I - System of Numbering and Statistical Information Applicable to Un- documented Vessels (46 CFR Parts WO TN3))- Item II - Boating Accidents Involving Undocumented Vessels (46 CFR Part 136). Item III - Boarding Undocumented Vessels (46 CFR Part 26). The proposals in Item I describe the Federal standards for numbering undoc- umented vessels as well as the require- ments for statistical information to be ob- tained, compiled, analyzed and published. The proposals in Item II are require- ments applicable to the operators of vessels involved in boating accidents. It is proposed to require both a notice and a written report about each reportable boating accident, which will be submitted by the operator of the undocumented ves- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW WO, Bil, IN@; I sel. These boating accident reports will be a primary source of information on which statistics will be based, as wellas a basis for recommendations for promo- ting safety of life and property and the prevention of elimination of similar ac- cidents in the future. The proposal in Item III describes the procedures to be followed in the en- forcement of these laws. Vessel as set forth in subsection 2 (2) of the Federal Boating Act of 1958 ''in- cludes every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.'' This defini- tion includes, but is not limited to, mo- torboats, sailboats, rowboats, canoes, ships, tugs, towboats, ferries, cargo ves- sels, passenger vessels, tank vessels, fishing vessels, charter boats, party boats, barges, scows, etc. netting to the headline. erman, May 1958). NEW TYPE HEADLINE ROPE DEVELOPED Anew type of headline rope developed by the Nanaimo Biological Sta- tion, B.C., Canada, is constructed of preformed, alternate, lay galvanized wire rope, sheathed with braided spun nylon rope. It has proved success- ful in midwater trawls and ocean perch nets. The braided nylon sheathing eliminates slippage of knots in hanging The sheathing is marked with a continuous red line to assist in preventing twists and turns being placed in the rope when hanging the netting. The rope can be easily spliced by paring away the nylon sheathing and covering the area with a synthetic tape (National Fish- Editorial Assistant--Ruth V. Keefe Illustrator--Gustaf T. Sundstrom Compositors--Jean Zalevsky, Alma Greene, Helen Joswick, and Vera Eggleston ok. oe ok ak 3K Photograph Credits: Page by page, the following list gives the source or pho- tographer for each photograph in this issue. Photographs on pages not mentioned were obtained from the Service's file and the photographers are unknown. Pp. 30 and 46--V. B. Scheffer; p. 32--J. Pileggi; p. 37--Bob Munns; pp. 59-60--The National Film Board of Canada. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 85 FISHERY _INDICATORS MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND RHODE ISLAND CUMULATIVE DATA 10 Ms . 1958 - 644,47 10, 1957 - 879. 12 1957 - 975.1 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA 70 CUMULATIVE DATA 6O]] 11 mos. 1 Wm JAN FEB MAR APR MAY FLORIDA FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CALIFORNIA 1/ JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC V/ONLY PART{AL--INCLUDING PRODUCTION OF MAJOR FISHERIES AND MARKET FISH LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS, LEGEND: es 1955 =o oe = 1957 CHART | - FISHERY LANDINGS for SELECTED STATES In Millions of Pounds NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK CUMULATIVE DATA 10 mgs 10 layer JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CUMULATIVE DATA 10 mgs. 19 10 12 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CUMULATIVE DATA JAN FEB MAR APR MAY 86 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolls A, IN@; 1 CHART 2 - LANDINGS for SELECTED FISHERIES In Millions of Pounds HADDOCK LEGEND: OCEAN PERCH (Maine and Massachusetts) % 1958 (Maine and Massachusetts) CUMULATIVE DATA _—— = 1957 CUMULATIVE DATA 11 mgs. 1958 142.0 Wut 1957 127.1 1957 33.4 5 957 1957 - 116 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC L/ SHRIMP (Gulf States~including Florida West Coast) WHITING (Maine and Massachusetts) CUMULATIVE DATA 11 MQS..1958 - 97.7 W JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 1/LA. & ALA. DATA BASED ON LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS AND ARE NOT COM- PLETE. In Thousands of Tons MENHADEN (East and Gulf Coasts) CUMULATIVE DATA 11 MS. 1958 - 709.9 |- WW 1957 - B12 12 1957 - 841 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC PACIFIC AND JACK MACKEREL (California) CUMULATIVE DATA 17.6 57.9 1957 - 70.9 MAR_APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC NOV. DEC In Thousands of PILCHARD (California) TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FisH2/ CUMULATIVE DATA 958 10 1957 - 178 1957 - 1 1958/59 SEASON, AUG. -DEC. ~ 101.4 1957/58 SEASON, AUG. -DEC, - 19.4 1957/58 SEASON, TOTAL - 20.5 LEGEND: eee |= 1959/59 — a — 1957/58 AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC January 1959 CHART 3 - COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS | of FISHERY PRODUCTS * U. S. & ALASKA HOLDINGS 220 200 180)N 160 140 120 100 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC NEW ENGLAND HOLDINGS?! COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW JAN FEB MAR _APR_MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT V/MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE 1SLAND, AND CONNECTICUT. NOV DEC MIDDLE WEST HOLDINGS! JAN FEB MAR APR _MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT B/OH1O, IND., ILL., MICH., WIS., MINN, IOWA, MO., N. OCT NOV DEC W ASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA HOLDINGS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC DAK., NESR, & KANS, 87 LEGEND: es 1955 ——— 1957 CUMULATIVE DATA 11 Mgs. VW 12 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY» JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC MIDDLE & SOUTH ATLANTIC HOLDINGS2/ JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 2/ALL EAST COAST STATES FROM N.Y. SOUTH. GULF & SOUTH CENTRAL HOLDINGS 4/ JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 4/ALA., MISS., LA., TEX., ARK., KY, & TENN. CALIFORNIA HOLDINGS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC * Excludes salted, cured, and smoked products 88 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vols 25 Non! CHART 4 - RECEIPTS and COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS at PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS In Millions of Pounds RECEIPTS! AT WHOLESALE SALT-WATER MAHKET (Fresh and Frozen) NEW YORK CUMULATIVE DATA 12 gs. 1958 - 163.9 CITY 12 1 167.8 COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS2/ JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC V/INCLUDE TRUCK AND RAIL |MPORTS FROM CANADA AND DIRECT VESSEL LANDINGS 2/AS REPORTED BY PLANTS IN METROPOLITAN AREA. AT NEW YORK CITY. RECEIPTS AT WHOLESALE MARKET (Fresh and Frozen) CHICAGO CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 91.9 12 1957 - 91.2 COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SEATTLE BOSTON WHOLESALE MARKET RECEIPTS, LANDINGS, & IMPORTS (Fresh and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS 11 mgs. 1958 - 11 12 LEGEND: es 1958 ee 1957 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC FISH OIL (In Millions of Gallons) CUMULATIVE DATA 11 MQS. 1958 - 19.8 110, 1957 - 19.3 12 1957 - 20.2 FISH MEAL In Thousands of Tons) 12." 1957 - 262.5 — to JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 89 CHART 6- CANNED PACKS of SELECTED FISHERY PRODUCTS In Thousands of Standard Cases LEGEND: MACKEREL2! - CALIFORNIA = 1958 Sp pad CUMULATIVE DATA TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH - CALIFORNIA CUMULATIVE DATA 10 mgs. 1958 10, 1957 12 1957 - JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC ANCHOVIES - CALIFORNIA CUMULATIVE DATA 10 mgs. 1958 - 2,989.3 JO |, 1957 - 2)441,9 12 1957 - 2,441.9 CUMULATIVE DATA 10 MQs. 1958 - 10 , 1957 - 12 1957 - JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC STANDARD CASES CUMULATIVE DATA Saray = 4 a eee e ea = ;| Variety No.Cans Designation Net Wgt. SARDINES..... 100 4 drawn 32 oz. SHIROV Peete 48 =o 5 oz. TUNA...... 5 48 #3 tuna 6&7 oz. PILCHARDS... 48 # 1 oval 15 oz. SALMON...... 48 1-lb. tall 16 oz. ANCHOVIES... 48 4-1b, 8 oz. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SARDINES - CALIFORNIA SHRIMP - GULF STATES CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA 1958/59 SEASON, _________] 1958/59 SEASON, AUG. - OCT. - 1,706.3 AUG. -DEC, - 436.8 1957/58 SEASON, 1957/58 SEASON, AUG. - OCT. - 270.3 AUG.-DEC, - 224.0 1957/58 SEASON, 1957/58 SEASON, TOTAL - 497.8 TOTAL - 585.9 _ he ‘AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT _NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY 90 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Woll, Zils IN@, il CHART 7- U.S. FISHERY PRODUCTS IMPORTS In Millions of Pounds GROUNDFISH (including Ocean Perch) FILLETS CUMULATIVE DATA 11 MgS. 1958 - 138.3 1957 - 135.3 1957 - 141.3 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SHRIMP FROM MEXICO (Fresh and Frozen) CUMULATIVE DATA 9 gs. 1958 - 32.0 9 1957 - 30.9 12 1957 - 47.9 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC TUNA Fresh and Frozen 1958 1957 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC U.S. IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH in Oil and in Brine CUMULATIVE DATA 9 MQS. 1958 ipa 19 12 1957 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC FILLETS & STEAKS OTHER THAN GROUNDFISH (Fresh and Frozen) CUMULATIVE DATA JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC LOBSTER AND SPINY LOBSTER Fre7h and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA + 1958 - 37.1 1957 - 40,1 1957 - 50.5 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SEA HERRING, FRESH, THROUGH MAINE PORTS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CANNED SARDINES (in Oil and not in Oil) CUMULATIVE DATA 9 mgs. 1958 on 1957 12 1957 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC January 1959 < COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 91 ¢ FISHERY PUBLICATIONS - FOL) eT a eS FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS THESE PROCESSED PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERV- ICE, WASHINGTON 25, D. C. TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIG- NATED AS FOLLOWS: CFS - CURRENT FISHERY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA. SL - STATISTICAL SECTION LISTS OF DEALERS IN AND PRO- DUCERS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS AND BYPRODUCTS. FL - FISHERY LEAFLET. SEP.- SEPARATES (REPRINTS) FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW. Number Title CFS-1890 - Shrimp Landings, June 1958, 6 pp. CFS-1898 - New Jersey Landings, August 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1900 - Texas Landings, August 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1905 - Frozen Fish Report, September 1958, 8 pp. CFS-1907 - Lake Fisheries, 1957 Annual Summary, 12 pp. CFS~-1909 - New England Fisheries, 1957 Annual Summary, 8 pp. CFS-1910 - Fish Stick Report, July-September 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1911 - Louisiana Landings, April 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1913 - Ohio Landings, September 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1914 - Fish Meal and Oil, September 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1915 - North Carolina Landings, September 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1916 - New Jersey Landings, September 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1917 - Georgia Landings, September 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1919 - Mississippi Landings, August 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1920 - Maine Landings, September 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1921 - Florida Landings, September 1958, 6 pp. CFS-1924 - South Carolina Landings, September 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1926 - Louisiana Landings, May 1958, 2 pp. Wholesale Dealers in Fishery Products (Revised): SL- 3 - Massachusetts, 1958. SL-12 - Virginia, 1957. SL-16 - Florida, 1958. SL-25 - Wisconsin (Great Lakes Area), 1958. FL-160 - Partial List of Fishery Periodicals, 10 pp., Revised October 1958. Sep. No. 531 - Certification and After-Use Meas- urement of Manila Otter-Trawl Cod Ends. Sep. No. 532 - Bottom Trawling Explorations Off Southeastern Alaska, 1956-1957. Sep. No. 533 - Research in Service Laboratories (December 1958): Contains these articles-- ''Technical Note No. 48 - Pacific Ocean Perch - Proximate Composition," and ''Chlorinated Sea Water Helps to Improve Quality of Fish Aboard Fishing Vessels." THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY FROM THE SPECIFIC OFFICE MENT JONED California Fishery Products Monthly Summary, September 1958; , October 1958; 14 pp. each. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Post Office Bldg., San Pedro, Calif.) California cannery receipts of tuna, mackerel, and anchovies, and sardines; market fish receipts at San Pedro, Santa Monica, San Diego, and Eureka areas; California imports; canned fish and frozen shrimp prices; ex-ves- sel prices for cannery fish; American Tuna Boat Association auction sales; for the months indicated. (Chicago) Monthly Summary of Chicago's Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products Receipts and Wholesale Market Prices, October 1958, 12 pp. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 565 W. Washington St., Chicago 6, Ill.) Receipts at Chicago by species and by states and provinces for fresh- and salt-water fish, and shellfish; and wholesale prices for fresh and frozen fishery products; for the month indicated. Gulf Monthly Landings, Production, and Shipments of Fishery Products, September 1958; Es; October 1958; 6 pp. each. (Market News Serv- ice, 609-611 Federal Bldg., New Orleans 12, La.) Gulf States shrimp, oyster, finfish, and blue crab landings; crab meat production; LCL express shipments from New Orleans; whole- sale prices of fish and shellfish on the New Or- leans French Market; and sponge sales; for the months indicated. Monthly Summary of Fishery Products Production in Selected Areas of Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland, October 1958, 4 pp. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 18 So. King St., Hampton, Va.) Fishery land- ings and production for the Virginia areas of Hampton Roads, Lower Northern Neck, and Eastern Shore; the Maryland areas of Crisfield, Cambridge, and Ocean City; and the North Car- olina areas of Atlantic, Beaufort, and More- 92 head City; together with cumulative and com- parative data; for the month indicated. New England Fisheries--Monthly Summary, Sep- tember 1958; , October 1958; 21 pp. each. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10 Commonwealth Pier, Bos- ton 10, Mass.) Reviews the principal New Eng- land fishery ports, and presents food fish land- ings by ports and species; industrial fish land- ings and ex-vessel prices; imports; cold-stor- age stocks of fishery products in New England warehouses; fishery landings and ex-vessel prices for ports in Massachusetts (Boston, Gloucester, New Bedford, Provincetown, and Woods Hole), Maine (Portland and Rockland), Rhode Island (Point Judith), and Connecticut (Stonington); frozen fishery products prices to primary wholesalers at Boston, Gloucester, and New Bedford; and landings and ex-vessel prices for fares landed at the Boston Fish Pier and sold through the New England Fish Ex- change; for the months indicated. (Seattle) Monthly Summary - Fishery Products, October 1958, 6 pp. (Market News Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pier 42 South, Seattle 4, Wash.) Includes landings and local receipts, with ex-vessel and wholesale prices in some instances, as reported by Seattle and Astoria (Ore.) wholesale dealers; also North- west Pacific halibut landings; and Washington shrimp landings; for the month indicated. MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILOLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE OR- GANI ZATION ISSUING THEM. CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING PUBLICA- TIONS THAT FOLLOW SHOULD BE AODRESSED TO THE RESPECTIVE OR- GANIZATION OR PUBLISHER MENTIONED. DATA ON PRICES, IF READ- ILY AVAILABLE, ARE SHOWN. ANCHOVIES: Biometric Comparison of the Anchoveta, CETEN- GRAULIS MYSTICETUS (Gunther), From Ten _ Localities of the Eastern (Tropical Pacific O- cean, by Julio Berdegue A., Inter-American — Tropical Tuna Commission Bulletin, vol. III, no. 1, illus., printed in English and Spanish. In- ter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, La Jolla, Calif., 1958. CEYLON: Administration Report of the Director of Fisher- ies for 1957, 31 pp., printed. Government Pub- lications Bureau, Colombo, Ceylon, August 1958. Progress reports for the year 1957 are presented by the Department of Fisheries. A- mong the subjects covered are: Colombo plan aid; extended technical assistance program of F, A. O.; fishing disputes and regulations; fish- ermen's cooperative societies; loans to individ- ual fishermen; coastal navigation aids; pearl bank survey; fresh-water fisheries; brackish- water fisheries; and biological and technological research, Statistical data are also included on the production of fresh and cured fish, andimports and exports of fishery products and byproducts, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wels Zab, IN@, il COMMON MARKET: "Central America Creates a Common Market," by R. M. Dawson, article, Foreign Trade, vol. 110, no. 10, November 8, 1958, p. 11, printed, single copy 20 Canadian cents. Department of Trade and Commerce, The Queen's Printer, Government Printing Bureau, Ottawa, Canada. After six years of study, Guatemala, El Salva- dor, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Ricahave signed a treaty setting up a Common Market, plus an agreement on industrial integration. The principal features of the treaty are: (1) establishment of a free trade area in the five countries; (2) operation of the treaty for an ini- tial period of ten years; (3) establishment of a Central American Trade Commission; (4) un- dertaking to refrain from according duty-free entry to imports from outside the area of the products selected for free-trade-area treat- ment; (5) refusal of subsidies for export of merchandise included in the free trade agree- ment; and (6) adoption of measures to stimulate establishment or enlargement of regional in- dustries, CONSUMPTION: "Use of Fishery Products by Households in Spring 1955,'' by Harry Sherr, article, The Na- tional Food Situation, NFS-86, October 1958, pp. 19-35, illus., processed. Agricultural Mar- keting Service, U. S. Department of Agricul- ture, Washington 25, D. C. Detailed data on food consumed at home in a week in spring 1955 were collected from 6,060 housekeeping households throughout the nation. This survey yielded more information than has ever been collected before on the consumption of fishery products at home. Findings showed that almost two-thirds of the households used fishery prod- ucts during the week surveyed, but only 23 cents of the average dollar spent for food used at home went for these products; the largest household market for fishery products was in the Northeast, the smallest in the West; and urban households provided a better market than rural, The survey also showed that of the fish- ery products used at home per person, thefresh and frozen group represented almost two-thirds of the total, and the canned a little over athird; canned fish consumption at home per person averaged higher among urban than rural house- holds, and higher among sing]e-person house- holds than those of two or more persons; households in the Northeast and West were the leading consumers of canned tuna; those in the south were the heaviest consumers of canned salmon; and urban households used more can- ned fish per person in a week in spring 1942 than in a similar period in 1948 and 1955. Var- iations in food customs and availability of items, more than variations in income, accounted for differences in ''at home'' consumption of fish- ery products among the four regions and, with- in each region, by urbanization. COOKERY: A Handbook of Handling, Cooking, Serving U. S. Mountain Trout, 8 pp., illus., printed, 10 cents. U.S. Trout Farmers Association, Box 546, Buhl, Idaho. In addition to the many interesting recipes for cooking trout, this booklet has in- formation on the purchasing of fresh or frozen trout, market forms, storage of frozen trout, January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 93 THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION |SSUING THEM. and thawing. It also describes and illustrates methods of boning cooked trout and boning trout before cooking--butterfly style. Lobsters); and ''L'Expedition par Avion des Homards (The Transportation of Lobsters by Air). FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION: La Peche Maritime (Marine Fishery), vol. 37, Procedures for the Testing of Intentional Food no. 967, October 1958, 64 pp., illus., printed in French. Les Editions Maritimes, 190 Boule- Additives to Establish Their Safety for Use. (Second Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee of Food Additives), FAO Nutrition Meeting Series No. 17, 19 pp., printed, 30 U.S. cents. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 1958. (For sale by International Documents Service, Columbia University Press, 2960 Broadway, New York 27, RE) The State of Food and Agriculture, 1958, 232 pp., “illus., printed, US$2.50. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. Fisheries are mentioned in a few places. (For sale by International Documents Service, Colum- bia University Press, 2960 Broadway, New Naordie PATS ING WE) Yearbook of Fishery Statistics--Production, 1957, vol. VII, 311 pp., illus., processed in English, French, and Spanish, US$4.00. Food and Agri- culture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 1958. (Sold in United States by Columbia University Press, International Docu- ments Service, 2960 Broadway, New York 27, N. Y.) The newest edition of the FAO Yearbook contains statistics on catches from all countries, quantities landed by countries and by species; and production of preserved and processed fish- ery commodities. Since this is an interim issue of the FAO Yearbook, the sections on fishing craft have been omitted. However, the Notes section is reprinted unchanged from volume VI even though some of it refers to the omitted sections. FRANCE: La Peche Maritime (The Marine Fishery), vol. 37, no. 966, September 1958, 64 pp., illus., print- ed in French. Les Editions Maritimes, 190 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, France. Contains, among others, the following articles: 'Impor- tance et Caracteristiques de Notre Peche aux Crustaces" (Importance and Characteristics of our Crustacean Fisheries), by L. F. Plouas; ''Le Marche de Thon Tropical d'Origine Francaise - Le Marche Commun et les Pays Importateurs de 1'Europe Occidentale" (The Market for French Tropical Tuna - The Common Market and the Importing Countries of Western Europe), by A. Sahut-Morel; "La Peche des Crustaces aCama- ret'' (The Crustacean Fishery at Camaret), by R. Pennee; ''Douarnenez et la Peche aux Crus- taces'' (Douarnenez and the Crustacean Fish- ery), by R. Bolopion; ''Audierne, Port de la Langouste Rouge" (Audierne, the Red Lobster Port), by J. Couespel du Mesnil; ''L'Industrie Sud-Africaine de la Langouste'' (The South Afri- can Lobster Industry), ''La Protection du Ho- mard au Danemark"' (The Protection of the Dan- ish Lobster); ''Particularites du Traitement Frigorifique des Crustaces" (Details of the Re- frigeration of Crustaceans); ''La Conservation des Homards Vivants (The Preservation of Live vard Haussmann, Paris, France. Contains, a- mong others, the following articles: "Ou Va la Peche du Hareng?"’ (Where is the Herring Fishery Headed?), by Jean Delpierre; "La Peche aux Harengs a Dieppe" (The Herring Fishery at Dieppe), by G. Martin; ''L'Industrie du Hareng a Fecamp en 1958" (The Herring In- dustry at Fecamp in 1958), by J. Ledun; ''Le Marche Mondial du Hareng"' (The World Market for Herring), by Geep; ''La Peche du Hareng aux Pays-Bas'' (The Herring Fishery in the Low Countries), by Dr. H. A. H. Boelsman Kranen- burg; ''La Peche du Hareng au 'Chalut-Boeuf' (The Herring Fishery with the "Ox Trawl"); and "La Congelation a Sec du Hareng en Norvege" (The Dry Freezing of Herring in Norway). GENERAL: Important Fisheries of the Atlantic Coast (A Sup- plement to the Sixteenth Annual Report of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 22 West First St., Mount Vernon, N. Y., Sep- tember 1958. Brief summaries of existing knowledge of the 23 most important migratory fish species and 8 important shellfish are pre- sented. The case for scientific management of fisheries rests on the knowledge that when ani- mal populations are exploited by man they com- pensate for this increased mortality by increas- ing their rates of survival and growth. One of the primary objectives of fishery research is to determine what level of fishing intensity pro- duces an optimum catch, and to devise methods to maintain this equilibrium. Contains brief discussions and graphs on sea herring, sea scallop, silver hake, cod, haddock, ocean perch, pollock, the industrial fishery (mainly redhake), yellowtail flounder, summer flounder, winter flounder, menhaden, common mackerel, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, American shad, croaker, sea trout (weakfish), spot, scup, blue- fish, king whiting, striped bass, mullet, oyster, surf clam, soft clam, hard clam, northern lob- ster, blue crab, and shrimp. HANDLING OF FISH: From Trawler to Trader, 33 pp., illus., printed. Department of Scientific and Industrial Re- search, Charles House, 5-11 Regent Street, London, SW1, England, June 1958. This booklet presents an approach to the simplification of handling methods at fish docks. It considers the landing, selling, and transportation of fish, and shows how complex are the problems of han- dling. Written in simple, nontechnical language, and with many sketches and photos, it should be of great help to members of the fishing industry. ITALY: Food Regulations of Italy, by H. F. Shepston, Op- erations Report WTIS, Part 2, No. 58-65, 8 pp., printed, single copy 10 cents. (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government 94 OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION ISSUING THEM. Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.) Bureau of Foreign Commerce, United States Depart- ment of Commerce, Washington, D. C., Septem- ber 1958. Italian food regulations are arranged in this report under the headings of general and special, the latter dealing both with the special marking and labeling requirements applying to foodstuffs and with the special food regulations the requirements are designed to enforce. Spe- cific regulations on canned fish are included. Under special requirements, the items thatneed special marking and labeling are listed; the mandatory marks or labels are described; the definitions and/or quality specifications re- quired to be met for use of prescribed names are given, together with any other pertinent reg- ulations; and reference is made to the "legal basis,'' taken here to mean either the codified source where the applicable legislation is found or the individual law. JAPAN: Bulletin of the Hokkaido Regional Fisheries Re- search Laboratory, No. 18, August 1958, illus., printed in Japanese with summaries in English. Hokkaido Regional Fisheries Research Labora- tory, Yoichi, Hokkaido, Japan. Contains, among others, the following articles: ''On the Maturity of Pacific Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka, O. keta and O. gorbuscha) in Offshore, with Reference to the Seasonal Variation of Gonad Weight,"' by Teruo Ishida and Kiichi Miyaguchi; "Studies on Fish Silages - I, On the Processing of Acid Silages and Fermented Silages,"' by Tsutomu Uno, Toshio Tokunaga, and Masayoshi Nakamura; "Studies on the Characteristic Qualities of Fish Meat - I. On Kamaboko - (Steamed Fish Cake) Forming Ability,’ by Tsutomu Uno and Masayoshi Nakamura; ''The Studies on Freezing and Re- frigeration of Marine Products--Part I. On Drip in Frozen Muscle of the Alaska Pollock," by Shu Tanaka, Tadashi Kubo, and Yukio Takayama; and "Studies on the Preservation of Marine Prod- ucts - VI. On the Bacteria in Manufacturing Process of Fish Meal. No. 1,'' by MasatokiSasa- jima, Hiroshi Oshima, and Tomoko Ishigaki. LOBSTERS: "La Langosta Blanca de Mauritania'' (The White Spiny Lobster of Mauritania), by Miguel Massuti Oliver, article, Puntal, vol. 5, no. 52, July 1958, pp. 24-25, illus., printed in Spanish, Puntal, A- partado 316, Alicante, Spain. A short resume of the processing of spiny lobster from its capture along the ''Canary Coast" until its sale in Cadiz. It has little popularity in Spain, but is exported to the United States. Maine's ane Lobster, by George H. Taylor and Robert L. Dow, pp., illus., printed. Depart- ment of Sea and Shore Fisheries, Augusta, Me., July 1958. ''This publication," says the Com- missioner of the Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries, ''is intended both to tempt the appetite and to inform the mind." It discusses in detail the past and present lobster industry, conserva- tion problems, methods of capture, and the biol- ogy of the Maine lobster. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol 2s Nog MAINE: List of Publications, July 1, 1957, 5 pp., printed. Dept. of Sea and Shore Fisheries, Augusta, Me. 1957. , MUSSELS: "A Monograph of the Freshwater Mussels (Mol- lusca: Pelecypoda) of the Australian Region," by D. F. McMichael and I. D. Hiscock, article, Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 9, no. 3, September 1958, pp. 372-508, 19 plates, printed US$1.10 single copy. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Re- search Organization, 314 Albert St., East Mel- bourne, C.2, Victoria, Australia. NETTLES: "The Portuguese Man-of-War,'' by Kenneth L. Gosner, article, Nature Magazine, vol. 51, no. 7, August-September 1958, pp. 358-360, illus., printed, single copy 50 cents. American Nature Association, 1214 16th St., N.W., Washington 6, D. C. The Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia) is a member of the same phylum as the jelly- fish and hydra, and isnot one animal but a colony of specialized individuals, including both polyps and medusas. It is conspicuous on the surface of the open sea, chiefly in the tropics, for its gas-filled bag topped by a diagonal pinkish crest. The long tentacles are heavily armed with nem- atocysts, which are harpoon-like in action and carry a virulent poison, enabling them to cap- ture and paralyze their prey, even man, to whom its sting can be lethal. NEW ZEALAND: Report on Fisheries for 1957, 41 pp., illus., printed. Marine Department, Wellington, New Zealand, 1958. Describes with the aid of statis- tical tables the fish landings, by species and port, by quantity and value; exports and imports of fishery products; fish-liver oil production; whaling, 1957 season; oyster fishery; whitebait fishery, 1957 season; fresh-water fisheries and research; and marine research, NORWAY: Norway Exports, Autumn 1958, 64 pp., illus., paintedigitecoat Council of Norway, H. Heyer- dahls Gate 1, Oslo, Norway. This issue provides, among others, several articles on the whaling industry. The first article entitled ''10,000 Miles to Hunt the Biggest of Beasts" tells of Norway's participation in the Antarctic whaling industry and about the problems that face whal- ing today. Whale oil is refined and hardened in- to fat for margarine, and it yields a number of technical products too that are important for a variety of industries. Whale oil processing is the subject of another article. OYSTER CULTURE: Useful Publications for Oyster Farmers of the Maritimes, by J. Caliede f, General Series Circular No. 32, 3 pp., printed. Biological Sta- tion, Fisheries Research Board of Canada, St. Andrews, N.B., Canada, October 1958. A list of publicationswhich are useful to the oyster farmer. January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 95 THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION ISSUING THEM. These documents summarize the history of work by the Department of Fisheries and the Fisher- ies Research Board of Canada since 1929 when they combined efforts to foster what may be call- ed modern oyster culture. PACKAGING: Protective Packaging Problems, by L. V. Burton, Technical Aids on Small Manufacturers No. 62, 8 pp., printed. Small Business Administration, Washington 25, D. C., August 1958. Packaging can be very simply defined as the preparation of goods for shipment and marketing. This leaflet tells the main points to be considered in pack- aging and how to go about dealing with them. PLANKTON: Diurnal Fluctuation in Photosynthetic Rate and Chlorophyll a™ Content of Phytoplankton from Eastern Pacific Waters, by Bell M. Shimada, 4 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from Limnology and Oceanography, vol. 3, no. 3, July 1958, pp. 336-339.) American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Department of Zoology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. SALMON: Salute to the Sockeye (Commemorating the British Columbia Centennial, 1958), 24 pp., illus., print- ed. International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission, New Westminster, B. C., Canada, 1958. Describes the history of the sockeye of the Fraser River; the Salmon Commission; and the races of sockeye, and their identification. One entire chapter deals with the Adams River run and discusses the rebuilding of a destroyed salmon run, the catch, spawning, and develop- ment from egg to smolt. One outstanding fact mentioned is the phenomenal build-up in the catches of Adams River fish, which increased from 2.33 million fish in 1938 to 8 million in 1954. Many excellent black-and-white and color photographs are included. SANITATION: The Principles of Scientific Cleaning for the Fish Industry, by R. Spencer, Food Investigation Leaf- let No. 17, 12 pp., printed, 20 U. S. cents. Brit- ish Information Services, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20, N. Y., 1958. The correct use of detergents and disinfectants, together with the use of mechanical or other aids to cleaning, has come to be known as scientific cleaning. The author recommends three points to follow for effective scientific cleaning: (1) make subse- quent cleaning easy by arranging to have smooth, impervious surfaces which are easily cleaned, such as metal, tile, or plastic; (2) clean the surface with warm water and a suitable deter- gent and rinse with hot water; and (3) disinfect with steam or a chemical disinfectant andrinse again if the latter has been used. He adds that recommendations of the best type of detergent for the various cleaning jobs can only be given after experimental work. TAX GUIDE: Tax Guide For Small Business, 1959 Edition, 128 pp., printed, 35 cents. Internal Revenue Service, Washington, D. C. (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.) Thenew edition of this tax guide (for use in filing the 1958 income tax returns and excise tax returns and other returns for 1959) contains explana- tions and answers to most of the tax problems of the small-business man. This booklet an- swers the Federal tax questions of corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships. It ex- plains in plain layman's language the tax re- sults from buying a business, starting a busi- ness, operating a business, and the sale and other disposition of a business. Some of the many subjects covered are: accounting periods and methods; installment sales; inventories; business expenses; net operating losses; sales of fixed assets; Social Security and withholding taxes; repairs and improvements; depreciation; self-employment taxes; excise taxes; andoth- ers. In addition it contains a tax calendar for 1959 which should prove helpful to all business- men throughout the year, since it indicates what he should do and when he should do it in regard to the various Federal taxes. The book- let also has a check list of special interest to the man just starting in business in that it af- fords a quick method for determining what Federal taxes he may be liable for. TRADE LIST The Office of Economic Affairs, Bureau of For- eign Commerce, U. S. Department of Com- merce, Washington 25, D. C., has published the following mimeographed trade list. Copies may be obtained by firms in the United States from that office or from Department of Com- merce field offices at $2 each. Canneries--Australia, 7 pp., (October 1958). Lists the names of canneries and addresses and types of products handled. Includes fish can- neries registered for export. 96 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW WOM, Zl, IN@s i | MARKET-WISE SHOPPERS SERVE WHITING Market-wise shoppers are discovering that whiting is a reasonably-priced fish that is plentiful. It is caught commercially in the cool waters of the North Atlantic off the New England and Middle Atlantic States. Whiting is aslender, silver-gray fish with a silvery underside. Itis sold whole, drawn, dressed, or as fillets. The sizeof the whole fish ranges anywhere from one- half to four pounds. The meat is mild-flavored and the texture is very tender. Whiting, or any fish, has no tough tissue to be tenderized. When flaked it is good in creamed dishes and salads because of the tenderness of meat and the white color. The home economists ofthe U.S. Bu- reau of Commercial Fisheries recom- mend two recipes using flaked whiting. "Baked Flaked Whiting" and "Whiting Salad." oe WHITING SALAD” ca LeU) ace) Cal ON 3 HARD-COOKED EGGS, CHOPPED 2 CUP CHOPPED CELERY 1 TEASPOON SALT 4 CUP COOKED PEAS 3 CUP MAYONNAISE 2 TABLESPOONS CHOPPED SWEET FICKLE | 2 TABLESPOONS LEMON JUICE 2 TABLESPOONS CHOPPED ONION LETTUCE Combine all ingredients except the lettuce, being careful not to break the fish into small pieces. Serve on lettuce. Serves 6. FLAKED WHITING Skin fillets and place in boiling salted water. Cover Pe arr rdT or eat rs and return to boiling point; simmer for 10 minutes or 1 QUART WATER until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Drain 1 TABLESPOON SALT and flake. Serves 6. This recipe will yield 2 cups flaked whiting that can be used in recipes call- ing for flaked fish. BAKED FLAKED WHITING 2 CUPS FLAKED WHITING = CUP GRATED CHEESE 15 TABLESPOON BUTTER OR OTHER FAT 2 CUPS COOKED RICE 2 TABLESPOONS FLOUR 1 CUP COOKED PEAS 1 + TEASPOON SALT 2 TABLESPOONS BUTTER OR OTHER DASH PEPPER ROU 5 Marulse) CUP DRY BREAD CRUMBS |e 3 14 CUPS MILK Melt butter; blend in flour and seasonings. Add milk gradually and cook until thick and smooth, stirring constantly. Stir in cheese and heat until melted. Combine fish with rice, peas, andcheese sauce. Place mixture in a well-greased casserole. Combine butter and crumbs; sprinkle over mixture. Bakein a mod- | erate oven, 375 F., for 30 minutes or until brown. Serves 6. ere January 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW CONTENTS (CONTINUED) FOREIGN (Contd.): International (Contd.): International Whaling Commission; International Whaling Convention Amendments Enter into Force .....+.++e-- International North Pacific Fisheries ‘Commission: Fifth Annual Meeting Held in Tokyo . Trade Agreements: Icelandic-East German Trade Agreement Includes Pekele amore tere alien tons ie 2 eis Norway - “Russia Three-Year Agreement Includes CREA Mire etl igi at ellelin!|w'e/lisifeit=iinile]ia elie) wis) a) xe sis ee United Nations: Law of the Sea Convention Closed for Signature. . Argentina: New Japanese-Argentine Fishing Firm to Supply Tuna to Canners ....... miaaiisViniaispinisstel se! o.sr'e Australia: Measures Taken to Conserve Spiny Lobster Stocks. pacimMpiindustry, Trends oe 5. aes ee oe else aes Spiny Lobster Industry, Fiscal Years 1956/57- LSU 8 a-ciag ugedbcncnch, (een Gn Cet Rc eee Brazil: Whaling Industry Trends ..... ebolteicentedshatatareyisiete Canada: Fisheries Minister Accepts New Research Vessel . Costa Rica: Commercial Fishing in Gulf of Nicoya Restricted . Cuba: New Cod-Fishing Trawler Renamed ......... . Denmark: Danish Minister Comments on Faroe Islands Fish- RACPRPGL ETAL ste tele telltale ers Reherieteltshierie sve Fishery Trends, Third Quarter ‘1958 By edels) stevate ete Ecuador: Tuna Cannery Operations .........eeeee:s+08 German Federal Republic: Trawler Catches Full Load of Ocean Perch off LED WEG 5 4.5 915.5 5 gloirecs ced. c CROnOMUROnICIeEpEC CRS Greece: Two New Factorship Freezer Trawlers ........ Iceland; Fails to Get United Nations to Adopt International Fishing Limits Regulations ............... Might Accept International Court Jurisdiction in Bibehiaoeetmmite Dispute: vs a eevee) + ie see ee Fall Herring Catch Poor Through October 30, 1958 Freezing Plants Prosperous in 1958 .......... Iran: Fishery Trends, November 1958.... BOE UMD IM Laney COMED BNC! sisi e! ss es 6s fae (ca 0 el Japan; Canned Squid Pack Lower for 1958 Season ...... Exports of Selected Fishery Products to the United States, January-June, 1958 ... 2... ew ewe ene Fishermen's Earnings North Pacific Mothership Salmon Operations ...... Fishery Implications of Chinese 12-Mile Territorial Winters Zone Considered). 2 60.s, 010 © 020s 550 ErOZeMenUMAR ED LCe MNeNGS) isis leis isisiis is (es s)s) sie Plans for Mothership-Type Trawler Fleet Fishing inpNontn acti: cis sie << Seed Oyster Exporters Reach Agreement on Exports Study Effect of End of British Canned Salmon Im- PaSMe GUE OLBI crete tctatabel cy cueiters. * $e 2 FEBRUARY 1959 FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE United States Department of the Interior Vol.21, No.2 W ashington, D.C. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FRED A, SEATON, SECRETARY FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ARNIE J. SUOMELA, COMMISS|ONER COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES DONALD L. MCKERNAN, DIRECTOR DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES HAROLD E. CROWTHER, CHIEF A review of developments and news of the fishery industries prepared in the BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. Joseph Pileggi, Editor H. M. Bearse, Assistant Editor Mailed free to members of the fishery and allied industries. Address correspondence and requests to the: Chief, Branch of Market News, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Department of the Interior, Washington 25, D. C. Publication of material from sources outside the Bureau is not an endorsement. The Bureau is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions contained in material from outside sources. Although the contents of the publication have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely, reference to the source is appreciated. The printing of this publication has been approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, May 21, 1957. 5/31/60 COVER: Brailing bluefin tuna aboard the M/V Silver Mink form the pursed seine net. Vesselin background is merely observing the brail- ing operation. Page New England Commercial Bluefin Tuna Purse Seining - 1958 Season, by James L, Squire, Jr. ...........2.0 52 00e 1 Salt Content of Eviscerated Haddock Frozen in Sodium-Chloride Brine, by John A. Peters .............00-22000ee 6 Page Page RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES; ......... 10 TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS (Contd.): Technical Note No. 50 - Effects of Temperature and North Atlantic Fisheries Investigations: Salinity on Ciliary Activity in the Oyster Crassostrea Bottom Fish Samples Collected and Haddock Tagged vir ca, by Milton Fingerman 10 (M/V Albatross Ill Cruise 122) ........../... 26 TREN BS AND DEVELOPMENTS: 12 ‘Orefon nnn California: Albacore Tuna Fishing Season for 1958 ......... 26 Aerial Census of Commercial and Sport Fishing Con- Oysters: tinued (Airplane Spotting Flights 58-19 and 58-20)... 12 Spawning and Setting in Long Island Sound, Summer Dungeness-Crab Distribution and Abundance Studies IERES sigisrlniccs bos oon OOd momonoodaagonas 27 Continued (M/V N. B. Scofield Cruise 58S7-Crab) . . 13 Best Seasons for Cropping in Chesapeake Bay 29 Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna Tagging Studies Con- Studies on Handling and Processing Begun ....... 29 tinued (M/V Valiant Cruise 58C3-Tuna) ........ 13 Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations: Canned Fish Consumer Purchases Report ........- 14 Five Tagged Skipjack Recaptured in November 1958. 30 Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products, January-Octo- Tilapia Rearing Experiments Continued ........ 30 lve ERE) ocacio proc cd) bes. oo.0 bn 056 amo did @.o/oKU 15 Salmon: Clams: Progress Report on Columbia River Salmon Research 30 Selective Breeding Increases Growth Rate ....... 15 United States and Alaska Canned Pack, 1958...... 31 Young Reared’in\Concrete' Tanks! 220 2... se els 15 South Carolina: Crabs: Fisheries Biological Research Progress, October- Chesapeake Bay Abundance Predicted for 1958/59 December 1958) huey leloncmeney eel aetketoieaet i Mem meee 32 WINteR asi smelanatelel-Uetekcnotelenen-A-me i benee-fehenchanok- eet 15 Standards: Federal Purchases of Fishery Products: Quality Standards For More Fishery Products 32 Department of Defense Purchases, January -November Transportation: ICEL oe oo acco oo Go ecu 6 66.00 0-0010 0.0 0100 OD 16 Railway Express Agency Requests Another Increase Fisheries Loan Fund: indRates ie fi verevemnelek-lansi-ieNcash-leliot eit latet Rolle 34 Loans Through December 31,1958 ............ 17 Tuna; Rish-Cookery, Demonstrations) V2 jens cite) eretersnene nese eran 18 Ocean Weather Stations May Aid Fishermen Locate Fishery Landings at Boston Down Again in 1958, by SCHOOLS Hey oue jeslesya\ faites cifevevieelce) ols eilolefi=teieeite stile m= EDs 34 DJ Ohn td pOUBrenwyecei ache Maliel ile ieee ceniedeusmebekteltemolt ei altsets 18 United States Fishery Landings, January -November Great Lakes Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research: VOB Sire ekeeycll-Wenels oh altejcololiolvelicttadout- inert mo Ntcir cic i-t-ite lee etnalts 34 Experimental Smelt Fishing with Lampara Seines United States Fishing Fleet Additions ........... 36 Continued (M/V Thelma H. Cruise 2) .......... 20 U.S. Foreign Trade: Great Lakes Fishery Investigations: Edible Fishery Products, September 1958 ....... 36 Western Lake Superior Herring and White Fish Spawn- Groundfish Fillet Imports, November 1958 ...... 37 ing Survey (M/V Siscowet Cruise 7A and 8) ...... 21 Imports of Canned Tuna in Brine Under Quota 37 Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program: Water Resources: Distribution and Availability Studies of Bottom Fish in New National Map Shows Army, Interior, TVA Gulf of Mexico Continued (M/V Silver Bay Cruise 12) 22 IFC ngooo Onn OiiGga pon odd tnoowononS 38 Underwater Television Observations of Red Snapper Wholesale Prices, December 1958 38 Reactions to Fish Traps (M/V Oregon Cruise 54) .. 23 ROP Seo Moro GOO Ao OOOO GGG 0.00000 40 Maine Sardines: International; Fishery Featured in Comic Strip .............- 23 European Common Market: Included on Girl Scout National Roundup Menu ..... 24 Lowers (Customs Duties! 2.0 5 0 0. eee ele iee 40 Pack for 1958 Under Two Million Cases ......... 24 Fisheries Agreements: North Atlantic Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research: Italian-Yugoslav Fisheries Agreement Revised... 40 Deep-Water Lobster Abundance Resurveyed and Her- Food and Agriculture Organization: ring Eggs and Larvae Collected off New England Atomic Energy Expected to Aid World Fisheries Coast (M/V Delaware Cruise 58-7) ........... 25 Developmentauyamicnsheacrenelner i ksned ielen aedteenede 41 Tuna Fishing Explorations in North Atlantic Continued Sponsors First World Scientific Meeting on IM/WiDelawareiCrulsels 9-L)M repens ocetelepenedelon sie: 25 REGIS Gocoodccubbodgtondodoo pesos 41 Contents Continued Page 99. i sss = S_ February 1959 Washington 25, D.C. Vol.21, No.2 NEW ENGLAND COMMERCIAL BLUEFIN TUNA PURSE SEINING - 1958 SEASON By James L. Squire, Jr.* INTRODUCTION The most successful commercial-scale fishing of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) by the purse-seine method in the New England area in recent years was done by the converted commercial trawler Silver Mink during the short 1958 tuna season. A to- tal of 179.5 tons of bluefin tuna was landed by the Silver Mink between July 24 and October 4. This is the largest bluefin tuna catch on record for any vessel fishing in the New England area dur- ing any one season. Bluefin tuna are known to appear in commercial concen- trations off the New England Coast from July through Septem- ber and recent studies by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries exploratory fishing vessel Delaware re- vealed that bluefin tuna are abundant in the oce- anic areas south of New England in the spring season. Although no ex- Fi ipedvat Fig. 1 - Strapping the purse seine aboard the M/V Silver Mink, This vessel is probably tensive organized ef- one of the first of its type to be converted from a standard shrimp trawler design to a fort has been made for ___tuma seiner. many years to exploit this New England coastal resource, it has been subject to lo- cal fishing by small boats and traps. Previous fishing by purse seine, on a basis approaching commercial production, was from Gloucester, Mass., during the sum- mers of 1938, 1939, and 1940 (table 1). The Western Explorer, a Pacific Coast-type purse seiner was equipped with Pacific-type seine equipment. The Santa Maria, standard mackerel seiner-dragger, * Chief, North Atlantic Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research, Branch of Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research, Di- vision of Industrial Research and Services, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, East Boaton, Mass. 2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 2 was equipped with an alternate seine used for tuna. In addition, other vessels have fished tuna during the past 20 years, but only on a limited production scale. Approx- imately three additional seiners operated from Gloucester for tuna during 1937 to 1941. In 1951, the West- ern Explorer and in 1953 the Western Pride went tuna purse-Sseining in the New England area, either sponsored by or in cooperation with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Table 1 - Summary of Previous Commercial Purse-Seine Fishing for Bluefin Tuna in New England Coastal Waters Motor Vessel Fishing Period|Catch Totals Short Tons 7/29 to 8/23 7/10 to 8/18 7/19 to 9/21 7/9 to 8/22 Santa Maria Santa Maria Santa Maria Western Explorer DESCRIPTION OF VESSEL AND GEAR USED The Silver Mink, of standard shrimp trawler design (61.8 feet in length with a beam of 18.7 feet and a draft of 7.9feet),was built in St. Augustine, Fla., in 1954. The vessel was probably one of the first of its type to be converted to tuna purse- seining. The vessel normally operates in the trawl fishery for industrial fish out of Provincetown, Mass. During the 1958 tuna purse-seining op- erations, the crew consisted of 8 men, of which 2 were experi- enced West Coast tuna-seiner captains. The principle modifi- cations of the vessel were sim- ple and consisted of removal of the aft gallows and the installa- tion of an extended boom for strapping the net aboard. A purse-seine turntable was not installed, and the existing double- drum trawl winch was used as a purse winch during net-pursing operations. The tuna purse seine was modified from standard Pacific Coast measurements to a net 310 fathoms long by 25 fathoms deep (4 strips). The body of the net was constructed of linen and cot- ton webbing, 44-inch stretched mesh (No. 36 cotton and 40/16 linen) 100 meshes per strip. The cork-line strip was 8 meshes deep (No. 60 cotton) and the lead- line strip was 50 meshes deep, 8- inch stretched mesh (No. 65/12 linen). A large flat bottom seine skiff, 26 feet by 15 feet, power- ed by a 106-horsepower gasoline engine, was used in the seining Fig. 2 - Stacking the combination cotton-linen tuna purse seine furn- i ished by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries on the afterdeck operations. : in preparation for re-setting. Both the purse seine and seine skiff were loaned to the Silver Mink for this co- operative commercial tuna-seining project by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3 FISHING RESULTS Tuna production fishing began on August 17, 1958. The vessel had conducted three weeks of intermittent scouting prior to this time and had made two sets yielding ee ee Fig. 3 - Ten tons of bluefin tuna thrashing in the bag. A total of 179.5 tons of bluefin tuna was landed by the Silver Mink during the short 1958 New England tuna season. 25 tons of large bluefin ranging in size from 200 to 400 pounds each. Fishing continued through October 4, 1958, at which time the Silver Mink was reconverted for otter-trawl- ing for the winter season. Fig. 4 - Brailer full of tuna is scooped from the pursed seine in waters off Cape Cod. A portion of the catch being scooped from the bag for stor- age aboard the seine vessel. The size range for most tuna taken was 60-80 pounds per fish. The vessel did not carry refrigeration or ice, and the majority of trips were on a daily basis, operating from the vessel's home port, Provincetown, Mass. Summary of Fishing Log Records of M/V Silver Mink [Period of Operation - July 24 to October 4, 1958. Area of Operation - Fishing was conducted in the im- mediate area of Cape Cod. In Cape Cod Bay, catches were made off Com Hill, RydersBeach, Long Point, Wood End Light, Barnstable, and Cape Cod Canal. In Massachusetts Bay, catches were made on Stellwagen Bank (Middle Bank) and the shoal ground off Cape Ann, Production: July 24 to August 17, 1958 - 2.5 tons August 17 to October 4, 1958-177.0 tons Total 179.5 tons Catch (177.0) 2 Number of Sets (38) Catch rate (4.66 tons/set) Courtesy Captain Manuel Phillips, M/V Silver Mink. mately one month later than normal. SUMMARY It was estimated that unsuccessful sets were made on approximately 162 tons of tuna during the entire period for one or more of the following reasons: fish under bottom of net, seine line hang- up, net ripped in mud, fish wild, ripped bag due to load, snarled seine while set- ting. A number of factors must be taken into consideration when attempting to evaluate the future prospects of this type of fishing in the New England area. Dur- ing the 1958 season, schooling bluefin tuna appeared late in August--approxi- This tendency for a later season was the char- acteristic pattern of other surface-schooling species of fishin the New England area. Fishermen familiar with the area reported that the abundance of schooling tuna was below that normally expected. The size of most tuna caught during the 1958 season ranged from about 60 to 80 pounds per fish. Records indicate that adverse weather 4 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21; No. 2 conditions (wind, storm fronts, etc.) in New England were more numerous than usu- al, and this reduced the periods when purse-seining could bedone successfully. Man- controlled factors which tended to reduce operating efficiency were (1) the aged con- dition of the net, which required excessive periods of repair, and (2) a crew most of whom were inexperienced in purse-seine fishing for bluefin tuna. Industry estimates indicate that the 1958 tuna season could have yielded at least 250 tons with adequate gear, training, and assistance by aerial spotting. Fig. 5 - Unloading at Provincetown, Mass., after a day's fishing. Tuna were landed on a daily basis, weather permitting. Fishing in New England during 1958 again indicated that commercial tuna production can be obtained during the summer by purse-seining. The extent of the commercial bluefin tuna resource, both inshore and offshore, available to the New England fishing industry is yet to be thoroughly evaluated. However, a fishery contributing substantially to the New England area can be developed with the proper fishing methods. This has been demonstrated in previous years by other vessels and is again emphasized by the record production of the Sil- ver Mink. REFERENCES ANDERSON, A. W. and STOLTING, W.H. and ASSOCIATES | BIGELOW, HENRY B, and W. C, SCHROEDER 1953. Survey of the Domestic Tuna Industry, U. S. 1953, Fishes of the Gulf of Maine, U. S. Fish and Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Wildlife Service Fishery Bulletin 74, pp. 338- Report: Fisheries No. 104 (July). 347. February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 5 REFERENCES (CONTD.) MURRAY, J. J. 1952. Report on 1951 Exploratory Bluefin-Tuna Fishing 1954. Gulf of Maine Bluefin Tuna Exploration - 1953. in the Gulf of Maine. Commercial Fisheries Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 16, no. 7 Review, vol. 14, no. 3 (March). Also Sepa- (July). Also Separate 374, tate 309. WESTMAN, J. R. and NEVILL, W. C. 1942, The Tuna Fishery of Long Island, New York. 1953, Gulf of Maine Bluefin Tuna Exploration - 1952. Pp. 1-31,Board of Supervisors, Nassau County, Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 15, no. 7 Long Island, New York (May). (July). Also Separate 353. PACIFIC COAST TUNA CLIPPER TUNA CLIPPER FENGTH UN FEET. © 6 2 «© « 68 TO 150 BEAM IN| FEET . « « « « © « 20 TO 32 DRART SINGCREET We «3 « « * 8.6 TO 15.4 NET TONNAGE . 2. © «© « «@ @ 60 TO 300 CONSTRUCTION). « « 2 0 2 STEEL OR WOOD ENGINES @ OILYPE® jet\e) elle, ot te DIESEL HORSEPOWER .. . 250 TO 1200 TYPE OF REFRIGERATION .. MECHANICAL OR BRINE TANKS CRUISING SPEED ....« « 10 TO 12 KNOTS AVERAGE CREW Sue meiaial tie) ce 9 TO 21 LENGTH OF TRIP Arach -aeG 35 TO 85 DAYS CONVERTIBILITY TO OTHER TYPES OF GEAR NONE 6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 SALT CONTENT OF EVISCERATED HADDOCK FROZEN IN SODIUM-CHLORIDE BRINE By John A. Peters* ABSTRACT Studies are reported on the salt content of the meat of eviscerated haddock frozen in a 23-percent sodium -chloride brine at temperatures of 5° F., 10° F., and 15° F, The re- sults show that the commercial (quarter-nape) fillet from eviscerated haddock frozen at these temperatures contained from 0.57 to 0.70 percent salt. After the haddock had been thawed in water, the salt content of the commercial fillets obtained from the fish varied from 0.20 to 0.36 percent. INTRODUCTION Members of the New England fishing industry have expressed interest in the possibility of freezing eviscerated haddock in sodium-chloride brine. The advan- tages over the freezing of round 45 haddock would be reduced freez- ing costs aboard the vessel, in- creased quantity of edible fish that can be landed, and reduced handling and storage costs ashore. Penetration of salt into the meat during brine-freezing, however, might be excessive, owing to the increased surface of fish that is exposed to the brine. Information on the penetration of salt into the meat of eviscerated haddock therefore must be obtained be- fore this method of freezing can be recommended. Recorded Temperatures of Haddock Haddock F.) 25 Studies at this Laboratory on freezing fish at sea have been concerned primarily with round fish. Holston and Pottinger (1954a and 1954b) found that when eviscerated scrod haddock were immersed ina5d F. brine (23- percent sodium chloride) for 90 minutes, the salt content of the full-nape and quarter-nape fillets was 1.15 percent and 0.72 percent, respectively. Very little infor- mation is available, however, on the salt content of large eviscer- ated haddock frozen in brine at SD 50 D0 Bates eettees dees eee 5 ea or on the leaching of salt from the TIME (MINUTES) meat during the thawing of the fish Fig. 1 -Freezing curves of eviscerated haddock in brine at various in water prior to their filleting. temperatures. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the influence of various SEceZing LempenaEises on the sodium-chloride content of the edible meat of eviscerated emist, Fishery Technological Laboratory, Division of Industrial Research and Services, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, East Boston, Mass. bo oO p= o -4--4-—- 4--A TEMPERATURE (9 Re io) . Aa a SOO ~x=-xK- ~S aso feos February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 7 haddock frozen in a 23-percent sodium-chloride brine and (2) to determine the ef- fect of water thawing on the sodium-chloride content of the edible meat of eviscer- ated haddock frozen in a 23-percent sodium-chloride brine. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES EQUIPMENT: The freezerused in these tests consists of a galva- nized steel tank with a capacity of a- bout 100 gallons of brine. The tank is insulated with cork and covered on the outside with tongue-and- groove fir sheathing. The evapo- rator is made up of copper coils and is separated from the prod- uct-freezing section by a wooden baffle. The brine is circulated around the product and coils bya propeller-type mixer. A rec- tangular basket made of hot-dip- ped galvanized expanded metalis used to hold the fish during freezing. FREEZING THE FISH: The haddock used in this study were obtained from local line trawl- Il. Location on fillet. (Dashed line shows nape section which is ers. The fish were eviscerated, not included in commercial quarter-nape fillets.) washed, and heavily iced im- Fig. 2 - Location of core samples taken from brine -frozen mediately after being landed on eviscerated haddock. the vessel. The iced fish were transferred to the Laboratory within 24 hours of being caught; at the Laboratory, they were re-iced and stored in a chill room at 35 F. All of the fish used were not more than 48 hours out of the water and were of excellent quality. Three 50-pound lots of fish (10 to 12 fish with an average weight of 4 to 5 pounds) were used in the study. Copper constantan thermocouples were inserted into the meat, just back of the gut cavity, of six fish in each lot, and two thermo- couples were put in the brine. One lot was droze in brine at 5 F., another in brine at 10° F., and the third in brine at 15° F.t During freezing, the temperature of the fish and the brine were recorded by means of a multipoint recording potentio- meter (fig. 1). All of the samples were left in the brine for 180 minutes. This freezing time was selected as being sufficient to insure complete freezing of this size of haddock at the various temperatures used and to fit best into commercial trawling operations. SAMPLING THE HADDOCK FOR SALT DETERMINATION: Samples for de- terminations of salt were taken from the frozen eviscerated haddock and from full nape fillets cut from water-thawed haddock. One half of the haddock frozen at5° IN 10° F., or 15° F. were sampled at the locations shown in figure 2-I, while the had- dock were still frozen. These samples were taken by means of a rotary core sam- pler (fig. 3) developed at the Bureau's Seattle Laboratory (McKee 1957). The re- maining fish were thawed in running water at 60° F. for 200 minutes.2/ The thaw- ed fish were filleted, using a full-nape cut. The fillets were sampled by means of a cork borer of the same inside diameter as the rotary sampler. The location of the samples was the same as for the frozen fish (fig. 2-II). All core samples were wrapped tightly in aluminum foil and stored at -20° F, until analyzed for salt. 1/ This range of temperatures includes those that may be encountered in commercial operations. 2/ It has been found previously (Magnusson and Hartshorne 1952) that at this time and temperature, 5-pound haddock will be sufficiently thawed to permit filleting. 8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 SALT DETERMINATION: The skin was removed from all cores. The cores were cut to a length of 3-inch (except for E and F from the nape section), giving samples each of which weighed ap- proximately 2 grams, 3/ Cores E and F from the nape section were approximately $-inch long after the lining of the visceral cavity were removed. Each of these cores weighed aboutl gram. De- terminations of salt were made on the samples (fig. 4), using the mod- ified Volhard method of the Associ- ation of Official Agricultural Chemists (1955). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 1 shows the average percentage of salt in the core sam- ples from the brine-frozen eviscer- ated haddock and from the fillets prepared from water-thawed brine- Fig. 3 - Sampling frozen haddock with rotary core sampler. frozen eviscerated haddock. Data obtained at this Laboratoryshow that the taste threshold for salt in had- dock is between 0.5 and 0.6 percent and that a salt content of 0.9 to 1.2 percent is the optimum for palatability (Holston and Pottinger 1955). Table 1 - Average Percentage of Salt in Brine-Frozen Eviscerated Haddock 4/ Salt Content of Fish Sampled While Still Frozen} Salt Content of Fillets From Fish Thawed in Water for 200 AfterHaving Been Frozen at a Brine Temperature | Minutes AfterHaving Been Frozen ata Brine Temperature of | : '1/ Previous tests (Holston and Pottinger 1955) showed that the salt content of haddock should not exceed 1.2 percent for maximum acceptability, and that the natural salt content of haddock meat is between 0. 14 and 0.20 percent, 2/ See figure 2 for location of core sections. 3/ These cores were located in the nape section, which is discarded in commercial practice. The results of the salt determinations on the samples from the frozen e- viscerated haddock show that the cores from the nape section contained salt in amounts well above the optimum level. The salt content of the meat used in producing the usual quarter-nape fillet was at or only slightly above the thres- hold level of taste. The results of the salt determinations on the core samples taken from full-nape fillets cut from water-thawed fish show that the nape section contain- ed salt in amounts at or above the threshold level of taste. This is because both surfaces of the thin nape section are exposed to the brine during freezing. The salt in the quarter-nape fillet from these fish had been reduced to well below 3/ Previous tests by Holston and Pottinger (1954a) showed that very little salt penetrated beyond Finch into the meat, February 1959 the taste threshold level of 0.5 to 0.6 percent, however, by the thawing process. Also, the tem- perature of the brine in which the fish were frozen had an in- fluence on the amount of salt remaining in the fillets after they were thawed in water; with the use of the higher brine tem- perature, larger amounts of salt were left in the fillets. CONCLUSIONS (1) The meat representa- tive of the usual commercial quarter-nape fillet from evis- cerated haddock frozen _in brine at 5° F,, 10° F., or 15° F. and sampled while still frozen did not contain salt in excess of | a 4 Rick oY Fig. 4 - Determining salt in eviscerated brine frozen haddock. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 9 the optimum amount for palatability, but did contain salt in excess of the taste threshold level. (2) The quarter-nape fillet from haddock thawed in water contained salt in amounts below the taste threshold level for salt in haddock. The amount of salt left in the meat after thawing in water increased as the temperature ofthe freezing medium increased. LITERATURE CITED ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIAL AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTS 1955. Official Methods of Analysis. Eighth Edition, Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, Box 540, Benjamin Franklin Station, Washing- forme Ceaipe side HOLSTON, J., and POTTINGER, S. R. 1954a, Freezing Fish at Sea - New England. Part 8 - Some Factors Affecting the Salt (Sodium Chlo- tide) Content of Haddock During Brine -Freezing and Water-Thawing. Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 16, no. 8 (August), pp. 1-11. (Also Sep. No. 375.) 1954b. Some Factors Affecting the Sodium Chloride Content of Haddock During Brine Freezing and Water-Thawing. Food Technology, vol. 7, no. 9 (September), pp. 409-414. 1955. Brine Dipping of Haddock Fillets, Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 17, no. 10 (October), pp- 21-30. (Also Sep. No. 417.) MAGNUSSON, H. W., and HARTSHORNE, J. C. 1952. Freezing Fish at Sea - New England. Part 5 - Freezing and Thawing, Studies and Suggestions for Commercial Equipment. Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 14, no. 12a--Supple- ment (December), pp. 8-23. (Also Sep. No. 328.) McKEE, LYNN G. 1957, Frozen Tuna Sampler. Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 19, no. 7 (July), p. 7. (Also Sep. No. 482.) at SEAN oe new types of bacteria appear. SKIN FLORA OF COD CHANGES AFTER WASHING AND ICING Washing with running sea water decreases the count of bacteria in the skin of freshly-fished cod to a large extent, without changing the percentages of the various genera. After icing, on the other hand, bacterial counts increase and There has therefore been further contamination from the ice. ("'Changes in the Skin Flora of Cod After Washing and Icing," by D.L.Georgala, J. Appl. Bacteriol., Great Britain, 1957, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 23-29.) 10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 2 IN SERVICE LABORATORIES ZZ TECHNICAL NOTE NO. 50 - EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY ON CILIARY ACTIVITY IN THE OYSTER CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA |! By Milton Fingerman* iW Since cilia are an integral part of many organ systems in the oyster--repro- ductive, excretory, and digestive, for example--the rate of ciliary activity may re- veal the over-all condition of the oyster. Two principal variables affecting the oyster are tempera- ture and salinity. In the present work, the effect of these two vari- ables on ciliary activity therefore was studied. 0.55 - mm./sec. 0.45 - 0.35 - The method used was simple: determination of the time required for cilia on a gill to move a small CILIARY ACTIVITY INDEX {o) to a | carbon particle a measured dis- oY tance, 0.15 EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE: Since oysters are cold-blooded, eae a L ! ! their metabolic activity undoubted- 3 8 13 18 23 TEMPERATURE °C ly increases with temperature. In Fig. 1 - Effect of water temperature on the ciliary activity of oysters. the first series of experiments, the a 3 rate of ciliary activity was determined at intervals of 5° C. (41° F.) over the range 3° C. to 38° C. (37.4° F.-100.4° F.) with oysters from which one shell had been re- moved. The results are shown in figure 1, where each point represents the aver- age of 50 to 60 determinations. As is evident from the figure, ciliary acti ity in- creased appreciably with temperature. At the highest temperature studied, the rate appeared to be leveling off, as is characteristic of such processes. Presumably, the rate would have decreased with further increase in temperature, owing to in- activation of the cilia by heat. EFFECT OF SALINITY: The aim in the second series of experiments was to determine the influence of different salinities of water upon ciliary activity. Oys- ters were distributed among six aquaria, each containing water with a different con- centration of salt. A portion of one shell had been removed from each oyster so that the meat would be exposed directly to the water. After two hours of exposure, the rate of ciliary activity of the oysters in each aquarium was determined. The re- sults are presented in figure 2, where each point represents the mean of 33 to 60 ‘1/ This investigation was conducted under a contract between Tulane University and the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. It was financed by funds made available under the provisions of P. L. 466, 83rd Congress, approved July 1, 1954, commonly called the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act. ** Department of Zoology, Newcomb College, Tulane University, New Orleans 18, La. February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW iat — | determinations. Ciliary activity was maximal inoysters taken from the aquarium that contained an in- 032 | termediate, brackish concentra- tion of salt. This salinity was similar to that in which the oysters 028 had been maintained in the holding tanks and which corresponds close- ly to that of their natural environ- 0.24 ment. 0.36 mm./sec. INDEX | The final series of experi- eal ments revealed that the ciliary xe activity of oysters taken from als \ brackish water and placed in sea \ water or in distilled water de- x | creased after an exposure of only 012 \ 7.5 minutes, which shows that cil- XN | iary activity decreases rather \o || rapidly with any change from the optimal salinity. CILIARY ACTIVITY 0.08 non 1 1 = ati 1 2] )) 020 050 080 110 140 170 200 230| L ____FREEZING-POINT DEPRESSION °C _ CONCLUSION: Both temper- Fig. 2 - Effect of water salinity on the ciliary activity of oysters. ature and salinity profoundly af- fect ciliary activity in the oyster Crassostrea virginica and thus presumably affect profoundly the over-all condi- tion of the oyster. FISH HAVE FLEAS TOO Like dogs and other mammals, fishes have their fleas, ticks, and other irri- tating pests. Scientific study of these parasites has many useful applications for the fisheries. A fascinating recent development has been the discovery that some parasites can be used as living tags to trace fish movements. This technique is being em- ployed to determine how many salmonborn in Alaskan, Canadian, and Russian wa- ters are caught in the Japanese high-seas fishery. The knowledge is being used to allocate fishing areas in the North Pacific. Dermocystidium, a fungus parasite of oysters, causes many oyster deaths in Chesapeake Bay, and another fungus kills large numbers of herring in New Eng- land waters. Another parasite caused the disease that almost wiped out beds of eel grass along the Atlantic coast some years ago. Countless other parasites live on the skin or inside the bodies of all marine animals and plants. (News release Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, Gloucester Point, Va., December 1, 1958.) 12 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 > 2 ~ = > sf es | RENDS Se = AND dat DEVELOPMENTS & California a CENSUS oH COV NCE AND SPORT FISHING CONTINUED: Air- ican ata was surveyed fron the air (November 7, 1958) by the California Depart- ment of Fish and Game Cessna ''170"' 1359D to determine the distribution and abun- dance of pelagic fish schools. Although only a few well-defined schools were seen and positively identified, other signs indicated the presence of a large concentration of fish in the area sur- veyed. A great number of birds were in evidence from Los Angeles Harbor to the Coronado Strand; many were actively ''working" and feeding; and many more were observed on the water. One school of porpoise (with birds) was observed off Ocean- side and fast moving ''breezing"' schools of fish were seen. These ''breezing" schools were numerous, but due to poor light conditions and erratic behavior of the schools, species identification was difficult. Airplane Spotting Fli a 58-20: The inshore area between Monterey and the Russian River was surveyed from the air (November 9-11, 1958) bythe Department's —_—_-- Cessna "180" 3632C to determine the number SD Seve | and locations of sport fishermen, abalone ee aa | pickers, Pismo clam diggers, and pelagic fish aap | schools. group SPORT FISHERMEN: Heavy surf during this three-day period apparently discouraged surf casters as the numbers tallied dropped sharply since the previous flight early in No- vember. The Sunday tally of shore fishermen was about five times as great as that on the following Monday. This ratio of about five to one between week-end days and week days has persisted throughout the surveys. ABALONE AND PISMO CLAM: Counts of abalone pickers and ocean clam diggers were made on each day of the flight. Due to the lateness of the tides it was not possible The greatest activity during the three-day low- tide period occurred on November 11 during a -1.4 low. PELAGIC FISH: Very few schools were seen on this flight. Two factors may have been responsible: pelagic fish usually remain deep and out of vision during periods of heavy seas, and in past years pelagic fish schools have been noted to leave the inshore area during this time of the year. Sev- eral dozen anchovy schools were spotted in Monterey Bay and off Bolinas Bay. He OK ok OK OK Airplane Spotting Flight 58-20 (November 9-20,1958). to survey the area to the north of Pt. Montara. cl February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 13 DUNGENESS-CRAB DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE STUDIES CONTINUED (M/V N. B. Scofield Cruise 58S7-Crab): To conduct exploratory fishing activities in an effort to determine distribution and rel- ative abundance of dungeness crabs (Cancer magister) in areas not normally exploited by the commercial fleet was the principal objective of the October 3-29, 1958, cruise ro) of the N. B. Scofield, research vessel ofthe California Department of Fish and Game. Other objectives were (1) to tag legal crabs for migration, growth, and population stud- ies; (2) to conduct crab fishing operations on traditional grounds to determine the pre- season distribution, abundance, composition, and condition of crabs on the grounds; and (3) to collect biological and environmental data pertinent to the distribution, abundance, and availability of the dungeness crab. The California coastal waters were surveyed from Point Arguello to the vicinity of Point Arena. Fort Ross - COMMERCIAL PRO- DUCTIVE CRAB- FISHING AREAS. ~ EXPLORATORY FISHING AREAS. _ NUMBER OF TAGGED CRABS RELEASED. San Francisco Monterey Exploratory Fishing: Exploratory tows were made with otter-trawl gear at 7 loca- tions in the area from Piedras Blancas to Point Arguello. Crabs were taken in 3tows. Catches ranged from 0 to 3 legal crabs per 30-minute tow. A legal crab is a male 7 inches in greatest width. Towing depths ranged from 24 to 67 fathoms. Exploratory trap sets at 8 stations from San Simeon to # Pt. Arguello resulted in catches of 0.1 to Pt. Sal 1.0 legal crabs per trap. Trap sets were / made in depths ranging from 13 to 22 fath- | | oms. Commercial concentrations of crabs _ N_B. Scofield Cruise (58S7-Crab) October 3-29, 1958. were not located by exploratory fishing in these areas where commercial fishing does not normally occur. Piedras Blancas Morro Bay Avila Pt. Arguello Crab Tagging: A total of 1,140 crabs was tagged and released. Distribution, Abundance, Composition and Condition of Crabs on the Traditional Fishing Grounds: Otter trawl tows of 30 minutes duration were made at 20 stations in commercially-productive areas. Legal crabs were caught at 13 of these 20 trawl stations. Rie 8 Re Soe ek oe ok veyed by biologists of the California Department of Fish and Game who accompanied the M/V Valiant from San Diego on August 21-November 25, 1958. During the cruise 283 yellowfin and 1,360 skipjack were taggedandreleased. The objectives were: (1) to study, by tagging techniques, the migrations, rates of growth, and other salient fea- tures of the eastern Pacific yellowfin tuna and skipjack populations; (2) make routine oceanographic observations that may be related to the occurrence of tuna; (3) obtain biological and other information concerning tuna schooling habits by sampling the size and species composition of individual schools; and (4) to collect and identify marine Organisms associated with the tuna. 14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW UNITED STATES: TAGGING AREAS >. GALAPAGOS 77 \scanos - [1 100 Se |} 10° [900 Tuna-tagging cruise (58C3-Tuna), August 21-November 25, 1958. sampled for size composition. Vol. 21, No. 2 Five skipjack and 1 yellow- fin tuna tagged on this cruise were recovered before the trip was completed. Two of the skipjack, tagged in the Gulf of Guayaquil were recovered at the same lo- cality 10 minutes and 16 days, respectively, after tagging. The other 4 recovered ''tunas"' were tagged and recaptured at the 14- Fathom Bank, Peru, within 3 to 5 days of the time they were re- leased. Oceanographic observations were logged daily. Sea surface temperatures on the fishing grounds rangedfrom 63.6 to 75.9 F. Ten ''tuna'' schools (7 skip- jack and 3 yellowfin tuna) were Length-frequency samples indicated that individuals within a school are fairly uniform in size. Observations, however, revealed that "tuna'' schools in the Guayaquil area contained individuals ranging from 4 to 60 pounds. The California tuna fleet experienced great difficulty in obtaining bait off Peru because the gear used would not fish deep enough. As a result, bait (almost exclus- ively anchovies, Engraulis ringens) was usually purchased from native fishermen. Canned Fish Consumer Purchases Report As part of a broad marketing research program to im- prove and expand markets for canned tuna, canned salm- on, and canned Maine sardines, the Market Research Cor- poration of America, under a contract with the U. S. Bu- reau of Commercial Fisheries, is collecting data on household consumer purchases of these canned fish. To- tal national purchases are projected from information supplied by a nationwide consumer panel of approximate- ly 6,000 families representing 22,000 persons. Data are being gathered for one year and the findings for October- November 1958 have now been published in a report titled Canned Fish Consumer Purchases, which will be issued monthly through September 1959. The report gives these data for each of the three prod- ucts: total purchases, number of families buying, average purchase, and average pricepaid. Alsothe dataare shown by species or style of pack for the United States, by regions, and by outlet groups (chains, independents, and other stores). The findings of this survey will be published monthly. A final twelve-months report will contain in addition to most of the monthly information, data by city-size location, income groups, education of head of household, size of fam- ily, age of housewife, presence of children by age groups, and employment status of housewife. Some of the findings for November 1958: Canned tuna purchases in November were 769,000 cases (48 No. 1/2 cans) of which 49,000 cases were imported. By type of pack, domestic-packed tuna purchases were 173,000 cases solid, 461,000 cases chunk, and 86,000 cases grated or flakes. The average purchase was 1.8 cans at a time. Only 26.7 percent of the households bought all types of canned tuna; only 1.9 percent bought the imported product. The average retail price paid for a 7-o0z. can of domestic solid or fancy was 35.6 cents and for a 6-1/2-o0z. can of chunk 29.1 cents. Imported solid or fancy was bought at 30.2 cents a can. November purchases were somewhat less than the 816,000 cases bought in October. During October and November 1958, consumer pur- chases of Maine sardines were greater through the independ- ent outlets than through the chain outlets. Canned Sardine purchases in November were 139,000 cases, of which 69,000 cases were Maine (100 1/4-drawn cans), 29,000 cases (48 1-lb. cans) California, and 41,000 cases (100 1/4-drawn cans) imported, The average purchase was 2,1 cans at a time for all sardines, but 2.4 cans for Maine, 1.6 cans for California, and 1.7 cans for imported. Only 7.2 percent of the households ‘bought all types of canned sardines; 4.0 per- cent bought Maine, 1.3 percent California, and 2.4 percent imported. The average retail price paid for a 4-0z. can of Maine sardines in oil was 11.1 cents, for a one-pound canof California 26.4 cents, and for a 4-02. can of imported 27.1 cents. November purchases were somewhat less than the 141,000 cases bought in October. Canned salmon purchases in November 1958 were 269,000 standard cases, of which 153,000 cases were pinks and 51,000 cases reds. The average purchase was 1.3 cans at atime. Only 16.5 percent of the households bought all types of canned salmon; 8.7 percent bought pinks. Theaver- age retail price paid for a 1-1b. can of pink was 56 cents, and for red 84.6 cents. November purchases were some- what less than the 282,000 cases bought in October, oo00o00000000000 February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 15 Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products, January-October 1958 Total shipments of metal cans during January-October 1958 amounted to 108,190 short tons of steel (based on the amount of steel consumed in the manufacture of cans) as compared with 103,025 tons in the first ten months of 1957. Fish canning in Oc- tober for salmon and Maine sardines was about over for the sea- son, but tuna, Gulf shrimp, and California sardine packing was at a high level. Note: Statistics cover all commercial and captive plants known to be producing metal cans. Reported in base boxes of steel consumed in the manufacture of cans, the data for fishery products are converted to tons of steel by using the factor: 23.0 base boxes of steel equal one short ton of steel. ye) Clams SELECTIVE BREEDING INCREASES GROWTH RATE: At eight months of age the second generation of clams selectively bred for rapid growth were 34 percent larger than the normal population of the same age. This is the finding of the Mil- ford (Conn.) Biological Laboratory of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, which is attempting to develop faster-growing clam populations, The biologists plan to produce seed clams in the laboratory, transplant them to outdoor tanks or pools, and when they are approximately 32-inch long to retransplant them to marine beds. HOOK OK OK OK YOUNG REARED IN CONCRETE TANKS: Young clams A member of the firm studied methods for spawning clams are being raised in concrete tanks by a commercial shell- artificially and caring for the larvae at the U. S. Bureau of fish firm on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Each tank is Commercial Fisheries Marine Biological Laboratory at Mil- about 60 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 18 inches deep and ford, Conn. rests on a clay bottom which, in turn, is covered with a layer of sand. Young clams for the tanks and food for the Virginia State biologists believe planters may find it prof- clams will be provided by greenhouses, incubators, anda itableto culture seedclams. Hybrids produced by the Bureau’s place for culturing larval clams, according to the owner of Milford Laboratory by crossing northernand southern parents the firm. During the summer of 1958, about a half million havebeen under study by Virginia biologists for several years. clams were produced at the Watts Bay establishment near it is within the realm of possibility that a stock of rapid-grow- Atlantic, Va. When the clams have reached a proper size ingclams can be suppliedto planters andthe key to supplying to survive most predation, it is proposed to replant them on such seedclams may be intank culture. (Virginia Fisheries growing grounds until they reach market size. Laboratory, Gloucester Point, news release, December 5, (1958.) ¥ ase Crabs CHESAPEAKE BAY ABUNDANCE PREDICTED FOR 1958/59 WINTER: The blue crab dredge boats during December 1958 in lower Chesapeake Bay were catch- ing the 30-barrel daily boat limit. This substantiates the prediction made in the fall of 1958 by a biologist of the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory (Gloucester Point, Va.) that blue crabs would be abundant the winter of 1958/59. Although crabs are abundant and should continue to be plentiful in the spring and early summer of 1959, the crab-pot catch will decrease in August 1959 and will continue poor through fall, the biologist stated. The 1959/60 dredge fishery for crabs will be very poor, he added. Scientists have observed that crabs hatched in the summer of 1958 were very scarce, and calculate the fishery will begin to feel the effects of this poor crop by late 1959. 16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 "Reliable predictions of how many crabs will be available to fishermen are val- uable to crabbers and producers alike," said the biologist, ''for if fishermen know that crabs will be scarce they may elect to spend their time inanother fishery, catch- ing oysters or Seining, for instance, rather than crab fishing. If dealers know that few crabs will be available six months before the scarcity occurs, they may hold crab meat in storage and profit by a better market, or may seeka supply from south- ern waters." The blue crab is Virginia's second most valuable fishery, topped only by oysters and occasionally by menhaden. From being an insignificant fishery in 1880 it ex- panded rapidly in the early 1900's, and during the past 25 years produced an aver- age of 31 million pounds of live crabs annually. In 1950, the best year for the indus- try, about 50 million pounds were caught, and since 1948 annual landings have ex- ceeded 40 million pounds five times. Marketing blue crabs today is quite different from practices in the 1880's. Then, crabs were shipped alive to Atlantic coastal cities only, and could not be success- fully handled in hot weather for lack of refrigeration and rapid transportation. To- day most hard crabs are steamed and the meat picked out in modern, sanitaryplants. Crab meat, live and frozen soft crabs, live and cooked hard crabs are shipped to markets near and far in refrigerated trucks. When supplies are heavy and market prices depressed, crab meat may be re- frigerated, frozen, or pasteurized. Storage by such methods can provide a steady supply atallseasons. Fresh crab meat continues to dominate the market, but quick- frozen crab patties and deviled crabs are increasing in popularity. As a result of the abundant supply in December 1958, fishermen received about $4.00 a barrel and many decided to stay in port until prices advanced to about $6.00. Usually, half the crabs taken in the winter fishery are caught during December. ees liter a Federal Purchases of Fishery Products DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PURCHASES, JANUARY-NOVEMBER 1958: Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products: For the use of the Armed Forces under the Depart- ment of Defense, 1.5 million pounds (value $908,000) of fresh and frozen fishery Table 1 - Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products Purchased by Military Subsistence Market Centers, March 1958 with Comparisons QUANTITY November Jan.-Nov. HS peo ee 1,0 ISDS A) ites aoa 1/ Values for first 11 months of 1958 unavailable. products were purchased in November 1958 by the Military Subsistence Market Cen- ters. The quantity purchased in October was down 0.5 percent from the preceding month, but 9.3 percent above the amount purchased in the same month of 1957. The value of the purchases in November 1958 was higher by 32.4 percent as compared with November 1957, For the first 11 months of 1958 purchases totaled 20.9 million pounds, a de- crease of 3.8 percent in quantity. February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 1G Prices paid for fresh and frozen fishery products by the Department of Defense in November 1958 averaged 60.6 cents a pound, about 10.6 cents a pound above the 50 cents paid during November 1957. Table 2 - Canned Fishery Products Purchased by Military Subsistence Market Centers, November 1958 with Comparisons SR a I I QUANTITY VALUE Product November Jan.-Nov. November 8 oe a —Ee Canned Fishery Products: Salmon and tuna were the principal canned fishery products purchased for the use of the Armed Forces during November. Canned tuna purchases for the first 11 months of 1958 were up 123.6 percent and salmon up 7.2 percent but canned sardine purchases were lower by 42.5 percent from the compar- able period of 1957. Note: Armed Forces Installations generally make some local purchases not included in the data given; actual total pur- chases are higher than indicated, because it is not possible to obtain local purchases. Fisheries Loan Fund LOANS THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1958: As of December 31, 1958, a total of 514 applications for fisheries loans fotaling $17,780,883 had been received. Ofthese 278 ($7,176,756) have been approved, 169 ($4,987,770) have been declined, 38 ($1,634,126) have been withdrawn, and 29 ($3,058,761) are pending. As several of the pending cases have been deferred indefinitely at the request of the applicants and collections have been increasing, sufficient funds have been available to process all applications when received. Funds are expected to be available to assure prompt handling of new applications. The Fisheries Loan Fund has been in operation for a little over two years. The following loans have been approved between October 20, 1958, and Decem- ber 31, 1958: New England and Middle Atlantic Area: U.S. Trawler One, Inc., Yonkers, N. Y., $62,000; U. S. Trawler Two, Inc., Yonkers, N. Y., $63,000; Edward M. Schall, Jr., Point Pleasant, N. J., $6,559; Joseph S. Randazza, Gloucester, Mass., $25,000. South Atlantic and Gulf Area: Irven J. Lafont, Golden Meadow, La., $16,940. California: Trygve Hamlot, Cupertino, $10,000; Slavko Ivanic, San Pedro, $20,000 Pacific Northwest: Ragnar Nergaard, Seattle, Wash., $12,000; Roland E. Ber- ger, Orchards, Wash., $5,000; Aage Hammer, Westport, Wash., $2, 200; Clayton C. Howe, Anacortes, Wash., $2, 500: George W. Krubeck, Longview, Wash., $2,900; Lars Pedersen, Bellingham, Wash., $6,000; Stanley F, Buginnis, Gig Harbor, Wash., $2,500. Note: See Commercial Fisheries Review, December 1958 p. 35, November 1958 p. 35, September 1958 p- 35, July 1958 p. 24, and March 1958 p. 31. 18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol.) 25 No.2 Fish-Cookery Demonstrations More than 100 fish-cookery demonstrations will be made this spring by U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries home economists and fishery marketing special - ists. Already this schedule includes 14 states, and additional demonstrations are expected. These demonstrations will be given for school lunch, Extension Service, and restaurant personnel; college and university students; Navy Cooks and Bakers School; seafood merchandising clinics; stewards and caterers meetings; and home economists, dietitians, and homemakers. The Bureau's home econo- mists will present appetizing, economical, nutritious, and easy-to-prepare fish and shell- fish dishes. Six recipes will be prepared, garnished, and served attractively, and menus includ- ing these recipes will be sug- gested. Large-quantity recipes will be demonstrated for insti- tutional, restaurant, and school- lunch personnel. Family-size meee \ ph J i iene Se. Le y recipes will be demonstrated ; ; i : for Extension Service personnel, Typical fish-cookery demonstration by a home economist of the U. S, Bu- Waa at | Cowan eneial Fishauigs. students, and homemakers. The purpose of these demonstrations is to show the proper preparation of fish and shellfish as well as to educate the pub- lic to use the wide variety of fish and shellfish available. Each demonstration also will include information on market forms, nutritive value, and care and storage of fish and shellfish. To date, the Bureau has scheduled demonstrations in Alaska (2), California (20), Idaho (8), Maryland (3), Massachusetts (14), New York (7), Ohio (1), Oregon (3), Pennsylvania (11), Rhode Island (1), Tennessee (20), Virginia (1), Washington (1), Wisconsin (3). Fishery Landings at Boston Down Again in 1958 Fishery landings at the Boston Fish Pier in 1958 continued their downward trend. A record-low volume brought higher ex-vessel prices. Haddock scarcity on the fishing grounds was the most serious problem the past year. But ever-present were the old headaches--fewer vessels, higher operating costs, record-high foreign imports, and apparently limited capital. There are no definite prospects that any of these problems will be solved in 1959, Boston's fishermen and fishing vessels operated at peak capacity in 1958. The offshore fishermen made more trips with the fewer aging large trawlers. But gen- erally the results were poor. Boston's medium trawlers also worked to capacity, and fewer medium trawlers from other ports landed trips in that port. The average age of all Boston fishing vessels is now close to 20 years. February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 19 Total landings at the Fish Pier in 1958 amounted to only 123.8 million pounds, the lowest in 36 years, or since 1922. The 1958 landings were 11.8 million pounds less than the 1957 total of 135.6 : : million pounds, | indi tee There were 829 trips by large trawlers at Boston in 1958, 1,288 by medium trawl- ers, and 303 by smaller ves- sels. The 1957 totals were 812, 1,334, and 311, respec- tively. One bright note inthe Bos- - ton fishery scene in 1958 was the higher value of the fish landed. The total value was $12.6 million, compared with $11.2 millionin 1957. In 1945- 54 the average annual value was $14.0 million. The 1958 aver- age ex-vessel price of 10.2¢ a pound was 2.0¢ a pound high- er than the previous year. Ex- vessel prices were very high t . the last half of 1958. Unloading a small trawler at low tide at Boston Fish Pier. The higher value for fish at the caplog brought some relief to vessels and fish- ermen, and generally they had a better year than 1957. But the higher cost of raw material further squeezed processing plants, which have been hard-pressed after a number of poor years. The plants are equipped to process large volumes of frozen fillets, but the 1958 ex-vessel prices precluded this during most of the year. Haddock continued as the leading species landed by the Boston fleet. In 1958 the catch of haddock was only 81.5 million pounds, a drop of 12.3 million pounds from the previous year. The greatest decline was in the smaller or scrod haddock. Cod and flounder landings were also lighter at Boston in 1958. Pollock was the only species to increase in volume, due to very good fishing the last two months of the year. Imports of groundfish fillets into the United States--the leading foreign com- petition for Boston's haddock fishery--reached a new high in 1958. Anestimated 145 million pounds were brought to this country from abroad, 4 million pounds above the previous record received in 1957. Canada continued as the leading supplier of foreign groundfish fillets, but in 1958 shipments also arrived from Iceland, Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, West Germany, Japan, Greenland, Miquelon & St. Pierre, and South Africa. More and more foreign countries are sending groundfish fillets to the lucrative United States market, while Boston's share of the market has dwindled each year. Leaders in Boston fisheries once again were unsuccessful in getting the finan- cial aid they sought from the Federal government for new vessels, plant improve- ments, etc. Only very few new vessels have been added to Boston's fishing fleet since World War II. The situation has now become critical. Investment capital apparent- ly is lacking due to the generally poor prospects. However, in 1958 a group of Bos- ton fishery leaders proposed a plan to construct a number of vessels. Financial 20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 aid was sought from all sources--vessel owners, processors, wholesalers, and oth- ers. Initial response was good and some relief might be forthcoming from this source in the future. --John J. O'Brien, Supervisory Market News Reporter, Market News Service, Division of Industrial Research and Services, U. S., Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Boston, Mass. ree Great Lakes Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research EXPERIMENTAL SMELT FISHING WITH LAMPARA SEINES CONTINUED (M/V Thelma H. Cruise 2): The second exploratory fishing cruise (November 1-28, 1958) in the American waters of Lake Erie was made by the U. S. Bureau of Com- mercial Fisheries chartered vessel Thelma H. Aimed at locating and determining ae the availability of smelt to seine gear during the fall months, fish- ing operations were conducted be- ONTARIO | tween Conneaut, Ohio and the is- lands of Western Lake Erie. As in the previous cruise, the offshore Ohio waters were systematically scouted and sound- ed with a Bendix DR-16 recorder. Few surface or close-to-the-sur- face schools of fish were observed. Three sets with a 100-fathom long lampara seine in 40- to 50-foot depths off Vermilion, Ohio, took only trace amounts of adult and OCTOBER CRUISE SEINE SETS - young-of-the-year smelt and em- ———— eee erald shiners. Two similar sets off Lorain took the same species M/V Thelma H. Cruise 2 (November 1-28, 1958). in trace amounts. It was apparent from specimens taken that indi- vidual fish were of a size too small for the mesh size in use. A total of 9 seine sta- tions was made. Night-fishing efforts to attract schools to lights were unsuccessful. MSC Connicaur Relatively large concentrations of fish were noted over most of the area. Sam- ples from these schools taken with a 16-foot trawl at Vermilion, Fairport, Ashta- bula, and Conneaut, Ohio, were identified as yellow perch, adult smelt, and emerald shiner. Water temperatures ranged from 52° F. in early November to 41 F. at the end of the cruise. With the gradual cooling of the lake waters, young-of-the-year smelt and shiners began to show close to the surface during short periods of calm weather. Generally poor weather conditions permitted fishing operations only about one- half of the cruise, Hazardous snow and ice formations on the vessel forced termina- tion of the cruise three days ahead of schedule. The experimental seining work is scheduled to continue about March 15, 1959. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, January 1959, p.33. is February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21 Great Lakes Fishery Investigations WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR HERRING AND WHITE FISH SPAWNING SURVEY (M/V Siscowet Cruise 7A and 8): The lake herring investigation was continued in the Apostle Island area of Lake Superior by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries research vessel Siscowet during cruise 8 (November 24-December 5, 1958). Gill nets and/or trawls were fished at three stations: (1) south of Stockton Island, (2) north- west of Madeline Island, and (3) northeast of Sand Island. Sweeps were made with a fish-magnifying fathometer over large areas among the Apostle Islands. Although high winds and subzero temperatures restricted operations, valuable data were col- lected relative to lake herring concentrations during the spawning season in the is- land area, The fish-magnifying fathometer indicated heavy concentrations of herring in all waters visited during the cruise. In some areas, south of Stockton Island, concen- trations appeared as scattered schools in a zone from 5 fathoms below the surface to about 3 fathoms off the bottom. The depth in this area ranged from 30 to 50 fath- oms. In areas less than 30 fathoms deep, northwest of Madeline and northeast of Sand Islands concentrations appeared as tight schools from 10 fathoms to the bottom. On November 24, three gill nets (2-, 2}, and 23-inch mesh) were set in 50 fath- oms south of Stockton Island. This set caught 208 herring and 350 chubs. The her- ring averaged 7 ounces in weight. About 50 percent of both the herring and chubs were ripe. Three gill nets (1, 23- and 2, 23-inch mesh) were set in 27 fathoms northwest of Madeline Island on December 1. These nets took 80 herring and 33 chubs. The herring also averaged 7 ounces each and 90 percent of them were ripe. None of the chubs were ripe. Trawl tows were made in the area northeast of Sand Island to capture fish which appeared just off the bottom on the fish-magnifier. It was assumed that these fish were herring as commercial nets set in the immediate area were taking up to 12 tons a lift. A 35-foot semi-balloon trawl towed in this region for 15 minutes at ap- proximately 4 miles an hour at 25 fathoms caught 1 herring. A second 15-minute tow in the same area but at a slower speed (23 miles an hour) took 2 herring, 13 chubs, and 96 smelt. It was concluded that the first tow was either fishing improp- erly or was not on the bottom. In either case the catches of herring indicate that fish appearing near the bottom were not herring or that the herring were able to escape the trawl. Plans include trawling at night but severe weather conditions made it impossi- ble. During this cruise surface temperatures ranged from Bue uel among the is- lands to 42.6 F. on the open lake. Bottom temperatures in all areas remained at about 40° F. Cruise 8 concluded the operations of the Siscowet for the 1958 season. A 4-day nonscheduled cruise (7a) was conducted from November 10-13, inclu- sive, to establish the time and place of whitefish spawning. Eight gill nets, ranging from 2}- to 6-inch mesh were set in waters just north of Rocky Island at depths ranging from 3 to 6 fathoms. The bottom was clearly vis- ible and consisted of boulders from the size of golf balls up to 4 feet in diameter. The total catch from 2 gill-net sets made in this area was: 17 whitefish, 2 menom- inee whitefish, 227 herring, 28 longnose suckers, and 1 lake trout. The whitefish averaged 3 pounds each and were all ripe males. No female whitefish were taken. The herring were all taken in the 2-inch mesh and averaged 12 ounces each, 22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 Stomachs from the herring and a large number of menominee whitefish caught by a commercial fisherman in the area were examined for possible predation on whitefish eggs. Eggs were found in the stomach of one menominee which were tenta- tively identified as either whitefish or menominee eggs. Many of the menominee whitefish examined were ripe. — -cks Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program DISTRIBUTION AND AVAILABILITY STUDIES OF BOTTOM FISH IN GULF OF MEXICO CONTINUED (M/V Silver Bay Cruise 12): Commercial quantities of red _ snapper (Lutianus sp.) were taken on Campeche d Bank dune a 21- ee ese nan aie! trawling trip (completed December 4, 1958) by the U. S. Bureau of Commer- Tata cial Fisheries chartered exploratory © - Trawling station. | fishing vessel Silver Bay. ae 3° g2° a1) ~ 90° 7 23° Best fishing was encountered on the | CAMPECHE. BANK broken bottom southand southeastofCay |. ae | Arcas in 23-35 fathoms at 20.05' north [7 A Thai | latitude and 19 51' west longitude. Ap- ie sae proximately 90 percent of the total mar- ketable catch of 22,973 pounds of snap- per and grouper was taken during 11 days of trawling operations in this area. ¢ %, Catches averaged approximately 1,800 [arekcs aep et pail SE ae sis ares sea a pounds of marketable snapper and group- gaan tea if |. er per 12-hour day, with catches ranging g A from 150 to 1,050 pounds per 90-minute 2 ee ; tow. The total snapper and grouper catch Vera of 24,233 pounds was comprised of 7 spe- ANA |arcas cays og” "ie statione 25 jennene cies of snapper and 3 species of grouper. |, , a i 8 The catch was composed of approxi- | ant ‘iad mately 35 percent large (10 pounds and ) over), 19 percent medium (5 to 10 pounds) a | }—- Pchampoto and 45 percent small fish (3 to 5 pounds). Negligible amounts of very small snap- | we per and scrap fish were taken due to the 4% — 20 - 1° ___s0 cl use of a 54-inch meshcod end, thoughthe M/V Silver Bay Cruise No. 12 (November 13 to December 4, vessel's electronic fishfinderscontinual- 1958). ly indicated dense shoals of bottom fish in most of the areas fished. These tracings were verified as concentrations of scrap fish by the intermittent use of a 2-inch mesh liner inserted inthe codend. Juvenile snapper were absent inside of 30 fathoms. Modified ''New England" type fish trawls were used throughout the trip. The trawls were constructed from 7g-inch diameter braided nylon cord, 43-inch stretched mesh in the body and 53-inch stretched mesh in the cod end. The £008 rope was fished its entire length ey ith 20-inch diameter wooden rollers. Standard V-D rig was used with twenty fathoms of ground cables between the doors and the wing tip. An ''Exocet"' rising panel device was used on the headline in conjunction with stand- ard trawl plane floats. Preliminary trials with this device, which is designed to in- sure maximum vertical opening of the trawl mouth at high towing speeds, indicated superior effectiveness. February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23 Though rough and broken bottom was prevalent in the areas fished, the opera- tion of the gear was highly successful. Only occasional minor tears occurred through- out the trip. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, November 1958, p. 38. Me OK OOK OR OK UNDERWATER TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS OF RED SNAPPER REACTIONS TO FISH TRAPS (M/V Oregon Cruise 54): Film recordings of underwater television Observations of the reactions of red snapper to various designs of fish traps were made by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries exploratory fishing vessel Ore- gon during a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico from November 11 to December 8, 1958. A total of 900 feet of film was recorded of 14 trap sets. Nine trap sets were made to test the effects of various arrangements of pliable, clear plastic strips in the trap entrance. During these observations it was possi- ble to adjust these strips to form a cone extending into the trap. It was observed that red snapper would readily enter the trap and that the closed ends of the plas- tic strips served to prevent escapement. A burlap-covered trap was tested but this covering reduced the light below the level needed for observations. An- other variation using nylon webbing cov- ering one side of the trap was unsuccess- ful since the fish became wild as the trap was lifted and broke through the webbing. A combination of excellent water conditions for underwater television ob- servations and concentrations of red Ss snapper was located near Cay Arenas in 31 to 35 fathoms at 22°10' north latitude and 91 20' west longitude. Concentrations of red snapper were found south of Cay Arcas in 21 to 253 fathoms; however, the presence of a 10-15 foot layer of turbid water over the bottom limited observations. In other more shallow areas south of Arcas where water clarity was good, no red Snapper were found. Maine Sardines The Bureau's exploratory fishing vessel Oregon. FISHERY FEATURED IN COMIC STRIP: Maine's sardine fishery was featured in a half-page colored comic strip in 90 metropolitan Sunday newspapers in January 1959. Some 40 million people read about the adventures of ''Smokey the Bear," ''Lit- tle Smokey," and ''Specs,"' the fictitious characters created by a cartoonist. The Council collaborated with the producers of the widely-syndicated cartoon strip in development of the idea and the script. The series of drawings depicts Smokey taking his pals on a tour of the sardine fishery and explaining the many interesting phases of the operations. 24 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 "We are fortunate to have such a nice and popular way to bring our industry and its products to the attention of the Nation.'' the Maine Sardine Council's Executive Secretary stated. Bat Ee feo BS ES INCLUDED ON GIRL SCOUT NATIONAL ROUNDUP MENU: Canned sardines of America to be held at Colorado Springs, Colo., in July 1959. The Maine Sardine Council Chairman announced on December 10, 1958, that the industry's product would be served twice as the luncheon staple to the 10,000 girls from 8 to 18 who will attend the nine-day camp-out. The Council is cooperating with the National Girl Scout Organization onthe same basis as it did with the Boy Scouts of America when 50,000 youthful campers ate and enjoyed Sardines from Maine at the 1957 Jamboree at Valley Forge, Pa. The Council will donate 10,000 cans of sardines while the Girl Scout Organiza- tion will reciprocate by means of surveys, publicity, promotion, and other activities. "We are not only helping the good cause of scouting but are also getting an op- portunity to expose our industry's product to a cross-section of America's future homemakers," the Council Chairman stated. Fresent plans are to serve the sardines for luncheon on two successive Fridays and the Girl Scout food experts are now working out suitable recipes. The Sardine Council has a number of other plans for the event. bs tt Et £3 £3 PACK FOR 1958 UNDER TWO MILLION CASES: Preliminary figures on the Maine canned sardine pack for the 1958 season, which closed December 1, 1958, indicates a pack just short of 2 million cases. The Maine Sardine Industry Executive Secretary said that the total was about 120,000 cases less than the 1957 output and well below the average for the past ten years. The 1957 pack was 2,177,151 standard cases. He said that the comparatively light pack combined with a good sales and inven- tory position had resulted in a favorable outlook for the canners to profitably move all stocks to market before the actual start of 1959 canning operations in late May (season opens April 15). He also predicted-that shortages are very likely to occur in some areas of the country by early spring. Industry sales for the first eleven months of 1958 were up 200,000 cases over the same period in 1957 while packers' inventories on December 1, 1958, were 200,000 cases less than a year earlier. "Any shortages will most likely occur in standard keyless types as there isless than five months! supply available under ordinary selling conditions,'' the Executive Secretary stated. Furthermore, he reported, consumer sales of all Maine sardines have shown a constant monthly gain for more than a year, Thirty plants operated in 1958 with the bulk of the pack made in the Westernand Central areas of the Maine coast. Sizable fish runs failed to materialize in Wash- ington County and Bay of Fundy waters for the fifth year in a row. February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25 North Atlantic Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research DEEP-WATER LOBSTER ABUNDANCE RESURVEYED AND HERRING EGGS AND LARVAE COLLECTED OFF NEW ENGLAND COAST (M/V Delaware Cruise 58-7): Approximately 2,740 pounds of lobsters (Homarus americanus) were taken by 7 the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries exploratory fishing ves- sel Delaware in only 5 tows in depths of 150 to 300 fathoms off the New England coast. This cruise was made (December 10-20, 1958) to check the abundance of these deep-sea lobsters in areas previ- ously explored during 1956/57. The areas explored included those which had previously shown excel- lent concentrations of lobsters. A standard no, 41 otter trawl (79' headrope, 100' footrope ) with 45' of rollers was used onalltows, and no obstructions or gear dam- age was encountered. M/V Delaware Cruise 58-7 (December 10-20, 1958), The estimated average weight was 4pounds per lobster, and the total catch consisted of 685 lobsters. Approximately 500 pounds of egg-bearing lobsters were kept alive in the Delaware's 5,000-gallon sea-water tank and were turned over to the State of Massachusetts for hatchery stock at Martha's Vineyard. In cooperation with the Maine Herring Investigations, plankton samples and tem- perature casts were made at selected locations to gather further information on the distribution of herring eggs and larvae in the offshore areas, Eleven plankton sta- tions were occupied during the cruise, and 132 drift bottles were released to assist in mapping current flow in the areas important to herring spawning. In addition, a number of live haddock and cod were trawled on the west side of Stellwagen Bank and were brought alive to East Boston. Technological protein-anal- ysis tests will be run on these fish. Kk K OK OK a TUNA FISHING EXPLORATIONS IN NORTH ATLANTIC CONTINUED (M/V Del- aware Cruise 59-1): Tuna fishing explorations in the Gulf Stream area of the North Atlantic, conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries exploratory fishing vessel Dela- ware, were scheduled to begin on January 12, 1959, This is the first tuna exploration into the Gulf Stream area at this seasonofthe year. A comprehensive survey of oceanographic con- ditions and tuna abundance is expected to better define the limits of the Atlantic tuna resources, In 1957, explorations were conducted in this area during a later period--March 1957--and concentrations of bluefin, yellowfin, and alba- core tuna were found to be present. The dis- tribution of these species of tuna is unknown The Bureau's research vessel Delaware. 26 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 during the winter season, and the planned exploration survey will attempt to answer some of the questions on the oceanic distribution of the Atlantic tunas. 4 North Atlantic Fisheries Investigations BOTTOM FISH SAMPLES COLLECTED AND HADDOCK TAGGED (M/V Alba- tross Ill Cruise 122): Half-hour tows with a standard No. 36 trawl, containing a fine mesh cod-end liner were made by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries re- search vessel Albatross III between November 17-26, 1958, at 44 stations in an area 30 miles x 20 miles off the Highland Grounds east of Stellwagen Bank and Cape Cod. All species were enumerated, gross weight for each determined, and commercially- important species measured. Fifteen special tows were made to obtain haddock for tagging. Dredge samples of the bottom fauna and scoopfish samples of the substrates were taken at 32 stations. Bathythermograph casts were made at all stations. Haddock were taken at all stations and were particularly abundant in areas rich in bottom fauna. Dogfish, sea dab, and whiting were taken at most stations. Pollock were abundant only at certain stations. A total of 692 haddock was tagged. Oregon ALBACORE TUNA FISHING SEASON FOR 1958: The 1958 albacore tuna-fishing in Pacific waters off the Oregon coast brought over $2 million in income to commer- cial fishermen, the Oregon Fish Commission reported on December 5, 1958. Approx- imately 9.5 million pounds of fresh tuna was delivered to buyers at Astoria, New- port, and Coos Bay, Ore. The season's landings are rated seventh largest since the fishery was discover- ed by Oregon and California pilchard fishermen in 1936, a Commission statistics of- ficer stated. Appearance of the tuna schools in Oregon waters in 1958 is credited with pro- viding a timely income for commercial fishermen who were having difficulty in at- tempts to obtain normal poundage from their salmon fishing activities. "A majority of the deep-water boats stored their salmon trolling gear and switched to tuna fishing as soon as the schools were discovered,''the statistical of- ficer stated. ''Unusual water conditions evidently had altered the normal patternof commercial salmon trolling and catches had been light. The tuna's arrival put the fleet back to work and added a much needed supplement to financial success of the season,'' he added. Oregon landings of tuna increased steadily from 1938 until 1944, when a peak catch of 22.5 million pounds was landed. During the following 10 years albacore tuna landings varied between 12.2 and 0.5 million pounds, but since 1954 have shown a steady increase. Cooperative study by Pacific Coast fishery agencies has created a broad pro- gram aimed at developing and maintaining the albacore tuna stock. BPS February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 27 Oysters SPAWNING AND SETTING IN LONG ISLAND SOUND, SUMMER 1958: The spring and early sum- mer of 1958 were colder than usual. According to the climatological data of the U. S. Department of Commerce, the departure from normal air temper- ature in the New Haven area during May was -3.1 F. June 1958 was the goldest since 1903, with a month- ly average of 62.3” F. and a departure from nor- mal of -3,5° F. Due to the cold weather, gonad de- velopment and spawning of oysters were delayed and resulted in an unusually late set according to observations by the Bureau of Commercial Fish- eries Milford (Conn.) Biological Laboratory, Regardless of the late spawning and low water temperatures, oyster larvae appeared in our sam- ples in comparatively large numbers. By July 28, an increase, especially at Stations 1 and 2 in the Milford area. A day or two later, setting again be- gan to be of a general nature and the peak of the second wave occurred between September 5-11. This peak, however, was not as high as that of the first wave. From then on setting continued in a rather ir- regular pattern, especially at the first two stations in the Milford area, where no definite trend in in- tensity was noted, as short periods of light setting were followed by periods of comparatively heavy setting. The last set was recorded October 9-10 at Station 5 on the State spawning bed in New Haven Harbor. This was the latest setting ever re- corded in Connecticut waters ina quarter of a century. Table 1 - Weekly Intensity of Oyster Setting on Collectors at Each of Ten Sampling Stations in Long Island Sound, Summer 1958. MILFORD NEW HAVEN BRIDGEPORT 9/8-14 9/15-21 9/22-28 9/29-10/5 97,945 32,350 4,640 3,820 980 6,895 5,950 1,350 1,490 60 0 5 ,900 55,485 0 0 0 125 [7,200 | 5,025 from 100 to 320 oyster larvae of all stages, ranging from straight hinge to those ready-to-set, were found in the 200-gallon water samples collected at each of the three Milford stations. The number of ready-to-set oyster larvae per 200-gallon sample had increased to 720 at some stations by July 31. In 1957 the total number of larvae found in all the samples collected during the entire summer was only 3 or 4. It is significant that at no time after their first appearance, and until near the end of the season, were mature ready-to-set larvae completely ab- sent from our samples. The summer of 1958 was radically different from many previous summers, when finding mature, eyed larvae in the plankton samples was considered an unusual event. Con- sidering that the number of parent oysters was the smallest in years, the 1958 observations conclus- ively demonstrated that the number of mature lar- vae present during the period of propagation is not directly proportional to the number of spawners. Setting of oysters started on July 28 at Station 10 in the Bridgeport area, and a day later at the Milford stations (table 1), After July 31 it began to be of a general nature, occurring at all stations and rapidly increasing in intensity. The maximum of the first wave of setting took place July 31-Au- gust 4. Following the peak, the intensity of setting decreased rapidly until August 27. The beginning of the second wave of setting oc- curred about August 29. Between that date and September 2, the intensity of setting began to show Intensity of setting greatly varied from station to station. For example, at Station 2 in the Mil- ford section, which received the heaviest set of all the stations in the Sound, a setting of 86,740 spat per 100 shells was recorded for the entire season (table 1). If all the young oysters that set on the shells at or near this station during the summer had not died, there would have been about 867 young oysters on each shell in this area by the first of October. At Station 1, a heavy set of 307 spat per shell was recorded for the season; yet, the intensity at this station was about three times lighter than that at Station 2. Still a greater dis- crepancy was noticed when the setting at Stations 2 and 3 was compared, the latter gathering only a- bout 4 spat per shell for the entire season. Although the Milford area showed the heaviest setting, the two other areas, namely, New Haven with Stations 4, 5, and 6, and Bridgeport with Sta- tions 8, 9, and 10, also showed commercial sets. The only exception was Station 7, located at a 30- foot depth in the New Haven area, where the set was too light to be considered of commercial im- portance. The set of 1958 was the heaviest since the Lab- oratory began systematic observations in 1932. It took place regardless of the low temperatures dur- ing the spring and early summer preceding the re- productive season, and in spite of the fact that the population of adult oysters serving as parents was probably the lowest ever recorded in the history of Connecticut oyster fisheries. Therefore, the heavy 28 setting of 1958 demonstrates once more that, the old assumption that good setting occurs only during the summers when the temperature is above nor- mal is not correct. The second contention, which is even at this time supported by some oyster biologists, namely, that the intensity of setting is roughly proportion- al to the number of adult oysters found on the beds Fig. 1 - Starfish dredge designed and constructed at Milford, Conn. Bio- logical Laboratory. during the spawning season, is obviously also not well founded. This conclusion is strongly supported by the earlier observations of a Bureau biologist, who reported that the setting in Long Island Sound in 1925 was one of the heaviest in the history of Connecticut fisheries for shellfish. By the summer of 1926 the oysters were so numerous that repre- sentatives of the industry were worried that no market would be found for such an abundant supply. Regardless of this tremendous number of spawners, setting of oysters in Long Island Sound in the sum- mer of 1926 was a complete failure; whereas, in 1958, although the number of spawners was prob- ably the lowest in the history of the industry, the intensity of setting was one of the heaviest. Unfortunately, the heavy set of 1958 did not con- tribute significantly to the oyster reserves of Long Island Sound because the majority of the young oys- ters were killed by starfish and drills soon after setting. The observations showed that by the end of September a live spat was a rarity among the young oysters recently killed by starfish and drills. Because of the industry's inability to control star- fish which showed a ten-fold increase in population in 1957, large oyster areas have been abandoned. For example, the entire Milford section, comprising| Stations 1, 2, and 3 where the heaviest setting was recorded (table 1), has been given up. The same is true of other districts, with the exception of a few comparatively small areas, such as Lot 152 in New Haven and several lots in the Bridgeport area, where all available means have been employed by the oystermen to protect the set from starfish. The fate of the 1958 oyster set supports the view that the open Sound is not only an unreliable place for obtaining set regularly, but also a place where, if a set does occur, it is difficult and expensive to protect the young oysters from enemies. Further- more, hurricanes and storms often severely dam- age the cultivated beds in open waters. Many of us still remember the storm in November 1950, which COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol 21esNos2 killed millions of oysters of all sizes and ages, al- most entirely ruined many beds, and placed several oyster companies on the verge of bankruptcy. Noth- ing can be done to prevent these calamities since such storms usually come with little warning. Due to these considerations, the Laboratory has emphasized for years the desirability of transfer- ring a substantial portion of the seed-producing operations from the open Sound to more protected areas, such as estuaries of rivers, protected bays and harbors, and natural and artificial ponds. This suggestion should not be interpreted as a recom- mendation to abandon entirely the oyster beds of Long Island Sound proper because they can still be used for some aspects of oyster cultivation, such as for holding large oysters, which are relatively safe from attack by enemies. It is recommended, that as much seed production as possible be trans- ferred to protected areas, where extensive natural oyster beds existed in the past. There are several important advantages of shift- ing seed-producing efforts to inshore areas. Ob- servations show rather clearly that oyster sets rarely fail in inshore waters. Furthermore, beds located in bays and harbors are better protected against storms. Finally, because the salinity of the water in many inshore areas where oyster beds could be established is comparatively low, the oys- ters, especially young set, would be protected by nature itself against starfish and drills, which re- quire a comparatively high salinity to exist and propagate. This consideration alone is of tremen- dous practical significance because it eliminates from the debit side of the ledger astonishingly high sums of money spent on pest control. A specific example of the difference in survival of spat in open Long Island Sound and in estuaries of rivers is that at Station 2 in the Milford section where the heavi- est setting of the season was recorded, and that at an auxiliary station in the Milford River in front of the laboratory where a small experimental bed was established. At Station 2 practically none of the 1958 set of oysters survived until the end of Octo- ber, while at the auxiliary station established in a protected area, where starfish and drills are usu- ally either entirely absent or not too numerous be- cause of low salinity, about 63 percent of the 1958 summer's set was still alive. The chief obstacles to the utilization of the most promising, natural oyster-producing bottoms are believed to be the archaic regulations, many of which were passed more than a century ago, and which designated most of the inshore waters as public grounds. These areas, consequently, cannot be rented to private individuals or companies. Since neither the State nor municipalities are engaged in the cultivation of oysters, these regulations, which were perhaps desirable in the past, have eventually led to the present condition where the majority of our potentially most productive oyster areas are almost entirely barren due to lack of care and cul- tivation. Thus, both economically and biologically these areas are now virtually wasted, whereas prop- er cultivation and management of these grounds could assure the industry of a more abundant an- nual supply of oysters. The shellfish biologists hesitate to suggest a definite method on the basis of which the future oyster industry of Connecticut should be built. It February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29 is known that the solution of the problem is within representatives of oyster companies, natural grow- reach. Some approaches have already been sug- ers, and municipal and State authorities who are in gested in Bureau publications or expressed in dis- charge of shellfish resources. Several plans can cussions with oystermen and biologists. Before be suggested for the management of newly-estab- any constructive steps can be undertaken to amelio-| lished oyster beds, which will be of advantage to rate present conditions, however, the cooperation all groups concerned. (Bulletin No, 5, Fisheries - of all parties will be necessary. This means that Biological Laboratory, Milford, Conn.) a working agreement should be reached between He OK OK 3 OK apeake Bay oysters will yield the greatest amount of meats is possible, point out the biologists of the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, Gloucester Foint, Va. In the lower part of the Bay, in recent years, oysters will reach their best condition in May or early June and meat yields have been greatest at that time, But in the Rappahannock River and upper Chesapeake Bay oysters grow rap- idly and fatten in fall, soon after spawning, and they again fatten in spring. On the other hand, oysters in the lower Bay do not follow this pattern since sometimes they fail to fatten appreciably in fall and in some years lose weight as winter progresses. The differences are explained by pointing out that oysters in saltier waters be- come infected with the parasite Dermocystidium during hot summers and are un- able to fatten until they free themselves of this pest in winter. When food becomes abundant in spring, they are able to profit from it. Variations inoccurrence of Der- mocystidium and in the amount of food available affect the fatness of oysters from year to year. Oysters in Hampton Roads and lewer York River often shew similar patterns of fattening. They are sometimes better than Rappahannock oysters during spring and summer; whereas, in fall, Rappahannock River oysters may hold the edge over those in the lower Bay. It would be biologically sound to harvest up-river and up- per Bay crops early in the season leaving lower river and Bay oysters for harvest- ing in the spring and summer. Unfortunately, demand for oysters is greatest in fall, when they are poor and yield minimum volumes of meats per bushel. How to get top prices for oysters harvested in spring, when flavor is best and yields are greatest, is a problem that the industry would like to solve. He OK Oe KK Food and Drug Administration, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, and the oyster industry to obtain basic and practical data on the biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of the oyster has been initiated, according to an announcement by Assistant Secretary of the Interior Ross Leffler. Research will be concentrated onthe handling and processing of fresh shucked oysters. The data will be used as the basis for improving packing and marketing practices and for the evaluation of present Food and Drug Administration standards of identity. The necessity for such a study became evident as the result of court cases concerning the amount of solids ina given unit of oysters. Each of the government agencies and the oyster industry is supplyinga technical employee to participate in the research under the direction of Dr. Benjamin Willier 30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 of Johns Hopkins University, selected as a disinterested scientist. Work has begun at the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, Gloucester Point, Va. The laboratory is located on the western shore of Chesapeake Baynear a typical oyster-shucking plant. This centralized location will facilitate the plans for the re- search group to study oysters from all the major producing areas. The three-man team will have an excellent opportunity for active plant study on the effect of proc- essing variables on the composition and characteristics of packed oysters at the near- by commercial oyster plants. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, December 1958 p. 42 and October 1958 p. 34, Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations FIVE TAGGED SKIPJACK RECAPTURED IN NOVEMBER 1958: During Novem- ber 1958 five tagged skipjack were sent to the Laboratory of the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations. These were all from recently-tagged skipjack and showed little movement from the point of tagging. Four of the skipjack were tagged and re- leased near the Hawaiian Island of Lanai and recovered in that area. The fifth tag- ged skipjack was released in August 1958 near Lanai and recovered of Oahu. These five tagged fish brought the recoveries from the 1958 releases up to 11.4 percent. rat bd bas Eee es TILAPIA REARING EXPERIMENTS CONTINUED: In November 1958 the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations Maui experimental tilapia rearing station produced 57,000 fry. This amount was about one-third of the October 1958 production and in- dicated that the adult spawners were reacting to a drop in water temperatures. The November crop of tilapia fry brought the total produced by that station since the be- ginning of the experiment to 1 million young fish. The Kewalo Basin tilapia rearing plant produced 18,300 fry in November, but of this amount 3,218 fry were lost due to disease. The losses were attributed to in- fectious pancreatic necrosis, believed to be incurable virus disease. Experiments on the concentration and sex ratios of the tilapia brood stock indi- cated that an allotment of 4 square feet of pond bottom for each male and a ratio of three females resulted in the maximum number of young. yo! Salmon PROGRESS REPORT ON COLUMBIA RIVER SALMON RESEARCH: As part of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries program of research on salmon protection, the electrical installation at Cascade Reservoir, Idaho, for controlling squawfish, which prey on salmon, was continued in operation during July and concluded on Au- gust 1, 1958. Cascade Reservoir was chosen as an experimental site in May 1958 for evaluating the effectiveness of an electrical installation for blocking and trapping squawfish moving upstream from the reservoir to spawn. During July the electrical installation was 80-percent effective as a control device when 24-hour ''power on"' and ''power off'' tests were conducted. The data collected indicate that large num- bers of squawfish move out of the reservoir to spawn during June. February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 31 During the peak of the fall king salmon migration, a one-hour test was conducted in which all fish moving up the 35-foot wide Washington shore fishway at Bonneville Dam were diverted into an experimental fishway 6 feet in width. Approximately 500 salmon were diverted and passed through the experimental section during the test period. Observations indicated that the fish passed through the 8-pool test section with no apparent sign of distress or delay. Other experiments have been conducted which substantiate these results. A Technical Committee, composed of representa- tives of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho fishery departments, and U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries personnel, reviewed the results of these experiments. They concluded on the evidence presented that the fishway with a one-foot rise in each 8 feet of length showed no difference on the rate of passage of fish upstream than the one-foot-in-16-feet fishway, provided that proper hydraulic conditions were satis- factory. The Committee, therefore, recommended that a one-on-10 fishway be con- structed at Ice Harbor on an experimental basis provided that it can be demonstrated that suitable hydraulic conditions will be obtained and a program of evaluation of this ladder financed by the Corps of Engineers and satisfactory to the Committee be provided. The diurnal fluctuations of behavior of adult king salmon migrants was examined in the forebay of Bonneville Dam with sonic tracking equipment. Preliminary exam- ination of the data indicates that the rate of upstream movement in daylight was a- bout 0.70 mile per hour, but in darkness about 0.07 mile per hour; the rate of move- ment in darkness may be influenced by increased light intensity on moonlight nights. Many fish which had migrated 3 to 5 miles upstream during the day returned slowly downstream in darkness; a few fish returned to the spillway section of the dam about 300 yards below their point of release. oe eK Ke UNITED STATES AND ALASKA CANNED PACK, 1958: The 1958 United States canned salmon pack in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska totaled more than 3.6 mil- lion standard cases (48 1-lb. cans), according to preliminary estimates. This was the best pack since 1954 when almost 4.2 million cases were packed. The 1958 pack was 14.3 per- cent more than in 1957 when almost 3.2 million cases were packed, and slightly better than 1956's 3.5 million cases. The increase in the 1958 salmon pack was due to the good pack of pink salmon in Alaska. Table 1 - United States and Alaska Salmon Pack, 1958 (Preliminary Data) ee oa Columbia | Wash. Total Total eos Sal River | Coast 1958 1957 ere (1,000 Stenaae Cases=-468 l-Ib, cans)...... ado hopon bab Rte tac : iL (0) se 0.6 131.6 142.1 Bid Ase cata Ron ok OR : 56.0 5.0 822.4 924.5 5 6 G16 Do boliGzomb tee One : 0.7 = 1,583.9 943.6 3: iG aos BerOwomoNoRaeS : 417.0 43. 7 : 953.6 963.6 6 Gnbt oR Av orasinace cinco é 25.0 10.6 ; 140.3 203.5 caged echeits Calabar = = = ul = Ua «6 ari MARA : : 499.7 14 Teal [pmsyEs9r oN 318479 1/ Includes 33, 137 cases of Puget Sound sockeye salmon packed on the “Shs River. Species or ao 32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 South Carolina FISHERIES BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROGRESS, OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1958: Oyster Research: South Carolina oysters, for the most part, are ir are in- tertidal. With a normal six-foot tide in the vicinity of the Bears Bluff Laboratories, most oysters are exposed to the air from 6 to 8 hours in every tidal cycle. Such exposure to temperature changes, sun- shine, and rainfall, must have a decided effect on oysters. In order to study this more carefully, a manually-operated elevator was constructed and a tray containing 1,000 oysters was placed on it. Another tray of 500 oysters was placed beneath the elevator on the bottom. No attempt was made to duplicate tidal cycles, but daily, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the oysters in the.tray are raised above the surface. For the remainder of the day they are completely submerged. A total of 500 oysters in the tray are left completely exposed while 500 are automatically covered by a sheet of plywood when the elevator is raised. The 500 oysters in the tray on the bottom are, of course, submerged at all times. Each month a sample of the oysters under the three conditions are analyzed to determine growth, mortality, and condition. Continued study of the oysters throughout the year will give some clues as to the affect of drying, airing, sunshine, shade, and total submersion on oysters in South Carolina. In connection with seed oyster studies, experi- mental shipments of young seed were made to Sol- omons, Md., Pensacola, Fla., and New Orleans, La. Small seed oysters were imported from New York to South Carolina for study. Shrimp Research: During the last quarter of 1958, shrimp were relatively scarce at all regular established trawling stations off South Carolina, Except for a few scattered runs, the wintering- over crop of small white shrimp appear to be be- low normal. Likewise, the commercial catch of white shrimp during the October-December quar- ter was relatively scarce. Had it not been for an abnormally large catch of brown shrimp in mid- summer, South Carolina's crop would have been seriously curtailed in 1958 and fallen below the 5.5-million-pound average. The severe cold win- ter of 1957/58 is held responsible for the decline in white shrimp. One exploratory shrimp fishing cruise was made in waters to a depth of 40 fathoms. Good trawling bottom was encountered and reasonably large catches of rock shrimp were made during the two nights of the cruise. Pond Cultivation: One of the experimental ponds which has been in operation without any planned program of management since February 1958 was drained on October 9, 1958. This pond, which is slightly over an acre, yielded a harvest of 342 pounds of fish, crab, and shrimp. The greater weight was in mullet, spot, and blue crabs. The size of the blue crabs is particularly worthy of note. The 89 crabs harvested weighed almost 68 pounds. Of the 75 males, 20 weighed a pound or more each. The largest was 7.75 inches from spine to spine, and weighed 19 ounces. One of the smaller ponds was again stocked with sexually-mature brown shrimp in hopes of spawn- ing these in the pond. However, no larval shrimp developed in the pond. With the help of the U. S. State Department and the American Consul at Singapore, Bears Bluff Laboratories is being shipped a small sample of "sapolin'' (pressed tea seed) which has long been used in the Orient for the control of predacious fish in shrimp ponds. When this material arrives, small-scale experiments in sea water aquaria will be conducted to determine whether sapolin can be used successfully for the control of predators in shrimp-pond culture in South Carolina. (Progress Report No. 38, October-December 1958, of the Bears Bluff Laboratories.) Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, November 1958 p. 53, August 1958 p. 50, and May 1958 p. 40. Standards QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MORE FISHERY PRODUCTS: The Department of the Interior shield--the housewife's assurance of quality fishery products--will be in greater evidence in American retail food markets next year because: 1. The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, plans to establish voluntary quality standards for 5 additional fishery products in 1959, bringing to 8 the total which will be entitled to bear the shield showing either Grade A or Grade B, both of which are good. 2, The Bureau expects that several additional fish-processing firms will re- quest the Department's continuous inspection service, thereby joining the 18 firms which now have the right to use the Department shield showing ''continuous inspec- tion;'' and that other firms will avail themselves of the sampling service and earn the right to state that the products offered the housewife are part of a lot which was officially sampled by Bureau inspectors. February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33 In addition to these direct efforts to assure quality, the Bureau is continuing its research on methods for "handling for quality''--methods which begin with the catch- ing of the fish and which follow through to assure the processor the type of raw ma- terial which he can use for quality products. CONTINUOUS INSPECTION WHITE A Sy OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT a ee RED OF THE INTERIOR Shield using red, white, and blue background. Shield with plain background. The first of the five new standards of quality will apply to haddock fillets. These standards will become effective March 1. Considerable advance notice was given before these standards were promulgated. Meetings were held in several cities be- fore the proposed standards were published in the Federal Register and a comment period was provided after publication. Processors and consumers indicated satis- faction with the proposals. Other voluntary standards scheduled for promulgation during the year include those for halibut steaks, raw breaded fish portions, cod fillets, and ocean perch fil- lets. Standards already in effect are for frozen fried fish sticks, frozen raw bread- ed shrimp, and frozen fish blocks. Since the fish blocks are used in making fish sticks, they are not apt to be seen on retail counters. To meet Bureau standards of quality, the fishery products must be made out of wholesome material of good odor and taste and must be processed under sanitary conditions. The shield with the ''U. S.'"' grade designation is used only on products for which standards have been established. The Bureau offers two types of inspection service, continuous and sample or lot inspection. In either instance the processor pays for the service. It is not man- datory that a processor use the inspection service or accept the quality standards but those who do so have the opportunity to announce that fact to the person purchas- ing the product at the retail counter. In spite of the fact that Interior's inspection service did not begin until July 1, 1958, by mid-December 18 firms had accepted the opportunity for continuous in- spection and oral and written inquiries about the inspection service indicate that many more will avail themselves of it during the coming year. The "handling for quality'' research of the Bureau has been going on for several years. Included in the work are methods of landing fish with minimum bruising; icing and storage in the hold to avoid spoilage; washing the decks and holds with chlorinated sea water to reduce the possibility of bacterial action; unloading and transporting techniques and refrigeration. In addition the Bureau is conducting re- search on preservation by radiation, on rancidity, and on numerous other things which influence the quality of the product that reaches the consumers' tables. ies wv ——= 34 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 Transportation RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY REQUESTS AN- OTHER INCREASE IN RATES: The Railway Ex- press Agency filed a petition for a 34-percent in- crease (effective January 1, 1959), in all rates and charges. The Express Company alleged that the increase was necessary to cover increases of about $12 million annually in wages, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and the cost of materials and supplies, all of whichoccurred after it asked the Commission for the 15-percent increase in rates and charges in 1957 (Ex Parte 210). The Interstate Commerce Commission on. October 13, 1958, grant press rates and charges, but most fishery products were exempted from the increase. Petitions for suspension of the 33-percent in- crease were due in the office of the Commission on or before December ?9, 1958. The new petition also requested the Commission to reconsider the October 13, 1958, decision that denied any increases in the rates and charges for carload traffic. The new petition by the Railway Express Agency is apparently confined to the evi- dence concerning carload traffic in fresh fruits and berries. ed the 15-percent general increase in railway ex- Tuna think these devices will enable us to make useful predictions about tuna availability in some areas in a few years' time, as well as helping other peo- ple in other ways." OCEAN WEATHER STATIONS MAY AID FISH- ERMEN LOCATE SCHOOLS: Devices now envis- aged should make possible, in a few years! time, predictions about tuna availability in some areas. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, has an Australian who is the leader of such a project. Ina letter to the Australian Direc- tor of Fisheries, the leader of the project states: An area in southern Mexico is of special inter- est, he continues. This area is windy and much precious time tends to be lost in mere scouting for tuna. It is hoped eventually to be able to say where tuna are most likely to be found after a blow of bs acae i ing thi doing is 3 : chaps Te Ante Re Ee Ae We enicacaure! such and such a kind, and how long after it. This attempting to install fixed automatic temperature- : : , : Fail Sind ecards stations in the open Bey could give the fishermen more time for actual fish- This type of equipment is sure to become a very ing. (Australian Fisheries Newsletter, November important tool of marine science one day. .. .I 1958.) = ber] United States Fishery Landings, January-November 1958 Landings of fish and shellfish in the United States and Alaska the first 11 months of 1958 were about 5 percent less than for the same period of the previous year. The total domestic catch of fishery products in 1958 should amount to about 4.6 bil- lion pounds. While the catch will be far below the record 5.2 billion pounds in 1956, it will be only 2 percent below the average catch during the past ten years and will be the seventh largest for the United States. The principal declines occurred in the landings of menhaden, down 205 million pounds; jack mackerel, down 65 million pounds; Alaska herring, down 37 million pounds; Pacific mackerel, down 33 million pounds; anchovies, down 31 million pounds; whiting, down 19 million pounds; and haddock, down to 10 million pounds. While landings of many important species declined sharply, the catches of sev- eral were up substantially. Landings of Pacific sardines through December 20 were nearly five times as large as in 1957, totaling over 200 million pounds--an increase of 181 million pounds. Salmon landings in both the Pacific Coast States and Alaska were up, with the total catch about 48 million pounds greater than in 1947. Tuna landings were about 23 million pounds more than in the previous year; ocean perch were up 15 million pounds; and Maine herring up 12 million pounds. February 1959 Table 1 - United States Fishery Landings of Certain Species for Periods Indicated, 1958 and 1957 ee ne COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35 Table2 - UnitedStates Fishery Landings by States for Periods Indicated, 1958 and 1957 ee eae: as heb me &|> Seg tere 1957 ope LFOODIEDS:)ipereien sees 38,408 | Maine... 10 mos 286,114] 266,030] 290,528 Cod: Maine. Massachusetts; 17,487 Boston: 06:5 0 115,557 127,012] 135,072 2,020 Gloucester .. 219,510} 241,687) 248,928 21,859 New Bedford . 105,354 99,951} 104,334 Provincetown . 24,880 25,070 25,109 4,667 tebe 93,617 Total Mass. 465,301} 493,720) 513,443 Gloucester ... 8.898 | Rhode Island2/ 8 mos 70,405 86,450) 121,273 1addoc. 107,182 | New York o/. a Lo; ** 33,982 34,172 40,223 Halibut 2/; New Jersey2/.. ilo}, 39,977 44,080} 50,541 Wash, & Ore... 15,430 | North Carolina 2/ f0°°™ 49,111 60,185 64,634 a 20,733 | South Carolina 2/ ii 22 14,922 16,878 17,289 36,163 |Georgia ..... HONS: 16,813] 15,893} 18,584 Herring: Florida 2/ 5 LOWS: 118,135} 109,671! 140,698 MENTO SS 56668 154,139} 141,885 153,621 | Alabama ..... Sie? 6,875 8,436) 11,882 80,828] 118,290 118,290 | Mississippi Moe Cie 11,422 16,689 19,991 Industrial fish, Louisiana 2/. . See? 39,266] 44,532) 63,332 Maine& Mass, 3/ 127,360| 128,796] 130,275 | Texas2/..... See 46,378] 55,473) 77,156 Br’ Ohio (Mar.-Oct.) LO’ 17,052 24,723 25,818 11 mos.| 21,054] 85,820 86,300 |Oregon 3/ .. {10 w | 54,340] 53,277| 57,694 ifi FLSA? 19,364 52, 314 55,200 | Washington: Salmon 3, 9mos. | 46,276] 39,871] 43,273 Ocean perch: Ofhenrrenetenens ae 64,397 61,926] 99,478 Maine....... |11 mos, 67,445 60,915 64,723 BOO cancun lik ve 2,435 3,631 3,819 | California: Gloucester.... {11 ”’ 72,489 62,485 65,389 Certain species 4/ 529,391 Total ocean perch 142,369} 127,031 133,931 Otherec enh 86,862 46,276| 39,871 43,273 Total Calif, 600,887 616,253 7,905 11,056 11,354 248,000} 203,437| 203,437 | Rhode Island, Middle 202,000] 40,910 45,800 | Atlantic, Chesa- Scallops, sea, New peake, South At- Bedford ..... |11mos,| 14,182} 15,530 16,461 | lantic, and Gulf Shrimp (heads-on): States (menhaden South Atlantic and ONLY) Feteres« ee 11 mos, }1,415,914| 1,603,132] 1,661,480 Gulf States ... |8 mos, 106,458) 121,448 197,043 ge 6,463 1,392 2,458 | Alaska: TA) 1,483 196 403 | Halibut 5/,.... Year 19,972 20,733] 20,733 10”’ 4,862 10,670 Herring ws 80,828 ee 118,290 ph 293,642| 277,560 Salmon . 248,000 10 mos 23,577 15,810 15,810 ISOStOM 2 levepeve on | Ly *? 578 988 1,002 Gloucesterm a. | Li 49,977 76,431 76,021 Others not listed Total whiting 93,333 = ——— Grand Total Total all above items {3,125,863} 3,291,569] 3,486,911 a 1/Preliminary. 1,292,089 |2/Excludes menhaden, _ == 3/Landed weight. Grand Total 3,746,367| 3,932,026] 4,779,000 |4/Includes catch of anchovies, jack and Pacific mackerel, Pa- cific sardines, squid, and tuna, Data on squid are for a 1/Preliminary. 3/Excluding menhaden, ten-months period and on sardines through December 20. 2/Dressed weight. @/Landed weight. 5/Dressed weight, — = 6/Data not available. Note:--Data principally represent weight of fish and shell- ish as landed except for mollusks which represent the fi J = weight of meats only, 36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 United States Fishing Fleet/ Additions SEPTEMBER 1958: A total of 65 vessels of 5 net tons and over was issued first documents as fishing craft in September 1958. Compared with the same month of 1957, this was an increase of 17 vessels. The Gulf States continued to lead with 33 vessels, the South Atlantic area was second with 16, and Pacific was third with 7. Table 1-U.S. Vessels Issued First Documents as Fishing| Table 2 - U. S. Vessels Craft, by Areas, September 1958 with Comparisons Issued First Documents As September Jan, -Sept. Total |Fishing Craft, by Tonnage, OPO O80 80 OO ee ey OOOO 0 0 -O 0 ee se ee Ooo OO Go Ooo OOgG6a0 o-oo Fishing craft that were issued documents as fishing craft during the | first nine months of 1958 totaled 565 vessels--an increase of 96 vessels as compared with the same period of 1957. Of the vessels documented for fishing, 41 percent were reported from the Gulf States. 1/ Includes both commercial and sport fishing craft. U. S. Foreign Trade EDIBLE FISHERY PRODUCTS, SEPTEMBER 1958: Imports of edible fresh, frozen, and processed fish and shellfish into the United States during September 1958 were 1.9 percent in quantity and 1.6 percent in value as compared with August 1958. Table 1 - U. S. Foreign Trade in Edible Fishery Products, September 1958 with Comparisons Value September Year 1958 i957 [13 1957_| 1957 _| Millions of Lbs. aur yin of $ Item Imports: Fish & shellfish: 1/ Fresh, frozen, & processed—, Exports: Fish & shellfish: 1/ Processed only— (excluding freshye&) t.OZen) pas wees 1/ Includes pastes, sauces, clam chowder and juice, and aS aeecialties? 837.0 The increase was due mainly to higher imports of frozen tuna other than albacore and frozen salmon, and to a lesser degree, an increase in the imports of shrimp and lobsters. These increases were partly offset by a 6.0-million pound decrease in the imports of frozen albacore tuna. Compared with September 1957, the imports in September 1958 were up sharply by 36.5 percent in quantity and 21.3 percent in value due to higher imports of ground- February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 37 fish fillets, frozen tuna (including albacore and other) and canned tunainbrine. Com- pensating, in part, for the increases was a drop of about 3.9 million pounds in the im- ports of frozen albacore tuna. United States exports of processed fish and shellfish in September 1958 were higher by 32.0 percent in quantity and 44.4 percent in value as compared with Au- gust 1958. Compared with the same month in 1957, the exports in September 1958 were down by 36.5 percent in quantity and 43.5 percentinvalue. The exports this September as compared with the same month in 1957 were lower due to light packs of California mackerel and anchovies, and the lack of export markets for the larger pack of California sardines. The fishing season for California sardines opened on August 1, 1958, and catches through September were many times greater than in the same period in 1957. Xe OK OK OK 3K GROUNDFISH FILLET IMPORTS, NOVEMBER 1958: Imports of cod, haddock, hake, pollock, cusk, and ocean perch fillets (including blocks) into the United States during November 1958 totaled 7.4 million pounds-~-a decline of 3.5 million pounds (32 percent) compared with the same month of 1957. Although imports from Canada (4.4 million pounds) dropped 44 percent below November 1957, she was still the leading supplier in volume--accounting for 59 percent of the month's total imports. During the first 11 months of 1958, imports of cod, haddock, hake, pollock, cusk, and ocean perch fillets (including blocks) amounted to 138.3 million pounds. This was a gain of 2 percent as compared with the same period of 1957. Imports from Cana- da made up 72 percent of the total, followed by Iceland with 13 percent, and Denmark with 7 percent. Imports from nine other countries comprised the remaining 8 per- cent. Information furnished by the Bureau of the Census indicates that about 11,945,000 pounds of blocks of bits and pieces of groundfish were imported during the firstnine months of 1958, in addition to fillets and fillet blocks. The quota of groundfish and ocean perch fillets and blocks permitted to enter the United States at 14 cents a pound in the calendar year 1958 was 35,892,221 pounds, based on a quarterly quota of 8,973,055 pounds. The quota for the calendar year 1957 amounted to 37,375,636 pounds. Imports during individual quarters in ex- cess of the established quarterly quota enter at a duty of 23 cents a pound. Note: See Chart 7 in this issue. we Ee ES IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA IN BRINE UNDER QUOTA: The quantity of tuna canned in brine which may be imported into the United States during the calendar year 1958 at the 125-percent rate of duty has been established as 44,693,874 pounds. Any imports in excess of this established quota will be dutiable at 25 percent ad valorem. Imports from January 1-December 20, 1958, amounted to 46,163,996 pounds, according to data compiled by the Bureau of Customs. This total exceeds the quota by 1,470,122 pounds. The quota of 44,693,874 was reached on November 20, 1958. Imports above the quota are dutiable at the 25-percent rate of duty. From January 1- December 31, 1957, a total of 42,513,788 pounds had been imported. 38 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 20, No. 2 Water Resources NEW NATIONAL MAP SHOWS ARMY, INTERIOR, TVA PROJECTS: Publication of a new water resources map showing the expansion of flood control, irrigation, naviga- tion, and power developments by the Army Corps of Engi- neers, Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation, and the Tennessee Valley Authority over the past five years was announced November 26, 1958. The new map brings up to date the Federal Government’s official water resources map to show the projects completed and new work authorized since the previous map was pub- lished in 1953. Shown also on the map are the 23,000 miles of improved inland waterways and the approximately 500 major harbors developed, operated, and maintained by the Army Engineers. The inland waterways, particularly the Mississippi-Ohio and Gulf Intracoastal system, have become one of the world’s most outstanding water-connected, industrial production lines, Traffic on the inland waterways has increased 43 percent within the past decade. The map, which shows the location and status of major Fed- eral water resources projects, can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C., at $2.25 each. It indicates marked changes bothin Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclama- tion developments during the past five:rears. The map also includes facilities of the Tennessee Authority in the south- eastern portion of the United States and other Federal agen- cies throughout the country. Includedare over 300 new Corps of Engineers and 35 new Bureau of Reclamation projects, embracing multipurpose | projects serving water supply, recreation, fish and wildlife, and other needs as well as flood control, irrigation, power, and navigation. These projects, totalling estimated Federal costs of about $1.7 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, have been added to programs authorized by previous congressional actions. Since 1953, 11 new Bureau of Reclamation storage dams have been completed or brought under construction, and an additional 20 authorized. These structures when completed will provide an additional 34,169,000 acre-feet of storage capacity in the West, _— —— Wholesale Prices, December 1958 During December 1958, mid-month wholesale prices for selected edible fishery products resumed their upward trend after a slight drop in the preceding month. Some sharp in- creases in fresh fish and more moderate increases in fresh and frozen shrimp prices were largely responsible for the rise. The December 1958 edible fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) wholesale price index (134.8 percent of the 1947-49 average) was up 5.1 percent from the preceding month and 6.5 percent above December 1957, when prices were also high. INDEXES OF WHOLESALE FISH PRICES 1947-1949 = 100 FRESH ANO FROZEN FISHERY PRODUCTS: ALL FISH ANO SHELLFISH 7 oN. JFMAMJJASOND JFMAMJJASONDJFMAD 1956 1957 In December 1958 prices for the drawn, dressed, and whole finfish subgroup items were 14.5 percent higher than in November. From November to December 1958 higher wholesale prices for fresh large drawn haddock (up 54,3 percent), whitefish (up 20.0 percent), and yellow pike (up 29.9 percent) were primarily responsible for the increase, When compared with December 1957, the subgroup index in December 1958 was 23.1 percent higher due to substantially higher prices for all the six items in tne Subgroup. All fresh fish items in the index were in light supply this past December and prices for the two frozen items (halibut and salmon) were up due to higher ex-vessel prices this past spring and summer. The fresh processed fish and shellfish subgroup index for December 1958 was higher by 6.7 percent from November due to a 29.2-percent price increase in fresh haddock fillet prices at Boston‘and an 8.6-percent increase in fresh shrimp prices at New York City. Shucked oyster prices were un- changed during this period and also from the same month in 1957. The index in December 1958 as compared with the same month in 1957 was about unchanged. An increase of 7.8 percent in haddock fillet prices was about offset by a decrease of 1.1 percent in fresh shrimp prices at New York City from December 1957 to December 1958. The index for December 1958 for frozen processed fish and shellfish increased by 3.3 percent over the preceding month because of increases of 0.5 to 1.0 cent a pound in frozen haddock and ocean perch fillet prices and a jump of about 5 cents a pound in frozen shrimp prices at Chicago. From December 1957 to December 1958 prices for the sub- group were up 7.9 percent--prices for all the items in the subgroup were higher in December 1958 as compared with December 1957, Canned fish primary prices in December 1958 were mixed--canned salmon and California sardines were un- changed, but prices were lower by 8.0 percent for canned tuna and higher by 3.0 percent for canned Maine sardines when compared with the preceding month. The net result was a decline of 2.8 percent in the canned fish index from November to December 1958. When compared with Decem- ber 1957, canned fish prices were lower by 2.5 percent. All the canned fishery products were lower in December 1958 as compared with the same month in 1957 except February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 39 for Maine sardines which rose one-third from the low 1957 for canned tuna, but the record pack of 14.3 million cases level. The packing seasons for all canned fish in the index (20 percent more than in 1957) was exerting pressure on was over by the end of December, except for tuna. The the canners to lower prices in order to reduce their in- markets continued firm for Maine sardines and salmon, but ventories. was weak for California sardines. Demand continued good Table 1 - Wholesale Average Prices and Indexes for Edible Fish and Shellfish, December 1958 With Comparisons Avg. Point of Prices1/ Indexes Group, Subgroup, and Item Specification Pricing Unit ($) (1947~49=100) Oct, | Dec, 1958 | 1957 129.6 | 126.6 Fresh & Frozen Fishery Products: ....... .+-.+-.-s pes 160.0 |2/147.4 Drawn, Dressed, or Whole Finfish: ...... : ; 177.5 {2/155.0 | 160.2 Halibut, West., 20/80 Ibs., drsd., fresh or froz, |New York Salmon, king, lge. & med., drsd., fresh or froz, |New York Whitefish,L, Superior, drawn, fresh. .... Chicago Whitefish,L. Erie pound or gill net, rnd., fresh New York Yellow pike, L.Michigan&Huron, rnd,,fresh . New York Fillets, haddock, sml,, skins on, 20-Ib, tins. . Shrimp, lge, (26-30 count), headless, fresh . . Oysters, shucked, standards .......-. Boston New York Norfolk Processed, Frozen (Fish & Shellfish):. .. . Fillets: Flounder, skinless, 1-lb, pkg. .... Haddock, sml,,skins on, 1-lb, pkg... . Ocean perch, skins on, 1-lb, pkg. . . . Shrimp, lge. (26-30 count), 5-lb, pkg. . . Ganned mishery Products:/))) 5 6 = 6 s «= © « Salmon, pink,No,1 tall (16 0z.), 48cans/cs. ... Tuna, It, meat, chunk, No, 1/2 tuna (6-1/2 o2z.), ES COIBWICSS oo: GlOmDLOPOLON OU) Oech UO sorte Sardines, Calif., tom, pack, No. 1 oval (15 02,), 2h! GRIS/BSH oe mid Vo loeokce Oboe pl onpscuomowtmd Sardines, Maine, keyless oil, No. 1/4 drawn (3=3/4702), LO0KcanS/CSsj.0.. =e. ste) Ie. ele oive 1/ Represent average prices for one day (Monday or Tuesday) during the week in which the 15th of the month occurs, ~ These prices are published as indicators of movement and not necessarily absolute level, Daily Market News Serv- ice ‘‘Fishery Products Reports’’ should be referred to for actual prices, 2/Revised, 40 = FOREIGN | COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 ———_—————————————— International EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET LOWERS CUSTOMS DUTIES: The Council of Ministers of the Euro- pean Economic Community (popularly called the Common Market) issuedapress release on December 3, 1958, concerning measures which will be taken by the, six member states on January 1, 1959. The following measures, among oth- ers, will enter into effect as of that date: Customs duties on industrial products, except for products coming under the regime of the European Coal and Steel Community, will be subject to a tariff reduction of 10 percent. This reduction will apply to all members of the Organ- ization for European Economic Coopera- tion (OEEC), all members of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and all other countries entitled to most-favor- ed-nation treatment. However, no reduc- tion will be made on commodities where the present duty is equivalent to or below the rate of the future Common External Tariff. (This will apply to a large num- ber of commodities in the Benelux tariff.) The reductions will be provisional and will be applied for an indefinite period. No reciprocity is required, although the Common Market countries will welcome similar measures by countries benefit- ting from these reductions. In cases where the rates of the Com- mon External Tariff are not yet known-- as, for example, the rates on items list- edinthe so-called G List appended to the Rome Treaty--each of the Common Mar- ket member states will determine which reductions are to be granted outside coun- tries. Most nonagricultural quotas applied by member states of the Common Market to European members of the OEEC are to be increased an average of 20 percent with each individual quota automatically increased by a minimum of 10 percent. It is not yet clear whether the benefitting countries will be expected to grant recip- rocal benefits to the Common Market member taking the quota action. The French representative to the OHEC Council gave notice that the French Gov- ernment, in addition to the tariff reduction, will liberalize 40 percent of its imports from the OEEC on January 1, 1959. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, January 1959, pp. 13-20. FISHERIES AGREEMENTS ITALIAN-YUGOSLAV FISHERIES AGREEMENT REVISED: The three-week oldnegotiations for a fisheries agreement between Italy and Yu- goslavia ended on November 20, 1958, with the signing at Belgrade of anew agree- ment valid through two fishing sessions to April 30,1960. The major changes over the previous arrangement were shorten- ing of the period covered by one-half year; the substitution of the coast of Monteneg- ro for Istria; adelimitation for Italian boats of 11 square miles in the Gulf of Tri- este, andthe setting up of new procedures forhandling of trespassing, other viola- tions, and the prosecutions involved. The news agency Italia in its official release stressed that the [talo-Yugoslav aim was reciprocal resolution of prob- lems in the spirit of increasing coopera- tion in the hope that sincere understand- ing would produce highly profitable re- sults for both nations, This is the third agreement signed. The Italians will pay 900 million lire February 1959 International (Contd.): (about US$1.4 million) for the term of the agreement for certain concession zones, the United States Embassy at Rome reported in a November 28, 1958, dispatch. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION ATOMIC ENERGY EXPECTED TO AID WORLD FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT: Atomic energy, particularly through the use of radioiso- topes and radiation in research, will play an increasingly important part in the development of the world fishery re- sources, states the Chief of the Atomic Energy Branch of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome, Italy. This prediction is in a report on ‘‘The Potential Contri- bution of Atomic Energy to Development in Agriculture and Related Industries,’’ published by FAO in English, French, and Spanish. The report covers power applications, the use of radiation in food preservation and processing and in plant breeding, the value of radioisotopes in research, and the significance of researchtothe development of agriculture and related industries which, of course, include fisheries. Referring to radioisotopes, the report says that use of them can ‘‘accelerate and enhance the contributions of research to the development of world fisheries.’’ While about three- quarters of the world’s surface is occupied by water, it pro- vides less than 2 percent of the world’s food supplies, but that this 2 percent represents about 10 percent of the animal protein consumed. “Every effort should therefore be made to increase world fish production,’’ the report declares. ‘'This can be achieved by extension and intensification of current fishing operations, by improved management of those operations and by effecting advantageous changes in the fisheries resources themselves.”’ Such a program calls for the comprehensive investiga- tion of the resources and in such research radioisotopes can be of particular help ‘‘in measuring the basic production of water areas, in following the passage of nutrient material through the successive links of the food chains of fish of eco- nomic value to man, andin various other parts ofthe pro- gram,.”’ The success of such research ‘‘will permit a better planning of fishing operations’’ and more efficient use of resources, The report also points out that the application of nuclear- derived power could be of considerable significance to the fishing industry, particularly ‘‘for use in mother and factory vessels of fishing and whaling fleets operating over long periods at great distances from their bases, especially in the Antarctic.’’ It points out that present power plants in fishing boats, including fuel tanks, occupy about 40 percent of the avail- able space onboard. The introduction of small nuclear pro- pulsion plants could radically change the situation, ‘‘The size of the vessel could be decreased, or its speed increased, or the fish-hold space or fish-processing space increased for the same sized hull.’’ While his report deals largely with agriculture, it is of considerable interest to all engaged in fisheries. HK OK eK SPONSORS FIRST WORLD SCIENTIFIC MEETING ON SARDINES: The first world scientific meeting on the biology of sar- dines is being organized by the Food and Agriculture Organi- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 41 zation (FAO) and will be held at FAO’s Rome, Italy, head- quarters, September 14 to 21, 1959. The world sardine catch is worth about $50,000,000 a year and represents about a fourth of the total world com- mercial catch of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc. Sardine stocks are, however, subject to considerable fluctuations which often have disastrous economic consequences for fishermen and the fishing industry. ‘*These fluctuations, which, so far, are unpredictable, sometimes affect entire stocks,’’ pointed out the secretary of the world meeting, speaking at FAO headquarters, ‘'Fish- ery biologists, of course, have been studying the problem for many years, but so far have not been able to review to- gether the work they have done in various parts of the world, exchange experience and ideas, and discuss the further re- search needed to solve this problem. ‘“‘The forthcoming meeting will enable them to do these things and will lead, we hope, to world-wide collaboration in probing the mystery of the fluctuations in sardine stocks,’’ he continued, ‘‘About 100 countries and territories are di- rectly concerned in sardine fishing.’’ The genus Sardina and the related genera Sardinops and Sardinella will be considered together, in view of their bi- ological affinities, under the common name of sardines, which is used in many countries. ‘‘This designation should not be taken as an official standard name for industrial and commercial purposes,’’ FAO pointed out, Many Governments concerned have been invited to send representatives to the meeting. Private research institutions concerned with the biology of sardines and the effect of fish- eries on Sardine stocks are also invitedto participate. Some 15 international organizations have been invited to send ob- servers. The meeting will review the present knowledge of the de- velopment of the commercial sardine fisheries, the biology of the stocks, the environments of sardine populations and the fluctuations in stocks, and catches. These various discussions will be based on synopses prepared by FAO and on papers presented by the participants. It is hoped that the meeting will consider future international cooperation in dealing with the problems of fluctuation, and how such cooperation can be made effective. GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE REPORT ON 13TH SESSION AT GENEVA: The 37 Contracting Parties to the General A- greement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) ended their 13th Session at Geneva, Switzerland, with new decisions that international action is needed to stimulate world trade. The conference agreed on the need for common action in three key areas of international trade--tariff reduction, study of the effects of agricultural protection, and the ex- port problems of underdeveloped areas. The GATT is a multilateral trade agreement whose participating countries account for almost 85 percent of world trade. Its main features are schedules of agreed tariff rates, provisions limit- ing the use of nontariff measures to regulate trade, and procedures for consultations on specific trade problems. The annual sessions of the GATT Con- tracting Parties constitute the principal world trade forum. The 13th Session opened October 16 witha meeting of ministerial representatives, who re- viewed the current international trade scene. Program for Expansion of Trade: The Con- tracting Parties agreed that intensified efforts 42 International (Contd.): should be made to expand international trade, the field of particular competence of the General A- greement. They identified three areas where such efforts should be concentrated. Two of these were the trade difficulties cited in the Haberler Report (a study of trends in international trade, prepared by four experts)--the effects of protectionism throughout the world on agricultural trade and the relatively low rate of growth in the export trade of the less developed countries. A third area was the tariff field. Three separate committees were set up for these areas. In proposing another round of multilateral tariff negotiations, the United States pointed out that negotiations beginning in mid-1960 would fit in with the need for the six member countries of the European Economic Community to adjust their ex- isting tariff concessions before taking their first step on January 1, 1962, toward a common ex- ternal tariff. European Economic Integration: Since the last Session of the Contracting Parties, the Rome Treaty establishing a European Economic Com- munity (the European Common Market) among France, Italy, Federal Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg has entered into force. During the year, efforts have also been continued to negotiate a European Free Trade Area, which would associate multilaterally the Common Market, the United Kingdom, and other members of the Organization of European Eco- nomic Cooperation (OEEC). The six countries of the EEC will, after a transitional period of about 12 years, have a customs union, within which there will be no restrictions on the flow of trade and which will apply a common external tariff to imports from outside the Community. The pro- posed free trade area would also eliminate re- strictions on trade among member states. bnt al- low each member to maintain its own tariffs a- gainst imports from nonmembers. The GATT recognizes, subject to certain con- ditions, the desirability of such arrangements be- cause of their trade-creating potential. The Con- tracting Parties approved, with some technical amendments, the approach regarding the European Economic Community which had been developed at the meeting of the Intersessional Committee in April-May of 1958, with reference to the proce- dures for consultations among the Common Mar- ket countries and other contracting parties, and to the decision to postpone any final determination as to the status of the Rome Treaty under the Gen- eral Agreement. The Contracting Parties there- fore agreed, without prejudice to the legal ques- tions which may arise, that multilateral consulta- tion shall take place between the Community and those contracting parties that believe that their trade interest may be adversely affected as the result of specific measures decided on by the Com- munity. In considering the matter, the Contracting Parties agreed normal procedures of the General Agreement could be adapted to handle problems arising in this situation and, further, that the same approach might profitably be applied in other cases COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 where the interests of a number of contracting parties were involved. The United States representative commended the EEC on the progress that it had achieved. He expressed the belief that any problems could be settled without interfering with the Community's effective development and called attention to the consultation procedures as a means for dealing with specific difficulties. Various delegations, including that of the United States, recalled cer- tain areas of concern but were willing generally to await developments under the terms of the Treaty. The Contracting Parties noted that negotiations for a European Free Trade Area were continuing and expressed the view that, at such time as the agreement might be signed, it should be made a- vailable to GATT for review and comment. Balance-of-Payments Import Restrictions: The Contracting Parties agreed on procedures for the first series of annual constiie: ~ns which the re- vised provisions of the Agreement require be held with countries maintaining import restrictions to conserve foreign exchange. Consultations will be held next year with 16 of these countries. As in the past, the United States will seek through these consultations to encourage the consulting countries to relax their remaining restrictions as rapidly as possible, During the session, the Contracting Parties held consultationz on import restrictions with Australia, Ceylon, Ghana, and the Federation of Malaya, and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasa- land. Under the authority of a special provision of the Agreement, each of these countries main- tains certain import restrictions that discriminate against imports from the dollar area. Ceylon, however, announced shortly after its consultation that it was abolishing its few remaining discrimi- natory restrictions. Ghana and Malaya, which came into the Agreement last year, consulted for the first time. The Contracting Parties formally concluded a consultation with New Zealand, which reported substantial progress in reducing its dis- crimination against dollar area goods. The Con- tracting Parties also began consultations with the United Kingdom. These will be resumed in the spring of 1959, along with the other consultations scheduled for next year. The Contracting Parties continued their discus- sion with the Federal Republic of Germany on dis- mantling its remaining import restrictions, orig- inally applied for balance-of-payments reasons. These discussions began in 1957, when the Inter- national Monetary Fund reported that Germany no longer needed to use import restrictions to pro- tect its foreign exchange reserves. The United States,: joined by other countries, expressed continued concern that, despite Ger- many's economic progress, a variety of important agricultural products and some industrial items are still subject to import controls. The United States expressed particular concern with the dis- criminatory character of remaining restrictions. The Contracting Parties decided that interested countries should jointly consult with Germany re- February 1959 International (Contd. ): garding restrictions that will be maintained by Germany after December 31, 1958. This consulta- tive group, which will include United States repre- sentatives, will meet in Geneva early next year. The Contracting Parties expect to consider the re- port of the consultative group at their next session, scheduled for April 1959. The United States consulted bilaterally withcer- tain countries maintaining import restrictions (Ja- pan, Denmark, Norway, Ceylon, Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland), with a view to easing specific problems which have arisen in United States trade with these countries, A full and frank exchange of views was achieved in all cases, and some relaxations of existing restric- tions on specific goods were obtained. Tariff Adjustments: At Cuba's request the Con- tracting Parties established a Tariff Negotiations Committee to steer the various renegotiations on which Cuba expects soon to embark in connection with its current tariff revision. These negotiations will be conducted under the procedures of Article XXVIII, and perhaps Article XVII, as agreed ina decision taken at the 12th session. The negotia- tions themselves will not begin until a later date, and the United States will not, for its part, join in such negotiations until after the usual opportunity has been given to interested parties to submit their views. The Session also approved the text of a Proto- col to embody the results of the tariff renegotia- tions conducted with Brazil. This Protocol will be open for signature later in the year. Organizational Arrangements: To improve the administration of the General Agreement, two short | sessions of the Contracting Parties each year, ex- tending for three weeks, will take the place of an- nual sessions lasting 6 to 8 weeks. This arrange- ment will expedite the transaction of regular GATT business, and permit more timely and effective consideration of new and urgent problems. The Contracting Parties also decided that, while the Intersessional Committee would be given gener- al authority to conduct intersessional business on | their behalf, some responsibilities would also be assigned to working parties which would continue in existence between sessions. Member countries were urged to provide qualified permanent repre- sentatives in or near Geneva, who could effective- ly and responsibly represent their countries in dealing with the GATT Secretariat and with the resident representatives from other countries. New Participants: Switzerland is currently en- gaged in tariff negotiations with a substantial num- ber of contracting parties as a step towards pro- visional participation in the General Agreement. At the 13th Session, the Contracting Parties adopt- ed a declaration and a resolution which, when ac- cepted, will bring into effect the results of these negotiations and will establish the rules of the Gen- eral Agreement as governing commercial relations between contracting parties and Switzerland. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 43 Yugoslavia has expressed the wish to establish closer relations with the Contracting Parties and to contribute through this association to the estab- lishment of mutually advantageous commercial re- lations with the Governments which are parties to the GATT. The Contracting Parties established a working party to report to the 14th Session on the terms on which the Government of Yugoslavia might be brought into association with the Contract- ing Parties. The Working Party is also to report on the advisability of further study on the possible development of such association into full participa- tion in the General Agreement. The Cambodian Government informed the Con- tracting Parties that Cambodia had decided in prin- ciple to accede to the General Agreement, Pending formal accession, Cambodia will apply de facto, on a reciprocal basis, the provisions of the General Agreement in the conduct of its trade with the Con- tracting Parties. The question of United States participation in tariff negotiations with Cambodia was reserved for later decision. Japan has been a contracting party since 1955, but a number of GATT countries have availed them- selves, with respect to Japan of a provision which permits non-application of the General Agreement. As they have at previous Sessions, the United States and several other countries supported Japan's re- quest for full application of the General Agreement by all GATT countries. India announced that it is now applying the General Agreement fully toward Japan. The bilateral discussions initiated with the Brit- ish delegation sought to obtain further relaxation of import restrictions applied to conserve dollar resources by the United Kingdom. Frozen halibut, frozen salmon, mild-cured salmon, canned pil- chards, and canned shrimp were among the items for which more liberal trade terms with the United States were sought. No conclusions were reached at the meeting, but negotiations are continuing with the British. NEXT SESSION: The Contracting Parties agreed and to accept the invitation of Japan to meet in To- kyo in October 1959. GREAT LAKES FISHERY COMMISSION MEETING HELD IN ANN ARBOR, MICH: A meeting of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission was held at Ann Arbor, Mich., December 3-5, 1958. Both Can- ada and the United States presented re- ports on sea lamprey control and re- search conducted by both countries in the Great Lakes. The reports gave an account of progress and revealed that the results obtained by both countries were about identical, particularly on sea lamprey control methods. United States commercial landings of lake trout for 1958 were estimated to be 44 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW International (Contd.): close to one million pounds: Michigan 700,000 pounds, Wisconsin 250,000 pounds. Ontario's lake trout landings were estimated to be about the same as int LOSE The recommendations made by the Special Committee for the Commission's consideration and approval were: 1. Added emphasis and development in introducing lake trout possessing su- perior qualities; and selective breeding of trout using hybrids of lake and brook trout that can produce an early-maturing and fast-growing trout. 2. To hatch and rear all available eggs so that hatchery-reared lake trout can be introduced in Lakes Michigan and Huron to establish breeding populations following control of the sea lamprey. 3. That the maximum capacity of existing facilities is calculated at 3.7 million yearlings, which is inadequate, and that additional facilities be provided by 1963 for rearing another 2 million yearling lake trout. 4, That an adequate system of sam- pling native and hatchery lake trout pop- ulations be established in order to gain more knowledge of abundance, distribu- tion, growth rate, and survival of both native lake trout and planted stock. The Commission's Scientific Adviso- ry Committee considered a prospectus for Lake Erie fishery research. This prospectus recommended studies of (1) the environment (including basic physi- cal and chemical data), (2) life histories of the most important species of fish (of which there are 15 in Lake Erie), (3) population studies (including age and size composition, sex ratio, etc.), and (4) yield (including compilation of catch sta- tistics, refinement of sampling proce- dures of the commercial fishery, and determination of optimum yields), In addition to these biological studies, there were recommendations for studies of gear development, technology, market- ing, and economics. Finally, there was an addendum to cover Lake St. Clair. Vols 21sNow2 The proposed studies there would be similar to those in Lake Erie. There was also a discussion of the plans for lamprey control in fiscalyears 1959 and 1960. It was pointed out there were 13,000 to 16,000 second-feet of stream to be treated in Lake Michigan. To treat 8,000 second-feet per year as planned would require 132,000 pounds of chemical at $3.50 per pound for a total of $460,000. It was stated that the studies in Lake Superior should be completed be- fore those in Lake Michigan are started. There was extensive discussion of the means of carrying out the treatment pro- gram and coordination between Canada and the United States. There was a sug- gestion for a team for stream treatment, which would travel either in Canada or in the United States. There was also some discussion of a continuation of bar- riers. Their chief function would be to (1) check on the effectiveness of the lam- pricide treatment and (2) to prevent re- infection. The Plenary Session convened Decem- ber 4 with all Commissioners present. The report on lamprey control and re- search in Canada pointed out that there were some 20 electrical barriers that were in operation on the Canadian side of Lake Superior, He was able to report significant decreases in the populations of lampreys in the barriered streams, There was a kill of over 3,000 lampreys at barriers in 1958. Investigations by divers at the Sault Ste. Marie Locks re- vealed no significant migration of lam- preys through those locks. The United States report on 1958 progress in Great Lakes fishery investi- gations pointed out the development of successful lampricide treatment in 1958. The poisoning of eight streams in the fall of 1958 under the new control program was reported. Kill of lamprey larvae in these streams was reported practically complete and destruction of fish was eith- er nil or negligible. Reports of cooperating state organi- zations were given for Wisconsin and for Michigan. In the final Plenary Session, the Com- mission called for recommendations of February 1959 International (Contd.): the Scientific Advisory Committee on changes in the fiscal year 1959 program. It was indicated that there should be some showing of savings in this fiscal year and that there should be justifica- tion of changes from the original pro- gram, There was also a report on the work of the lake trout restoration committee. It showed that considerable progress has been made on preparations for lake trout restoration. State, Federal, and Provincial agencies collected a total of 2,300,000 lake trout eggs in 1958. These agencies have on hand a stock of some 36,000 brood fish, Although only 27 per- cent of these are mature at present, 74 percent will be mature by 1962. Some 740,000 fry are available for distribu- tion. The Ontario Department of Lands and Forests has a very significant re- search program to develop hybrid trout. These hybrids are crosses between speckled trout and lake trout and the objective is to produce a fish with the desirable characteristics of the lake trout and the early maturity of the speck- led trout. It is expected that by 1964 the agencies will be producing 4,500,000 yearlings, but capacity is available for only 3,700,000. The committee, there- fore, made a strong recommendation for additional rearing capacity to be ready by 1963. A resolution regarding coordinated fishery regulations among the Great Lakes political units was adopted by the Commission, It was agreed that the next meeting would be held at Ottawa in April 1959, (NORTH EUROPEAN) INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES CONVENTION PERMANENT COMMISSION MEETS IN DUBLIN: The Seventh Meeting of the Permanent Com- mission set up under the (North European) Inter- national Fisheries Convention of 1946 took place in Dublin, November 25-28, 1958. Delegations at- tended from all 14 of the Member Governments: Belgium, Denmark, Federal German Republic, France, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Brit- ain and Northern Ireland. Observers represented the United States Government, the International COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45 Council for the Exploration of the Sea, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Commission for the North- west Atlantic Fisheries. The main subject under discussion was the Re- port by the Chairman of the Committee set up by the Commission at their Sixth Meeting held in Lon- don in October 1957 to consider what were the precise difficulties of member countries as re- gards the application of the present mesh provi- sions of the 1946 Convention and what might be done to meet those difficulties consistent with the purposes of the Convention. Accompanying this report was a report by a subcommittee of scien- tists giving a detailed and comprehensive survey of the sole fisheries in the North Sea and the whit- ing fisheries in the North Sea, the Irish Sea, and the Channel, together with similar information about the other major fisheries which might be mingled with them and of mixed fisheries both for nonindustrial and industrial purposes. This report was welcomed by the Commission as a major contribution to their understanding of many of the outstanding conservation problems facing Member Governments in the area covered by the Convention. They agreed to make arrange- ments to have this document published by the In- ternational Council for the Exploration of the Sea. The Commission took this scientific document as the basis of their deliberations on the problems presented by the report of the Committee on mesh difficulties. These problems were concerned with the sole fisheries, the whiting fisheries and mixed fisheries. The Commission agreed, that, as regards the sole fisheries, there was no obstacle in the way of effective enforcement of the 75-mm. (2.95-inch) mesh. As regards the whiting fisheries, a propos- al was considered to provide on an experimental SXasis for a 60-mm. (2.36-inch) mesh for whiting in certain parts of the Irish Sea and the Channel. The Commission was, however, unable to agree that this proposal should at present be pursued. As regards the mixed fisheries, general con- cern was expressed about the effect on protected species if this kind of fishing developed, and it was agreed that such developments should be kept un- der review. The Commission also agreed that the provisions in the Convention, whereby 10 percent by weight of each total landing of protected species which was not intended for human consumption might consist of undersize fish, was extended to May 1, 1962. The Commission also considered a proposal put forward by the Norwegian Delegation for an increase in the mesh size to 130 mm, (5.12 inches) in the northeastern part of the Convention area, It was agreed that further scientific study should be undertaken to investigate the effect of an in- crease of mesh of that order. The Commission agreed to resume consideration of the matter at their next meeting. The Commission considered the question wheth- er the Convention should be amended to permit the use of certain kinds of chafing gear in order to prevent wear and tear of nets. They agreed un- 46 International (Contd.): animously to recommend to member Governments that a precisely-defined chafing gear, similar to that permitted under the rules of the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, should be permitted for nets of 110-mm. (4.33-inch) mesh. A review of reports by Contracting Governments on infractions of the rules of the Convention was discussed and the Commission agreed to undertake steps to ensure greater uniformity in such reports and to provide Governments with more detailed in- formation of the enforcement arrangements by all member Governments concerned. The Commission expressed their appreciation of the valuable work undertaken for them by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and, as a token of this appreciation, decided to make a contribution of £400 (US$1,120) to the funds of the Council. The Permanent Commission of the International Fisheries Convention of 1946 was set up to consid- er at regular intervals the conservation measures provided for under that Convention for the protec- tion of certain species of fish in the North-East Atlantic, the Arctic, and dependent seas. The Con- vention provides for minimum mesh sizes for cer- tain types of nets. There are also regulations re- garding the landing of immature fish under which the major species of demersal fish cannot be land- ed if they are below a certain size; the size varies with each species. The Convention area, so far as the application of mesh sizes is concerned, is divided into two parts. In the waters around Iceland, off Northern Norway, Bear Island, and the Arctic 110-mm. (4.33-inch) mesh is applied. In the waters around Great Britain and Ireland, however, the present minimum mesh size laid down for manila and sisal trawls is 75 mm. (2.95 inches) although, under present regulations, this minimum size is to be increased by 5 mm. (0.2 inch) in 1961. There are slightly different mesh sizes laid down for "light" trawls and seine nets. Irish fishermen are at present concerned only with the 75-mm, (2,95-inch) area. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, September 1958, p. 76. NORTH PACIFIC FUR SEAL COMMISSION ( SECOND ANNUAL MEETING HELD: The North Pacific Fur Seal Commission ond Annual Meeting on December 13, 1958. The Commission, which was established under the provisions of the 1957 Inter- im Convention on Conservation of the North Pacific Fur Seals, signed at Washington on February 9, 1957, opened its Second Annual Meeting in Washington, D. C., on December 8. adjourned its Sec- The Commission reviewed the results of the 1958 scien- tific research programs of the four Member Governments-- Canada, Japan, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the United States--regarding the fur seals of the North Pacif- ic Ocean, The Commission also approved a coordinated plan for research during the 1959 season. Each country on the COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Commission was represented by a Commissioner and advis- ers. Canadian Commissioner George R, Clark was elected Chairman of the Commission, to serve through the next Annu- Vol: 21, No.2 al Meeting, and Japanese Commissioner Kenjiro Nishimura was elected Vice-Chairman, Other members of the Commis- sion are Aleksandr A, Ishkov for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and Arnie J. Suomela for the United States. It was agreed that the next Annual Meeting of the Commis- sion would be held in Moscow beginning January 25, 1960. The Commission has as its major responsibility investi- gation of the fur seal resources of the North Pacific Ocean. The objective of this investigation is to determine the meas- ures which will make possible the maximum sustainable yield from these resources, with due regard for their re- lation to the productivity of other living marine resources in the area. In accordance with a plan developed by the Com- mission at its First Meeting, research agencies of the four Governments are carrying on research at sea, while United States scientists carry on research on the breeding grounds on the Pribilof Islands in the Eastern Bering Sea, and Soviet scientists do similar work on the Commander Islands in the Western Bering Sea, and on Robben Island in the Okhotsk Sea. The investigations are concentrated on dynamics of the fur-seal populations, distribution and migration at sea, feed- ing habits, and harvesting methods, Investigations at sea will begin in early February 1959 on both sides of the Pacific. Investigations at the rookeries will begin in the early summer as the seals arrive at the end of their annual migration to the breeding grounds. Under the provisions of the Interim Convention, commer- cial harvesting of seals at sea is prohibited. All harvesting is done on the breeding grounds under the control of the United States on the Pribilof Islands, and under the control of the Soviet Government on Robben Island and the Commander Is- lands. The proceeds of the annual harvest are shared ac- cording to an agreed formula among the four Governments. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, February 1958 p. 56. NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISHERIES COMMISSION NINTH ANNUAL MEETING: The Ninth Annual Meeting of the North- west Atlantic Fisheries Commission will be held in Montreal, Canada, during the week beginning June 1, 1959. In the week preceding the meet- ing, various meet- ings of the Standing Committee on Re- search and Statistics and Groups of Scien- tific Advisers to Panels will take place. KOK OK KK OCEAN PERCH SYMPOSIUM: A joint International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic--International Council for Exploration of the Sea sym- posium on ocean perch (Sebastes) will be held in Charlottenlund, Denmark, in connection with the Statutory Meeting of ICES in October 1959. ICES has accept- ed an invitation from ICNAF to co-spon- sor the symposium and has declared their February 1959 International (Contd.): readiness to accommodate the Symposi- um, After consideration with ICES, the symposium will take place in the week following the ICES Meeting, i.e. Octo- ber 12-16, 1959. There is increased activity in the fish- ery for ocean perch or redfish in the central part of the Northwest Atlantic Convention Area, The greatly expanded fishery in the Labrador area, the in- creased Canadian yields around New- foundland, and the new extensive fishery by the U.S.S.R. northeast of the Grand Bank and around Flemish Cap point to a greatly increased and increasing im- portance of the ocean perch in the Con- vention Area. This development calls for intensified study of the major prob- lems in ocean perch biology. It is to be hoped that the ocean perch symposium will further the solution of these prob- lems. A considerable part of the area to which the ocean perch fishery now has been extended was explored a few years ago by the Newfoundland Station of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. The report from the Station pointed out that possibilities for a development of the fishery to these areas existed. 3 ok ok a ok OTOLITH EXCHANGE PROGRAM: The Commission's cod otolith ex- change program, which was set up fol- lowing a recommendation of the Commit- tee on Research and Statistics, is devel- oping satisfactorily. In this program the same sample of otoliths is studied inde- pendently by scientists of different coun- tries, It is believed that the analysis of their reports and discussions arising from them will result in a greater con- sistency in the interpretation of the growth rings of the otoliths. Six samples from Subarea 1, six from Subarea 3, and four from Subarea4 arenow being circu- lated among interested scientists. (News- letter No. 30, dated December 15, 1958, issued by the Commission for August- December 1958.) COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 47 NORWEGIAN-RUSSIAN SEALING AGREEMENT Norway and the U.S.S.R. have signed an agreement (with annex) on measures for the regulation of the seal catch and the preservation of seal stocks in the northeast Atlantic. The agreement, sign- ed in Oslo on November 22, 1957, came into force with the exchange of the instru- ments of ratification at Moscow on June 27, 1958. The agreement was registered by Norway on August 25, 1958. (U. N. State- ed with the Secretariat during August 1958.) SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: The South Pacific Commission pro- gram for fisheries aims at a better ex- ploitation of marine resources in the South Pacific area, the bringing into pro- duction of natural waters by stocking them with various edible fish species, and the promoting of fish culture in ponds where conditions appear suitable. Active work in the program com- menced in July 1954 with the appoint- ment of a Fisheries Officer. Fisheries planning and implementation take place in close cooperation with ter- ritorial administrations and populations. At its seventeenth session the Com- mission approved the creation of a tech- nical committee on fisheries, to advise | the Commission on the development of the project. A three-month Fisheries Training Course, held under the auspices of the Commission and of the Food and Agricul- ture Organization, ended on February 21, 1957. The Course was attended by 25 trainees from 14 Pacific island territo- ries, and by 4 observers. Fishing opera- tions, fishing gear, fishing craft, and fish culture were the four main subjects cov- ered by the curriculum. Most territorial administrations succeeded in making good use of the trained personnel. 48 International (Contd.): An outstanding result of the stocking of natural waters was observed in Lake Siwi, on Tanna Island in the New He- brides, where a very small breeding stock of Tilapia mossambica, introduced in July 1958, produced in less than 17 months a fish population estimated at well over one million. In spite of an exceptional drought which caused ex- tremely high mortality, the fish are sol- idly established and the local population has started to catch and consume them. During visits to territories and through the distribution of technical publications, advice has been given on inland fisheries, transfers of trochus and mother-of-pearl shell, and coastal deep-sea fisheries. (South Pacific Com- mission, Annual Report, 1957, pp. 13- 14.) UNITED NATIONS DEEP OCEAN TRENCHES UNSUITABLE FOR DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE: Beneath the oceans there are great valleys. Nine- teen ocean ''trenches'"' are over 4.5 miles deep and scme are thousands of miles long. In the search for burial grounds" for the disposal of radioactive wastes, which may become a problem when the a- tomic industry develops on a world-wide scale, those ''trenches'' seemed likely places. It was as- sumed that they were troughs of stagnant water. There, so the argument went, the dangerous ele- ments, in their concrete-and-metal coffins, would lie undisturbed for centuries until their radioactivity was spent. This assumption was questioned three years a- go at the first United Nations International Confer- ence on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy. At the second meeting in Geneva, in September 1958, the illusion was finally dispelled. In the intervening years the U.S.S.R. ship Vityaz carried out oceanographic investigations of 12 of these trenches. The findings of the expedition have shown that the trenches are unsuitable places for the disposal of radioactive waste. At the conference, U.S.S.R. reported in detail on the Tonga Trench, which extends southward for nearly 700 miles from the Samoa Islands to the Kermadec Islands. The Soviet expedition found that, by comparison with the findings of the Danish Gal- atea expedition in 1952, the deep-water tempera- ture had risen. This showed that even at the great- est depth a change of water takes place in as brief a space as five years. The distribution of oxygen and phosphates and the presence of living organ- isms consuming oxygen at every depth showed that the water was actively mixing, horizontally and vertically. Thus, the dangerous materials with COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 long-lived radioactivity will be liable to breakloose and escape upward into the upper layers of water. There marine life would become radioactively in- fected and form a biological chain reaction which would end up in the food of human beings. This warning was reinforced, at the Conference, by the representative from the Woods Hole Ocean- ographic Institution (United States). He showed that there was a kind of biological elevator in the sea which would bring radioactive materials from the deeps to the surface. Seaorganisms, he showed, concentrated the fission products so that the plank- ton in the Bikini test area of the Pacific had 470 times more radioactivity than the water itself. In life, the marine organisms would pick up, concentrate, and transfer the radioactivity from the contaminated layers of the ocean to the uncon- taminated. In death, the organisms would sink to- ward the bottom and the fission products, bound up in their skeletons, would increase the radioactivity in the depths. Thus there would be an upward and downward movement of radioactivity, apart from any mixing of the upper and lower waters. This drastically changes the picture which assumed that the transfer between the deeps and the surface would take about 300 years. Both Britain and America have been dumping radioactive materials in the Atlantic trenches but of a kind and on a scale which so far gives no cause for concern. The British explained that the only material they had so far deposited was contamina- ted machinery from Harwell. The total amount of radioactivity deposited in eight years in the deeps, by the British, amounted to about 600 curies, an in- significant amount in dilution. The Americans have carried out regular surveys of their ''ocean grave- yards" and have found no evidence of any increase in the radioactivity of the water. The disposal of radioactive liquid wastes in coastal waters is another matter. The British have had a long experience of disposing of this kind of sewage’ from their atom factory at Windscale in Cumberland. A pipeline carried the effluent two miles beyond the high-water mark into the Irish Sea. This is very mild radioactivity, since the main fis- sion product wastes are concentrated and stored in- land. The discharging into the sea is carried out under strict supervision of government inspectors and under public health regulations already estab- lished. To inspection at the source is added strict and continual hydrographic and biological surveys of the sea and the shoreline. As part of this pro- gram, over 35,000 fish were caught and marked and some recaught under a planned fishing program. These, like the edible seaweed and the sands of the shore, have given little indication of any increase in radioactivity which might cause concern. The U.S.S.R. scientists at the Conference took a very strong line that no radioactivity of any kind should be disposed of in open waters, or on land, under any conditions in which it might seep into the ground water. They reported that even their mild effluent is run into concrete ditches and sealed off by concrete. It was made abundantly and consistently clear that the disposal of waste so far has not been ona scale, or in circumstances, which constitute a present public health hazard. February 1959 International (Contd.): The insistence of the many technical papers pre- sented on this subject was on the precautions neces- sary for the future. What was emphasized was that a great deal more research must be done before any kind of ''dumping" could be tolerated. The only safe method of storage is in tanks in which the radioactive substances are allowed to decay--and some of them will take centuries todo so. To the complications of storage is added the fact that in giving off their radiation the elements are producing heat which, in given circumstances, will cause the tanks to boil--and go on boiling for 100 years. (World Health Organization news release, Novem- ber 1958.) He EK OK A GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE APPROVES SECOND LAW OF THE SEA CONFERENCE: A second international conference of plenipotentiaries on the Law of the Sea was approved by the Legal Committee (Committee Six) of the United Nations General Assembly on December 4, 1958. Meeting at United Nations in New York City, the Committee approved the second conference to be held at Geneva in July or August 1959. The purpose will be to determine the extent of territorial waters and fishing limits, which were left unset- tled by the first international conference. The final recommendation of the Sixth Committee, with the addition of one in- consequential amendment, was the same as the proposal of the United States and 10 other nations, and was approved by a vote of 42 for and 28 against with 9 ab- stentions. An amendment, which did not pass, to the United States resolution supported by the Soviet Bloc and a majority of the Lat- in American Republics would have post- poned any action and consideration of this matter until the next session of the Gen- eral Assembly. This amendment was de- feated by a one-vote majority, with 37for, 38 against, and 5 abstentions. It is anticipated that the General As- sembly will endorse the meeting. The Committee felt that the conference would "contribute substantially to the lessening of international tensions. . ."' He ok ok ook ole COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW | latter part of Novem- 49 GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTES FOR SECOND LAW OF THE SEA CONFERENCE: The United Nations General Assem- bly on December 10, 1958, voted to hold the second International Conference on the Law of the Sea in March or April 1960. This action, which amended the proposal of the Sixth Committee for an earlier meeting (summer of 1959), was adopted by a vote of 68 for, 6 against, and 3 abstentions. The United States voted for the amendment proposing the later date. The move to hold the meeting ata later date was initiated by Mexico, Ecua- dor, and others. It is reported that one of the major reasons why the later date was desired by certain Latin American republics and others was that it gave them another meeting of the General As- sembly and a February 1960 meeting of the Organization of the American States to prepare their positions for the second conference on the law of the sea. WHALING FIVE NATIONS DISCUSS DIVISION OF 1958 QUOTA: Representatives of Great Britain, Norway, Russia, Holland, and Japan at- tended a conference held in London the berelQoge. lhercons ference was convened by Great Britain with the objective of se- curing an agreement for individual quotas rather than a global quota for countries whaling in the Antarctic. The growing expenditure on whaling by Russia and Japan made the conference acritical one. These countries are mount- ing an increasing number of expeditions. The cost of one whaling expedition from Britain costs between 46-48 million (US$16.8-22.4 million), and a poor catch can be disastrous. Japanese companies have the advantage of alarge domestic market for whale meat for human consump- tion and of low wages. The Russian 50 International (Contd.): fleet appears to be subsidized. Whale oil prices are falling because of lower margarine consumption and large sup- plies of other oils. Unlike Japan, Russia is outside the existing agreement between Holland, Norway, Japan, and the United Kingdom, which limits the number of whale catch- ers to be used in the 1959 season. Nor- way has threatened to withdraw from the International Whaling Convention of 1946, and it is suggested Great Britain might do likewise, on account of the large cost of financing, which spells disaster if the catch is poor. If the total catch permit- ted can be equitably divided, this would not be necessary. The London Daily Telegraph of No- vember 17 suggested that the Interna- tional Whaling Convention of 1946 might break down if Russia does not agree to a system of voluntary individual quotas for signatories of the Pact, rather than the existing global quota. It said the In- ternational Whaling Commission, of which 17 countries are members, has so far served its purpose of conserving whale stocks. But five nations were to meet on November 19 to discuss voluntary in- dividual quotas, so as to avoid the race of each country against the other to get as many whales as possible before the global quota (15,000 blue-whale units) which exists at present is filled. The Soviet Government on Novem- ber 27 at the Conference agreed to a stipulated percentage of the total quota-- one-fifth of the catch taken by the five nations. In further consideration of the whaling problem, a four-man Norwegian delega- tion led by the Minister of Industries visited Moscow from November 3-6, 1958, to discuss Russia's plans to ex- pand its Antarctic whaling fleets. The Delegations attending the London Whaling Conference concluded their de- liberations on November 27, 1958, and agreed upon certain recommendations to their Governments. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wo, 7hil, IN@, 7 The recommendations would have ef- fect for a 7-year period beginning with the 1959/60 Antarctic pelagic whaling season and include two important pro- posals. The first is that there should be an over-all limitation of the number of fleets operated by the five nations in the Antarctic. The U.S.S.R. would be able to add not more than three new factory- ships to her existing fleet while the total number of factoryships operated by the other four countries would not be in- creased, The second is that the annual total catch authorized under the Interna- tional whaling Convention of 1946 should be allocated between the five nations par- ticipating in the fishery. Twenty percent of the annual total catch would be allo- cated to the U.S.S.R.; and there would be further discussions about the alloca- tion of the remaining 80 percent with a view to concluding an agreement before June 1, 1959, among the five nations which have taken part in the Conference. The agreement would cease to have effect if any outside fleet should engage in Antarctic pelagic whaling under the Convention, DEEP-WATER SHRIMP RESOURCES SURVEY PLANNED: Extension of the survey of Australia's shrimp resources to deeper waters off the coast of New South Wales and Victoria is being considered, Giant tiger shrimp have been reported in these waters, Australia It is expected that during the next stage of the survey conclusive tests of the American balloon trawl will be con- ducted. (Australian Fisheries Newslet- ter, November 1958.) oe Kk Oe OK oe ECONOMIC FISHERIES SURVEY: The Australian Fisheries Department is conducting an economic survey of the structure of the fishing industry, involv- ing marketing research in all States, the Minister for Primary Industry an- nounced recently. February 1959 Australia (Contd.): The financial prospect for Australian fisheries provided cause for concern, he said. While the fishing industry sup- plied about half the fish eaten in Aus- tralia, with exports worth £5.5 million (US$12.3 million) a year, large numbers of fishermen claimed they could not op- erate at a profit. On the other hand many housewives regard fresh fish as almost a luxury, and thousands of families in inland dis- tricts rarely eat salt-water fish. "Many of our fishing grounds either have been fished out or are yielding rel- atively poor catches. . . We must try to find new grounds,'' the Minister stated. "There is one branch of fishing that has hardly been tapped in Australia, though it could yield very substantial re- sults. It is the netting of pelagic fish which are so much exploited in the north- ern hemisphere. In Australian waters they include tuna, sardines, jack mack- erel, anchovies, and sprats. "The demand in Australia for fish is growing with the rising population, many of whom are migrants from fish-eating countries, So there is a real potential for increased fish production, particu- larly of fresh fish, "Despite the present crisis, our fish- eries are an expanding industry. Aus- tralian fishermen have proved them- selves people of considerable enterprise, and the Commonwealth Government aims to help them as much as possible," the Minister concluded. kK Kk ok OK FISHERY PRODUCTS IMPORTS, 1957/58: Australian imports of fish and fish products totaled 52,364,237 pounds, valued at £.6,103,408 (US$13.7 million), in fiscal year 1957/58 (July 1, 1957- June 30, 1958). This was a rise of 31.0 percent over the 1956/57 imports of 39,969,215 pounds and was only slightly below the record of 52,406,380 pounds in 1955/56. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 51 During 1957/58, import restrictions were eased on certain fish items, name- ly fresh and frozen, smoked, dried, and salted fish. The increase in fish imports is due to importers taking advantage of such relaxations. - Australian Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products Imports, 1956/57-1957/58 Country of Origin New Zealand... South Africa... United King- dom 5,937,275 2,256,604 Hong Kong 775,638 INO Waly mace esenen: 557,661 AizIOeI ooo ooo 438,215 Netherlands 268,334 159,418 104,691 108,897 China 1/ Includes 222, 383 lbs. from Jamaica. Imports of fresh and frozen fish ac- counted for 44.2 percent of total fishery imports--23,2 million pounds (valued at £2.2 million or almost US$5 million), a rise of 23.2 percent over 1956/57. Table 2 - Australian Canned Fishery Products Imports, 1956/57-1957/58 Country | of Origin 1957/58 | 1956/57 en (2 Ound Ss) nee aonb Bin G9s82n764 on pale Jie 4,183,653] 4,783,476 2,386,118| 2,946,328 Seamer aan 1,841,905] 1,459,190 otesdvogt 817,362} 1,073,041 Sea 576,614 437,185 eee 440,471 7,244 Seb whet 106,357 96,405 ono Be 83,056 46,978 68,147 36,974 ss Balin meee ote 230,920 284,547 17,117,387 116,702,579 Although New Zealand was still the principal country of origin of frozenfish, receipts from that country fell marked- ly during the year. This was more than offset by increased arrivals from the 52 Australia (Contd.): visional agreement, pending a formal de- cision as to Australia's claim to con- trol of the pearl shell beds beyond the three-mile limit, the Japanese have a- greed to Australian control over all pearl-shell fishing off the Australian coast. Ae os OS Be tS NEW SOUTH WALES TUNA FISHING SEASON PROMISING: Although quantities received early were fairly small, the tuna season on the South Coast of New South Waleswas expected to be very good. The Manager of the cannery ait Eden said that from the outset of the tuna run in 1958 the fish had been much larger thanatthe sametime in1957. They had averaged about 25 pounds in weight, compared with 14 or 15 pounds early in 1957. Some fish of up to 35 and 40 pounds were being caught in 1958. Another favorable factor was that more fishermen were engaged in catch- ing tuna in 1958: from 20 to 25 boats were operating. The firm owning the Eden cannery had undertaken to receive 2,000 metric tons over a period, which would be a record quantity. The tuna run began off Kiama about the first week in September 1958, and the fish were next caught out of the Co- ogee and Bondi areas of Sydney. Total catch to October 3, 1958, of 170 tons was greater than that to the same date in 1957 but well below the 280 tons to the same date in 1956, Small lots of tuna COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW were coming from Bermagui waters and | on October 2 two boats obtained about 11 tons 25 miles out of Moruya. (Austral- ian Fisheries Newsletter, November 1958.) Devere s) oes TASMANIAN SCALLOP FISHERY, 1958: The estimated catch during Tasman- ian's 1958 scallop fishing season of three months, May 1 to July 31, is in excess of 367 metric tons of meats, This rep- resents a drop from the previous season Vol, 21, No. 2 (429 tons), but important developments have given reason for optimism about the future. The Senior Inspector of Fisheries for Tasmania states that the scallop fishery shows a pattern of fluctuation over the years, probably brought about by the sea- sonal effect of spawning and settling of spat. An interesting sidelight on the sea- son's operations is provided by the Sen- ior Inspector's references to the use of an English-type dredge. Table 1 - Australian Scallop (Meats Landings, 1945-58 Metric Tons 1958 367 1957 429 1956 516 1955 511 1954 373 1953 332 [1952 145 At the outset 65 boats were working in the Channel areas, where very good catches were made. The greater part of the catch from the older beds in the mid-channel consisted of scallops that had grown to size since the previous season's fishing. In Great Taylor Bay, where heavy con- centrations of young scallops were pres- ent during the preceding season, the shell was of better size, but roe not quite as advanced. This ground provided a large part of the total season's catch, Toward the end of May 85 boats were engaged in all areas, with 70 operating in the Channel, 12 in Norfolk Bay, and 3 in Coles Bay on the East Coast. As catches fell off, owing to the in- tensive fishing, several boats returned to spiny lobster fishing during June, and some moved to the East Coast scallop grounds and explored for new beds. Norfolk Bay, which in 1956/57 main- tained the greater part of the fleet, this year maintained about 10 boats only, with moderate scallop catches. The stocks worked over the past three years in this February 1959 Australia (Contd.): United Kingdom, Denmark, Hong Kong, Japan, and Norway. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53 (4.4 million pounds) were the principal component items brought into the coun- try and the chief suppliers were Japan, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Can- Table 3 - Australian Fishery Products Imports, 1945/46-1957/58 Fiscal Year Fresh a ene 52,364,237 123,162,946 39,969,215 52,406,380 46,953,062 38,260,271 22,512,834 47,323,608 42,694,920 33,143,315 35,194,560 33,482,201 15,270,138 9,052,876 18,799,161 19,256,593 18,488,058 15,764,369 9,664,000 16,906,065 11,638,895 6,624,777 11,300,678 8,182,761 5,174,007 2,606,001 rhe fieeee 387 16,702,579 23,194,577 20,158,217 15,446,003 5,749,097 22,587,357 22,688,154 17,445,621 19,563,423 20,572,917 8,379,009 5,955,086 9,697,573 3,481,852 7,742,506 6,774,372 5,632,556 6,264,053 6,298,345 Teale len 7,898,633 3,621,046 2,922,068 769,412 44,830 2,238,544 909,552 2,054,976 1,376,928 1,265,152 770,336 1,334,032 969,360 960,624 371,728 358,624 706,608 434,448 147,787 76,071 157,728 155,487 152,191 65,348 197,809 219,380 213,660 337,685 1,445,831 241,102 12,511 From 1945/46 to 1948/49 includes oysters in shell and potted or concentrated (incl. extracts of, and caviar). 1949/50 to 1957/58 only potted or concentrated products. All States, except Tasmania, shared inthis expansion of imports of fresh and frozen fish, but by far the greatest pro- portion went to New South Wales, Victo- ria, and Western Australia. Canned fish imports increased 2.5 percent in 1957/58--from 16.7 million pounds, valued at £2.8 million (US$6.3 million) in1956/57to 17.1 million pounds, valued at £.3.1 million (almost US$7.0 million). Salmon (6.8 million pounds), herring (4.6 million pounds) and sardines mK OK 3K JAPANESE BANNED FROM TAKING PEARL SHELL OFF WESTERN AUSTRALIA: The Australian Commonwealth Gov- ernment announced in mid-November 1958 that Japanese pearl-shell fisher- men had been banned from operations in the waters off Western Australia dur- ing the past season (ended about Novem- ber 1), According to an official of the Commonwealth Fisheries Office, the ban's purpose was to conserve the West- ern Australian pearl shell grounds, A survey, started over a year ago, indi- cates that these grounds are becoming depleted. on ada. Canned fish imports at 17.1 mil- lion pounds were considerably less than in many postwar years. Although both comparatively small items, smoked or dried and salted fish imports showed very large increases in volume andvalue in 1957/58. Amark- ed rise in imports from South Africa largely accounted for the substantial rise insmoked and dried. (Australian Fisheries Newsletter, November 1958.) * OK The ban on the Japanese operations did not apply to the Australian pearl- shell fishermen. The Japanese were permitted to fish for pearl shell off the coasts of Queensland and the Northern Territory. The Government is expect- ed to appraise the situation before the next season begins about May 1959. The Australian State Governments control pearl-shell fishing within three miles of the coast, while the Common- wealth Government has control beyond that limit. The Japanese are not per- mitted to fish within the three-mile limit in any part of Australia. Under a pro- 54 Australia (Contd.): area have been practically all mature scallops, with very limited amounts of young scallops, and it was not expected that the high catch rate of 1956 could be maintained. Fortunately, many signs of young scallops have now been observed on all Norfolk Bay beds, indicating a good spawning in 1957, but it could be from 4 to 5 years before this young stock grows to market size. The mainstay of the scallop industry, the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, cannot be expected to maintain the heavy concen- tration of boats that has taken place in recent years, but the grounds are by no means depleted, as many millions of young scallops in various age groups are present on the greater part of the worked beds. An important development, which is encouraging for future years, has taken place on the East Coast, where some good spots were located and worked, during the last month of the season. For the first time, good catches of very large scallops were taken at Maria Island. These were the largest scallops landed for many years. In some cases scallop meats taken from this ground weighed up to 4 oz, per scallop, cleaned weight. The Coles Bay grounds were extend- ed and good catches were made in from 12 to 14 fathoms. The usual depth at which scallops are taken is from 7 to 10 fathoms. The new English-type dredge used by some boats has a decided advantage in deeper water, and apparently on the more uneven bottoms on the coastal strips. It also allows faster towing than the normal dredge. (Australian Fisheries Newslet- ter, November 1958.) As Ae AC A TRAWLING COMPANY FORMED TO FISH IN GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT: The Federal Government has formed the Southern Trawling Company Ltd., COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 with funds from the Fisheries Develop- ment Trust Fund, to commercially ex- ploit the fishery resources of the Great Australian Bight. This Bight is a wide area off the south coast of Australia. It is the Government's belief that the ven- ture will be a commercial success; if it is, private investors will be invited to buy out the Government's interest. The new company will have a nominal capital of about US$1,124,000, with $337,000 for initial capital. An addition- al $247,000 will be loaned the company to purchase a modern Diesel trawler. The Australian Government's Fish- eries Development Trust Fund is speci- fically for the financing of fisheries proj- ects which would not otherwise be under- taken. If the present project is success- ful, the loan will be returned to the Trust to finance other new projects. The fund was originally formed from the proceeds from the sale of a Government-owned whaling station. * fe BS Canada BRITISH COLUMBIA FALL HERRING CATCH GOOD: The British Columbia fall herring catch assumed record-breaking propor- tions. By November 1958 a total of 125,874 tons had been taken, an all-time record, compared with an average over the last four years of 52,400 tons. Even in 1955, when a record seasonal catch of 253,396 tons was taken, only 27,634 tons had been taken in that same period. This remarkable run is attributed to good spawning and ocean conditions, ak ok ook OK 3K BRITISH COLUMBIA WHALE CATCH HIGHER FOR 1958 SEASON: The landings of whales in British Columbia during the April 1-Septem- ber 30, 1958, season increased to 774 whales as compared with 635 landed in 1957. The landings were made by six whale catchers operating out of Winter Harbour on the north end of Vancouver February 1959 Canada (Contd.): Island. The season was cut short by bad weather on September 18, WHALE HARPOON GUN Over 500 of the baleen-type plankton- feeding fin whales were captured. Other varieties included 114 bottom-feeding sperm whales and 8 blue whales. Other species found off the British Columbia Coast are sei and humpback whales. OK ok Ok CAUSES OF FLUCTUATION IN STOCKS OF HADDOCK ON NORTH ATLANTIC BANKS: Fluctuations in haddock stocks on North Atlantic banks could well lie with the variable ocean currents which sweep the haddock spawning areas. Eggs and larvae may thus be carried off into areas of great depth and perish in the millions. Although one female haddock may release from 100 thousand to two million eggs, the chances of growing to an adult stage are full of risks. This is the opinion of a St. John's (Newfoundland) Biological Station biologist speaking on the biology, distribution, and supply of haddock be- fore representatives of the Newfound- land fishing industry at the first ''open house"' held in 1958 at that Station. * "Perhaps only one egg in 20 or 30 thousand or more may actually survive}! the biologist said. ''Many are eaten by predators at various stages of growth, many eggs may not be fertilized, and many more may drift off the grounds at the mercy of the ocean currents." Fluctuations inthe supplies of haddock on the St. Pierre and Grand Banks have for some years been accurately predict- ed by scientists at the St. John's Biolog- ical Station, At the present time the St. Pierre Bank is going through a period of low supply, but fishing continues to be COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55 fairly good on the Grand Banks and there is evidence of a new ''brood'' coming a- long which could maintain the fishery at a satisfactory level. Both the St. Pierre and Grand Banks depend on new year- classes of fish to replenish the popula- tions and when, for various reasons, spawning is unproductive, a decrease in the stock can be foreseen a few years ahead. Haddock grow much more slowly on the Grand Banks than the races found on more southerly grounds, such as Georges Bank. For example, a 3-year-old haddock on Georges Bank averaged about two pounds, while one of the same age on the Grand Banks weighed about one-half pound. (Trade News, October 1958, Canadian De- partment of Fisheries.) ke oK ok Ok ILLEGAL LOBSTER FISHING ATTACKED: Reports by Canadian fisheries officers indicate an up- Swing in illegal lobster fishing on the Canadian Atlantic coast. The prosecutions and confiscations in 1958 as of September were almost level with the total for all of 1957. Prosecutions for violations of fisheries regulations~-most of them involving illegal lobster fishing--came to 718. There were convictions in all but 12 cases. Fines levied in all convictions totalled more than C$12,000. For years the Department of Fisheries has been waging a campaign to encourage compliance withand enforce lob- ster laws, In the Maritimes there are more than 17,000 lobster fishermen, With planes, patrol boats, and automobiles fisheries officers carry on practically a seven-day-week around-the-clock battle to protect the industry which in 1957 put more than C$12,300,000 into the pockets of fish- ermen. Lobsters are by far the most valuable segment of the multimillion dollar fishing industry in the three Maritime Provinces of Canada, There are no accurate figures on the number of illegal lobsters caught, but, judging from the thousands of illegally- caught lobsters liberated each year by fishery officers, the take by poachers is a substantial one. Abetted by certain unscrupulous operators, poachers have built up a thriving black-market trade in poached and under- size lobsters. The bulk of the illegally-caught lobsters usu- ally end up in cans. Dozens of outlaw makeshift canneries have been operated in isolated spots where poachers can their lobsters. However, some licensed canneries continue to contribute to the racket by handling illegal catches. What makes the lobster black market successful is the heavy de- mand from Halifax to Vancouver. Since without the cooperation of cannery operators black- market lobster operations would not be profitable, fisheries officers keep close tabs on canneries. The Department of Fisheries is using a two-bladed weapon in its war against poaching--law enforcement and education. By the latter, the Department hopes to convince all fisher- menthat conservation laws are to protect fishermen and the industry. Officials of the Department feel that as fishermen become more aware of the need for conservationto protect their fu- ture, wholesale poaching will subside. Poachers comprise only a tiny minority of the mass of fishermen, and most le- 56 Canada (Contd.): gitimate fishermen are behind the Government’s effort to ensure a healthy lobster industry that leaves millions of dollars in the Maritime Provinces every year. (Trade News, October 1958.) xc ok Ke Ok NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERMEN AIDED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: Early in November 1958 the Canadian Minister of Fish- eries announced that the Federal Government in coopera- tion with the Newfoundland Provincial Government would build 20 fishing stages in Newfoundland. The estimated cost of C$500,000 will be borne by the Federal Government, This aid serves a two-fold purpose: (1) it provides winter work for fishermen in the communities where the 1958 fish- ery had suffered worst, and (2) it brings about a more effi- cient and economical fishery operation. The plans call for the erection ofa community stage con- sisting ofa building anda wharf. Each stage is tobe used by 10 or more groups of fishermen. The building will contain working space for each fishing group, and will enable them to produce and store fish under better conditions, thus raising the quality. It is thought this plan will also facili- tate shipping since a community’s production will be avail- able at one point. During a visit to St. John’s, Newfoundland, the Minister of Fisheries indicated these stages would be built in the communities of Sandy Cove in the Straits of Belle Isle, Conche, Fluer de Lys, Coachman’s Cove, Pacquet, Beau- mont, Triton, and Leading Tickles, in Notre Dame Bay; Crow Head and Lower Jenkins Cove on Twillingate Island; Deep Bay and Island Harbor on Fogo Island; Musgrave Harbor, Lumsden, Cape Freels, and Summerville in Bona- vista Bay; Bonaventure in Trinity Bay; Lower Island Cove in Conception Bay; Point Lance and Little Paradise in Placenta Bay. All these communities are situated on the northeast, and east coasts of Newfoundland, with the ex- ception of two which are on the south coast. These com- munities were chosen over others because they serve a larger number of fishermen, the economy of the area jus- tifies their need, and they have a better future. The Min- ister stated during his discussion with the Fish Trades Association and members of the Provincial Department of Fisheries that if these stages proved successful, others would be built. He alsosaid other schemes to aid the New- foundland fishery, which is reported to be in the worst state in 50 years, are under consideration. During 1958 the Federal Government has provided several other types of aid for the Newfoundland fishery as follows: In an effort to solve the ever-present perplexing bait distribution problem, the Federal Government in October introduced on a trial basis four mobile bait lockers. These electrically-operated lockers, costing about C$6,500 each, have a capacity of 20,000 pounds and can be dismantled and moved to any area where the bait shortage is mostacute. Two refrigerator trucks have also been provided to truck bait from freezing depots to holding units. Also during 1958 the Federal Government purchased approximately one million pounds of bait from the United States, Nova Scotia, and a European country. While it has not been possible to learn the cost of the bait, it is being sold to fishermen at four cents a pound. This prob- ably represents cost price. RESEARCH SHOWS DECLINE IN OCEAN PERCH RESOURCES: The fisheries research scientists of Eastern Canada are not too happy about the future of the ocean perch fishery in COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 2 North Atlantic areas where Newfoundland draggers, and others, now operate. This is due to the slow growth rate of this species and the poor survival rate of ocean perch larvae. A St. John's Bio- logical Station biologist made this ob- servation to representatives of the New- foundland fishing industry at the first open house'' staged in 1958 at that Sta- tion. However, the biologist expressed the hope that further exploratory fishing based on knowledge already gained by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada would locate new fishing areas that would enable the fishery to continue on a prof- itable basis. Research on ocean perch has been extensive in Newfoundland since that species became of commercial signifi- cance there in 1946-47, with the advent of the dragger fleet. An extensive pro- gram of exploratory fishing was conduct- ed and ocean perch were found in com- mercial quantities in three comparative- ly nearby areas: the eastern and south- western slopes of the Grand Banks, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and in Hermitage Bay. These have continued to be the main source of ocean perch for the New- foundland industry. Promising results had also been obtained through explora- tory fishing north of the Grand Banks, at Flemish Cap and off southern Labrador, but these findings had not yet been fol- lowed up by the Canadian commercial fishing fleet. At Flemish Cap large Rus- sian factoryships are reported to be car- rying out highly successful operations. (Trade News, October 1958, Canadian Department of Fisheries.) Chile REGULATIONS FOR FOREIGN VESSELS FISHING IN TERRITORIAL WATERS ISSUED: In decree No. 946 of November 12, 1958, the Chilean Ministry of Agricul- ture set forth the procedure to be follow- ed by the owners of foreign vessels de- siring to fish in Chilean waters. It stipu- lates that permits will be issued for a February 1959 Chile (Contd.): maximum period of 3 years and will not be renewable. Upon the expiration of a license, a foreign fishing vessel will have to depart from Chilean waters or be nationalized under the Chilean flag. This decree sets forth the procedure whereby owners of foreign fishing ves- sels may apply for fishing permits, but the cost of the permit is not specified. It is believed that a regulation setting forth this detail and some explanations of procedure not included in the present decree will have to be published later. The decree also specifies that fishing vessels of wood, to qualify for the issu- ances of fishing permits, must beno more than five years old, and no more than 10 years old if of other material. Colombia EXPANSION OF SHRIMP EXPORTS PLANNED: A plan to develop the Colombian shrimp exporting industry to earn about US$4 million annually was revealed in November 1958 by the Minister of Agri- culture. The plan includes increased loans to the shrimp fishing companies, the construction of net-making plants, expansion of freezing facilities, and more effective policing of territorial waters to guard against illegal fishing. The Minister stated that technical ad- visors from the Food and Agriculture Organization will be sent to advise the Government on the plan. Cuba CONVENTION WITH THE UNITED STATES ON THE CONSERVATION OF SHRIMP RATIFIED: Press reports indicate that the Cuban Senate on November 19, 1958, ratified the Convention signed on August 15,1958, by the United States Ambassador and the Cuban Minister of State, for the conser- vation of shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Sif The Cuban Ministry of State confirm- ed the above information verbally and in- formed that the Ministry would be short- ly ready to prepare the necessary instru- ments of ratification to be exchanged with the United States Government. The Con- vention will be considered by the United States Congress during the session which begins in January 1959. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, October 1958, p. 44. Egypt MOTOR VESSELS ENGAGED IN FISHING: The number of Egyptian fishing ves- sels equipped with power in 1958 totaled 486. Of these vessels, a large majority are sailing vessels equipped with auxil- iary power, according to a November 3, 1958, dispatch from the United States Consulate in Alexandria, Egyptian Motor Fishing Vessels by Type and Port ardine | Vessels other Vessels than Sardine Alexandria . e Diet cee eae Fiji Islands DEVELOPMENT OF FISHING INDUSTRY PROPOSED: Proposals for a fishing industry in the Fiji Islands are made in a report of a committee set up in 1957 by the Fiji Government following a survey carried out by a South Pacific Commission fish- eries officer. The report recommends that a fish- eries officer be appointed to advise on and supervise the development of sea and inland fisheries. Other suggestions include encourage- ment of long-line tuna fishing, the estab- 58 Fiji Islands (Contd.): lishment of a fish cannery, and the pro- vision, with Government assistance, of refrigeration facilities for bulk storage of fish. (Pacific Islands Monthly, Octo- ber 1958. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, June 1957, p- 41. France NEW-TYPE SMALL TRAWLER BUILT: A new type of small trawler with a number of interesting features was completed recently in France. It is to fish in the Atlantic on trips of 2 to 3 weeks’ duration. Her principal dimensions are as follows: length between perpendiculars 76 feet 3 inches; length over-all 87 feet; breadth, moulded 21 feet 10 inches; depth, moulded 12 feet; and draught (light) 11 feet. The hull is of 8-millimeter (5/16 -inch) steel plate, elec- tric-welded throughout; the deck is covered with 2.5-inch teak-iroko. All accommodations are located aft--skipper’s cabin, two officers’ cabins, an 8-berth crew’s quarters and galley with sink and oil-fired cooking range. There is also a wash- room and shower for the crew, to which water is pumped electrically, under pressure. All living quarters are heat- ed by a by-pass from the engine cooling system, which also supplies a hot-water tank for washing purposes. The fishhold, whichhas acapacity of 3,531 cubic feet, is insulated from the plating and engineroom by expanded poly- styrene, the fish-hold deck being of cellular concrete andcork, It is lined throughout with a corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy, the shelves and stanchions being of the same material. Refrigerated air, at a temperature of 32-37.4 F. is circulated transversely across the fishhold and over the shelves. The refrigerator equipment is duplicated in case of failure, one compressor being driven from the main engine, the other by the auxiliary. The refrigerant is Freon 12. Forward of the fish room is space for net storage. Main propulsion is provided by a supercharged 375 hp. Diesel engine at 500 r.p.m., and fresh-water cooled ona closed circuit. This drives the propeller through a reverse- reduction gearbox having two ahead speeds; 280 propeller r.p.m. for steaming, and 220 r.p.m. for trawling, thus enabling the engine to work at maximum efficiency necessary under both conditions. The gear box can be operated both from the engineroom and wheelhouse, and is interlocked with the engine throttle to prevent misuse. Starting is by compressed air, and both main and auxiliary engines can recharge the cylinders. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 The main engine also drives the trawl winch viaa belt, the winch having a capacity of about 800 fathoms of 0.71-inch diameter warp on each drum, An independent engine throttle control allows this to be driven when the propeller is station- ary. The auxiliary Diesel engine, which develops 17 brake horse- power at 15,000 r.p.m, also drives one of the two 3 kw. 24 v. generators, and two service pumps. Provision is made for an alternative main engine installa- tion of up to 450 brake horsepower and for an optional fish- hold arrangement without refrigeration, and with the light al- loy replaced by plastic. (World Fishing, November 1958.) oK 3K 3x, 3k) ste SARDINE CANNING INDUSTRY, 1957: Total landings of sardines in France (excluding territories) during 1957 a- mounted to about 14,513 metric tons. Of this total, Atlantic coast canneries used 6,100 tons and Mediterranean coast can- neries used 7,100 tons. The canneries produced about 330,000 cases of canned sardines of French origin in 1957. They also canned about 370,000 cases of imported sardines. France's total production of canned sardines in 1957 amounted to about 700,000 cases, Adding 1,700,000 cases canned in 1956, we arrive at a total of 2,400,000 cases for 1956-57, or an aver- age annual production of 1,200,000 cases. This quantity was ample for satisfying the demand for domestically-packed sar- dines. (Industria Conservera, Vigo, Spain, September 1958.) French West Africa TUNA FISHING AND CANNING INDUSTRY: Dakar's ample refrigeration facilities have been a key factor in the success of the tuna industry in French West Africa. In 1957, more than 3,000 metric tons of tuna were frozen and shipped tothe French mainland and 4,000 tons were stored at -18° F. for later shipment. There are several tuna canning fac- tories in Dakar. Some are subsidiaries of French canning firms and others are owned by local interests. These facto- ries canned a total of 1,567 tons of tuna in 1957. February 1959 French West Africa (Contd.): Despite the danger of saturation of the French mainland's tuna market, Dakar's tuna fishing industry is being expanded. Backed by the enormous fish- ery potential of French West Africa, France seeks to become the leading provider of tuna to other members of the European Common Market. (Indus- tria Conservera, Vigo, Spain, August 1958.) German Federal Republic CANNED FISH PRODUCTION DECREASES IN 1957: The value of canned fishery products manufactured in the German Federal Republic decreased from 321 million deutsche marks (US$76.4 million) in 1956 to 304 million marks ($72.3 mil- lion) in 1957. The two principal causes of the decline were fluctuations in the supply of fish and a shortage of manpow- ens According to official statistics, the production of canned fish in 1957 amount- ed to only 37,000 metric tons as com- pared with 46,000 tons in 1956. Produc- tion of pickled fish also dropped from 61,000 tons in 1956 to 57,000 tons in 1957, Smoked fish production decreased from 28,000 to 25,000 tons. The German fish canning industry has also suffered from foreign competition. In 1957, Germany imported 12,000 tons of canned sardines in oil and 4,900 tons of other canned fish--mostly Japanese tuna. (Industria Conservera, Vigo, Spain, September 1958. Note: Values converted at rate of 1 deutsche mark equals US$0.238. 7 OK OK Fe FIVE FISH-PROCESSING TRAWLERS TO BE BUILT WITH AID OF SPECIAL FUND LOANS: The West German Minister for Fed- eral Economic Assets has announced that loans amounting to DM6 million (US$1,432,000) will be provided from the European Recovery Program Special COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW | 59 Fund for construction of five trawlers equipped for fish-processing. The costs of each vessel will be about DM3.5-4.0 million (US$835,000-955,000). The ves- sel owners will have to raise 20-25 per- cent of the costs and one-third will be covered from the Special Fund. The bal- ance will be financed via open capital market. Funds from the Federal Budget will be used to subsidize interest pay- ments charged on these loans, reports the United States Embassy at Bonn, No- vember 21, 1958. ~&, Greenland LOAN TO BUY FACTORYSHIP FOR SHRIMP CANNING REQUESTED: A loan of 350,000 kroner (US$50,673) to buy a factoryship to be used to catch and can shrimp in Greenland waters was requested recently by the Danish Minis- ter for Greenland from the Danish Com- mission of Finance. It is estimated that the loan could be repaid after only three fishing seasons provided the factoryship's case pack during each season amounts to at least 300,000 cases of shrimp. This is only half of the production capacity of the vessel since it is based on only a six- months fishing season, Biological studies have shown that Greenland's shrimp resources are plen- tiful, which leads to the conclusion that the factoryship would operate success- fully. (Industria Conservera, Vigo, Spain, September 1958.) A) FISHERY TRENDS, JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 1958: Iceland’s fish catch and the production of processed fish January-September 1958 was much higher than in the same period of 1957. Contracts for saltedherring fromthe main North Coast season have been filled, and although the fall season for drift-net herring has been poor, herring again appeared in late October. The trawlers were getting good catches of ocean perch. The United States market improved, and exports to Russia diminished, though partly offset by rising exports to the Russian satellites. Iceland A major problem involved in the proclamation of a 12- mile limit was that of establishing regulations for Iceland’s own fleet of 44 trawlers. When the limit was extended to 60 Iceland (Contd.): 4 miles in 1952, the enclosed area (including the whole of Faxa Bay) was closed to Icelandic and foreign trawlers without discrimination. Throughout the past summer a committee of trawler and motorboat representatives were endeavoring to agree on the degree to which the Icelandic trawlers should be allowed to fish within the new 12-mile limit after the proclamation on September 1, 1958. Despite the restrictions on Icelandic trawler fishing, the trawlers (now mostly owned by municipalities) in 1958 enjoyed a far better season than in 1957, Their costs have risen, both for gear (because of the 55-percent exchange surcharge) and for wages, which have gone up a total of 21 percent since May 1958, including contributions of 6 per- cent to an unemployment insurance fund, But this has been more than offset by the fact that they have now beenplaced on an equal footing, as regards price, with the motorboats; the Export Fund Act of May abolished the old discrimina- tion and granted a flat 80-percent support level to motorboat and trawler fish alike. This together with improved catches has resulted in a condition where some trawlers are actually making money, whereas in 1957 they lost money. And the trawl- er owners have a different attitude towards new vessels. Labor for the trawlers will be a real problem in Jan- uary 1959, The Faroese Seamen's Union called its mem- bers off the Icelandic vessels last spring, after the winter Season, in protest against the 55-percent surcharge on foreign exchange in the Export Fund Act. While most of these foreign seamen return home anyway at the end of the cod season, a proportion has always remained to work and the Icelandic trawlers, by paying higher wages, have found that they could man their vessels with native crews. But they will be hard pressed for crews in January, when they normally lose men to the motorboats for the main cod season, The motorboats themselves have been having a some- what harder time. The 80-percent support level was cal- culated on the basis of a 5-percent wage increase, as specified in the law, and while the motorboat operators have not yet granted seamen the full equivalent of what the trawlers are now paying, wages are already well above what had been anticipated in May 1958 and will have to rise further before the winter fishing season. It is con- sidered virtually certain that the 80-percent support level will have to be raised, The Icelandic fish catch of all types of white fish com- bined for the first nine months of 1958 was up 21 percent over the same period in 1957. As for herring, the fact that the total tonnage of herring was 10.6 percent lower than last year for the same period was less significant than the fact that herring of salting grade was up by 88 percent, so that the value of the herring catch as a whole was definitely higher in 1958, The main herring season, off the North Coast during the summer months of 1958, was definitely better than in 1957. The improvement in the volume of herring of salting grade more than offset the reduction in the total tonnage of all herring, which was only 77,842 metric tons through August 31, 1958, as compared to 100,138 tons at the same date in 1957. All advanced sale contracts for salted her- ring were filled, The secondary herring season, carried on in the autumn with driftnets off the Southwest Coast, was again disappoint- ing in 1958, and for a month from mid-September the her- ring virtually disappeared, after only 35,000 barrels had been caught to fill advance contracts of 85,000 barrels to the U.S.S.R., Poland, and East Germany. But towards the end of October the herring appeared again off the Reykjanes peninsula, and the Icelanders believed that there was a chance of filling the contracts. The output of the freezing plants was higher in 1958. By October 15, production had reached 62,310 tons of white fish fillets (cod, haddock, ocean perch, and flounder) for all Icelandic plants, whereas only 55,649 tons had been pro- duced during the whole of 1957. Sey oii sie: bake ole COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No: 2 NEW PROCESSING PLANTS PROPOSED TO GOVERNMENT: Proposals have been submitted to Ice- land's Althing to establish a canning fac- tory in Akureyri and another for the can- ning of spiced herring in Siglufjordur, for the purpose of utilizing sardine-size herring. There also has been discussion of a proposal by a freezing plant in Isafjordur to acquire a United States shrimp peeling machine to permit further development of the ample shrimp beds off the north- west coast of Iceland (U. S. Embassy in Reykjavik, November 21,1958). Indonesia EXPERIMENTAL LONG-LINING FOR TUNA IN INDIAN OCEAN: Experimental long-line fishing for tuna was tried by Indonesians in the In- dian Ocean near Tapanuli, Northwest Sumatra, with the Bima, a motor vessel of 20 tons capacity. The catch in3 trips totaled 23,500 pounds, valued at Rp.32,251 (US$1,100). It consisted of 256 tunas, sharks, and sailfish, (FAO Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council Current Affairs Bul- letin, July 1958.) pas) © oe lraq TERRITORIAL WATERS EXTENDED TO 12 MILES: On November 16, 1958, the Govern- ment of Iraq issued a decree claiming sovereignty over Iraqi waters and sea bed of the Persian Gulf up to 12 nautical miles from the low-tide mark. The de- cree provides that conflicts with terri- torial waters of other states shall be settled by negotiation. Israel SARDINE FISHERMEN PROTEST NEW JAPANESE-ISRAELI TUNA FISHERY: The landing of the first catch of 240 metric tons of tuna by the newly-estab- February 1959 Israel (Contd.): lished Japanese-Israeli fishing company at Kishon Port was preceded by demon- strations and threats from Israeli sar- dine fishermen, who believed the new fishery endangers the sale of sardines. The Government has imposed on tuna landings a levy of [170 (US$39) a metric ton, but the sardine fishermen gave way only after the company promised to sell not more than one-third of the catch to canneries, while the remainder would be marketed fresh. The sardine fishermen, limited inthe scope of their activities, are afraid of competition from the new group, which can fish in Atlantic waters. The local sardine fishing industry has enjoyed con- siderable encouragement from the Govy- ernment, although the sardines are only fair quality (U. S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, November 14, 1958). Italy JAPANESE VESSELS LAND ATLANTIC-CAUGHT TUNA: Some of the 15 Japanese long-line vessels engaged in fishing for tuna in the Atlantic have landed their catches in Italy. These vessels include some new- ly-constructed additions of 1,000 gross tons which have a large radius of opera- tion, The Japanese vessels began fishing during the first months of 1957. Their total catch of tuna in 1957 in the Atlantic amounted to about 10,000 metric tons. Some of the catch landed in Italy was packed by Italian canneries. (Industria Conservera, Vigo, Spain, August 1958.) Japan FIRST ATLANTIC TUNA LONG-LINER RETURNS TO HOME PORT: The 700-ton tuna long-liner No. 30 Hoko Maru (completed early in Novem- ber 1957) returned to Japan on Decem- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61 ber 4, 1958, from a maiden voyage to the Atlantic that lasted nearly 13 months. Considerable interest has been accorded the report of the Hoko Maru's captain, for although tuna fishing by Japanese boats in the Atlantic is no longer news, the vessel is said to have been the first to engage in what are now called, perhaps by analogy with billiards, ''cushion land- ings'' in Panama for export to the United States. According to the captain the vessel's first two trips were made in the Gulf of Guinea. On each trip of about 36 days of long-line fishing, she took a full trip of 400 metric tons of tuna, which was de- livered at Venice, Italy. The third trip was made off northeastern Brazil, and this is believed to be the trip that was landed at Cristobal, Panama, After fuel- ing at Curacao, the Hoko Maru tried fish- ing in the Caribbean, but with poor re- sults, and finished the trip off the Guianas, and in 38 days of fishing caught a fulltrip to bring back to Japan. The Atlantic grounds, as presently known, extend in a narrow belt along the Equator from Africa to South America, and are not very extensive. When Japa- nese boats began fishing there in the spring of 1957, catches ran around 13 tons a day, but late in that year they were down to 7-9 tons, and at present they are only 5-7 tons. The average size of the yellowfin tuna, now 125-139 pounds, seems to be declining also, as the number of boats fishing the ground increases. Fish- ermen think that, at the present rate of exploitation, the ground may be good for 5 or 6 more years, after which its future looks dim. The catch is said to be 80 per- cent yellowfin, the rest being made up of big-eyed tuna, albacore, and bluefin; mar- lin are so scarce as to be no problem. The captain was of the opinion that Cristobal is an ideal place for transship- ment landings, because of its proximity to the fishing grounds and the fact that it is a customs-free zone. On the problem of vessel size, although there has recent- ly been a trend away from very large tuna boats in Japan, the captain felt that 500 tons gross is about the minimum size practicable for such long cruises, with 62 Japan (Contd. ): 500-700 tons perhaps the most economi- cal size range for Atlantic operations. ok ke ok ok GOOD RICE CROP MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT TUNA EXPORTS TO ITALY: Frozen tuna exporters fear that a side-effect of the fourth consecutive heavy Japanese rice crop will be adown- ward turn in what has been a growing tuna export trade with Italy. For fiscal year 1958 the export quota for frozen tuna to that country was 10,000 metric tons, of which 7,500 tons were bartered for Italian rice, the rest being paid for in cash. During Japanese fiscal year 1959 (April 1959-March 1960), payment for all tuna exports to Italy will have to be covered by barter arrangements, ac- cording to trade sources. On November 25, 1958, the Japan Fro- zen Food Export Association is reported to have petitioned the Fisheries Agency and Ministry of Trade and Industry touse their good offices to assure the import of 20,000 tons of Italian rice in Japanese fiscal year 1959 and the allocation of 70 percent of the value of the rice for the barter of tuna (about 7,000 tons of tuna). The exporters believe that there are prospects of bartering an additional 5,000-6,000 tons of tuna for other goods, and they thus hope for a total export quota for Italy of 12,000-13,000 tons of frozen tuna in fiscal year 1959, The ex- porters also wanted the decision on ex- port licenses for this trade to be made in December 1958 at the latest, since the bulk of the exports are made directly from tuna-fishing vessels operating in the Atlantic, and operational plans for these vessels must be made well in ad- vance. It is reported, however, that the Japa- nese Government is strongly inclined to cut fiscal year 1959 imports of Italian rice to one-third of the 30,000 tons for fiscal year 1958. The Food Agency, which controls such imports, gives as its rea- sons the large Japanese supply resulting from four years of bumper crops, de- clining sales of foreign rice in Japan, and the fact that imports of 30,000 tons COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 in 1958 did not bring about a correspond- ing stimulation of export trade to Italy. Unless the Food Agency modifies its stand, tuna exporters expect that fiscal year 1959 exports of frozen tuna to Italy will be 9,000 tons at best. The annual de- mand for tuna in Italy is estimated at 25,000-30,000 tons, and of this total the Japanese believe that they could supply 20,000 tons, if they had no export licens- ing problems. They fear that if their quota is cut for fiscal year 1959, a larger share of the market will be taken over by competing suppliers in Spain, Portugal, and Norway. Kk A Ok TUNA LOIN SALES, OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 1958: The Japan Frozen Food Export As- sociation announced that from October 1 to November 24, 1958, sales of frozen tuna loins to United States and Canadian canners had reached a total of 1,324 short tons. This product had been under a Ja- panese export embargo for about one year until its export was reopened in October, at which time a tentative export quota of 3,000 tons was set for the remainder of the Japanese fiscal year through March UDF The loins for which sales contracts have been made since the lifting of the embargo were almost evenly divided be- tween albacore and yellowfin tuna, About 40 percent of the loins (487 tons) were sold in California, 727 tons to Pacific ; Northwest packers, and 110 tons to Cana- da. The Maryland packer, who previous- ly was the only important buyer of frozen tuna discs, is reported to have placed no orders since the embargo ended. Prices per tonf.o.b. for loins are US$850 for alba- core, $640 for yellowfin under 100 pounds, and $620 for yellowfin over 100 pounds. Republic of Korea PROGRESS IN PACKING PROCESSED FISHERY PRODUCTS MADE: Korean laws relating to processed fish- ery products have been reviewed by a February 1959 Republic of Korea (Contd.): United States advisor. He then assisted in the preparation of a series of regula- tions setting up minimum quality, sani- tary, and export licensing requirements for fish-processing establishments and certain frozen fishery products. These are being proposed for promulgation as ministerial orders to improve quality of processed fishery products and to as- sure first-quality products for export. Plans were also made for developing a short course to train fish canners in plant sanitation and equipment mainte- nance, Recommendations were made to broaden the service of the Central Fish- eries Experimental Station and the Cen- tral Fisheries Inspection section. Some 4,500 pounds of frozen shrimp were packed commercially under the United States 8th Army inspection regu- lations and the first contract was award- ed by the Army for the purchase of local fishery products for military and United States civilian consumption in Korea. Under supervision of a fishery advis- or, six cases of frozen and canned fish- ery products were prepared at the Cen- tral Fisheries Experiment Station and shipped to Honolulu as samples for es- tablishing an export business. The ship- ment consisted of octopus, cuttlefish, scup or porgy fillets, flat fish fillets, dressed horse mackerel, headless shrimp, and peeled andheadless shrimp. ey ts Mexico EXPORT DUTY ON FROZEN SHRIMP INCREASED: The export duty on frozen shrimp was increased 0.5 percent ad valorem by a new decree published in Mexico's Diario Oficial of November 22, 1958 (effective November 25, 1958). The decree applies to export tariff items 041.00.11 (frozen shrimp) originating in the Gulf of Mexi- co, Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and Santa Rosa- lia, Baja California; and 041.00.12 (fro- zen shrimp) originating in other regions, It establishes a duty rate for both items COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 63 of 2.50 pesos per 100 kilos net weight (about 9.1 U. S. cents a 100 pounds), plus 4.5 percent ad valorem. The previous rate on both items was 2.50 pesos per 100 kilos plus 4 percent ad valorem. On the basis of the official valuation of 1,700 pesos per 100 kilos (about 62 U. S. cents a pound), the effect of the new measure will be to increase the ap- plicable duty from 70.50 pesos to 79.00 pesos per 100 kilos (from 2.6 to 2.9 U.S. cents a pound), an increase of 12 percent, In 1957, frozen shrimp ranked sixth among Mexican exports, with a total value of 274.5 million pesos (about US$22 mil- lion) exported in that year. This product ranks in about tenth place among Mexico's exports during 1958, the United States Embassy in Mexico City reported on No- vember 25, 1958. FISHING FLEET INCREASES IN SIZE AND NUMBER: From March 1957 to June 1958, the Mexican shrimp fleet increased 40 percent from 790 to 1,107 vessels. On June 30,1958, according to the Mexican Bureau of Fisheries and Allied Industries, the Pacific shrimp fishing fleet had 663 trawlers and 4 freezerships and the Gulf of Mexico fleet had 440 trawlers. The increase for the 15-months period was 185 boats (38 percent) in the Pacific and 132 (43 percent) in the Gulf of Mexico. Some of the new vessels were purchased in the United States, but most were built in Mexico, The Pacific fleet has been augmented not only by imports and construction, but also by transfer of vessels from the Gulf--mostly to Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, where the fleet was reportedto have more than 90 vessels as of December 1, 1958. The boom in shrimp-trawler building has ceased; only replacements are now on order in Mexican shipyards. The decree published on March 31, 1958, which placed a high duty on imported motor-driven boats 35 meters (about 115 feet) and less, has effectively stopped imports. Probably A typical Mexican shrimp trawler. 64 Mexico (Contd.): more important than the decree in this regard has been the’ biological potential of the shrimp populations. The pur- chasers of shrimp boats neglected to consider this potential and, as a consequence, although 1958 can be considered an average year for shrimp production for the Mexican fleet in the Gulf of Mexico, the catch per vessel has dropped. For this reason a number of vessels have beentransferred tothe Pacific Coast where there has been a better than nor- malyear. Unless the populations of shrimp on the Pacific Coast continue producing above average it is likely that 1959 may see the Pacific fleet in trouble. As of June 30, 1958, the Mexican Bureau of Fisheries had registered 7,762 fishing boats. This was over 3,500 more boats than had been registered by the same date in 1957. However, the number of boats registered on any particular date, other than at the end of the year, is not particularly significant since the registrations are seasonal and valid for one year. It is estimated that when registrations are completed for the year, the number of fishing craft will be about 9,000 as compared with 8,566 registered in 1957. Comparison of new construction by tonnage classes indicates a trend towards larger vessels, The number of vessels in the 10-50 net ton group registered between January 1-June 30, 1958, increased about 18 percent andvessels inthe 50-100 net ton class increased by 19 percent. About 80 percent of the Mexican fishing fleet consists of boats of 3 net registered tons or less. These are princi- pally dugout canoes and skiffs, many of wnich are powered with outboard engines. They are used primarily in the tak- ing of shrimp with cast nets, lobsters with traps, abalone with diving equipment, and subsistence fishing with cast nets and beach seines. Boats between 3 and 10 tons, many of which are open launches, operate in the bays, lagoons and esteros, and a- long the beaches. This fleet, which generally uses beach or haul seines, provides most of the market fish caught in Mexico. Most ofthe vessels 10 and100 tonsare shrimp trawlers using otter trawls. The double-rig trawl is becoming more and more popular in Mexico. Vessels larger than100tons are used for catching tuna, sardines, andmackerel, and also for catching and freezing shrimp. Norway MORE FISHERY PRODUCTS FROZEN IN ALGINATE JELLY: A number of Norwegian processors for several years have been freezing mackerel fillets in alginate jelly in order to in- crease their storage life. Later, herring and herring fillets were frozen by the same process. Freezing in alginate jelly has now also been adapted for processing whale meat for hu- man consumption. Whale meat is frozen in blocks of 44 pounds, which are then cut in one-~pound blocks, Each block is glazed in alginate jelly, wrapped in cellophane, and packed in consumer cartons. A Norwegian firm has established a large export market for whale meat preserved in alginate jelly. Freezing in alginate jelly is claimed to protect products from dehydration and rancidity, and to preserve the natural freshness, flavor, and color of the products for an indefinite time. In the bait-herring industry, the results obtained by the alginate freezing method are surprising. Two-year old bait herring frozen in alginate jelly has proved to be equal to newly-frozen and not stored bait herring. The method has also been adapted for the export of brook trout. Another Norwegian firm has exported dogfish glazed in alginate jelly. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vols 215 Now 2 A special alginate powder has been developed for making the jelly for freezing shrimp. The alginate jelly, it is claimed, protects the shrimp from drying and certain ingre- dients in the jelly weaken the effects of the enzyme that is the cause of the discoloration. The special jelly for shrimp is soluble in water, and is washed off when the shrimp are thawed, The alginate freezing method has been adapted by an in- creasing number of plants in Norway, where it was developed, and the fish-processing companies of other European coun- tries. The new process is a block-freezing method and the liquid used is an aqueous thickened solution containing algi- nate, certain salts, and a dilute acid. The solution is so formulated that, after a certain time (which can be regulated), it becomes a firm jelly. The salts which are added give the jelly a freezing point between 4 and 5 C. (39-41 F.) The dispersal of the salt in the jelly remains constant during the freezing, and this prevents a concentration of salt on the sur- face of the frozen fish. By adjusting the concentration of acid it is possible to calculate the setting time of the jelly in ad- vance. This is regulated so that a setting time between 10 and 20 minutes is obtained. The principle of this method is that the fish or fillets are dipped in the solution and packed in rows in cartons. Since the solution is highly viscous, the packing material may be simple and cheap. As soon as the carton has been filled, more solution is added in order to seal all the spaces. During the freezing, the jelly forms into a hard, icy com- position which is practically impervious to air. When thaw- ing it regains its jelly form at 4 to 5 C. While the fish is still frozen it can thus easily be taken out of the block and separated. The jelly between each fish acts as a separating medium; it does not bind the fish. When treated as described, each fish is covered with a layer of jelly which, being practically impervious to air, pro- tects against rancidity. Fish frozen in the jelly, in contrast to the usual frozen fish, retains its original shine to a high degree. The jelly does not easily dry up during storing. If drying should occur at a higher temperature, the jelly will form a film which again has a protective effect, although to a lesser extent. In the first tests of the alginate jelly made in 1952, it was confirmed that the freezing time for herring in the jelly was reduced by up to 20-25 percent as compared with ordinary freezing methods. It was stated by the test laboratory that after 5 and 6 months’ storage untreated herring was just on the point of being unfit for human consumption, while the jelly- packed herring was almost fresh. The herring without alginate showed a tendency to discolor and had a distinctly rancid taste. The treated herring, on the other hand, were found to be of good quality. They were found to be completely satisfactory for bait purposes, having retained the essential shiny skin and showing no tendency to ran- cidity. (Norwegian Fishing News, Vol. V, No. 2.) Pakistan JAPANESE FISHING VESSELS TO SURVEY BAY OF BENGAL AND EAST PAKISTAN WATERS: An official of Pakistan's Central Fish- eries Department confirmed reports that a Japanese fishing vessel, under charter to the Japanese Government-sponsored Overseas Fishery Cooperative Organi- zation, is scheduled to make a survey of February 1959 Pakistan (Contd.): deep-sea fishing in the Bay of Bengal. The 196-ton Chosui Maru was due to ar- rive in Chittagong, East Pakistan, on November 28, 1958, where two Pakistani officials were to board the ship for a trip to Ceylon. Two Japanese fishing experts were scheduled to remain in East Pakistan to survey for shrimp re- sources with a trawler that accompanied the Chosui Maru. Permission for a joint Pakistani-Ja- panese exploration of Pakistan fisheries had been sought in the past and been re- fused. Press reports indicated that with the help of the Japanese fishing experts, the undeveloped shrimp resources of East Pakistan could lead to increased export trade. 2) Peru ANCHOVETA FISHING RESTRICTIONS EXTENDED: The Peruvian Government announced that for reasons of conservation the pre- vious 2-mile limit from the coast and various points within which anchoveta fishing is prohibited during daylighthours has been extended to 3 miles for the pe- riod December 1, 1958, to March 31, 1959. Additional regulations were issued to govern night fishing and fishing during the latter part of 1958. Anchoveta isa bait fish used in pole-and-line fishing for tuna. (United States Embassy, Lima, December 9, 1958.) gS ry Portugal CANNED FISH EXPORTS, JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 1958: Portugal's exports of canned fish dur- ing January-September 1958 amounted to 43,410 metric tons (1,062,700 cases), valued at US$23.1 million, as compared with 36,424 tons, valued at US$22.2 mil- lion, for the same period in 1957. Sar- dines in olive oil exported during the first nine months of 1958 amounted to 29,609 tons, valued at US$15.7 million. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 65 During January-September 1958, the leading canned fish buyer was Italy with 8,064 tons (valued at US$4.2 million), fol- lowed by Germany with 6,676 tons (valued Portugese Canned Fish Exports, January-September 1958 anuary-September 1958 Metric Tons | US$1, 000 ——. 15, 667 Sardines in olive oil Sardinelike fish in olive oil . Sardine & sardinelike fish in brine Tuna &tunalike fishinoliveoil . Tuna & tunalike fish in brine. . ackerel in olive oil a ievnie) el ia Care Heenan ac Boe go reap Tees at US$3.6 million), Great Britain with 4,803 tons (valued at US$2.5 million), the United States with 4,157 tons (valued at US$3.0 million), and Belgium-Luxem- bourg with 3,121 tons (valued at US$1.6 million). Exportsto the United States in- cluded 1,871 tons of anchovies (Conser- vas de Peixe, November 1958.) *K Ke ok Ok OK CANNED FISH PACK, JANUARY-JULY 1958: The total pack of canned fish for Jan- uary-July 1958 amounted to 17,849 metric tons as compared with 23,306 tons for the same period in 1957. Canned sardines in 1958 Value Portuguese Canned Fish Pack, January -Jul Weight Net Product In Olive Oil: Sardines i jc-aae-ece cen reenter: Sardinelike fish Anchovy fillets oil (9,164 tons) accounted for 51.3 per- cent of the January-July 1958 total pack, higher by 21.9 percent than the pack of 7,519 tons for the same period of 1957, the November Conservas de Peixe re- ports. ate Kok ok 3k EXPANSION OF CANNED FISH EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES DISCUSSED: The first of a series of conferences sponsored by the Lisbon Commercial As- 66 Portugal (Contd.): sociation for consideration of Portugal's export problems was devoted to canned fish exports. The principal speaker ex- pressed concern with potential competi- tion from Morocco following initiation of the European Common Market onJan- uary 1, 1959, and observed that Portugal should turn its attention to countries outside that market, specifically Poland, Czechoslavakia, Finland, Hungary, China, and the United States. The speaker considered the United States to be the most promising single market for Portuguese canned fish, He noted that in 1957 the United States rank- ed fourth as a purchaser from Portugal, importing some 5,200 metric tons of canned fish. Of this amount, 2,670 met- ric tons or 140,000 cases were canned sardines, which, in view of the United States total consumption, suggested a potential for expansion of sardine ex- ports. | The speaker recommended, and the conference agreed, that new packaging and aggressive advertising were essen- tial for a deeper penetration of the Unit- ed States market, especially in view of the foothold already gained by Norwe- gian competition. In order that foreign advertising campaigns might stress particular brand names, rather than promote Portuguese sardines generally, the speaker suggested that definite ac- tion be taken to reduce the present 1,150 brand names to manageable proportions. The conference ended by recommend- ing that a committee be appointed to study means of implementing the sugges- tions. (United States Embassy, Lisbon, December 11, 1958.) ae 3K oki ok! Kk FISHERIES TRENDS, SEPTEMBER 1958: sardine Fishing: During September 1958, the Portuguese fishing fleet land- ed 20,723 metric tons of sardines (valued at US$1,757,565 ex-vessel or $85 a ton). In September 1957, a total of 13,093 tons of sardines was landed (valued at COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW US$1,340,000). Woll, Ail, IN@,, 2 Canneries purchased 62.5 percent or 12,956 tons of the sardines (valued at US$1,199,513 ex-vessel or $92.58 a ton) during September. Only 119 tons were salted, and the balance of 7,648 tons was purchased for the fresh fish market. Matosinhos lead all other ports in September landings of sardines with 11,833 tons or 57.1 percent, followed by Setubal 3,510 tons (16.9 percent), and Lisbon 1,918 tons (9.3 percent). Other Fishing: The September 1958 landings of fish other than sardines were principally 3,252 tons (value US$173,704) of chinchards, 1,205 tons (value US$79,339) of anchovies, 4,270 tons of mackerel (value US$260,417), 249 tons of tuna (value US$39,270), and 99 tons of bonito (value US$14,330). (Conservas de Peixe, No- vember 1958.) ra Somalia TUNA FISHERY TRENDS: Somalia reports good tuna fishing from her ports on the Gulf of Aden. Fishermen report seeing Japanese tuna long-liners fishing off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden and have heard unseen Jap- anese fishing boats talking over the ra- diotelephone. Three Japanese mother- ships were in Mombaso to refuel during the month. They were reported to have large catches aboard. The Japanese seem quite interested in the tuna indus- try in Somalia, The plant manager of the fish cannery at Habo was in Italy during November to purchase new equipment. The cannery has been reopened after being closed for two years. Before leaving, the Habo can- nery manager requested plans for a live- bait tank from personnel of the Interna- tional Cooperation Administration. It is believed that live-bait tanks will contrib- ute to increased tuna catches. The tuna cannery at Candala reported on Octo- ber 26 that 1,400 cases (40 kilos or about 88 pounds to the case) of canned fish were ready for shipment. > re February 1959 Spain REFRIGERATION CONFERENCE HELD IN MADRID: The Experimental Refrigeration Cen- ter (Centro Experimental del Frio) in Madrid, Spain, held its Third Annual Meeting during February 23-28, 1959, in Madrid. All interested individuals or firms from all nations were invited to participate. Research papers and other works were presented for discus- sion. During the course of the meeting, work sessions were alternated with var- ious social events and two forums on subjects of future interest. The main topics covered were: (1) Production and Distribution of Refrigeration; (2) Application of Refrigeration to Perish- able Products; (3) Permanent Cold-Stor- age Installations; (4) Portable Installa- tions; (5) Industrial and Other Uses of Refrigeration; and (6) Teaching and In- formation on Refrigeration. ok kk Ok VIGO FISHERIES TRENDS, SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1958: Fish Exchange: Landings of fish at the Vigo FishEx- change for vhe month of September dropped to 5,443 metric tons, a decrease of 126 tons from the previous month, and 1,857 tons less than in September 1957. Landings were valued at US$1,145,661 (at official rate of exchange, $1.00= 42 pesetas), or about 20 percent below August due to lower landings of high-priced albacore, Leading species on the exchange were sardines (1,058 tons); horse mackerel (1,025 tons); albacore tuna (563 tons); and small hake (450 tons). The unusually early appearance of anchovies in October raised landings at the exchange to the highest total for the year, 9,159 tons (valued at US$1,412,580), an increase of 1,127 tons and US$313,000 over October 1957. Leading species sold over the exchange in October were 3,210 tons of anchovies (October 1957 total 9 tons) followed by horse mackerel (1,061 tons), sardines (2,204 tons), small hake (464 tons), and needlefish (312 tons). Albacore catches dropped to 95 tons, signaling the end of the season, after a high of 2,660 tons in July. The albacore catch to the end of October totaled 4,820 tons almost a third more than the 3,639 tons caught in 1957. Fish Canning and Processing: During September and October 1958 canners bought 4,092 tons of fresh fish for processing, a slight drop from the 4,237 tons purchased in July and August 1958. As is normal in late fall and throughout the winter, the principal species processed were Sardines and anchovies. Anchovies, because of their great abundance this year, are being sold fresh instead of pickled; later in the year when fish stocks diminish, canners will pack anchovies cured in brine. New Labor Regulations: The new labor regulations af- fecting the fish canning and fish processing industry (Official Bulletin of October 31, 1958) went into effect with minor changes. There were salary increases based on ingrade raises of 10 percent for the first five years of service and 5 percent for each subsequent 5-year period. Other changes include a slight increase in yearly bonuses, an administra- tive definition of temporary and permanent workers, anda regrouping of personnel. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 67 Salary costs to the industry are expected to increase only slightly since salary increases do not cover all person- nel, and are charged against base pay which represents approximately one half of the labor cost. Problems and Government Aid: The head of the National Fisheries Syndicate, stated in a Speech in September, that the main problems facing the Spanish fishing industry are the high cost of gas and oil, the extreme shortage of elec- tronic equipment for fish-finding and navigation, and the shortage of manila and sisal line. He implied that the gov- ernment should subsidize fuel prices, and allow fishermen more foreign exchange for the import of electronic gear. In addition, he commented on plans now being executed to install refrigeration equipment aboard tuna boats fishing in Dakar waters to preserve catches for at least two days, or long enough to reach Spanish facilities in the Canary Islands. The Marine Social Institute reports that they will extend their retirement benefits to a small number of coastal fish- ermen (e.g., shore personnel and shellfish fishermen) not covered by previous regulations. Union of South Africa UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA AND SOUTH-WEST AFRICA PILCHARD- MAASBANKER INDUSTRY, AUGUST 1958: In August 1958 the Union of South Af- rica Cape west coast catch was 26,706 metric tons pilchards, 800 tons maas- banker (jack mackerel), and 4 tons mack- erel, according to the Union's Division of Fisheries. The month's total catch of 27,510 tons brought the total for the 1958 season to 298,854 tons (214,533 tons pil- chards, 62,190 tons maasbanker, and 22,131 tons mackerel), The quota fish (pilchard-maasbanker) total for the sea- son was 276,723 tons. August 1958 landings compare with 7,612 tons pilchards and 749 tons maas- banker in August 1957, and 10,528 tons pilchards and 9,449 tons maasbanker in August 1956. The August catch yielded 5,566 tons fish meal, 58,775 gallons fish oil, 792,653 pounds canned pilchards, and 275,828 pounds canned maasbanker. Landings at Walvis Bay, South-West Africa, in August 1958 totaled 35,370 tons of pilchards, and the total catch for the season through August was 217,739 tons. The Union's pilchard and maasbanker fishery ended in August, but in South- West Africa continued through October 68 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Union of South Africa (Contd.): 1958 (South African Shipping News and Fishing Industry Review, October 1958). kK Ok UNION AND SOUTH-WEST AFRICA FISH CATCH, 1958: In the eight months of the 1958 sea- son, the fishing boats of the Union of South Africa Cape west coast landed 214,533 metric tons pilchards, 62,190 tons maasbanker, and 22,131 tonsmack- erel. This fish was processed by 14 factories along some 200 miles of coast from Hout Bay to Thorn Bay. The pilchard and maasbanker catch was (1) more than 26,000 tons above the normal quota, (2) 32,596 tons higher than the best catch since the quota was im- posed in 1953, and (3) was second only to the record 1952 catch of 300,560 tons. The 22,131 tons of mackerel caught this year brought the pilchard-maasbanker- mackerel total to 298,854 tons--only 1,706 tons below the 1952 record. In Walvis Bay, South-West Africa, the season was also one of good catches and the last of the six factories reached its quota and stopped operations in Oc- tober 1958. As Walvis Bay in 1952 processed 248,380 tons or about 2,000 tons less than the 1958 catch of just over 250,000 tons, the total pelagic shoal fish catch in 1958 must have just exceeded the 1952 total to establish a new record for the Union and South-West Africa, This shoal fish catch may well push the total fish catch for the Union and South-West Africa to or even beyond the record 693,688 tons of 1952. At the present rate of increase, the trawl fish catch (99,964 tons in 1957) in 1958 should reach and possibly exceed 100,000 tons for the first time. Thus shoal fish and trawl fish should alone bring the year's catch to 650,000 tons. During the past 3 or 4 years snoek and other line-caught fish have averaged about 32,000 tons a year in the Union and Vol. 21, No, 2 about 4,000 tons in South-West Africa and may, therefore, bring the total to about 686,000 tons. The spiny lobster catch for 1958 may be well below the estimated total in 1957 of about 15,000 tons, but it should be suf- ficient to take the 1958 fish catch to be- tween 690,000 and 695,000 tons. In an outstanding season, the Cape west coast pilchard catch showed the largest increase. Until 1958, the high- est pilchard catch was the 187,424 tons landed in 1952. The 1958 catch of 214,533 tons exceeded that catch by a remarkable 27,109 tons. During the 1958 season, factories on the Cape west coast produced 56,016 tons of fish meal, 2,938,978 gallons of fish body oil, 7,193,888 pounds of canned pil- chards, 13,678,540 pounds of canned ma- asbanker, and 4,541,075 pounds of canned mackerel. U. S. S. R. FISHERY RESEARCH BY SUBMARINE: A converted Russian submarine was scheduled to make a trip in December 1958 to make a scientific investigation of fish and the depths of the sea. Pravda, a Russian newspaper, quoted the head of the Soviet Fish Research Institute as say- ing that the world's first ''oceanographic submarine would be equipped with giant searchlights, television cameras and equipment for taking and testing samples of the sea-bottom," This research is a follow-up of the work done by Russian biologists in con- nection with Russia's International Geo- physical Year Program. Oceanographic surveys in many areas of the world's oceans, particularly in the southern hem- isphere, will be made by surface vessels together with submarines. ak oe ok kek FISHING INDUSTRY EXPANDS: Although there are conflicting figures on Russia's fishery landings, it is quite February 1959 Ue Suse eum (Gontde)': evident that her fishing industry during the past decade has been expanding. Al- though the Food and Agriculture Organi- zation reports Russia's fishery landings as 2,535,000 metric tons, other sources give the total for 1957 as 2,850,000 tons. The latest available figure for canned fish production is for 1956--638 million cans. At the present time there are 176 canneries and 206 refrigerating plants in the Soviet Union's fishing industry, These utilize 1,500 fish-pumping instal- lations, 62 miles of conveyors, 500 mechanized lines for the processing of small fish, and 700 fish-dressing ma- chines, Russia's fishing industry now em- ploys 9,000 engineers and 15,000 tech- nicians. There are 5 higher educational institutes and 22 specialized secondary schools attached to the fishing industry, and between them they are training 22,490 specialists. Of this number, 7,000 are men and women already en- gaged in the industry who are taking aed or correspondence courses. December 1958 World Fishing, British fishery periodical.) *K se ke sk ok FREEZING INDUSTRY EXPANSION PLANNED: In Soviet Russia over 400,000 metric tons of fish are frozen annually, accord- ing to an article which appeared ina recent issue of a Russian refrigeration periodical. Although food products oth- er than fish are frozen, quick freezing has received widespread application only in the fishing industry, especially in re- cent years with the extensive freezing of fish aboard vessels, Special stress is being laid in Russia on the necessity of developing the pro- duction of packaged quick-frozen prod- ucts, particularly fruits, vegetables, and precooked foods. The objective of the freezing industry for 1959-1965 is to concentrate on intensive freezing meth- ods with the use of air-blast tunnels and other quick-freezing equipment. It is COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 69 planned to increase the production of quick freezers to about 1,000 units an- nually by 1965; also increase the output of mechanically-refrigerated low-tem- perature railway cars, refrigerated trucks, low-temperature display and sales cases, as well as domestic refrig- erators with freezing compartments. HK OK KK NORTH PACIFIC SALMON CATCH LOWER IN 1958: Soviet Russia's North Pacific salmon catch in 1958 is believed to have dropped to less than 100,000 metric tons, far short of the 120,000-ton target, reports Nihon Keizai, Japan's leading economic daily newspaper. "Under the circumstances, the Soviet Union will demand limiting Japan's catch next year to about 60,000 tons in the area covered by the Japan-Soviet agreement," reports the same newspaper. In 1958 the Japanese catch in the area was 110,000 metric tons. United Kingdom ADVANTAGES OF FREEZING FISH AT SEA STRESSED AT EXHIBITION: The advantages of freezing fish at sea were stressed at the 1958 International Shipping and Commercial Fish- ing Exhibition at Kingston-upon-Hull, England. The two main problems that face the distant-water trawling in- dustry are: supplying fresher fish and finding ways of reducing costs. One of the most effective ways of reducing costs is to arrange for the trawler to spend a longer time on the fishing grounds, The limitations of the use of crushed ice as a preservative cut short the stay on the fishing grounds eventhough the hold is not full. A better method of preservation would allowthe stay on grounds to be ex- tended. With an improved method of preservation, the economic optimum speed ofthe trawler is lower, and the costs of machinery and fuel are very much less. By using the latest machinery designs it is possible to reduce the space occupied by propulsion machinery and fuel and increase the space and capital available for processing plant and stowage of fish. In this way the voyage of a trawler of 185 to 190 feet can be ex- tended by several days. The savings in costs, particu- larly in fuel and in the number of vessels required to land a given amount of fish in a year, are likely to be more than enough to cover the costs of freezing, storing, and thawing. The capital cost for a freezing-fish-at-sea vessel is likely to be no higher than that of some recently-constructed motor trawlers. The Northern Wave freezing-fish-at-sea experiment in 1956 by the British demonstrated that whole headless sea-frozen cod were equal to very fresh iced fish and could be processed and handled in all the usual ways even after several months of storage. The fishermen had no difficulty in operating the plant at sea. The method was 70 United Kingdom (Contd.): therefore proved in the technical sense, but economically speaking the advantages of extending the trip and of saving fuel could not be demonstrated because of the conditions of the experiment. In the economic analysis of the designs now put forward, the costs derived from the Northern Wave were used and it was assumed that thawed headless cod would sell at average prices equivalent to those of iced cod. Intrawlers of 185 and 190 feet it wouldstill be necessary tostowa considerable proportion--up totwo-thirds--of the fish at ice temperature, because there is still not sufficient space to freeze the whole of the catch. The frozen part of the catch would on the average represent the extension of stay onthe fishing grounds as compared with the normal voyage, and the chilled fish would be equal to the normal catch. (Modern Refrigeration and Air Control, October 1958). mS) Ext E39) bs be NEW TYPE LOG AND SPEED INDICATOR DEVELOPED FOR TRAWLERS: A new type log and speed indicator has been designed and produced by a British firm primarily for the special- ized conditions and demands of trawlers. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW. Wolly Ail, Ine, 2 since the 0-14 knot range is used for steaming. It is claimed that the new in- strument will indicate when the gear set- tles on the bottom, when it lifts, and when itis snagged. The distance repeater registers in tenths of a mile up to 1,000 miles, and provision igs made to feed speed readings to the latest type radar units. On recent trials aboard the trawl- er Ross Leopard, the error over 260 miles was 0.5 miles. The instrument operates from 110 or 220 volts, d.c. or a.c., or from a 6-volt battery. It costs £158 (about US$440), according to World Fishing, November 1958. Yugoslavia FISH CANNING INDUSTRY EXPANDS: CONNECTOR » The instrument differs from the con- ventional log in that it is streamed from the ship's side, being boomed out 5 or 8 feet from the vessel, so that the rotator is in undisturbed water, level with the bridge, where it cannot foul propeller or gear during shooting or hauling the trawl- ing gear. A small register, mounted on the inboard end of the boom (normally fitted to the gallows), transmits speed and distance readings with great accuracy to instruments located in the wheelhouse; a second distance reading is provided by a dial on the inboard end of the boom. The boom is fitted with a topping lift and forward guy, and is easily handled and streamed. Two speed-range readings are pro- vided, so that advantage can be taken of the instrument's sensitivity to record trawling speed on the 0-7 knot range, The Yugoslavian fish canning indus- try has progressed considerably during recent years. During 1957, landings of fish from Yugoslavian waters were as follows: 14,065 metric tons of small pe- lagic fish, 478 tons of tuna and bonito, and 3,921 tons of other species. These landings do not include trawler land- ings. The most important species of small fish landed in Yugoslavia are sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and needlefish. Of the tunalike fish, tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.) is the most important, followed by bonito and albacore. Of the total 1957 landings, 6,420 tons were canned, 2,910 tons salted, and 1,027 tons used in the manufacture of fish meal, Yugoslavia has about 30 fish canneries. Most of their production is exported to Austria, United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States. (Industria Conservera, Vigo, Spain, August 1958.) February 1959 Department of Commerce COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY WARNS AGAINST USING OBSOLETE CHARTS: Collecting old charts can be a Satisfying hobby, but the economy-minded skipper or pilot who tries to get a few more months’ use froman out-of-date chart is only asking for trouble, the Director of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, U. S. Department of Commerce, pointed out on December 2, 1958. The Director cautioned against such practices since con- stant changes in landmarks, aids to navigation, and sub- merged obstructions necessitate frequent revisions and cor- rections on modern charts which, unless applied, make the charts obsolete and hazardous to use. The Coast and Geodetic Survey publishes 814 nautical charts covering the United States and its possessions. In an attempt to keep up with the constant changes, the Survey made more than 8 million hand corrections on its nautical charts last year. These corrections were made at the Sur- vey’s Washington office, the New York District Office, and the San Francisco District Office for distributionto the 441 sales agents throughout the country. When more than 40 hand corrections must be made on a chart, a new print is issued, In the course of a year or even a few months, in some areas, revisions may involve complete changes in channels, buoys, and locations of wrecks. Resurveys of chartedareas using modern instruments often reveal dangers that were previously undetected. One new edition along the Maine Coast involved over 120 changes, any one of which, if un- corrected, would constitute a navigation hazard. One instance was revealed wherea well-meaning skipper sent in a chart with penciled-in soundings indicated for a blank areaonhis chart. Investigation showed that the area had been surveyed andcompletely charted, but the skipper’s chart turned out to be several years out of date. The Director said, ‘‘This and similar cases point out the fact that, by nature, mandevelops an aversionto discarding oldcharts and regardless of the mode oftransportation in- volved, these psuedo-treasures are tucked away in glove com- partments, against bulkheads, andin cockpit compartments. The most that can be expected of using an oldchart is that it will offer one reason why an accident happened.”’ To help to insure that only the latest charts are used, a list of the latest available prints of nautical charts has been prepared by the Coast and Geodetic Survey for publication in the weekly ‘Notice to Mariners’’ during January 1958. A user of charts is advised to take stock of his charts, but wait until shortly before he is ready to leave before buying them, to assure the latest possible charts. The sec- ond suggestion is to consult the weekly ‘‘Notice to Mariners”’ for changes occurring, andkeep your charts up todate. In- formation on changes in the local area may be found in the Local Notice to Mariners, published by the local Coast Guard District office. For those who want to collect old charts the Coast and Geodetic Survey has on file a large number of original cop- perplate engravings of early editions of nautical charts, some of which date back to the 1850's. More than 70 dif- ferent charts are available in prices ranging from $1.00 to $2.50. SAAASAAASA FEDERAL ACTIONS COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW (al Federal Communications Commission NEW LICENSING REGULATIONS FOR MARINE RADIOS: New licensing regulations applicable to marine radios were issued recently by the Federal Communications Commis- sion. 1. Beginning January 1, 1959, all trans- mitters of 2 to 3 Mc band class used in new installations must be Commission "type accepted'' equipment. 2. Transmitters now licensed onboats are good until expiration date of the li- cense. They may be relicensed tothe same owner and same boat. Such reli- cense will be valid until 1963, when all sets must be ''type accepted." 3. Interim licenses will not be issued for ''non-type accepted" sets after Janu- ary 1, 1959. It will be necessary to send your application direct to Washington, 4, The Commission requests that li- cense applications on new installations for ''non-type accepted'' equipment not be filed after November 1, 1958, due to the time necessary to process applica- tions. Contact your marine radio supplier for advice if your radio license is up for renewal or if you are making a new in- stallation. Federal Trade Commission CONSENT ORDERS PROHIBIT THREE SEAFOOD PACKERS AND BROKERS FROM MAKING ILLEGAL BROKERAGE PAYMENTS: Three Seattle, Wash., canned seafood packers and pri- mary brokers were requested to stop making illegal bro- kerage payments by Consent Orders (7035 Canned Sea- food, 7089 Canned Seafood, and 7154 Seafood) approved by the Federal Trade Commission on November 8, 1958. All three were charged with violating Sec. 2(c) of the Robinson-Patman Amendment to the Clayton Act by giving 72 favored customers reduced prices reflecting brokerage, or rebates in lieu of brokerage. Taking final action on each of these complaints, the Commission affirmed an order, in each case, by one of its hearing examiners which had been agreed to by the Com- mission’s Bureau of Litigation and by each company and its officers, also acts as a primary broker for various packer principals to stop making brokerage payments which are forbidden by law. For example, the complaint (made on January 14, 1958) alleged, on direct sales not involving field brokers, at least one favored buyer of the firm’s own products was granted a 2-1/2 percent rebate (the customary brokerage fee) under the guise of a promotional allowance; and in sales of other packers’ seafood, the firm charged customers less than the prices accounted for to the packer. The order forbids these practices in the future. Consent Order (7089 Canned Seafood): Forbids a Seattle, Wash., packer and distributor of seafood to pay illegal bro- kerage to its customers. In its complaint of March 20, 1958, the Commission charged that on direct sales not involving brokers, favored buyers were granted discounts or price reductions approxi- mating the normal brokerage fee of 2-1/2 percent. In trans- actions handled through brokers, favored customers were given reductions offset by cutting the broker’s commission, the complaint continued. Consent Order (7154 Seafood): Requires a Seattle, Wash., primary broker of seafood to stop favoring customers with illegal brokerage payments. The company was charged by the Commission on May 26, 1958, with granting certain buyers rebates in lieu of broker- age or price concessions reflecting brokerage. The firm either absorbed these rebates from its customary 5 percent brokerage fee, or shared them with the field broker involved out of the 2-1/2-percent commission each receives, the com- plaint alleged. Typical methods cited were selling at lower prices than those accounted for to packer-principals; grant- ing price deductions wholly or partly not charged back to the packers; and taking reduced brokerage on sales involving price concessions. The order forbids these practices in the future. The agreements, in eachcase, arefor settlement purposes only and do not constitute an admission by the respondents that they have violated the law. OOK TK 3K SEAFOOD PACKER AND BROKER ORDERED TO STOP MAKING ILLEGAL BROKERAGE PAYMENTS: The Federal Trade Commission on December 22, 1958, approved a consent order (7210 Seafood) requiring a Ham- mond, Ore., seafood packer and its New York City broker, to stop making illegal brokerage payments. The Commission adopted an initial decision by one of its hearing examiners containing an order agreed to by the companies and the Commission's Bureau of Litigation. A Commission complaint, issued on July 23, 1958, charged the concerns with COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolk, Pil, WoO, 2 favoring certain buyers by (1) reducing net prices by approximately the broker- age commission; (2) giving them rebates. or payments out of brokerage earnings for part of agreed-to-promotional allow- ances; and (3) agreeing to pass on a part of the brokerage in sharing price reduc- tions granted these buyers in the form of promotional allowances. The complaint had alleged that these practices violate Sec. 2(c) of the Robinson-Patman Amend- ment to the Clayton Act. In a second count, the complaint charged that the concerns paid a $50- per-month promotional allowance to a Pennsylvania customer and a $750 allow- ance to acustomer inNewJersey. These allowances were not granted to competing customers onaproportionally equalbasis as required by Sec. 2(d) of the law, the complaint maintained. Joined in the order prohibiting these practices in the future are the officials of the companies involved. The agree- ment is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the respondents that they have violated the law, Hk OK OK KK SEAFOOD PACKER AND ITS EXCLUSIVE BROKERS TECHNICALLY ADMIT ILLEGAL BROKERAGE PAYMENTS: A Seattle seafood packer firm and its exclusive brokers stated that although illegal brokerage grants were technical- ly illegal, they benefited ‘‘the buying or consuming public.”’ This was the firm's reply to Federal Trade Commission charges of making illegal brokerage grants to some custom- ers (Answer 7249 Canned Seafood). Filing a joint answer to the Commission's complaint of September 11, 1958, were: the packer and its president and treasurer; and the brokerage firm and its president. The complaint had charged them with granting favored buyers discounts or allowances in lieu of brokerage, in vio- lation of Sec. 2(c) of the Robinson-Patman Amendment to the Clayton Act. Typical methods used by the firms, the complaint had charged, were: (1) granting buyers price re- ductions where either a primary or field broker, or both, were not used or, if used, took a reduction in their fee; and (2) selling at net prices lower than those accounted for to the packer-principal. One of the brokerage firms has not been engaged in busi- ness since 1957 and was maintained since that date solely for tax purposes, the answer States, andit willbe dissolved after January 1, 1959, The brokers admit that in August 1956 they entered into a joint venture with the packer, becoming his exclusive broker, with certain direct sales excepted, and that in January 1957 the broker became the exclusive broker for the packer’s whole pack under a new name. The answer denies, however, that the packer ever shared in any of the brokerage earnings under this joint venture, and maintains that the broker re- ceived full commissions on all sales. February 1959 Though admitting that priorto January 1, 1957, the packer had charged some direct buyers prices below those offered when brokers were utilized, and that the brokers made sales to certain buyers at prices below those accounted for to the packer, the answer declares these practices were discontin- ued as of that date. According to the answer, the brokers, in order to better acquaint the public withthe packer’s brands, offered on equal terms to all customers in certainareas ‘‘promotional allow- ance’’ funds to be used ‘‘in the development of public recog- nition of Respondent broker’s labels.’’ These funds were granted out of brokerage earnings, and insofar as they a- mount to indirect price reductions or contributions bene- fiting the buyers, they were admittedly technical violations of the law. Defending these arrangements, the answer declares they ‘thave resulted in increasing the sales of their product in the areas mentioned, higher commissions for themselves and the field brokers, greater profits for their buyers, and the development of competition in these areas to the benefit of the buying or consuming public.’’ Hk ok ok ok SHRIMP FIRM DENIES PAYING ILLEGAL BROKERAGE: A New Orleans shrimp-producing and packing company has denied (An- swer 7274 Shrimp) Federal Trade Com- mission charges of favoring direct buy- ing customers with illegal brokerage payments, according to a December 8, 1958, Commission news release. In answer to the Commission's com- plaint of October 8, 1958, the company admits that about 60 percent of its sales are made direct to certain of its custom- ers without utilizing the services of its brokers, However, it flatly denies the Commission's charge that these direct purchases are granted allowances ap- proximating the normal brokerage fee or price reductions reflecting this brok- erage, in violation of Sec. 2(c) of the Robinson-Patman Amendment to the Clayton Act. The company asked dismissal of the complaint. General Services Administration AGAR STOCKPILE TO BE SOLD IN 1959 AND 1960: The General Services Administration plans to sell by competitive bidding a- bout 198,173 pounds of agar now held in the national stockpile. Sales will be spaced at least six months apart and not more than 42 short tons (84,000 pounds) COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 73 will be offered at any one time, accord- ing to the notice in the December 12, 1958, Federal Register. The agar will be available for sale beginning after June 12, 1959. It is believed that this plan of sale will protect the United States against avoidable loss and will also protect pro- ducers, processors, and consumers a- gainst avoidable disruption of their usual markets. The Office of Civil and Defense Mobi- lizationhas made arevised determination (pursuant to section 2(a) of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act) that there is no longer any need for stock- piling agar. This decision was due to the obsolescence of the stockpiled agar for use in time of war and was based upon the finding of the Office of Civil and De- fense Mobilization that new and better forms of agar, within the meaning of sec- tion 3(e) (2) of the Act, have been devel- oped for the same uses for which the agar was stockpiled. Also, that domestic capacity for the production of new and improved forms of agar is adequate to meet estimated mobilization needs. “a ° Ne o 8 Department of Health, Education, and Welfare FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS ON FOOD ADDITIVES PROPOSED: Regulations on food additives were proposed by the Food and Drug Administration on December 9, 1958, to carry out the requirements of the 1958 Food Additives Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, The proposed regulations were published in the Federal Register of that date. The proposed regulations cover definitions and interpre- tations; pesticide chemicals in processed foods; substances added to food which are not generally recognized safe; tolerance for related food additives; generally recognized safety factors to be considered; general principles for the evaluation of the safety of food additives; food additives for which new-drug applications are required; food additives proposed for usein foods for which definitions and standards of identity have been prescribed; procedural methods for new or untried additives; and other phases of administering the new law. Included in the regulations is a list of 188 food chemicals which are believed by the Food and Drug Administration to be exempt from testing requirements of the law because they are generally recognized as safe for their intended use. The list is only a partial compilation. There are 61 pre- servatives, 39 buffers and neutralizers (compounds affecting 74 acidity), 35 nutrients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc.), 5 nonnutritive sweeteners, 5 coloring agents, 5 stabi- lizers, 4 emulsifiers, and 34 other additives. Thirty-six of the 188 are limited as to the quantity or the foods in which they may be used. Other food chemicals may be added if they meet the legal criteria for exemption; that is, if they are generally recognized by qualified experts as safe for their intended use. If afoodadditive does not fall in this category, it must be tested to establish its safety and cannot legally be used in food until this is permitted by a Food and Drug Administration regulation. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW WO, iL, IN@, 2} No flavoring materials are included in the list. These will be listed later. Nor are any coal-tar colors listed; these are subject to different provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The proposed food additive regulations do not attempt to spell out in detail the type of scientific studies which must be made to determine the safety of a nonexempt ad- ditive. They state that the Administration will evaluate safety data on the basis of criteria established by the Food Protection Committee of the National Research Council un- less equally good or better methods are proposed by the manufacturer. Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE U. S. GRADE STANDARDS FOR FROZEN HADDOCK FILLETS ISSUED: cation on tolerances, and also the grad- ing score sheet. On November 8, 1958, a notice of pro- posed rule making was published in the Federal Register on the intention of the Voluntary United States grade stand- ards for frozen haddock fillets were an- nounced in the December 18, 1958, Fed- eral Register. The standards become effective March 1, 1959. These regula- tions are the first issued by the U. S. Department of the Interior prescribing grade standards for frozen haddock fillets. The standards describe the product and grades, recommended weights and dimensions, quality factors, definitions and methods of analysis, and lot certifi- Director of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries to recommend to the Secretary of the Interior the adoption of United States standards for grades of frozen haddock fil- lets. Interestedpersons were given until November 20, 1958, to submit views or comments. After consideration of the views and comments submitted, minor modifications were made in the text of the regulations as proposed, The grade standards as published in the Federal Register follow: TITLE 50—WILDLIFE Chapter i—Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior Subchapter K—Processed Fishery Products, Proc- essed Products Thereof, and Certain Other Processed Food Products Part 174—UNITED STATES STANDARDS FOR GRADES OF FROZEN HaDDOCK FILLETS * On November 8, 1958, a notice of pro- posed rule making was bublishea in the FEDERAL REGISTER (23 F. R. 8732) where- by notice was given of the intention of the Director of the Bureau of Commer- cial Fisheries to recommend to the Sec- retary of the Interior, the adoption of United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Haddock Fillets, set forth therein in tentative form, to be codified as Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 174. Interested persons were given until November 20, 1958, to submit views or comments concerning the proposal. After consideration of all relevant matters presented, minor modifications in the text of the Standards for Grades of Frozen Haddock Fillets have been made in the interest of clarity. As so modified the standards set forth below, constituting a new Part 174, Title 50, are adopted pursuant to the authority con- tained in Title I, section 205, of the Agri- 1Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. cultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U. S. C. 1624) and shall be- come effective March 1, 1959. Dated: December 12, 1958. Ross LEFFLER, Acting Secretary of the Interior. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND GRADES Product description. Grades of frozen haddock fillets. WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS Recommended weights and dimen- sions. FACTORS OF QUALITY Ascertaining the grade. Evaluation of the unscored factor of flavor and odor. Ascertaining the rating for the fac- tors which are scored; appearance, size, defects, and character. Appearance, Size. Defects. Character. DEFINITIONS AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS 174.21 Definitions and methods of analysis. LOT CERTIFICATION TOLERANCES 174.25 Tolerances for certification of offi- cially drawn samples. SCORE SHEET 174.31 Score sheet for frozen haddock fillets. AvTHORITY: §§ 174.1 to 174.31 issued under sec. 205, 60 Stat. 1090, as amended, sec. 6, 70 Stat. 1122; 7 U. S. C. 1624, 16 U. S. C. 742e. Interpret or apply Bur. Budg. Order Mar. 22, 1958, 23 F. R. 2304. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND GRADES §174.1 Product description. The product described in this part consists of clean, whole, wholesome fillets or pri- marily large pieces of clean, whole, wholesome fillets, cut away from either side of haddock., Melanogrammus aegle- finus; the fillets may be either skin- less or with skin on. They are packaged and frozen in accordance with good com- mercial practice and are maintained at temperatures necessary for the preser- vation of the product. (This part does not provide for the grading of pieces of fish flesh cut away from previously frozen fish blocks, slabs, or similar products.) § 174.2 Grades of frozen haddock fil- lets. (a) “U.S. Grade A” is the quality of frozen haddock fillets that possess a good flavor and odor; and for those factors which are rated in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this part have a total score of 85 to 100 points. (b) “U. S. Grade B” is the quality of frozen haddock fillets that possess at least a reasonably good flavor and odor; and for those faetors which are rated in accordance with the scoring system out- lined in this part have a total score of not less than 70 points: Provided, That no factor receives maximum point score deduction. (c) “Substandard” is the quality of frozen haddock fillets that fail to meet the requirements of U. S. Grade B. February 1959 WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS § 174.6 Recommended weights and di- mensions. (a) The recommendations as to net weights and dimensions of pack- aged frozen haddock fillets are not in- corporated in the grades of the finished product since net weights and dimen- sions, as such, are not factors of quality for the purpose of these grades. (b) It is recommended that the net weights of the packaged frozen haddock fillets be not less than 12 ounces and not over 10 pounds, FACTORS OF QUALITY § 174.11 Ascertaining the grade. The grade of frozen haddock fillets is as- certained by observing the product in the frozen and thawed states and after representative sample units have been cooked in a suitable manner. The fol- lowing factors are evaluated in ascer- taining the grade of the product: Flavor, odor, appearance, size, defects, and char- acter. (a) These factors are rated in the following manner: (1) Flavor and odor. These factors are rated by organoleptic examination. Score points are not assessed (see § 174.12). (2) Appearance, size, defects, and character. These factors are rated by score points expressed numerically on the scale of 100. (b) The four factors and the max- imum number of points that may be given each are as follows: Factors: Appearance __ Size 100 § 174.12 Evaluation of the unscored factor of flavor and odor—(a) Good flavor and odor. “Good flavor and odor” (essential requirement for a Grade A Product) means that the fish flesh has good flavor and odor characteristic of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) ; and is free from staleness, and off-flavors and off-odors of any kind. (b) Reasonably good flavor and odor. “Reasonably good flavor and odor” (min- imum requirement of a Grade B product) means that the fish flesh may be some- what lacking in good flavor and odor; and is free from objectionable off-flavors and off-odors of any kind. § 174.13 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored; appear- ance, size, defects, and character. The essential variations within each factor which is scored are so described that the value may be ascertained for each factor and expressed numerically. Point deduc- tions are allotted for each degree or amount of variation within each factor. The value for each factor is the maxi- mum points allotted for the factor less the sum of the deduction-points within the factor. §174.14 Appearance. (a) General: The factor of appearance refers to the color of the fish flesh, and to the degree of surface dehydration of the product. (b) For the purpose of rating the fac- tor of appearance the schedule of de- duction-points in Tables I and II apply. Haddock fillets which receive 25 deduc- tion-points for this factor shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW the total score for the product. This is a limiting rule. TasieE I—ScorE DEDUCTIONS FOR COLOR SUBFACTOR Deduction points “Light” col- “Dark” Color ored portion | colored por- comprising | tion occurring main portion] under skin of fillet mainly along lateral line No discoloration _ _ 0 0 Slight vellowing___ 2 1 Moderate yellowing_______ 4 2 Excessive yellowing and/ or any rusting___....___- 13 12 TasLE Il—ScorE Depuctions ror DEHYDRATION SusFACTOR ———$ $$ OEE Surface area affected (percent) Deduc~- Degree of dehydration tion points Over—| Not over— Slight—Shallow and not color masking --....-..__ 0 1 0 1 50 2 50 100 5 Moderate—Deep but just deep enough to easily Scrap off with fingernail __ 1 25 5 25 50 8 50 100 16 Excessive—Deep dehydra- tion not easily scraped off_ 1 25 12 25 100 25 § 174.15 Size. (a) General: The fac- tor of size refers to the degree of free- dom from undesirably small fillet pieces. Any piece weighing less than 2 ounces is classed undesirably small. (b) For the purpose of rating the fac- tor of size the schedule of deduction- points in Table II apply. Haddock fillets which receive 20 deduction points for this factor shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score for the product. This is a limiting rule. TasLeE III—Score DeprecTIONS FOR SiZE OF FILLET Preces Number of fillet pieces less than 2 ounces per pound Deduction points Not over— Over— 0 1 10 15 20 eyes § 174.16 Defects. (a) General: The factor of defects refers to the degree of freedom from improper packing, cutting and trimming imperfections, blemishes, and bones. (1) Improper packing. “Improper packing” means poor arrangement of fillets, presence of voids, depressions, frost, and the imbedding of packaging material into fish flesh. (2) Cutting and trimming imperfec- tions. “Cutting and trimming imper- fections” means tHat the fillets have ragged edges, tears, holes, or are other- wise improperly cut or trimmed. (3) Blemish. “Blemish” means a piece of skin (except for skin-on fillets), scales, blood spot, a bruise, a black belly lining, a fin, or extraneous material. One “piece of skin” consists of one piece at least square inch in area: except that any skin patches larger than 1% square inches are each considered as two 75 pieces of skin. “Blood spot” is one of such size and prominence as to be con- sidered objectionable. “Black belly lin- ing” is any piece longer than 14-inch. Each aggregate area up to 1 square inch of identifiable fin or parts of any fin is considered as one “instance of fin”. Each aggregate area up to 1 square inch per fillet of one scale or group of scales is considered one “instance of scales’. “A bruise” consists of an affected area of ¥ square inch or more in area; except that any bruise larger than 1% square inches is considered as two bruises. (4) Bones. “Bones” means any bones that can be identified, and are objection- able. One instance of bone means one bone or one group of bones occupying or contacting a circular area of 1 square inch. (b) For the purpose of rating the factor of freedom from defects, the schedule of deduction-points in Table IV apply. TABLE [V—ScorE DEDUCTIONS FOR DEFECTS Defects sub-| Method of determining sub- | Deduc- factors factor score tion points Improper Moderate defects, noticeably 2 packing. affecting the products ap- pearance, Excessive defects, seriously 4 ‘affecting products appear- ance. Blemishes__._| Number of blemishes per 1 Ib. of fish flesh: Over 0 not over 1. 1 Over 1 not over 2_ 3 Over 2 not over 3_ 5 Over 3 not over 4_ 8 Over 4 not over 5_ 16 @ver 5 not over 6_ 30 40 Bones-__-----. Number of instances per 1 Ib. of fish flesh: Over 0 not over 1 en 0 Over 1 not over 5 Over 2 not over 10 Over 3 not over 15 Over 4 not over 30 Over 5 een ne 40 Cutting and | Slight defects, scarcely notice- 0 trimming. able. Moderate defects, noticeable 4 but not affecting the use- ability of any fillets. Excessive defects impairing: (a) the useability of up to 8 4 of the total number of fillets. (b) the useability of over 16 44 but not more than 1% of the total number of fillets, (c) the useability of over 14 40 of the total number of fillets, —— TABLE V—ScorE DEDUCTIONS FOR CHARACTER Character Method of determining sub- subfactors factor score Dedue- tion points Texture of the cooked fish: i) (a) Firm, slightly resilient but not tough or rubbery; moist but not mushy. (b) Moderately firm; only 4 slightly tough or rubbery; does not form a fibrous mass in the mouth; moist but not mushy. (c) Moderately tough or 8 tTubbery; has noticeable tendency to form a fibrous mass in the mouth; or is dry; or is mushy. (d) Excessively tough or 15 Tubbery; has marked Texture__.._. tendency to forma fibrous mass in the mouth; or is is very very dry; or mushy. Percent of drip: EEN: of Over 0 not over 5. ip. Over 10 not over 12. Over 12 not over 14_ Over 14 not over 16_ Over 16. 76 § 174.17 Character. (a) General: The factor of character refers to the amount of drip in the thawed fillets, and to the tenderness and moistness of the properly cooked fish flesh. (b) For the purpose of rating the fac- tor of character, the schedule of deduc- tion-points in Table V apply. Haddock fillets which receive 15 deduction points for this factor shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score for the product. This is a limiting rule. DEFINITIONS AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS § 174.21 Definitions and methods of analysis—(a) Percent of drip. “Percent of drip’ means the percent by weight of “free drip” (the fluid which is not re- absorbed by the fish tissue when the frozen fish thaws, and which separates freely without the aid of any external forces except gravity) in an individual package as determined by the following method: (1) Apparatus Water bath. (ii) Balance, accurate to 0.1 gm; or 0.01 ounce. (ii) Pliable and impermeable bag (cryovac, pliofilm, etc.). (iv) Vacuum source (Vacuum pump or water aspirator). (v) U.S. Standard No. 8 mesh circular sieve (both 8 and 12 inch diameters). (vi) Stirring motor. (vii) Identification tags. (2) Procedure. (i) Weigh pliable and impermeable bag (cryovac, pliofilm, etc.). Gi) Remove frozen material from container (container consists of the and materials. (i) COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW carton and the inner and outer wrap- pings). (iii) Place frozen product, plus scraps of any material remaining on the con- tainer, into the pliable bag. (iv) Weigh bag and contents and sub- tract tare to determine the net weight of the product. (v) Evacuate air from bag by use of suction so that bag closely fits contour of product, with no air pockets. (vi) Crimp the open end of bag and tie off (a secure and leakproof closure may be created by tying close to product and then folding excess bag and tying again). (vii) Completely immerse bag and contents in a circulated water bath maintained at 68° F. plus or minus 2° F. (viii) Allow to remain immersed until the product is defrosted (a “test run”, in advance, is necessary to determine time required for each product and quan- tity of product) .* (ix) Remove bag and contents from bath and gently dry outside of bag. (x) Weigh dry U. S. Standard No. & mesh circular sieve. (xi) Open bag and empty contents onto U. S. Standard No. 8 circular sieve so as to distribute the product evenly, inclin- ing the sieve slightly to facilitate drain- age, and allowing to drain for two min- utes. (xii) Weigh sieve and its contents and calculate drained weight. The drained weight is the weight of sieve and fillets less the weight of the dry sieve. (xiii) Calculate percent drip: Net weight (iv) —drained weight (xii) x (100) Net weight =Percent of drip Wool, Ai, INO, 2 (b) Cooking in a suitable manner. “Cooking in a suitable manner” shall mean that the product is cooked as follows: Place the thawed unseasoned product into a boilable film-type pouch. The pouch and its contents are then immersed in boiling water and cooked until the internal temperature of the fillets reaches 160° F. (about 20 minutes). LOT CERTIFICATION TOLERANCES § 174.25 Tolerances for certification of officially drawn samples. The sample rate and grades of specific lots shall be certified in accordance with Part 170 of this chapter (regulations governing processed fishery products, 23 F. R. 5064, July 3, 1958). SCORE SHEET § 174.31 Score sheet for frozen had- dock fillets. Container mark or identific: Sizelolilot: == Number of packages per master carton: Size of sample: Type of overwrap Actual net weight Factor score Total_- Flavor and odor__ TPT as a i eee eee set esooot Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, January 1958, p. 51, and November 1958, p. 54. U. S. GRADE STANDARDS FOR FROZEN HALIBUT STEAKS PROPOSED: Proposed voluntary United States grade standards for frozen halibut steaks were announced by the Director of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the December 3, 1958, Federal Register. The Bureau proposes to recommend to the Secretary of the Interior the adop- tion of regulations for these standards. The regulations would become law under Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 175--United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Halibut Steaks, BN bk Eigubs These regulations, if made effective, will be the first issued by the Depart- ment of the Interior prescribing grade standards for frozen halibut steaks. The proposed regulations for frozen halibut steaks would cover product de- scription, style, grade, recommended di- mensions, methods of ascertaining the grade, definitions and methods of analy- sis, tolerances for certification of offi- | clally-drawn samples, andthe type of score sheet tobeused. The notice of proposed rule making as itappearedinthe Federal Register of December 38, 1958, follows: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR | Poses to recommend to the Secretary of !any products thereof were transferred to Fish and Wildlife Service [ 50 CFR Part 175 1] FROZEN HALIBUT STEAKS U. S. STANDARDS FOR GRADES Notice is hereby given, pursuant to section 4 (a) of the Administrative Pro- cedure Act of-June 11, 1946 (60-Stat. 238, 5 U.S. C. 1003), that the Director of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries pro- the Interior the adoption of the regula- tions set forth in tentative form below to establish grade standards for frozen hali- but steaks. These regulations are to be codified as Title 50, Code of Federal Reg- ulations, Part 175—United States Stand- ards for Grades of Frozen Halibut Steaks, and are proposed for adoption in accord- ance with the authority contained in Title II of the Agricultural Marketing Act of August 14, 1946, as amended (7 U. S. C. 1621-1627). Functions under that Act pertaining to fish, shellfish, and the Department of the Interior by section 6 (a) of the Fish and Wildlife Act of August 8, 1956 (16 U.S. C. 742e). These regulations, if made effective, will be the first issued by the Department of the Interior prescribing grade standards for frozen halibut steaks. Prior to the final adoption of the pro- posed regulations set forth below, con- sideration will be given to any written data, views, or arguments relating thereto which are received by the Direc- tor, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, February 1959 Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington 25, D. C., on or before January 1, 1959. Dated: November 28, 1958. A. W. ANDERSON, Acting Director, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. Part 175—UNITED STATES STANDARDS FOR GrRaDEs OF FROZEN HaLisut STEAKS * PRODUCT DESCRIPTION, STYLE, AND GRADES Sec. 175.1 Product description. 175.2 Style of frozen halibut steaks. 175.3 Grades of frozen halibut steaks. DIMENSIONS 175.6 Recommended dimensions. FACTORS OF QUALITY AND GRADE 175.11 Ascertaining the grade. DEFINITIONS AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS Sec. 175.21 Definitions and methods of analysis. LOT CERTIFICATION TOLERANCES 175.25 Tolerances for certification of offi- cially drawn samples. SCORE SHEET 175.31 Score sheet for frozen halibut steaks. AvTHoRITY: §§ 175.1 to 175.31 issued under sec. 205, 60 Stat. 1090, as amended; 7 U.S. C. 1624. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION, STYLES, AND GRADES § 175.1 Product description. Frozen halibut steaks are clean, wholesome units of frozen raw fish flesh with nor- mally associated skin and bone and are 2 ounces or more in weight. Each steak has two parallel surfaces and is derived from whole or subdivided halibut slices of uniform thickness which result from Sawing or cutting perpendicularly to the axial length, or backbone, of a whole halibut. The steaks are prepared from either frozen or unfrozen halibut (Hip- poglossus spp.) and are processed and frozen in accordance with good commer- cial practice and are maintained at tem- peratures necessary for the preservation of the product. §175.2 Styles of frozer halibut steaks. (a) Style I., random weight pack. The individual steaks are of ran- dom weight and neither the weight nor the range of weights are specified. (b) Style II., uniform weight or por- tion pack. All steaks in the package or in the lot are of a specified weight or range of weights. § 175.3 Grades of frozen halibut steaks. (a) “U. S. Grade A” is the quality of frozen halibut steaks which possess good flavor and odor, and that for those factors which are rated in accord- ance with the scoring system outlined in the following sections the total score is not less than 85 points. (b) “U. S. Grade B” is the quality of frozen halibut steaks which possess at least reasonably good flavor and odor, and that for those factors which are rated in accordance with the scoring sys- tem outlined in the following sections the total score is not less than 70 points. _ (c) “Substandard” is the quality of frozen halibut steaks which fail to meet +Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW the requirements of the “U. S. Grade ise DIMENSIONS §175.6 Recommended _ dimen- sions. (a) The recommended dimen- sions of frozen halibut steaks are not in- corporated in the grades of the finished product since dimensions, as such, are not factors of quality for the purpose of these grades. However, the degree of uniformity of thickness among units of the finished product is rated since it is a factor affecting the quality and utility of the product. (b) It is recommended that the thick- ness (smallest. dimension) of individually frozen halibut steaks be not less than ¥ inch and not greater than 14 inches. FACTORS OF QUALITY AND GRADE § 175.11 Ascertaining the grade. The grade is ascertained by observing the product in the frozen, thawed, and cooked states and is evaluated by con- sideration of the following: (1) Factors rated by score points. The quality of the product with respect to scored factors is expressed numeri- Ue cally. Cumulative point deductions are assessed for variations of quality for each factor in accordance with the schedule in Table I, in the frozen, thawed, and cooked states. The total deduction is substracted from the maximum possible score of 100 to obtain the product score. (2) Factors not rated by score points. The factors of flavor and odor are evaluated organoleptically in the cooked state for both the light and dark meat (surface fat) and are defined as follows: (i) Good flavor and odor. ‘“‘Good fla- vor and odor” (essential requirement for Grade A) means that the fish flesh has the good flavor and odor characteristics of halibut, and is free from rancidity and from off-flavors and off-odors. (ii) Reasonably good flavor and odor. “Reasonably good flavor and odor” (min- imum requirement for Grade B) means that the fish flesh may be somewhat lacking in the good flavor and odor char- acteristic of halibut, is reasonably free of rancidity, and is free from objection- able off-flavors and off-odors. (iii) Substandard flavor and odor. “Substandard flavor and odor’’ (Sub- standard grade) means that the flavor TABLE I—SCHEDULE OF POINT DEDUCTIONS FOR Factors RATED BY SCORE PoInts! Factor Description of quality variation Deduct Per steak 1, Dehydration 3__-_.--..-._ hee aac Surface area affected: Less than 1 square inch but obvious 1 1 to 2 square inches_-_..--------- 2 Above 2 square inches_-..--.--- 3 2. Percentage glaze_..---..-.........__- Over 0.0, not over 6.0 percent by weight of sample unit. 0 Over 6.0, not over 7.0. 1 Over 7.0, not over 8.0 2 Over 8.0, not over 3 g Over 9.0_ 4 8 E 3. Uniformity of thickness. For each \¢ inch above !-inch variation in steak thickness 2 (maximum total deduction permitted 6 points per sample unit). 4. Uniformity of weight and minimum | Style I—Random weight.—Use either (a) or (b), which- weight. ever gives a greater deduction. (a) For each steak less than 3.0 ounces in weight per sam- 4 ple package. (b) For each 0.1 ounce below 4.0 ounces in average steak % weight per sample. Style 11—Uniform weight or portions.—Foreach full 1 percent 2 of the steaks deviating by more than 0.6 ounce from the specified portion weight or the average of the specified portion range (per sample package). ~ | 5. Workmanship—Defects of: Cutting, o = collar bone, loose skin, fins, blood | Excessive =) 2 oe spots, bruises, foreign material, (For each defect, per occurrence, per sample package or a backbone, cartilage, sawdust, per 2 pounds for packages over 2 pounds net weight.) 6. Color defects: (Per sample unit) Slight 1 (a) Discoloration of drip liquor--_--|4 Moderate- 2 Excessive 3 Slight 1 (b) Discoloration of light meat 3____|{ Moderate_ 2 Excessive 3 1 (c) Discoloration of dark meat ?____ z Slight -----. 1 (d) Non-uniformity of color_...-_.- Moderate_ 2 Excessive --- ce (Per steak) 7. Honeycombing ?_..........-.-.---.-- Surface area affected: se 4 1 76 to 100 percent 2 i # isn fect 2 h fi Slight 1 é carare detect (tough, dry, fibrous, |!Mioderate - 2 1 This schedule of point deductions in based on the examination of sample units composed of: (a) An entire sample parker and its contents (for retail sized packages) or (b) a representative subsample consisting of three or more alibut steaks taken from each sample package (for institutional sized packages), except that the entire sample pack- age shall be examined for factor 4. 4 Point deductions for these factors are based on a3 steak sample unit. For samples containing other than 3 steaks per sample unit or per package, multiply the resultsby the correction factor 3 where n equals the number of steaks. 78 and odor fail to meet the requirements of “reasonably good flavor and odor.” (3) Determination of final product grade. The final product grade is de- rived on the basis of both the product score as determined by the “factors rated by score points” and the grade require- ments of flavor and odor as defined un- der “factors not rated by score points.” The lower of the two determines the final grade. DEFINITIONS AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS § 175.21 Definitions and methods of analysis. (a) “Percentage glaze” on hal- ibut steak means the percent by weight of frozen coating adhering to the steak surfaces and includes the frost within the package. It is determined by the method described below or by methods giving equivalent results. (1) Equipment needed. (i) Source of cold tap water with aerated faucet. Gi) Balance accurate to 0.1 gm.; or 0.01 ounce. (iii) Paper towels. (iv) Small knife. (2) Procedure. (i) Weigh package in overwrap and all its contents (A). (i) Remove steaks and loose frost; weigh dry packaging (B). (iii) The difference in weight, A-B represents weight of steaks plus glaze (C). (iv) Remove glaze from halibut steaks. (a) Adjust tap water to a flow rate of about 3 quarts/min. through an aerated faucet. (b) Direct 50° to 60° F. tap water onto skin side of steak while gently feeling and rubbing cut surfaces with finger tips Gf necessary, temperatures up to 80° F. may be used but require closer control). (c) When all glaze is removed from cut flesh surface, as evidenced by absence of slick feel to fingers, remove steak from water. (d) Rapidly remove excess water with single paper towel before it has time to refreeze on the steak, and flick off resid- ual skin glaze by knife or hand. (e) Repeat steps (b), (c), and (d) on each steak in package or sample unit. (f) Weigh de-glazed halibut steaks (D, actual net weight of sample). (Steps (a) through (f) of this subdivision are completed within three minutes.) (v) Calculate percentage glaze: Per- centage glaze= cP 100. (b) “Cooked state’? means that the thawed product has been cooked in a suitable manner which is defined as being heated submerged in boiling water, un- seasoned, and in a boilable film type pouch for tenminutes. (Steaks over one inch in thickness may require five addi- tional minutes of heating.) (c) Uniformity of thickness means that the thickness is substantially the same for one or more steaks within a package or sample unit. (d) Color defects: (1) “Discoloration of drip liquor” means that the free liquid which drains from the thawed steaks is discolored with blood residue usually from the dor- sal aorta of the halibut. (2) “Discoloration of light meat” means that the normal flesh color of the main part of the halibut steak has dark- ened due to deteriorative influences. (3) “Discoloration of the dark meat” means that the normal color of the sur- face fat shows increasing degrees of yel- lowing due to oxidation. (4) “Non-uniformity of color” refers to noticeable differences in color on a single steak or between adjacent steaks in the same package. (e) “Dehydration” refers to the ap- pearance of a whitish area on the sur- face of a steak due to the removal of water or drying of the affected area. (f) “Honeycombing” refers to the visible appearance of numerous discrete holes or openings of varying size on the steak surface. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolk Zaks INO, 2 (g) “Workmanship defects” refers to appearance defects that were not elimi- nated during processing and are con- sidered either objectionable or poor com- mercial practice. (h) “Texture defect” refers to an un- desirable increase in toughness and/or dryness, fibrousness, and watery nature of halibut examined in the cooked state. LOT CERTIFICATION TOLERANCES §175.25 Tolerances for certification of officially drawn samples. The sample rate and grades of specific lots shall be certified on the basis of Part 170 of this chapter (23 F. R. 5064). SCORE SHEET § 175.31 Score sheet for frozen hali- but steaks. General Size and kind of container_____ Container mark or identification- Sizelofjlot- es Number of samples__- Actual net weight (ounces Number of steaks per container Product style Scored factors (table 1) Frozen: 1. Dehydration. ---.__ 2. Percentage glaze___ 3. Uniformity of thickne 4. Uniformity of weight___ Thawed: 5. Workmanship 6. Color defects__ 7. Honeycombin; Cooked: CANES Ca ced berenentcsss ‘Totalideductions==—= “=<-anene=eseees| saeeeee ee Rating for scored factors (100—Total de- ductiong) Unscored factors Rating b. Flavor (light meat) __ . (dark meat) Flavor and odor rating_--_ Final’ grades _____._. Small Business Administration REGULATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANIES ISSUED: Regulations on the establishment and operation of small business investment companies were published in the Feder- al Register of December 4, 1958, and be- came effective on that date. The invest- ment companies will be chartered or li- censed by the Small Business Adminis- tration (SBA) to operate under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. Notice of proposed regulations appear- ed in the October 29, 1958, Federal Reg- ister. The regulations as now issued carry the changes made necessary bythe comments received from interested per- sons. Private corporations will be charter- ed under state law or the Small Business Administration, to provide funds to small business firms through the purchase of convertible debenture bonds of such con- cerns and through the disbursement of long-term loans to such firms, The cor- porations will also be authorized to pro- vide consulting and advisory services to small business firms on a fee basis for such services actually rendered. Thepro- gram willbe administered by SBA through its Small Business Investment Division. The regulations include a statement of policy; statutory provisions; defini- tions; the establishment of the Small Business Investment Division; informa- tion, instructions, and forms; license ap- plication; prequisites for issuance of li- February 1959 cense; organization of small business investment companies; approving state- chartered companies for operations un- der the Act; conversion of investment and development companies; charter re- quirements; source of charter; organi- zation of a licensee; fees for license and SBA charter; and many other details. Eighty -Sixth Congress (First Session) Public bills and resolutions which may directly or indirectly affect the fisheries and allied te ; “ industries are report- Bye ed upon. Introduction, = «fea ar referralto committees, 2S cea pertinent legislative actions, hearings, and other actions by the Fre, Gt House and Senate, as well as signature into law or other final disposition are covered. The First Session of the Eighty-Sixth Congress convened January 7, 1959. BOAT SAFETY: H. R. 211 (Patman), a bill to promote boating safety on the navigable waters of the United States, its Territories, and the District of Columbia; to provide coordination and coopera- tion with the States in the interest of uniformity of boating laws; and for other purposes; to Commit- tee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries; introduced in House January 7. Provides for a State system of issuing certificates for and the numbering of all undocumented vessels and probably would include undocumented fishing vessels unless specially ex- empted by future regulations issued under the Act if approved. Would be known as the Federal Boat- ing Act of 1959. FAIR LABOR STANDARDS AMENDMENTS OF 1959: H.R. 317 (Addonizio), a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, to provide coverage for employees of employers who are engaged in activities affecting interstate com- merce, to eliminate certain exemptions, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Education and Labor; introduced in House January 7. Pro- vides for the exemption of ' .(4) any employee employed in the catching, taking, harvesting, cul- tivating, or farming of any kind of fish, shellfish, crustacea, sponges, seaweeds, or other aquatic forms of animal or vegetable life, including the going to and returning from work and loading and unloading when performed by such employee. . ."' Also, provides that the Secretary of Labor appoint a special industry committee to recommend the minimum rates of wages to be paid under section 6 to employees in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 79 FEDERAL LOAN PROGRAMS: H. R,. 797 (Hie- stand), a bill to insure greater consistency among Federal loan programs, to avoid hidden subsidies, and to achieve more effective coordination between Federal loan programs and fiscal and credit poli- cies of the Federal Government; to the Committee on Ways and Means; introduced in House January 7. Provides for uniform method of establishing inter- est rates on Government loans. FISHERIES ASSISTANCE ACT: H. R, 181 (Lane) a bill to provide a 5-year program of assistance to enable depressed segments of the fishing industry in the United States to regain a favorable economic status, and for other purposes; to Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries; introduced in House January 7. The purpose of the proposed legisla- tion, cited as the ''Federal Fisheries Assistance Act of 1959,'' is to supplement the Fish and Wild- life Act of 1956 to provide assistance to any de- pressed segment of the fishing industry found to be threatened with or suffering from injury occa- sioned by a trade- -agreement concession from which "escape clause'' relief, as authorized by section 7 (c) of the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1951, as amended has been or hereafter may be withheld because of consideration affecting the Nation's se- curity or because of other overriding considerations inthe nationalinterest. Direct assistance in the form of loans, grants-in-aid and incentive payments are authorized and designed to aid the industry so affected to improve its methods of catching, han- dling, and preserving and processing fish and to improve the quality of its products and thus attain and maintain a better competitive position with re- lation to foreign-produced fishery products of like character through the repair, alteration, improve- ment, modernization, replacement, and construc- tion of fishing vessels and gear, fish preservation equipment, processing plants, and other equipment and facilities used in catching, handling, process- ing, packaging, and marketing of domestically- produced fish and fishery products derived from the species upon which the adversely-affected in- dustry is dependent. Additional purposes of this Act further provide assistance in the recondition- ing, equipping and outfitting of existing fishing ves- sels and the construction, equipping, and outfitting of new fishing vessels; to promote higher standards of safety; and through the provision of an inspec- tion and grading service to improve and standard- ize the quality of domestically-produced fishery products. 2 Specifically the bill provides, under such terms and conditions as may be prescribed, for (1) pay- ment of a construction-differential subsidy to fish- ing vessel owners to aid in the construction of new fishing vessels as replacement for a lost, ineffi- cient, worn-out, or obsolete fishing vessel; (2) ex- tending of loans for financing and refinancing the purchase and repair of plant machinery, equipment, and facilities, and for the general reconditioning and modernization of fish-processing plants for which a revolving loan fund is to be created and for which an authorized sum of $6,000,000 is to be appropriated to provide the initial capital; (3) in- centive payments are authorized to be paid to any fishing vessel owners who shall observe or cause to be observed practices prescribed for improving methods of handling fish and maintaining the qual- ity thereof from time of capture to delivery at the 80 dock at a rate not to exceed 1 cent per pound to be added to the ex-vessel price payable for the fish; (4) incentive payments are also authorized to be paid to any processing plant owner, not to exceed one-third cent per pound of fish (ex-vessel weight), to promote and encourage greater operating effi- ciency in the handling and processing of fishery products derived from domestically-produced fish of the species covered by this Act from the point of landing of the raw product on the dock and throughout all phases of processing and packaging until ready for marketing; (5) services in the es- tablishment and maintenance of a system for cur- rently recording all insurance claims and recov- eries thereon originating in such areas and cover- ing loss of, damage to, or occasioned by fishing vessels, the machinery, equipment, and facilities on such vessels, together with insurance claims and recoveries thereon for personal injury and death resulting from or incident to employment on fishing vessels in such areas; (6) as an aid to as- suring the maintenance of a uniformly high stand- ard of quality for fishery products, certain provi- sions exist whereby inspecting and grading of fish- ery products processed in fish-processing plants as defined in the Act may be provided without charge; (7) also the Interior Secretary is author- ized to contract for or to design, develop, construct, and operate, or to make available to individuals or firris, with or without reimbursement, equipment suitable for handling fish from fishing vessels, Also S. 21 (Mrs. Smith), to Committee on Inter- state and Foreign Commerce, introduced in Senate January 9. H. R. 390 (MacDonald), a bill to provide a 5- year program of assistance to enable depressed segments of the fishing industry in the United States to regain a favorable economic status, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries; introduced in House Janu- ary 7. This bill is somewhat more limited than H. R. 181 since it only (1) provides for 333 percent construction and reconstruction-differential sub- sidies for fishing vessels and $5,000,000 to finance them and (2) loans to processors of fishery prod- ucts in distressed segments of the fishing industry for which another $5,000,000 would be provided for making the loans. FISHERMEN'S COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS BANK: H. R. 180 (Lane), a bill to provide credit — facilities for the use of fishermen's cooperative associations through establishment of a Bank for Fishermen's Cooperative Associations, and for other purposes; to Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries; introduced in House January 7. Bill points out that continued prosperity of fishermen's cooperatives depend on their ability to secure cred- it at reasonable interest rates for the purpose of stabilizing the currents of interstate and foreign commerce in the marketing of fishery products. Bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to organize and charter a corporation to be known as the ''Bank for Fishermen's Cooperative Associa- tions.'' The capital stock of the bank shall be in such amount as the Secretary of the Interior de- termines is required for the purpose of meeting the credit needs of eligible borrowers from the bank. There is authorized to be appropriated the sum of $10,000,000 as a revolving fund. The bank is authorized to make loans out of the revolving fund to fishermen's cooperative associations (1) to COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Violins 2 eNO we 2 finance fish and shellfish or products thereof stored in cold storage or other storage facilities owned, leased, or used by such fishermen's coop- erative associations: Provided, That the bank is given a first lien on all inventories thus stored by said cooperative associations; (2) to provide oper- ating capital required to supplement the capital funds of fishermen's cooperative associations; (3) to finance or refinance the acquisition of land, buildings, and equipment used by fishermen's co- operative associations in connection with activities related to the processing, preparing for market, handling or marketing of fish and shellfish; the purchasing, testing, grading, processing, distrib- uting or furnishing of fishing gear, fuel, ice, and other supplies required in connection with the pro- duction, processing, and distribution of fish and shellfish; and the furnishing of business services related to such activities; (4) to finance and re- finance the operations, maintenance, replacement, repair, and equipment of fishing gear and vessels: Provided, That the fishermen's cooperative associa- tion requesting a loan for such purposes has been engaged in fish production for a period of not less than one year prior to the date of the loan applica- tions: Provided further, That financial assistance for such purposes has not been extended to the ap- plicant under section 4 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (70 Stat. 1121) and is not otherwise avail- able on reasonable terms. Also to borrow from, and discount or rediscount paper with other Fed- eral banks and commercial banks. Bill also de- scribes stock subscriptions of borrowers, voting rights of stockowners, and rise of earnings: and re- serves. FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MARKETING ACT: S. 23 (Mrs. Smith), a bill to amend the Fisheries Cooperative Marketing Act; to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce; introduced in Senate January 9. Exempts fisheries cooperatives from antitrust acts or regulations. FISH HATCHERIES: H. R. 2398 (Gavin), a bill to provide for the establishment of a fish hatchery in the northwestern part of the State of Pennsylvania; to the Committee on Merchant Ma- rine and Fisheries; introduced in the House Jan- uary 15. FISHING VESSEL CONSTRUCTION SUBSIDY: H. R. 2181 (King of California), a bill to amend Title V of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as a- mended, to promote the maintenance of the Ameri- can fishing fleet under competitive conditions and in the interest of sustained fish food supplies in case of emergency and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means; introduced in House January 12. Provides for the payment of a con- struction-differential subsidy for new fishing ves- sels. FOREIGN COMMERCE IMPORT QUOTA RE- STRICTIONS: H. R. 1207 (Bailey), a bill to regu- late the foreign commerce of the United States by establishing import quotas under specified condi- tions, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means; introduced in House January 7. HAWAIL STATEHOOD: H. R. 50 (Burns of Ha- waii), a bill to provide for the admission of the State of Hawaii into the Union; introduced in House January 7. February 1959 Also H. R. 324 (Barrett), H. 801 (Holland), H, R. 954 (Saylor), H. R. 959 (Sisk), H H. R. 1106 (Berry); all introduced in House January 7. Also H. R. 1800 (Dent), H. R. 1833 (Libonati), H. R. 1917 (Mrs. Green of Oregon), H. R. 1918 (Holt), H.R R. 2004 (Younger) eaeericsd in House Janu- ary 9. Also H. R. 2328 (Dooley), H. R. 2348 (Mc- Cormack), and H. R. 2476, introduced in House January 15. Also 8. 50 (Murray and 52 other Sen- ators) introduced in Senate January 9. All simi- lar to H. R. 50. House bills to Committee on In- terior and Insular Affairs and Senate bill to Com- mittee on Interior and Insular Affairs. IMPORTS OF POLLUTED SHELLFISH PRO- HIBITED: H. R. 1244 (Colmer), a bill to prohibit the importation into the United States of polluted shellfish; to the Committee on Ways and Means; introduced in House January 7. INCOME TAX LAW REVISION IN FAVOR OF FISHERMEN: H. R. 604 (Pelly), a bill to extend to fishermen the same treatment affordedfarmers in relation to estimated income tax; introduced in House January 7. Also H. R. 1925 (King of Calif.) introduced in House January 1, similar to H. R. 604. Both to Committee on Ways and Means. LOBSTER INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION: S. 22 (Mrs. Smith), a bill to regulate the interstate transportation of lobsters; to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce; introduced in Senate January 9, MARINE LABORATORY IN FLORIDA: H. R. 350 (Cramer), a bill to provide for the construc- tion of a fish and wildlife marine laboratory and experiment station in the centralGulf coast area of Florida; to Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries; introduced in House January 7. MARKETING FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT: S. 292 (Humphrey), a bill to encourage the improve- ment and development of marketing facilities for handling perishable agricultural commodities; to the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry; in- troduced in the Senate January 14. H. R. 1807 (Ford), introduced in the House on January 9, to the Committee on Agriculture, similar to S. 292. Seafood is among the ‘agricultural commodities" spelled out in the bills. PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION: January 7 transmitted to the House 10th Annual Report for the year 1957; to Committee on Mer- chant Marine and Fisheries, January 9--A letter from the Chairman, Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission, Portland, Ore., transmitting, pursuant to law, a report of that Com- mission for the year 1957 (with an accompanying report); to the Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. PRICE DISCRIMINATION: H. R. 11 (Patman), a bill to reaffirm the national policy and purpose of Congress in the laws against unlawful restraints and monopolies, commonly designated ''antitrust" laws, which among other things prohibit price dis- crimination; to aid in intelligent, fair, and effective administration and enforcement thereof; and to strengthen the Robinson-Patman Anti-Price Dis- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 81 crimination Act and the protection which it affords to independent business, the Congress hereby reaf- firms that the purpose of the antitrust laws in pro- hibiting price discriminations is to secure equality of opportunity to all persons to compete in trade or business and to preserve competition where it exists, to restore It where it is destroyed, and to permit it to spring up in new fields; to Committee on the Judiciary; introduced in House January 7. Supplements existing laws against unlawful re- straints and monopolies. Provides that refuting evidence of price discrimination rests with per- son charged unless lower price was made to meet competition, Also H. R. 384 (Lesinski), H. R. 927 and 929 (Rogers of Colorado), H. R. 1205 (Zaboliocki), to the Committee on the Judiciary; all introduced in House January 7, Also S. 315 (Kennedy), to Com- mittee on the Judiciary, introduced in Senate Jan- uary 14; H. R. 2463 (Boykin), to Committee on Interestate and Foreign Commerce, introduced in House January 15. All similar to H. R. 11 (Pat- man). rv reiy si PRICE STABILITY: H. R. 17 (Bennett of Flor- ida), a bill to amend the Employment Act of 1946 to make relative stability of prices an explicit aim of Federal economic policy; to Committee on Government Operations; introduced in House Jan- uary 7. Also S. 64 (Bush and 4 other Senators), to Committee on Banking and Currency, introduced in Senate January 9, and similar to H. R. 17. PRICE STABILIZATION: H. R. 2463 (Boykin), a bill to amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to promote quality- and price-stabilization; to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Com- merce; introduced in the House January 15. SALMON IMPORT RESTRICTIONS: H. R, 605 (Pelly), a bill to facilitate the application and op- eration of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, and for other purposes; also H. R. 1308 (Magnuson); to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fish- eries; both introduced in House January 7. Would prohibit the import of salmon products derived from fish caught by nationals of any country that permits fishing for salmon by gill nets on the high seas at times and places where occur large quan- tities of immature salmon of North American or- igin. SHRIMP IMPORT DUTIES: H. R. 483 (Colmer), a bill to provide for an ad valorem duty on the im- portation of shrimp; to Committee on Ways and Means; introduced in House January 7. A duty of 35 percent ad valorem would be imposed on im- ports of fresh, frozen, prepared, canned, or pre- served shrimp, shrimp tails, and shrimp meat. SMALL BUSINESS LOANS IN ECONOMIC DIS- ASTER AREAS: H. R. 87 (Coffin), a bill to amend the Small Business Act of 1958 to authorize loans by the Small Business Administration in areas of economic disaster, depression, or dislocation; to Committee on Banking and Currency; introducedin House January 7. SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF: H.R. 2 (Ikard), H. R. 473 (Brown of Missouri), and H. R. 1270 (Laird), provide a minimum initial program of 82 tax relief for small business and for persons en- gaged in small business; to the Committee on Ways and Means; introduced in House January 7. Also S. 59 (Sparkman and 2 other Senators) introduced in Senate January 9; to Committee on Finance. STARFISH ERADICATION IN LONG ISLAND SOUND: H. R. 1984 (Wainwright), a bill to pro- vide that the Secretary of the Interior shall de- velop and carry out an emergency program for the eradication of starfish in Long Island Sound and adjacent waters; to the Committee on Mer- chant Marine and Fisheries, introduced in House January 9. STEELHEAD TROUT INTERSTATE TRANS- PORTATION REGULATION: S. 213 (Magnuson), a bill to regulate the interstate transportation of steelhead trout; to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce; introduced in Senate Jan- uary 12. The bill provides that it shall be unlaw- ful (1) to deliver, receive for transportation, or transport by any means from any state to or through any other state any steelhead trout (Salmo gaird- neri), if the laws of the state to which such steel- head trout is or is to be transported do not permit the taking of such steelhead trout within such state for commercial purposes; (2) to present or re- ceive any such steelhead trout which has been transported in violation of the provisions of this Act; (3) to make any false record or render a false account of the contents of such shipment; (4) not to mark any package or container containing steel- head trout transported or delivered for transpor- tation in interstate commerce on the outside with the name ''Steelhead Trout'’ and the names and ad- dresses of the shipper and consignee. STOCKPILING OF ESSENTIAL FOODSTUFFS AGAINST NATIONAL EMERGENCIES: H.R. 2545 (Hull), a bill to provide for the stockpiling, stor- age, and distribution of essential foodstuffs and other essential items for the sustenance of the civilian population of the United States, its Terri- tories, possessions, and the District of Columbia in the event of enemy attack or other disaster; to the Committee on Armed Services; introduced in House January 15. TRADE AGREEMENT ACT EXTENSION: H.R. 670 (Thomson of Wyoming), a bill to extend the authority of the President to enter into trade a- greements under section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1930, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means; introduced in House Janu- ary 7. TUNA IMPORT REGULATION: R. 443 (Utt), a bill to regulate the importation ae eee also H. R. 673 (Thomson of Wyoming); H. R. 682 (Wilson); H. R. 683 (Wilson); to Committee on Wave and Means; all introduced in House January 7 TUNA INDUSTRY STABILIZATION: H. R. 442 (Utt), a bill to stabilize the tuna fishing industry; 5) COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wools Bal, INO, 2 also H. R. 447 (Wilson); to the Committee on Mer- chant Marine and Fisheries; both introduced in House January 7 and similar to H. R. 442. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF IN DEPRESSED AREAS: H.R, 71 (Celler), a bill to establish an effective program to alleviate conditions of ex- cessive unemployment in certain economically de- pressed areas. Also H. R. 95 (Farbstein) and H. R. 407 (Perkins); to the Committee on Ways and Means. ae RA 1 (Mrs. Kee), H. R. 1001 (Denton), Isl, Ii, Oe Gee er), H. R. 1072 (Vanik), H. R, 1249 Gare R. eae eae H. R. 1377 (Walter), H.R. 70 (Ashley); all introduced in House Janu- ary 7, all to Committee on Banking and Currency. Also S$. 268 (Scott), to Committee on Banking and Currency, introduced in Senate January 14. Also H, R. 2394 (Dollinger), introduced in House January 15, to Committee on Ways and Means. All similar to H. R. 71. WAGES: H. R. 83 (Celler), a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 so as to in- crease the minimum hourly wage from $1 to $1.25; also H. R. 386 (Lesinski), H. R. 253 (Rooney), H. R. 188 (Lane), H. R. 429 (Roosevelt), H. R. 450 (Zelenko), H. R. 777 (Green) of Pennsylvania), H. R. 853 (Multer), H. R. 955 (Shelley), H. R. 1198 (Wier); all to Committee on Education and Labor and introduced in House January 7. Also H. R. 1906 (Dollinger), introduced in House January 9; also H. R. 2205 (O'Hara of Illinois) in- troduced in House January 12. Also H. R. 2435 (Libonati), introduced in House January 15. AII similar to H. R. 83 and to Com- mittee on Education and Labor. WATER CONSERVATION ACT OF 1959: H. R. 8 (Trimble), a bill to promote and establish policy and procedure for the development of water re- sources of lakes, rivers, and streams; to the Com- mittee on Public Works; introduced in the House January 7. Among other things provides that the development of water resources by the United States shall be based upon adequate and reliable data and shall be so planned and prosecuted on a comprehensive multiple-purpose basis to achieve maximum sustained usefulness of resources for all beneficial purposes; to protect and promote commerce among the several States, and the gen- eral welfare, security, and defense of the United States, and for other purposes. WEATHER STATION IN GULF: H. R. 481 (Col- mer), a bill to provide that one floating ocean sta- tion shall be maintained at all times in the Gulf of Mexico to provide storm warnings for States bor- dering on the Gulf of Mexico; to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries; introduced in House January 7. © February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 83 INDICATORS CHART I - FISHERY LANDINGS for SELECTED STATES In Millions of Pounds MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND RHODE ISLAND LEGEND: NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK 1058 = ee 1957 11 mgs. 1958 W m 1957 12 1957 - 975.1 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC MAR APR MAY SEPT OCT NOV DEC NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA CUMULATIVE DATA 1} mgs, 1958 - 215 A gree t9s JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG S FLORIDA CUMULATIVE DATA JAN FEB MAR_APR_MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC | CALIFORNIA 1/ 140, JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AU CUMULATIVE DATA JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NO V/ONLY PART|AL--INCLUDING PRODUCTION OF MAJOR FISHERIES AND MARKET FISH LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS. AN FEB MAR APR MAY 84 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolk, Ail. INO, 7 In Millions of Pounds HADDOCK (Maine and Massachusetts) CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQS. 1958 - 105.5 12 1957 - 116.9 SHRIMP (Gulf States Dy reluding Florida West Coast) CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQS. 1958 - 173.9 12 1957 - 166.7 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 1/LA. & ALA. DATA BASED ON LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS AND ARE NOT COM- PLETE. In Thousands of Tons MENHADEN (East and Gulf Coasts) CUMULATIVE DATA 11 mgs. 1958 - 709.9 W 1957 - 812.4 1957 - 841.6 MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC PILCHARD (California) CUMULATIVE DATA 1958/59 SEASON, AUG, -DEC. - 101.4 1957/58 SEASON, AUG.-DEC. - 19.4 1957/58 SEASON, TOTAL - 20.5 ne, 1950/9. ees 1957/58 AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FE8® MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY CHART 2 - LANDINGS for SELECTED FISHERIES OCEAN PERCH (Maine and Massachusetts) CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 In Thousands of Tons 12 1957 - WHITING (Maine and Massachusetts) CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 98.8 12 1957 - 120.0 —— JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC PACIFIC AND JACK MACKEREL (California) CUMULATIVE DATA 1958 - 20.2 1957 - 69.1 1957 - 70.9 CUMULATIVE DATA 11 mgs. 1958 - 213 an) 1957 - 188.5 1957 - 198.7 JAN FEB MAR _APR_MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 85 CHART 3 - COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS * LEGEND: U. S. & ALASKA HOLDINGS U. S. & ALASKA FREEZINGS ee 10955 —— a = 1957 CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MgS. 1958 - 322.2]- 12 1957 - 314.2 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY: JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOW DEC MIDDLE & SOUTH ATLANTIC HOLDINGS2! JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC '2/ALL EAST COAST STATES FROM N.Y. SOUTH. GULF & SOUTH CENTRAL HOLDINGS 4! UAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV_DEC S/OH10, IND., ILL., MICH., WIS., MINN., IOWA, MO., N. DAK., NEBR. & KANS. 4/ALA., MISS., LA., TEX., ARK., KY, & TENN. WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA HOLDINGS CALIFORNIA HOLDINGS 56 48 40 32 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC * Excludes salted, cured, and smoked products COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No; 2 86 CHART 4 - RECEIPTS and COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS at PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS In Millions of Pounds 1/ 2/ AT WHOLESALE SALT-WATER MARKET COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS< NEW YORK RECEIPTS— 22 (Fresh and Frozen) CUMULATIVE DATA 20 || 12 MAS. 1958 - 163.9 CITY 12 19 167.8 18 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC 2/AS REPORTED BY PLANTS IN METROPOLITAN AREA. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC V/INCLUDE TRUCK AND RAIL IMPORTS FROM CANADA AND DIRECT VESSEL LANDINGS AT NEW YORK CITY. COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS RECEIPTS AT WHOLESALE MARKET (Fresh and Frozen) CHICAGO CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 12 1957 - JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SEATTLE BOSTON COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS WHOLESALE MARKET RECEIPTS, LANDINGS, & IMPORTS (Fresh and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQS. 1958 - 105.7 12 1957 - 95.8 LEGEND: es 1955 <= 1957 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC FISH OIL (In Millions of Gallons) FISH MEAL In Thousands of Tons) CUMULATIVE DATA 11 MQS. 1958 - 201.5 itl 1957 - 233 12 1957 - 262 <= aos JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC February 1959 TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH - CALIFORNIA CUMULATIVE DATA 1958 - 10,362.4 » 1957 - 8,991.6 12 1957 - 9)509.9 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC ANCHOVIES - CALIFORNIA CUMULATIVE DATA 11 mgs. 1958 - 53.9 VW =; 1957 - 548.4 12 1957 - 549.9 CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MgS. 1958 - 2,021.0 12 1957 - 2,266.4 SARDINES - CALIFORNIA CUMULATIVE DATA 1958/59 SEASON, AUG. -NOV. - 2,089.9 1957/56 SEASON, AUG . -NOV. 424.1 1957/58 SEASON, TOTAL - 497.6 AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC DUAN FEB MAR APR MAY _JUNE JULY COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW CHART 6- CANNED PACKS of SELECTED FISHERY PRODUCTS In Thousands of Standard Cases 87 LEGEND: MACKEREL! - CALIFORNIA ee 1055 Se CUMULATIVE 11 mgs. 1958 a) 8 1957 12 1957 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 2,989.3 12 1957 - 2,441.9 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC STANDARD CASES Variety No.Cans Designation Net Wgt. SARDINES 100 $ drawn 32 oz. SHRIMP.... 48 aS 5 oz. TUNA‘ 0:25:22 48 #4 tuna 6&7 oz. PILCHARDS... 48 # 1 oval 15 oz. SALMON...... 48 1-lb. tall 16 oz. ANCHOVIES... 48 $-lb. 8 oz. SHRIMP - GULF STATES CUMULATIVE DATA _| 1958/59 SEASON, AUG. -DEC, - 436.8 1957/58 SEASON, AUG.-DEC, - 224.0 1957/58 SEASON, TOTAL - 585.9 se AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY 88 U.S. IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW CHART .7 - U.S. FISHERY PRODUCTS IMPORTS In Millions of Pounds GENO; GROUNDFISH (including Ocean Perch) FILLETS Sc Fresh and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA ees 1955 —_—— — 1957 958 - 138.3 1957 - 135.3 1957 - 141.3 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC SHRIMP FROM MEXICO (Fresh and Frozen) CUMULATIVE DATA 10 mgs. 1958 - 41.0 WO 1957 - 37.8 1957 - 47.9 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC TUNA Fresh and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA 10 MQS. 1958 - 161.6 10, 1957 = 121.3 12 1957 - 139.3 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC in Oil and in Brine CUMULATIVE DATA 10 MgS. 1958 - 53.7 OMS mah os7ie 1957 - 59.9 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC Viol 2 Non 2 FILLETS & STEAKS OTHER THAN GROUNDFISH (Fresh and Frozen) 1957 - 53.5 12 1957 - 63.3 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC LOBSTER AND SPINY LOBSTER Fresh and Frozen, CUMULATIVE DATA 10 MgS. 1958 - 40.0 10, 1957 - 43.1 12 1957 - 50.5 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SEA HERRING, FRESH, THROUGH MAINE PORTS APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC MAR CANNED SARDINES (in Oil and not in Oil) CUMULATIVE DATA 10 mgs. 1958 - 24.4 }- 10.) i) 1957/=120 12 1957 - JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC February 1959 oe < FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS THESE PROCESSED PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION, U S_ FISH AND WILDLIFE SERV- ICE, WASHINGTON 25, D C. TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIG- NATED AS FOLLOWS: CFS - CURRENT FISHERY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA - STATISTICAL SECTION LISTS OF DEALERS IN AND PRO- DUCERS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS AND BYPRODUCTS. SEP.- SEPARATES (REPRINTS) FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES SL COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW “FISHERY PUBLICATIONS AT ety Pe te = <-- = 4 Pl a + Al ee REVIEW. | Number Title CFS-1887 - Rhode Island Landings, July 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1901 - California Landings, June 1958, 4 pp. CFS-1902 - Rhode Island Landings, August 1958, | 3 pp. CFS-1912 - Alabama Landings, August 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1918 - New York Landings, September 1958, 4 pp. CFS-1923 - Shrimp Landings, July 1958, 6 pp. CFS-1925 - Frozen Fish Report, October 1958, 8 pp. CFS-1927 - Massachusetts Landings, July 1958, | 5 pp. | CFS-1928 - Louisiana Landings, June 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1929 - Louisiana Landings, July 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1930 - North Carolina Landings, October 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1931 - Fish Meal and Oil, October 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1932 - Ohio Landings, October 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1933 - New Jersey Landings, October 1958, | 2 2 pp. CFS-1934 - Georgia Landings, October 1958,2pp. | CFS-1935 - Mississippi Landings, September 1958, | 2 pp. CFS-1936 - South Carolina Landings, October 1958, | 2 pp. CFS-1937 - Florida Landings, October 1958, 7 pp. | CFS-1939 - Maine Landings, October 1958, 3 pp. | Wholesale Dealers in Fishery Products (Revised): SL- 6 - New York Coastal Area, 1958. SL-21 - California, 1958. Sep. No. 534 - A Survey of the American and Jap- anese Albacore Tuna Fisheries in the Pacific Through Examination of Catch Statistics. | Sep. No. 535 - The European Common Market and the United States Fishing Industry. Sep. No. 536 - Research in Service Laboratories | (January 1959): ''Technical Note No. 49 - Meas- urement of Rancidity in Fishery Products by2- Thiobarbituric Acid Method, | 89 % et 3 d i oo 2 eS a Se ae oe THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY FROM THE SPECIFIC OFFICE MENTIONED (Chicago) Monthly Summary of Chicago's Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products Receipts and Prices, November 1958, 12 pp. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 565 W. Washington St., Chicago 6, Ill.) Receipts at Chicago by species and by states and provinces for fresh- and salt-water fish and shellfish; and wholesale prices for fresh and frozen fishery products; for the month indicated. | Gulf Monthly Landings, Production, and Shipments of Fishery Products, November 1958, 6 pp. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 609- 611 Federal Bldg., New Orleans 12, La.) Gulf states shrimp, oyster, finfish, and blue crab landings; crab meat production; LCL express shipments from New Orleans; and wholesale prices of fish and shellfish on the New Orleans French Market; for the month indicated. Monthly Summary of Fishery Products Production in Selected Areas of Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland, November 1958, 4 pp. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 18 So. King St., Hampton, Va.) Fishery landings and production for the Virginia areas of Hamp- ton Roads, Lower Northern Neck, and Eastern Shore; the Maryland areas of Crisfield, Cam- bridge, and Ocean City; and the North Carolina areas of Atlantic, Beaufort, and Morehead City; together with cumulative and comparative data; for the month indicated. New England Fisheries--Monthly Summary, No- vember 1958, 21 pp. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10 Common- wealth Pier, Boston 10, Mass.) Reviews the principal New England fishery ports, and pres- ents food fish landings by ports and species; in- dustrial fish landings and ex-vessel prices; im- ports; cold-storage stocks of fishery products in New England warehouses; fishery landings and ex-vessel prices for ports in Massachusetts (Boston, Gloucester, New Bedford, Province- town, and Woods Hole), Maine (Portland and Rockland), Rhode Island (Point Judith), and Con- necticut (Stonington); frozen fishery products prices to primary wholesalers at Boston, Gloucester, and New Bedford; and landings and ex-vessel prices for fares landed at the Boston Fish Pier and sold through the New England Fish Exchange; for the month indicated. (New York) Monthly Summary of New York City's Wholesale Fulton Fish Market Fishery Products Receipts, October 1958, 14 pp. (Market News 90 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 155 John St., New York 38, N. Y.) Includes receipts by species by states and provinces and methods of transportation; states and provinces by spe- cies and methods of transportation; totals by species with comparisons, for salt-water fin- fish and shellfish. Also contains frozen fishery products prices by primary wholesalers for the month indicated. MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE OR- GANIZATION ISSUING THEM, CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING PUBL1CA- TIONS THAT FOLLOW SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE RESPECTIVE OR- GANIZATION OR PUBLISHER MENTIONED DATA ON PRICES, IF READILY AVAILABLE, ARE SHOWN. ALGAE: "B-Complex Vitamins in Certain Brown and Red Algae,'' by A. E. Teeri and R. E. Bieber, arti- cle, Science, vol. 127, no. 3313, June 27, 1958, p. 1500, printed. American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1515 Massachusetts Ave., NW:, Washington 5, D.C. "Sublittoral Algal Population in Port Erin Bay, Isle of Man,'' by Elsie M. Burrows, article, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, vol. 37, no. 3, October 1958, pp. 687-703, illus., printed. Cambridge University Press, 32 East 57th St., New York 22, INS WG ANTIBIOTICS: "Antibiotic Action of Fish Components," by Masamichi Toyomizu, article, Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi, vol. 22, 1956-57, pp. 368-373, printed in Japanese. Japanese Society of Scientific Fisheries, Tokaiku Suisan Kenkyujo, No. 3, Tsukijima, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. "Antibiotic Residues in Shellfish After Cooking," by M. A. Benarde, article, Journal of the Amer- ican Dietetic Association, vol. 33, no. 11, No- vember 1957, pp. 1145-1149, printed. Ameri- can Dietetic Association, Room 410, 620 Michi- gan Ave., Chicago 11, Ill. BIOCHEMISTRY: "The Yield of Insulin from Fish,'' by N. A. Mc- Cormick and E, C. Noble, article, Contributions to Canadian Biology, vol. 2, no. 7, pp. 117-127, printed. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1924, CANADA: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Can- ada, vol. 15, no. 5, September 1958, pp. 759- 1126, illus., printed. Queen's Printer and Con- troller of Stationery, Ottawa, Canada. Contains, among others, the following articles: ''Com- parisons of the Index of Return for Several Stocks of British Columbia Salmon to Study Var- iations in Survival," by H. Godfrey; ''Maximum Sustained Yields from Fluctuating Environments and Mixed Stocks," by W. E. Ricker; ''Spawning Stock Size and Resultant Production for Skeena Sockeye," by M. P. Shepard and F, C. Withler; VollZi1Nore2 and ''Review of Certain Environmental Factors Affecting the Production of Pink and Chum Salmon," by W. P. Wickett. The 1958 Herring Spawn Deposition in British Columbia Coastal Waters, by D. N. Outram, Circular no. 50, 13 pp., illus., processed. Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, September 1958. This is the fourth in anannual series of circulars on the success of herring spawning in British Columbia. ''These reports," states the author, ''are designed to inform the fishing industry on the status of the spawning stocks. The maintenance of an adequate spawn- ing escapement is essential to ensure the per- petuation of the herring stocks. The amount of spawn deposited in any area is obviously related to the amount of fish that spawned, thus, annual assessments of the extent and intensity of all spawnings will form the basis for a qualitative index of the size of the spawning stock. The Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) spawn in spring on marine algae and eel grass growing in or just below the intertidal zone. The boundaries of the spawn-laden vegetation become partially exposed during low tides and can be readily measured," CANNING: "Fish Canning. Part 1--Chilling of Pilchards," by C. E. B. Cooper, article, 9th Annual Report, pp. 13-14, printed. Fishing Industry Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, C. P., Union of South Africa, 1957. "Manual Sorting of Pilchards for Canning," by M. K. Rowan, paper, Progress Report No. 29, 9 pp., printed. Fishing Industry Research In- stitute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, C. P., Union of South Africa. The Potential Application of Antibiotics in the Salmon Canning Industry. 1--Organoleptic Evaluations, by Joseph A. Stern and others, Contribution No. 21, 9 pp., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1957. COD-LIVER OIL: "Production of Vitamin Concentrates from Baltic Cod-Liver Oil," by Henryk Niewiadomski and Bronislaw Drozdowski, article, Roczniki Technol. iChem. Zwynosci (Annals of Food Technology and Chemistry), vol. 1, pp. 99-115, printed. Komitet Technologii i Chemii Zywnosci of the Wydzial Nauk Rolniczych i Lesnych of the Pol- ska Akademia Nauk, Warsaw, Poland. CONTAINERS: ""A New Fish Box Made of Plastic," article, La Revue de la Conserve, March 1957, p. 83, print- ed in French. La Revue de la Conserve, 1 Rue de la Reale, Paris 1, France. COOKERY: Choose Canadian Fish for Variety and Economy, 8 pp., processed. Department of Fisheries, Ottawa, Canada, Favourite Fish Recipes, Consumer Bulletin No. 7, 11 pp., processed. Queen's Printer andCon- troller of Stationery, Ottawa, Canada, 1957. February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 91 THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILOLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE Fish Recipes, 23 pp., processed. Queen's Print- er and Controller of Stationery, Ottawa, Can- ada, 1958. The Way to Cook Fish, 8 pp., processed. Queen's Printer and Controller of Stationery, Ottawa, Canada, 1958. ELECTRICAL FISHING: "Die Fanggerate der Elektrofischerei'' (The Fish- ing Gear for Electrofishing), by E, Halsband, article Der Kescher, vol. 7, no. 1, January-Feb- ruary 1957, pp. 3-8, illus., printed in German. Verband deutsch Sportfischer, Hamburg 1, W. Germany. ENGLISH SOLE: , Problems of Sampling a Puget Sound Population of English Sole, PAROPHRYS VETULUS, by Richard Van Cleve and Alonzo T. Pruter, Con- tribution No. 13, 7 pp., illus., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1956. FACTORYSHIP: "The Factoryship of the Future," by C. Birkhoff, article, Hansa, vol. 94, no. 12-13, March 23, 1957, p. 593, printed in German. Hansa Zeit- schrift Schiffbau, Hafen, C. Schroedter & Co., Stubbenhuk 10, Hamburg 11, Germany. World Fishing, vol. 7, no. 11, November 1958, 132 pp., illus., printed. John Trundell, Ltd., St. Richards House, Eversholt St., London N. W. 1, England. Includes, among others, a section entitled, ''Factoryship Survey,'' which covers the following topics: "Is the Full-Scale Factory Trawler the Answer? A Modified View," by W. Lochridge; ''Is the Mothership Idea Better," by C. Birkhoff; ''Russians Will Have Over 90 Large Factory Trawlers;"' ''Fish Freezing Problems and Techniques," by M. B. F. Ranken; ''Factory Deck Operations: The Russian Way;" ''Factory Trawlers: the Crewing Position;" "The Two New Salvesen Vessels,'' by Norman James Cheater; and ''Machine Filleting at Sea--Some of the Baader Range.'' In addition, there are smaller articles on: ''How Many Factory Trawl- ers?;''''Fresh Water Supply for Factoryships;" "Fairtry Economics;'' and" Factoryships: A Merchant's Views."' These articles present trends in factoryship fishing and were contri- buted by authors in Russia, Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The section deals with the design, operation, economics, and manning of factory trawlers. Many different opinions and ideas are described in an interesting and objective manner with a number of sketches and photographs included. FILLETS: "The Expressible Fluid of Fish Fillets" (VII. Freezing Damage and Protein Denaturation Un- der Pressure; VIII, Cell Damage in Slow Freez- ing; IX. Other Types of Cell Damage Caused by Freezing), by R. M. Love and O. Karsti, article, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, vol, 9, May 1958, pp. 249-268, printed. Society of Chemical Industry, 9/10 Savile Row, W. 1, London, England, "Should We Prewrap Fresh Fillets in Consumer Packages ?"' by C. H. Castell, article, Canadian Fisherman, vol. 15, June 1958, pp. 12, 15, printed. National Business Publications, Ltd., Gardenvale, Quebec, Canada, FINGERLINGS: A Factorial Study of the Response of Steelhead Trout, Chinook and Silver Salmon Fingerlings to Chain Barriers in Moving Water, by P. E. Fields and others, Technical Report No. 13, 7 pp., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1955. FISH MEAL: Feeding Trials with Skim Milk, Meat Meal, Fish Meal, and Soybean Oil Meal for Bacon Pigs, by A. Hellberg, O. Dahl, and K. I. Appelgren, Na- tional Animal Experiment Station, Royal Agri- cultural College Bulletin No. 62, 26 pp., printed in Swedish with English summary. Ultuna, Upp- sala 7, Sweden, 1956. "Fish Meal--Analysis,'"' by D. MontequiandM. D. Garcia Pineda, article, Boletin del Instituto Es- panol de Oceanografia (Bulletin of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography), No. 79, June 1956, p. 79, printed. Boletin del Instituto Espanola de Oceanografia, Alcala 27, Madrid, Spain. FISH OILS: Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils, 1957 (Facts for Industry), 48 pp., illus., processed, 20 cents. (For sale by the Superintendent of Doc- uments, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.) Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce, Washington 25,D.C., 1958. Includes data on cod, cod-liver, fish, and marine-mammal oils in relation to factory pro- duction and consumption, factory and warehouse stocks, imports and exports. "Manufacture of Vitamin A Concentrate from Fish-Liver Oil. VII--Estrification of Vitamin A Concentrate. 2--Acetylation with Ketene,'' by Hideo Higashi and Toyosuke Kinumaki, article, Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi, vol. 22, 1956-57, pp. 500-503, printed in Japanese. Japanese Society of Scientific Fisheries, Tokaiku Suisan Kenky- ujo, No. 3, Tsukijima, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. FISH PONDS: Ranch Fish Ponds, by C, J. D. Brown and Nels Thoreson, Bulletin No. 544, 26 pp., illus., print- ed. Agricultural Experiment Station, Bozeman, Montana, 1958. FLORIDA: Summary of Florida Commercial Marine Fish Landings for 1957, by Albert Rosen and Rob- ert W. Ellis, in collaboration with Lloyd John- son and Pierre Serio, 65 pp., illus., printed. State Board of Conservation, Tallahassee, Fla., 1958. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION: M. Furuya, FAO Fisheries Papers No. 13, 13 pp., illus., processed. Fisheries Division, 92 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILOLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION ISSUING THEM. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome, Italy, August 1958. The experiments carried out by the authors of this paper on indoor drying of salt fish in South Brazil is of practical inter- est to many semitropical and tropical countries where there is a need to introduce artificial drying of salt fish. As in other hot and humid countries, sun-drying of fish in southern Brazil is restricted for several reasons, chiefly that the sun is too hot for direct sun-drying in sum- mer and climatic conditions are too humid in winter. Also, when fish are dried on racks, they often become dirty with sand and dust and the high summer temperatures favor the devel- opment of red halophilic bacteria, thus spoiling the fish. The authors constructed an experi- mental tunnel dryer which enabled them to ob- tain sufficient data to design a commercial dry- er. A prototype was built with a capacity of 1,500-3,100 pounds of wet fish, depending on the size of fish, and operated through the hotter months of the Brazilian summer of 1957/58. It was found to be quite possible to dry the fish of South Brazil throughout the year in tunnels with- out dehumidification of the air. The fish were shown to withstand more heat than fish of the North Atlantic, none being visibly damaged b expgsure to 120° F. Air temperatures of 97° - 102 F., and air velocity of 1.5 m. (5 ft.) a sec- ond, and a relative humidity of 50 percent maintained in the tunnel, were found to dry the fish rapidly. FREEZING FISH AT SEA: "Freezing at Sea is Successful," article, The Fishing News, no, 2318, September 1957, p. 3, printed. Arthur J. Heighway Publications, Ltd., Ludgate House, 110 Fleet St., London, E. C. 4, England. "Quick Freezing at Sea,"' article, Modern Refrig- eration, vol. 60, no. 716, November 1957, pp. 469-473, illus., printed. Refrigeration House, Victoria Rd., Woking, England. FROZEN FOODS: Frozen Food, Leaflet R-5, 15 pp., illus., proc- essed. Massachusetts Extension Service, Uni- versity of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass. A guide for personnel handling frozen foods in modern retail food stores. It contains sugges- tions on how store managers and employees can increase sales and profits from frozen foods by improved maintenance of quality, handling efficiency, and turnover rate. This leaflet is de- signed especially for use in the educational programs conducted with food retailers by the Cooperative Extension Services of the New Eng- land State Universities. GEAR: Behavior of Fishes Entering Trap Nets," by H. Miyamoto, article, Bulletin of the Tokai Region- al Fisheries Research Laboratory, no. 15, Jan- uary 1957, pp. 77-87, illus., printed. Tokai Re- gional Fisheries Research Laboratory, Tsuki- shima, Kuobashi, Tokyo, Japan. "Dumping Deck Used to Chute Trash Overboard on Scalloper, Dartmouth," article, National Fisherman, vol. 38, no. 6, July 1957, p. 17, illus., printed. National Fisherman, Goffstown, N. H. A specially-constructed section of the deck of the 93-foot New Bedford scalloper Dart- mouth can be raised hydraulically for dumping trash back into the sea. The captain of the Dartmouth claims that the hydraulic deck short- ens the time at sea and makes more full trips possible. The device saves the work of shov- eling overboard the debris brought up in the drags, and gives crew members more time for shucking and packing. When the deck raises, 16 feet of the side rails open at the same time and the upraised deck dumps its trash through the open rails. "Maskanot rishonot al Avodat Reshet Kil ayim - Dgam B' b! Sefinat Hanisyonot Hatzvi"' (Pre- liminary Results on the Operation of the Hybrid Net - Type B on the R/V Hatzvi), by E. Ham- burger, article, Fishermen's Bulletin, no. 9, Sept. 1956, p. 43, printed in Hebrew. Fisher- men's Bulletin, P. O. Box 699, Haifa, Israel. Mechanization of Fishing Craft and the Use of Improved Fishing Gear, by E. R. A. de Zylva, Bulletin No. 7, 25 pp., illus., printed. Fisher- ies Research Station, Department of Fisheries, Colombo, Ceylon, 1958. In summary the author states that ''Since the year 1925, attention has been focussed periodically on the stagnation in the local fishing industry, and those who have studied the subject have been unanimous about the need to introduce modern fishing craft capa- ble of working more fishing gear. This report outlines the stages through which the evolution of more effective fishing operations has prog- ressed, both in the gradually increasing use of mechanical propulsion for boats and in the a- doption of more modern gear and techniques by local fishermen." 'Mivne Reshet Kill 'ayim - Dgam B!"' (The Design of the Hybrid Net - Type B), by M. Ben-Yami, article, Fishermen's Bulletin, no. 9, Sept. 1956, 1 p., illus., printed in Hebrew. Fishermen's Bulletin, P. O. Box 699, Haifa, Israel. "Tatzpiot tat-meymiot shell Reshet Kil ayim - Dgam B" (Underwater Observations of the Hy- brid Net - Type B), by Y. Assaff, article, Fish- ermen's Bulletin, no. 9, Sept. 1956, pp. 41-42, illus., printed in Hebrew. Fishermen's Bulle- tin, P. O. Box 699, Haifa, Israel. "Unterwasserantriebs-, Transport- und Mehrz- weckegerat 'Jonas'"' ('Jonas', a Multiple Gear for Underwater Observation, Transport, etc.), by O. Fldssel, article, Gewasser, und Abwasser, Limnologische Schriftenreihe, no. 15/16, 1957, pp. 26-36, illus., printed in German. August Babel Verlag, Dusseldorf, W. Germany. GENERAL: Bulletin of Marine Science of the Gulf and Carib-_ bean, vol. 8, no. 3, 1958, pp. 201-298, illus., printed. The Marine Laboratory, University of Miami, 1 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key, Miami 49, Fla. Contains, among oth- ers, the following articles: "A Review of Ciguatera, Tropical Fish Poisoning, with a February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 93 THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE Tentative Explanation of Its Cause," by John E. Randall; and ''The Planktonic Larvae of Poly- dora websteri Hartman (Annelida, Polychaeta) and Their Settling on Oysters,'' by Sewell H. Hopkins. United States Coast Pilot 5, 286 pp., printed, $2.50. Coast and Geodetic Survey, U. S. Depart- ment of Commerce, Washington 25, D. C. The latest edition of this publication cancels two 1949 editions which formerly covered, in sep- arate volumes, the Gulf Coast and West Indies. It has been more than two years in the making, covers the Gulf Coast of the United States from Key West to the Rio Grande and also Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in the West Indies. By eliminating certain duplicated material and adopting a radical new format, the new Coast Pilot now contains nautical information that previously required more than 800 pages. A Coast Pilot would probably be described by the layman as a combination atlas, encyclopedia, geography text, and nautical guidebook all rolled into one. Actually each book contains informa- tion required by the navigator that cannot be shown conveniently on the nautical charts. Itis a welcome addition aboard anything that floats, from a 14-foot outboard to the mighty passen- ger liner. The Coast Pilots are published to supplement the 814nautical charts covering the coasts of the United States andits possessions. They include data relative to the coastline suchas port information, sailing directions for coasting and entering harbors, and general informationas to weather conditions, navigation regulatioris, and radio service. New editions are published about every seven years. Supplements, containing changes and new information, are published an- nually and distributed free. The new volume is the first to be published using the new and more compact format. Eventually only six volumes instead of the present nine will be needed to cover the coasts of the United States and its possessions, GERMANY: Jahresbericht uber die Deutsche Fischerei 1957 (Annual Report on German Fisheries, 1957), 282 pp., illus., printed, DM 23 (US$5.50). Gebr. Mann, Berlin-Schoneberg, Germany, October 1958, This interesting book contains the official annual fisheries report of the West German Government. It is issued by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Forestry which contains the Fisheries Directorate. The Bureau of Sta- tistics cooperated in preparation of the report, which is in the style of the Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture and Agricultural Statistics. The 282 pages are di- vided into three parts. Part I contains detailed statistics on 1957 German fishery catch, craft, gear, imports, ex- ports, prices and consumption. It opens with a general review by the Director of Fisheries, Dr. G. Meseck. The 1957 fish and shellfish landings amounted to 685,800 metric tons, valued at DM 252,940,000 (US$60.2 million). Catches of 22,733 metric tons, valued at DM 11,732,000 (US$2.8 million) were landed in foreign ports, directly from the fishing grounds. Herring, o- cean perch, cod, and coalfish (pollock), in that order, were the most important species. The distant-water fisheries of the North Atlantic yielded less in 1957, and for the first time since 1950 the North Sea was the source of over 50 percent of the catch. A biological analysis of the statistical data is given. Other sections con- tain a detailed description of the fishing fleet and foreign trade. Part II is devoted to detailed descriptions of biological, hydrographic, and meteorological research, Protective services are also de- scribed. Three protection vessels were oper- ated. They handled about 2,000 patients. The fishery research vessel Anton Dohrn made 9 cruises. Research work is described, anda very interesting listing of available fisheries courses of instruction in various disciplines is given. Part III contains reviews of activity during the year in various fishing and fish-processing segments of the industry. The German distant- water high-seas fishery, the herring fishery (lugger-type vessels), the near-water high-seas and coastal fisheries, inland fisheries, fish meal and oil, and fish-processing segments are covered, Each of the three parts of the book are sub- divided into sections, ranging in number from 5 for Part I to 7 for Part Ill. The sections con- sist of individual articles by government offi- cials or members of the industry on the various subjects described above. This is a convenient arrangement and one that the reader welcomes, since none of the sections becomes laboriously long or too detailed. The text is written in German. However, there is a short summary written in English at the end of each section. The tables also have subtitles in English. These subtitles adequate- ly explain their contents. A knowledge of Ger- man is essential to get the most out of the book, but there is enough in the way of English sum- maries and subtitles to make it useful for ref- erence purposes, especially for the statistical data. The report should prove helpful to anyone interested in the fisheries of West Germany. It contains a wealth of current information on numerous subjects which are quite broad in scope. --Walter H. Stolting HAKE ROE: "Determination of Moisture, Protein, Fat, Ash, and Chlorides in Hake Roe," by M. Muriel Ledesma, article, Anales de Bromatologia, vol. 8, no. 3, p. 313, printed. Sociedad Espanola de Bromatologia, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio Facultad de Farmacia, Madrid, Spain, 1956. 94 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE HERRING: "Chemical Studies on Herring Meat," by Sasa Shigeo, article, Bulletin of the Faculty of Fish- eries, Hokkaido University, vol. 8, no. 4, Feb- ruary 1958, pp. 319-345, printed. Faculty of Fisheries (Hokodate) Hokkaido University, Hokodate, Hokkaido, Japan. "T,1industrie du Hareng en Grande-Bretagne"' (The Herring Industry in Great Britain): ''La Cam- pagne Harenguiere en Belgique in 1957-58" (The Herring Fishery in Belgium in 1957-58): and "Ta Peche du Hareng en Norvege" (The Herring Fishery in Norway), articles, La Peche Mari- time, vol. 37, no. 968, November 1958, pp. 669- 675, illus., printed in French. La Peche Mari- time, 190, Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, France. "Volatile Amines of Herring Flesh," by R. B. Hughes, article, Nature, vol. 181, May 3, 1958, pp. 1281-1282, printed. Macmilland and Com- pany, Ltd., St. Martins St., London W. C. 2, England. ISRAEL: Fishermen's Bulletin, no. 17, September 1958, 81 pp., illus., printed in Hebrew. Ministry of Agriculture, Division of Fisheries, P. O. B. 699, Haifa, Israel. Contains, among others, the following articles: ''The Fisheries and Its Po- tential," by Z. Tzur; ''The Fisheries and the De- velopment Programmes for the Coming 5 Years," by M. Shavit; ''The Trawl Fishery and Its Role in the Fishing Industry in the Light of the Pro- posed Development Programme," by M. Kram- er; Inshore and Pelagic Fishery," by Y. Ariav; "The Tenth Anniversary of the Lake Tiberias Fishery," by M. Bar-Dlan; ''The Future of the Sea Fisheries," by A. Welner; ''The Israel Fish- ery in Lake Tiberias During the First Decade," by M. Nun; ''Fishing Gear Research in Israel," by M. Ben-Yami; and "Investigations of Sardi- nella Fisheries,'' by A. Ben-Tuvia. LABOR: Memorandum on the 43rd Session of the Interna- tional Labour Conference, 1959, 12 pp., printed. International Labour Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland, 1958. Included in the report are conditions of work of fishermen. LAW OF THE SEA CONFERENCE: United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, Official Records, United Nations, New York, _ N. Y. (Any of the following are sold by Interna- tional Documents Service, Columbia University Press, 2960 Broadway, New York 27, N. Y.) The following reports have been issued: A/CONF.13/38. vol. Il: Plenary meetings; summary records of meetings and annexes (Geneva, Feb. 24-Apr. 27, 1958), 183 pp., printed, US$1.75, Sept. 1958. (Salesno.: 58.V.4, Vol. II). A/CONF.13/38/Corr. 1. pe Octai2 2s 1958. English only. A/CONF.13/39. vol. III: 1st Committee (Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone); sum- mary records of meetings and annexes. (Gene- va, Feb. 24-Apr. 27,1958), 277 pp., printed, US$3, Sept. 1958. (Sales no.: 58. V.4, Vol. III). A/CONF.13/40. vol. IV: 2nd Committee (High Seas: General Regime); summary records of meetings and annexes. (Geneva, Feb. 24- Apr. 27, 1958), 158 pp., printed, US$1.75, Sept. 1958. (Sales No.: 58. V.4, Vol. IV). A/CONF,13/41. vol. V: 3rd Committee (High Seas: Fishing: Conservation of Living Re- sources); summary records of meetings and annexes. (Geneva, Feb. 24-Apr. 27, 1958), 174 pp., printed, US$1.75, Sept. 1958. (Salesno.: 58. V.4, Vol. V). A/CONF,.13/42. vol. VI: 4th Committee (Continental Shelf); summary records of meet- ings and annexes. (Geneva, Feb. 24-Apr. 27, 1958), 156 pp., printed, US$1.50, Sept. 1958. (Sales no.: 58. V.4, Vol. VI). A/CONF.13/43. vol. VII: 5th Committee (Question of Free Access to the Sea of Land- locked Countries). Summary records of meet- ings and annexes. (Geneva, Feb. 24-Apr. 27, 1958), 94 pp., printed, US$0.80, Sept. 1958. (Sales no.: 58. V.4, Vol. VII). LOBSTERS: The Lobster Fishery of Wales, by A. C. Simpson, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Fishery Investigations, Series II, Vol. XXII, No. 3, 36 pp., illus., printed, 9s. (US$1.26). Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, England. A survey of the existing lobster and crab fish- eries on the coast of Wales. After an account of the history of lobster fishing on the Welsh coast since 1800, the present fishery is de- scribed in detail. The report covers the boats used in the fishery, crews, and numbers of pots; types of lobster pot used; fishing methods; bait; storage; and marketing. The yields and poten- tialities for lobster fishing off the Welsh coast are also discussed. "Nouvelles Techniques de Conservation des Homards par Congelation'" (New Techniques for Freezing and Storing Lobsters), article, Revue Pratique du Froid, no. 135, June 1957, p. 50, printed in French. Revue Pratique du Froid, 254 Rue de Vaugirard, Paris 15, France. NORWAY: "Smatralernes Fiske i 1957'' (Small Trawler Fishery in 1957), by Sverre Mollestad, article, Fiskets Gang, vol. 44, no. 46, November 13, 1958, pp. 595-601, illus., printed in Norwegian. Fiskeridirekt¢rens kontor, Postgiro nr. 691 81, Bergen, Norway OYSTERS: "Growth of Oysters (Ostrea edulis L.), by P. R. Walme, article, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, vol. 37, no. 3, October 1958, pp. 591-602, illus., printed. Cambridge University Press, 32 East 57th St., New York 22, N. Y. POND CULTURE: Pond Culture of Muskellunge in Wisconsin, by Leon D. Johnson, Technical Wildlife Bulletin No. 17, 54 pp., illus., printed. Game Manage- February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 95 OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION ISSUING THEM, ment Division, Conservation Department, Madison, Wis., 1958. PRESERVATION: bution no. 20, 17 pp., printed. School of Fish- eries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1957. Investigations Concerning Preservation of Fish Products for Feeding, by Nils Olsson and N. Edvin Olofsson, National Animal Experiment Station, Royal Agricultural College Bulletin No. 59, 38 pp., printed in Swedish with English sum- mary. Ultuna, Uppsala 7, Sweden, 1955. "Protan Jelly Use Extended to Other Seafood Products and Strawberries,'' by A. Olesen, ar- ticle, Quick Frozen Foods, vol. 20, no. 2, Sep- tember 1957, pp. 238-239, printed. E. W. Williams Publications, Inc., 82 Wall St., New York’5, N.Y. PRESERVATION BY IRRADIATION: "Mulighederne for Konservering af Levnedsmid- ler Med Ioniserende Straling"' (Possibilities of Preserving Foods by Means of Ionizing Radia- tion), by H. Riemann, article, Kulde, vol. 11, no. 4, Aug. 1957, pp. 39-45, illus., printed in Danish. Dansk K¢leteknisk Tidsskrift, Oster Volgade 9, Copenhagen K., Denmark. PROTEINS: "Morphological Changes of Proteins and Effects of Denaturation,'' by L. B. Gorbacheva, S. E. Bresler, and S. Ya. Frenkel, article, Biochem- istry (U. S. S. R.), vol. 22, nos. 1 and 3, pp. 66-78, printed in Russian. A. N. Bakh Institute of Biochemistry, Moscow, Russia. (English translation by Consultants Bureau, Inc., New York, N. Y.) Biokhimiya, Akademiya Nauk U.S. S. R., Podsosenski per. 21, Moscow, Wises Eve "Studies on the Protein of Skeletal Muscle. 4--Ultra-centrifugal Analysis of Codling Ex- tracts,"' by J. J. Connell, article, The Biochem- ical Journal, vol. 69, May 1958, pp. 5-12, print- ed. Cambridge University Press, 51 Madison Ave., New York 10, N. Y. and others, Technical Report No. 42, 15 pp., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1958. The Effectiveness of Constant and Intermittently Flashing Light Barriers in Guiding Young Sil- ver Salmon, by Paul E. Fields and Gary L. Fin- ger, Technical Report No. 22, 22 pp., illus., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1956. The Effects of Electroshock (a.c.) Upon Tissue ‘Content of Inorganic Phosphate and Lactic Acid in Yearling Silver Salmon, by D. E. Johnson, R. E. Nakatani, and S. P. Felton, Technical Re- port No. 26, 6 pp., printed. School of Fisher- ies, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1956. A Field Test of the Effectiveness of Two Inten- sities of Shaded and Unshaded Lights in Guiding Downstream Migrant Salmon, by Paul E. Fields and others, Technical Report No. 21, 33 pp., illus., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1956. Guiding Migrant Salmon by Light Repulsion and Fields and others, Technical Report No. 36, 44 pp., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1958. The Reaction of Five Species of Young Pacific Salmon and Steelhead Trout, by Paul E, Fields and Gary L. Finger, Technical Report No. 7, 24 pp., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1954. Reactions of Young Silver Salmon in Ten Velocit Combinations, by R. E. Carney and R. J. Ad- kins, Technical Report No. 23, 15 pp., illus., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1955. The Response of Young Silver Salmon to a Light Barrier after Three Levels of Light Adaptation, by Paul E. Fields and A. Keith Murray, Tech- nical Report No. 27, 9 pp., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1956. The Role of Light Adaptation on Negative Photo- taxis in Silver Salmon, ONCORHYNCHUS RAINBOW TROUT: KISUTCH, by Gary L. Finger and Paul BE. Development of Rainbow Trout Brood Stock by Fields, Technical Report No. 34, 25 pp., illus., Selective Breeding, by Lauren R. Donaldson printed. School of Fisheries, University of and Paul R. Olson, Contribution No. 23, 9 pp., Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1957. illus., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1957. SANITATION: "Chlorination in Fish Plants,'' by H. P. Dussault, SALMON: article, Progress Reports of the Atlantic Coast The Application of Certain Conditioning and Stations, no. 66, September 1957, pp. 13-14, Handling Techniques to the Guidance of Down- printed. Fisheries Research Board of Canada, stream Migrant Salmon, by Donald E. Johnson St. Andrews, N. B., Canada. and Paul E. Fields, Technical Report No. 35, 56 pp., illus., printed. School of Fisheries, SAURY CANNING: University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.,-1957. "Notas Sobre la Paparda y su Conserva'' (Notes Conditions Under Which Light Attracts and Repels eee eee) Neeley UKELB ET “Pre-Migratory Salmon an Clearand eee Conservera, vol. 23, no. 222, December 1957, Still and Running Water, by Donald E. Johnson pp. 325-329,,illus., printed in Spanish. Indus- 96 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 tria Conservera, Marques de Valladares 41, Apartado 258, Vigo, Spain. SCALLOPS: ''The Breeding of the Scallop, Pecten maximus (L,), in Manx Waters,'' by James Mason, arti- cle, Journal of the Marine Biological os tion of the United Kingdom, vol. 37, no. 3, Oc- tober 1958, pp. 653-671, illus. , printed. eae bridge University Press, 32 East 57th St., New York 22, N. Y. SEAWEED: "The Drying of Seaweeds and Other Plants. I-- Through-Circulation Drying of ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM, a a J. H. Merritt and Ey DaiCos= Savile Row, W. 1, London, Saatenes SHARK-LIVER OIL: "Fatty Acids and Glycerids of Shark (Pristis) Liver Oil,'' by G. G. Kamath and N. G. Magar, article, Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, vol. 19, 1956, pp. 171-176, printed. Institute of Science, Bombay, India. SHRIMP: "Shrimps and Shrimp Fishing Methods in the U. K.," by H. S. Noel, article, World Fishing, vol. 6, no. 6, June 1957, 5 pp., illus., printed. John Trundell, Ltd., Temple Chambers, Tem- ple Ave., London E. C. 4, England. SHRIMP CULTURE: Pond Cultivation of Shrimp in South Carolina, by G. Robert Lunz, Contribution no. 29 from the Bears Bee Laboratory, 6 pp., printed. (Re-_ bean wisherica Institute, Tenth Annual Session, November 1957, pp. 44-48.) Bears Bluff Lab-_ oratories, Wadmalaw Island) SG. 958s De- scribes the work done at Bears Bluff Labora- tory during the past 11 years in research on the growing of shrimp in salt-water ponds in the marshes of South Carolina, There are ample tidal marshes along the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts where shrimp ponds could be built. The cost is estimated at $250 to $600 an acre for small individual ponds and $35 to $150 an acre for larger projects. ''According to the author, if continued research and management studies can produce the volume of shrimp per unit area being produced in the Orient, a shrimp farm comparable in cost to a modern trawler can yield a much greater poundage of shrimp than can the trawler," SPOILAGE: "Biochemical Processes on the Decomposition of Hake," by G. Varela and R. Wojciech, article, Anales de Bromatologia, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 5, printed in Spanish. Sociedad Espanola de Bro- matologia, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio Facul- tad de Farmacia, Madrid, Spain. STARFISH: "Notes on Starfish on an Essex Oyster Bed," by D. A. Hancock, article, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, vol. 37, no. 3, October 1958, pp. 565-589, illus., printed. Cambridge University Press, 32 East 57th St., New York 22, N. Y. STEELHEAD TROUT: Conditioning Young Steelhead Trout to Colored Lights, by Ronald J. Adkins and Paul E. Fields, Technical Report No. 33, 20 pp., illus., printed. School of Fisheries, University ‘of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1957. Response of Steelhead Trout, SALMO GAIRD- NERII, to Continuous, Fixed Ratio Reinforce- ment Schedules, by A. Keith Murray and Paul E. Fields, Technical Report No. 45, 10 pp., illus., printed. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1957. STICKWATER: ""A Rapid Method of Determining the Concentra- tion of Stickwater,'' by J. M. Clifton and F. F. Balaena, article, Norsk-Hvalfangst-Tidende (The Norwegian ‘Whalin, ing Gazette), vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 205-207, printed. Norsk rsk Hvalfangst Tidende, Sandefjord, ‘Norway. TAGGING: "An All-Plastic Dart-Type Fish Tag," by Dan- iel T. Yamashita and Kenneth D. Waldron, ar- ticle, California Fish and Game, vol. 44, no. 4, October 1958, pp. 311-317, illus., printed. Single copy 75 cents. Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento 14, Calif. TRAWLING: "La Péche du Hareng au Chalut-Boeuf"’ (Herring Fishing with Pair-Trawling), by C. Nedélac, article, Science et Péeche, no. 57, March 1958, 7 pp., illus. , printed in French. Science et Peche, 59 Av. Raymond-Poincare, Paris 16, France. TUNA; "L'Evolution Récente de l'Industrie du Thon" (Recent Development of the Tuna Industry), by L. Plouas and ''Le Marché du Thon Tropical d'Origine Francaise: Les Conditions d'Expan- sion" (The Market for Tropical Tuna of French Origin: Conditions for Expansion), by A. Sahut- Morel, article, La Péche Maritime, vol. 37, no. 968, November 1958, pp. 657-668, illus., print- ed in French. La Peche Maritime, 190 Boule- vard Haussmann, Paris, France. VITAMINS: "B-Vitamins in Marine Products and Their Changes in Processing and Storage. I--Canned Mackerel and Tuna in Brine," by Yasushi Ko- mata, Yoshiro Hashimoto, and Takajiro Mori, article, Nippon Suisangaku Kaishi, vol. 21, 1955-56, pp. 1236-1240, printed in Japanese. Japanese Society of Scientific Fisheries, Tokai- ku Suisan Kenkyujo, No. 3, Tsukijima, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, "Vitamin B,2 in Marine Fish," by Olaf R. Braek- kan, article, Nature, vol. 182, no. 4646, Novem- ber 15, 1958, p. 1386, printed. Macmillan & Co., Ltd., St. Martin's St., London,.W. @.2, February 1959 OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION ISSUING THEM. England; and St. Martin's Press, Inc., 103 Park Ave., New York 17, N. Y. ‘WHALES: The Scientific Reports of the Whales Research “Institute, no. 13, 332 pp., illus., printed. The Whales Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan, Sep- tember 1958. Includes, among others, the fol- lowing articles: ''Growth of Fin Whale in the Northern Pacific,'' by S. Ohsumi, (Kimura), M. Nishiwaki, and T. Hibiya; ''Age Study of Sperm Whale, Based on Reading of Tooth Laminations," by M. Nishiwaki, T. Hibiya, and S. Ohsumi (Ki- mura); ''Gray Whale Observed in the Bering Sea," by T. Ichihara; ''Studies of the Relation Between the Whaling Grounds and the Hydro- graphic Conditions. III," by M. Uda and N. Suzuki; ''Amino Acid Composition of Whale Meat," by T. Ogawa, T. Tsunoda, and M. Osawa; "A Characteristic Property of Whale Oils Con- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW of, cerning the Absorption of Gases. II. On the Ab- sorption of Nitrogen by Whale Oils," by Y. Ishihawa; and ''Component Fatty Acids of North- ern Elephant Seal Oil,'' by H. Tsuyuki. "Structure of Sperm- and Sei-Whale Insulins and Their Breakdown by Whale Pepsin," by Yoshio Ishihara, TsuneykiSaito, Yasuzo Ito, and Masa- hiko Fujino, article, Nature, vol. 181, May 24, 1958, pp. 1468-1469, printed. Macmillan and Co., Ltd., St. Martins St., London W. C. 2, England. WISCONSIN: "Trawling Comes to Wisconsin," by Richard F, Harris, article, Wisconsin Conservation Bul- letin, vol. 23, no. 10, October 1958, pp. 21-23, illus., printed. Wisconsin Conservation De- partment, Madison 1, Wis. Describes the use of a trawl as a fish management tool in Lake Winnebago. SALMON TRAVEL TO GREAT SLAVE LAKE The immense distances traveled by Pacific salmon after they leave the sea and enter fresh water are well known in British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska. Recently, however, a commercial fisherman on Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada netted a salm- on near the mouth of the Buffalo River. three-year-old chum which had made the long journey up the Mackenzie River from the Arctic Ocean. Salmon have been found in Great Slave Lake before, but the occurrenceis rare. (March 1958 Trade News of the Canadian Department of Fisheries.) It was later identifiedasa Editorial Assistant--Ruth V. Keefe Tlustrator--Gustaf T. Sundstrom Compositors--Jean Zalevsky, Alma Greene, Helen Joswick, and Vera Eggleston sk OK ok 3k Ok Photograph Credits: Page by page, the following list gives the source or pho- tographer for each photograph in this issue. Photographs on pages not mentioned were obtained from the Service's file and the photographers are unknown, Cover, pp. 1, 2, 3, & 4--John D. Bell, Provincetown, Mass.; p. 19-- J. Pileggi; p. 25--Basil L. Smith, Philadelphia 1, Pa.; and outside back cover--Office of Information, Department of Agriculture. 98 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2 SMOKE BARREL COOKERY Making barrels for smoke-cooking fish is easy. Here's how it is done. Start with a used 40-gallon charred oak whiskey barrel or anything similar. Saw around the barrel about 8 inches from the top. This is then used as the lid and is secured to the rest of the barrel with a heavy hinge. Tokeepthe lid from toppling over backwards when salm- on is removed, attach a chain stopper. Because the two grill-supporting chains lap over the rim of the barrel and would pre- vent a complete closure of the lid, notch two shallow V's on either side of barrel. Attach hooks or pins at the base of the V's to fasten the chains. STOPPER CHAIN Allow for 4 or 5 inches of sand in which the fire pot will eventually be imbedded, bore 5 or 6 draft holes, one-half inch in diameter, around the sides of the barrel just above the sand level. Make wooden plugs to fit the holes. The fire pot can be any heavy metal cyl- inder such as the bottom of a dutch oven. An ideal pot is an old automobile brake drum, However, it should be small enough to allow for 3 or 4 inches of sand insulation between barrel and the pot. The round grill for the top of the barrel can be purchased at any store that specializes in barbecue equipment. KP ORAF T HOLES i The grill is supported by two Y-shaped / chains. The upper legs of the Y are equipped SAO with snap-ons to fasten the grill. The bottom leg of each Y fastens on the hooks at the base of the notched V's. To use the barrel the sand at the bottom should first be soaked withwater. Thefire is started with charcoal briquets and then the smoke- producing wood is added. While fish is smoking, care must be taken not to let the fire flareup. This is controlled by inserting the wooden plugs in the draft holes until an ideal balance between fire and smoke is achieved. Wood used for smoking depends upon taste and availability. Anynonresinous hard wood such as alder, apple, maple, oak, birch, or beech can be used. Wood should be cut into small chunks about 4 inches in length or just long enough so they can be pyramided in the fire pot. Barrel is now ready for use. To prepare the salmon for smoking, fillet them and remove the backbone. Cut into chunks suitable for individual servings. Soak chunks in saturated brine solution for an hour and a half. (Soaking time can be varied to suit individual tastes.) Remove the chunks from the solution and arrange a single layer on grill rack, avoiding crowding. Lower grill into smoke barrel about 8 inches. Close and cook for about an hour and a half or until done, making sure fire is smoking and not burning during entire cooking process. If the barrel is not used for any length of time, it is necessary to remove fire pot, insert draft plug holes, and fill with water to keep barrel from warping. Although salmon is often used, the ''smoke barrel" method can also be used for many other kinds of fish like cod, whitefish, haddock, halibut, and lake trout. Method used is essentially the same as for the salmon. (Institutions, vol. 42, June 1958, pp. 41-43.) February 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW CONTENTS (CONTINUED) FOREIGN (Contd.): International (Contd.): General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade: Report on 13th Session at Geneva ..........4.- Next Session, March 1959 ...... Great Lakes Fishery Commission: Meeting Held in Ann Arbor, Mich, ........ (North European) International Fisheries Convention: Permanent Commission Meets in Dublin ....... North Pacific Fur Seal Commission: Second Annual Meeting Held. ........-+-+++2% Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Commissio Ninth Annual Meeting .........4+ Ocean Perch Symposium ......... Otolith Exchange Program......... Norwegian-Russian Sealing Agreement South Pacific Commission; Fisheries Development Program ..........+.++ United Nations: Deep Ocean Trenches Unsuitable for Disposal of Radioactive Waste ... 2. ccc ens cee we General Assembly Committee Approves Second Law Di the Sea CONference! 6 ae) oe ie) selmi) =) «tellin 3) aires General Assembly Votes for Second Law of the Sea KSOMLOTEN CO a tolisie hats fa//0) <'c)in! eite!ie) (er sie) (2) wife) ole) @) «\i=\« Whaling: Five Nations Discuss Division of 1958 Quota Australia; Deep-Water Shrimp Resources Survey Planned .... Economic Fisheries Survey ........ Fishery Products Imports, 1957/58 .........-. New Scuth Wales Tuna Fishing Season Promising Tasmanian Scallop Fishery, 1958 ............. Japanese Banned from Taking Pear! Shell off West- ISTIUMERIEMALAE ol etlvine celine re loyellevere:ei(due ial ee) por she Trawling Company Formed to Fish in Great Austral- WET) LYONS. eo og 6 alofe corel ol dans 6 tobe oln odeo icone wie Canada: British Columbia Fall Herring Catch Good ....... British Columbia Whale Catch Higher for 1958 Season Causes of Fluctuation in Stocks of Haddock on North PRAM DLCME AUC S Pewee ewan aa) aaa relietusl (ob siivu si of ste) fel.ei se Illegal Lobster Fishing Attacked Newfoundland Fishermen Aided by Federal Govern- BEV |G J8G 708 Se BRE YOnGR EEC ROBO ORCC RONO LO CR OIE CHSC omER CEE, Research Shows Decline in Ocean Perch Resources . Chile; Regulations for Foreign Vessels Fishing in Terri- SOCEM AWALOC BLASER cca 3 Mr , ‘in| tt HUI \ i 2a Vol-21, No.3. er es MARCH 1959 FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE United States Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FRED A. SEATON, SECRETARY FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ARNIE J. SUOMELA, COMMISSIONER BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES DONALD L. MCKERNAN, DIRECTOR DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES HAROLD E. CROWTHER, CHIEF \ A review of developments and news of the fishery industries prepared in the BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. Joseph Pileggi, Editor H. M. Bearse, Assistant Editor Mailed free to members of the fishery and allied industries. Address correspondence and requests to the: Chief, Branch of Market News, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Department of the Interior, Washington 25, D. C. Publication of material from sources outside the Bureau is not an endorsement. The Bureau is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions contained in material from outside sources. Although the contents of the publication have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely, reference to the source is appreciated. The printing of this publication has been approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, Contents Continued Page 119, May 21, 1957. 5/31/60 COVER: Circular pot with a good catch of king crabs aboard the U. S. Bu- reau of Commercial Fisheries chartered vessel Tondeneres while do- ing exploratory fishing for king crab, shrimp, and bottom fish. The cruise was made July 18 to October 1, 1957, in the area from the Shumagin Is- lands to Unalaska Bay, Alaska. (See p. 7 of this issue.) Page Ascorbic Acid as an Antioxidant for Frozen Oysters and Effect of Copper-Chelating Ability of Oyster Tissue on Ascorbic Acid} Oxidation;jibysMark: G; Schwartz and|Betty MM. Watts) 2.02.2. < «itelsicne! eel =sieletanoNepetetslieticiialtsielisiiafisaelahrui-auNcienemoleie 1 King Crab, Shrimp, and Bottom Fish Explorations from Shumagin Islands to Unalaska, Alaska--Summer and Fall, 1957, by Harolds@z Sonn sori 2i<. -ice,aiyehetiay e100) ,eiceita| leit vere) ie) 6) eels lve) wie)->jro! (ol) o{caileltelfelrajfoisalleffelrehsoflollela)tetfejie Meltallalta\colvells}ia)\. No. 480.) POTTINGER, S, R. 1951. Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Keeping Quality of Frozen Oysters. Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 13, no. 7 (July), p. 5. Sep. No. 287.) SCARBOROUGH, D., and WATTS, B. M. 1949, The Prooxidant Effect of Ascorbic Acid and Cystine in Aqueous Fat Systems. Food Technology, vol. 8, p. 152. SCHWARTZ, M. G., and WATTS, B. M. 1957, Application of the Thiobarbituric Acid Test as a Quantitative Measure of Deterioration in Cooked Oysters, Food Research, vol. 22, p. 76. TARR, H. L. A. 1946. Control of Rancidity in Stored Fish. Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Progress Reports of the Pacific Coast Stations, No. 64, p. 57. 1946. Control of Rancidity in Stored Fish Il, Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Progress Reports of the Pacific Coast Sta- tions, No. 68, p. 52. 1947. Control of Rancidity in Fish Flesh. 1. Chemical Antioxidants. journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, yol. 7, p. 137. WATTS, B, M., and LEHMANN, B, T. 1952. Ascorbic Acid andMeat Color. Food Technology, vol. 6, p- 194. DABAABKAKAKABASA March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 7 KING CRAB, SHRIMP, AND BOTTOM FISH EXPLORATIONS FROM SHUMAGIN ISLANDS TO UNALASKA, ALASKA - SUMMER AND FALL, 1957 By Harold C, Johnson* SUMMARY Exploratory fishing to determine the availability and abundance of king crab, shrimp, and bottom fish in certain waters from the Shumagin Islands to Unalaska, Alaska, was conducted by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries from July 18 to October 1, 1957. The M/V Tordenskjold, a Seattle commercial trawler, was chartered with Saltonstall-Kennedy Act funds for the work. A variety of fishing gear was used, including circular and rectangular king- crab pots, large-mesh otter trawls, and a Gulf of Mexico-type shrimp trawl. During the investigations, 61 otter-trawl drags and 36 shrimp trawl drags were made and 534 individual king-crab pots were set. Fig. 1 - Chartered vessel M/V Tordenskjold. The best catch of king crab using an otter trawl occurred between Umga and Cherni Islands, Other catches of king crabs with the trawl were generally small and not considered productive enough to warrant commercial exploitation. Local- ities that yielded promising king crab catches while fishing with pots included Step- ovak Bay, Dorenoi Bay, and vicinity, off Chichagof Bay, between Umga and Cherni Islands, and Cold Bay. % Fishery Methods and Equipment Specialist, Branch of Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research, Division of Industrial Re- search andServices, U, S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Seattle, Wash. Vols 2 Nos COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW ‘uoero[dxa jo seary - z ‘bry Dib DW GE KX | "LG6T - PIOTHSuepszoyL, A/IN _ ‘uoljeir0[dxe Jo sealy Na oaa QeNG/ ae y= Gi. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 9 Excellent catches of shrimp were made using the lined otter trawl and the Gulf of Mexico-type shrimp trawl. Large catches of pink shrimp were made in Balboa Bay, Unga Strait, Stepovak Bay,near Sealion Rocks, and in the vicinity of Beaver and Pavlof Bays. The best shrimp trawl drag of the cruise produced a catch of 3,800 pounds of shrimp in 30 minutes. Anumber of drags were made which yielded shrimp at rates exceeding 5,000pounds anhour. Fair signs of larger size varieties suchas side- stripe shrimp and coon-stripe shrimp were, at times, mixed with the pink shrimp. With the exception of a 5-day storm, which occurred during the latter part of August, little time was lost due to adverse weather conditions. As many of the areas fished were in semiprotected waters, small squalls did not hamper fishing activities. INTRODUCTION Exploratory fishing for king crab, shrimp, and bottom fish was carried out from July 18 to October 1, 1957, from the Shumagin Islands to Unalaska Bay, Alaska (fig. 2), by the schooner-type trawler Tordenskjold. The vessel was chartered by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries with funds provided by the Saltonstall-Ken- nedy Act of 1954, The primary objective of this exploratory fishing was to determine the distribu- tion and availability of king crab in waters beyond the range of those now commer- cially fished. In addition, in- formation on the distribution Species of Fish and Shellfish Mentioned in this Report and availability of bottom fish and shrimp inhabiting the area was collected. DNGeness! Gh a) ive. 6 ed soe el ls) “e Cancer magister ete) he 6 Oyo Osenol Gao oad oo Paralithodes camtschatica Sz obo ogame cuicechoer Chionoecetes bairdii The work was carried out in cooperation with the Bu- ! i ; ee MIMEDODESETIDE Nice: col elie dele. sin Pandalus hypsinotus sa seed 8 King Crab Investiga Sareurelneh yer valtaii a) a) Ye? iene) 6 Pandalus goniurus tions, and during part of the Te 85, acid OOM EMER R ONO ome Pandalus borealis cruise a biologist was aboard | Side-stripe ............ Pandalopsis dispar the Tordenskjold to tag king =. crab and collect pertinent in- Alasianso lock unaninne isin iione Theragra chalcogramma formation, Arrow -toothed flounder (turbot). . Atheresthes stomias Gl did oaolOro 0 oO. ck Dore Lycodes sp. Ota OUotee Scho ota ewe Hippoglossus stenolepis 56 Sofas 0 Sed ceo Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus BACKGROUNDINFORMATION Re SCOLe Len viilethaleankeaen el ve “etree Glyptocephalus zachirus Rack sole ee sw ieedistisiey «= 6. Lepidopsetta bilineata The presence of king crab in the inshore waters near the Shumagin Islands and Alaska Peninsula has been known for many years. Approximately 4,000 male crabs were reported taken from Pavlof Bay and Canoe Bay in 1938. In 1940 and 1941 fishing operations carried out in Pavlof Bay and Canoe Bay by the Alaska Crab Investigations of the Fish and Wildlife Service revealed a crab popula- tion sufficient to support a profitable commercial operation (Anonymous 1942), Dur- ing the same investigation, Cold Bay and Volcano Bay were also reported to have fair concentrations of king crab. SATA Mee) ca alduienes wie ie «le: = Citharichthys sordidus Se OSD: AwOk Oe tecechG Psettichthys melanostictus SEH) 6 bs 65 o.oo no Gola Hemilepidotus sp. MERON eee Meillaielrelfsiitell 'o0.11 ute Gadus macrocephalus In the ensuing years the king crab fishery in this area developed slowly. Land- ings in recent years, however, have increased rapidly and between 1954 and 1956 the catch from the Shumagin area rose from 316,660 pounds to 2,043,967 pounds. Shrimp and bottom fish, with the exception of halibut and true cod, have not been commercially exploited in the Shumagin Islands or in the areas explored along the Alaska Peninsula. 10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vols 21), Now FISHING GEAR AND METHODS OTTER TRAWLS: Standard 400-mesh eastern and western otter trawls were used to carry out trawling operations for king crab and bottom fish. The eastern trawl had 44-inch mesh!/ in the wings, square, and body, and 35-inch mesh in the intermediate and cod end. Details of the eastern trawl have been described by Greenwood (1958), The western trawl was constructed of 43-inch mesh throughout. Specifications of this trawl have been described by Alverson (1951), From 16 to 22 aluminum-alloy 8- inch-diameter spherical floats were spaced evenly along the head rope of each net. The last sixfeet of each cod end of both style trawls were lined with 14-inch cotton web- bing to retain shrimp and immature king crab encountered during the exploration. All drags were made for a period of one hour, when pos- sible, and the average towing speed was 2.4 knots, GULF SHRIMP TRAWL: Shrimp drags were made with a 43-foot flat Gulf of Mexico-type shrimp trawl (Schaefers and Johnson 1957) con- structed from 14-inch mesh cotton webbing. The net, secured directly to the aft end of the doors with 2-foot extensions of the head rope and foot rope, was towed with a single warp using a 25-fathom bri- dle ahead of the doors. The shrimp trawl was usually towed for 30 minutes; how- ever, in areas where shrimp catches were large the towing time was reduced to 20 minutes. Fig. 3 - The otter trawlonthe surface showing the aluminum floats. KING CRAB POTS: Cir- cular pots similar to those used in the commercial king- crab fishery of Alaska and patented box-shaped collaps- ible pots were used duringthe @ investigation. The circular pots were 72 inches in diam- eter, and 24 inches high with two tunnels located opposite each other on the 24-inch side. The framework was constructed of #-inch mild steel rod, and covered with 4-inch (open mesh) webbing handwoven from 16-gauge stainless steel wire. A hinged access lid, approximately 30 inches by 36 inches, was located on the top of the pot, + SS “a =: Fig. 4 - Commercial-type crab pots as used by the Tordenskjold. Several variations of the standard circular pot were fished, including a 3-tun- nel pot and a number of pots with the top frame 12 inches less in diameter than the bottom frame, 1/All mesh sizes in this report refer to stretched measure. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW del: The patented box-shape, collapsible pots were 36 by 72 inches at the base, 36 by 60 inches on top, and 30 inches high. The frames were fabricated of 3 -inch-di- ameter galvanized mild steel rods (Schaefers et al 1955). The box-type pots proved too light for fishing in offshore waters and it was necessary to add approximately 25 pounds of chain to the bottom : of each pot to prevent drifting. BUOYS AND BUOY LINES: Most pots were fished using rub- berized canvas bags 14 to 18 inch- es in diameter as buoys. Asingle buoy served as a surface float for each pot to hold at the surface the line from the pot on the bottom and provideamarker. Cotton belt- ing or manila rope were used as harnesses for these buoys but the latter proved undesirable because of excessive chafing (see fig. 7). Cylindrical oxygen tanks of stain- less steel, painted yellow and = ; — having 14 to 2 cubic feet displace- Fig. 5 - Weaving the webbing of stainless steel wire on a crab ment, were also used as buoys, Pete but these were difficult to see under certain light and water conditions, Buoy lines were assembled from 50-fathom lengths of te -inch or #-inch-di- ameter manila rope joined to a 25-fathom length of 43-inch diameter manila repe, Sufficient sections were joined end- to-end so that the heavier lines were always longer than the depth of water. A gill-net type, 8-inch plastic float was threaded on the lower section of each buoy line and allowed to run free between the pot and a stopper above the pot. This method of rigging prevented chafing of the buoy line on the bottom or a- gainst the pot. Marker buoys were used at both ends of a pot string and oc- casionally at intermediate loca- tions to aid in locating the gear. These buoys were secured to an- chors with 33-inch-diameter ma- nila line. The marker buoy con- sisted of a taped bamboo pole 15 to 18 feet long, with a square red flag and a life raft-type radar reflector on top. Locating gear in offshore waters proved to be relatively simple with the aid of radar reflectors (see fig. 8). Fig. 6 - Collapsible-type pot with extra weight added to the bottom to prevent drifting from its set position. BAITING AND FISHING THE KING CRAB POTS: Bait bags consisted of 14- inch mesh, 42-thread, treated cotton webbing, 23 meshes long and 20 meshes wide. To form the bag, square-cut webbing was folded in half and sewed along the open side and bottom. The throat was closed by threading an 18-gauge stainless steel wire through the selvage meshes so that it would operate in a slip-knot fashion. The bag, baited with about 24 pounds of fresh or fresh frozen chopped fish was placed inside the pot midway between the tunnel entrances, and held in place by a 12 double wire-hook arrangement. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 One hook was attached directly to the bait bag while a short section of heavy rubber was used between the bait bag and the other hook. The hooks, formed from eight-gauge wire, were secured to the top and bottom of the bait bag and fastened to opposite tunnel entrance frames during fishing. The rubber section provided tension to hold the bait in place and allowed easy handling of the bag. Sculpin, arrow-toothed floun- der, and Alaska pollock were the principal baits, although occasion- ally other species of flat fish and roundfish were tried. The pots were usually set in strings or rows composed of 8 to 20 individual pots. The totalnum- ber of pots in a string is called a pot set, although for purposes of clarity in the text and tables, some continuous strings are di- vided into two sets and other non- Fig. 7 - Excessive chafing caused by a rope harness. continuous strings are included as a single and numbered accordingly. Distances between individual pots in a string usually ranged from one-fourth to one-half mile, Fig. 8 - Radar reflectors on the marker buoys proved an aid for locating the gear. As it was difficult to accommodate crab pots on deck concurrent with trawl fishing, the pots were usually hauled and reset during one day's operation. When feasible, trawl fishing was conducted in the same general area on the following day. VESSEL USED: The Tordenskjold, a schooner-type vessel, is 75 feet in length, with a beam of 18 feet, and a mean-load draft of 9 feet. Built for the halibut fishery, the vessel was converted in 1942 for use in trawl fisher- ies. This vessel was chartered by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries earlier in 1957 for bottom-fish explorations off South- eastern Alaska (Greenwood 1958). FISHING RESULTS Exploratory operations were conducted along the south side of the Alaska Peninsula from Stepovak Bay westerly to Unalaska Island in the Aleutian group. (See fig. 2.) Fishing was carried out in most of the major bays with- in this area and in offshore waters extending out to the 100-fathom contour. During the ex- ploration, 61 otter-trawl drags were made for king crab and bottom fish, 36 drags were made with a Gulf of Mexico-type shrimp trawl, and 534 individual king crab pots were set. The location of each otter-trawl drag and king crab pot is diagrammatically il- lustrated in figures 9 and 11, and of each Gulf shrimp trawl drag in figure 12. 13 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW March 1959 *puris] Yeues oj Avg yeAodaig way sjes od qeio-bupy pue sberp [Meq-Jay0 Jo uoreooT - 6 ‘bty B0j-031 COATT Eee Do}e1sT Oe Doeesr | ro idatti at aet Pol g O X, | g v ey) = ros @o= _ 6 OE 6S w02 00° 0 0° =~ = N ww 10 wieec00 005 SHO D000 0 5 Id vipaseyay. | SAONM OR ’ | DxSN3S3NSOM © ———-6VH9 ONIM 3ZIS-1V937 3YOW ¥O O} ONIHDLVD 10d ° 10d 8YHS-OND ~—— —— (dn buny) G3Y3LNNOON3 SYNS Ss SS —9v80 IMVH1-83110 ‘ON3931 28}.191 00},291 8/6291 14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 Although the catch per pot as averaged for an aggregate station catch was, in many instances, belowthe level needed to sustain a commercial operation, occasion- ally individual pot catches were excellent. STEPOVAK BAY TO PAVLOF BAY: Explorations in this area included most and the offshore waters to depths of 100 fathoms. A total of 27 otter-trawl drags, 18 crab pot sets, and 28 Gulf-shrimp-trawl drags was made inthis area. The bays and inlets trawled were generally free of snags although hang-ups were noted out- side of Beaver Bay, in Unga Strait, near Sealion Rocks, and in the offshore waters south of the Shumagin Islands... Bottom samples indicated the sea bed through much of the area was composed of green mud, occasionally mixed with sand. Off Pavlof Bay, lava and shell were found, mixed with green mud. King-Crab Catches--Otter Trawl: King-crab catches made with the otter trawl were small throughout the area. The best catch, made 22 miles south of Sealion Rocks, yielded 10 king crabs,2/ considerably below the minimum necessary to sustain a commercial operation. Fig. 10 - Filling a bait bag with chopped fish. King-Crab Catches--Pots: The best crab-pot catches were made in Stepovak Bay, off Chichagof Bay, and in Dorenoi Bay and vicinity. Fifty-one crab pots fished in these localities (pot-set numbers 28, 29, and 30) at depths ranging from 17 to 104 fathoms for an average of 92.6 hours yielded a total of 660 king crabs. The only other pot set (number 16) which produced likely results was made 9 miles southwest of Unga Island in 70 to 87 fathoms. This set consisting of 10 pots caught 79 king crabs, with 66 of them oc- curring in 4 of the 10 pots, Shrimp Catches--Otter Trawl: The small-mesh liner used in the otter trawl proved an effective means of ascertaining the presence of significant quantities of shrimp, and initial drags made in Unga Strait and Balboa Bay yielded good catches. One otter-trawl drag (number 3) made in Balboa Bay produced 760 pounds of shrimp in one hour. The catch was composed predominately of pink shrimp which averaged 1223/ to the pound. The area south of Sealion Rocks also yielded good catches with three 1-hour otter-trawl drags (number 4, 6, and 7) resulting in catch- es ranging from 240 to 900 pounds of shrimp. The catches consisted chiefly of pink shrimp averaging approximately 113 to the pound, although drag number 4 produced 100 pounds of side-stripe shrimp averaging 28 to the pound. Shrimp Catches--Gulf Trawl: To better evaluate the shrimp potential, areas which gave promising results with the lined otter trawl were subsequently fished using the 43-foot Gulf trawl. Additional shrimp trawl drags were made in other areas where the bottom topography and depth indicated possible shrimp concentra- tions. 2/Unless otherwise noted, only legal-size king crab (hard-shell males not less than 65 inches in greatest width of shell) are referred to in the text. 3/Al1 shrimp counts given are the number of whole (heads on) shrimp per pound. Complete details of number of whole (heads on) shrimp per pound for all drags are given in tables 1 and 3. 15 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW March 1959 Keg ExSETeUp O} pues, YeUES UOTZ sjas yod qero-Bbunj pur sberp [MEN-Ieyo Jo uoreooT - {1 “bry O eed cieseee-BwOMLeS QOL @vd9 ONIN 3ZIS-1v937 3YOW HO 0! ONIHDIVD 10d ———— 10d 8VH9-ONIX — sn Buny) G3H3LNNOON3 OVNS Ovud IMVH1-43110 ‘GN3931 GUNiV as) | XAVWINA we t¥0g eN104 No. 3 Vol. 21, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 16 00] e091 -Aeg eyseteug 01 Aeg yeAodajzg wor sberp [MeN durmrys FIND Fo UOIwOOT - ZT *61y {08/2091 2l9! Del i} DAY el (00/229) sf sy uojoas | SAONNIX@ (dn Buny) Q3Y3LNNOON]Z OVNS 9VYO IMVYL-dWIMHS ‘QN3941 March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 17 Good catches of shrimp were made with the Gulf trawl south of Sealion Rocks. Two shrimp drags (numbers 2 and 5) produced catches at a rate exceeding 4,000 pounds an hour and several shrimp drags (numbers 1, 3, and 4) caught shrimp at rates in excess of 2,000 pounds an hour, These catches consisted of mixed pink, side-stripe, and coon-stripe shrimp; however, pink shrimp was the predominant species. The best catch of side-stripe shrimp was made in a shrimp drag (number 5), which yielded 400 pounds in 20 minutes, The pink shrimp caught in the Sealion Rock area ranged from 118 to 157 to the pound, while side-stripe shrimp caught in drag number 5 averaged 57 to the pound. Inshore explorations for shrimp were carried out in Balboa Bay, Unga Strait, and Stepovak Bay ana outside of Beaver and Pavlof Bays. All of these localities produced excellent shrimp catch- es. Balboa Bay and Unga Strait both yielded catches which ex- ceeded a rate of 4,000 pounds an hour, while the grounds off Pav- lof Bay produced shrimp at rates up to 7,300 pounds an hour. The grounds adjacent to Pavlof Bay gave the most consistent large catches of shrimp. Four drags in this area produced catches at rates exceeding 5,000 pounds an hour and 3 drags produced catch- es at a rate in excess of 3,000 pounds an hour. The best indi- vidual catch made during the cruise was made outside Beaver Bay when 3,800 pounds of shrimp were taken in a 30-minute drag (number 29). Pink shrimp dominated the catch in the inshore bay area; however, catches of side-stripe shrimp in excess of 100 pounds per 20-minute drag were com- mon. Sample counts for pink shrimp in these areas ranged from 92 to 227 per pound, while side-stripe counts ranged from 26 to 135 per pound. COLD BAY TO SANAK IS- Fig. 13 - A good catch of shrimp made south of Sealion Rocks using the ae pre 43-foot Gulf of Mexico-type shrimp trawl, ters between Unga and Sanak Islands, and the adjacent waters to the east of Sanak Island. Eight otter-trawl drags were made at depths of 40 to 83 fathoms, and four crab-pot sets were made at depths between 38 and 82 fathoms in this area. ing Crab Catches--Otter Trawl: The best otter-trawl catch of king crabs was Peas between Unga Island and Cherni Island (drag number 39). This drag, made at depths from 66 to 74 fathoms, resulted in a catch of 42 crabs. Other otter-trawl catches resulted in only minor catches of crab, King Crab Catches--Pots: The largest individual catch was made (set number 21) between Cherni and Unga Islands. A set of 20 pots at depths from 58 to 78 fath- 18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Volle21eeNow3 oms caught 333 king crabs. The next largest catch, 164 was made with 16 pots fish- ed for 26 hours in Cold Bay (set number 31). Shrimp Catches: Insignificant catches of shrimp were noted in the lined otter trawl drags made in this area, and no attempts were made to locate shrimp with the Gulf shrimp trawl. MORZHOVOI BAY TO DAVIDSON BANK: Exploratory fishing in this region was conducted in Morzhovoi Bay and Ikatan Bay and on Davidson Bank, south of Unimak Is- land. A total of 21 otter-trawl drags and7setsof king crab pots was made inthe area. The drags made in Morzhovoi Bay and Ikatan Bay were free of snags and most of Davidson Bank was found suitable for trawling. A consid- erable amount of gravel bottom was noted on Davidson Bank, while green mud was common in bottom samples taken from the bay areas. Crab and Shrimp Catches: Both otter- trawl drags and pot sets resulted in insignifi- cant king crab catches. Shrimp catches inthe lined otter-trawl were also unfavorable. AKUTAN BAY TO UNALASKA BAY: Ex- plorations in this area were made in Akutan Bay, Beaver Inlet, and Unalaska Bay. Four otter-trawl drags, 5 pot sets, and 7 drags with the Gulf shrimp trawl were made. No snags were encountered during trawl operations; however, the bottom topography was irregular and only a limited amount of trawling ground was located. Crab and Shrimp Catches: Crab catches made with the otter-trawlwere poor. Although the average catch of crabs per pot inthis area was low, a few pots fished in Akutan Bay and Unalaska Bay yielded fair catches. In Akutan Bay, 2 pots caught 31 crabs, and in Unalaska Bay, 4 pots caught 86 crabs. Only 1 drag pro- duced any quantity of shrimp. One drag (num- Fig. 14 - A catch of 3, 300 pounds of shrimp on the 5 5 deck of the Tordenskjold, This catch was the result ber 35) made in Beaver Inlet with the Gulf of a 30-minute drag outside Pavlof Bay with the 43- trawl resulted in a catch of 175 pounds of mix- foot eit Meee rosaries ed pink and side-stripe shrimp. INCIDENTAL FISH AND SHELLFISH CATCHES: The best catch of food fish made during the explorations was taken 7 miles southeast of Cape Lazaref in 59 to 62 fathoms where 5,000 pounds of true cod were caught with the otter-trawl (drag number 41), Other catches of food fish were generally small. Species of fish cap- tured in small amounts included rock sole, pollock, sculpin, and turbot. Tanner crabs were distributed throughout most of the region explored. In Un- alaska Bay, 13 pots produced a catch of 1,109 tanner crabs with 169 crabs taken in 1 pot. A catch containing 555 tanner crabs was also taken in 1 otter-trawl drag made in Ikatan Bay. Dungeness crabs were taken only in sets made in close proximity to the beach and in comparatively shallow water, such as Unimak Bight and Acheredin Bay. Catch- es of Dungeness crabs were small even in these areas. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHE RIES REVIEW 19 WEATHER CONDITIONS With the exception of a five-day storm during the latter part of August, little time was lost because of adverse weather conditions. The weather was generally overcast and cloudy with intermittent rain and fog. As many of the areas explored were in semi-protected waters, small squalls did not interfere with fishing activi- ties. APPENDIX Detailed fishing logs which give details for each drag are not included in the Review, but are available upon request as an appendix to the reprint of this article. Write for Separate No. 543, which contains these tables: Table 1 - Fishing Log--Otter-Trawl Drags Made from Shumagin Islands to Un- alaska Bay, Alaska, July 18 to September 29, 1957, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Chartered Vessel Tordenskjold. Table 2 - King Crab Pot Sets Made from Shumagin Islands to Unalaska Bay, Alaska, July 20 to October 1, 1957, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Charter- ed Vessel Tordenskjold. Table 3 - Gulf Shrimp Trawl Fishing Log--Shumagin Islands to Unalaska Is- land, Alaska, September 6 to 30, 1957, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Char- tered Vessel Tordenskjold. Table 4 - Individual Pots Catching 10 or More Legal-Size King Crab, Shumagin Islands to Unalaska Bay, Alaska, July 20 to October 1, 1957, U. S. Bureau of Com- mercial Fisheries Chartered Vessel Tordenskjold. LITERATURE CITED ALVERSON, DAYTON L. 1951. Deep-Water Trawling Survey Off the Coast of Washington (August 27-October 19, 1951). Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 13, no. 11 (November), pp. 1-16. (Also Separate No, 292.) ANONYMOUS 1942, The Alaskan King Crab. Fishery Market News, May 1942 Supplement. GREENWOOD, MELVIN R, 1958. Bottom Trawling Explorations Off Southeastern Alaska, 1956-1957. Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 20, no, 12 (December), pp. 9-21, (Also Separate No. 532.) HIPKINS, FRED W. 1956. Dungeness Crab Pots. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fishery Leaflet 419, July, Washing- ton, D. C. PROGRESS REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 1958 1958. Department of the Interior, U. S, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Commercial Fish- eries, Alaska Region, SCHAEFERS, EDWARD A,; SMITH, KEITH A.; and GREENWOOD, MELVIN R. 1955. Bottom Fish and Shellfish Explorations in the Prince William Sound Area, Alaska, 1954. Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 17, no. 4 (April), pp. 6-28. (Also Separate No. 398.) SCHAEFERS, EDWARD A., and JOHNSON, HAROLD C, 1957. Shrimp Explorations Off the Washington Coast, Fall 1955 and Spring 1956. Commercial Fish- eries Review, vol. 19, no, 1 (January), pp. 9-25. (Also Separate No. 465.) 20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vols 215 Now 3 RESEARCH Y ce SERVICE LABORATORIES TECHNICAL NOTE NO. 517 - USE OF CORN-SIRUP SOLIDS IN PACKAGING AND FREEZING FISH a i. a The quality of frozen fish and shellfish is dependent to a large degree on theuse of freezing, packaging, and storage methods that minimize the chemical and physical changes in the product. Much of the research on the use of additives, dips, and coat- ings results from the desirability of delaying or inhibiting oxidative changes that gradually destroy natural color and fresh flavor. During the past two years, we have made a number of tests and observations on the potential use- fulness of corn-sirup solids in packaging and freezing fish (An- onymous 1957). These tests were not comprehensive, but were lim- ited to cooperative industry trials on small lots of fish and to short- term laboratory tests that we were conducting along with other stud- ies of packaging and storage vari- ables in frozen fishery products, Three uses or applications of corn-sirup solids were investi- gated. These studies indicated: (1) that a solution of corn-sirup : i ' ; 4 ‘ al 5 d Pras Fig. I= Laboratory refrigeration unit used for experimental immersion- ao) 1 =) may be Se sas a pro Ce freezing of fishery products in modified salt brine. tive dip or coating in packaging and freezing fish, (2) that the use of smaller concentrations of either corn-sirup solids or dextrose in ice-glazing solutions produces a glaze of desirable properties for frozen whole or dressed fish, and (3) that either corn-sirup solids or dextrose may be used in salt brines to produce immersion-freezing media of desirable prop- erties: The purpose of this technical note is to describe the characteristics of corn- sirup solids and then to report, from the viewpoint of a processor interested in new techniques, our observations on the three applications of corn-sirup solids to fish- ery products. CHARACTERISTICS OF CORN-SIRUP SOLIDS Corn-sirup solids meet to a high degree several basic requirements of a de- sirable food additive. They are accepted widely as a food component; are easily soluble in water; are colorless, almost tasteless, and odorless; are stable in stor- age at room temperature; and are economical. In our tests, a regular-conversion March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21 corn-starch hydrolysate of 42 dextrose equivalent (42 D.E.) was used. Pure dex- trose is 100 D.E. The dextrose equivalent is based on the content of total reducing sugars as a percentage of the total dry substance. The average carbohydrate com- position of corn-sirup solids of 42 D.E. is shown in table 1, which illustrates the high content of polysaccharides in the product. Other conversion products of the hydrolysis of corn starch may be used for the applications indicated in this report including corn sugar (also called dextrose)--the product derived from complete hydrolysis. Table 1 - Carbohydrate Composition of Commercial 42 Dextrose Equivalent Corn-Sirup Solids 1/ ype o Relative Amounts of the Various Saccharides Conversion| Mono- | Di- | Tri- | Tetra- [Penta-[ Hexa- [ Hepta- | Higher Tata eee ey Dee eee PIPErcenie we Bites ® 62713. uidenteoe Acid 18.5 | 13.9 | 11.6 | 9.9 | 8.4 [ 6.6 | 5.7 | 25.2 1/ Data from Com Sirups and Sugars, American Maize-Products Company, New York, 1956. It appears probably that in the use of corn-sirup solids as a coating for fish prior to packaging and freezing, the preservative effect is due not only to its action as a physical barrier to absorption of oxygen by the fish meat but also to an anti- oxidant or inhibiting effect of the polyhydroxyl compounds in the product. For this reason, corn-sirup solids of different dextrose equivalents may give different results. It should be emphasized that in considering the possible application to a particular product, the processor should make his own tests on a small scale under the con- ditions existing in his plant. USE OF CORN-SIRUP SOLIDS AS A PROTECTIVE COATING Several tests in which salmon steaks and fillets were dipped in dense solutions of corn-sirup solids before being wrapped and frozen indicated that the coating was effective in minimizing oxidation of surface meat during storage at 0 F. Coopera- tive tests with a local fish processor and separate laboratory studies were conduct- ed in which both fresh salmon and frozen dressed salmon were used for preparation of steaks and fillets. These steaks and fillets were dipped in solutions of 30-, 45-, and 65-percent corn-sirup solids (by weight), drained briefly, wrapped with MSAT cellophane, and packaged in waxed cartons. These samples along with untreated ones were frozen and stored in either commercial or laboratory storage at 0 F. The samples were examined at intervals, in the thawed and cooked state, by an ex- perienced panel at the Laboratory. In those series in which the fresh salmon were used, the coating was noticeably effective in minimizing the fading and discoloration of the astacin pigments in the surface meat. The coating had the additional effect of enhancing the red or pink meat color because of the glossy surface. At later periods during storage when the surface fatty layer of the untreated salmon became both yellowed and definitely ran- cid, it was found that the fat of the treated salmon had little or no yellowing and rancidity. In one series in which silver salmon steaks were examined periodically, for example, after 8 months, the treated steaks were given definitely superior rat- ings for color and flavor, as contrasted to the untreated steaks. After 12 months, the treated steaks were still palatable, whereas the untreated steaks were unmarket- able because of rancidity in the fatty layer and discoloration. The panel preferences were usually in the order of steaks treated with solutions of the highest percentage to the lowest percentage of corn-sirup solids, followed by the untreated steaks. In another series of tests conducted during a second year in which king salmon steaks and pink salmon fillets were used, the results confirmed the findings in the first year. In contrast to these favorable results with fresh salmon, the use of the coating was not effective uniformly for packaged salmon prepared from previously frozen 22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 dressed fish, which in some cases had been frozen 5 or 6 months. Two factors en- ter into this observation: (1) any protective coating that delays or inhibits oxidation can function best if it is added before any oxidation has taken place and (2) in the application of the dip to steaks sawed from frozen salmon, the coating does not ap- pear to be absorbed and distributed effectively in the frozen fish meat. Evidently, the moist resilient meat of the fresh fish permits a much more intimate absorption and distribution of the coating in the surface meat, an effect that is probably increased by the subsequent pressure applied during wrapping and freezing. In a study of the percentage of corn-sirup solids to use in commercial applica- tion, it appeared that 65-percent was too high--even though an excellent preserva- tive effect was found. The coating, with this percentage, detracted from the appear- ance when the fish were unwrapped and prepared for cooking. Another somewhat objectionable feature of the coating with 65-percent corn-sirup solids was the char- ring of the solids around the edges of the fish when they were baked for evaluation of flavor. Although the normal flavor of the subsurface meat was not affected by the coating, tasters noted a slight semisweet taste in the surface meat of the cooked, unseasoned fish. This taste was not objectionable. These factors were present to a lesser degree in steaks treated with the 45- and 30-percent coating. From a commercial viewpoint, the 30-percent coating would be more desirable to minimize these slightly adverse features, would be more eco- nomical because of lower pickup, and yet would provide a reasonably effective coat- ing with fresh salmon or other fish in which surface oxidation is a problem. Limited data were obtained on the weight pickup of the coatings by the fish, using a dip time of approximately 10 seconds. One test showed approximately 0.5 ounce of coating pickup from the 30-percent corn-sirup solids solution per pound of fish dipped, when samples of fish were used in which there were 2 to 4 portions per pound. Based on the current local price of $9.37 for 100 pounds of corn-sirup solids (42 D.E.), the actual coat of material would be about 0.1 cent per pound of fish. A slight additional labor cost also would have to be included. USE OF CORN-SIRUFP SOLIDS IN GLAZING FROZEN FISH Frozen whole or dressed fish are dipped usually in cold fresh water to produce a surface ice glaze that protects the fish from drying during cold storage. Similar- ly, packaged fish and shellfish, such as steaks cut from frozen dressed salmon, of- ten are glazed before being packaged. In the improvement of the glaze by the addi- tion of modifiers to the glazing water, the most important need is to produce a more resilient and lasting glaze that will not crack, break off, and evaporate (sublime) as readily as does a pure ice glaze. In our tests, a 2- to 3-percent solution of corn-sirup solids was found to pro- duce an excellent glaze with the resilient properties desired for glazing dressed fish directly from the freezer. The glaze is transparent and resists cracking caused by changes in temperature. The modified glaze does not evaporate as readily as does a pure ice glaze during long cold storage, and the reduced rate of evaporation will result in better keeping quality of the product. Either corn-sirup solids or dextrose may be used. They are not necessarily superior to other glazing additives but they have the virtues of being convenient, economical, and definitely harmless. USE OF CORN-SIRUP SOLIDS OR DEXTROSE IN IMMERSION FREEZING Corn-sirup solids or technical-grade ''dextrose'' (often called glucose but usu- ally called ''crude corn sugar"' in the trade) may be used in high concentration in salt brines to produce an immersion-freezing solution of desirable characteristics. The salt and corn-sirup solids lower the freezing point of the solution, and the corn- sirup solids or glucose minimize the absorption of salt into the product being frozen. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23 Work at the Boston Fishery Technological Laboratory (Peters and Slavin 1956, Slavin and Peters 1958) demonstrated that a solution of 34-percent glucose and 12- percent salt (by weight) could be chilled to 0 F. and used satisfactorily to freeze lobsters. In other tests, a solution of 20-percent glucose and 20-percent salt was used for immersion freezing of scallop meats with good results. In the tests with scallops, Slavin (1958)1/ reports that scallop meats frozen in the 20 percent glu- cose-20 percent salt solution had a salt content before thawing of 1.1 percent. The meats frozen in 22-percent salt brine had a salt content before thawing of 3.5 per- cent. Previously, modified brines have been used to freeze other foods by immer- sion. In the Gulf of Mexico area, for example, glucose-salt brines have been used successfully to freeze shrimp aboard fishing vessels (Anonymous 1955). Recommendations apply to freezing in modified brines that are similar to those applying to freezing in straight salt brine. The product should be chilled thoroughly before being frozen. Either agitation of the brine or movement of the product through the brine is necessary for efficient freezing. The brine should be chilled to 0° to 5 F. and maintained at 10 F. or less during the freezing process in order to min- imize the absorption of salt. If the product to be immersion frozen is wet and thoroughly chilled prior to be- ing immersed, an ice glaze quickly forms on the product. This glaze is formed es- sentially by the wet surface of the product but does contain a small amount of salt and any other additive in the brine.- During long storage, it is important to protect the product from loss of this glaze by packaging or by renewal of the glaze. Other- wise, the salt absorbed in the surface meat tends to accelerate discoloration, drying, and oxidative changes in flavor. Tests at the Seattle Fishery Technological Laboratory have demonstrated that certain products may not be immersion-frozen with good results even in the modi- fied brine. Pacific oyster meats were frozen in solution (1) of 20-percent corn- sirup solids and 20-percent salt, (2) of 34-percent corn-sirup solids and 14-percent salt, and (3) of 20-percent corn-sirup solids and 10-percent salt, at temperatures of 0,10 ,and15 F., respectively. The oyster meats absorbed salt too readily even during the short period required for freezing. In addition, the exterior surface of the immersion-frozen oysters became very soft when the oysters were thawed. Discoloration and oxidation of the oysters occurred during frozen-storage periods of only 4 months at 0 F. These results suggest that experimental trials with each type of product should be made to determine the effect both of the immersion-freez- ing and of the subsequent cold storage. SUMMARY Corn-sirup solids and commercial-grade dextrose (crude corn sugar) were found to have desirable properties for the following three applications as food addi- tives or modifiers in packaging and freezing of fish: (1) as a protective coating in dense solution for treatment of fresh steaks and fillets before they are packaged and frozen, (2) as a glaze modifier in dilute solution for producing a resilient glaze on frozen fish, and (3) as a modifier in dense brine solutions for minimizing absorption of salt during immersion freezing of fish and shellfish. It was suggested that the protective effect in minimizing oxidation in frozen packaged salmon is due not only to the physical barrier to absorption of oxygen at the surface of the fish but also to an antioxidant or inhibiting effect of the polyhydroxyl compounds incorn sirup solids. Tests in the use of both corn-sirup solids and dextrose in salt brines used for im- mersion-freezing demonstrated that actual trials are necessary to determine the feasibility of use with each particular fishery product under the specific conditions met in each plant, 1/ Personal communication from Joseph W, Slavin, Fishery Technological Laboratory, Boston, Mass. 24 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 LITERATURE CITED ANONYMOUS PETERS, JOHN A., and SLAVIN, JOSEPH W. 1955. Marin Installs Immersion Freezing System on Gulf 1957. New Techniques for Freezing and Storing North Explorer. Southern Fisherman, vol. 15, no. 4 Atlantic Lobsters. Commercial Fisheries Re- (April), p. 101. view, vol. 18, no. 7 (July), pp. 22-23, (Also Separate No. 443.) 1957. Frozen Fishery Products Storage Life Extended SLAVIN, JOSEPH W., and PETERS, JOHN A. by Glucose-Salt Brine Glaze. Commercial Fish- 1958. Freezing and Storing Deep-Sea Lobsters--Some eries Review, vol. 19, no. 7 (July), p. 5. Tests on Cooked Whole Lobsters. Commercial (Also Separate No. 482.) Fisheries Review, vol. 20, no. 7 (July), pp. 1- 6. (Also Separate No. 514.) --By John A. Dassow, Chemist, and Richard W. Nelson, Chemical Engineer, Fishery Technological Laboratory, U, S,. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Seattle, Wash. HANDLING FROZEN FOODS AT RETAIL A recent study by the University of Massachusetts Extension Service at Am- herst, Mass., includes excellent suggestions for the maintenance of quality. The food retailer that consistently sells quality frozen foods will have a higher sales volume, more rapid turnover, add higher profits. However, quality can be assured only if the merchandise is properly handled at the retail level. In order to assure handling efficiency in the frozen foods department, it is important that one person be assigned the responsibility of ordering, stocking, rotating, and the care and cleaning of the frozen food displays and storage. Here are some pointers which will help personnel handling frozen foods: Receiving Deliveries: Always be ready for the delivery and have space a- vailable for the merchandise to be placed under refrigeration. Exposure to high | temperature means a loss of quality and product. Handling in Zero Storage: Segregate merchandise as it is put into cold storage. Keep carton labels visible or mark visible ends of carton. This saves a lot of employee time when it comes to stocking frozen food cases. Care of Display Cases: Do not stock the merchandise too tightly into dis- play case, because it is difficult for customers to get at the merchandise, and often results in torn packages, bent cans, and disarrangement. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25 ee - ——= Se | RENDS Soe tise DEVELOPMENTS American Fishery Advisory Committee INDUSTRY AND INTERIOR DEPARTMENT VIEW COMMON FISHERY PROB- LEMS: The recent "Industry-Interior™ discussion on how to fit the commercial fisheries into the America of the future should prove a fitting note on which to end the old year and begin the new, according to Assistant Secretary of the Interior Ross Leffler in an end-of-the-year statement on commercial fishing. Assistant Secretary Leffler's reference was to the most recent meeting of the American Fishery Advisory Committee. At this meeting, numerous long-range problems were discussed with the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, United States Figh and Wildlife Service; several of the Bureau's current programs also were reviewed. The Bureau is already working on some of the matters discussed and has ''tag- ged’ other problems for consideration at some appropriate time in the future. The Advisory Committee was created by the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act of 1954 for the bet- terment of the domestic commercial fishing industry. Among the problems discussed were: the effect of a 12-mile fishing limit, the effect of industrialization and subdivision on estuarine habitat, improvement of fish stocks by cross-breeding or selective breeding, the effect of ''fish farming'' upon the commercial fisheries, the need for more research on processing and preserving, the changing food habits of the consumer, the problems of foreign trade, and devel- oping new uses for industrial fishery products. One of the more urgent matters which will have lasting effects on commercial fisheries relates to the rapid removal of estuarine areas which is in progress in this country. Industrial construction, navigation channeling, and real estate proj- ects are altering or reducing the coastal marshes, rivers, and estuaries which are important areas for the spawning and rearing of fish and shellfish. Committee members urged an aggressive Federal-State program to halt the destruction of coastal marshlands until the full damage to fish and wildlife could be assessed and rectifying measures taken. The Fish and Wildlife Service has already begun a joint program with States on this matter. The threat of other countries extending their territorial limits to 12 miles as far as fishing is concerned was discussed at length. Committee members recom- mended that the Department of the Interior work with other Federal agencies to try to hold to the present three-mile limit. The Committee also urged the Department to use its energies and influence to get foreign markets open to American-produced fishery products. Trade special- ists should evaluate foreign markets, efforts should be increased to eliminate trade barriers, balance-of-payment restrictions should be overcome, the fishing industry should be urged to exhibit in foreign trade fairs, and more favorable shipping rates should be sought. The Committee reviewed the presently developing fish-farming-on-rice-lands trend in the United States and the possible effects of a potentially large production 26 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wo, Zin INO, 3 of catfish and buffalofish on established fishery marketing patterns. The Commit- tee requested that the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries follow the development of this young industry and present a report on its progress at a future meeting. Suggestions for developing better stocks of fish and shellfish through cross- breeding, selective breeding, or importation of foreign fish were generally approved, especially with regard to shellfish, and declared worthy of consideration after some of the more pressing problems were settled. Mechanization of the fishing industry was listed as a problem for the industry itself, but the Bureau was urged to keep up its pioneer work in this field. Bureau programs include the introduction of the Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl to the west coast, efficiency studies on equipment used in shellfish predator control, and a safe- ty-at-sea program which should not only eliminate much human suffering but also save vessel owners insurance money. Another consideration for future action, in the form of a pilot study, is the pro- posal to determine eating patterns of the populace and to predict fish consumption for years to come, somewhat similar to studies being made on agricultural products. The Committee expressed interest in dehydrofreezing and dehydrocanning work which is now being done on agricultural products. It urged the Bureau to watch de- velopments in this field but to avoid initiating costly experimentation. Under the dehydro processes, the agricultural product is partially dehydrated and then frozen or canned. The meeting was opened with formal presentations by Bureau personnel on the shrimp program in the Gulf area, fishery problems in the atomic age, fishery prod- ucts standards and inspection, and market promotion. Assistant Secretary Leffler stated that the advice and counsel supplied by the Committee was of tremendous value to the Department of the Interior. He was pleased that the Committee was complimentary of the work being done by the Bu- reau. The next semiannual meeting of the American Fisheries Advisory Committee will be held on May 6, 7, and 8 in Duluth, Minn. Previous meetings have been held in Washington, D. C.; Boston, Mass,.; Long Beach, Calif.; Chicago, I1l.; Biloxi, Miss,; Ketchikan, Alaska; and San Francisco, Calif. =) @ California AERIAL CENSUS OF COMMERCIAL AND SPORT FISHING CONTINUED: Air- plane Spotting Flight 58-21: Coastal waters from Monterey to the Russian River — were surveyed from the air (November 17, 1958) by the California Department of Fish and Game Cessna 180 (3632C) to determine the fishing localities of the central California crab fleet and to determine the distribution of pelagic fish schools with- in the survey area, Excellent weather and sea conditions greatly facilitated observations of crab- trap buoys. Although effort was concentrated between the Russian River and Half Moon Bay and in the Monterey Bay area, a cursory inspection was made between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. A total of 97 trap strings were sighted between Half Moon Bay and the Russian River and five in Monterey Bay near Moss Landing. A census of gear units was not taken because of time limitations. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW ad Five anchovy schools were observed in the Monterey Bay area. These schools were small in size. Airplane Spotting Flight 58-22: The inshore area from Monterey to the Mexi- can Border and the Channel Islands was surveyed from the air (December 2-3, 1958) by the Department's Beechcraft to (1) locate specific areas of commercial aba- lone diving activities; and (2) determine the distribution and abundance of pelagic a San Francisco fish schools in the area south of Point Con- : ception offshore and among the Channel Is- lands. Almost all of the commercial abalone diving was confined to the Channel Islands where five diving boats were observed. Two were operating on the south side of Santa Cruz Island, about midway between Gull Rock and the east end of the island. Two were operating on the west side of Meperts San Clemente, about five miles south of the — - Crab trap string northern tip of the island, and one on the offshore side of Santa Catalina Island near Catalina Harbor. San Miguel Island was not checked because of Navy restrictions and San Nicholas was not checked because ‘of military restrictions. Fig. 1 - Airplane Spotting Flight 58-21 (November 17, 1958). @ - Anchovy school ea - Porpoise group. The only diving activity along the erent mainland coast was a single boat work- a a ing in the vicinity of Goleta, Santa Bar- bara County. North of Point Conception the water was too rough and dirty for diving. Kelp beds that had been extensive in the San Simeon, Cambria, Morro Bay region prior to the influx of warm water during 1957 and 1958 have not been re- established as yet. A total of 25 anchovy schools, 2 large schools of sardines, 4 groups of porpoises, and many ''working" birds were seen during the flight of Decem- ber 3: Of the anchovy schools, 20 were present in Los Angeles-Long Beach Har- bor, 4 were close to shore at the east end of Santa Catalina Island, and 1 was off False Point near La Jolla. The an- chovies off La Jolla were accompanied by larger fish which in turn were being - fished by several sport boats, a gill net- Fig. 2 - Airplane Spotting Flight 58-22 (December 2-3, 1958), ter, and a troller. 28 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolk, Zils INO. 3 One sardine school was seen 3 to 4 miles off the Coronado Strand and the other was about halfway between the Coronado Islands and the east end of San Clemente Island. Large porpoise ''schools'' were observed two miles off Del Mar, 15 miles south- east of San Clemente Island, between San Clemente Island and Santa Catalina Island, and 3 miles northwest of Avalon Bay. No schools were seen on the return leg of the flight from Long Beach to Morro Bay; from Morro Bay to San Jose the flight was inland, rough water making further observation impractical on the coast line. Airplane Spotting Flight 58-23: The inshore area between Carmel and the Rus- sian River was surveyed from the air (December 8-9, 1958) by the Department Ces- sna 180 (3632C) to determine the distribution and abundance of pe- lagic fish schools, sport fisher- men, abalone pickers and clam- mers, and to record the distribu- tion of crab traps within the bound- aries of the area surveyed. : Russian River a a\\ % Drakes ual PELAGIC FISH: No pelagic fish schools were observed on cor this flight. Since weather condi- spies San Rrancisce tions were ideal for fish spotting the scarcity of fish was probably due to changes in schooling be- havior and distribution. Bolinas Half Moon Bay ie CLAMMERS: The tides on ebay Ara both days of the flight were lower . than usual; however, due to these *, ] Pigeon Pt. tides occurring on week days rel- % atively few clammers appeared on ay \GEORERD the beaches. The largest number “+, \\pavenport santa Cruz of clammers was in Monterey Bay where 297 Pismo clammers and 50 other clammers (for cockles, littleneck clams, mussels) were tallied. Due to the lateness of the tides the area to the north of Mon- tara was not scouted. Legend: | - Area surveyed, Ho xy - Line of crab : traps, - Ten-mile section of coast, % ABALONE PICKERS: The largest number of abalone pickers was observed on December 9. Ninety-two were tallied between Carmel and Montara with the largest numbers at Ano Nuevo Point and Pigeon Point. Fig. 3 - Airplane Spotting Flight 58-23(December 8-9, 1958). SHORE FISHERMEN: The numbers of shore fishermen decreased sharply this flight. Now that the striped bass have moved into the delta area very few surf fish- ermen are utilizing the San Francisco beaches. Most of the surf fishermen on this flight were tallied in the Santa Cruz-Moss Landing area. CRAB TRAP DISTRIBUTION: The location of each line of traps is shown on the map. The largest concentration was in the Pt. Reyes-Bolinas area. | f de ook ose ook ook March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29 DISTRIBUTION OF BARRACUDA AND WHITE SEA BASS SURVEYED OFF BAJA CALIFORNIA (M/V Alaska Cruise 58A6-Barracuda-White Sea Bass): To explore for occurrences and concentrations of adult barracuda (Sphyraena argentea) and white sea bass (Cynoscion nobilis) in the coastal waters o Mexico, from Ensenada south to Almejas Bay was the principal objective of the October 3-25, 1958, cruise of the Alaska, re- search vessel of the California Department of Fish and Game. Other objectives were (1) to ex- plore for nursery grounds of these species; (2) to collect samples of barracuda and white sea bass for various biological studies ashore; (3) to conduct a pilot tagging ex- periment on barracuda; and (4) to collect and save other species as time and condition permitted. Gill nets were the principal tool used in exploring for barra- cuda and white sea bass. The western Baja California, z Taek: be Fig. 1 - California Department of Fish Game's research vessel M/V Alaska. usual routine was to fish 2 to 4 nets in an area, setting in the late afternoon and pick- —— —" = \qsan Quentin SN Bay PACIFIC “+.\ planca Bay OCEAN 7 Abreojos Pt Legend: @ - Calif. barracuda. [ ) - Mexican barracuda. A - White sea bass. steeee - Vessel's track. Fig. 2 - Alaska Cruise 58A6 - Barricuda and White Sea Bass (October 3-25, 1958). ing up the next morning. When possible similar nets were fished in pairs, one at the surface and one just off the bot- tom. Water depth ranged 3 to 12 fath- oms. Sets were usually in or near kelp beds although several were made over Sandy bottoms. All sets, except one, were anchored at both ends. The nets were cotton, linen, or nylon and of eith- er uniform or variable mesh. Other fishing methods included rod- and-reel with live bait or artificial lures; blanket-net fishing under a 1,500-watt light suspended several feet above the surface of the water; dip-netting; and brailing. Adult California barracuda were taken with gill nets and rod-and-reel, or observed under the night light, inthe coastal waters from Todos Santos Bay to Knepper Shoals just south of Abreojos Light. The area from Cape Colnett to Point Baja appeared to be the most pro- ductive. The largest catch was made at San Martin Island. Surface water tem- peratures = ooeee from 18.99 C. to 20.9° C. (66:0° F. to 69.69 F.). The only fish of the 1958 year-class was a small specimen takenin Todos San- tos Bay by dip netunder the night light. At Knepper Shoals two species of barracuda were taken, the California 30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No: 3 barracuda and a species that has been known for 20 years but not yet described. The latter was also taken at Thetis Bank a few days later and about 120 miles fur- ther south. The taking of both species in the same area is not new, having been noted on previous surveys. Surface water temperatures were 6.29 C. to 11.49 C. warmer in this area than in the San Martin Island area, They ranged from 25.7° C. TO AGRI Ch (ud 62 12, HO, HO t35))- White seabass were taken at only five widely separated stations between Sole- dad Bay and Asuncion Island. All were caught in gill nets fishing near the bottom in about 30 feet of water, Adult fish, ranging in total length from 85.5 to 136.0 cm., were taken only in northern Baja California. At these stations, Soledad Bay, San Jacinto Point, and Hondo Canyon, the nets were fished in or adjacent to kelp beds. The largest catch was made off Hondo Canyon, San Quentin Bay in a dense stand of kelp. A good catch of young fish, 36.0 to 50.3 cm, total length was made in a dete- riorating kelp bed on the south side of Asuncion Island. A single juvenile, 15.6 cm. total length, was taken at Blanca Bay in a set over sandy bottom. Surface water temperatures where adult sea bass were caught ranged from 19.8° C.to 22.09 C, (67.6° F. to 71.6° F.), while the yous fish were taken in slightly warmer water, NID (Cs Vi) OAS Ch, (Cal SO 1, he) OSE 12.) At San Martin Island, on October 9, a pilot tagging experiment was conducted on barracuda to develop handling techniques and to observe tag retention of a new dart-type tag. The head of the tag was made of a hard plastic with one barb. The body, which carried the legend, was a 6-inch piece of flexible plastic tubing, size #19. Tags were applied with a hollow stainless steel needle. The fish were caught with rod-and-reel on bone jigs, red and white feathered squids, and live sardines. Most of the hooks were barbless or had the barb pinched down, The fish were lifted aboard by the leader. The tagger suspended the fish over the ship's well, holding the leader with one hand and applying the tag with the other in a swift jabbing motion. Release was either by lowering the fish into the tank and allowing it to shake the hook loose or by rotating the shank 180 degrees with the aid of another hook which took the strain at the bend, the fish usually dropping off with ease. In general, the barracuda were not touched during the tagging operation. A total of 26 tagged and 1 untagged barracuda were placed in the port well. All except one adjusted readily to the tank, milling slowly or remaining motionless for long periods. Those that were handled during tagging operations developed fungus infections which, however, cleared up by the end of the trip. One fish swam as though it had a back injury until it died after the 10th day. |t was recovered and preserved for study but autopsy did not reveal the cause of death. After 8 days one tag was seen on the bottom of the tank. All the other tags remained intact until the end of the trip, a total confinement of 18 days. Attempts at feeding the barracuda dried trout food were unsuccessful and they did not appear to feed on pinhead an- chovies which were added to the tank a few days later. On October 20 a dolphin was added to the tank causing considerable disturbance. Two barracuda jumped out, one was found and returned, bu the other was undetect- ed for several hours. With the addition of the dolphin the barracuda commenced milling at the top of the tank (the dolphin stayed at the bottom) whereas they previ- ously had milled near the bottom, Autopsy of the tagged fish that had jumped out and died revealed that the tag had been well placed for maximum retention. it had gone through the muscles of the back between the first and second dorsal fins, with the barb of the dart hooked through the sheet of tissue lying in the mediosagittal plane. While confined in the tanks the barracuda withstood some marked changes in temperature, the most notable being on the return trip to San Pedro from Almejas Bay. During the 70-hour run, the temperature dropped 1.5°C,, from! 27.80 Clto 20RD OIC: March 1959 During the course of the cruise COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 31 samples of sardines, Pacific mackerel, jack mackerel, and anchovies were collected and turned over to the Pelagic Fish Investi- gation for processing. A small collection of scallops, Pecten subodosus, was made in Black Warrior Lagoon and turned over to interested museums. ent species of fish were caught. In all, 83 differ- ok Ok eK DUNGENESS-CRAB DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE STUDIES CONTINUED (M/V Alaska Cruise 58A7-Crab): The Northern California coastal waters from Point Arena to the Oregon border were surveyed (November 12- December 9, 1958) by the Cali- fornia Department of Fish and Game's research vessel Alaska. The objectives were (1) to fish for dungeness crabs, Cancer ma- gister, on the fishing grounds in northern California coastal wa- ters to determine the preseason distribution, abundance, compo- sition, and condition; (2) to tag crabs with suture tags for mi- gration, growth and population studies; and (3) to collect limited oceanographic data. At 25 locations, 379 commer- cial trap sets were made indepths ranging from 10 to 32 fathoms, Fishing stations at the north and south extremities of the operating area were not occupied because of adverse weather and sea condi- tions, Crabs were taken at each of the 25 stations fished. Of 6,165 crabs taken, 5,476 (88.8 percent) were legal males (7 inches or larger in greatest width), 672 (10.9 percent) were sublegal males, and 17 (0.3 percent) were females. Catches of legal crabs rangedfrom 7.5 to 25.3 a trap with an average of 14.4 for the 25 locations. Shoulder widths made ante- rior to the outermost spines were recorded for the entire catch. Shell condition determinations were made for all legal crabs. Soft erab catch. OREGON woeoee (e ALIFORNIA Pt. St. George g®)Klamath River a @/Eel River False Cape Cape Mendocino Punta Gorda Shelter Cove Legend: a - Fishing station. Usal M/V Alaska cruise 58A7-Crab (Nov. 12-Dec. 9, 1958). crabs comprised only 0.7 percent of the legal- 32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 PETRALE AND ENGLISH SOLE TAGGED IN COASTAL WATERS (M/V N. B. CALIFORNIA Pt. St. George Crescent City Klamath River Trinidad Head 779 Petrale 3,726 English Legend: cent City were surveyed by the California Department of Fish and Game's research vesselN. B. Scofield from November 8-De- — cember 16, 1958. The objectives were (1) to tag petrale and Eng- lish sole with spaghetti tags; and (2) to collect specimens for vari- ous investigations and for the Steinhart Aquarium. A total of 879 petrale and 3,732 English sole were tagged and released, Fishing was start- ed in the vicinity of Crescent City and continued for six days. During the period, 100 petrale sole were tagged and released in depths ranging from 67 to 205 fathoms. In addition, 6 English sole were tagged and released in depths ranging from 67 to 170 fathoms. On information supplied by the commercial trawling fleet the tagging operation was moved to the vicinity of Eureka for the remainder of the trip. A few drags in waters of 150-200 fath- oms proved unproductive. Sub- sequently, fishable concentrations Tagging area, showing numbers of English sole were found and 3,726 were tagged and released released. M/VN. B. Scofield Cruise 58-S-8-Trout (November 8-December 16, 1958). finished the tagging operations. in 35 to 65 fathoms. While the primary effort was concentrated on English sole, 779 petrale sole were also released in this area. Returns were being gather- ed even before the vessel had Valuable information on seasonal movement of Eng- lish and petrale sole will be gained from these and future returns. Canned Fish Consumer Purchases DECEMBER 1958: Canned tuna purchases in December 1958 were 714,000 cases of which 43,000cases were import- ed. By type of pack, domestic- packed tuna purchases were 160,000 cases solid, 428,000cases chunk, and 83,000 cases gratedorflakes. The average purchase was1.8cans ata time. Only 25.5 percent of the households bought all types of canned tuna; only 1.7 percent bought the imported product. The average retail price paid for a7-0z. canof domestic solid or fancy was 36.4¢ and for a 63-o0z. canof chunk 29.1¢. Imported solid or fancy was bought at 31.4¢ a can. Decem- ber purchases were less than the 769,000 cases bought in November by about 7.2 percent. Over 38 percent of the December purchases were made in the Northeast area. During December 1958, consumer purchases of Maine Sardines were greater through the independent outlets than through the chain outlets. Canned sardine purchases in De- cember were 131,000 cases, of which 73,000 cases were Maine, 26,000 cases California, and 32,000 cases imported. The average purchase was 2.1 cans at a time for all sar- March 1959 Canned salmon purchases in December 1958 were 208,000 standard cases, of which 115,000 cases were pinks and 43,000 cases reds. The average purchase was 1.2 cans at atime. Only 14.3 percent of the households bought all types of canned salmon; 7.4 percent bought pinks. The av- erage retail price paid for a 1-lb. can of pink was 56.9¢, and for red 84.5¢. December purchases were down about 22.7 percent from the 269,000 cases bought in November. About one-third of the December purchases were made in the south region, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33 dines, but 2.4 cans for Maine, 1.5 cans for California, and 1.9 cans for imported. Only 7.0 percent of the households bought all types of canned sardines; 4.3 percent bought Maine, 1.4 percent California, and 1.7 percent imported. The average retail price paid for a 4-0z. can of Maine sar- dines in oil was 11.3 cents, for a one-pound can of Califor- nia 25.5 cents, and for a 4-oz. can of imported 26.9 cents. December purchases were down by 5.8 percent from: the 139,000 cases bought in November. Tuna KA Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products, January-November 1958 sardines. Total shipments of metal cans during January-November 1958 amounted to 117,326 short tons of steel (based on the amount of steel consumed in the manufacture of cans) as compared with 109,543 tons in the first 11 months of 1957. vember was confined largely to tuna, Gulf shrimp, and California Fish canning in No- The record pack of tuna and a substantial increase in the pack of sardines in California in 1958 account for the increase in shipments of cans for fishery prod- ucts. Note: Statistics cover all commercial and captive plants known to be producing metal cans. Reported in base boxes of steel consumed in the manufacture of cans, the data for fishery products are converted to tons of steel by using the fac- tor: 23.0 base boxes of steel equal one short ton of steel. Containers HOMEMAKERS APPRAISE CONTAINERS FOR CANNED AND FROZEN FOODS: American housewives are satisfied with the sizes and types of containers in which canned and frozen food products are being sold. According to a recent three-city survey by the Agricul- tural Marketing Service of the U. S. Department of Agri- culture, most women like both cans and cartons. They point out the convenience of cans, the ease with which they can be stored, and the fact that canned goods "last indefinitely." They like frozen food containers because they're "easy to open" and "don't take up a lot of space in the trash." There are, however, a few things the women don't like about each type of container. Some women, for instance, complain that cans are "hard to open," that frozen food cartons don't always come in enough variety of sizes. These comments--both pro and con--came from some 1,300 homemakers in Atlanta, Ga., Kansas City, Mo., and San Francisco, Calif., who were given a chance to sound off about what they did and did not like about the packages used for canned and frozen food products. Interviewers first asked the housewife if she preferred cans or frozen food cartons, then if she was satisfied with the sizes offered, and if the information on the labels were adequate. The choice of whether to buy food in cans or cartons varied with the housewife and with the product. On the question of quality, some 4 in 10 of the home- makers felt that frozen foods provide superior quality be- cause the "freshness is preserved by the freezing process." An additional 2 in 10 felt the canned product provided bet- ter quality; 3 in 10 were unable to distinguish any differ- ence. Once the selection was made between frozen and can- ned foods, the brand name provided the most important key to buying. Other information on the label was almost i } / =i 1 | HH | HLA viv | totally ignored. Most women didn't know, or apparently care, how much the can held in actual ounces or even in the number of servings listed on the label. Yet, almost 9 out of 10-women found the array of ex- isting can sizes adequate for their needs. From past ex- perience, they were able to select the right size to serve their families. Although 6 out of 10 housewives said the size of the frozen food containers was about right, some complained that "there wasn't enough variety in the sizes offered.'"' A few said the packages were "too small." 34 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 The women who bought frozen food, however, paid When the interviewer asked the housewife if she would more attention to the cooking instructions and suggested prefer only the brand name on the label, most women ob- tecipes on the label. They also consulted the label to jected. Nearly 6 out of 10 felt the maximum amount of find out how to defrost and handle the food. Nonetheless, information should be included. (Agricultural Marketing, only about 25 percent looked beyond the brand name. September 1958.) Federal Purchases of Fishery Products DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PURCHASES, JANUARY-DECEMBER 1958: Department of Defense, 1.6 million pounds (value $0.9 million) of fresh and frozen fishery products were pur- chased in December 1958 by Table 1 - Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products Purchased by Military Subsistence Market Centers, December 1958 with Comparisons QUANTITY VALUE December Jan.-Dec. December the Military Subsistence Mar- 1958 | 1957 ket Centers. This exceeded 5 C0 OMI Sa) ar ee CB ELLOLOLO)) METIS the quantity purchased in No- vember by 8.7 percent, but was 7.2 percent under the amount purchased in December 1957. The value of the purchases in December 1958 was lower by 2.8 percent as compared with November and 2.2 percent less than for December 1957. i/Not available. During 1958-purchases totaled 22.5 million pounds--a decrease of 4.0 percent in quantity as compared with 1957. Prices paid for fresh and frozen fishery products by the Department of Defense in December 1958 averaged 54.2 cents a pound, about 6.4 cents less than the 60.6 cents paid in November, but 2.8 cents higher than Table 2 - Canned Fishery Products Purchased 51.4 cents paid during by Military Subsistence Market Centers, December 1957. December 1958 with Comparisons QUANTITY Canned Fishery December Products: Tuna was the 1958 ines | 1958] 1957 principal canned fishery = TCO 0 ORE b Se) mee product purchased for .. | 918] 490 15,884) 2,711 the use of the Armed = Se 33363 cele Forces during Decem- ; 142 22 253 ber, In 1958 purchases Values unavailable Jan. -Dec. 1957 and 1958. of the three principal canned fishery products were up by 56.9percentfrom the 1957 purchases. Purchases of canned fish rose 117.0 percent for tuna, 17.7 percent for sardines, and 7.2 per- cent for salmon, Note: Armed Forces installations generally make some local purchases not included in the data given; actual total pur- chases are higher than indicated, because it is not possible to obtain local purchases. Florid FISHERIES RESEARCH: The Marine Laboratory of the University of Miami carried on research on fisheries with funds provided by the Florida State Board of Conservation, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and private sources. The re- search of interest to commercial fisheries contained in the Laboratory's January 1959 Salt Water Fisheries Newsletter follows: March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35 Shrimp: Important animals in the Everglades National Park estuary, bothfrom the economic and from the scientific point of view, are the pink shrimp. They occur there in great numbers and small sizes. At times they pour out into Florida Bay, as the first leg in their migration offshore, where many of them end up in trawlers' nets on the Tortugas grounds. Collections of these small migrating shrimp are made periodically. Their change in size with the season gives an estimate of their growth, and some idea can also be obtained as to their relative abundance. It may be possible later to relate this to fishing success of the commercial boats, and thus provide a system of catch predictions. Biologists continued to tag small shrimp in the estuary, and 383 tagged animals were released during October-December 1958. Considerably more tagged shrimp were released in the commercial fishery--2,795 in the three months. The tag con- sists of two small green discs, fastened to the abdomen of the shrimp with a nickel pin. Each tag is numbered and the shrimp is measured when tagged. The place of tagging is noted also, of course, so that when tagged shrimp are recovered their growth and movements while at large can be determined. Returns of tagged shrimp have been lower in recent months than they were in the first period of tagging. Part of this is probably due to a less intense fishery, but it is suspected that the interest of fishermen may also have slackened. It is important that every tagged shrimp caught be reported, so the reward has been doubled to $1.00. In addition, ‘a $100 prize is being offered for one tag, to be drawn from all those returned from November 1 to April 1. A new $100 prize will be offered every six months thereafter. Sea Trout: Sea trout continue to be tagged with internal tags, as well as ''an- chor" tags. The internal tags consist of a piece of green plastic, with a number. These are inserted in a body cavity of the fish through a small slit made by a scal- pel. The anchor tags are the same except that a piece of yellow plastic string is at- tached to the tag and protrudes through the hole in the fish's abdomen, calling at- tention to the tag. It is hoped that more tags will be recovered through this device. So far 10 tagged trout have been recaptured, and this is a good return from internal tags, which of course are difficult to detect. So far little movement has been shown by tagged trout (the greatest was 14 miles), but this may be because they were free only a short time. An average growth of 0.21 cm, per month was shown, OK OK GRANT RECEIVED FOR RESEARCH ON CUSK EELS: A grant of $9,000 has been awarded to the University of Miami, Fla., by the National Science Foundation for the support of basic research on the fish family Ophidiidae, more commonly known as cusk eels. The research will be under the direction of C. Richard Robins, curator of fishes at The Marine Laboratory of the University. Cusk eels are commonly taken in shrimp trawls in tropical and semitropical waters and in Chile three members of the family are important food fishes. Quite a few are caught by anglers in the Miami area, Though they bear the name cusk eels, they are relatedneither toeels or to the cusk (whichis a member of the cod family). However, they are a long, slender fish bearing a slight resemblance to both cusk and eels, Thus the common name of cusk eels. The research is to determine how many kinds of cusk eels there are, depth dis- tribution, and a study of the anatomy to find out the relationship of the family to oth- er fishes. Many have not been described scientifically. We OE OK OK 3K 36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW GULF COAST HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS REPORTED ON BY ARMY ENGINEERS: The U.S. Army Engineers have been investigating the advisability of Federal improve- ment of harbors and waterways for small craft along the west coast of Florida south of Tampa Bay. Public hearings were held at Venice, April 30, 1948, and January 24, 1951; Fort Myers Beach, January 23, 1950; Naples, April 25, 1950; and Englewood, April 26, 1950. A report by the District and Division Engineers is partially favorable to the improve- ments. In compliance with the authorizations and with the requests of local interests as presented at the hearings, investigations were made to determine the feasibility for provision by the United States of a channel and basin 9 feet deep at Venice, a jetty-protectedinlet andchannel9 feet deep at Lemon Bay, a channel 15 feet deep and a jetty at Fort Myers Beach, and a jetty-protected entrance channel 14 feet deep through Gor- don Pass and a connecting channel 12 feet deep to upper Naples Bay. Based on information now available, the re- porting officers’ findings are as follows: Venice: The authorized rerouting of the project Intra- coastal Waterway, Caloosahatchee River to Anclote River, will provide the requested channel, leaving the basin as the remaining request. Although some benefit would result from a basin, it is found that the development of appreciable barge traffic or other general commerce at this locality is unlikely and, furthermore, that terminals in the area are reasonably adequate for small craft. Provision of a basin by the United States is not economically justified at this time. Lemon Bay: Construction of the authorized project In- tracoastal Waterway, Caloosahatchee River to Anclote River will improve navigable access to the local area. Pro- vision of the requested inlet would either damage adjacent beach property or entail great expense for protective meas- ures, The evaluated benefits are largely local in character and are insufficient to justify the cost of the requested im- provement. Wo, Ail, No, 3 Fort Myers Beach: Federal provision and maintenance of a navigation channel would benefit the shrimp industry through reduction of boat damage and delay in an amount that would exceed the annual charges for a suitable navigation channel, Improvement is therefore economically justified. Improvement of Gordon Pass and the Channel in Naples Bay: Would provide substantial benefits to fishing, shrimp, and recreational craft and to barge operation, The benefits would result primarily from reduction of boat damage and delay, and would exceed the annual charges. Improvement is therefore economically justified. In conformance with their findings, the reporting officers recommend; 1. The adoption of a Federal project for Fort Myers Beach, Fla., to provide for a channel 12 feet deep and 150 feet wide in San Carlos Bay, thence 11 feet deep and 125 feet wide through Matanzas Pass to the upper shrimp term- inals, at an estimated cost of $168,000 for dredging and $20,000 annually for maintenance by the Corps of Engineers, subject to certain conditions of local cooperation including a local cash contribution currently estimated at $2,200, the final amount to be determined after actual construction costs are known; 2, The modification of the existing Federal project for a channel from Naples to Big Marco Pass to provide for a channel 12 feet deep and 150 feet wide in the Gulf of Mexico, thence 10 feet deep and 100 feet wide through Gordon Pass to upper Naples Bay, thence 10 feet deep and 70 feet wide for 400 feet to U. S. Highway 41 bridge; a turn- ing basin 10 by 150 by 200 feet in upper Naples Bay, anda turning basin 8 feet deep and generally 250 feet wide and 670 feet long at the Municipal Yacht Terminal, at an esti- mated cost of $331,000 for dredging and $39,000 additional annually for maintenance by the Corps of Engineers, sub- ject to certain conditions of local cooperation including a local cash contribution currently estimated at $123,800, the final amount to be determined after actual construction costs are known, EAS EAS tea tos. ENS STUDY OF MARINE YEASTS OF BISCAYNE BAY: A grant of $16,000 has been received by the Marine Laboratory of the University of Miami, Fla., from the Na- tional Science Foundation to continue investigation and study of marine yeasts of Biscayne Bay started in 1958 under a previous grant from the same institution. The research, which relates to micro-organisms found in salt water, is to de- termine the occurrence and activity of these organisms, It is part of the microbio- logical research being conducted by the Laboratory. The work is being carried out by a research assistant professor on the labora- tory staff and student assistants. Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO SURVEYED FOR INDUSTRIAL FISH STOCKS (M/V Silver Bay Cruise 13): To determine if commercial stocks of industrial fish were available, the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries chartered exploratory fishing vessel Silver Bay made 21 tows in January 1959 off the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The area surveyed was on broken bottom in depths of 12-30 fathoms, which is avoided by the commercial fishing fleet. However no gear damage was suffered by the Silver Bay. An 80-foot semiballoon trawl rigged with rollers and a 50-foot square mid-water trawl (modified to fish on the bottom) were used in the fishing trials. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Sit The principal species taken were spot (Leiostomus), croaker (Migropogon), and porgy (Stenotomus). Porgy accounted for 90 percent of the catch in depths over 20 fathoms. Individual drags yielded from 100-1,200 pounds per one-hour tow and the average was about 500 pounds a tow. Legend: e - Fish trawl station. M/V Silver Bay Cruise No 13 (January 13-15, 1959). An extensive bed of 1-14-inch scallops (Pecten gibbus) was located in 16-20 fathoms between Mobile and Pensacola. Numerous samples of food and indus- trial fish were collected and preserved for further study. 38 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolk Bil, INO, 3 Gulf Fishery Investigations Following are some of the highlights of the studies conducted by the Galveston, Tex., Fish- eries Biological Laboratory of the U. 5S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries during October-Decem- ber 1958. FISH AND SHELLFISH TESTED FOR INSEC- TICIDE TOLERANCE: Two insecticides, dieldrin and heptachlor, have been tested on a number of species of fish and shrimp found commonly in in- shore waters. The median tolerance limit (Es adopted as an index of relative toxicity, refers to the concentration at which 50 percent of the test animals are able to survive for a specified period of exposure. There is a wide range in the 24-hour median tolerance limits derived for the various species under consideration, All species of fish tested, except the golden croaker, were more sensitive to dieldrin than to heptachlor, Studies on the effect of dieldrin on the golden croaker are not yet complete. Of the fish tested, mullet appear to be the hardiest, while pin- fish appear to be the least resistant. The Gulf kil- lifish, the broad killifish, and the croaker seem to occupy intermediate positions. In preliminary studies, blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) seem to be extremely hardy to both insecticides. Postlar- val menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) have beentest- ed, but results have been unsatisfactory; the men- haden are very delicate and make poor test animals. On the other hand white shrimp were affected more by heptachlor than by dieldrin. Brown shrimp were more sensitive than white shrimp to dieldrin and probably heptachlor although results using the latter insecticide are not yet complete. Compared to benzene hexachloride tested last year, dieldrin and heptachlor are considerably less toxic to shrimp. Benzene hexachloride which affects shrimp at ex- tremely weak concentrations (2-32 parts per bil- lion) is used in many areas because of its relative- ly low toxicity to fish. BAIT SHRIMP FISHERY: The study of the bait shrimp fishery in Greater Galveston Bay was ex- tended through this quarter and provides an inter- esting comparison with data collected a year ago. In 1957, from June through November, 208,852 SANDWICHES CIGARETTES Fig. 1 - Typical bait shrimp stand, showing plastic container used to measure shrimp and tank for holding live shrimp. pounds of shrimp were caught for bait compared with 382,902 pounds caught during the same period in 1958. Production in every month was greater in 1958. The increase may be partially due to greater efficlency in collecting statistics from bait dealers, but according to information from local bait fisher- men and from our field samples at Clear Lake, this year has been very productive for white and brown shrimp, particularly the latter species. Samples have been obtained for information on size and spe- cies composition, but the data remain to be analyzed. SHRIMP TAGGING: During the quarter empha- sis was placed upon staining and tagging pink shrimp at Flamingo, in the Everglades National Park. In- sofar as growth is concerned, it is necessary that releases be of a known size. A method was devised of quickly separating large quantities of shrimp in- to size groups. Essentially, it consists of using two enclosures, each consisting of a wooden frame covered by nylon mesh, one of 3" stretched mesh, the other of 1'' stretched mesh. Shrimp are first ~So "a . whe] hic} Go of “Sboaee7 cE] eT > & VT Cur Ry Nop, M1 AMI > ig Cur ' ) 1 " 4 < NAUTICAL MILES x DS Bac! 5 5 Legend: gee wey sy ss — - Release site. cause a7 Katy © ° - Mud bottom. + - Grass bottom BISCAYNE || oy a eles ra aw 7 BEACH ue ie Ny oy rs avs )/ au“ ly se / ae Fig. 2 - Preliminary studies of pink shrimp migration off Miami, Fla., using biological stains to mark shrimp. Arrows indicate direction of shrimp movement. placed in the 3" mesh enclosure, from which those under 13.5 mm. carapace length escape. The remaining shrimp in the enclosure are placed in the 1'' mesh enclosure, from which shrimp un- der 22.0 mm. carapace length can escape into a large holding box. The size-separating process is more efficient when the enclosed shrimp are held in a current of water. Under this condition shrimp force their way upstream and escape more readily. Even in stillwater, escapement is generally through the sides of the enclosure, not the bottom. A total of 7,264 shrimp between 13.5 mm. and 22.0 mm. carapace length were stained with Try- pan Blue and released at Flamingo over a period of 10 days. During the first part of the tagging session a dye was used which had been prepared March 1959 several weeks previously--it proved exceedingly toxic and a 40-percent mortality occurred. Later a freshly-prepared dye mixture was used and mor- tality was reduced to 8 percent. Aging apparently intensifies the toxicity of the dye to shrimp. Those shrimp larger than 22.0 mm. carapace length were tagged using a single small Petersen disc attached with monofilament nylon. Some tagged shrimp were released concurrently with the stained shrimp, and all were released within a week of the last stained shrimp. During the same period, the University of Miami released 200 shrimp using the conventional method of attaching Petersen discs, It is hoped that this experiment will be of value in comparing the three methods in respect to growth and movement of shrimp. Presently, effort is being directed toward the recovery phase of this marking and tagging op- eration, TORTUGAS PINK SHRIMP: Four sampling cruises were made on the Tortugas shrimp fishing grounds during August, September, and October 1958 by University of Miami biologists under a contract with the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fish- eries. The abundance of algae on the western por- tion of the grounds limited the fishing effort and sampling there throughout August. The algae be- gan to decrease in abundance early in September, and later in September the concentration was so slight that it no longer restricted the fishing effort or sampling of that area. An airplane flight was made over the grounds on the night of August 20, 1958, for the purpose of counting fishing vessels and observing their dis- tribution. Discard of shrimp for the purpose of maintaining particular counts was observed during Cruises 20, 21, and 22. This reflected an unusual occurrence of extremely small (10 mm.-15 mm.) shrimp found across the fishing grounds from Smith Shoal to Pulaski Light. The Florida State Board of Conservation closed the controlled area to fishingon September 12, 1958. FISHING POWER AND VESSEL CHARACTER- ISTICS: “Standardization of effort statistics is facilitated if it can be determined that a vessel's fishing power is directly (and adequately) related to any one of several available vessel character- istics. Shrimp trawler characteristics being con- sidered at present are: gross tonnage, over-all length, and horsepower. Preliminary analysis of Aransas Pass data suggest that power factors are closely related to gross tonnage and horsepower, with both acting together perhaps constituting the best indicator. A similar approach has been ac- corded a group of 8 standard and 17 nonstandard vessels fishing the same general area during the Same period but at depths ranging from 21 to 30 fathoms. Plots of mean catch-effort ratios com- puted for the ''standard'' vessels operating in each depth range indicated little change in day-to-day relative densities of exploitable portions of the brown shrimp populations present off Aransas Pass during October 1957. Employing an approach quite different from that used with the Aransas Pass trawlers, relative pow- er factors were calculated for groups of 20 and 10 "standard" trawlers all fishing the Campeche Flats COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 39 together on two or more occasions during June- October 1957. Briefly, the procedure was to se- cure an estimate of the over-all mean shrimp den- sity during ''standard'' trawler operations. Since a vessel's relative fishing power is a function of an exploited population's density, an estimate of it is given by the antilog of the difference between the log of any other trawler's catch per unit effort and the log mean relative density. Incomplete analyses of standard trawler data with analysis of covariance techniques indicated no differences in relative population density from trip to trip during June-October, or in vessel-to- vessel mean power factors during the same period. That portion of the United States fleet commonly fishing the Campeche Flats is comprised of trawl- ers having rather similar specifications. This, of course, would account for the general lack of var- iability in relative fishing power, and, at the same time, preclude attempts to relate fishing power to vessel characteriestics over a wide range of values for each of the latter. PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF GULF SHRIMP FISHING TRENDS, 1956-58: Work began in De- cember 1958 on the task of consolidating shrimp catch and effort data into a preliminary report describing Gulf shrimp fishing trends during the period for which data are available. Using Gulf- wide statistical data since 1956, a preliminary run to establish format was made for that portionema- nating from United States fleet activities on the sabia Fig. 3 - Laboratory tests on toxicity of dinoflagellates to fish. Campeche-Obregon (Mexico) pink shrimp grounds, Catch andeffort data summed over all coastalunits making up this area have been broken down by year, month, and 5-fathom depth zones. Although only partially stratified estimates, the catch-effort ra- tios are considered fairly good indices of relative pink shrimp abundance in the depth zones and dur- ing the periods indicated, since preliminary inves- tigation suggested little variability in relative fish- ing powers of vessels fishing this general area. Relatively little insight as to the general wel- fare of the Campeche pink shrimp population(s) can be gleaned from the small amount of informa- tion available. Total catch and effort data are in- complete since those originating from activities of the Mexican fleet are not immediately available. And although population densities in the ''middle" depth ranges have remained fairly stable since 1956, lack of prior data obivate comparisons with levels of former abundance. However, the exploita- tion of pink shrimp off Campeche, insofar as the United States fleet is concerned, appears to be a marginal operation. Other items of interest: 40 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW (a) There is a suggestion that pink shrimp in the Campeche area become increasingly abundant with increasing depth and progressing season. (b) The annual mean size count has remained constant since 1956 (21-25 heads off). Monthly count sizes average slightly higher during the summer months (26-30 compared with 21-25 at other times) with larger shrimp generally being taken in deeper water (21 or more fathoms). (c) Practically no pink shrimp are presently taken by United States fishermen within 12 miles of the western Yucatan coast. East of 93° W. long- itude, no water exceeds 10 fathoms in depth and relatively little exceeds 5. RED TIDE STUDIES: Investigations of the re- sponse of Gymnodinium breve to various total in- organic salt concentrations have been completed. Results show the optimal growth range for the bac- teria-free organism to extend from 35 to 50 grams total salts per liter of distilled water-base medi- um. Within this range, high growth levels occur- red in at least 15 of the 20 replicate cultures in each salinity group. Occasional instances of good growth were observed in medium containing 32 ar 53 grams per liter, but none occurred in 29 grams per liter. The development of high population lev- els in relatively high salt concentrations suggests that salinity per se is not the limiting factor which precludes the occurrence of G, breve in open sea environments. However, the lower end of the tol- erance range indicates that low salinity may beim- portant in determining the distribution of this or- ganism in estuarine environments. A study of the effect of pH on growth of G. breve in 220 individual cultures shows that growth is un- hampered by pH's of 7.5 to 8.2, inclusive. Growth took place at a reduced rate at a pH of 7.3, and lower values were definitely toxic. Medium having a pH of 7.2 was 100 percent lethal to this organism within 6 days, while 7.0 killed all cells within two days. Further work will be designed to show the efforts of pH's above 8.2. (Values of 8.3 and 8.4 are commonly encountered in sea water.) Preliminary experiments using constant-tem- perature incubators have provided some informa- tion on low-temperature tolerance in G, breve. A temperature of 16° C, (61° F.) produced no obser - able reduction in the density of cells in any of the 48 10-ml, test cultures. Over 90 percent of the organisms were killed in each of 24 cultures within 17 hours after introduction into an 119 C, (52° F.) environment. Seventeen of these cultures showed slight growth during the subsequent 12 days, but were still well below the original population level at the conclusion of the 14-day study. The other cultures exposed to this temperature did not change in regard to population after the initial decrease, Cultures of this organism are routinely kept suc- cessfully at a temperature of 25° C. (77° F.). The last quarter of 1958 has been marked by the gradual buildup of G. breve in the deeper off- shore waters of the Gulf off Florida and their de- cline in the coastal and bay waters. This indicates that, during periods of non-red tide, G. breve are able to maintain themselves and to approach pre- bloom stages in waters of stable environmental conditions in benthic areas, G, breve are now the Woll, Pil, ING; 3 dominant phytoplankton in subarea 6, 10-40 miles west of Egmont Key. With the approaching winter weather and a more unstable environment the chances of a red tide developing in the coastal wa- ters from Venice to Tarpon Springs are greatly reduced. It should be stressed that as long as G. breve are found in division stages in subarea 6, reseeding of the coastal and bay waters could oc- cur next summer or fall. MENHADEN: Routine sampling of the commer- cial catch of menhaden landed at Sabine Pass, Tex., continued until operations of the plant ended in ear- ly November 1958. Since the beginning of the sea- son on May 5, 1958, over 900 scale samples were mounted for analysis. Reading of the 1957 scale samples for Sabine Pass and Moss Point, Miss., were completed. Fig. 4 - Age and growth studies of Gulf menhaden. Post-larval menhaden began appearing in local waters in mid-November. Last year they were not present until January. This might be explained by the relatively mild autumn experienced in 1957, compared to the below-normal temperatures occur- ring this year during the same period. INDUSTRIAL FISHES: During the first few months of operation the staff at Pascagoula has concentrated on familiarizing themselves with the fishery involved and its problems; experimenting with sampling procedures to determine a sample size that will give a reasonably accurate estimate of the species composition by weight and numbers coming into the pet-food plants; collecting period- ical samples of various important species for life history data; determining equipment needs and ac- quisition of same; and setting up a procedure for collecting accurate catch and effort data from the industry and the fishermen. To date, 52 boats have been sampled, to deter- mine species composition of the catch by number and weight. Various numbers and sizes of samples were taken to determine a minimum sample neces- sary to give a valid estimate of species composi- tion within each boat. Variation between boats and between time intervals is being tested to determine the minimum number of boats that is necessary to sample in order to obtain year-around accurate species composition breakdown by weight and num- bers. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 41 The sampling has revealed that 40 families and Preparations are being made for offshore stud- 65 species of mainly shallow water fish are repre- ies of midwater and surface school fish in the Gulf sented in the catch here. New ones are being iden-| of Mexico during 1959, with the Bureau's explora- tified frequently, and no doubt the list will eventu- tory fishing vessels Oregon and George M. Bowers. ally include most of the shallow water and many of a the pelagic species of the Gulf of Mexico. Maine Sardines totaled 268,000 actual cases on January 1, 1959--38,000 casesor 16.5 percent more than the 230,000 cases on hand January 1,1958, according to esti- — mates made by the U. S. Bureau of the Census. Ze ae. "Say = Canners' stocks on January 1, 1959, totaled 891,000 standard -/ cases (100 33-oz. cans), a decrease of 220,000 cases (19.8 percent) e as compared with January 1, 1958. o- The pack for the 1958 season (April 15-December 1) amounted to 2,021,000 standard cases as compared with 2,117,151 standard cases in the 1957 season. Table I - Canned Maine Sardines--Wholesale Distributors’ and Canners' Stocks, January 1, 1959, with Comparisons!/ 1958/59 1957/58 Season Type Unit Season 1/1/59} 11/1/58 | 7/1/58} 6/1/58)4/1/58 | 1/1/58) 11/1/57 268 184 ait 293 230 298 1,000 Actual Cases 1,000 Standard Cases! 891 |1/Table represents marketing season from November 1-October 31. 2/100 33~—oz. cans equal one standard case. Distributors =| 386 235 476 SA) Sad, The total supply at the canners' level as of January 1, 1959, totaled 2,434,000 standard cases or 4.3 percent less than total supply of 2,543,000 cases as of Janu- ary 1, 1958. Canners' shipments from April 15, 1958, to January 1, 1959, amount- ed to 1,543,000 standard cases as compared with 1,432,000 cases during the same period a year earlier. se ok 3k OK Ok CANNERS SEEK EXPANSION OF QUALITY-GRADING PROGRAM: Impressed with results obtained during the 1958 packing season, Maine sardine canners have asked the Maine State Commission of Agriculture to expand their mandatory quality grading program. If the Industry's recommendation is accepted, standard quarter-size flat cans of sardines in mustard sauce and 12-ounce cans in oil will be included in the grad- ing program for the 1959 pack. After a public hearing to be held in the late winter, a decision will be rendered by the Commissioner, At present only standard quarter-size(33 oz.) cans packed in oil are under the program which was promulgated into action by the Commissioner in April 1958. Meeting with the Sardine Industry Advisory Board on January 30, 1959, the Com- missioner advised the group that he was in accord with the industry's request unless facts were presented at the hearing to change his thinking to the contrary. 42 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 He congratulated the packers on their cooperation in making the first year of operation of the program "such an outstanding success" and predicted that it would mean much to the economic advancement of the industry in the future. Under the system, which was set up at the industry's request, every lot of sar- dines packed is graded for quality by experts at a specially-equipped and manned laboratory at Bangor, Me., and certificates of grade are issued to the canners ac- cordingly. According to the Commissioner, records of his Inspection Division which ad- ministers the program indicated that the over-all quality of the 1958 pack of ap- proximately 2.0 million cases was the highest in the history of the industry. Quarter-mustards represent about 12 percent of the industry's production while the 12-ounce oils are a newly-developed pack designed for the military, res- taurant, and institutional markets. These two items, with the quarter-oils, total about 95 percent of the industry's production. The Maine canners made history with their program which was the first in- stance in the canned food business whereby an industry requested mandatory quality grading of their product. The 1957 Maine Legislature passed laws to make this pos- sible. & yeaa Oa Maryland BLUE CRAB UTILIZATION LOWER IN 1958: In 1958 the blue crab industry in Maryland used 37.4 million pounds of hard crabs (including crabs imported from other states) and 877,268 dozen soft crabs from Maryland waters, the Maryland Tidewater Fisheries Commission stated in a January 1959 release. This was adrop of about 4.0 million pounds in the quantity of hard crabs processed and a drop of 279,137 dozen soft crabs as compared with 1957. Poor weather that delayed the start of the season was blamed for the decrease. tet New York SHIPPERS OF SCALLOPS MUST COMPLY WITH STATE REGULATIONS: Sev- eral recent shipments of scallop meats have been challenged by the Shellfisheries Management Unit of the New York State Conservation Department. The Shellfisher- ies Management Unit stated that: ''Future shipments of fresh or frozen scallop meats into New York State for sale and distribution must be in compliance with the follow- ing minimum requirements: (1) The establishment and packing operation of scallop packers must be approved by the shellfish control authorities or health authorities of the state in which the packing takes place; (2) All containers of scallop meats must be identified to indicate the contents and the packer. (The method of identifica- tion as developed by the packer and the authorities of his state will be acceptable to this office.); (3) Scallop meats must be packed in new containers; (4) Scallop meats must be clean, free of foreign material and shall not have an excessive bacterial content; and (5) Scallop meats must be adequately refrigerated," March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 43 North Atlantic Fisheries Investigations BLOCK ISLAND SOUND AREA SURVEYED FOR INDUSTRIAL FISH (M/V Alba- tross III Cruise 125): To survey the Block Island Sound area for industrial fish (used for animal food or fish meal) and to determine the size distribution of the fish in two types of otter trawls was the purpose of the January 13-15, 1959, cruise of the Albatross III. Four stations were fished with a No. 36 census trawl with a small-mesh liner in the cod end. Eight replicate tows were made alternating 2 identical No. 36 otter trawls except for the cod-end mesh size. Service's research vessel Albatross III. All fish caught in the tows were measured and identified. Cod were found to be the most abundant species at the inshore stations, while alewives and blueback herring were most abundant at the offshore stations. The tests with the No. 36 otter trawls with the different mesh in the cod ends demonstrated that more fish were taken in the trawl with the smaller mesh. Ale- wives dominated the catches made with these two trawls. ba Oysters CHESAPEAKE BAY OYSTER STUDIES: Mortalities: Serious oyster mortalities are occurring in small ocean- side bays along Maryland and Virginia shores. Studies conducted by Rutgers University under a contract fromthe U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries indicate that these mortalities may be linked to the severe oyster kills in Del- aware Bay which are believed to be caused by an organism similar in appearance to Dermocystidium, the organism re- sponsible for severe losses in the Gulf of Mexico area, Hoping to confine the spread of the mortality to the pres- ently-affected areas, Rutgers’ biologists made a recommen- dation to the States of Maryland and Virginia suggesting that no seed oysters from these oceanside bays be trans- ported to the Chesapeake Bay oyster grounds. Dr. Reed Logie, oyster pathologist from eastern Canada, was brought to New Jersey during January for conferences regarding these mortalities. Similar mortalities since 1955 have caused the death of a high percentage of the oysters in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Off-the-Bottom Cultch Superior to Bottom Cultch: At Smith Creek in southern Maryland in 1957 the Bureau's bi- ologists compared thé production of seed oysters produced on the bottom with that of oysters produced off the bottom, They found that the off-the-bottom cultch generally produced many more and larger spat than did the bottom shells. They found also that the summer mortality of the original set may have approached 70 percent on the bottom but considerably less off the bottom. Maryland Survey: Biologists of the Maryland Department of Tidewater Fisheries and Research and Education and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Annapolis Laboratory sur- veyed the major oyster bars of the Maryland Chesapeake in October. In the Upper Bay setting was nil but gradually in- creased southward, culminating in high counts in the strait areas of the lower eastern side of the Maryland part of the Bay. Drills and drilled spat were encountered in Tangier Sound in small numbers as far down the salinity gradient as the most northerly station at Sharkfin Shoal (16.83 parts per thousand), Tangier Sound, in general, had a higher set sur- vival than usual, resulting from either depressed drill ac- tivity or greater spatfall. With few exceptions the condition and growth of the oysters throughout the Bay was excellent. The Potomac River, though ithada poor strike, produced large, single well-shaped oysters. kA A AK OK EUROPEAN VARIETY THRIVES IN MAINE WATERS: The European oyster (Ostrea edulis) seems to have adapted well to its new environment and to occupy an unusual ecological niche. In October a survey was made of known colonies of this oyster in the Boothbay Harbor, Me., area. The present self-sustaining popu- lation is the result of the spawning of about one bushel of oysters held at the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Boothbay Harbor station wharf nine years ago in cooperation with the Maine Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries. 44 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 The European species is well established to the extent of at least a five-mile radius of the original spawners. Some beds are fairly extensive, show good growth and good survival below mean low water, and several year-classes through 1958 are represented. 2K OK OK OOK Kk STUDIES ON RAFT CULTURE: The first phase of the project of raft culture of oysters in Oyster River, Chatham, Mass., by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries has been completed. On November 13, 1958, about 25-30 bushels of raft- grown oysters, averaging 23 inches in height, were planted on the bottom. The ma- jority of these oysters were from a 1957 set caught in Mill Creek, a tidal estuary in Chatham, and should be large enough for market this fall. Several strings of 1956 Wareham oysters grown on rafts were planted also on the bottom. They were only a few millimeters larger than those grown from the 1957 Mill Creek set. The shell growth of the oysters suspended from raft slows down to such a rate in the second year that suspending them longer than one year is unprofitable. In 1958 there was a 17-percent mortality among the Wareham oysters suspend- ed since 1956. Over half of this mortality resulted from the falling of oysters from the strings. There was over a 90-percent mortality among the same set planted on the bottom. To compare growth rates, oysters from different localities were suspended from a fiber-glass raft in Taylors Pond, Mass. Oyster set from James River, Va., Long Island, Conn., and Mill Creek and Wareham River, Mass., were used. A sam- ple from each group was measured when shell growth ceased because of cold weath- er. After Taylors Pond became frozen observations on oysters kept on raft ceased but they were expected to be resumed when the ice melted. Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations CONTRACT AWARDED FOR TEST OF COMMERCIAL LIVE-BAIT TUNA FISH- ING IN MARQUESAS AREA: On December 15, 1958, bids on a contract for a trial commercial live-bait tuna fishing trip to the Marquesas Islands area were opened at the Hawaiian office of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations. The only bidder was awarded the contract at $24,900. The contract provides for a 30-day tuna fishing trip in the vicinity of the Marquesas Is- lands or until 130 tons of tuna have been caught. It is expected that this trial com- mercial tuna fishing trip will supply a good evaluation of that area for future com- mercial fishing trips. oe se ake te ok ECOLOGY OF ALBACORE TUNA: Studies on the relationships between alba- core tuna and its environment by the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations have lead to the following tentative conclusions: (1) Surface and subsurface albacore generally occupy the same range of tem- perature, roughly within 55° F. to 65° F. and both to some extent occupy colder wa- ter with an increase in size, (2) There is a remarkable coincidence in the distribution and relative abundance of albacore in the central and eastern North Pacific with that of the oceanographic March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45 patterns of enrichment and of the standing crops of the trophic levels. In one case it is shown that this agreement can be quite detailed. (3) It is concluded that the macroecology of the albacore in the area investi- gated is primarily governed by temperature in that its distribution is generally with- in a certain range 55° F. to 65° F., and its abundance associated with the patterns of enrichment within that range. This conclusion should not be extrapolated to areas outside those investigated. Using these conclusions and other information obtainable from the literature, a unified concept of the ecology of the albacore is arrived at by hypothesizing their migrations and movements in the North Pacific. In general this hypothesis suggests that their migrations and movements are governed by the seasonal rise and fall of oceanographic patterns of enrichment. Analyses of other species taken by albacore cruises were started in the fourth quarter of 1958. It is hoped that they will show that certain features of the albacore's ecology are more or less generally representative of those of the fish population north and northeast of the Hawaiian Island chain. In the plankton studies evidence was found to support the hypothesis that there is a seasonal latitudinal advance of a biological frontier in the North Pacific. This frontier is composed of phytoplankton, herbivore and predator components. The relative latitudinal positions of the maxima of these components appear to be re- lated to surface temperature. There appears to be no interrelation between these components independent of surface temperature. OBSERVATIONS ON TUNA BEHAVIOR: Tests of the effects of lampblack dye and water sprays on feeding, comparison of skipjack and yellowfin behavior, use of mullet and tilapia as chum, and the applicability of Tricaine-Sandoz as a skipjack anaesthetic were made by the Bureau's Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations, Honolulu, during the fourth quarter of 1958, The lampblack, water spray, and Tri- caine tests gave inconclusive results; yellowfin were found to swim deeper than skipjack; and mullet proved to be good bait. Laboratory work consisted of tran- scribing Audograph records of observations and of separating movie film into ex- perimental sequences. Because its effectiveness was greatly hampered by the turbulence it produced, the underwater observation caisson was removed from the research vessel Charles H. Gilbert, and various improved methods of observing tuna were consid- ered, These included underwater television and construction of a porthole beneath the ship's waterline. A decision as to the best method awaits comparative cost esti- mates. The fishermen's belief that the offshore nehu differs from inshore nehu (an im- portant baitfish) was investigated during the quarter. The two forms are closely re- lated, but the offshore one is new to science. S Sardines CALIFORNIA CATCH SAMPLES SHOW TWO DOMINANT YEAR-CLASSES: The commercial catch of sardines was slightly over 100,000 tons .n 1958. Samples obtained in November from the landings showed a decrease in the numbers of larg- er fish, a slight increase in small fish (1957 class), and the increasing dominance 46 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 215 No.3 of the 1956 class. Approximately 75 percent of the fish samples were between 7 and 8 inches in standard length, and only 12 percent were larger than 8 inches. In con- trast, approximately 35 percent of the fish landed during September were over 8 inches in standard length, While fish of the 1957 class have been dominant in the catches made off Monte- rey, fish of the 1956 class have been dominant in the fish caught off southern Cali- fornia, This is not inconsistent with the Bureau's previous findings and the 1957 class may still prove to be of greater size than other recent year-classes. Nor- mally, any particular year-class will make its greatest contributions to the class as 2- and 3-year old fish. The influx of fish of the 1956 class is somewhat of a sur- prise, largely because it is probably of fairly southern origin and was, therefore, not well represented in the southern California bait catch in 1957. " Sea Lamprey DECLINED IN CERTAIN GREAT LAKES IN 1958: Sea lampreys in Lake Mich- igan and eastern Lake Superior declined in 1958. Weirs operated in Green Bay and ; along the west shore of Lake Michigan took 53 percent fewer lampreys in 1958 than in 1957. The decline was less in eastern Lake Superior (29 percent) than in Lake Michigan, but still was substantial. Both decreases are viewed as random fluctuations in stocks that have reached or are approaching numerical stability. Further evidence of stability of the stocks of sea lampreys in eastern Lake Superior comes from the records of lamprey scars on lake trout landed at Marquette, Mich. The upward trend in the percentage of scarred individuals that had continued since 1950 came to an end in 1958. Lake trout from the Great Lakes scarred by sea lamprey. me 2 Shad CONNECTICUT RIVER RUNS PREDICTED: A system of predicting the size of shad runs in the Connecticut River has been developed by the Atlantic Shad Investi- gations of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Beaufort, N. C. The biolog- ists predicted a run of 334,000 fish in 1958; it actually amounted to 372,000 fish. The commercial catch amounted to 126,000 fish and the sport catch 39,000 fish--or a total of 44 percent of the available fish. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Shrimp UNITED STATES PACK OF MANU- FACTURED PRODUCTS, 1957: 1957 pack of manufactured shrimp prod- ucts in the Unit- 9 l D7 fi of ed States de- clined about 4.4 percent in quan- tity, but was higher by 1.5 per cent in value as compared with 1956. The most ' pronounced de- 2 cline occurred in * a the pack of canned shrimp--down about 33.2 percent in quantity. This drop inthe pack of canned shrimp reflects (1) the shortage of the smaller sizes of shrimp available to the canners in the Gulf area and (2) higher ex-vessel prices whichdi- verted shrimp from the canners to the fresh and frozen packagedtrade. Although the pack of fresh and frozen packaged shrimp products was down less than 1 percent in 1957 as compared with the previous year, the value was up about 5.5 percent. The trend towards ready-for-the-table prod- ucts is indicated by the 25-percent increase in the 1957 pack of raw peeled shrimp. .. (1,000 Lbs,).. Fresh and Frozen Packaged: Headless 58,269 Peeled raw (including COU Rn os oa06 Cooked (includes peeled and deveined)..... 1,444 Breaded, raw and cooked} 51,085 Specialities (burgers, cocktail, chow mein, egg roll, sticks, etc.) 45,070 9,375 9,952 2,488 37,764 3,555 2,858 Total fresh and frozen packaged United States Manufactured Shrimp Products, 1956-1957 EE Shrimp Product 1957 1956 | 1957 1956 . » ($1,000). . 47 43,632 7,304 3,101 37,301 Wet and dry pack..... Specialities (aspic, cock- tails, spreads, soups, and stews) tal d Total canne Dried, Cured, and Smoked: Sun-criednpsssie cuenenenene Tt (Meal, scrap, and bran... ———e Total all products Striped Bass FEDERAL AND STATE BIOLOGISTS TAG LARGE FISH ON POTOMAC: Biolo- Laboratory, and the U. S. Bureau' of Commercial Fisheries were working together on the Virginia research vessel Pathfinder on Maryland's Potomac River late in January 1959, Long before commercial fish- ermen set their nets for striped bass in March, scientists were attempting to locate schools of over-wintering striped bass and tag large numbers, some of which will be caught in nets or on rod- and-reel later in the spring and summer, From tags returned by commercial and sports fishermen, scientists hope to estimate the number of large-size fish present in the Potomac and derive other biological information. Virginia's Fisheries Research vessel Pathfinder. 48 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 3 The Pathfinder, her bow sheathed to protect it against drifting ice, was now stationed in the upper Potomac. Not only was her trawl net being used to locate and to supply the scientists with fish for tagging, but she also furnished living quar- ters. Although piece-meal studies of striped bass have been made in both Maryland and Virginia by biologists from state and Federal laboratories, never before has so concerted an effort been made to study the habits of these fish and the extent of the fishery. &: Tuna CALIFORNIA TUNA CLIPPER RETURNS FROM TRIAL TRIP OFF AFRICAN WEST COAST: The first trial tuna fishing trip of a California-based tuna clipper, Chicken of the Sea, off the African West Coast has been completed. Good tuna fish- ing grounds were located off Ghana's coast and the catch was generally satisfactory with respect to size and quality of tuna and the time required to locate and land the fish. However, the tuna clipper departed from African waters without attaining an optimum solution of the live-bait problem, the United States Embassy in Accra re- ported on December 16, 1958. Future plans on the part of California operators of the clipper for this area are unknown. It is assumed, however, that the firm will take advantage of the territorial waters fishing privileges and port facilities offered by the Ghana Government for a period of one year beginning September 1958 and return with bait nets specially a- dapted to local conditions. The Ghana Government is eager to cooperate with the California firm in continuing the survey and hopes that these efforts will lead to the establishment of a Ghana-based tuna fishing and canning industry. Bait problems were confirmed by a Ghana Fisheries Department officer who spent approximately two weeks aboard the tuna clipper. With respect to bait fishing, this observer stated that a number of sizable herring schools were located close to shore but in waters too deep to give satisfactory results with the clipper's shallow- water lampara nets. A local fishing firm contacted for the purpose was more suc- cessful using a deep-water purse seine. However, before the purse-seine catch could be transferred to the clipper's live bait tanks, the fish were no longer ina serviceable condition. Asa last resort the tuna clipper returned to the Senegal bait fisheries off the coast of Dakar to obtain the needed supply. Unless a more satisfactory solution of the bait problem can be found, a Ghana- based freezing and canning industry on a large commercial scale would probably not be feasible. On the other hand, the lack of shallow-water bait in Ghana waters would not necessarily rule out voyages to the African West Coast by American tuna clip- pers based on the eastern seaboard of the United States or in Puerto Rico. AS Fs KOK UNITED STATES CANNED PACK SETS NEW RECORD IN 1958: The pack of canned tuna and tunalike fish in the United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Ameri- can Samoa in 1958 set a new record of 14.3 million standard cases, according to preliminary estimates. Record consumption is also indicated. The 1958 pack was 20 percent greater than in 1957 and the increase was reflected in all areas, Cali- fornia, which packs the bulk of the tuna, increased its pack in 1958 by almost 18 per- cent; the States of Washington and Oregon by 10.2 percent; and the Atlantic and Gulf March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 49 coasts and United States territories of Hawaii, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico by 47 percent. A substantial amount of the canned tuna pack is produced from imported frozen tuna and tuna loins from Japan. The pack dropped from 10.9 million cases in 1954 to 9.9 million cases in 1955, and climbed again to 11.8 million cases in 1956 and 11.9 million cases in 1957. Imports of tuna already canned in 1958 were 2.3 million cases, also a record for imported canned tuna. This means that 16.6 cases of tuna were made available to the United States con- - : , ; sumer during the year. United States and Territories? Tuna Pack, 1958 (Preliminary Data) Preliminary figures in- SE se te I Sere ee Light Meat] Total dicate that tuna consump- tion in the United States during 1958 was well o- ver 15 million cases. Lae) Ae ie) ot 0 Seles Atlantic & Gulf coasts and U. S. Territoriesl United States canned tuna stocks on hand at the end of 1958 were greater than a year earlier, but it appears that most of the gain in production and imports was consumed during the year. Astudy made by the Bureau in 1953 estimated that it would be 1960 before tuna consumption reached the 15.0 million-case mark, but thishas been achieveda year earlier than predicted. 1/Includes pack in American Samoa, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Bureau records also show that not only has the total amount of tuna canned each year increased but that in recent years tuna has displaced salmon as the leading canned fish on a per capita consumption basis. In 1925 the tuna pack reached a mil- lion cases for the first time. In 1935 it was twice that figure and in 1945 it had again doubled. In 1950 the pack was just short of 9.0 million cases. Data for 1957 show that the supply of tuna was 1.61 pounds per capita, that of salmon 1.01 pounds, and for sardines 0.46 pounds. The catch of tuna landed in continental United States in 1958 was 314.0 million pounds, or 17.0 million pounds more than in 1957, but far below the record landings of 1950 when United States tuna fishermen brought 390 million pounds of tuna into American ports. The amount of frozen tuna imported for canning purposes in 1958 is not yet known, but during the first 10 months of the year these tuna imports total- ed 162.0 million pounds as compared with 139.0 million during all of 1957. os U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 2. The discovery of an important shrimp fishery off the FISCAL YEAR 1958 PROGRESS REPORT: The three- Shumagin Islands in Alaska, pronged effort being made by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries to solve technological problems in processing and distributing fish and fishery products--studies of the 3. More precise information on the fishery resources in physical and chemical property of fish; applied research to the Gulf Stream, show usefulness of fish oils in diet, ore flotation, and other things; efforts to encourage faster application of technologi- cal knowledge--is pointed out in the Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1958. Other activities of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries mentioned in the report are: 1. The development of a commercial shrimp fishery off the Oregon- Washington coasts, 4. The development of a simple telemeter which not on- ly shows the depth of a trawl in operation but which re- cords water temperatures, 5. Numerous studies of distribution factors, such as transportation costs and producer-consumer price spread, 6. Studies of economic factors affecting supply; wages and employment; competition of domestic fish with im- ports, 50 7. Presentation of 151 fish-cookery demonstrations, 8, Cooperation with the fishing industry in nationwide promotional campaigns to emphasize the value of fish as a low-cost, high-value food, 9. Numerous market and preference studies, 10. Continued assembling of fish production, receipts, and price data by the Market News Service and dissemi- nation of that information to the public, 11. Continued processing of fishery loan applications which in 20 months have totaled 445 requests for $16,000,000 in loans; 240 applications for $6,000,000 approved, 12. Continued research which showed the value of copper ions in repelling oyster drills, 13. Search for ways to combat the devastating starfish in- vasion of the Long Island Sound oyster grounds, 14. Research which proved the necessity of protecting hard-shell crabs from predation during the first year, 15. Comprehensive studies on passage of fish through fishways of various widths and gradiants and with various water velocities, cay ER ENS COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 16, Four large-scale field tests which proved the devas- tating effect of the newly-developed selective poison on sea lamprey larvae without injury to native fish, 17. Underwater television studies on the behavior of cod, haddock, whiting, and flounders captured in trawl nets, 18. Additional experiments on electrical guiding of down- stream migrants, 19. Intensified efforts to identify fish populations which must be studied to explain abundance variation, to fore- cast fishery success, and to develop new ways of managing species for highest sustained yield. The report also showed that Alaska fisheries prod- ucts (including fur-seal byproducts) in 1957 totaled 197 million pounds with a wholesale value of $79,231,000 as compared with 229 million pounds and $94,618,421 for 1956. In 1957, there were 23,130 persons engaged in fish- eries in Alaska as compared with 24,549 in 1956. The world’s largest fish ladder, 3 miles long, went into operation at Pelton Dam on the Deschutes River. ea Sag VIRGINIA BIOLOGIST HEADS FISHERY BIOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM: Dr. John Laurence McHugh, Director of the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory at Gloucester Point since 1951 and Professor of Marine Biology at the College of William and Dr. John Laurence McHugh. with Tester when they were working together in Canada. herring research in the Pacific fisheries. some on albacore as well as other papers on fresh-water fishes. Mary at Williamsburg, has assumed his duties as Chief of the Division of Bio- logical Research of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. He replaces Dr. Albert L. Tester, who resigned several months ago to accept a professorship at the University of Hawaii. McHugh was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, November 24, 1911. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Zoology from the University of Brit- ish Columbia. In 1950 he received his Ph. D. in Zoology from the University of California. Before coming to his Virginia position, McHugh served as Research Associate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at LaJolla, Calif., for three years and as assistant in research for two years be- fore that. Before coming to California he served almost 5 years as an Infantry Officer in the Canadian Army. Prior to his Army service McHugh was with the Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia, McHugh is the author of 52 biological papers, some of which he co-authored He has done extensive He has several papers on sharks and Since coming to March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 51 Virginia he has devoted considerable time to research on oysters, menhaden, and other Atlantic fish and shellfish. Since 1956 he has been Chairman of the Biological Section of the Scientific Committee of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Com- mission, The Division of Biological Research is engaged in studying the fluctuations in the numbers of fish available in the various fisheries utilized by American fisher- men. The purpose of the program is to recommend conservation measures which will maintain continuing production without hampering fishing operations, and to predict changes in abundance sufficiently in advance to minimize their effects upon dependent industries. The areas under study encompass the waters of the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Ocean from the Grand Banks to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern, northern, and central Pacific. In additiontonumerous biological labora- tories located in strategic places along the coast lines and in Alaska, the Division has research vessels based at Woods Hole, Mass., LaJolla, Calif., Honolulu, T.H., and Juneau, Alaska, United States Fishing Fleet!/Additions OCTOBER 1958: A total of 55 vessels of 5 net tons and over was issued first documents as fishing craft in October 1958. Compared with the same month of 1957, 5. Vessels Issued First Documents as]]Table 2 - U. S. Vessels Issued First Documents as Fishing 2 RE pe oe [ October [ Jan.-Oct. JFotal] 1958 19581/{19571/{1957 Craft by Tonnage, 4. October Lee ea ae 1958 ig tp Pee this was an increase of 6 ves- sels. The Chesapeake Area led with 18 vessels; the Gulf was second with 16; and the South Atlantic third with 12 vessels. = = iL = Mime ans 55 49 | aot 518 Note: Vessels assigned to the various sections on the basis of theirhome ports. Fishing craft issued documents as fishing craft during the first ten months of 1958 totaled 620 vessels--an increase of 102 vessels, or 20 percent, as compared with the same period of 1957. Of the vessels documented for fishing, 40 percent were reported from the Gulf States. 1/ Includes both commercial and sport fishing craft. U. S. Fish Stick and Fish Portion Production, 1958 FISH STICK PRODUCTION: The United States production of fish sticks during 1958 amounted to 60.9 million pounds, an increase of 7.8 million pounds (15 percent) as compared with 1957. During 1958, cooked fish sticks (55.3 million pounds) ac- counted for 91 percent of the fish-stick total. The remaining 5.6 million pounds or 52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 Table 1 - U. S. Production of Fish Sticks by Months Table 2 - U.S. Production of Fish Sticks, 1954-1958 | ea RUE a es 8 1956 1955 1954 Months Cooked 4, 862 5, 323 6, 082 3,771 3, 873 FGCU NWS) se ac 99 474 437 390 509 509 479 385 440 580 584 451 346 60, 903 pare 22,516 | 4,318 [26,834 LP Petal Value — 22,516 | 4,318 26,834 9 percent was made up of uncooked fish sticks. The year's production of fish sticks was great- est in February, when 5.9 million pounds were manufactured. March and October followed with 5.5 million pounds each. Atlantic Coast States Inland and Gulf States acific Coast States FISH PORTION PRODUCTION: During 1958 about 21.7 million pounds of fish portions were packed. Of this amount, 91 percent consisted of breaded portions (3.4 million pounds cooked and 16.4 million pounds uncooked). Unbreaded portions Table 4 - U. S. Production of Fish Portions (Produced from Blocks), 1958—' Breaded Month GaokcdmnUncooked Unbreaded Total Stat eae L000 EBSs:) 2 ae Jem aryl ails hh. Grea ae eheiic We 316 1,446 1,762 211 1,973 INGITOUETAY 5 5 obo 0 6b aa 6 251 878 1,129 125 1,254 IViamsclive cat; ick atl eeu emier as 351 989 1,340 131 Wa eeril TNSopecdipes rane Liter ete Peale aks 251 1,788 2,039 229 2,268 TVUciey ieee eee iC Oh eee ee 246 1,061 1,307 gal 1,478 TUT Ota tS apres ie ey ee ae 303 1,084 1,387 haut 1,504 APL ye cpa an eee eee 213 1,760 1,973 188 2,161 PANT CUS tempt ake a ee re 386 1,050 1,436 80 1,516 September jase ieee ene 155 1,274 1,429 137 1,566 Octoberiea we wae ena ee 306 2,091 2,397 163 2,560 INOAGMAYSOS GA oo ooo oc 278 1,558 1,836 143 IL O7@) December aaa a ara 300 1,438 1,738 273 2,011 ISEM MO b ole 6 na 3,356 16,417 ule 1,968 | 21,7401 Ee ani ee ane, L000) S25. 2 Se eee Total Value WS 8s. 1,654 oO, O04 Tal poe 796 7,954] Preliminary data. accounted for the remaining 2.0 million pounds or 9 percent. Production was largest during October (2.6 million pounds). April was next with 2.3 million pounds. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53 Fish portions are defined as uniform pieces of fish blocks, different from fish sticks in size and shape. Collection of production data on fish portions was started the last quarter of 1958. Table 5 - U. S. Production of Fish Portions (Produced from Blocks), By Areas, 19581/ FISH STICK AND FISH PORTION PRO- .| DUCTION BY AREA: Atlantic Coast States.... The Atlantic Coast States Inland, and Gulf, and led all other areas inthe Pacific Coast States ... production of fish sticks and fish portions with 1/Preliminary data. 49.9 and 12.0 million Note: During 1958, four firms produced fish portions that did not produce fish ae pounds, respectively. The inland and Gulf, and Pacific coast areas followed with 9.7 million pounds of fish portions and 11.0 mil- lion pounds of fish sticks. U. S. Production of Fish Portions (Produced from Blocks), By Quarters, 19581/ Period lst Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 1/Preliminary data. U. S. Foreign Trade EDIBLE FISHERY PRODUCTS, OCTOBER 1958: Imports of edible fresh, fro- creased by 6.4 percent in quantity and 6.1 percent in value as compared with September 1958. The increase was due primarily to higher imports of groundfish fillets (up 5.6 mil- lion pounds) and frozen shrimp (up 3.9 mil- 7 5 : (cre 5 ; ae nited States Foreign Trade in Edible Fishery Products lion pounds), and toalesser degree, anin DeLee TORE hi Gan ssieots y crease inthe imports of other fillets, and canned salmon, These increases were partly offset by a5.0 million pound decrease 1957 [1957 in the imports of frozen tuna (including al - (Millions of Lbs.) le GES) bacore) and frozen salmon (down 1.0 mil- lion pounds). Imports: Fish & shellfish: Fresh, frozen, & Compared with October 1957, the im- ——— Baty ports in October 1958 were up by 6.0 per- ea cent in quantity and 9.0 percent in value (excluding fresh due to higher imports of groundfish fillets, frozen tuna other than albacore (up 8.4 million pounds), canned tuna in brine,, and frozen shrimp. Compensating, in part, for the increases was a drop of about 2.4 million pounds in the imports of groundfish and other fillets and frozen and can- ned salmon (down 3.8 million pounds). 1/Includes pastes, sauces, clam chowder and juice, and other specialties. United States exports of processed fish and shellfish in October 1958 were high- er by 164.3 percent in quantity and 246.2 percent in value as compared with Septem- ber 1958. Compared with the same month in 1957, the exports in October 1958 were 54 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 higher by 136.4 percent in quantity and 246.2 percent in value. The exports in Octo- ber 1958 as compared with the same month in 1957 were sharply higher due to in- creased supplies of exportable California sardines and Pacific salmon. The exports of processed fish and shellfish in October this year returned to a normal pattern, (October 1956 exports totaled 11.8 million pounds). ides ook ok ok ok GROUNDFISH FILLET IMPORTS: Year 1958: Preliminary data indicate that 1958 imports of groundfish (including ocean perch) fillets and blocks into the United - United States Imports of Groundfis (Including Ocean Perch) Fillets and Blocks, 1956-58 Country of Origin 1958 103,013 29.141 States reached the record total of 154.7 million pounds--9.6 percent or 13.5 million pounds more than in 1957. The drop in imports from Canada was more than offset by increased imports from Iceland, Norway, Denmark, and West Germany. December 1958: Imports of cod, haddock, hake, pollock, cusk, and ocean perch fillets (including blocks) into the United States during December 1958 to- taled 8.0 million pounds--an in- crease of 952,000 pounds or 14 percent as compared with the same month of 1957, \Notes: (1) Data on 1958 imports revised because a substantial quantity of fish bits and pieces blocks were reclassifiedfrom a different category and included under the groundfish fillet and block category. 2) See Chart 7 in this issue. The quota of groundfish and ocean perch fillets and blocks permitted to enter the United States at 1 cents apound in the calendar year 1958 was 35,892,221 pounds, based on a quarterly quota of 8,973,055 pounds. The quota for the calendar year 1957 amounted to 37,375,636 pounds. Imports during individual quarters in ex- cess of the established quarterly quota enter at a duty of 23 cents a pound. Wholesale Prices, January 1959 The over-all mid-month January 1959 wholesale price in- dex for selected edible fishery products was about unchanged from the preceding month because price increases and de- creases occurred over a relatively narrow range. On the other hand, the January 1959 edible fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) wholesale price index (135.4 percent of the 1947-49 average) was 9.5 percent higher than in the same month last year due to price increases for all the products in the index, except canned salmon, California sardines, and tuna. The January 1959 price index for the drawn, dressed, and whole finfish subgroup was 1.9 percent lower than in Decem- ber 1958 due to lower prices for almost all items, But com- pared with January 1958, the subgroup index this January re- mained substantially higher (30.5 percent) due to higher prices for all items included. The fresh processed fish and shellfish subgroup index this January was higher by 4.2 percent due to an 8.0 percent in- crease in fresh shrimp prices at New York City and an in- crease of 1.6 percent for fresh haddock fillet prices at Bos- ton. Shucked oyster prices in January 1959 were unchanged from the preceding month, The index in January 1959 as com- pared with the same month in 1958 was higher by 6.9 percent because fresh haddock fillet prices were up 31.3 percent, fresh shrimp prices were up 6.8 percent, and shucked oyster prices were up 2.1 percent. The index for January 1959 for frozen processed fish and shellfish was down slightly (0.8 percent) from December 1958 due only to a drop of 2 cents a pound in the frozen 26- 30 count shrimp price at Chicago. The frozen fillet prices were unchanged from mid-December 1958 to mid-January 1959. From January 1958 to January 1959, wholesale prices for the subgroup were up 5.8 percent because the prices of all products in the subgroup were higher. In January 1959 canned fish prices were higher by 0.6 per- cent as compared with December 1958 due to an increase of about 50 cents a case in canned pink salmon prices at Seattle. This increase more than offset another drop in prices for California sardines. Canned Maine sardines and California tuna prices were unchanged from December 1958 to January March 1959 this year, When compared with the same month a year ago, prices in January this year for the selected canned fish items were higher by 1.5 percent due to a 32.7-percent increase in the Maine sardine prices. All other items in the subgroup were lower this January as compared with January a year ago. Primary wholesale markets for Maine sardines and Pacific COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55 salmon remained firm, but California sardines were moving slowly and sales of tuna were maintained at a high level due only to vigorous promotion on the part of the canners. Move- ment of canned tuna into consumption was good because the canners were willing to lower prices in order to move large inventories which are the result of a record pack in 1958. Table 1 - Wholesale Average Prices and Indexes for Edible Fish and Shellfish, January 1959 With Comparisons Group, Subgroup, and Item Specification Jan, Dec, Jan. Dec, Nov. | Jan. 1959] 1958] 1959] 1958 | 1958 | 1958 [ALL FISH & SHELLFISH (Fresh, Frozen, & Canned). . .. . . 5 . OG ced) oD 135.4 134,8 | 128.3] 123.7 PRESMeRAOZEN MISMERYE RROGUCUSs MM meinsiMeliietne) ele) vets eliel lettin ete elles : 160.6 140,3 Drawuy Dressed, GmiWholesFintisDems sei leisitet/s) (2) skies ers Ulel eis = 177.5 | 155.0 133.5 Haddock, Ige., offshore, drawn, fresh . . . .. 152.3 Halibut, West., 20/80 lbs., drsd., fresh or froz. |New York 96.4 Salmon, king, lge. & med., drsd., fresh or froz. |New York 138.8 Whitefish,L, Superior, drawn, fresh . .... Chicago 146.3 Whitefish,L. Erie pound or gill net, rnd., fresh New York 128.4 Yellow pike, L. Michigan& Huron, rnd.,fresh . New York 111.4 Processed,Fresh (Fish & Shellfish: .....%.... (staal WoO IoEs Cae E ss sce 144,2 Fillets, haddock, sml., skins on, 20-Ib. tins . Boston 163.3 Shrimp, lge, (26-30 count), headless, fresh . New York 140.6 Oysters, shucked, standards ...... Norfolk 145.4 IROSESSed pEROZEDN (HISMGaSMEIIEISI) steimteiire mel IymrctNelmaieal a sei tol Neel etek ou ellel valet 131.3 Fillets: Flounder, skinless, 1-lb. pke, .... 103,4| Haddock, sml.,skins on, 1-lb. pkg... . LTT Ocean perch, skins on, 1-Ib, pkg. . . . 114.8 Shrimp, lge. (26-30 count), 5-lb. pkg. . . ... i TUL Leo ieraunedea SHeKyzProductss; sy Nae ahem Eenisy Rime cede) fed cekits las cilley! i vel gicel is/oice Salmon, pink, No, 1 tall (16 oz.), 48 cans/cs. Seattle 4 112.2] 120.0 Tuna, lt, meat, chunk, No. 1/2 tuna (6-1/2 oz.), ASICANSHES Aue ei neria cltehiol ine. a Maarelic use Los Angeles cs, |11.00}11.00 81.8 Sardines, Calif., tom. pack, No. 1 oval (15 02z.), 48 cans/cs. 3/. SiG Ch OA CHOME OES FORE Los Angeles}cs, | 7.75| 8.25 96.9] 113.8 Sardines, Maine, keyless oil, No. 1/4 drawn (3-3/4 0z,.), 100 cans/cs.. . ... b best SaAisiee New York |cs. | 8.47] 8.47 67.9 Point of Avg. Prices1/ Indexes Pricing |Unit (3) (1947-49=100) 1/ Represent average prices for one day (Monday or Tuesday) during the week in which the 15th of the month occurs, These prices are published as indicators of movement and not necessarily absolute level, Daily Market News Service “Fishery Products Reports’’ should be referred to for 2/Revised, actual prices, '3/Pricing beginning with January 1959 on price per case of 48 cans instead of 24 cans. Index for previous months is com- parable, 56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vols 21 -3Now3 International FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION INDO-PACIFIC FISHERIES COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING: The Eighth Annual Meeting of the FAO- sponsored Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council opened in Colombo, Ceylon, on Decem- ber 8, 1958. Forty del- egates from 12 coun- tries attended the meeting. The Council discussed, among oth- er things, the mech- anization of the fish- ing industry, credit facilities for fisher- men, marketing, and transportation. (United States consular report from Co- lombo, December 12, 1958.) eulgel se Se Ste sk ok ok ok ok WORLD FISH CATCH IN 1957 CONTINUED TOINCREASE: The world’s total commercial fish catch is still increasing and is now about 30 million metric tons a year, the Food and Agriculture Organization reports in its Yearbook of Fishery Statistics recently published. The latest world catch figure is 29,960,000 tons (1957), which shows an increase of almost 50 percent over the catch in 1938, the last full fishing year before the Second World War, when 20,500,000 tons were landed. Since 1947, when the catch (17,940,000 tons) still showed the effects of the war, there has been a steady increase in the total each year. The annual increase during the past five years has been about 5 percent. Werld Fish Catch, 1948-57 1950 1948 29.96 |29.60]| 28.12] 26.80) 24.91 /24.52|22.75)/20.23/19.41|19.09 The most significant of the increases by continents since 1938 were: Africa (from 520,000 to 1,860,000 tons), Asia (9,360,000 to 12,880,000 tons), Europe (5,590,000 to 7,640,000 tons), and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republicas (from 1,550,000 to 2,540,000 tons). Japan not only continued to be the world’s foremost fish- ing country, but was actually widening the gap between itself and the second country, the United States (including Alaska). In 1957 Japan caught 5,399,000 metric tons of fish, or just over 18 percent of the world’s total catch. The United States caught 2,741,100 tons, a little more than one-half the amount caught by Japan. Before the war (1938) Japan caught 3,562,000 tons. After 1947 Japan’s catch started to increase again and reached 2,205,700 tons in that year. Since then there has been a substantial increase each year, passing three million tons in 1950, four million in 1952, and five mil- lion in 1957. The following seven countries caught more than one million tons of fish in 1957: Japan 5,399,000 tons; United States (in- cluding Alaska) 2,741,100; Communist China (mainland) 2,640,000 (1956): U.S.S.R. 2,535,000; Norway 1,738,900; India 1,233,000, and the United Kingdom, 1,014,700. Canada (includ- ing Newfoundland), which caught 1,091,900 tons in 1956, caught only 991,700 tonsin1957. India, which just topped the one-million mark for the first time in 1956, moved two places up in 1957. However, later figures from Russia and Communist China may place these two countries in second and third place, and put the United States in fourth place. Of the 1953-57 average annual world catch of 27,900,000 tons, six countries (Japan, United States, Communist China, U.S.S.R., Norway, and the United Kingdom) caught 55 per- cent. The next seven countries caught 19 percent, and the following 27 countries caught 21 percent. Thus, the 40 leading fishing countries catch 95 percent of the world’s total fish- ery landings, while some 150 other countries only catch about 5 percent of the total among them. The world catch by groups of species shows that there was little change in the relative percentages. Herrings, sardines, anchovies, etc., which represent 24 percent of the total catch, make up the biggest group. There has been a great increase in canning fish products in the U.S.S.R. In 1946 the Soviet Union canned 46,000 tons, but in 1957 the figure was 229,000 tons. INTERNATIONAL FISH MEAL MANUFACTURERS CONVENTION WORLD-WIDE CONTROL OF FISH MEAL MARKETING RECOMMENDED: Representatives of the fish meal in- dustries of Britain, Norway, Belgium, France, Denmark, Holland, Spain, and Iceland met in Cape Town, South Africa, in November 1958 for the International Fish Meal Manufacturers Convention. A British fish-meal producer and 1958 president of the British Fish Meal Manu- facturers' Association recommended world-wide control of the marketing of fish meal. He was also joint chairman of the International Fish Meal Manufac- turers Convention. March 1959 International (Contd.): After he returned from the Convention, the British producer stated in Aberdeen early in Decem- ber 1958, ''We have not yet reached the stage of con- trolling the industry, but we feel we took a step in the right direction." It was important, he said, to protect manufacturers from too much meal reach~ ing the market at any one time, depress- ing prices and harming not only them- selves but other sections of the fishing industry. The United Kingdom delegation, led by the British producer quoted, suggest- ed a monthly exchange of market informa- tion. The idea received an enthusiastic welcome and the British producer was given the go-ahead to work out a practical scheme. He said: "It is not going to be an attempt to form a monopoly or any- thing like that, just an advisory body." Britain's annual output of fish meal varies from 75,000 to 80,000 metric tons. (The Fishing News, British fishery periodical, December 12, 1958.) LATIN AMERICA PACIFIC COAST ALGAE BEING STUDIED The Beaudette Foundation for Biolog- ical Research located in Solvang, Calif., is studying the taxonomy of marine algae of the Pacific coast of Latin America with the eventual goal of adding to the food and economic resources of the coun- tries of the area. The work is also sup- ported by a grant from National Science Foundation. Publication of an illustrated manual for the identification of the principal kinds of marine algae is planned, and the analysis of pure samples of the larger species of algae for caloric value, vita- min and mineral content, and the pres- ence of highly concentrated chemical el- ements of extractable value and anti- biotic properties. Studies will also be COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 57 made of methods of harvesting and means of simple processing of seaweeds. NORTH PACIFIC FUR-SEAL RESEARCH There was limited open-sea catching of fur seals in the North Pacific in 1958 by fisheries scientists in order to gather data on the fur-seal herds. Designed to meet the requirements of the Interim Convention on North Pacific Fur Seals, the investigations were to study the distribution, migration, and feeding habits of fur seals by the four parties to the Convention (Japan, U.S.S.R., the United States, and Canada), Canada's part of the program required that 500 to 750 fur seals be taken each year at sea for a period of 5 years for study purposes. During the past year 502 were actually caught for research. Similar investigations were conducted by the three other participating countries; in addition, United States scientists con- ducted research on the Pribilof Islands in the Eastern Bering Sea, and Soviet scientists do similar work on the Com- mander Island in the Western Bering Sea and on Robben Island in the Okhotsk Sea. Although the coordinated research pro- gram has only been in operation one year, interesting and valuable results have al- ready been obtained. The planned harvest of seals by the United States and U.S.S.R. for 1958 was 58 International (Contd.): 85,000 with a value of several million dollars. The seals are taken commer- cially only onthe summer breeding grounds on the Pribilof, Commander, and Robben Islands, and the proceeds are shared ac- cording to an agreed formula among the four governments. Actually 15 percent of the commercial crop is given to Can- ada and Japan each as compensation for relinquishing the privilege of taking fur seals at sea. The North Pacific fur seal herds have been under some form of international management since 1911. The present convention was signed in Washington, D. C., February 9, 1957, by representa- tives of Canada, Japan, the U.S.S,.R., and the United States. The convention con- tinues the prohibition on pelagic (sea) catching of the seals and permits only controlled killing on their island breed- ing grounds in order to conserve and develop the herds. (Fisheries Council of Canada Bulletin, January 19, 1959.) TRADE AGREEMENTS NORWAY-CZECHOSLOVAKIA TRADE AGREEMENT FOR 1959 INCLUDES FISHERY PRODUCTS: Norway and Czechoslovakia agreed to continue into force until December 31, 1959, the basic trade agreement of March 20, 1947. New commodity lists were a- greed to during the negotiations in Oslo in December 1958, Norwegian exports to Czechoslovakia will include, among other products, the followiing fishery products: (1) fish oils, refined and technical, 6,000 metric tons; (2) medicinal cod-liver oil, 800 tons; (3) fresh, frozen, and salted herring, 14,000 tons; (4) fish fillets, 2,500 tons; (5) other fish, including mackerel and tuna, 1,000 tons; (6) canned fish, value 3,000,000 kroner (US$420,000); (7) fish meal, 2,000tons; and (8) pearl essence, value 1,000,000 kroner (US$140,000). WHALING NORWAY AND NETHERLANDS ANNOUNCE CONDITIONAL WITH- DRAWAL FROM WHALING CONVENTION: The Norwegian Government took ac- tion on December 29, 1958, to notify the COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Woll, ZL IN), 3} International Whaling Commission of its intention to withdraw from the Conven- tion as of June 30, 1959. The public no- tice of withdrawal added that it would be retracted in the event that by June 30, 1959, the nations engaged in pelagic whal- ing in the Antarctic had reached agree- ment on a propor- tionate distribu- tion of the maxi- mum whale quota allowed by the Com- mission, This means that Nor- way, Japan, Brit- ain, and the Netherlands have to agree on the allocation of the 80 percent of the total Antarctic pelagic whale catch re- maining after Russia has taken 20 per- cent. The press reports that the whaling industry has expressed its gratification with the Government's decision to take this action. The decision will not affect whaling operations this season. Press reports indicate that the deci- sion to withdraw from the Convention was made as a counter measure for what Nor- way considers as unreasonable claims on the part of the Netherlands. The Norwe- gians would like to see a system of inter- national inspection to insure compliance with the regulations made by the Com- mission. The Netherlands Ministry of Agricul- ture, Fisheries and Food has also an- nounced that Holland has conditionally withdrawn from the International Whaling Convention. The withdrawal will become definite on June 30 unless agreement is reached on the ''so-called allocation of the maximum quota of whales caught ev- ery season,"' The Dutch have long chafed at the present catch limit which Dutch biologists feel has been set unnecessarily low, thus preventing the Netherlands whaling indus- try from showing the desired profit. The five nations with Antarctic whal- ing fleets are Russia, Norway, Holland, Japan, and Britain. During discussions in London the latter part of 1958 it was agreed that the Soviet Union should be allocated 20 percent of the catch of 15,000 units set for the season. Agreement has not yet been reached, however, on how the remaining 12,000 units should be March 1959 International (Contd.): distributed among the four other Pow- ers. A Norwegian spokesman stressed that withdrawals would not mean a ''free-for- all'' in the whaling grounds but were tac- tical moves to strengthen the position of the nations. The Norwegian Minister for Industry said: 'Norway is still interest- ed in reaching an agreement between the four non-Communist whaling Powers on the basis of the London agreement made last November." Talks in November and December 1958 did produce agreement among the five members of the convention to limit their fleets during the next seven years and to divide the total number of "units'' per- mitted among the countries rather than continuing the race to see who could catch the biggest share before the total was reached. Unfortunately no agree- ment has been reached about the quotas for Britain, Norway, Japan, and Holland. REACTION TO RUSSIAN WHALING FLEET EXPANSION: Plans made bythe Soviet Union to build 4 or 5 large factoryships to participate in whaling could seriously endanger Aus- tralia's whale stocks, according to the Commonwealth Director of Fisheries and Australian representative on the Inter- national Whaling Commission. He stated that any breach of the International Whal- ing Agreement could lead to unrestricted taking of whales in the Indian and Pacific Ocean. Australia "If Russia began to catch whales fast- er than anyone else, other countries would find it uneconomic tocompete. The whole tendency will be to break the inter- national agreement. This will mean that whaling in Australian waters will be fin- ished in a few seasons,'' he concluded. Australia is a signatory of the Inter- national Whaling Agreement and has not indicated any intention of withdrawing from it. However, the whaling industry is well-established both on the west and COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59 east coasts of Australia and the Austral- ian government may have to consider taking steps to protect it. me OK OK KK WHALE STEAKS FOR ANIMAL FOOD PROFITABLE: A Sydney, Australia, firm is offering one-pound packaged whale steaks for an- imal food at about 14 U. S. cents a pack- age delivered to retail stores in refrig- erated trucks for displayinthe retailers' cabinets. The whale steaks are resold at a retail price of about 18.7 U. S. cents a pound to yield a profit of about 33 per- cent. (Australian Fish Trades Review, November 1958.) Brazil FISHING OPERATIONS BY JAPANESE EXPAND: The large Japanese fishing company, which began fishing and fish-marketing operations in Brazil late in 1957, nowhas 14 retail outlets in the city of Sao Paulo and is producing fish at the rate of 400 metric tons a month. The firm as yet has not started to process fish and has no refrigeration facilities. In November 1958 the Japanese firm was granted permission by the Brazilian Government to bring four more fishing vessels to. Brazil. This will give them a fleet of 10 vessels operating from Bra- zil. The four vessels are expected to arrive in March-April 1959. Another Japanese fishing company has been granted permission by the Brazilian Hunting and Fishing Division of the Min- istry of Agriculture to bring in fishing vessels for fishing off the Braziliancoast for two years. This new Japanese ven- ture is reported to be tied in with a Sao Paulo organization and plans to process fish. (United States Sao Paulo Consulate report, December 22, 1958.) KOK OK Ok OK JAPANESE FISHING OPERATIONS CONTINUE TO EXPAND: The Japanese-Brazilian fishing company operating out of Recife, Brazil, is associated with a large firm of Japan. It has taken over most of the facilities of the Government 60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Brazil (Contd.): fish receiving and storage plant in Recife. The facilities consist of a large building with 500 tons of frozen storage space, a 20-ton flake-ice machine, 5 compressors and, re- cently introduced, 1 small closing machine for canning tuna, 1 sausage grinding machine, 1 mixing machine, 2 sausage extruders, and 2 sausage cookers. In mid-December the storage space was completely full of frozen fish, mostly yellowfin tuna (Neothunnus), black marlin (Makaira), and sailfish (Istiophorus). Five of the reported eight vessels fishing for the Japanese-Brazilian company were tied to the dock waiting to dispose of their cargos. It was evident that the vessels (all long-liners) were catching more fish than they could readily sell. The company, which has been selling only frozen tuna and billfish throughout Brazil at a retail price of 30 cruzeiros a kilogram (about 10 U. S. cents a pound), was attempting to diversify its markets. A Japanese technologist was on hand, He has started the production of tuna sausages which retail at 10 cruzeiros (about 7 U. S. cents) for a 125-gram (about one fourth of a pound) sausage. In addition, equipment was on hand for canning tuna, but difficulty with Brazilian-made cans was holding up the initiation of this project. The canned tuna is intended for the local market. Experiments were also being made with salting and drying tuna ina manner similar to cod; however, the local salt was causing the fishto turn red. If the salt problem can be overcome and a Suit- able substitute found for cod there should be a considerable market for the product in Brazil, which imports 20,000 to 25,000 metric tons of salted cod each year. One source said that the Japanese-Brazilian company was contemplating shipping frozen tuna loins to the United States and also that it was considering entering the lobster and shrimp fisheries for export to the United States. The present sausage capacity is stated to be about 20,000 sausagesaday. The fish,a mixture of both tuna and billfish, are defrosted, skinned, and cut into strips about two inches thick. These strips of meats are placed in the grinding ma- chine and the pulp is weighed and transferred to the mixing machine where salt, condiments, a stabilizer, and coloring are added. When thoroughly mixed the product is placed in a sausage-extruding machine which forces the mixture into plastic casings which contain125 grams. After weighing, the casings are Stapledand trimmed and heated for 15 minutes in a water bath held at between 190 to 195° F. The product, which has much the flavor of a hot dog, is thenready for con- sumption. It must be kept under refrigeration. The eight fishing vessels reported in use by the company vary in carrying capacity from 90 to 300 tons. Allhave long- line haulers and are equipped for freezing the catch, Several of the larger boats haveradar. Both glassand plastic floats are used on the long lines, Frozen sardines (Sardinella) caught near Rio de Janeiro are reported to be the preferred bait. Trips are from 20 to 60 days. There are three general fishing grounds for yellowfin. All are well offshore beyond the continental shelf. The northern area extends from French Guiana tothe mouth of the Amazon, the centralis from about Parnaiba to Fortaleza, and the southern area is about from Cabo Sao Roque to Recife. Albacore (Germo alalunga), which are not fished by these vessels, are reported to occur in abundance offshore between about Cabo Frio (which lies about 60 miles east of Rio de Janeiro) and Santos, It was reported that the company was planning on con- structing more frozen-storage plants. The proposal was to increase the capacity of the Recife plant by an additional 250 to 500 tons and to erect a 250-ton plant in Natal anda 500-ton plant in Rio de Janeiro, The Japanese-Brazilian company is also in the whaling business, having purchased the shore plant located near Joao Pessoa. This whaling station is one of two located in Brazil. The other is near Florianopolis in southern Brazil and is reported to be very small, with a catch of only about 10 whales in 1957. The whales are said to be harpooned from row boats. The whaling station near Joao Vol. 21, No. 3 Pessoa is said to have two catcher vessels which take be- tween 200 and 300 sperm and sei whales a year. The pro- posal of the new owners is to bring in four additional catcher vessels. Another Japanese fishing company (controlled by another large Japanese fishing company) operates out of Santos, Brazil, and also sells all its products in Brazil, mostly in Sao Paulo. This company has four trawlers and two tuna long-liners, One of the officials said they were applying for four more trawlers to catch bottom fish and shrimp. They also have established 11 retail outlets in various parts of Sao Paulo, Freezing and storage space is rented in San- tos, but not in Sao Paulo. Thefishandshellfish, as required, are truckedto the markets inSao Paulo. They have plans for constructing a 15-tonice plant anda 500-ton storage plant in Santos. The Santos company now supplies about 20 percent of the 70 to 80 tons of seafood consumed daily in Sao Paulo. None of the Santos boats have freezing equipment. They allcarryice. The long-liners catch yellowfin tuna off Recife and their trips are about 25 days each. Yellowfin retails in Sao Paulo for 28to 30 cruzeirosa kilogram (about 9-10 U.S. cents a pound) while other fish are from 40-90 cruzeiros (about 13-30 U. S. cents a pound). The trawlers generally fish to the South of Santos where they catch various bottom fishes and shrimp. An official of the company said that the boats had not encountered suf- ficient concentrations of shrimp to justify an exclusive op- eration for export. They can sell all they catch on the local market at good prices. Shrimp, with heads on, were retailing at 100 to 160 cruzeiros a kilogram, depending upon freshness (about 32-52 U. S. cents a pound). The eleven retail outlets established by the Santos com- pany are placed at strategic spots in Sao Paulo. Each con- sists of a small building containing refrigerating equipment and one or two enclosed display cabinets. They are reported to cost about 200,000 cruzeiros each (slightly over US$1,400). Apparently the Santos company has been effective in its op- erations. Canada BRITISH COLUMBIA 1958 HERRING CATCH SETS RECORD: British Columbia's 1958 fall herring catch was of record proportions. By De- cember 17, 1958, when the herring fleet tied up for the balance of the year, close to 150,000 tons had been taken, anall-time record. Herringcatches from 1954-57 averaged about 52,000 tons. The Fisheries Association of British Columbia attributed this record herring catch to good spawning and ocean condi- tions, as well as to wise management and conservation policies. Most of the herring catch is taken in inlets on the West Coast of Vancouver Is- land and then sent to reduction plants, where it is converted into fish meal and oil, the United States Consul in Vancouver Island stated in a December 16, 1958, dispatch. oy f3 bes bes) £53 a March 1959 Canada (Contd.): BRITISH COLUMBIA SHUCKED OYSTER PACK LOWER IN 1958: The pack of shucked oysters in British Columbia for 1958 of 62,628 Imperial gal- lons (75,154 U. S. gallons) was lower by about 7 percent from the 1957 pack of 67,366 gallons. Retail prices in Vancouver on Janu- ary 15, 1959, were between C$0.52-0.55 for a + pint container. 3 * BRITISH COLUMBIA SALMON PACK IN 1958 NEAR RECORD: The 1958 pack of canned salmon by British Columbia canneries totaled 1,908,056 cases (48-1 lb. cans), one of the largest packs in the history of the fishery. The sockeye salmon pack of 1,079,155 cases was only 1,000cases less than the all-time record of 1,080,000 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61 Pack of British Columbia Oyster Meats by Size of Container and Prices Paid to Producers, 1957-58 December 1958 i 0. 30-0. 60 0.57-0.75 1.00-1.65 : 3.25-7.00 . -(Imperial Gallons). A oie [1/Imperial gallon = 1.2003 U. S. gallon. Ok cases in 1905. The pack of pink salmon was much higher than anticipated for an off-cycle year, 455,518 cases as com- pared with 363,633 cases inthe off-cycle year of 1956. Thecatchand pack of chum salmon was disappointing (229,292 cases) due to the light escapement during the 1954 cycle year, when 580,575 cases were packed. Table 1 - Pack of British Columbia Salmon, 1953-1958 1956 EOP Oa aod Sao 6 (Standard Cases--48 1-Lb. Cans 1,079,155 228,452 320,096 244,821 680,718 510,147 10,475 10,481 ILS 17,853 14,080 13,049 15213 1,126 1,254 1,590 3,733 3,030 11,083 12,147 10,549 10,544 4,302 2,055 121,320 180,911 207,366 175,179 123,778 108,109 eee? we ots 455,518 751,608 363,633 831,253 335,550 794,764 229,292 239,539 203,710 124,860 580,575 394,113 ira RON 1,908,056 [1,424,264 | 1,118,279] 1,406,100 [1,742,736 | 1,825,267 Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, February 1958 see *K OK * DATED FRESH FISH FILLETS BEING MARKETED: Something new in fish marketing has appeared in Halifax, N. S., Canada, where housewives can now get their fresh fish fillets dated for quality. Fish processing plants in that area are now packingchlor- tetracycline-treated fillets which bear a seal indicating that the product has a shelf life of ten days. OK Ok \EAST COAST SCALLOP FISHERY TRENDS, 1957: i Canada’s east coast landings of scallops (meats) were 13,410,000 pounds in 1957 as compared with 2,420,000 pounds ‘in the preceding year. The average annual catch 1941-1951 was about 700,000 pounds. jh Sh This innovation in fish marketing re- sults from studies conducted at the Re- search Board of Canada's Technological Station in Halifax which have shown that the shelf life of fish that are of good qual - ity initially ranges from 12 to 21 days at 32° F. Thus producers have an authori- tative guide in prescribing the quality life of their fish products. sk *K * The Bay of Fundy catch in 1957 was 1,340,000 pounds, |the highest since the 1,850,000 pounds landed in 1937. The jhigh catch was a result of good supplies of scallops on the grounds. The good fishery was forecast in 1952 on the | basis of highly successful sets of young. These were the 62 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Canada (Contd.): result of warm-water years in 1947, 1949, and 1951. Cool- | er years since then have probably produced fewer young scallops and it is likely that landings will soon drop to near the old average of half a million pounds annually. Scallop fishing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is erratic and depends upon the discovery of new beds as old ones are fished down or die out from natural causes. Since late 1956 the fishery in the southern Gulf is limited by regulation to p> ical Digby scallop b SS Typ vessels under 65 feet in length. The catch in 1957 was 230,000 pounds as compared with 430,000 pounds in 1956 when both large and small vessels made good landings from the well-stocked Toney River bed. The spectacular increase in Canadian production re- sulted largely from the landings from Georges Bank by the offshore fleet. Landings were 1,690,000 pounds in 1957 as compared with 700,000 pounds in 1956. This increase far more than compensates for the decline in offshore landings from the St. Pierre Bank from 230,000 pounds to 150,000 pounds. The great increase in scallop fishing on Georges Bank may so increase competition for the scallops that they may become harder to catch. In addition, there is some reason to think that the scallop population on Georges Bank may actually become less productive. Dr. Dickie notes that a- bundance on Georges Bank followed abundance in the Bay of Fundy and a decline in availability of scallops in the Bay of Fundy has already been forecast. (‘‘Recent Trends in the Scallop Fishery of Eastern Canada,’’ Progress Report No. 70.) ret Ess bdeitys tra PROSPECTS FOR NORTH ATLANTIC HADDOCK CATCH: The east coast deep-sea fishermen of Canada can expect moderately good haddock fishing in 1959 and 1960 on the Grand Banks. The prediction, based on the good survival of the 1955 haddock brood, was made by the Director of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada Biological Station in St. John's Newfound- land, as the result of investigations in 1958 which confirmed findings from pre- vious studies. For many years scientists at the St. John's Station have been following close- ly the spawning and growth of haddock and other fish stocks on the fishing banks south and east of Newfoundland and have Wools Ail, ING, 3 predicted with remarkable precision the fishing results likely to be obtained in future years. During the past year, it was stated, thenumerous 1949 year-class fish, which had dominated the commer- cial landings since 1954, appeared less significant in the catches. However, the moderate brood of 1952 and the smaller one of 1953 were fairly plentiful. As opposed to this good news for the Grand Banks, the outlook for haddock fishing on St. Pierre Bank was bleak. The Station's investigations showed that in 1958, as in 1957, few haddock were avail- able in that area. Moreover, there was no evidence of significant survival of young haddock on this bank since the very large spawning of 1949, of which no large quantities remain. The result has been that little commercial fishing has been carried on there since the winter of 1955/56. Brake End Bes eas REFRIGERATED SEA WATER FOR FISH PRESERVATION ADAPT- ABLE TO SMALL FISHING VESSELS: The use of refrigerated sea water for the preservation of fish can now be adapt- ed to small fishing vessels. A Fisheries Research Bureau of Canada report de- scribes installations intwo steel vessels built in British Columbia during 1958. In their construction the engineering staff of the Board's technological station at Vancouver worked in collaboration with a naval architect and the shipbuilders to develop over-all plans and equipment lay- outs which give the vessels considerable versatility. As a result it was proved that refrigerated sea water can be ap- plied to a vessel with little hindrance to its main function of catching fish. Most important of the new and inter- esting features of one of these vessels was the installation of double-walled steel tanks for preserving fish in refrigerated sea water without reducing its normal holding capacity. This vessel is primari- ly a salmon troller, but it has also op- erated successfully as a seiner and asa fish packer. In addition, it can be used for crabs, which can be brought to port alive in the tanks. Furthermore, it can easily be employed for long-line halibut March 1959 Canada (Contd.): fishing or for use as a trawler. The re- port also stated that a retrigerated sea- water installation for a salmon cannery, completed in 1958, had given a success- ful practical demonstration of the suita- bility of this medium for refrigerating large quantities of salmon for short- term holding. The chilling of whale meat by this method is being investigated on the Pacific coast. The suitability of re- frigerated sea water in Atlantic coast fisheries is being assessed on that coast also. (Fisheries Council of Canada Bul- letin, January 19, 1959.) in 2 ok ok ok ok TRANSPLANTED BRITISH OYSTERS GROWINATLANTIC WATERS: Shellfish scientists of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, at the Biological Station at St. Andrews,N. B., have satisfied themselves that European oysters transplanted from beds in North Wales in the United Kingdom will grow successfully in Canadian Atlantic waters. The oyster project is designed to determine if this hardy species (Ostrea edulis) from across the Atlantic canbe reared in the colder waters of the Maritimes, such as those along the eastern shore of Nova Scotia, where the native oyster (Crossostrea virginica) cannot thrive because of low- water temperatures. Oyster beds in the three oceanside provinces are restricted to the warmer waters of the Bay Chaleur, the Northumberland Strait, and the Bras d’Or Lakes. If this and other experiments with the European oyster are successful, it would mean that this species could be es- tablished in areas where conditions preclude the raising of the native species. This possibility of developing a new oyster industry in the Maritimes is important in light of a recent epidemic which killed off about 99 percent of the oyster population in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Prince Edward Island--where oysters are resistant to the disease which devastated the beds in the sister provinces--is now the main Canadian producer of oysters. In 1952 nearly 8 million pounds of oysters were fished in the Maritimes. In five years the epidemic had reduced that volume by more than half. Production in 1957 was less than 3.7 million pounds. Practically all the oysters marketed now in Canada come from Prince Edward Island beds. The Department of Fisheries with the cooperation of its scientific arm, the Fisheries Research Board, is carrying out a three-year project to transplant 10,000 barrels of the island’s disease-resistant oysters in the affected beds of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Already 6,000 barrels have been transferred, and the final phase of the project will be completed next spring. Even if these oysters estab- lish themselves successfully, it will be 5 to 10 years before their progeny will have built up stocks sufficiently to war- rant fishing. If we had had two species of oysters instead of one, we would probably have been much better off. It seems unlikely that the disease would have affected both. In the initial report on the transplanting experiment, it was shown that researchers were encouraged to test over- seas oysters because the State of Maine Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries has had some success in rearing them in the Boothbay Harbor area. European oysters are somewhat different in appearance from Maritime oysters. They are nearly circular in out- line instead of elongated, but they are not so deeply cupped and sometimes are referred to as ‘‘flat’’ oysters, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 63 Unlike the native species, European oysters cannot be held for months in cold storage. It is best to use them with- in a few days after removal from the sea. The current experiment was inaugurated last year when the Minister of Fisheries approved a trial introduction of 5,000 small European oysters. After making sure they were pest-free, they were placed in trays in Sam Orr Pond and Oak Bay in the St. Andrews area. During the first months 95 percent of the stock died. Scientists believe the high mortality rate was due to the effects of their long air exposure during the 11-day ocean voyage from England. However, the growth of the surviving five percent of the original stock was good. The diameter increased from 1.5 inches to 3 inches. It was also found that the oysters did not harbor pests or disease of any kind. When the ice cleared from the ponds last spring, it was found that 99 percent survived the winter in Sam Orr Pond, but that all of the Oak Bay stock died. The mortality is blamed on a heavy freshet in January 1958 which reduced the salt content of the water to very low levels. While the _number of survivors was small, the researcher said, ‘‘we can confidently say that North Wales oysters can be reared in our waters.’’ He rightly points out, however, that this is not enough to give hope for a new industry. It must be found out if they will reproduce vigorously and if they are resistant to the Malpeque disease that affected so many of the Canadian native species. Last April (1958) another lot of 5,000 oysters was shipped from North Wales to be used in breeding experi- ments and in experiments to test disease resistance. They were shipped by air to shorten their time out of water and to prevent heavy losses immediately after they survived the trip. They were planted in Sam Orr Pond for studies on reproduction, Mortalities were high, but not nearly as high as in 1957. (Trade News, November 1958, of the Ca- nadian Department of Fisheries.) Chile FOREIGN FISHING VESSELS REQUIRED TO BUY PERMITS: In December 1958 the Chilean Govern- ment released a statement reminding owners of foreign fishing vessels that permits must first be obtained from the Government to fish in Chilean waters. Permits, when issued, will be good for three years. No information on permit fees was made available in the statement. OK kk Ok NORTHERN AREA HAS GOOD PROSPECTS FOR FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT: One of Chile's richest fishery zones is in the northern part, which abounds in an- chovy, bonito, and tuna. However, in the ports of Arica and Iquique there are only 7 fish-processing firms, including a whal- ing station. Of these firms, three manu- facture fish meal exclusively and the others divide their facilities between 64 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Chile (Contd.): canning and fish-meal manufacture. This northern fishery zone (off Tarapaca) is not only rich in marine life, but is also favored by a very advantageous customs and tariff situation. Arica is a free port and Iquique is a special duty-free indus- trial zone--all of which would benefit new fishing enterprises. The Food and Agriculture Organization fishery mission to Chile, at the request of the Chilean Government, completed a survey of Chile's fisheries in 1957. The results of this survey provide some basis on which to establish means to develop the fishing industry. (Boletin Informativo No. 59, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Valparaiso, Chile, July15, 1958.) oe ook oe ok ck REGULATIONS ON USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN ICE FOR REFRIGERATING FISH ISSUED: The Chilean Ministry of Health in De- cree No, 1207 (Diario Oficial of Decem- ber 9, 1958) approved a regulation deal- ing with the addition of antibiotics to ice used for refrigerating fish. Each anti- biotic as well as the procedure of in- corporating it in ice will be authorized by the National Health Service. Distributors of antibiotics so used, ice-making plants, fishery plants, fish transport vehicles, and types and mate- rials of containers used in marketing must be authorized by the same Service. Containers of the fish product so treat- ed must comply with the September 26, 1939, food regulations (Decree 770) and must have indicated the name of antibio- tic, date of application to ice, and length of duration of activity, with the statement "treated with ice containing antibiotics to retard alteration." The decree states infractions of the regulation will be sanctioned according to Sanitary Code. Vol. 21, No. 3 Costa Rica AMENDMENTS TO MARITIME FISH AND GAME LAW: The Costa Rican Legislature in Law No. 2304, effective December 4, 1958, amended articles 7 and 16 of the basic Decree Law of September 28, 1948, which is known as the Maritime Fish and Game Law. The principal change effected by Law No, 2304 in the basic Maritime Fish and Game Law is contained in the amended Article 7 which now requires that fishing for shrimp and fish with scales in nation- al waters be carried on ''only by vessels constructed within the country with na- tional woods and labor.'' The amendment to the Maritime Fish and Game Law is the most recent of a series of new regu- lations pertaining to the country's fisher- ies resources. These recent regulations all are pro- tective in nature and reflect Costa Rica's growing concern over its fisheries re- sources. Last October, the Minister of Agriculture and Industries publicly as- sured local fishermen in Puntarenas that the Government had no intention of grant- ing permits for shrimp fishing in Costa Rican waters, especially in the Punta- renas area, to foreign fishermen. The present legislation also will serve to protect and promote the three very small Jocal shipyards in the Puntarenas area. These three yards are capable of building small craft with a maximum size of from 80 to 150 gross tons. Even when operating at full capacity, these yards employ a total of less than 100 workers. While utilizing local labor and lumber, all three yards have to import the fittings and machinery which are installed in the vessels constructed. At present these yards are operating on a part-time basis. The amended articles 7 and 16 follow: "Article 7: In waters under the pro- tection and control of the State the Mari- .time Fish and Game Law shall be pursued only by vessels or floating canneries un- der national registry and and by vessels of foreign registry provided that they have a permit duly issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Industries, assuming March 1959 Costa Rica (Contd.): compliance with the foregoing provisions, fishing for shrimp and fish with scales will be carried out only by vessels con- structed in the country with national woods and labor. "Article 16: Except as provided in Article 7 of the present law referring to fishing for shrimp and for fish with scales, fishing for export effected by means of vessels under foreign registry possessing the proper authorization of the Ministry of Agriculture and Industries, and whose product in a fresh condition is destined exclusively for foreign markets, will be subject to the provisions of the present law and its regulation as well as to the pertinent regulations which hence- forth may be set forth. "(a) Motherships and floating plants must always be situated in the bay and in sight of the national docks. "(b) Fish caught within territorial limits which are not processed by plants established in the national territory will be considered as ex- ports subject to customs duties and other surcharges in conformity with the respective tariff; and "(c) Motherships, ship plants, and other vessels will pay the transship- ment duty on merchandise which is transshipped to other vessels. They must also obtain the municipal li- cense tax corresponding to the juris- diction in which they may be located and pay the required import duties if they transfer to the shore any type of merchandise coming from them- selves," The provisions of Articles 7 and 16 will not apply to foreign vessels engaged in the fishing for shrimp and for fish with scales if they have been registered in Costa Rica before the date of publica- tion of the present law. Such vessels may continue operating in national waters. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 65 Cuba DEVELOPMENT OF BONITO FISHERY: Cuba's bonito fishery began in 1932 as an experiment. A group of about 20 Japanese fishermen who were engaged in long-line fishing south of Cuba (between Cienfuegos and Batabano) encouraged a Cuban firm to build a vessel especially for bonito fishing and gave instructions on fishing bonito by Japanese methods. The first vessel built for bonito fish- ing in Cuba had a cold-storage capacity of about 8,000 pounds and a crew of 8-- mostly Japanese fishermen. Until 1942, there was almost no progress made and no other vessels were built for bonito fishing. In 1942, two vessels were con- structed in Batabano, both somewhat larger and better equipped than the first vessel. In the following years, more ves- sels were built and the bonito fishery in- creased. Now, Cuba has 45 vessels es- pecially equipped for bonito fishing and their combined crews total 450 men. The method of bonito fishing used in ; Cuba is the same as used by United States tuna fishermen--live bait and pole-and- line. Cuban fishermen receive between 10-12 U. S. cents a pound for fresh bon- ito delivered to the canneries. The fish- ermen fish under seasonal contracts and are given a guarantee on their total catch. Larger vessels are presently being built with refrigeration facilities adequate for fishing in more distant waters. The vessels that arenow being used have cold- storage capacities of 8,000-15,000 pounds. The new vessels will have a capacity of 40,000 pounds. It is estimated that final tabulations of Cuba's 1958 bonito catch will amount to about 6 million pounds, indicating that this fishery has progressed considerably since its start. (Industria Conservera, Vigo, Spain, September 1958. Denmark FISHERY PRODUCTS EXPORTS UP IN 1958: Exports of fishery products by Denmark increased sharply from 308 million kroner (US$44.6 million) in 1957 66 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Denmark (Contd.): to about 360 million kroner (US$52.5 million) in 1958, ac- cording to estimates based on the first 11 months of 1958. Substantially higher exports were made in 1958 to all of Denmark’s customers except the United Kingdom and Bra- zil, Exports to the United States during the first 11 months of 1958 of 35.6 million kroner (US$5.2 million) were the highest on record. In 1957 they amounted to 18.4 million kroner (US$2.7 million). i Principal Danish Fishery Products Exports to | United States, 1957-58 January-November | Percentage Increase Million Million} US$ Kroner Kroner| 1,000 % |Fish solubles | 1880/0338 Salt herring 43 337 Fish and fish fillets 811 168 Northern lobster Rainbow or brook trout Denmark’s exports of fish and fish fillets were pri- marily cod and flounder fillets. The cooperative fish meal factory at Esbjerg was able to distribute its regular Christ- mas bonus in 1958, mainly because it had found a good mar- ket in the United States for its byproducts, OK Ke OK OK - FISH INSPECTION SERVICE: A law designed to maintain and foster the quality of Danish fishery products was passed in 1950. Known as the Quality Law, it was later revised in 1954. This law pertains to all aspects of trade in fishery products as well as methods of catching, storing, transporting, freezing, preserving, and the handling of fish and fish products. Fish for export and domestic use as well as imported fish come under the juris- diction of the law. Poor quality fish are defined as those products which be- cause of pathological spoilage, contamination, faulty prepa- ration, or any other reason, must be considered unfit for human consumption, The consumer is further protected by the next clause of the law which states that products must not be sold which, although fit for human consumption, are not absolutely fresh. Furthermore, if the products are to be transported and cannot be guaranteed to reach their desti- nation in good condition, they will not be passed by the in- spector. Fish which are found to be unfit for human consumption are destroyed or used for fish and animal fodder. Fish of good quality but which are judged to be unable to reach their destination in satisfactory condition are withheld from ex- port but may be used for domestic sale. Denmark, which has an area of only 17,000 square miles, is divided into 39 fisheries inspection districts. The de- centralized control body which is known as the Fisheries Inspection Service places at least one fish inspector in each district. The division of the inspection district and the num- ber of inspectors in each is in accordance with the position and the importance of the fishing ports. At the present time there are 112 people in the Fisheries Inspection Service and the 39 fisheries inspection districts are supervised by three superintendents. The fish inspector is present when the fish is landed, when it reaches the processing plants, the freezing houses, and until it is ready for the wholesale and export trade. VO 2 NOrra He is also called upon to inspect the processing plants, the Sanitation control, quality of the raw materials, production in general, quality of the products, and the labeling or mark- ing of the products. However, the supervision of the inspection of fish-proc- essing plants is the responsibility of the Danish Inspection Service for Fish Products. The more highly technically- skilled personnel of the centralized body who comprise this Inspection Service tour the different plants to check that they are meeting the requirements of the Ministry of Fish- eries. On these occasions they meet with the local fish in- spectors and discuss new regulations which affect both bodies. This service also takes care of the more technical and scientific problems and are consultative to the Ministry of Fisheries in questions regarding fish-processing plants and quality control. Furthermore, a Quality Committee has been established to assist the Minister of Fisheries in all matters pertain- ing to the quality control of fish and fish products. The committee consists of five trade representatives, one repre- sentative of the health authorities, and one representative of the Ministry of Fisheries. The quality law contains rules which must be adhered to virtually as soon as the fish is caught right up until the moment the housewife is serving it to her family. In gen- eral these provisions state that clean and sanitary conditions must be maintained wherever fish and fish products are stored or handled. For example, aboard fishing vessels, the fish must be stored in such a way that the bottom ones are not destroyed by those on top. Another important provision of the law states that fish which are not caught alive must be iced and cleaned immedi- ately. If the fish is caught alive, it must be kept in water of good quality until it reaches the consumer. When trans- porting fish, steps must be taken to provide proper protec- tion against wind and weather. Those merchants involved in the wholesaling or export- ing of fresh or frozen fish must first obtain a permit from the Ministry of Fisheries. A similar provision is in force for the retail trade. Quality assessment of fish is usually made by organo- leptic (judging the quality of fish by texture, appearance, odor, and taste) testing, although several objective methods have been suggested and are used to some degree. The quality laws also provide the Ministry of Fisheries with the power to determine what establishments shall en- gage in the manufacturing, freezing, or processing of fish and fish products, Authorization is granted to those estab- lishments which meet the requirements of the Ministry of Fisheries, the Public Health Authorities, and the Directorate of Labour Inspection. (Trade News, November 1958.) 2 German Democratic Republic FISHING FLEET EXPANSION INCLUDES PLANS FOR 20 LARGE STERN TRAWLERS: In order to achieve the goal of meet- ing the demand for fish and to conserve foreign exchange, the East German fish- ing industry plans to build 20 large (1,400 metric ton capacity) stern trawlers by 1975. Ten of these stern-trawlers are scheduled to be ready by 1965. March 1959 German Democratic Republic (Contd.): In the fishery combines, processing plants, and shipyards on the Baltic Coast intensive work is going on. In addition to the vessel building program, new technical plants are being erected and new fishing grounds and methods are being explored. The deep-sea fishing fleet is develop- ing fast. In 1950 the East German fish- ing fleet consisted only of 9 luggers and 58 cutters. In 1958 the fishery combines of Rostock and Sassnitz and coastal fish- eries operated a fleet of 20 trawlers, 34 luggers, 20 steel-hull cutters (86.9 feet in length), 200 cutters (78.7, 55.8, and 39.4 feet in length), and 100 cutters (32.8- 55.8 feet in length). About 89,000 met- ric tons of fish were landed in 1958. Plans call for increasing this total many times. In 1959, the 100,000-ton level is expected to be surpassed for the first time. New methods are planned to catch larger quantities of herring from the North Sea, halibut from the fishing grounds between Iceland and Greenland, ocean perch on the ''Rosengarten," and mackerel on the ''Vikingbank,'' off the Shetland Islands. There are still many obstacles to be overcome to achieve the planned goals. The trips, which trawlers and luggers must make to reach the catching grounds, are often very long and, especially in the case of luggers, render fishing opera- tions unprofitable, because of the unbal- anced ratio of travel and catching time. Also, the quality of the landed fish has been poor on account of the long return trips. In order to correct the deficiency in payloads, it is planned to place into serv- ice by 1960 five trawlers of Type III, which carry refrigeration and fish-meal plants. Compared with Trawler Type II, this type has larger measurements and larger carrying capacity. The fishholds can carry 452 tons of fish compared with 250 tons in Type II trawlers. The ves- sels which will be built will have a length of 215.0 feet, a width of 33.9 feet and a draft of 17.1 feet. They will have COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 67 a crew of 36, develop a speed of 13.5 knots an hour, and be equipped with a "father-and-son"' power plant. The main emphasis of the develop- ment program of the fishery fleet is placed on the factory trawlers, which were designed by a Wismar shipyard, and will also be built by that yard. In the future, factory-type vessels will be used predominantly in East German deep- sea fishing operations. The construction of the prototype of a factory trawler was completed in 1958. A total of 10 factory trawlers will be turned over to the fish- ery combine in Rostock by 1965. Pre- liminary planning provides for a fleet of 20 vessels of this type to be built and operated by 1975. The last 11 vessels to be built under this program will have Diesel-electric propulsion. It is planned to operate the factory trawlers in Arctic waters, off the coasts of Greenland and Iceland. They will be able to stay at sea for 60 days, of which about 40 days will be spent actually in catching fish. Their operating range of 5,280 nautical miles is about equal to 20 days' travel time. An 8-cylinder four-stroke engine with a power output of 1,900 horsepower will drive the propeller at 220 revolutions per minute, permitting a full speed of 12 knots. During fishing operations the speed will be 4.5 knots, with a pull on the cod ends of 9 tons. Measurements of the factory trawler will be as follows: over-all length, 284.5 feet; molded breadth, 44.3 feet; molded depth up to the wheel- house top, 47.9 feet; molded depth up to the main deck, 23.0 feet; designed draft, 16.4 feet; and carrying capacity, 1,421 metric tons. The fish caught by the stern-type trawlers will be dumped through two hatches into the processing room located in the after part of the ship. There the following fish-processing machinery will be installed: one filleting machine for ocean-perch, one filleting machine for round fish; one machine for processing small round fish; and a skinning machine. The fillets will be placed on trays, con- veyed to a freezing tunnel, where they will be frozenatatemperatureof-18 C. (0. F.). Thereafter the final processing and packing takes place. Subsequently, 68 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW German Democratic Republic (Contd.): a 72-foot chain conveyor belt takes the fillet packages, of 55 pounds each, tothe lifts forwarding them to the deep-freeze storage rooms. The storage rooms are designed to hold about 800 tons (580 tons of fillets, 200 tons of fish-meal cake, and 60 tons of fish oil). In order to fully utilize the process- ing capacity, about 1,500 tons of ocean perch or 1,250 tons of round fish will have to be caught per trip. Annual land- ings per ship are set at 5,100 tons. Later, when sufficient experience has been gain- ed, annual landings shall amount to 5,800 tons. (For comparison: a lugger catches an average of 531.3 tons and a conven- tional trawler 1,539.7 tons of fresh fish a year.) The ship, which is equipped with fore- mast and main-mast, will have a crew of 98, of whom 19 are nautical person- nel, 15 engineers, 55 operators of fish- processing machines, and 7 stewards. In addition, a physician and a male nurse will be stationed aboard ship. Single cabins will be available for the ship's officers, the crew will be accom- modated inmodern and practically furn- ished two- and four-bed cabins. Apart from the usual ship installations, there will be a laundry with drying and iron- ing facilities, a bakery, a medical sta- tion for the physician, and a hospital with six beds, several washrooms, shower- baths, bathrooms, and aclub room. Mov- ies may be shown in the crew mess. The hull of the factory-type vessel, subdivided by 7 waterproof bulkheads, will be built according to a system of transverse framing and, with few excep- tions, will be fully welded. For the first time, an electric power plant will be in- stalled, producing three-phase current. It is planned to install two additional electric winches of 1.5 tons capacity each in order to be able to discharge the ship within 16 hours. The factory trawlers. offer every pos- sibility of improving fishing operations. Together with trawlers, luggers, and cutters of the deep-sea fishing fleet, these Wool, Zl, IN, 8) ships will serve to meet the fish demand of the population of the German Demo- cratic Republic by their own landings in the foreseeable future. (Translation from the East German periodical Die Schiffahrt, October 1958 and transmitted by the U- nited States Consul in Bremen). af Ghana PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERIES: Projects adopted for meeting fisher- ies production problems were outlined by the Ghana Minister of Agriculture in a speech given at the opening of an agricultural show. The fishing industry will be aided by the construction of a large fishing port at Tema and a smaller port at Elmina for small trawlers and other powered craft. Plans call for the completion of the small port of Elmina by about July 1, 1959, and the completion of the larger harbor at Tema by about January 1, 1960. It is also proposed to establish proper- ly organized marketing facilities at the fishing ports. The markets will be man- aged by the Agricultural Development Corporation under the guidance of an ex- pert attached to the Ministry of Agricul- ture, the United States Embassy at Accra reported on January 8, 1959. \o Guatemala UNITED STATES FIRM PLANS TO FISH FOR SHRIMP IN GUATEMALAN WATERS: All the legal requirements have been fulfilled to grant permission to a San Francisco, Calif., fishing company to op- erate in Guatemala's Pacific maritime zone. The San Francisco Guatemalan consul cabled Guatemala January 3, 1959, saying: ''Twenty boats will arrive before January 31 to sound and identify shrimp | banks and toassign large fleet for perma- nent operations there under Guatemalan flag. A week before, representatives will arrive to arrange taxes, licenses. I am March 1959 Guatemala (Contd.): writing giving details, Consul, Guate- mala,'' according to a January 5 press release from the Information Secretari- at of the Presidency. The Guatemalan press release con- tinues ''. . .our ambassador in Mexico has informed about applications of vari- ous Mexican fishing companies which wish to work on our Pacific coast.... This information has not been checked out in the United States. () SHRIMP FISHING INDUSTRY: Foreign Trade: The processing of shellfish aire 75 percent shrimp) has expanded rapidly in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong since 1955. In the first nine months of 1958, exports of fresh, chilled, and frozen shellfish (table 1) totaled about 4.2 million pounds (value Hong Kong - Hong Kong's Exports o COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 69 of Commerce and Industry place the an- nual average catch at about 10 million pounds (heads on). In addition to the exports of fresh, chilled, and frozen shrimp, Hong Kong exports fair quantities of salted, dried, and pickled shellfish. During the first nine months of 1958, Hong Kong export- ed 68,000 pounds of cured shellfish (90 percent shrimp) to the United States or about 10 percent of total exports of 668,000 pounds to all countries. Another source of statistical data on Hong Kong's foreign trade are figures on value compiled from the Comprehensive Certificates of Origin. Data derived from this source show that exports of frozen shrimp for January-October 1958 amounted to US$2.6 million (c.i.f.). Dur- ing the same period exports of sliced shrimp noodles amounted to US$55,000 and shrimp paste US$35,000. Fishing Seasons and Grounds: There are two main fishing seasons for the Hong King shrimp fishing fleet. During resh, Chilled, or Frozen Shellfish, 1955-1957 and Jan.-Sept. 1958 Jan.-Sept. 1958 00 | US$ ’ Note: Value is f.0.b. Hong Kong. US$2.6 million) as compared with about 2.5 million pounds (valued at US$1.3 million) for the entire year of 1957. Only 0.4 million pounds were exported in 1955. It is estimated that more than 75 percent of the shellfish exports consist of frozen shrimp (heads off). The United States is Hong Kong's principal customer for shellfish (about 90 percent frozen shrimp). For the first nine months of 1958, exports of shellfish to the United States accounted for 79.5 percent of the total quantity and 85.4 per- cent of the total value. No statistics are collected in Hong Kong on the landings of shrimp, but es- timates from officials of the Department the early season from April through the end of the typhoon season in September, the shrimp trawlers operate in the wa- ters around the Colony. The primary area for shrimp at this season lies south and east of the Lema chain of islands, held by the Chinese Communists. Here the sea bottom falls off very gradually, beginning at about 20 fathoms. A second- ary shrimp area is in the Urmston Roads off Castle Peak, within Colony waters. During the rest of the year, from Octo- ber-March, shrimp trawlers must pro- ceed northeast from Hong Kong, along the China mainland coast. Some trawl- ers are away for a month at a time dur- ing this season, goingas faras 600 miles up the coast to grounds off Fukien Prov- ince. 70 Hong Kong (Contd.): Fishing Fleet: for the most part, Hong Kong's shrimp trawlers are sail-power- ed. The 1955-57 reports of the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry states that only 280 outofthe 769 shrimp trawlers based in the Colony are motor- ized. Both types of trawlers use beam trawls with about a 10-foot spread, drag- ging either 7 or 9 suchtrawls from booms on either side of the boat and from the mast. There have been no significant changes in the total strength of the shrimp-catching fleet from 1956-1958, although a large number have been mech- anized in this period. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No: 3 shrimp, less than 30 to the pound; medi- um shrimp, 31 to 60 to the pound; and shrimp more than 61 to the pound. Large shrimp account for about 10 percent of the total catch, medium shrimp about 65 percent, and the remaining 25 percent small sizes. Government Assistance: Some govern- ment assistance is afforded owners of shrimp vessels inthe form of low-interest loans. These loans are made only for the purchase and repair of craft and gear. They are made to the individual vessels either through cooperatives or direct by the Department of Cooperatives and Mar- keting or the Department of Agriculture. Table 2 - Hong Kong's Export of Salted, Dried, or Pickled Shellfish, 1955-1957 and Jan.-Sept. 1958 Sept. 19 1957 US$ | 1,000 q 1,000 | Lbs. | 1,000 63 83 103 124 168 yf 1 m2 901 136 265 325 1,418 Note: Values f.0.b. Hong Kong. 1/ Less than US$500. Species Landed: The principal spe- cies of shrimp landed at Hong Kong is Metapenaeus monoceros. Varieties of lesser importance are Penaeus monodon, Penaeus japonicus, and Penaeus oriental - is. The latter species flourishes in wa- ters colder than those surrounding the Colony and are landed by the trawlers that fish off the China coast inthe winter months. Most of the Penaeus orientalis that is marketed in Hong Kong, however, is imported from Communist China. Facilities and Processing: Shrimp are not canned in Hong Kong. There are 12 cold-storage plants which have freezing facilities for packing of shrimp for ex- port. The bulk of this business is handled by the five plants which are approved by Government agencies under the Compre- hensive Certificate of Origin procedure. Fair quantities of shrimp are sun-dried and used for food, while substantial quan- tities of shrimp paste are also made in the Colony. In the Hong Kong market, shrimp (head- less) are graded in size as follows: large No financial assistance in any form is given to commercial processors or ex- porters by the government. There is no foreign participation in the Hong Kong shrimp fishery or processing industry. able 3 - Value/of Shrimp and Shrimp Products Certified Undez "Comprehensive Certificate of Origin" for Ex- port from Hong Kong to United States, Jan. -Oct. 1958 (US$1, 000) B) 1 2 3 s 2 6 3 8 2 8) 2 4 2 7 2 4 S passe 3 [155 al |S Sie 10 Mos. Total . Territorial Waters: The Chinese Communist regime has announced that its territorial jurisdiction extends to the 12-mile limit. While the British government does not recognize the legal- ity of this unilateral extension, the Com- munists have successfully excluded the March 1959 Hong Kong (Contd.): Hong Kong fishing fleet from its waters. This has been done by imposing fines on Hong Kong-registered vessels found fish- ing within the 12-mile limit and in some cases by confiscation of the vessels. These restrictions severely hamper the growth and stability of the local fishing COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 71 industry. Particularly is this true of Hong Kong-based shrimp fishing vessels which will have difficulty finding alter- nate fishing grounds to those in which they have traditionally fished. In view of these disturbing developments, the lo- cal shrimp fishing industry is likely to suffer rather than expand. Iceland FISHERIES TRENDS, DECEMBER 1958: The Iceland autumn herring season is usually finished by mid-December, but in December 1958 the boats were making record catches, The herring, which disappeared in October, returned in quantity to the Southwest Coast. Over 100,000 barrels of autumn herring have been salted, permitting fulfillment of all advance sale contracts and assuring some reduction in the clearing deficits with the Eastern European countries, Iceland’s chief customers for herring. The Union of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners has held its annual meeting; made its annual complaints over the inadequacy of prices and export supports; and issued its annual threat to stay in port, instead of commencing the main winter cod season in January 1959, unless fish prices are raised. A committee of Government economists has been meeting to prepare for the annual negotiation, nor- mally conducted by the Minister of Fisheries, which has been delayed this month by reason of the Government cri- sis. The vessel owners themselves have calculated that a typical 60-ton boat with a catch equivalent to the average in Faxa Bay during the last 5-years and paying wages based on the wage index of 185 (which prevailed from August to December 1, 1958) would show a deficit of about US$5,000, at current fish prices. With the 9.2percent escalation wage increase of December 1, 1958, the deficit would be larger. Iceland joined with others of the 11 members of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) outside the Common Market in protesting to the Common Market Nations over the prospect of discrimination at the KK OK OK FISHERIES TRENDS, JANUARY 1959: Early returns from the winter motor trawl-line fishery off the southwest coast of Iceland indicate exceptionally good catches, particularly for haddock. During January, two Icelandic trawlers landed trips in England. These were the first stage of the Common Market which came into effect on January 1, 1959. The Icelandic note, addressed to the Federal German Republic, followed the model used by most of the other members of the Free Trade Area. Just prior to the dissolution of the Cabinet the Minister of Industries reported to the Althing on the progress of ne- gotiations, stressing their importance in view of the fact that almost half of Iceland’s exports now go to OEEC mem- ber countries. A Leading Conservative, a director of the National Bank and former representative of Iceland to the OEEC, has publicly supported the Government’s position in all respects except for its insistence on preserving Iceland’s bilateral clearing agreements, The high prices paid by the Eastern European countries for Icelandic fish are illusory, he stated, because of the corresponding high prices and the poor quality of the imports from Eastern Europe. Although the trawlers had adequate Icelandic labor during the autumn fishing for ocean perch off Newfoundland, they faced an acute shortage during the cod season wnich com- menced in January 1959. During the main winter season, the trawlers must compete for labor with the entire motor boat fleet and they usually cannot offer as good terms as the motor boats. The Trawler Owners Association sent re- presentatives to the Faroe Islands in an effort to recruit seamen (some 900 Faroese seamen were employed in win- ter of 1958 and more than 1,300 the year before). But the Faroese have demanded exemption, or partial exemption, from the 55-percent exchange surcharge imposed by the Export Fund Law of May 1958, and this is a concession which the trawler owners are powerless to grant. KOK first landings of Icelandic fish since the start of the fisheries limit dispute. Three more Iceland vessels were reported tobe en route to England with trips of fish. The British Union of Masters and Mates has threatened to strike unless landings by Icelandic vessels are banned. DEVELOPMENT OF MARINE FISHERIES CON- FERENCE: A two-day conference of Ministers and Officials connected with fishery development in the maritime states of India was held in Bombay on November 8-9, 1958. Presided over by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, the conference was attend- ed by about 75 officials representing the states of Bombay, Mysore, Kerala, Madras, Andhra, Orissa, 72 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW India (Contd.): and West Bengal. The conference was called with the object of exchanging notes among the officials of the different states and to discuss matters con- nected with the development of fisheries during the Second Five Year Plan period. The conference was indicative of official interest in fishery development which has assumed greater importance in view of the tight food grain situation. Under the Second Five Year Plan, an allotment of Rs.117,758,000 (US$24.7 million) has been made for the development of fisheries. The development programs envisaged in the Plan include the expan- sion of current activities relating to mechanization of fishing boats, provision of increased harbor fa- cilities, introduction of improved curing and mar- keting methods, and technological research. These programs may have to be curtailed due to rephasing the Plan, Inaugurating the conference, the Deputy Minister emphasized the urgent necessity of enlarging the fish supply in the country in view of the ''alarming- ly increasing pressure on land" caused by the rap- idly growing population. Even at present, he said, the availability of fish was very low. Against an estimated annual requirement of 4,050,000 long tons of fish on the basis of minimum nutritional standards, current production is only of the order of 1,100,000 tons. An important factor which had been hampering rapid development of the fishing industry, accord- ing to the Minister, was the continued low socio- economic condition of fishermen. Until very re- cently, private capital had not been attracted to the fishing industry. Recognizing that increased fish output was closely linked with the improve- ment in the fishermen's economic status, official efforts had been directed, from the very beginning, toward this end by means of setting up fishermen cooperatives. Nevertheless, he admitted that the actual achievement in organizing cooperatives had not been appreciable. He advocated, therefore, that more attention should be devoted to this aspect of the problem by stimulating the establishment of a large number of cooperative fishing and market- ing societies. In this connection, he suggested that one of the purposes of the conference should be to devise ways and means of achieving this objective. Referring to the introduction of mechanized fish- ing boats in recent years as a means of enlarging fish catch in offshore waters, the Deputy Minister expressed gratification at the considerable pro- gress made in Bombay State in this direction. He said that he was aware that the demand for marine engines and modern fishing gear from fishermen in Bombay and other states was growing, but point- ed out that foreign exchange posed a serious prob- lem even to meet a part of the requirements. In view of the Government's interest in expand- ing fishery resources, the Deputy Minister indicated that private and cooperative enterprises desirous of undertaking deep-sea fishing operations in col- Volk 2 Notes laboration with foreign interests and technical "know-how" would be assisted with long-term credits. In his view, the foreign collaborators should contribute technicians and capital equipment for fishing, storage, and processing on reasonable terms. In this connection, he drew attention to the successful operations of a commercial fishing com- pany in Bombay which had aroused interest among local industrialists. He also disclosed that the Government had under consideration a proposal to establish deep-sea fishing stations in Cochin (Ker- ala), Tuticorin (Madras), and Vishakapatnam (And- hra) on the lines of the exploratory station oper- ating in Bombay since 1948. On the question of marketing, the Deputy Minis- ter observed that facilities for quick transport of fish from landing sites to consumer markets need- ed to be augmentei. Regarding exports, he noted that large quantitids of dried fish were being ship- ped out of India. A small export trade has also been built in frozen shrimp and spiny lobsters, chiefly with the United States. He also pointed out that freezing of fish required to be developed ona large scale if exports were to be expanded and said that the Government would offer appropriate assis- tance to encourage the processing of fish and fish products for export. The conference resolved itself into four sub- committees to facilitate detailed consideration of the various aspects of fishery development. These included training, research, exports, quality stand- ards, transport, marketing, organization of coop- eratives, and utilization of facilities available in the community development projects. The confer- ence reconvened on November 9 to discuss the re- ports of the subcommittees. The conference adopted a setof 37 recommenda- tions covering practically all aspects of marine fishing, marketing, and transport. The conference proposed that the Central and State Govern- ment's encourage the formation of private fishing companies for catching, processing, and distribu- tion of fish, both for domestic consumption and ex- ports. The need for observing high-quality stand- ards for export purposes was emphasized, and it was recommended that only high-quality products should be exported. It was also recommended that harbor and docking facilities for fishing vessels be improved, With respect to mechanization of fish- ing craft and gear, the conference recommended that priority be given to the import of engines and other ancillary equipment. It was further recom- mended that local firms be given appropriate as- sistance in the manufacture of engines and other fishing gear. The conference also proposed that credit facili- ties be extended to cooperatives engaged in the production, marketing, and transport of fish on the same lines as agricultural cooperatives. Other suggestions included the provision of insulated and refrigerated railroad cars and trucks for fish transport, establishment of separate fish markets in urban areas, construction of cold storages, and the inclusion of fishermen villages in community development blocks. March 1959 India (Contd.): Unconfirmed press reports stated that the con- ference also called upon the Government to make a public pronouncement outlining its policy toward foreign investment in fishery products. nS” lran PROPOSES 12-MILE TERRITORIAL SEA OFF COAST: A bill amending the 1934 Six-Mile Law was introduced in the Iranian Senate on December 20, 1958, to establish a 12- mile territorial sea off the Iranian coast and around all islands under Iranian sov- ereignty. The bill was cleared for urgent | action (without second committee consid- eration and for floor debate within one week) despite objection on principal by the Chief Iranian Delegate to the 1958 Law of the Sea Conference. He stated that Iran should not rush into possible contradictions of Protocols previously signed and reminded the Senate that the question would probably be settled by the second Law of the Sea Conference-to be held in 1960, the United States Em- bassy in Tehran reported on December 20, 1958, lreland FIVE-YEAR PLAN PROVIDES US$8.4 MILLION FOR FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT: A total of £3 million (US$8.4 million) for the development of fisheries, includ- ingharbors, is included in the Irish Re- public Government's Five-Year Economic Expansion program. Expenditure on fish- eries is fixed at the rate of £400,000 (US$1.1 million) in the first year increas - ing to#500,000 (US$1.4 million), £500,000 (US$1.4 million), £550,000 (US$1.5 mil- lion), and £600,000 (US$1.6 million) in the succeeding years. In addition £500,000 is likely to be spent on harbor develop- ment in the five-year development. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW The White Paper giving the program says ''Hitherto, sea fisheries policy has 73 been aimed at supplying the home mar- ket with fresh fish from landings by in- shore fishermen. The market is restrict- ed; our consumption of fish is one of the lowest in the world. The home market could be expanded considerably if prices were reduced by an increase in supplies, and if the means of distribution were im- proved. "Our exports are small, butitisclear that markets are available if we can sup- ply high-quality fish at a competitive price. With good prospects of markets at home and abroad, policy is now aimed at asub- stantial increase in landings of fish. "A Food and Agriculture Organization consultant is being engaged to review the industry to suggest the lines upon which it should be developed as an export in- dustry, to advise on measures to increase catching power and processing, to facili- tate marketing and to attract the neces- sary capital. .. .An Icelandic master fisherman has been engaged to advise fishermen in modern methods and tech- niques. Two groups of young fishermen are undergoing training as skippers-- the first ashore at Galway and the second at sea. It is hoped the course started at Galway will develop into an established nautical school."' (The Fishing News, No- vember 20, 1958.) TRAWLERS TO FISH OFF CANARY ISLANDS: Israel is tohave two trawlers for deep- sea fishing off the Canary Islands. Each trawler will carry an all-Israel crew of 30 and will be capable of processing 1,750 metric tons of frozen fish, 250 tons of salt fish, and 175 tons of fish meal an- nually. These trawlers will carry Canary Islanders as pilots to guide them to the grounds. The extension of Israel's fish- ing activities into the Atlantic is the re- sult of the geo-political situation which hampers the further development of off- shore fishing in the Mediterranean, (De- cember 1958 World Fishing, fishery peri- odical.) Israel 74 Japan FISHING INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONFERENCE WITH RUSSIA: The Japanese fishing industry has considered since early November 1958 the position it would like Japan to take in the annual fisheries conference with the Russians, which opened in Tokyo on January 12, 1959. The industry recommendations were completed at a meeting of a special committee on De- cember 19, and were presented to the Chief of the Japanese Fishery Agency’s Production Division on December 20, 1958. The recommendations aim toward a general relaxation of controls on the Japanese high-seas salmon and crab fisher- ies, and the setting of a salmon catch quota (the main point at issue in the annual meetings) 50-percent higher than for 1958. Among the reasons cited by the industry for its very optimistic demands are the facts that next year is the peak in the two-year cycle of pink salmon abundance, the claim of Japanese that high-seas fishing does not put a heavy strain on salmon stocks (because many of the fish taken offshore would be lost to natural mortality before reaching the spawning streams), and a belief on the part of the Japa- nese that poor Soviet salmon catches in the past season are due, at least in part, to the ineptness of RusSian fishermen, A dark background to these optimistic claims, however, is provided by the apparently undeniable fact that the Soviet catch was very meager in 1958, perhaps only about half of the Japanese catch, and also by reports of Japanese fisher- ies observers who visited the Soviet Far East in August and saw how few spawners were ascending some of the major rivers, Specifically, the Japanese industry asks its Commissioners to bargain for a 165,000-metric-ton salmon catch quota as compared with the 110,000 tons which the Japanese settled for in 1958 (when the industry asked for 165,000 tons and the Commissioners opened negotiations with 145,000 tons). Dur- ing the past season, Japanese fleets limited their catch of red salmon, but because of the nonselective fishing method used, such quotas for particular species are held to be im- practicable and the industry wants none of them next season. Since the over-all catch is subject to a quota, the industry considers a time limit on the fishing season unnecessary and wants it dropped or at least an extension made beyond the August 10 closing date enforced in 1958. The quantity of net set and the spacing of the arrays of nets, the industry feels, should be governed by natural conditions on the fishing grounds, and it wants the present regulations on these points dropped. Closed areas extending as much as 40 miles from shore, as they did in 1958, should be abolished, and any special conservation areas that are established should extend only to a radius of 20 miles from the river mouths, Furthermore, it is held that the permanent closing of the Sea of Okhotsk, agreed to by the Japanese last year, is unreasonable and should be reconsidered. The industry statement makes several recommendations concerning the need for improving conditions in the spawning streams, protecting the fry, and studying the depredations of seals and other predators. Finally, stress is placed on the im- portance of the fishery in Japan’s economy with the claim that it provides a livelihood for almost 600,000 persons and brings in ¥20 billion (US$55.6 million) in foreign ex- change, For the king crab part of the negotiations, the industry is asking that the quota of four fleets producing 320,000 cases, as during the 1958 season, be considered the ab- solute minimum. In addition, it is requesting the abolish- ment of present closed areas, as well as the dropping of restrictions on size and spacing of nets, and the allowable percentages of female and immature crabs in the catches, (United States Embassy in Tokyo, December 24, 1958.) nde Ss ER Ed ts REACTION TO NORTH PACIFIC SALMON CONFERENCES: The annual meeting of the International North Pacific Fish- eries Commission, held at Tokyo from October 20 to Novem- ber 10, 1958, received extensive and detailed coverage from the general press, as well as the trade papers, while it was in progress, and a number of interesting summaries and evalu- ations of its work have appeared Since its conclusion. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wool, Bil, Wo. 3 Japan-Soviet fishery negotiations began at Tokyo on Jan- uary 12. The press is predicting difficult negotiations. Press reports show that Japan’s negotiators enter the conference with a set of well-justified demands for relaxation of restric- tions on every aspect of the fisheries covered by the Japan- Soviet treaty. The opening of the tripartite conference with the United States and Canada in October was preceded by a number of articles and editorials predicting that the United States would renew its demands for a westward shift of the provisional ab- stention line, on the grounds that its present position at 170° W. longitude allows the Japanese high-seas fishery to take large numbers of ‘‘American’’ salmon, At the end of the conference some editorial writers (Japan Times of November 13, Asahi of November 12) took approv- ing note of the Commission's American-sponsored recom- mendation of conservation measures tothe contracting parties, stating that Japan was, of course, prepared to do her part, as long as it involved no undue restrictions on her fishing rights. Numerous writers praised the part played by Japanese sci- entists. It was pointed out that if these scientists are to be as successful next year, when the problems left unresolved by this meeting must be taken up again, they will need more financial support for their research than they have had in the past; and the hope was expressed that the Commission meet- ings would continue in the future on as ‘‘scientific’’ a basis as this year. Tokyo Shimbun was still dissatisfied, and its editorial of November 14 expressed the view that the conference should have ended in a complete retreat of the United States from its demand for a westward movement of the abstention line. Any additional restriction on Japan’s salmon fishing, the editorial concluded, would be intolerable, in view of the fact that the tripartite pact is ‘‘fundamentally . . an un- equal treaty concluded as part of the Allied occupation policy and under conditions disadvantageous to Japan."’ Even before the North Pacific Fisheries Commission meet- ing ended, committees of the salmon and king crab sections of the Japanese industry had begun meeting on November 7 toformulate the demands whichthey wishtheir government’s representatives to present to the Russians in January. On that date the Nihon Keizai Shimbun predicted that the in- dustry would seek a narrowing of the closed areas along Soviet shores (20 to 40 miles wide this year), abolishment of the special red salmon conservation area off northeastern Kamchatka, and relaxation of restrictions on length and spacing of gill nets. The paper pointed out, however, that the Russians were likely to come out strongly for an enlarge- ment of the treaty area and additional restrictions, in view of the poor Soviet catch in 1958, the fact that Japan takes over 100,000 metric tons of salmon on the high seas outside of the present treaty area, and the Russian belief that Japanese ves- sels do a great deal of illicit fishing north of the treaty line. Tokyo Shimbun, on November 12, also thought it certain that the Russians would ask for a southward extension of the treaty area to take in more of the land-based gill-net and long- line fisheries. This would, in the newspaper’s opinion, make for drawn-out negotiations as the Japanese would stand on ‘‘the freedom of the seas’’ and their belief that most of the salmon south of the present treaty line do not originate in Soviet territory. The abundance of pink salmon in the western North Pacific, it was pointed out, fluctuates in a two-year cycle, and 1959 is supposed to be a year of high abundance. In the last such year, 1957, Japan got a 120,000- ton catch quota, and she should get at least as much this year, plus something to compensate for giving up the Sea of Okhotsk, for a total, say, of 130,000-140,000 tons as a mini- mum. According to. Tokyo Shimbun, the Japanese Fish- eries Agency feels that the 1958 season’s experience shows that regulations by separate species does not work, this year’s separate red salmon quota having resulted in a seri- ous cut in the chum salmon catch. The paper predicted that the Japanese delegation in January would include the Chief of the Fisheries Agency’s Production Division and the Vice- President of the Japan Fisheries Association, both of whom were active in the North Pacific Fishery Commission meet- ings; and the counselor of the Foreign Office’s European Affairs Bureau. The Japan Times, on November 13, stated that the three main questions to be brought before the conference would be March 1959 Japan (Contd.): the extent of increase in the catch quota over 1958's 110,000 tons, the dropping of separate species catch limits, and the cutting down of closed areas, On November 27 the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported the Northern Mothership Council as being strongly in favor of asking for a 170,000- to 175,000-ton catch quota, and relaxation of other restrictions. In justification it was stated that it is premature to conclude that the resource is declining, that the difficulties in filling the 1958 catch quota were due to bad weather and abnormal ocean conditions, that high-seas fish- ing has less effect on salmon resources than does inshore fishing, and that about 600,000 Japanese depend on the salm- on and king crab fisheries. The special red salmon catch quota should be dropped, or at least increased to 27,000 tons, and the closed red salmon conservation area off north- eastern Kamchatka should be abolished or the time of clo- sure postponed 10 days to August 1. On November 29 the Nihon Keizai reported that govern- ment officials had begun deliberations on the industry recom- mendations. The tone of the article was pessimistic, in that the Russians were expected to take a severe attitude and ask for enlarged closed areas and a smaller quota. It was re- ported that the Japanese government would like to speed up the negotiations, which in 1958 dragged on for 2-1/2 months, perhaps by having the deliberations of the biology committee proceed simultaneously with those of the commissioners, as is done in the case of the Tripartite Treaty. It was held de- sirable that a quota request greater than that for 1958 (145,000 tons) be made, on the grounds that 1959 is a year of abundance for pink salmon, but it was predicted that the So- viets might come out with a starting figure as low as 60,000 tons. The Asahi and the Suisan Keizai Shimbun of December 4 reported a meeting the previous day of the industry com- mittee concerned with the king crab part of the negotiations, Here the line agreed upon was that four crab cannery ships and a production quota of 320,000 cases, the same scale of operations as in 1958, is the minimum acceptable to the Jap- anese industry. Furthermore, the industry was reported to want abolishment of the existing seven closed areas on ‘migration routes’’ as meaningless, a change of the present required interval between nets from 100 meters to 30 meters, and elimination of differences in the amounts of gear that may be set and the permissible catches of female and immature crabs at different times of the season. The area south of 53 °N. latitude, which at present is complete- ly closed, is thought by the Japanese to be potentially a rich king crab fishing ground, They want a thorough sur- vey of this area made, looking forward to opening it in 1960. Suisan Keizai Shimbun of December 6 and Nihon Suisan Shimbun of December 12, two fisheries trade papers, pointed to an article in the Soviet fisheries journal Rybnoe Khoziaistvo’s September 1958 number, in which it was re- ported that most of the fishery combines in the Soviet Far East had exceeded their production targets for salmon in the first half of 1958, and that those which did not had failed to get their gear in operation in time for the season, On December 16 the Asahi and several of the English- language papers reported that the Japan Fishery Association's Special salmon subcommittee had, on the 15th, decided tentatively to ask the government to negotiate for a 165,000-ton salmon catch quota, leaving the other issues for further discussion at a meeting on December 19. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, reporting the same story, pointed out that the industry had asked for the same tonnage in 1958, supposedly a poor year for pink salmon, The expla- nation advanced was that failure to ask for a greater quota for 1959 was due to the report of the Japanese observa- tion team which toured Kamchatka in August and foundthe fisheries there in poor condition, and to the anticipated atti- tude of the Russian negotiators. It was stated clearly that the Japanese industry does not expect to be able to get 165,000 tons, On the basis of the ratio of industry demands to the government's demands to what was actually wrung out of the Soviets in past years, it would appear likely that a quota of 110,000 tons may come out of January’s bargaining, However, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 75 the paper stated that what the industry really wants to get is 120,000 tons, the same as last year (‘‘because 1959 is a rich year’’), plus 10,000 tons as compensation for giving up the Sea of Okhotsk, for a total of 130,000 tons, OK OK SALMON INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE'S VISIT TO RUSSIA: The President of the Hokkaido Fisheries Public Corpora- tion went to Moscow in November 1958 to discuss his plan for using Japanese fishermen ina joint Japanese-Soviet salmon fishing venture in Soviet waters. Though he got little encouragement for his project, he brought back reports of some significant Russian comments on Japanese-Soviet fish- ery relations, Since Japan regained her independence the Japanese fish- ing industry has developed a number of schemes for getting back into the coastal salmon fishery in Soviet territory. Although none of the schemes was accepted, the pressure for such schemes still exists because Japan has more salmon fishermen and fishing boats than the present mothership fleet operations can use. The latest plan for bringing this excess fishing potential to bear on the coastal salmon resources of the Soviet Far East is the ‘‘Takano scheme”’ of the President of the Hok- kaido Gyogyo Kosha, a public corporation which operates a salmon mothership fleet. This plan calls for the utiliza- tion of ‘‘unexploited resources’’ and the relief of depressed Hokkaido fishermen by formation of a joint Japanese-Soviet enterprise to fish within the coastal areas, some of them extending 40 miles offshore, that are closed to Japanese fishermen under the present fishery treaty between the two countries. The salmon produced by this operation would all be sold to the Soviet Union, In September 1957 the President of the company was in- formed by the Russians that they were considering his plan, and he received an invitation to come to Moscow to discuss it. It was not, however, until November 14, 1958, that he finally left for his trip. In press interviews he showed little confidence that the Russians would accept his plan. He stated that he had other reasons for making the trip, most importantly to lay before the Russian fishery au- thorities the plight of Hokkaido’s fishermen and to voice their protest against the closing of the Sea of Okhotsk to Japanese salmon fishing. When he returned to Japan on December 8, 1958, his re- port to the press indicated that he had been unable to see the Soviet fisheries chief who was attending a whaling con- ference in London, He presented his case to a Soviet Commissioner on the Japan-Soviet fisheries commission. When the Japanese visitor asked for reconsideration of the Russian position that has tied the issue of ‘‘safe fishing’’ (that is, safe from arrest by Soviet patrol boats) around the Kurile Islands with the conclusion of a peace treaty, the Russian Commissioner Stated that the Soviet Union was being as cooperative as it could, but that Japan showed no response. The Soviet Union is exerting itself to conclude a peace treaty as soon as possible, and wishes that the Japanese fisherfolk would also bend their efforts to the same end, On the main point of the visit, the joint fishing scheme, the Russian stated that he would inform the Russian fisheries chief, and then remarked that condi- tions had changed since the scheme was first proposed, The Japanese visitor took this to mean that because of improved economic conditions in the Soviet Union, the Russians no longer feel any need for Japanese coopera- tion in the fishing industry. The Russian said he under- stood the Japanese visitor’s desire to give employment to the depressed Hokkaido fishermen, but hinted that if the Japanese want a joint operation, they must change the form of their proposals. 76 Japan (Contd.): TUNA INDUSTRY AND CONTROL OF ATLANTIC TUNA FISHING AND EXPORTING: The decision of the Japanese Govern- ment to permit landing of tuna in foreign countries for export to the United States has developed problems within the Jap- anese tuna industry between vessel op- erators who have been fishing the Atlan- tic and those who want to send their boats into that area for the first time. At the same time, freezers and export- ers of tuna in Japan have been trying to retain their control of this trade against the growing practice of direct export of fish frozen aboard fishing vessels. On September 2, 1958, the Japanese Fisheries Agency published an order per- mitting Japanese fishing boats, under special license for each trip, to land fish in foreign countries for export to the U- nited States. This practice had been previously strictly restricted, partly out of fear of stimulating the opponents of Japanese tuna imports in the United States, and partly because of opposition from freezers and exporters of frozen tuna in Japan. The new order reflected the interest of Japanese fishermen in the rich new tuna grounds of the Atlantic; a growing demand from tuna canners in Puerto Rico and the eastern United States; the development of plans for transship- ping tuna to the United States from vari- ous points in the Caribbean; and the fact that the Italian market was about saturated with Japanese tuna. As originally written, the order limit- ed the right to engage in such "direct ex- port" to vessels which had already re- ceived permits to land Atlantic tuna for export to countries other than the United States, such as Italy or Brazil. This proviso was cancelled by a Fisheries Agency order on November 8, 1958, in effect throwing open the Atlantic to boats which had no previous record of opera- tion there. Since this change in the regulations was made, a struggle has been going on between the vessel operators who want to go into the Atlantic grounds for the first time, their cry being ''equality of opportunity,'' and the pioneers who, as COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 they say, explored and developed those grounds at great cost and risk, and who consequently want some special rights in their exploitation. At the same time a more severe con- test has developed between "land freezers" and ''shipboard freezers" over the share that each is to have in the future of the Japanese frozen tuna export trade. In the past few years the number of large tuna boats equipped with freezing machin- ery has increased rapidly, and their op- erators have tended to send them to the far grounds of the Indian and Atlantic oceans, where tuna are abundant and catches good. Since it is not economical- ly feasible to fish such distant grounds from bases in Japan, the owners of these freezerships have sought every opportun- ity for landing their catches in countries closer to the fishing areas--first in Italy, then in Brazil, Morocco, Cuba, Haiti, Panama, Israel, and elsewhere. The re- result is that firms (the "land freezers") which hitherto bought fish in Japanese ports and froze them for export by freight- er are faced with a dwindling supply of raw material and see their markets a- broad being supplied more cheaply and efficiently by the freezerships through direct export or transshipment. The present struggle is an effort of the land freezers to impose a yellowfin tuna ex- port quota on the freezership operators, who in turn are trying to capture for themselves a larger share of the export trade. At the most recent meeting, on Decem- ber 13, of a special committee which the tuna freezers' association has set up to work out the regulation of yellowfin ex- ports to the United States, the freezer- ship and land-freezer factions continued to be completely deadlocked, according to the Suisan Tsushin of December 15. The freezerships reportedly advanced a plan under which clippers landing tuna aboard for transshipment to the United States would be limited to two such landings per ship each year within a total limit-of 120 landings for the whole fleet. As the 64 freezerships now in operation average 350 tons capacity, this would put a ceil--= ing on landings for transshipment of about 42,000 tons (with something like 35,000 tons thought more likely to be the figure actually attained). Assuming this is March 1959 Japan (Contd.): accepted, the freezership operators esti- mate that landings of yellowfin in Japan next year would be 98,700 tons, of which 40,500 tons would be for export, thus splitting the yellowfin exports to the U- nited States almost evenly between freezerships and land freezers. To this the land-freezer faction re- plied that they had a right to demand as their annual export quota a total of 50,000 tons, based on the 1958 estimated ship- ments of 45,000 tons of yellowfin plus 5,000 tons of skipjack and big-eyed tuna to the United States. They pointed out that if the 42,000-ton quota claimed by the freezerships was added, the total would be nearly 50 percent higher than the 60,000 tons that the United States market could be expected to take next year. According to Suisan Tsushin, despite this basic opposition between the views of the two groups, talk in the trade is that the attitude of some of the land freezers is beginning to show signs of softening under pressure from the trading firms, which have been active in develop- ment of the transshipment exports of freezership fish, and the possibility of a sudden settlement of the problem is not ruled out. The land freezers' initial de- mand for an over-all yellowfin export quota seems already to have become un- realistic, and the main question remain- ing is whether or not to set up a quota just for exports from the homeland. The Suisan Tsushin expects the establish- ment of such a quota to be difficult be- cause of opposition from vessel operators. The freezership owners! insistence on a system of regulation which more or less guarantees vessels going to the At- lantic two chances to land fish for export to the United States is apparently due to their belief that this is the minimum nec- essary to make such a cruise pay. A re- port of a panel discussion of the tuna fish- ery's problems by a group of vessel op- erators, held at Misaki on November 18 and printed in the Suisan Shuho of Novem- ber 25, bears this out. In the article, which contains a wealth of gloomy data on the decline of tuna catches in all areas, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW tag the head of one fishing company's Misaki office states that his firm's 1,200-ton freezership must make four fishing trips on an Atlantic cruise to make money, the ideal plan of operation being one landing of 600 tons in Italy, two landings totaling 1,600 tons in Panama, and a landing of 900 tons on return to Japan. Sucha cruise requires about one year and two months, and grosses about US$700,000. The same authority claims that for a fi- nancially-successful Atlantic cruise by a 700-ton freezership, two deliveries totaling 800 tons to Italy, one of 400 tons to Panama, and one of 400 tons on return to Japan are required. oe Republic of Korea FISHERIES TRENDS, DECEMBER 1958: Shrimp: The program toproduce frozen shrimp for export is progressing satisfactorily and some excellent packs were being accumulated for future export. Several companies are very much interested in the possibilities of frozen shrimp and are preparing to enter into this market. The fishing firm that had packed 4,500 pounds of frozen shrimp under United States Army Inspection Regulations completed a second con- tract for 4,000 pounds for the United States Army. Another firm has constructed a shrimp-processing plant adjacent to an ice plant in Pusan. The buildings and installations are patterned after a pilot plant developed by the Central Fisher- ies Experiment Station. Shrimp are now being packed for domestic and export sale. A third firm at Pusan Jin is con- structing a frozen seafood packing plant adjacent to its ice plant. This plant was also being built to standards recom- mended by the Central Fisheries Experiment Station. Standards Program: A series of meetings were held with the Director of the Korean Fisheries Service and United States fisheries advisors to finalize the draft for the proposed Minis- terial order setting up standards for the inspection of frozen fish and shellfish for export. The proposed regulations set up standards for processing facilities, processing procedures, and conditions for inspection which will meet both United States military and United States Food and Drug Administration re- quirements, The standards are being examined by a legal staff prior to being submitted for promulgation, A training course was held at the Central Fisheries Experi- ment Station in November toteach inspectors of the Central Fisheries Inspection Service how to conduct inspections under the new regulations. Inspectors from Pusan, Seoul, Pohang, Mokpo, and Yosu attended. Fishing Fleets: Plans and drawings for an improved me- dium-size fishing vessel were developed by the Office of Ma- rine Affairs and United States fisheries technicians. Lists of fishing boats in need of repairs and/or modernization have been prepared. Efforts on the part of a United States fisher- ies technician to assist the Korean fishing industry to obtain more modern fishing vessels has made it necessary to initiate action to have the Korean vessel inspection laws revised and brought up todate. Draft of the proposed revisions are being prepared, Halibut: Following the successful program to develop shrimp processing, efforts are now being made to develop a species of halibut for processing and marketing. At present this species is not utilized to any extentin Korea. Sample packs are being prepared and, if acceptable, the exploitation of these species 78 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Republic of Korea (Contd.): could be the means of increasing substantially the Korean catch. This fishery would provide a needed incentive tokeep trawl- ers active during the summer season when they are normally inactive. kk Ok FISH-LIVER OIL INDUSTRY: Fish-liver oil plants located in the Republic of Korea produced about 150 metric tons of fish-liver oil in 1957. From April 1957 to April 1958, 1,142 drums of fish-liver oil valued at US$128, 385 were exported mostly to Japan. In terms of vitamin A units, the annual fish-liver oil production is about 3 to 4 trillion units and the export value is just under 4 U. S. cents a million units. Exports of fish-liver oil by Japan are estimated at about 100 trillion vitamin A units. As about all the Korean production is exported to Japan for further refining or resale, Korean production amounts to about 3-4 percent of the Japanese export supply. In early 1958 the Japanese fish-liver oil industry was overstocked and upset by a declining market. But, by late Au- gust, following an either poor or curtail- ed spring and summer production, the supply and demand situation improved. The world market for fish-liver oils, due to declining demand, is apparently quite sensitive to any oversupply. The principal Korean raw materials are livers from sharks, Alaska pollock, and cuttlefish (very low vitamin A con- tent). All the raw materials used for fish-liver oils are byproducts from the food fish industry and processors are able to obtain the raw livers at low prices of 0,5-3 cents a pound. The cost of the raw material in terms of vitamin A units is not more than 2 U.S, cents a million units. This low unit cost gives the Korean producer a favorable com- petitive position, even in a declining market, according to an October 23, 1958, report from the International Co- operation Administration Fisheries Mis- sion to Korea. Vol. 21, No. 3 Mexico BUREAU OF FISHERIES MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE IN 1959: The Mexican Bureau of Fisheries, now in the Ministry of Marine, may be transferred in 1959 to the newly-created Ministry of Industry and Commerce which will be a modified and strengthened ver- sion of the present Ministry of Economy. This proposal was before the Mexican Congress in December 1958. The new legislation would transfer all fishery functions to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce which, among other duties, would be empowered to: supervise production, distribution and consumption; develop, jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Relations, foreign trade; study, project, and determine, in accordance with the Ministry of Treasury, duties; study and determine the restric- tions for import and export items; fix maximum prices and define the prefer- ential use that must be given to deter- mined merchandise; give technical advice to private enterprise for the establish- ment of new industries; supervise sales when national products are sold directly to foreign buyers; supervise the organi- zation and development of all types of cooperatives; supervise, within the terms of the law, mercantile societies, cham- bers, and industrial associations; pro- tect and develop the marine, fluvial, and lacustral fauna and flora; authorize fish- ing contracts, concessions and permits, and those for the exploitation of other marine resources; establish closed sea- sons for the conservation and increment of the different species of fish and estab- lish hatcheries and reserve areas; pro- mote the industrialization of fishery products and the establishment of can- neries and freezers; gives technical ad- vice to associations of fishermen; super- vise the formation and organization of the fishery fleet; carry out scientific explorations and collections of the aquat- ic flora and fauna, as well as the re- sources of the sea; and establish experi- mental stations and oceanographic lab- oratories. The proposed legislation would com- bine in one Ministry practically all of March 1959 Mexico (Contd.): the functions pertaining to fisheries which, in the past, have been dispersed between three. It would also increase the obliga- tions and powers of the executive branch with respect to fisheries. From an over- all point of view, if properly administered and financed, the Mexican Bureau of Fish eries, under this new legislation, would be in a position to do a great deal towards the development and conservation of Mex- ico's aquatic resources (United States Embassy in Mexico City, December 11, 1958.) an ree Yer kk ok OK MERIDA SHRIMP FISHERY TRENDS, DECEMBER 1958: The shrimp fishing industry in the Campeche and Ciudad del Carmen areas of the Gulf of Mexico suffered frony a year-long slump in 1958 due to lower catches, overexpansion, and bad weather. Sudden storms in mid-December resulted in the sinking of several vessels anddam- aged many others at the docks, The cost of repairs from one storm in the Cam- peche area totaled about 4 million pesos (US$320,000). Additional expenses for the repair and replacement of shrimp fishing gear caused further losses. (U- nited States Consulate at Merida, Janu- any, 1959))) es) sk ok VERACRUZ FISHERY TRENDS, OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1958: During the last quarter of 1958 land- ings of fish and shellfish from Veracruz's Gulf of Mexico fisheries were down due to bad weather and the scarcity of shrimpon the fishing grounds. However, higher prices paid to the fishermen helped to compensate for the lower catch. The mackerel (probably king or Span- ish) catch for the September-November 1958 season amounted to 663 metric tons as compared with a catch of 1,033 tons in the 1957 season. Catches continued low during December due to many days of COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW northerly winds. Prices were higher and the total value for the 1958 season was about the same as for the previous year. Minimum ex-vessel prices September- ws November 1958 for mackerel were about 3.6 U.S, cents a pound, or substantially higher than the 1957 season price of 1.1 U.S. cents a pound, % ke KO WEST COAST SHRIMP FISHERY TRENDS, DECEMBER 1958: In October 1958, shrimp landings on the Mexican west coast in the Nogales area gave indications of exceeding the average for the past few years. Later in the season, for some unexplained rea- sons, landings dropped off, and it is pre- dicted that the annual production will be about average. Shrimp prices have been firm since the beginning of 1958, with slight fluctua- tions downward for the smaller sizes. This fluctuation is attributed to heavier landings of shrimp in those grades. (U- nited States Nogales Consulate report, December 29, 1958.) SS) Morocco AGAR-AGAR INDUSTRY: As of the end of 1958 only one com- pany was producing agar-agar,in Moroc- co, but another company formed in July 1958 should begin production in 1959. The new company is capitalized at 10 million francs (US$24,000) and has a board of directors made up of Moroccan, Spanish, and French citizens. The company in production in 1958 produced 200 metric tons during that year and expects to expand its exports to 300 tons in 1959 with the help of enlarged fa- cilities. Exports of agar-agar in 1957 amount- ed to about 296,000 pounds valued at US$351,000. The United States was the principal buyer of Moroccan agar-agar in 1957 with 111,000 pounds valued at US$136,100; followed by France, 40,700 pounds valued at US$52,500; Great Brit- ain, 36,700 pounds valued at US$44,100; Argentine, 33,500 pounds valued at US$38,700; and West Germany, 27,000 pounds, valued at US$30,700. Eight other 80 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Morocco (Contd.): countries took the balance of the ex- ports in 1957, On August 24, 1957, the Moroccan Gov - ernment informed exporters that gelid- ium algae could no longer be exported from Morocco, The Government's policy is believed to be to protect the agar-agar producer by assuring a three-months supply of gelidium algae before licensing any exports of the raw material (United States Embassy in Casablanca, dispatch dated December 29, 1958.) Note: Values in US$ calculated at rate of 420 Francs=US$1. EXCLUSIVE UNITED STATES IMPORT- ING RIGHTS FOR SARDINES GRANTED TO NEW YORK CITY FIRM: An official of the Moroccan Office Cherifien de Controle et d'Exportation, an office of the Ministry of National Ec- onomy (which, among other tasks, is charged with quality control of certain exports) reported on January 12, 1959, that a New York City importer recently obtained exclusive United States import- ing rights for Moroccan sardines. The New York importer has agreed to buy 70,000 cases. He also is to be respon- sible for an advertising campaign on be- half of Moroccan sardines with an annual budget of about US$47,620. The New York importer plans to market the sardines under his own brand. The number of cases of sardines ex- ported from Morocco to the Unites States was 30,438 cases in 1955, 36,914 in 1956, 19,367 in 1957, and 14,491 through Octo- ber of 1958. The 70,000 cases to be im- ported by the New York City importer there- fore represents a significant increase. STATUS OF FISHERIES: Since the Moroccan fishery industry exports most of its production, its prin- cipal role in the economy is a source of foreign exchange and employment. Of the 1957 catch, only 14 percent was sold fresh, and the rest processed in some way, almost entirely for export. The severity of the greatest problem of the industry, that of finding markets, is Wolly Bile INO, 3} shown by the fact that the sardine-canning industry, the most important of the proc- essing industries, was able to export in 1957 only half of the 2.6 million cases produced. The rest, except for the small amount sold in Morocco, remains unsold. The value of the fishery products ex- ported in 1957 was 10,364 million francs (about US$24.7 million) which was about 9 percent of the value of all exports from Morocco, Although most of the fishery products were exported to France and the franc zone, some 38 percent went else- where and the United States alone bought one-fourth of the fish meal produced in 1957 for 136 million francs (US$324,000). This is important to Morocco's policy objective of increasing trade outside the franc zone. The fish-processing industries (can- ning, fish meal, fish oil, freezing, and salted fish) employ 17,000 workers in an average year. About 10,000 more are employed as crewmen on the fishing ves- sels and to man the large stationary tuna nets (madragues). The work is seasonal for the commer- cial fleet and the number of persons em- ployed depends upon the size of the catch and the availability of markets. At pres- ent, many fishermen are unemployed, not for lack of fish but of markets. The labor force for the processing plants is recruited each year for 4 or 5 months and is neither stable nor skilled. The only species of fish caught in vol- ume by Morocco are sardine and tuna. The other species are for the most part caught by trawlers and smaller craft for sale fresh. Sardine Fishery: Sardines can be caught off the Moroccan Atlantic coast at any time of the year. The fishing sea- son is, however, limited by Government regulations to a variable period during the spring and summer. The sardines migrate north during the summer so that the season is later in the northern ports. The fish also become fatter as they fol- low the coast northward and the fish oil producers of Agadir, the southernmost port pay two francs (about 0.2 U.S, cent a pound) less per kilogram (2.2 pounds) than do those of Safi, some 200 miles up March 1959 Morocco (Contd.): the coast, tocompensate for the lower oil yield, By far the largest amount of sardines are caught by vessels operating from Safi and Agadir and covering the south- ern third of the Moroccan Atlantic coast. Averaging 23 tons, the sardine vessels work within 6 or 7 miles of land in wa- ter up to 200 meters deep. Although trawling nets are sometimes used, the usual equipment is a type of purse seine ("cerco"). A weight is dropped to sink one corner of the triangular net. An- other corner is secured to a small boat and the third corner dragged around the school of sardines in a circle. The boats are seldom out more than a day at a time with the exception of a very few larger ships which work the Mauritanian coast. Most captains navi- gate through visual contact with the land. Heavy fogs cause much distress. The sardine fleet is equipped with sonic fish- detecting devices, and nylon nets are coming into use. Some of the boats date back to the 1920's, however, and are small and slow. In September, the Al Morchid, an ex- perimental vessel of the Scientific Fish- ing Institute (Institut Scientifique des Peches Maritimes) arrived at Casablanca from Hamburg, equipped for electrical fishing. It had been tested in the North Sea, reportedly with some success. The equipment consists of an electrical ap- paratus and a pump. A projectile given a positive charge through a connecting cable is fired into the middle of a bank of sardines from a compressed air can- non, Alternating current is used and an electric field established between the positive pole of the projectile and a nega- tive pole at the ship. The fish's nervous system is affected, paralyzing it and then it is drawn toward the positive pole along the electric field. The projectile is drawn to the ship and the electric charge shifted to the mouth of a tube (53-inch diameter). The fish are then pumped into the ship alive. One advantage of this technique is that no lactic acid is formed in the sys- tem of the sardine, affecting the flavor, which results ordinarily from the strug- gles of the netted fish. Other advantages COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 81 are the saving of the cost of nets, and the ability to fish at night and at consid- erable depths. Tuna Fishery: The tuna season is during June and July when the fish ar- rive at the Moroccan coast between Fed- ala and Larache from the southeast. They then go up the coast to the Straits, and back out to sea around to the south. The tuna caught in the Mediterranean are a different species (skipjack) from the tuna caught off the Atlantic coast. Tuna are caught in two ways, from ships and with stationary tuna nets (madragues). The latter method is the more important, accounting for about two thirds of the catch. The largest op- eration is near Kenitra (Port-Lyautey) where there is also a processing factory which prepares the fish for shipment either to canning factories in Morocco or abroad frozen, There are three other nets in the Northern Zone and one on the Mediterranean coast. A sixth net is to be placed near the Fedala port. Fishing from boats,the tuna are caught by trolling with multiple hooks, or simi- lar to the American method, with poles and very short lines. The Al Morchid was built as a tuna boat adapted from the Pacific Coast American tuna boats. Also, the same boat was equipped last year with a large nylon tuna net made in Ja- pan. The net measures 570 meters in length by 75 meters wide. There is some speculation as to the use of electrical fishing for tuna although without the pump. The haul-net and line fleets are less modern than the commercial sardine fleet. The efforts of the Scientific Fish- ing Institute have been directed, princi- pally toward the industrial sardine fleet, and the trawlers and line vessels use the old methods. A few small boats provide fresh fish to other Moroccan ports. The Government is engaged in improving this fleet (along with its campaign to increase consumption) and has made loans to sev- eral owners. Processing, Marketing, and Distribu- ‘tion: The fishery industries in Morocco can be divided into two parts. Less important is the catchfor sale fresh locally or for export frozen or refrigerated. Nearly 82 Morocco (Contd.): all of the exported products go to France. Most of the trawler fleet operates from Casablanca and is for the most part own- ed by the captains who sell their catch every morning to the export packers and distributors. The only other port having a sizable fleet in this industry is Agadir, from which most of the catch is shipped to Casablanca for export. The largest packing and distributing company is pres- ently operating its boats from Dakar rather than Casablanca, partly because the company was having serious difficulty with the labor union representing the boats! crew. One of its two largest trawl- ers recently sank in the Mediterranean under somewhat mysterious circum- stances. The sardine and tuna industries are by far the more important segment of the fishery industries. The boats in the fleet are owned either by the canning companies or by contractors with the companies. The factories are grouped into several combines and the trend is toward further concentration. This is op- posed by the government because the re- sult seems to be a movement away from the port of Agadir, and toward Safi, caus- ing distress among Agadir fishermen and canning employees, championed by their labor unions. The concentration of the sardine industry in Safi would seem to make good economic sense; the fish themselves are of better quality, the transportation is cheaper from Safi to Casablanca (the exporting port), and the working force is reputedly more stable and better skilled. According to the Director of the Ma- rine Marchande et Peches Maritimes, the 1958 fish-canning factories in Moroc- co are divided by port as follows: Safi, 70; Agadir, 49; Casablanca, 18; Essaoui- ra (ex-Mogador), 8; Fedala, 7; Kenitra (ex-Port-Lyautey), 2; Rabat, 2; and El Jadida (ex-Mazagan), 2. For several years, since the boom years of 1949-1952, when the number of canning factories more than doubled and sardines could be sold easily on the world market, Morocco has had a larger indus- trial plant than could be fully employed for the existing market. In 1957, for ex- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 ample, 17 of 63 factories located in Ag- adir were operating. A high percentage of fishermen have been unemployed, sometimes as many as 80 percent of the number active in 1949-1952. These con- ditions existed in spite of the fact that the Moroccan Government assigns quotas to factories and boats to keep as many op- erating as possible as well as to limit overproduction. In one week during A- pril 1957, 200 metric tons of sardines were thrown back into the ocean. And yet, 1.3 million cases, half the sardine pack, was not sold when the 1958 season began. In an attempt to enlarge the United States market, for example, several A- merican importers of sardines were in- vited to see the Moroccan industry at first hand. Also a comprehensive sur- vey of the American market was publish- ed in Morocco in 1958, aimed at increas- ing Morocco's share of the market by some 500,000 cases a year. In another direction talks will soon begin with a Cuban economic mission, the aim of which will be to increase Mor- occo's export of canned sardines to help pay for her import of sugar. Morocco is favored in the French market with a customs-free import quota of 12,000 metric tons of canned fish, which is about two-fifths of the total ex- port of canned fish from Morocco in 1957, Some people in the fishery industries believe that it is because of this quota that the canneries are able to make an acceptable profit. The cost of a case (100 cans of 3 oz. net) of sardines is about 4,000 francs (US$9.52). These cases are sold for 6,000-6,500 francs (US$14.29-15.48) in France, at 4,000 francs or less elsewhere. The prices at which fish are sold to the canneries and byproducts industries are set by a Central Fishing Committee (Comite Central des Peches Maritimes), which meets yearly before the beginning of the fishing season. The Committee is made up of representatives from the Government, the canning and byproducts factories, the exporters, and labor. Government Policies and Programs and the Potentialities of the Industry: March 1959 Morocco (Contd.): The crucial problem in developing the fishery industries is and will continue to be that of finding markets. Why is it that Morocco cannot seem to compete effec- tively on the world sardine market? Ina most years fish are plentiful and of good quality. Labor is fairly cheap and the Government wants to increase the export of fish products. Building up export mar- kets for a product is often difficult, but considerable efforts have been made to do so for sardines, which are the principal fishing export. Part of the blame must go to the canners, who have in the past had a sellers' market and did nothing to maintain their markets. It is also possible that the producers have not been sensitive enough to the specific preferences of the market: i.e., packaging and packing, in which may be included the number of sardines in the can, the kind of oil in which the fish are packed, whether the fish are whole or skinned and boned, etc. Publicity would presumably be neces- sary to gain wider acceptance of Moroc- can sardines. For the United States, a market study has been made as a basis on which to mount a campaign. It is doubtful, however, that the producers in Morocco are either able or willing to in- vest much money in building markets. Most of the capital involved is French, and the factory owners are not certain enough of their position in Morocco to know whether long-term investments will pay off. The factories are not large or heavily-machined, and were paid for dur- ing the good years (1949-1952), so that the owners seem little interested in taking other than a short-run viewpoint. Aside from publicity, the price and quality of the product are most important in marketing. In 1952, Morocco exported sardines of dubious quality and suffered a loss of markets a year later. This event is credited with partially closing United States and British markets. The price of fish products is a more complex matter. The cost of factory labor, while cheap by the man-hour, is actually expensive because of the inex- perience and lack of incentive of the labor COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 83 force. Most of the workers are women from the country who may or may not have worked in the factories before. Dur- ing the past season in Agadir, the most successful packer was a Portuguese who arrived on the scene only two years ago. He expressed the opinion that relative to Portuguese female canning employees, his local labor force was about one-third as efficient. In Portugal he noted that ex- tensive training is required of them, not to mention the differences in level of cul- ture, education (to some extent), health, sense of organization, etc. The cost of the labor of the fishermen is also becoming expensive. They work on shares, and at present about 60 per- cent of the day's catch goes to the crew. The price is set by the Central Fishing Committee in which the labor union par- ticipates. For political reasons, the Gov- ernment is sympathetic to the demands of the union, which increase each year. For example, a 35-percent increase in the price of fish was asked in 1958 although a lesser increase was obtained. The fish- ermen already have accident insurance partly paid for by the shipowners and are now asking for health insurance as well. In 1957, the byproducts price was 5.5 francs a kilogram (about 0.6 U.S, cents a pound) for fish, which made it difficult for the factories to operate. At the time the price was set, the byproducts industry notified the Committee that the price was prohibitive. When a large catch was made and the canning factories were unable to accept the whole catch for fear of over- production, the surplus was thrown back into the sea. It is reported that the fish- ermen would have been willing to accept a lower price rather than lose the fish. All the same, the labor union in 1958 de- manded 9.5 francs per kilo (1 U.S, cent a pound). It is clear that if the byproducts industry could buy fish at a lower price, it could serve as an economic adjuster and absorb surplus fish in years of plenty. Another factor affecting the price is the degree of concentration of the factor- ies into combines in order to make the most economic use of existing facilities. However, the Government supports the labor union in resisting concentration be- cause of the hardship it would work onthe 84 Morocco (Contd.): Agadir fishermen. The control by the Government (Sous-Secretariat du Com- merce et de la Marine Marchande) over the amount of concentration is its power to allocate production quotas between producing facilities in Agadir and Safi. Most of the Government's plans and policies are directed toward a larger fish catch. It sponsors the Scientific Fishing Institute, grants loans for the modernization of the fleet, and rebates taxes on fuel used by the fleet. But the problem is not a shortage of fish, and a larger catch will only further glut the market. The only Government-sponsored programs aiming to better the marketing situation are: (1) a campaign to increase Moroccan consumption by better distri- bution and lower prices: (2) research by the Scientific Fishing Institute on fish meal for human consumption; (3) the pos- sibility that electric fishing would be more efficient and thus lower the cost of fish to the factories; and (4) various trade agreements with other countries to ac- cept fish products in return for imports to Morocco. The trade agreements, how- ever, do not create markets, and still depend on actual market conditions for their fulfillment. The other programs have not made much progress so far. (United States Consulate report from Casablanca, September 22, 1958.) & PLANS NEW FACTORY- TYPE FISHING VESSEL: Fishing circles in the Netherlands are considering the possibility of, constructing and operating a combined fishing-factory vessel with a capacity of 2.6 million pounds of frozen fish per annum for dom- estic consumption. Expansion of capacity for export is not presently considered ad- visable, although it is hoped that such possibilities might be increased as the Euromarket develops. A vessel of the present British Fairtry-type of 2,605 gross registered tons was rejected and a smaller one appears to present better possibilities for economical operation. Construction and operation of the vessel Netherlands COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW VolaZisNore3 would require Government support. (Unit- ed States Consulate report from Rotter- dam, December 19, 1958.) FISHERY LANDINGS DOWN IN 1958: The 1958 Norwegian fishery landings of 1,215,000 metric tons (about 2.7 bil- lion pounds) were the lowest since 1949 and down about 770,000 tons from the record catch of 1956, according to pre- liminary figures released by the Nor- wegian Directorate of Fisheries. The value of the landings in 1958 was esti- mated at about 565,700,000 kroner (US$79.2 million). Norway The drop in the landings for 1958 was due almost entirely to the failure of the winter herring fisheries which yielded only 345,000 tons as compared with about 800,000 tons in 1957 and over 1,100,000 tons in 1956. 4 ok ook 2 OK KELP MEAL USED AS ADDITIVE TO ANIMAL FEEDS AND SOIL CONDITIONERS: A meal (“algit") made from mineral and vitamin-rich Norwegian seaweed is finding ever wider acceptance among A- merican ranchers and farmers. Distrib- uted by a Chicago, Ill., firm, this prod- uct is used as a feed supplement for all kinds of animals and as a conditioner for all types of soil. As made by a Kristiansand, Norway, manufacturer, kelp is ground and sun- dried to less than 20 percent moisture, to retain a maximum of the inherent minerals and vitamins. The finished product contains at least 60 minerals or elements, over 12 vitamins, and 21 am- ino acids, all in balance. Added to ani- mal feed, the product protects against deficiency diseases, thus helps to keep hogs, horses, cattle, poultry, and mink in top condition, Several United States agricultural col- leges and private research institutes are presently testing "algit'’ as a supplement to animal feeds. Meanwhile, it has been March 1959 Norway (Contd.): approved for distribution through the State Farm Bureaus in Ohio and Penn- sylvania (News of Norway, January 8, 1959.) 2 ok OK ok ok PURSE SEINERS USING MORE NYLON NETS IN WINTER HERRING FISHERY: During the 1959 winter herring fish- ery it is expected that 40 nylon purse seines will be employed. The first ny- lon purse seine to be used in Norwegian fisheries was in 1955. Last year 10-12 nylon seines were used, but the failing winter herring fishery hampered this development. Fishermen using nylon purse seines consider advantages to outweigh larger costs. The nylon purse seine is rot-proof, it doesn't have to be preserved, and since it is lighter the use of larger purse seines is possible. In certain ways 1955 was an important year for the Norwegian fishing-gear in- dustry. Nylon nets won through in the cod fishery and in other fisheries as well. And that year a new Norwegian fishing gear factory started production. This factory is the sole Norwegian specialized factory for nets with double knots. Nylon and synthetic fibres are now totally dominating the market. Prac- tical and scientific tests have shown that double knots are also very strong and reliable. To fill the demand for purse seines with double knots requires an im- portant part of the factory's capacity. The one factory's yearly production totals some 40,000 nets of different types and sizes; 6 machines are employed, all of them designed for double knots. (Nor- wegian Fishing News, No. 3, 1958.) KOK AK A OK SEINE FISHING IN THE LOFOTEN AREA PROHIBITED: The Norwegian Storting on December 11, 1958, passed a resolution requesting the prohibition of seine fishing in the Lofoten area (off the northwest coast of Norway) during 1959 and 1960. The Stort- ing has been confronted with a Govern- ment proposal, which was not voted on, that seine fishing be permitted after COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 85 mid-March as in the past several years. The Lofoten fisheries are active in the late winter and early spring when migra- tory cod come into the fjords to spawn. The Government proposal was based on recommendations from experts in the Ministry of Fisheries. The vast major- ity of Lofoten fishermen, however, who customarily fish with lines and small nets, vigorously opposed seine fishing with the complaint that the seiners drove away the fish and were responsible for the poor catches. The Minister of fish- eries, who was in disagreement with the views of his ministerial experts, spoke in favor of the two-year prohibition. The prohibition against the use of seines is not expected to have any sig- nificant effect on the total Lofoten catch as such gear has in the past accounted for only a small proportion of the total. Also the ban will encourage additional fishermen to take part in the fishery. If good catches are brought in during the next two years, the prohibition may be extended. It is doubtful that the ban on seines will make it possible to determine definitively whether their use is harm- ful to the fish stocks. (United States Em- bassy in Oslo, report of December 19, 1958.) F BAIT FISHING PERMITTED IN 1958/59 CLOSED SEASON: The Government of Panama, by De- cree No. 116 of December 9, 1958, mod- ified for the second consecutive year terms of Article 3, Decree No. 30 of De- cember 22, 1952, and Article 1, Decree No, 148 of June 12, 1953, to permit bait fishing in territorial waters during the three months closed season. Decree No. 116 provided that deep-sea tuna ves- sels could fish for the anchoveta (Cen- tengraulis mysticetus) in Panamanian territorial waters of the Pacific coast during the months of November and De- cember 1958 and January 1959. Special fishing permits were required and were obtainable from the Ministry of Agricul- ture, Commerce and Industry at US$4 a ton of the registered net tonnage of the tuna vessel. Panama 86 Panama (Contd.): This modification in existing bait fish- ing regulations was made on the basis of the determination of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission that year- round fishing of anchoveta at the present level would not place the species in the Gulf of Panama in danger of depletion. Moreover, the Commission is to continue its studies of the Panamanian anchoveta and will be in a position to observe the effect of year-round fishing (United States Embassy dispatch from Panama, Janu- anyeownli959-)) HK Oe KOK OK DECREE EXTENDS TERRITORIAL WATERS TO 12 MILES: The President of Panama signed on December 17, 1958, a law extending Pan- ama's territorial sea to 12 miles. It is the view of the United States Gov- ernment that no basis exists in interna- tional law for claims to a territorial sea in excess of three nautical miles from the baseline, which is normally the low- water mark on the coast. Furthermore, in the United States view there is no ob- ligation on the part of states adhering to the three-mile rule to recognize claims on the part of other states to a greater breadth of territorial sea. Insofar as the Panama Canal is con- cerned, it is clear from the 1903 Treaty that rights of the United States thereunder cannot be affected by changes in the laws of the Republic of Panama. Panama's action would appear to be at variance with the understanding reach- ed in the United Nations on December 10, 1958, when the General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a second Law of the Sea Conference to be held in Geneva in March-April 1960. At that Conference the breadth of the territorial sea under international law will be considered. Panama was one of the 71 nations sup- porting the measure, according toa United States Department of State press release of December 18, 1958, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wools Zale ING, 3 Peru HUNTING FOR SEA LIONS PROHIBITED: All hunting of sea lions in Peruvian waters, was suspended until January 1, 1962, by the Peruvian Government in Supreme Decree No. 11 of November 11, 1958. The Government announced that the species is in danger of extinction. Vio- lators of closed season will be subject to fines ranging between US$8 and US$2,000 and imprisonment of 30 to 50 days. Skins and items manufactured from sea lions taken in violation of this law will be con- fiscated. (United States Embassy, Lima, report of December 2, 1958.) Philippines FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT AIDED BY INTENSE RESEARCH PROGRAM: An intense research program, based on 1 research station, 9 laboratories, and some 60 research workers, is helping to speed up and direct the development of the rich fisheries of the Philippines, This is the report of a well-known Ger- man fishery biologist who has just com- pleted a two-year assignment in the Phil- ippines on behalf of the Food and Agri- culture Organization (FAO) Rome, Italy. "T went to the Philippines to help the Government plan a program of research in marine fishery biology and to train Philippine workers to carry out this re- search,'' explained the biologist at an in- terview at FAO Headquarters early this year. We have made considerable prog- ress during the past two years," he con- tinued. ''We were able to set up a re- search station and nine laboratories, which are being equipped with the help of such organizations as the Colombo Plan, as well as by Project Development Funds from the Philippine Government. The Colombo Plan organization is sup- plying $20,000 worth of equipment, and the Philippine Government is providing $75,000 for financing the laboratories. "T have also been able to train some sixty research workers and counterpart March 1959 Philippines (Contd.): assistants who are already engaged on numerous research assignments in ma- rine biology. All these workers are young men and women graduates from the University or from the Philippine Fisheries Technology Institute, and they are showing a great enthusiasm for the work, Eight of the more outstanding workers are being given training abroad, three by Colombo Plan fellowships, one by the International Cooperation Admin- istration, one by a FAO fellowship, two by the German Government, and one by the Japanese Government." The research program seeks to pro- vide information on the biology of com- mercial species of fish in the Philippine waters. Studies are being made of the life history, habits, distribution, repro- duction, rate of growth, and other bio- logical factors of the fish. One of the difficulties faced in this program is the great variety of species of commercial fish found in the Philippine waters. "The Philippines have rich resources," the biologist pointed out, ''but there is no predominant species such as we know in the North Atlantic where a fishery can be based mainly on, say, herring, or some other predominant species. It is alsoa fact that not enough is known of the Phil- ippine resources so that a great deal of research must be done." A particularly important part of the work is to establish the productivity of a fishing area, especially in relation to gear and intensity of fishing effort. This point has come to the fore re- cently because of the introduction of mod- ern types of gear and equipment. Such new gear has led to considerable in- creases in catch and has given rise to fears by some of the fishermen, who still use the old methods, that the re- sources will be destroyed by overfishing. These fears are unfounded but with the changing and developing situation, there is no doubt that such problems will often recur. There is a need now for a fleet of re- search ships, probably three, and there COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 87 are hopes that such vessels will be pro- vided in the next 2 or 3 years. The biologist will probably be called upon to return to the Philippines in about two years' time to check on the progress being made with the research program. He KE OK AE MARKET FOR CALIFORNIA-TYPE SARDINES: Canned fish, and especially sardines or pilchards, are a staple item in the Filipino diet, and, since they are consumed largely by the lower income groups, price is the significant determining factor in their sale. Since California sardines are generally priced above competing brands from other na- tions, this has seriously affected the sale of California sar- dines in the Philippines. While of considerably less importance than price, other factors have contributed to the decline in California sardine sales to the Philippines. These include the recent shortage of California sardines, which has led local importers to turn to Japanese and South African brands, and the poor dollar position of the Philippines, which has encouraged private importers and the largest single importer to purchase inex- pensive non-United States off-brands to conserve foreign ex- change. A recently completed fish canning factory, which will can locally-caught sardines as well as other fish, will undoubtedly affect the Philippine market in the future. The largest single importer of sardines into the Philip- pines sells its imports not only through its licensedretailers, but also imports for other distributors and wholesalers. The firm’s prices generally are the lowest offered in Manila as it tries to give its retailers a preferred competitive position. An informal survey of local retail outlets not serviced by the largest single importer gave comparative prices for both United States and Japanese packs of sardines. Table 1 shows the average retail price of several different brands within one pack-type. Philippine Retail Prices Early in 1959 United States U. S.¢ | Peso U. S.¢) whee een (pertican)is....chee 1-lb. ovals, tomato sauce 0.65 Bi745) 0.45 22.5 1-lb, tall, tomato sauce 0.45 2260: 0.40 20.0 1-1b. tall, natural 0.50 25.0 = = 8-oz. oblong, tomato sauce | 0.45 22.5 0.35 17.5 8-oz. buffet tomato sauce 0.45 22.5 0.35 17.5 5-oz. tomato sauce 0.25 12.5 0.20 10.0 A comparison of the prices of United States and Japanese sardines will largely explain why the Filipino housewife, who cannot purchase native fresh fish because it is too expensive, purchases the lower-priced Japanese and South African brands. There is no question that if California sardines were com- petitive in price with those of Japan and South Africa they would continue to hold the largest share of the Philippine mar- ket. Filipinos prefer California sardines to those of other countries because they have a milder aroma and taste. How- ever, only Filipinos of the relatively small middle class ap- pear willing to pay the higher price for California sardines, and they also can afford fresh local fish, poultry, and meat. Unless the price of California sardines is made competi- tive or Philippine living standards rise to the point where the difference of five centavos on a can of sardines is of no im- portance to the mass of consumers, the American share of the local canned sardine market will continue to decline. The doubling of tariffs on United States imports beginning Jan- uary 1, 1959, is likely to accelerate this trend. Prices of sardines taken from the Master Price List of August 14, 1958, and an Additional Price List of December 2, 88 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 Philippines (Contd.): 1958, issued by the largest single importer in the Philippines show these prices: 1. 15-oz, talls in tomato sauce (48 cans per case): retail price per can P0.40 (20 U. S. cents); wholesale prices, Japan (4 brands) P16.40-16.90 (US$8.20-8.45) a case, South Africa (4 brands), P16.30-17.60 ($8.15-8.80) a case. 2. 15-oz. talls, natural (48 cans per case): retail price per can P0.35 (17.5 cents); wholesale price, South Africa (3 brands) P15.15-15.30 ($7.58-7.65) a case. 3. 5-oz. talls in tomato sauce (100 cans per case): Japan (5 brands), wholesale price P16.50-16.90 ($8.25-8.45) a case, retail price 10 cents a can; South Africa (3 brands), whole- sale price P15.36-15.40 ($7.68-7.70) a case, retail price 2 cans for 17.5 cents. 4. 15-oz. ovals in tomato sauce (48 cans per case): Japan (13 brands), wholesale price #16.00-18.70 ($8.00-8.35) a case, retail price 19-22.5 cents a can; United States, one brand’s wholesale price at P16.00 ($8.00) a case and retail price 2 cans for 37.5 cents, and another brand’s wholesale price P19.00 ($9.50) a case, retail price 22.5 cents a can. 5. 15-oz. buffet in tomato sauce (48 cans per case): retail price per can P0.25 (12.5 cents), South Africa (2 brands) wholesale price P10.30-10.50 (US$5.15-5.25) a case. 6. 8-oz. buffet in tomato sauce (48 cans per case): retail price per can P0.25 (12.5 cents), Japan (1 brand) wholesale price P10.15 ($5.08) a case. 7, 4-1/2-o0z. in tomato sauce and olive oil (100 cans per case): Portuguese (8 brands), wholesale price P23.30- 25.10 ($11.65-12.55) a case, retail price 12.5-15 cents a can. Spain CALIFORNIA-TYPE TUNA CLIPPER STARTS WINTER SEASON WITH GOOD TRIP: The new Spanish California-type tuna clipper Marinero during the first trip of the 1958/59 winter season in the waters off Dakar is reported to have caught 274 metric tons of tuna. The Spanish Basque fleet working Dakar waters hopes that the Marinero's success also promises them a good winter fishing season. The good catch is helping reverse the low esteem held for those vessels by Spanish commercial interests and gov- ernment officials, arising from the un- successful operations of the Marinero during the 1957 season and by the sink- ing of its sistership the Marchoso, Both ships were built in Spanish shipyards. (United States Consulate, Vigo, report of December 24, 1958.) x OK kK OK Ok COD FISHERY TRENDS: A large Spanish cod company, which operates 16 large vessels with a com- bined tonnage of 27,000 tons, reports that the scarcity of cod in the Northeast At- lantic continued during 1958. In the opin- ion of the local representative of the Un- ion of Iceland Fish Producers, who re- cently returned from a visit to Iceland, the reason why the cod are disappearing off Iceland and Newfoundland is the changes in climatic conditions and in the prevailing currents. In the near future Spanish cod fishermen may have to go to the Bear Islands, off Northwest Norway, to fish for cod. Although imports of cod by Spain are not yet available for 1958, it is believed that somewhat below the normal 20,000 metric tons were imported for the year. The Spanish catches, which are brought in by 15 companies operating 36 ships, account for additional receipts of 50,000 tons a year. It appears, however, that within the next 3 years or so Spain will be able to supply all of its own needs, because of the many trawlers which are being built and added to the cod-fishing industry. At that time, as reported by the Icelandic representative, Iceland will no longer purchase any fruits, wines, liquors, and cognac from Spain, which pays for its imported cod from that coun- try with these products (United States Consul in Bilbao, January 5, 1959). CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS EXPORTS, 1957: Exports of canned fishery products comprise a large part of Spain's foreign Spanish Canned Fishery Products Exports, 1925-1957 Pesetas 1941-50 avg. 1925-34 " 5,042 18,530 6,054 | Note: Values converted at rate of 1 gold peseta equals US$0. 3267 / March 1959 Spain (Contd.): trade. In 1957, the quantity of exports increased over 1956 but the value de- creased. Table 1 shows the trends in canned fishery products exports since 1925. Spain's recent trade agreements with various countries--among them Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia--have opened new horizons for exports of can- ned fishery products, Spain's traditional markets have been Cuba, Germany, Egypt, and others. In a recent annual report issued by one of Spain's principal canneries, there are some interesting comments on ex- ports, especially in regard to canned anchovies, which explain the drop in value of 1957 exports. In order to compete with Portugal and Yugoslavia in the marketing of canned anchovies, Spain has had te cut prices to keep exports at a high level so that im- ports of tin plate--essential in the manu- facture of cans--could be continued. This situation resulted when anchovy- salting firms of Cantabrico found that they could not sell their product to Ital- ian canneries. Finding themselves with large stocks of anchovies, which have a short storage life, they had to sell their product quickly at sacrifice prices. Canned anchovies continue to be the principal fishery product exported by Spain. Exports are made principally to Cuba, followed by Germany, Egypt, the United States, Finland, Switzerland, France, Po- land, and to a lesser extent, Belgium and a few South American countries. The situation which has occurred with canned anchovy prices has also occurred to a smaller extent with prices of canned bonito and sardines. The competition from Portugal and Morocco has been intense. Spanish firms have had to sell at profit- sacrificing prices in order to prevent the loss of foreign markets. The foreign mar- kets are essential not only as a means of selling the canned goods but also as ameans of obtaining the necessary import quotas for tin plate. (Industria Conservera, Vigo, Spain, September 1958.) OK OK OK OOK COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 89 FISH SHIPPED BY AIR BETWEEN CANARY ISLANDS: During the latter part of 1958 air ship- ments of fresh fish were made from the Canary Island coast of Lanzarote to the neighboring island of Tenerife. Thus, fish caught in the morning off one island were sold that afternoon on the other is- land. The shipments were in lots of 20 kilos (44 pounds) in ice-covered baskets. By this method,1,200 kilos (2,645 pounds) of fish (mostly parrotfish, grouper, and sea bass) were shipped. Shipments were limited by the space available for air transport. As gifts, a sea bass weighing 8 kilos (about 18 pounds) was sent to Madrid, and another weighing 10 kilos (22 pounds) was sent to Bata, Guinea. These fish ar- rived at their destination in perfect con- dition. (Industrias Pesqueras, Vigo, Spain, October 1958.) — mK OK OK OK OK NEW FISHERIES LABORATORY IN BARCELONA UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Scheduled for completion in the sum- mer of 1959 is the combined fisheries laboratory and aquarium being built by the Superior Council of Scientific Inves- tigations in Barcelona. The new building will serve as the main office for Spanish fisheries studies. Branch offices will be located in Cadiz and Vigo. The three- story and basement building will have machinery, two water pumps, an air fil- ter, and a refrigerator for fish food in the basement. The ground floor will have four large rooms with glass aquar- ium tanks for displaying live fish. The largest tank will have a capacity of 90 cubic meters for larger specimens. In addition, a small museum of plastic re- productions and drawings will be on that floor. The second floor will contain the research laboratories, a freezer to main- tain a temperature of -10 centigrade (14~ F.), a vacuum chamber, room for ' photographic work, and a one-ton float- ing cement block to support weighing scales. The rest of the new building may be used for quarters for personnel and will have space for a 200-ton water tank. de sk ok ook ok Ke XK OK OK ok 90 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Spain (Contd.): REHABILITATION OF SHELL- FISH RESOURCES PLANNED: The shellfish division of the Spanish National Fisheries Syndicate is develop- ing a long needed plan for the conserva- tion, artificial breeding, and exploitation of shellfish species along the Spanish coast. Spurring development of the plan are declining harvests, the subeconomic position of coastal fishermen, increased competition from the French, and par- ticularly, the very successful results in the past 20 years with artificial breeding of mussels. The study committee which met in the latter part of November 1958, pinpointed the problems which must be met to make the ''Plan Galicia'' (so-called because ef- forts will first be concentrated in north- eastern waters) a reality. These prob- lems are: a licensing plan to limit the number of harvesters and their area of work; the overhauling of antiquated sys- tems of harvesting which are exhausting most species (particularly grooved car- pet shells and common cockles); the de- velopment of new oyster beds (present beds being too concentrated and over- worked); the artificial cultivation of oth- er species now wholly limited to mus- sels; and the strict enforcement of off- season prohibitions on the harvesting of shellfish. Mussel production rose from 400tons (weight in the shell) in the early 1940's to an estimated 5,500 metric tons in 1958. Shellfish production in 1957 was 52,242 metric tons, valued at US$14 million. (United States Consulate, Vigo, report of December 24, 1958.) He KK ok TUNA FISHING VESSELS OPERATING OFF DAKAR AGAIN IN 1958/59: A fleet of eight tuna fishing vessels left the Spanish fishing port of Bermeo at the end of October 1958 to fish off Dakar, West Africa, until about March 15, iL ya\s)- The tuna vessels are under contract to a group of fish canners in the Canary Islands, the contract calling for a mini- Wool, “ike No, 3 mum quota of tuna to be paid for at about 8.6 U. S. cents a pound, or US$173 ashort ton, for the eviscerated fish. The canners make available to the fleet several small transport vessels which pick up the tuna from the fleet while on the high seas and return to the Canary Islands where the catch is weighed and turned over to the canners. A round trip from the Canary Islands to the fishing zone requires 9 to 10 days. On these trips the small trans- ports haul all the food, water, and other needs of the fishermen. While fuel-oil and ice are obtainable closer at hand both in Dakar and Port Etienne in French West Africa, they are priced so high that it is cheaper to ship them from the Can- ary Islands. Each fishing vessel (average about 75 tons) has a crew of 17 men, making a to- tal of 119 for the fleet. The crew includes a Franciscan priest and a lay brother of the same order serving as simple sea- man and mechanic respectively. The crew members undergo privations in the tropical waters, since there is a short- age of space, inadequate food and water, and little comfort for them. Space pri- ority is given to the fuel tanks, refriger- ated storage holds for tuna, and the live | bait tanks. Because of the difficulties which the fishermen and the fishing fleet as a com- mercial enterprise have to undergo, only one ship, of all those which have gone since the fishery began in 1956, has re- turned to fish again off Dakar. The an- swer as to why the Bermean fishermen set forth toward West Africa annually is to be found in the extraordinary abun- dance of tuna there, as compared to the scarcity of fish of any kind in the winter season in the Bay of Biscay. Although the Bermeans have sought other fishing areas, especially in the Mediterranean, they have found the tuna fishery off Da- kar to be the most productive. The tuna in this area is the Neothunnus albacora, known as the rabil in Spanish, the yellow- fin in English, and the thon aux nageoires jaunes in French, In 1956 eight ships set out for French West Africa and fished for tuna about 100 miles south of Dakar. They departed from Bermeo early in November 1956 with a crewof 125 men and returned home March 1959 Spain (Contd.): at the end of January 1957. In a period of 50 fishing days, they caught about 600 tons of tuna valued at 4 million pesetas (US$95,238 at official rate of exchange), averaging about US$11,900 per vessel. The rest of the Bermean fishing fleet of 170 vessels that remained in its home waters caught during the same period about 2,400 tons of fish valued at 12 mil- lion pesetas (US$285,714), or about US$1,680 per vessel. According to the Secretary of the Brotherhood of Fishermen in Bermeo, the catches in the African waters could easily be doubled under more favorable conditions. One of the most important of these conditions would be the use of one or more refrigerated ships which would remain in the fishing zone and then proceed when loaded either to the Canary Islands or, better still, to the canneries at Cadiz, Huelva, Vigo or Bermeo where much higher prices could be obtained for the fish. So far, the sev- eral attemps to purchase refrigeration ships from French and Italian sources have not proven successful, the United States Consul at Bilbao reported on Jan- uary 5, 1959. 2 ck ok ok ok VIGO FISHERIES TRENDS, NOVEMBER 1958 Fish Exchange: Landings of fish and shellfish in November 1958 at the Vigo Fish Exchange amounted to 9,015 metric tons, a drop of 144 tons from the preced- ing month, but exceeded November 1957 landings by 2,423 tons. The November 1958 landings set a new record for that month. Major species sold over the exchange in November 1958 were: sar- dines, 2,690 tons; anchovies, 2,215 tons; horse mackerel, 933 tons; small hake, 637 tons; and needlefish, 393 tons. The November 1958 landings were valued at US$1,565,800 (US$1.00=42 pes- atas), an increase in value over October of US$153,000 and close to US$440,000 above the value for November 1957. Fish Canning and Processing: Cannery activity was above normal for Novem- ber 1958 with 2,635 tons of fresh fish COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 91 processed as compared with 934 tons in the the same inonth of 1957. The good No- vember 1958 landings also helped the smoking, drying, and pickling processors, who purchased 2,077 tons, about 1,095 tons above the October purchases. Ship- ments to interior fresh fish markets dropped about 10 percent from the 5,000 tons shipped in October due to the good demand from the Vigo processors. Sardine Fishing Season: The closed season for sardine fishing, initiated as a conservation measure, has been extended 15 days and now extends from February 15 to April 30. Some disagreement ex- ists on the dates for the closed season on the part of industry members. Some claim that the closed season would be more beneficial from a conservation standpoint if it were established earlier in the year when the sardines spawn. (United States Consulate, Vigo, dispatch, December 24, 1958.) Sweden HERRING CATCH FOR 1958 OFF ICELAND FAIR: The Swedish 1958 drift-net herring fishery in Iceland waters yielded 22,930 barrels or about 2,200 metric tons of salt- ed herring witha sales value of US$521,000, according to a report made by the Bohus- lans Icelandic Fishermen's Association in Lysekil. The catch was taken by 29 vessels. The Association had contracted for 27,545 barrels and they were able to fulfill about 83 percent of that amount. In 1957, 20 vessels caught about 1,500 metric tons of herring. A purse-seining expedition consisting of a mothership and one fishing vessel participated in the Icelandic herring fish- ery and caught only 580 barrels. This expedition had contracted for 2,000 bar- rels, the United States Consul at Gote- borg reported on November 21, 1958. 92 Union of South Africa NEW SARDINE RESEARCH VESSEL: A new 120- foot steel research vessel, the Sardinops, has been built by the South African Government to take part in an expanded research program on the sardine and maasbanker (jack mackerel) fisheries. The vessel's principal dimensions are; length over-all 120 feet; breadth, moulded 25 feet; draught, loaded 10 feet; tonnage 342 gross. Both hull and upper works are of all-welded steel construction. The main propulsion engine is a 600/660 b.h.p. 5-cylinder two-stroke marine Diesel, type 495 V.O., operating at 130 r.p.m., and giving a speed Mess Rims. & Galley Machinery Space 10! Drain Tanksty 7: i! of 10 knots. It is hydraulically coupled to the pro- peller, which can be operated by finger-tip con- trol from the bridge. Auxiliaries include two 55 k.w. Diesel generator sets, and a Diesel engine driving compressor service pump, and stand-by generator. The trawl winch is mounted fore-and-aft, and like the hydrograph winch, windlass, and line haul- er, is hydraulically operated. The vessel is fitted for starboard side trawling, the port side being fitted with towing booms for plankton nets, etc. Fish holds are fitted on the well deck, Steering machinery consists of hand and power- ed hydraulic gear, and no active rudder is fitted. Navigational equipment includes gyro compass, log, deep-water and shallow-water echo sounders, radar, and other equipment. Accommodation comprises the captain's cabin on the bridge deck, 4 roomy double-berth cabins for officers and scientists, and cabins and berths for 4 petty officers and 6 seamen. The biological laboratory, 13 feet 6 in. by 9 ft. 6 in., is housed on the main deck, and contains 3 stainless steel sinks, a gimballed table, and has acid resisting flooring. Fresh and-salt water, compressed air, and electric power are also in- cluded. A similarly-equipped, though smaller chemical laboratory is provided on the deck below. A feature of the vessel is the absence of a fish- room, due no doubt, to the nature of the fishery on which work is to be carried out. There is cold storage, however, which could conceivably be uti- lized for the storage of fish samples. Another feature is the use of 16-ft. glass fibre lifeboats, two of which are slung in davits. Two 70-ft. wooden research ships, the Trachurus and the Kunene have also been launched, and will COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 be engaged on the same research program. (World Fishing, January 1959.) EXPERIMENTS TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF SALMON: The normal life cycle of salmon is to be born, go to sea, return after two or more years to the upper parts of streams and rivers, spawn, and die. Afewsalm- on have been known to return to the sea after spawning, and return and spawn two, three, or four times. Scientists of the Lancashire River Board wondered if this mass death of salmon returning to sea was needless, if in fact deaths resulted only from sheer exhaustion and starvation. They pointed out that once the salmon enters fresh wa- ter it stops eating. While fighting up- stream, spawning and fighting back to the sea, the fish lives off its own body. This period usually lasts several months. As an experiment, the Board sent men with nets through the upper reaches of England's spawning rivers as the salm- on arrived in the fall of 1958. They caught 230 salmon, both male and female, put them in tank trucks and hauled them to a hatchery. There the eggs were strip- ped from the females, artificially fertil- ized by the males, and put into cool fresh- water tanks for 100 days to hatch. The adult fish were then put back into the tank trucks and hauled to the seaside at Morecamb. There they were put in- to fresh-water tanks but seawater was admitted gradually in small doses until after five days the water matched that of the open sea. Then the fish were transferred to the open air wading pool on the beach and offered their normal sea diet, crustacea, eels, and herring. Most started eating almost at once. New ovaries began to develop in some of the females. The fish early in December 1958 were being tagged and given a few more days to recuperate. Then they were to beput |into tanks and carried five miles or so | March 1959 offshore and turned loose. Experts hope many will come back next year. So far the experts are satisfied since few fish have died. * Ox Dice cnorS FIRST TRANSOM STERN TRAWLER BUILT: A new trawler has been built with a transom stern in Great Britain. The de- cision to adopt this hull form was taken after considerable research and tank tests carried out on models. These tests COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW A new trawler built in Great Britain with a transom stem indicated that such a hull would be faster than one having the conventional cruiser stern, and would be a good sea-ship un- der adverse weather conditions. Some of these claims have already been justified, for the new motor vessel Kelvin has run trials on the Humber. She is now in service with a large Brit- ish fishery firm. The Kelvin has the following dimen- sions: length between perpendiculars 137 ft. 6 in.; breadth, moulded 28 ft.; depth, moulded 14 ft. 3 in.; gross ton- nage 448. The vessel is powered by a triple- expansion steam engine, of 750 indicated horsepower and has an oil-fired boiler. Also steam-driven,is the main 15-kilowatt generator; the 10-kilowatt stand-by set is powered by a Diesel engine. The new stern affords more spacious accommodation and washing facilities aft. The fish hold of 8,650 cubic feet is insu- lated, and employs aluminum alloy for the wing bulkheads and fixed shelf angles. 93 Life-saving appliances consist of three inflatable dinghies, of over 150 percent crew capacity, and an 18-foot wooden work lifeboat launched by a center line davit. Steam provides the power for the hy- draulic steering system, and also for the trawl winch, which has a capacity of 1,200 fathoms of 23-inch trawl warp. Initial trials of the Kelvin, believed to be the first trawler with a transom stern, were highly satisfactory. Aspeed of 12 knots was recorded. (November 1958 World Fishing). ak ok ok kk GOVERNMENT PLANS AID TO PILCHARD INDUSTRY: Larger multipurpose craft, capable of year-round fishing for other markets be- sides pilchards, are recommended ina plan drafted by the British White Fish Authority for consideration by the indus- try. At present about 6,000 metric tons of pilchards are landed in Great Britain per annum, and 12,000 tons of pilchards are imported. Yet there are resources of 800,000 tons in the English Channel. The pilchard industry of Cornwall is marginally profitable and depends large- ly on the subsidy for survival. There are indications that it is beginning to re- cede. At an average annual production level of 6,000 tons, it is worth about £200,000 (US$560,000) per annum to the national income. As of August 1, 1958, the Authority had invested £86,800 (US$243,000) in the production phase of industry, of which £30,000 (US$84,000) was by way of grant and £.56,800 (US$159,000) by way of loans. The industry pays £2,000 (US$5,600) a year levy and re- ceives £32,000 (US$89,600) a year sub- sidy. Virtually all craft which land pil- chards fish for other species as a side lline. An important factor in the industry now being in its present position is the competition of imported canned pilchards. The total production annually of wet pil- chards by the major competing countries of South Africa, South-West Africa, Japan, Portugal, and the United States is about 500,000 tons and is rising. This background 94 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW United Kingdom (Contd.): indicates the measure of competition faced by the English canning industry which only has 6,000 tons of raw ma- terial a year. The industry reached its present po- sition during the postwar decade. There has been a transition from the curing to the canning of pilchards which has pro- gressed almost to completion. The change has not been planned. The can- neries which developed during the time of the sellers' market of 1947-50 are dispersed and their plants are but part- ly employed. The small pack is mar- keted separately by each of them. There are a total of seven factories concerned, five of which have the major interest, the other two being general food packers in Plymouth who take pilchards as oc- casion permits or demands. Of the first five, three are in Cornwall and depend mainly on pilchards for their production. The other two are at Chichester and Yarmouth and have a more varied pro- duction. The total product is about 2,700 tons annually from the seven fac- tories. The total normal daily capacity of the five is 112 tons of wet fish and they could, therefore, in theory, handle the total annual landings in 53 days. The pilchard is, however, a markedly season- al fish; only a side stream of the main resource is exploited and the factories are in consequence faced with irregular supplies. The United Kingdom imports approxi- mately 12,000 tons of canned pilchards a year representing approximately 19,000 tons of wet fish. Therefore the total mar- ket for canned pilchards in the United Kingdom represents an approximate to- tal wet landing figure of 25,000 tons an- nually. The scientists advise that there are resources in the English Channel of about 800,000 tons; therefore, the raw material to satisfy the United Kingdom market in canned pilchards by local pro- duction exists near at hand. The production phase of the industry is made up of fishing units with tradition- al-type craft, using traditional gear inthe traditional seasons andareas. They are out of date and out of context in the present ec- Vol. 21, No. 3 onomy of the pilchard industry in competing countries in other parts of the world and find it extremely difficult to operate at the prices offered by the canners. Inorder to produce fish ata lower price, i.e.: to op- erate economic craft and gear, there are two alternatives: (a) The employment of small craft of between 25 ft. and 30 ft. inlength, which have low running costs and require only two men as the full crew, thus makingarela- tively low demand in wages or earnings. (b) The employment of larger craft 70ft. in length designed to operate gear, new to Cornwall, as the behavior of the fish de- mands according to seasons (i.e. midwater trawl; encircling nets--purse seine, lam- para), as wellasdriftnets. The intention would be to land fish in such quantities and more regularly than hitherto so that not only may the costs of running the larger craft be met but that the price of fish at land- ing may be much reduced, and also to ex- ploit alternative resources as a planned objective and not as side lines. With regard to the first alternative, it has been shown that the presently-ex- ploited resources which migrate along the Cornishcoast are buta''side stream"! of the main stock. Smallcraft could only con- tinue to exploit this resource since they would not be sufficiently seaworthy to ex- ploit the main stock offshore. While they would operate at lowcost they would per- petuate the condition of erratic supplies, thus continuing the extant unsatisfactory supply position tothecanners. Therefore all the indications are that a break with tradition is called for and that approach to the second alternative be examined. The seasonal nature of the supplies of pilchards may be relieved, but pilchards cannot be made available for canning throughout the year. Alternative marine resources are known to exist, and these should be sought and caught in order that the craft may oper- ate profitably for the greater part of the year. The processing plant should be geared to receive these alternative prod- ucts to keep plant and labor employed as fully as possible. There would appear to be no short-term remedies available which would embrace allfacets of the problem. March 1959 United Kingdom (Contd.): There is a market in the United King- dom, at the right price, for canned pil- chards equivalent to 25,000 tons of wet pilchards a year. For instance, at half the present landed cost this would mean increasing the contribution of the pilchard industry to the national income from £200,000 to £400,000 (US$1.1 million) a year. With other marine products and byproducts this figure may well be dou- led. The recommendations of the Authority are: 1. That a pilot project be started in the form of a development unit based on one multipurpose craft, with new nets and gear, for two years, to explore the resources and potential costs and earn- ings of the probable future type of.craft required. In order to design this unit, a small management committee should be established, first to plan and subse- quently to operate the experimental unit. The operations of the unit should be under the direct supervision of a tech- nical officer. 2. When the production potential and operational costs of a new type of craft and gear have been ascertained, it will then be possible to indicate to the proc- essors the potential of raw materials for which they would have to plan. The White Fish Authority would take up this aspect as and when the data from the ex- perimental unit becomes available. It is stressed that a decision as to whether to put these recommendations into effect will be taken only after the views of the industry have been ascertained. (World Fishing, January 1959.) OK OK MARKETS DOGFISH SUCCESSFULLY: Large numbers of ‘flake’ or dogfish were being caught in the West Cornish waters off Great Britain during early December 1958. This was usual at that time of the year. A small number of long-liners were making quite heavy land- ings of those fish at Newlyn. Over 14,000 pounds were sold in one day. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 95 Since the London market for Fleet- wood dogfish was developed in recent years, a renewed interest has turned to "flake.'"' ''Flake'' are mostly the com- mon lesser spotted dogfish that take the bait from winter lines set for cod and whiting. The British report that a lot is known about the anatomy, breeding, and mating, but very little about the travels of dogfish. (The Fishing News, a Brit- ish fishery periodical, December 12, 1958.) 7 OK OK KK RENEWAL OF NEGOTIATIONS ON ICELAND'S FISHING LIMITS EXTENSION TO 12 MILES PROPOSED: An offer to renew negotiations with Iceland to end the fish- ing limits dispute was made by the British Government in a Memorandum submitted to the General Assembly of the United Nations late in 1958. Entitled ‘‘The Problem of the Fisheries around Iceland,’’ it examines the justifications for unilateral action advanced by the Icelandic Government in its own Memorandum. Taking first the economic aspect, or Iceland’s need for fish, the British Memorandum first deals with the argument that Iceland had no alternative but to impose a 12-mile limit. It gives figures to show that the total catches by Icelandic fleets around Iceland have increased from an average of 328 million pounds in the years just previous to the war to 864 million pounds in 1956, the last year for which figures are available. Moreover, Icelandic catches in other waters, such as Greenland, have increased from almost nothing before the war to 11 million pounds in 1956. The herring fishery is admitted to be erratic, fluctuating between 66 million and 220 million pounds in recent years, but the Icelanders have it largely to themselves. And, apart from the herring, the Icelandic catch is seento have increased almost threefold over the past 20 years. It is evident, the British Memorandum says, that there isnosort of critical situation in the fisheries, nor apparently, any check to their continuing growth. On the scientific aspect--overfishing and conservation-- it is pointed out that the over-all catch of demersal species has greatly increased over the past two decades. The argu- ment that the catch per fishing unit is falling is not tenable unless it can be shown that the over-all catch is decreasing and maintains a significant downward trend, for when a ves- sel exploits a previously unfished stock its catch will natu- rally be higher than when it is joined later by other vessels. Another factor is that the year-classes vary greatly in numbers, and when a good year-class enters a fishery, the catch may increase markedly for several years; and as that class passes out of the fishery the total catch may fall until another good year-class comes along. Short-term movements in catch totals and catch per unit may well be due tothis influence, the Memorandum points out. (The Fishing News, December 5, 1958.) Venezuela PEARL FISHING GROUNDS OPENED: The opening of pearl-fishing grounds in the maritime zone (bounded by 63 40! 96 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 Venezuela (Contd.): Another resolution of December 9, 1958, establishfees for several types of and 64°30! west longitude and 11°15! permits needed to engage in pearl fish- north latitude on the north and south to the ing. These are: fully equipped diver, mainland) was announced by the Venezue- |US$30; drag or team of two drags, US$3; lan Ministry of Agriculture and Husband- |and diver using aqualung or similar e- ry on December 9, 1958(Gaceta Oficial quipment, US$3. (United States Embassy No. 25833). Pearlfishinginthat area will |in Caracas, December 12, 1958.) be permitted from January 1-April 30,1959, tau ve “Be. ie WEST COAST ALBACORE TROLLERS In the United States Pacific coast tuna fisheries, the albacore troller isthirdin importance. The clipperisfirst and the purse seiner is second. In the albacore troller fishery lures on lines of varying length are trolled astern from two trolling poles. Three or four lines are attached to each pole and so rigged that they can be pulled in separately. These boats are usually about 60 feet in length. TUNA JIGS PLASTIC JIGS DOUBLE TUNA HOOK SQUID BAIT HOOK PIPE SQUID Halibut boats and salmontrollers frequently enter the albacore fish- ery, and during a goodrun almost anything that floats may be seen on the grounds. In some years well over 2,000 different boats have made alba- core deliveries in Southern California. March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 97 FEDERAL 7 é ACTIONS Federal Trade Commission order (7203 Canned Seafood) requiring an Astoria, Ore., seafood corporation CONSENT ORDER REQUIRES | and its officers to stop making illegal SEATTLE CANNED SALMON brokerage payments to favored buyers. DES ws Ul OR, LO STOP PAYING ILLEGAL DISCOUNTS The Commission adopted an initial IN LIEU OF BROKERAGE: decisionby one of itshearing examiners The Federal Trade Commission Jan- | based on an order agreed to by the com- uary 12, 1959, approved a consentorder | pany and the Commission's Bureau of (7209 Seafood) prohibiting a Seattle, Litigation, Wash,, canned salmon distributor from granting customers illegal discounts in A Commission complaint, issued on lieu of brokerage. July 22, 1958, had charged the firm with making direct salestosome buyers with- The Commission adopted an initial out utilizing brokers and givingprice re- decision by a hearing examiner contain- | ductions approximating the brokerage ing anorder agreed toby the company and | fees which otherwise would have been the Commission's Bureau of Investigation. | paid. A Commission complaint, issued The Commission also charged the July 23, 1958, had charged that the firm firm with making some sales only through made a substantial number of sales di- field brokers and reducing the selling rect to ''at least one'' large chain at a price by the amount of the commissions lower net price reflecting the 5-percent which would have been earned by prima- brokerage normally paid to brokers for ry brokers, negotiating the firm's sales. Sec. 2(c) of the Robinson-Patman Amendment to the The complaint had charged that these Clayton Act prohibits paying or granting practices violate Sec. 2(c) of the Robin- to buyers for their own account adiscount | son-Patman Amendment to the Clayton or allowance in lieu of brokerage. Act. The order prohibits such practices in the future. The Seattle firm, a distributor of can- ned salmon, is a wholly-owned subsidi- The agreement is for settlement pur- ary of a Canadian corporation located at poses only and does not constitute an ad- Vancouver, the complaint stated. The mission by the respondents that they have order prohibits these illegal payments violated the law. in the future. Ws Ss oe Ss The agreement is for settlement pur- | SEATTLE CANNED SEAFOODS poses only and does not constitute an ad- | BROKER ORDERED TO STOP mission by the company that it has vio- PASSING ON BROKERAGE EARNINGS: lated the law. An Initial Decision (7151 Seafood) — SG FEE 09 was issued on January 7, 1959, by a Fed- eral Trade Commission hearing exam- CONSENT ORDER STOPS OREGON iner which would require a Seattle, Wash., SEAFOOD FIRM FROM PAYING primary broker of seafood products to ILLEGAL BROKERAGE: stop illegally passing on its brokerage The Federal Trade Commission on earnings to customers. This is nota January 7, 1959, approved a consent final decision of the Commission and 98 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Federal Trade Commission (Contd.): may be appealed, stayed, or docketed for review. The examiner ruled that the firm, which is two partners, has granted di- rect and indirect price concessions, re- bates, and allowances in lieu of broker- age. Holding these practices to be in violation of Sec. 2(c) of the Robinson- Patman Amendment to the Clayton Act, he ordered them stopped. "The courts have consistently held that it is a violation of Sec. 2(c). . .to pay or to pass on brokerage to a buyer in any guise whatsoever," the examiner pointed out. As alleged in the Commission's com- plaint of May 20, 1958, the examiner found the partners have made the unlaw- ful payments by: (1) selling at net prices lower than those accounted for to their packer-principals, (2) granting price de- ductions through allowances or rebates, wholly or partly not charged back to the packers, and (3) taking reduced broker- age on sales involving price concessions. For example, he said, the partners invoiced to a retail chain store 200 car- tons of salmon at $20.50 a carton but accounted for this sale to their packer principal at $21.00, absorbing the 50 cents a case difference out of their brok- erage, Another invoice in the record cover- ing 1,250 cans of salmon sold to a De- troit customer, continued the examiner, shows $1,168.17 freight prepaid by the partners, while they actually paid "$1,293.17, or $125.00 more, which rep- resents 10 cents a case promotional al- lowance granted to the purchaser in the form of a freight rebate." The evidence further establishes that the Seattle firm had a contract witha buying subsidiary of a large retail chain store providing for a 50-cents-a-case lower price on all listed items, he said. On these sales, the firm received only 3 percent brokerage instead of the usual 5 percent, he added I Vol, 21, No. 3 Department of Health, Education, and Welfare FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION PETITION FILED FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF TOLERANCE FOR RESIDUES OF ANTIBIOTIC USED IN FISHERY PRODUCTS: A petition has been filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by Amer- ican Cyanamid Company, New York, N.Y., proposing the establishment of tolerances of 5 parts per million for residues of chlortetracycline (an antibiotic) in or on the following raw commodities: Fish (vertebrate) and any cuts therefrom, oys- ters (shucked), scallops (shucked), shrimp (peeled), shrimp (unpeeled), each in un- cooked form. The analytical method proposed inthe petition for determining residues of chlor- tetracycline is that published in the Anti- biotics Annual 1953-54, page 409, Medi- cal Encyclopedia, New York, N. Y. The petition was reported in the January 6, 1959, Federal Register. KK ok ok TIME EXTENDED FOR FILING COMMENTS ON FOOD ADDITIVES REGULATIONS: Requests have been received by the Food and Drug Administration for an ex- tension of the time allowed for filing views and comments upon the proposal to establish definitions and procedural regulations governing food additives pub- lished in the Federal Register on Decem- ber 9, 1958. The Commissioner of Food and Drugs extended until February 7, 1959, the time for filing views and comments, accord- ing to the January 6, 1959, Federal Reg- ister. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, January 1959 Spee March 1959 Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FISHING VESSEL MORTGAGE INSURANCE PROPOSED RULE MAKING: Notice of Proposed Rule Making coy- ering the procedures for fishing vessel mortgage insurance was signed by Inte- rior Secretary Seaton and published in the January 23, Federal Register. Inter- ested parties were allowed until Febru- ary 23, 1959, to present suggestions or comments regarding the Regulations. Final Regulations will be issued after the suggestions and comments received have been evaluated. The authority for the exercise ofthis function was transferred from the Mari- time Administration to the Department of the Interior under the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956. The program will permit a mortgage given for the construction or reconstruction of a fishing vessel to be insured by the De- partment of the Interior. The mortgage cannot exceed 75 percent of the cost of construction or reconstruction and may bear interest of not to exceed 5 percent without any special findings, or 6 per- cent if the Secretary of the Interior finds that such interest rate is necessary, and may not have a maturity exceeding 15 years. The premium rate will be one percent on mortgages and 0.5 percent on construction loans, S Interstate Commerce Commission EXPRESS RATE INCREASE FOR JANUARY 1, 1959 SUSPENDED: On December 30, 1958, the Interstate Commerce Commission refused to per- mit the Railway Express Agency to in- crease its rates by 34 percent effective January 1, 1959. This increase waspro- tested by express users on the grounds that a 15-percent increase had recently been approved on express traffic gener- ally. The Commission found that no‘in- crease was warranted on fishery traffic at that time. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 99 The Commission ordered an investi- gation into the lawfulness of the proposed 34-percent increase and suspended the new rates until July 31,1959. Itis expect- edthat hearings will beheld on this latest proposal which has been identified as I. & S. Docket No. 7095. GBs and Defense Mobilization Office of Civil REGULATIONS ISSUED FOR INVESTIGATIONS TO DETERMINE EFFECTS OF IMPORTS ON NATIONAL SECURITY: Section 8 of the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1958 provides for in- vestigations to determine the effects of imports on the national security. The Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, which is responsible for the implementa- tion and execution of Section 8, issued regulations on the conduct of such investi- gations. The regulations (OCDM Regula- tion 4), published in the January 15 Fed- eral Register, provide that upon the re- que st of the head of any Government De- partment or Agency, upon application of an interested party, or upon his own mo- tion, the Director of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization shall set in motion an immediate investigation to de- termine the effects on the national secu- rity of imports of any article. The regulations as printed in the Fed- eral Register follow: Title 32A—NATIONAL DEFENSE, APPENDIX Chapter I—Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization [OCDM Reg. 4] OCDM REG. 4—REGULATIONS UNDER SECTION 8 OF THE TRADE AGREE- MENTS EXTENSION ACT OF 1958 C. Authority. Definitions. General. Criteria for determining effects o im- ports on national security. Applications for investigation. Confidential information. Conduct of investigation. Emergency action. Report of Director, S2Ner peprm 100 Civil Defense and Mobilization (Contd.): AutHority: Sections 1 to 9 issued under sec. 8, Pub. Law 85-686. Section 1. Authority. These regulations are promulgated pursuant to section 8 of the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1958 (19 U.S.C., sec. 1352a), Pub. Law 85-686, August 20, 1958. Sec. 2. Definitions. (a) As used herein “Director” means the Director of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. Sec. 3. General. (a) Upon request of the head of any Government Department or Agency, upon application of an interested party, or upon his own motion, the Director shall set in motion an immediate investi- gation to determine the effects on the national security of imports of any article. Sec. 4. Criteria for determining effects of imports on national security. (a) In determining the effect on the | ational security of imports of the arti- cle which is the subject of the investi- gation, the Director is required to take | into consideration the following: (1) Domestic production needed for projected national defense requirements including restoration and rehabilitation. (2) The capacity of domestic indus- tries to meet such projected’ require- ments, including existing and antici- pated availabilities of di) Human resources (ii) Products (ii) Raw materials (iv) Production equipment and fa cilities (vy) Other supplies and services .es: sential to the national defense. (3) The requirement of growth of such industries and such supplies and services including the investment, ex- ploration and development necessary to assure capacity to meet projected de- fense requirements. (4) The effect which the quantities, availabilities, character and uses of im- ported goods have or will have on such industries and the capacity of the United States to meet national security require- ments. (5) The economic welfare of the Na- tion as it ‘is related to our national security, including the impact of for- eign competition on the economic wel- fare of individual domestic industries. In determining whether such impact may impair the national security, an3 substantial unemployment, decrease in revenues of government, loss of skills or investment, or ‘other serious effects shall be considered. The Director shall alsu consider what- ever other factors relative to imports he deems appropriate in determining whether the national security is affected thereby. Sec. 5. Applications for investigation. (a) Applications in writing are re- quired. Twenty-five copies shall be filed by mail with the Director, Office of Civi. and Defense Mobilization, Washington lance tc the Director. 25, D.C. (b) Applications shall set forth the reasons why it is believed that the quan- tities or circumstances of imports of the particular article threaten to impair the national security and shall contain the following information: (1) Identification of the person, part- nership, association, corporation, or other entity on whose behalf the appli- cation is filed. (2) The name or precise description of the article. (3) Description of the applicant and the domestic industry concerned, includ- ing pertinent information regarding companies and their plants, locations, capacity and current output of the domestic industry concerned with the article in question. (4) Pertinent statistics showing the quantities and values of both imports and production in the United States. (5) Nature, sources, and degree of the competition created by imports of the article in question. (6) The effect, if any, of imports of the article in question upon the restora- tion of domestic production capacity in an emergency. (c) When ‘it is alleged that a threat of impairment of the national security would result from the impact of foreign competition on the economic welfare of the domestic industry, additional infor- mation of the following type should be provided concerning the avplicant and the domestic industry: (1) Employment and special skills re- quired in the domestic production of the article. (2) Extent to which investment and specialized productive capacity is or will be adversely affected. (3) Revenues of Federal, State, or local Governments which are or may be affected by the volume or circumstances of imports of the article. (4) Defense or defense supporting uses of the article including data on de- fense contracts or sub-contracts, both past and current. (5) Direct capital investments for manufacturing facilities and develop- mental expenditures required to fulfill defense contracts or subcontracts; and direct capital outlays for exploration or expansion neeessary to the growth and development of the industry for national defense purposes. In either case, the ex- ‘tent to which assistance was provided by Government-sponsored expansion programs. (6) Statistics on production, sales, exports, profits, losses, prices, taxes, wages and other costs of production, subsidies, price support programs, in- ventories, plant investment and related data both for the applicant and the domestic industry whose production is in competition with the imported article, and the relationship of receipts of the applicant from sales of-the article to applicant’s total receipts. (d) Statistical material should be pre- sented on a calendar-year basis for suffi- cient periods of time to indicate trends, and afford the greatest possible Beata Monthly or COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 quarterly data for the latest complete years should be included as well as any other breakdowns which may be perti- nent to show seasonal or short-term factors. Sec. 6. Confidential information. Information which would disclose in- dividual business data or 6perations will be accorded confidential treatment by the Director if submitted in confidence. All information submitted in confidence should be on separate pages marked “Business Confidential.” Sec. 7. Conduct of investigation. (a) The investigation by the Director, or by such official or agency as he may designate shall be such as to enable the Director to arrive at a fully informed opinion as to the effect on the national security of imports of the article in question. (b) Upon receipt of an application for an investigation the Director shall issue a public notice which shall be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER. Any interested party shall notify the Director of his interest within thirty days, and submit to the Director twenty-five copies of any comment, opinion, or data relative to the investigation within forty-five days, after such notice. Rebuttal to material so submitted shall be filed with the Di- rector within seventy-five days after such public notice and all data and comment from interested parties shall be a matter of record by ninety days after the giving of such public notice, or fifteen days after the close of any hear- ing conducted under paragraph (f) of this section. (c) Any application for an investiga- tion, as well as statements in opposition to the applicant’s position, smcluding nonconfidential supporting information, will be available for inspection at the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization in Washington, D.C., where it may be read and copied by interested parties. (d) The Director or his designee may also request further data from other sources through the use of question- naires, correspondence and other avail~- able means. (e) The Director or his designee shall in the course of the investigation seek information or advice from appropriate departments and agencies. (f) In addition, the Director, or his designee, may, when he deems it ap- propriate, hold public hearings to elicit further information. In such cases the time and place of public hearings will be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER. (1) All hearings shall be conducted by the Director, or his designee, and the full record shall be considered by the Director in arriving at his determination. Interested parties may appear at public hearings, either in person or by repre- sentation, and produce oral or written evidence relevant and material to the subject matter of the investigation. (2) After a witness has offered evi- dence in testimony the Director or his designee may question the witness. Questions submitted to the Director or his designee in writing by any inter- ested party may, at the discretion of the Director or his designee, be posed to the witness for reply for the purpose of as- March 1959 Civil Defense and Mobilization (Contd.): sisting the Director in obtaining the ma- terial facts with respect to the subject matter of the investigation. All hearings shall be stenographically reported. The Director, however, shall not cause tran- scripts of the record of such hearings to be distributed to the interested par- ties, but such transcripts may be in- spected at the Office of the Director in Washington, D.C., or purchased from the reporter. An applicant must file 25 copies of a COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW ' Sec. 8. Emergency action. In emergency situations or at his dis- cretion, the Director may dispense with the procedures. as set forth above and may formulate his views without follow- ing such procedures. Sec. 9. Report of Director. A report will be made and published ‘upon the disposition of each request, ap- 101 plication or motion. Notice of publica- tion of such report, shall be given in the FEDERAL REGISTER. Copies of the report will be made available at the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. These regulations shall be effective upon publication in the FEDERAL REcIs- TER, Dated: January 6, 1959. Leo A. HoEcH, Director. the OCDM Director within 75 days of the request for an investigation by mail with | public notice. the Director, Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, Washington 25, D. C. The request must state the reasons for be- lieving imports of an article threaten to impair the national security. It must also include descriptions of the article involved, of the domestic industry con- cerned, and of the nature, degree and source of the competion created by the imports in question, Supporting statis- tics on United States production and im- ports are also required. Notice of the receipt of applications by OCDM will be published in the Fed- eral Register. Interested persons must notify the OCDM Director within 30 days after the date of public notice of their interest and within 45 days after the public notice submit to him 25 copies of their comment or data. Rebuttal of ma- terial so submitted must be filed with Copies of applications and the state- ments of interested persons, excepting confidential business information, will be available for public inspection through the OCDM Public Affairs Office in the Executive Office Building in Washington. In some cases, the OCDM Director may hold public hearings to elicit further information. Should such hearings be held, notice of such hearings will be pub- lished in the Federal Register. The regulations as published spell out the authority, the definitions, criteria for determining effects of imports on national security, applications for investigation, the handling of confidential information, the conduct of the investigation, emergen- cy action, and the publication of a report on the disposition of each request, appli- cation, or motion. The regulations be- came effective upon publication. Department of State UNITED STATES DELIVERS NOTE TO PANAMA ON 12-MILE TERRITORIAL SEA LAW: The United States assador to Panama delivered on January 9, 1959, a note to the Panamanian Government in which the United States stated its non- recognition of the provisions of the re- cently-enacted Panamanian law providing for a 12-mile territorial sea and re- served all of its rights in the area which is the subject of the law. The text of the United States note is as follows: "Excellency: "TI have the honor to refer to your note No. 1096 dated December 23, 1958, transinitting a copy of Republic of Pana- ma Law No. 58 of December 18, 1958, which has as its purpose the extension | of the territorial sea of the Republic of Panama to a distance of 12 miles from the coast. "I have been instructed to state that the United States Government considers this action of the Republic of Panama is regrettable in view of the recent action of the United Nations General Assembly in voting overwhelmongly to call an in- ternational conference to consider the breadth of the territorial sea and fishery matters. "It is the view of my Government, as expressed at the United Nations Law of 102 Department of State (Contd.): the Sea Conference and on previous oc- casions, that no basis exists in interna- tional law for claims to a territorial sea in excess of three nautical miles from the baseline which is normally the low water mark on the coast. Furthermore, in the United States view there is no ob- ligation on the part of states adhering to the three-mile rule to recognize claims on the part of the other states to a great- er breadth of territorial sea. "My Government hopes that the Gov- ernment of Panama will find it possible to reconsider its action and awaits the further consideration of the question of the breadth of the territorial sea by the international community. In the mean- time the Government of the United States reserves all of its rights in the area which is the subject of Republic of Pan- ama Law No. 58 of December 18, 1958. "Accept, Excellency, the renewed as- surances of my. highest consideration," The State Department stated in view of the many inquiries, that this new Pan- amanian law cannot affect the rights of the United States with respect to the Panama Canal. Article XXIV ofthe Con- vention of 1903 between the United States and Panama, relating to the Canal, pro- vides: "No change either in the Governinent or in the laws and treaties of the Repub- lic of Panama shall, without the consent of the United States, affect any right of the United States under the present con- vention, or under any treaty stipulation between the two countries that now ex-+ ists or may hereafter exist touching the subject matter of this convention." & White House ALASKA STATEHOOD PROCLAIMED: President Eisenhower on January 3, 1959, signed the official proclamation making Alaska a state. Then, in a sep- arate action, the President signed an ex- ecutive order designating the design of COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 the new 49-star flag that will become the Nation's official ensign July 4. 2K ke kok NATIONAL OUTDOOR RECREATION RESOURCES REVIEW COMMISSION SET UP: The appointment of seven conserva- tionists to the National Outdoor Recrea- tion Resources Review Commission (€re- ated by the 85th Congress) was announced by the President in October 1958, Ap- pointed Chairman was Laurance Rocke- feller, New York industrialist and con- servationist. Joseph W. Penfold, con- servation director of the Izaak Walton League of America, was also appointed, as were Samuel T. Dana, professor emer- itus of forestry, University of Michigan; Mrs. Katherine Jackson Lee, Vice Presi- dent and Director, American Forestry Association, New Hampshire; Bernard L. Orell, Vice President, Weyerhaeuser Timber Company, Washington; M. Fred- erick Smith, Vice President, Prudential Life Insurance Company, New Jersey; and Chester S. Wilson, former Commis- sioner of the Minnesota Conservation De- partment. Four Senators and four Representa- tives selected by the House Speaker and the Vice President in July 1958 are: Sen- ators Clinton P. Anderson, New Mexico, Frank A, Barrett, Wyoming, Richard L. Neuberger, Oregon, Arthur V. Watkins, Utah; Congressmen Gracie Pfost, Idaho, John J, Rhodes, Arizona, John P. Saylor, Pennsylvania, and Al Ullman, Oregon. No commercial fishery representa- tive was named to this Commission. Un-~ der the law there will now be established a 25-man Advisory Board representing public and private groups interested in outdoor recreation resources. The law specifically provides that the commer- cial fishing industry have representation on the Board. The Commission is to inventory na- tional recreational resources, project expected recreational usage into the years 1976 and 2000, and recommend means of meeting anticipated needs, re- porting finally by September OG Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, September 1958 5p 1 112 sgupeenee eee mama March 1959 Eighty -Sixth Congress (First Session) Public bills and resolutions which may directly or indirectly affect the fisheries and allied industries are re- ported upon. Introduction, referral to committees, pertinent legislative ac- tions, hearings, and other actions by the House and Senate, as well as signa- ture into law or other final disposition are covered. FEDERAL BOATING ACT OF 1958 AMEND- MENT: H. R. 3330 (McIntire), a bill to amend the Federal Boating Act of 1958; to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries; introduced in House January 26. Provides that all undocument- ed vessels now bearing valid numbers issued by the Coast Guard shall be exempt from the number- ing provisions of subsection (d) section 3 of the said Act. FISHERIES ASSISTANCE ACT: H,. R, 3053 (O'Neil), a bill to provide a 5-year program of assistance to enable depressed segments of the fishing industry in the United States to regain a favorable economic status, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisher- ies; introduced in House January 21. Similar to H, R, 181 and other bills previously introduced. FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MARKETING ACT AMENDMENT: H. R. 2777 (McCormack), a bill to amend the Fisheries Cooperative Marketing Act, introduced in House January 19; also H. R. 3348 (Pelly), introduced in House January 26; both to Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Similar to S, 23 and other bills previously intro- duced. The bill provides that fishermen's cooper- atives shall not be subject to the provisions of the Antitrust Acts. FISHERIES PRODUCTS INCLUDED IN FOOD- ALLOTMENT PROGRAM: S. 585 (Aiken and other Senators), a bill to safeguard the health, ef- ficiency, and morale of the American people; to provide for improved nutrition through a more ef- fective distribution of food supplies through a food- allotment program; to assist in maintaining fair COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 103 prices and incomes to farmers by providing ade- quate outlets for agricultural products; to prevent burdening and obstructing channels of interstate commerce; to promote the full use of agricultural resources; and for other purposes; to the Commit- tee on Agriculture and Forestry; introduced in Sen- ate January 20. Provides for the inclusion of fish in the ''basic food allotment'' provisions of the pro- gram. FROZEN FISH BITS TO BE CLASSIFIED UN- DER FILLETS: S. 834 (Saltonstall and Kennedy), a bill to make certain frozen fish blocks classifi- able under paragraph 717 of the Tariff Act of 1930; to the Committee on Finance; introduced in Senate February 2; also H. R. 3883 (Bates), to the Com- mittee on Ways and Means, introduced in House February 2, similar to S. 834. The bill would add a new section to paragraph 717 of the Tariff Act of 1930 which would classify blocks of fish bits un- der the same category as fillets but at a flat duty rate of 24 cents per pound. The new subdivision reads as follows: ‘''(d) Fresh fish cut, sliced, ground, minced, or otherwise reduced in size, formed and frozen into blocks, slabs, sheets, or other bulk shapes, and suitable for processing in- to fish sticks, flakes, cakes, portions, or similar products of any size or shape, except fish provided for elsewhere in this paragraph or in paragraph 1756 of this Act, 24 cents per pound," HAWAII STATEHOOD: H, R. 2795 (Rivers of Alaska), a bill to provide for the admission of the Territory of Hawaii into the Union, introduced in the House January 19; also H. R. 3084 (Ullman) introduced in House January 21, H. R. 3304 (Hargis) introduced in House January 26, H. R. 3427 (Ander- son of Montana) introduced in House January 27, and H. R. 3685 (Porter) introduced in House Janu- ary 29; all to the Committee on Interior and Insu- lar Affairs. Similar to H. R. 50 and other bills previously introduced. — IMPORTED COMMODITY LABELING: H. R. 2554 (Moore), a bill to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to the marking of imported ar- ticles and containers, introduced in the House Jan- uary 15; also H. R. 3341 (Bailey), introduced in House January 27; both to Committee on Ways and Means. The proposed bill provides that imported articles removed from original container by the importer, or by a jobber, distributor, dealer, re- tailer, or other person, repacked, and offered for sale in the new package, shall be marked to show to the ultimate purchaser in the United States the English name of the country of origin of such ar- ticle. INCOME TAX LAW REVISION IN FAVOR OF FISHERMEN: S. 774 (Magnuson), a bIII to extend to fishermen the same treatment accorded farm- ers in relation to estimated income tax; to Com- mittee on Finance; introduced in Senate January 29. Similar to H. R, 604 and other bills previously in- troduced. Fears MEDICAL CARE FOR VESSEL PERSONNEL: S. 255 (Magnuson), a bill to provide medical care for certain persons engaged on board a vessel in the care, preseryation, or navigation of such ves- sel; to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce; introduced in Senate January 14. Mere- 104 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW ly amends previous legislation by striking out ''any person employed on board"' and inserting instead ‘any person employed or engaged on board." PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ON 1960 FEDERAL Vol. 21, No. 3 duced in Senate January 27; all to Committee on the Judiciary. Similar to H. R. 2977. PRICE DISCRIMINATION ACTIONS FOR DAM- AGES FOR VIOLATIONS: H. R. 212 (Patman), a BUDGET: The President's message on the 1960 Federal Budget had this to say specifically about fish and wildlife: . . .''Expenditures in 1960 for fish and wildlife resources will be about the pres- ent level. An increase is recommended to acquire lands for additional wildlife areas in 1960. Also, to aid the fishing industry, the fishery loan fund will be augmented by $3 million and mortgages for fishing vessels will be insured by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the Department of the Interior. . ." PRICE DISCRIMINATION: H. R. 1205 (Za- blocki), a bill to reaffirm the national public policy and the purpose of Congress in the laws against unlawful restraints and monopolies, commonly des- ignated ''antitrust'' laws, which among other things prohibit price discriminations; to aid in intelli- gent, fair, and effective administration and en- forcement thereof; and to strengthen the Robinson- Patman Anti-Price Discrimination Act and the protection which it affords to independent business, the Congress hereby reaffirms that the purpose of the antitrust laws in prohibiting price discrimina- tions is to secure equality of opportunity of all persons to compete in trade or business and to preserve competition where it exists, torestore it where it is destroyed, and to permit it to spring up in new fields; introduced in House January 7. Also S. 11 (Kefauver & 23 other Senators) intro- duced in Senate January 9, and H. R. 3654 (Johnson of Wisconsin) introduced in House January 29. All similar to H. R. 11. House and Senate bills to re- spective Committee on the Judiciary. H. R. 2463, previously listed under Price Dis- crimination as similar to H. R. 11 was, following review of the bill, considered not pertinent to sub- ject. Also H. R, 927 and S. 315 listed as similar to H. R. 11 deal with Price Discrimination Func- tional Discounts similar to H. R. 848. PRICE DISCRIMINATION FUNCTIONAL DIS- COUNTS: H. R. 848 (Montoya), a bill to reaffirm the national public policy and the purposes of Con- gress in enacting the Robinson-Patman Antiprice Discrimination Act entitled ''An Act to amend sec- tion 2 of the Act entitled 'An Act to supplement ex- isting laws against unlawful restraints and monop- olies, and for other purposes," and to clarify the intent and meaning of the aforesaid law by provid- ing for the mandatory nature of functiona] dis- counts under certain circumstances; also H. R. 927 (Rogers of Colorado), introduced in House January 7; S. 315 (O'Mahoney & Kennedy), intro- duced in Senate January 14; H. R, 2528 (Donohue), introduced in House January 15; H. R. 2788 (Os- mers), introduced in House January 19; and H. R. 2868 (Donohue), introduced in House January 20; to Committee onthe Judiciary. Similar to H.R. 848. PRICE DISCRIMINATION ENFORCEMENT: H, R. 2977 (Celler), a bill to amend section 11 of the Clayton Act to provide for the more expeditious enforcement of cease and desist orders issued thereunder, and for other purposes, introduced in House January 21; also S, 714 and S, 726 intro- bill to amend the Clayton Act so as to supplement existing laws against unlawful restraints and mo- nopolies by providing that violations of the Robin- son-Patman Act shall constitute violations of the antitrust laws; introduced in House January 7. Al- so S. 725 (Sparkman and 10 other Senators) intro- duced in Senate January 27. Similar to H. R. 212; to Committee on the Judiciary. ho PRICE-QUALITY STABILIZATION: H. R. 3187 (Madden), a bill to amend the Federal Trade Com- mission Act to promote quality and price stabiliza- tion; to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce; introduced in House January 22. Simi- lar to H. R. 2463 previously introduced. SALMON IMPORTS RESTRICTED: H. R. 3063 (Rivers of Alaska), a bill to facilitate the applica- tion and operation of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries; introduced in House January 21, Also S. 502 (Magnuson), intro- duced in Senate January 20; to Committee on Inter- state and Foreign Commerce. Similar to H. R. 605 and other bills previously introduced. Would pro- hibit the import of salmon products derived from fish caught by nationals of any country that permits fishing for salmon by gill nets on the high seas at times and places where occur large quantities of immature salmon of North American origin. SHIP MORTGAGE INSURANCE AMENDMENTS OF 1959: S. 555 (Butler), a bill to amend title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, in order to pro- vide mortgage and loan insurance for the construc- tion, reconstruction, or reconditioning of vessels in shipyards in the continental United States; intro- duced in Senate January 20; also H. R. 3169 (Gar- matz) introduced in House January 22; both to Com- mittee on Interstate and Forelgn Commerce. The bill would extend mortgage and loan insurance to foreign-flag vessels constructed or repaired in United States shipyards. Under the present law the Maritime Administration insures mortgages only on ships constructed for United States-flag registry. Among the different types of vessels in- cluded would also be vessels ''in the fishing trade or industry." SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF: H. R. 2812 (Wolf), a bill to provide a program of tax adjust- ment for small business and for persons engaged in small business; also H. R. 3012 (Hiestand) in- troduced in House January 31; H. R. 3839 (Bass of New Hampshire) introduced in House February 2; and H. R. 4043 (Rhodes of Arizona) introduced in House February 4; all to Committee on Ways and Means, Similar to H. R. 2 and other bills previous- ly introduced. aaa fs STARFISH ERADICATION IN LONG [ISLAND SOUND: S. 941 (Bush and Javits), a bill to pro- vidé that the Secretary of the Interior shall devel- op and carry out an emergency program for the eradication of starfish in Long Island Sound and adjacent waters; to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce; introduced in Senate Feb- March 1959 ruary 4, Also H. R. 4019 (Forand); to the Commit- tee on Merchant ee and Fisheries; introduced in House February 4. Similar to H. R. 1984 and H. R. 3087 previously introduced. ~ SURPLUS FISHERY PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT: S. 580 (Magnuson & Jackson), a bill to provide that certain surplus fishery products may be exported under the Agricultural Trade Development and As- sistance Act of 1954; to the Committee on Agricul- ture and Forestry; introduced in Senate January 20. Includes herring oil and other fish oil, and other fishery products produced in Alaska or elsewhere in the United States. TRADE ADJUSTMENT ACTOF 1959: H.R, 2475 (Donohue), a bill to provide ass assistance to commun- ities, industries, business enterprises, and indi- viduals to facilitate adjustments made necessary by the trade policy of the United States; to the Com- mittee on Ways and Means; introduced in House January 15. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF IN DEPRESSED AREAS: H. R, 454 (Zelenko), a bill to establish an effective program to alleviate conditions of ex- cessive unemployment in certain economically de- pressed areas; to Committee on Ways and Means; introduced in House January 7. Provides for Fed- eral aid to economically depressed areas through loans for industrial projects, grants for construc- tion of public facilities, technical development as- sistance, loans and grants for urban renewal and financial aid for the vocational retraining of un- employed workers. President Eisenhower vetoed similar depressed area legislation introduced in 1958. Also H. R. 1024 (Morgan), H. R. 1211 (Bailey), and H. R. 1255 (Hechler) introduced “in House Jan- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW mt eM 105 uary 7; H. R. 2871 (Denton) introduced in House January 20; H. R. 2969 (Bowles) introduced in House January 21; H. R. 3146 (Byrne of Pennsyl- vania) introduced in House January 22; H. R. 3448 (Blatnick), H. R. 3450 (Bowles), H. R. 345) (Brade- mas), H. R. 3466 (Flood), H. R. 3504 (Slack), H. R. 3505 (Spence), introduced in House, and S. 722 (Douglas and 38 other Senators) introduced inSen- ate on January 27; H. R. 3622 (Edmondson), H. R. 3642 (Gray), and H. R. 3698 (Stratton) Pecodueed in House January 29; H. R. 3849 (Dent), H. R. 3875 (Roosevelt), H. R. 3902 (Flynn), and H. R. 3906 (Kowalski) introduced in House February 2; H. R. 3966 (Carnahan) introduced in House February 3; H. R. 4027 (Mrs. Kee), H. R. 4048 (Wampler), and 4096 (Staggers) introduced in House Febru- H.R. 4 ary 4; all to Committee on Banking and Currency; all similar to H. R. 71. S. 268, previously listed, was referred to Com- mittee on Banking and Currency instead of Com- mittee on Ways and Means, WAGES: H. R. 3204 (Santangelo), a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 so as to increase the minimum hourly wage from $1 to $1.25, introduced in House January 22; also H. R. 3270 (Bennett of Michigan) introduced in House January 26, and H. R. 3769 (Vanik) intro- duced in House January 29; all to Committee on Education and Labor. Similar to H. R. 83 and other bills previously introduced. ~ WAGES: H. R. 3865 (Kearns), a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amend- ed, to provide for review by the Secretary of Labor of the minimum wage recommendations of indus- try committees; to the Committee on Education and Labor; introduced in House February 2. Editorial Assistant--Ruth V. Keefe Illustrator--Gustaf T. Sundstrom Compositors--Jean Zalevsky, Alma Greene, Helen Joswick, and Vera Eggleston kk Photograph Credits: tographer for each photograph in this issue, * OOK OK sk Page by page, the following list gives the source or pho- Photographs on pages not mentioned were obtained from the Service's file and the photographers are unknown. P, 20--fig. 1 - F. B. Sanford, Branch of Technology, Seattle, Wash.; pp. 38-40, Biological Laboratory, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Galveston, Texas; p. 43--Bob Munns; pp. 46, 47, and 50--Bob Bailey, Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, Gloucester Point, Va.; Outside back cover--figs. 1 and 2--Albert Harris & Associates, Oakland, Calif. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 ISH CHART | - FISHERY LANDINGS MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND RHODE ISLAND LEGEND: es 1958 ee = 1957 CUMULATIVE DATA 1958 - 943.9 1957 _- 975.1 12 MQS. 12 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQS. 1958 - 325.8 12 1957 - 280.0 FLORIDA CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQS. 1958 - 169.1 12 1957_- 158.2 MAR_APR_MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB CALIFORNIA 1/ CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQS. 1958 - 593.0 12 1957_- 545.5 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC V/ONLY PARTIAL--INCLUDING PRODUCTION OF MAJOR FISHERIES AND MARKET FISH LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS. INDICATORS araeamamademees for SELECTED STATES In Millions of Pounds NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK CUMULATIVE DATA 12 WQS. 1958 - 343.3 12 1957 _- 621.9 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC ALABAMA, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, AND TEXAS CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQS. 1958 - 576.9 12 1957 - 513.0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 19.1 12 1957 - 26.0 CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MQS. 1958 - 57.8 12 1957 - 56.6 JAN FEB MAR_APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW CHART 2 - LANDINGS for SELECTED FISHERIES In Millions of Pounds LEGEND: HADDOCK (Maine and Massachusetts) ** 1959 p58 CUMULATIVE DATA ee 1957 1omg. 1959 - 5. 1 i 1958 - 6. 12 MOS. 1958 - 105. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC Se In Millions /. SHRIMP (Gulf States~including Florida West Coast) CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 176.2 |— 12 1957 - 166.7 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC V/LA. & ALA. DATA BASED ON LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS AND ARE NOT COM- PLETE. MENHADEN (East and Gulf Coasts) CUMULATIVE DATA Jog. 1959- 4. 1 1958 - 1. 12 Mos. 1958 - 763. PILCHARD (California) CUMULATIVE DATA 1958/59 SEASON, UG. -DEC. 1957/58 SEASON TOTAL 1958/59 1957/58 AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY OCEAN PERCH (Maine and Massachusetts) CUMULATIVE DATA 6. a 4. 12 mos. 1958 - 148. 107 WHITING (Maine and Massachusetts) CUMULATIVE DATA 1959 1956 - 12 MOS, 1956 - 100.2 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC In Thousands of Tons PACIFIC AND JACK MACKEREL (California) CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 12 1957 - 145.5 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 108 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 CHART 3 - COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS * In Millions of Pounds LEGEND: U. S. & ALASKA HOLDINGS U. S. & ALASKA FREEZINGS eesasese 1959 220 —_] 200 180) 160 140 120 100 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC vee 1 958 CUMULATIVE DATA 1 yo. 1959 - 13.2 1 1958 - 13.6 12 MOS. 1958 - 322.2 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY, JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC MIDDLE & SOUTH ATLANTIC HOLDINGS2/ NEW ENGLAND HOLDIncs!! JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 2/ALL EAST CQAST STATES FROM N.Y. SOUTH. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 3/ GULF & SOUTH CENTRAL HOLpIncs2/ MIDDLE WEST HOLDINGS— JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC MISS., LA., TEX., ARK,, KY, & TENN. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC Z/OH10, IND., ILL., MICH., WIS., MINN., IOWA, MO,, N. DAK., NEBR. & KANS. 4/alh., , W ASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA HOLDINGS CALIFORNIA HOLDINGS 56 48 40 32 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC * Excludes salted, cured, and smoked products March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 109 22 20 18 16 14 12 CHART 4 - RECEIPTS and COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS at PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS In Millions of Pounds 1/ RECEIPTS— AT WHOLESALE SALT-WATER MARKET (Fresh and Frozen) NEW YORE CUMULATIVE DATA COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS2! CITY 2Mgs. 1959 - 22.8 2 1958 - 22.7 12 1956 - 164.0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC INCLUDE TRUCK AND RAIL |MPORTS FROM CANADA AND DIRECT VESSEL LANDINGS AT NEW YORK CITY. RECEIPTS AT WHOLESALE MARKET (Fresh and Frozen) CUMULATIVE DATA 2 mgs. 1959 - 11.8 2 12 1958 - 16.0 1956 - 92.3 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 2/AS REPORTED BY PLANTS IN METROPOLITAN AREA. COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS CHICAGO JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SEATTLE WHOLESALE MARKET RECEIPTS, LANDINGS, & IMPORTS (Fresh and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA BOSTON COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS 12 IS. 1958 - 105.7 12 "i 1957 - 95.8 LEGEND: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC FISH OIL (In Millions of Gallons) FISH MEAL In Thousands of Tons CUMULATIVE 1 Mp. rae 12 Mos. CUMULATIVE A MP. 12 Mos. 1959 1958 1958 1958 - 21.6 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 110 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vols 21 No.3 CHART 6- CANNED PACKS of SELECTED FISHERY PRODUCTS In Thousands of Standard Cases LEGEND: MACKEREL2! - CALIFORNIA TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH - CALIFORNIA = 10955 ——— 1957 CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MgS. 1958 - 403.9 12 1957 - 1,326.6 12 MgS. 1958 - 11,159,6 12 1957 - 9,509.9 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC | 2/\NCLUDES PACIFIC MACKEREL AND JACK MACKEREL. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC ANCHOVIES - CALIFORNIA SALMON - ALASKA CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 63.8 12 1957 - 549.9 12 MS. 1956 - 2,989.3 12 1957 - 2,441.9 UAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV_ DEC SARDINES! (Estimated) - MAINE STANDARD CASES CUMULATIVE DATA te uP reed a Bere Variety No.Cans Designation Net Wet. SARDINES..... 100 3 drawn 32 oz. SHRIMP Fryers 48 =5 5 oz. TROIS, Gon odo ns 48 #4 tuna 6&7 oz. PILCHARDS... 48 # 1 oval 15 oz. SALMON...... 48 1-lb. tall 16 oz. ANCHOVIES... 48 pa n JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SARDINES - CALIFORNIA SHRIMP - GULF STATES CUMULATIVE DATA —_—e = 1957/58 CUMULATIVE DATA 1958/59 SEASON, 1958/59 SEASON, AUG, -DEC. - 2,256.8 AUG. -JAN, - 1957/58 SEASON, 1957/58 SEASON, AUG, -DEC, = . AUG, -JAN,. 1957/58 SEASON, 1957/58 SEASON, TOTAL - TOTAL - ol AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY [AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW GROUNDFISH (including Ocean Perch) FILLETS Fresh and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA 12 wgS. 1958 - 154.7 12 1957 - 141.3 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SHRIMP FROM MEXICO (Fresh and Frozen) CUMULATIVE DATA 12 S. 1958 - 56,1 12 ‘*t 1957 - 47.9 CUMULATIVE OATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 198.0 12 1957 - 139.3 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC U.S. IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH 8 in Oil and in Brine CUMULATIVE DATA 1958 - 58.7 1957 - 59.9 12 12 IS. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CHART 7 - U.S. FISHERY PRODUCTS IMPORTS In Millions of Pounds LEGEND: =e FILLETS & STEAKS OTHER THAN GROUNDFISH (Fresh and Frozen) CUMULATIVE DATA es 1955 —— — - 1957 111 12 MQS. 1958 - 62.7 12 1957 - 63.3 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC LOBSTER AND SPINY LOBSTER Fresh and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA 12 MOS. 1958 - 47.3 12" 1957 - 50.5 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SEA HERRING, FRESH, THROUGH MAINE PORTS CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 38.6 12 1957 - 55.7 \ JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CANNED SARDINES (in Oil and not in Oil) CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 ~ 26.2 12 1957 - 24.7 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 112 “RECENT 24 -->2a-= SO Ml a le ee Oh sw. a+ | FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS THESE PROCESSED PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION, U. S. FISH AND WILOLIFE SERV- ICE, WASHINGTON 25, D. C. TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIG- NATED AS FOLLOWS: CFS - CURRENT FISHERY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA. FL FISHERY LEAFLETS. SEP.- SEPARATES (REPRINTS) FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW. Number Title CFS-1908 - Mississippi River Fisheries, 1957 Annual Summary, 7 pp. - Texas Landings, September 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1922 CFS-1938 - Massachusetts Landings. August 1958, 5 pp. CFS-1940 - Chesapeake Fisheries, 1957 Annual Summary, 6 pp. CFS-1941 - Gulf Fisheries, 1957 Annual Summary, 11 pp. CFS-1942 - New York Landings, October 1958, 4 pp. CFS-1943 - Shrimp Landings, August 1958, 6 pp. CFS-1945 - Louisiana Landings, August 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1948 - California Landings, July 1958, 4 pp. CFS-1949 - Alabama Landings, September 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1952 - Georgia Landings, November 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1954 - South Carolina Landings, November 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1961 - Pacific Coast States Fisheries, 1957 Annual Summary, 6 pp. In a series to be released covering a survey continuing through June 30, 1959, these reports present statistical data on retail prices for several types of canned tuma, salmon, and Maize sardines. Data were gathered in 31 Cities, grouped in three classes according to population. Separate average prices for chain stores and independent stores are shown, together with city average prices weighted by the relative sales volume of chaim and independ- ent stores in each city. Included also are the percentage of chain-store weight represented in the prices, the number of independent store prices ob- tained, and the range of individual prices. Canned Fish Retail Prices: FL-476 - July-September 1958, 70 pp. FL-476a- October 1958, 27 pp. FL-476b- November 1958, 27 pp. FL-477 - Fisheries Loans for Vessels, Gear, and Research, 10 pp., December 1958. This pam- phlet contains information about the Fisheries Loan Program administered by the Secretary of the Interior. It describes loan purposes, credit requirements, ineligible applications, loan terms, collateral, loan applications, processing applications, compensation for services, loan closing, and repayment of loans. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 a Pe SEE a, ee me en FL-478 - Canned Fish Consumer Purchases, Octo- ber-November 1958, 32 pp., illus., processed. Covers part of a broad marketing research program directed toward improving and expand- ing markets for canned tuna, canned salmon, and canned sardines. The data, which are pro- vided by the Market Research Corporation of America under contract with the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, represent estimates of national purchases projected from a nationwide consumer panel of approximately 6,000 families representing 22,000 persons. They show the general level of purchases of each product, trends in the range of purchases, prices paidby consumers, and other related factors of interest to those engaged in the marketing of these items. The data in this report represent estimated purchases of canned fish by household consum- ers only. Sep. No. 537 - Divers Study Behavior of Starfish and Industry Control Methods. Sep. No. 538 - New England Commercial Bluefin Tuna Purse Seining - 1958 Season. Sep. No. 539 - Salt Content of Eviscerated Haddock Frozen in Sodium-Chloride Brine. Sep. No. 540 - Research in Service Laboratories (February 1959): ''Technical Note No. 50 - Ef- fects of [Temperature and Salinity on Ciliary Activity in the Oyster (Crassostrea virginica)." Sep. No. 541 - Spawning and Setting in Long Island Sound, Summer 1958. THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY FROM THE SPECIFIC OFFICE MENT | ONED Halibut and Troll Salmon Landings and Ex-Vessel Prices for Seattle, Alaska Ports, and British Columbia, 1957-1958, by Charles M. Reardon, 33 pp., processed, January 1959. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pier 42 South, Seattle 4, Wash.) The first part of this biannual report contains data on Seattle troll salmon prices, landings and receipts and landings and ex-vessel prices for troll salmon at the Alaska ports of Juneau, Ketchikan, Peli- can, Petersburg, Sitka, and Wrangell. Thesec- ond part includes statistical tables on Seattle halibut ex-vessel prices, landings and receipts and also landings and ex-vessel prices of hali- but for the Alaska ports. The last section of the report includes data on Prince Rupert. B. C., halibut prices and landings for Canadian and United States vessels; Vancouver, B. C., halibut prices and landings for Canadian vessels only; March 1959 and troll salmon and halibut landings and re- ceipts at principal Pacific ports. California Fishery Products Monthly Summary, November 1958, 14 pp. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Post Office Bldg., San Pedro, Calif.) California cannery receipts of tuna and tunalike fish, sardines, mackerel, and anchovies; pack of canned tuna, sardines, mackerel, and anchovies; market fish receipts at San Pedro, Santa Monica, San Diego, and Eureka areas; California imports; canned fish and frozen shrimp prices; ex-vessel prices for cannery fish; American Tuna Boat Associa- tion tuna auction sales; for the month indicated, Gulf Monthly Landings, Production, and Shipments ~ of Fishery Products, December 1958, 6 pp. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 609-611 Federal Bldg., New Orleans 12, La.) Gulf states shrimp, oyster, finfish, and blue crab landings; crab meat production; LCL express shipments from New Orleans; wholesale prices of fish and shellfish on the New Orleans French Market; and sponge sales; for the month indicated. Monthly Summary of Fishery Products Production in Selected Areas of Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland, December 1958, 4 pp. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 18 So. King St., Hampton,-Va.) Fishery land- ings and production for the Virginia areas of Hampton Roads, Lower Northern Neck, and Eastern Shore; the Maryland areas of Crisfield, Cambridge, and Ocean City; and the North Caro- lina areas of Atlantic, Beaufort, and Morehead City; together with cumulative and comparative data; for the month indicated. New England Fisheries--Monthly Summary, De- cember 1958, 21 pp. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10 Common- wealth Pier, Boston 10, Mass.) Reviews the principal New England fishery ports, and pre- sents food fish landings by ports and species; industrial fish landings and ex-vessel prices; imports; cold storage stocks of fishery prod- ucts in New England warehouses; fishery land- ings and ex-vessel prices for ports in Massa- chusetts (Boston, Gloucester, New Bedford, Provincetown, and Woods Hole), Maine (Port- land and Rockland), Rhode Island (Point Judith), and Connecticut (Stonington); frozen fishery prod- ucts prices to primary wholesalers at Boston, Gloucester, and New Bedford; and landings and ex-vessel prices for fares landed at the Boston Fish Pier and sold through the New England Fish Exchange; for the month indicated, New York City's Wholesale Fishery Trade--Month- meily: Summary for November 1958, 19 pp. (Mar- ket News Service, 155 John St., New York 38, N. Y.) Includes receipts by species by states and provinces and methods of transportation; states and provinces by species and methods of transportation; totals by species with compari- sons, for salt-water finfish, and shellfish. Also contains frozen fishery products prices by pri- mary wholesalers; and imports of selected fish- ery products; for the month indicated, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 113 (Seattle) Monthly Summary - Fishery Products, November 1958; December 1958; 6 pp. each. (Market News Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pier 42 South, Seattle 4, Wash.) In- cludes landings and local receipts, with ex-ves- sel and wholesale prices in some instances, as reported by Seattle and Astoria (Ore.) whole- sale dealers; also Northwest Pacific halibut landings; and Washington shrimp landings; for the months indicated. MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE OR- GANIZATION 1SSUING THEM. CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING PUBLICA - TIONS THAT FOLLOW SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE RESPECTIVE OR- GANIZATION OR PUBLISHER MENTIONED, DATA ON PRICES. IF READ- ILy AVAILABLE, ARE SHOWN. ANADROMOUS FISH: Stream Ecology and Production of Anadromous Fish, by Ferris Neave, 6 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from The Investigation of Fish-Pow- er Problems, pp. 43-48.) Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, BiG. canada. ANTIBIOTICS: "Antibiotics for the Preservation of Food Prod- ucts,'' by Harold T. Cook and W. T. Pentzer, article, Agricultural Marketing, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 16-17, illus., printed, single copy 15 cents. (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washing- ton 25, D. C.) Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. AUSTRALIA: "The Status of the 'White' Crayfish in Western Australia," by R. W. George, article, Austra- lian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Re- search, vol. 9, no. 4, December 1958, pp. 537- 545, illus., printed. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, 314 Albert St., East Melbourne, C. 2, Victoria, Australia. BURMA: Deep Seafishing in Burma, 13 pp., illus., printed. Martaban Co., Ltd., 49/53 Phayre St., Rangoon, Burma, January 1958. A report of the Burma- Japan Deep Sea Fishing Joint Venture, formed in August 1953 under the name of Martaban Co., Ltd. The venture, under the guidance of the Ministries of Industries, and Agriculture and Forest, has as its aims, among others, the de- velopment of self-sufficiency in marine food- stuff and the establishment of subsidiary indus - tries such as fish meal and fertilizer. Several charts showing the location of the fishing grounds and tables on the performance of the Company's trawlers are included. The authors conclude that sea fish is beginning to assert it- self into the diet of the Burmese people. CALIFORNIA: California Fish and Game, vol. 45, no. 1, Janu- ary 1959, 64 pp., illus., printed, single copy 75 cents. California Department of Fish and Game, 114 THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION ISSUING THEM, 722 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento 14, Calif. Con- tains, among others, the following articles: "A Review of the Lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus,'' by J. B. Phillips; and ''The Systematics and Distri- bution of Crayfishes in California," by J. A. Riegel. "Status of the Animal Food Fishery in Northern California, 1956 and 1957," by E. A. Best, ar- ticle, California Fish and Game, vol. 45, no. 1, January 1959, pp. 5-18, iilus., printed, single copy 75 cents. Department of Fish and Game, 722 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento 14, Calif. Ac- cording to this report, the annual utilization of trash fish for animal food in northern California has increased sixfold since this industry began in 1952, and is now using in excess of three mil- lion pounds of whole fish each year. It also uti- lizes an additional eight million pounds of fish carcasses annually. The author states that ''At the present time the animal food fishery is doing no harm to the established fisheries. The fish that are the raw material for this industry are those which were formerly discarded at sea. No fishery has developed solely for the purpose of supplying this industry. The existing fleet of market fishermen is using the animal food in- dustry as a means of supplementing income by utilizing a resource that formerly was discarded as a waste product of the fishing operations." COMMON MARKET: "Les Problemes Poses par 1'Entree en Vigueur du Marche Commun Europeen" (The Problems Caused by the Activation of the European Com- mon Market), article, La Peche Maritime, vol. 37, no. 969, December 1958, pp. 745-750, illus., printed. La Peche Maritime, 190 Boulevard Haussman, Paris, France, CANNING: "Canning Export-Type Bonito by the Solid Pack Method," by Fehmi Ersan, article, Balik ve Balikcilik (Fish and Fishery), vol. VI, no. 10, October 1958, pp. 18-20, illus., printed in Turk- ish. Et ve Balik Kurumu, Istanbul, Turkey. ECHO-SOUNDING: Echo-Sounder Surveys in the Autumn of 1956, by D. S. Tungate, Fishery Investigations, Series Il, vol. XXII, no. 2, 18 pp., illus., printed, $1.40. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, York House, Kingsway, London W, C. 2, England, 1958. This report describes a series of five echo-sounder surveys carried out on the East Anglian grounds in order to aid the fleet in locating larger her- ring shoals, Detailed nautical charts are in- cluded, depicting the fish densities by areas and dates. ELECTRICAL FISHING: "La Peche Electrique en Allemagne" (Electrical Fishing in Germany), article, La Peche Mari- time, vol. 37, no. 969, December 1958, pp. 819- 821, illus., printed. La Peche Maritime, 190 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, France. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 THE FISH AND WILOLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE Fisheries of Northern Europe), by Fritz Bartz, 81 pp., illus., printed in German, DM23.40 (US$5.60). (Reprinted from Handbuch der See- fischerei Nordeuropas, vol. X, no. 9.) EB. Sch- weizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart W, Germany, 1958. FISHERY REGULATIONS: Some Principles Involved in Regulation of Fish- eries by Quota, by W. E. Ricker, 6 pp., printed. (Reprinted from the Canadian Fish Culturist, no. 22, May 1958.) Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada, FISHING VESSELS: Bau und Seeverhalten von Fischereifahrzeugen ~ (Construction and Seaworthiness of Fishing Vessels), by W. Mockel, 88 pp., illus., printed in German, DM34.80 brosch (US$8.40). (Re- printed from Handbuch der Seefischerei Nor- deuropas, vol. XT, no. 5.) E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart W, Germany, 1958, FOREIGN TRADE: "United States Foreign Trade Policy"! (A Review Article), by J. M. Letiche, article, The Ameri- can Economic Review, vol. XLVIII, no, 5, De- cember 1958, pp. 954-966, printed, single copy $1.50. The American Economic Association, 450 Ahnaip St., Menasha, Wis. FRANCE: France Peche, vol. 3, no. 23, Special Number-- 1958, 114 pp., illus., printed in French, France Peche, Tour Sud-Est, Rue de Guemene, Lorient, France. Contains, among others, the following articles: ''The Importance of Sea-Fishing in French National Economy," by Gilbert Grandval; "The Place of the Fishing Industry in France," "Oyster Farming in France,'' by Charles Herve; "Salting Down--The Curing of Herring," by Mal- foy Wadoux; ''French Fishing Boats;" and ''Fish- ing and the World Food Position," by J. Girard. FRESH-WATER FISH: "Fresh Water Fish for the Pacific," by H. Van Pel, article, SPC Quarterly Bulletin, vol. 8, no. 4, October 1958, pp. 48-49, illus., printed, single copy 30 U. S. cents. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. The endemic fish pop- ulations of streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds in the South Pacific are sparse. Because the hu- man diet in this region is often deficient in the protein that fish can provide, the possibilities of stocking both natural and artificial bodies of water are being explored. This article records observations on recent introductions of eight species of fresh-water fish, as well as on other new species now undergoing trials in the South Pacific Commission's ponds in New Caledonia. Considerable success has been achieved with the tilapia, which thrives in the tropics, is quite prolific, and adapts itself remarkably well to brackish or salt water. EUROPE: GENERAL: Die Wirtschaftliche Bedeutung der Seefischerei Contributicn of BEDS, ne Oe Oe yey 8 In- Nordeuropas (The Economic Meaning of the Sea creased Harvest of Marine Fishes, byC, P. Idyll, March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 115 THESE PUBLICATLONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERV|CE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION ISSUING THEM. Contribution No. 204, 11 pp., printed. (Reprint- ed from Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, vol. 87, 1957.) The Marine Laboratory, University of Miami, Miami, Fla., 1958. : A Field and Laboratory Investigation of Fish in a ~ Sewage Effluent, by I. R. H. Allan, D. W. M. Herbert, and J. S. Alabaster, Ministry of Agri- culture, Fisheries and Food Fishery Investiga- tions, Series I, vol. VI, no. 2, 85 pp., illus., printed. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Lon- don, England, 1958. The Impenetrable Sea, by Arthur Constance, 279 “pp., ilus., printed, $4. Citadel Press, 222 4th Ave., New York 3, N. Y. On the wonders of the sea, of winds, whirlpools, coastlines, whales, and plankton. Improved Methods among Wholesale Food Distri- butors (For Inventory Control, Sales Accounting, and Shipment of Merchandise), Marketing Re- search Report No. 271, 75 pp., illus., processed, 40 cents. (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.) U.S. Department of Agri- culture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Wash- ington, D. C. Although this report on improved methods among wholesale food distributors is not specifically for fishery wholesalers, some of the ideas are applicable. Marking and Regeneration of Fins, by T. A. Stuart, cottish Home Department Fresh-water and Salmon Fisheries Research No. 22, 17 pp., illus., printed, 5s. (70 U. S. cents). Her Majesty's Sta- tionery Office, Edinburgh, Scotland. Sustenance from the Sea, by F. G. Walton Smith, Energy Resources Conference, Denver, Colo., October 15, 1958, 7 pp., processed. The Ma- rine Laboratory, University of Miami, Miami, Fla. Our exploding populations today make man- datory the exploration of all possible sources of food. The sea, potentially, has a capacity for providing about ten times as much food as the land could possibly grow under the most favor- able conditions. Growth of fish over the entire ocean has been estimated at two billion tons an- nually, but the actual world catch of fish is only about 26 million tons. New fishing methods, un- explored areas for fishing, and even use of new species of fish are needed, GULF OF PANAMA: Some Aspects of Upwelling in the Gulf of Panama, by Milner B. Schaefer, Yvonne M. M. Bishopand Gerald V. Howard, 56 pp., illus., printed in Eng- lish and Spanish. (Reprinted from Inter-Ameri- can Tropical Tuna Commission Bulletin Vol. Ii, No. 2, pp. 79-132.) Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, La Jolla, Calif., 1958. HALIBUT: Regulation and Investigation of the Pacific Halibut Fishery in 1957, Report of the International Pa- cific Halibut Commission No. 26, 16 pp., illus., printed. International Pacific Halibut Commis- sion, Seattle, Wash., 1958. A brief report of activities of the Commission during 1957 which discusses the historical background of the Com- | mission, the 1957 regulations, statistics of the fishery, catch per unit fishing effort, length of fishing seasons, composition of the catches, growth studies, tagging experiments, and studies of subcommercial size halibut. HERRING: The Fecundity of Pacific Herring (CLUPEA PAL- ~ LAST) in British Columbia Coastal Waters, by Fuzuko Nagasaki, 18 pp., illus., printed. (Re- printed from the Journal of the Fisheries Re- search Board of Canada, vol. 15, no. 3, 1958, pp. 313-330.) Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. Population Studies on Juvenile Herring in Bark- ley Sound, British Columbia, by Alan S. Hours- ton, 52 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, vol. 15, no. 5, 1958, pp. 909-960.) Fish- eries Research Board of Canada, Biological Sta- tion, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. INTERNATIONAL COMMISSIONS: International Commission for the Northwest At- lantic Fisheries, Annual Proceedings for the Year 1957-58, vol. 8, 106 pp., illus., printed. International Commission for the Northwest At- lantic Fisheries, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1958. This bulletin presents the administrative report of the Commission for the year ending June 30, 1958, including financial statements; a report of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Com- mission, June 9-14, 1958; summaries of re- search during 1957 broken down by country; and a compilation of research reports by subareas for 1957. JAPAN: Bulletin of the Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 89-148, plates, illus., printed in Japanese with summaries in English. Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido Uni- versity, Hakodate, Japan, August 1958. Con- tains, among others, the following articles: ''On the Decrease of Buoyant Force of the Float--II,"' by Shuzo Igarashi; ''On the Trawl Fishing Ground Off the West Coast of the Kamchatka Pen- insula,'' by Tatsuaki Maeda; ''Velocity of Inva- sion of Bacteria from the Point of the Slime ('Neto') Formed on the Surface of the Fish Jelly Product ('Kamaboko'),"' by Eiichi Tanikawa and Yutaka Fujii; and ''Studies on the Complete Uti- lization of Squid (OQmmastrephes sloani pacifi- cus), XVII--On the 'Flat Sour’ of Canned Squid Meat," by Eiichi Tanikawa and Yoshio Nagasawa. Bulletin of the Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 149-257, ilus., printed in Japanese with summaries in English. Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, Hak- odate, Japan, November 1958. Contains, among others, the following articles: 'Lipids fromthe Liver of Octopus dofleini. I--Composition of Fatty Acids of Acetone-Soluble Lipid,"’ by Mut- suo Hatano; "Lipids from the Liver of Octopus dofleini. IIl--On the Lower Fatty Acids of fee tone-Soluble Lipid,'' by Mutsuo Hatano;''Struc- ture of the Waters in the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Region,"' by Hideto Koto and Takeji Fu- jii; "Quality of Flatfish from Hakodate. 1--Flat- 116 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUT USUALLY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANIZATION ISSUING THEM, fish from Hakodate--from the Viewpoint of Study: of Merchandise, not from the Biology," by Keiichi Oishi; "Quality of Flatfish from Hako- date, 2--Evaluation of the Quality," by Keiichi Oishi; and ''Studies on the Muscle Meat of Para- lithodes camtschatica (Til.)-(I)--Alaska King Crab,” by Eiichi Tanikawa, Tetsuro Wakasa, and Yoshio Nagasawa. Statistic Tables of Fishing Vessels (as of the End of 1957), General Report No. 10, 207 pp., illus., printed in English and Japanese. Japan Fisher- ies Agency, Tokyo, Japan, 1958. This annual report lists data on the various types of Japa- nese fishing craft as obtained by a fishing-ves- sel registration system. Statistics are given by types of gear; fishery, craft, and principal pre- fectures, together with comparisons for former years. LINGCOD: Mortality Rates and Estimates of Theoretical Yieldin Relationto Minimum Commercial Size of Lingcod (OPHIODON ELONGATUS) from the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, by Bruce M. Chatwin, 19 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Can- ada, vol. 15, no. 5, 1958, pp. 831-849.) Fisher- ies Research Board of Canada, Biological Sta- tion, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. LOBSTERS: "La Langosta Blanca de Mauritania: Su Industri- alizacion"' (Mauritania's White Spiny Lobster-- Its Industry), by Miguel Massuti Oliver, article, Industrias Pesqueras, vol. XXXII, no. 756, Oc- tober 15, 1958, p. 13, printed in Spanish. iIndus- trias Pesqueras, Policarpo Sanz, 21-2, Vigo, Spain,: MANAGEMENT: Maximum Sustained Yields from Fluctuating En- vironments and Mixed Stocks, by W. E. Ricker, 16 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, vol. 15, no. 5, 1958, pp. 991-1006.) Fisheries Re- search Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. MARINE BIOLOGY: Perspectives in Marine Biology, edited by A. A. Buzzati-Traverso, 620 pp., printed, $10. Uni- versity of California Press, Berkeley 4, Calif. Consists of 41 papers and round-table discussion presented at a Scripps Institution of Oceanog- raphy symposium in 1956, MISCELLANEOUS: Journal du Conseil, vol. XXIV, no. 1, 208 pp., illus., printed, single copy Kr. 16 (US$2.32). Messrs. Andr. Fred. H¢st & S¢n, Bredgade, Co- penhagen, Denmark, November 1958. Among the articles presented in this journal are the follow- ing: ''Description of Model Used to Demonstrate Dynamics of Exploited Fish Stocks," by I. D. Richardson and J. A. Gulland; ''An Analysis of the Variability Associated with the Vigneron- Dahl Modification of the Otter Trawl by Day and by Night and a Discussion of Its Action," by T. B. Bagenal; ''An Analysis of the Method of Sampling the East Anglian Herring Catches," by A. C. Burd; ''Estimation of the Stock Strength of the Norwegian Herring," by Olav Aasen; ''On the Causes of the Poor Catches of Baltic Herrin on the Finnish Coast in the Summer of 1956," by Veikko Sjoblom; ''On the Appearance of Rings on Herring Scales," by R. Muzinic and I. D. Rich- ardson; and ''Some Seasonal Variations in the Catch and Stock Composition of the Lobster," by H. J. Thomas. MUSSELS: The Winter Feeding of the Oystercatcher (HAEM- ~ ATOPUS OSTRALEGUsS) on the Edible Mussel (MYTILUS EDULIS) in the Conway Estuary, North Wales, by R. E. Drinnan, Fishery Investi- gations, Series II, vol. XXII, no. 4, 17 pp., illus., printed, 56 U. S. cents. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, York House, Kingsway, London W. C. 2, England, 1958. This study was intended to pro- vide information which, with little local obser- vation, would permit an estimate to be made of oystercatcher predation on any mussel-bearing area. It was found that each bird eats about its own weight of wet shellfish per day. Population samples taken through the winter of 1955/56 showed the steady removal of the larger size groups of mussels by these birds. NETHERLANDS: Jaarcijfers Over de Visserij Gedurende Het Jaar 1957 (Annual Fisheries Statistics, 1957), Ver- slagen en Mededilingen van de Directie van de Visserijen No. 49, 155 pp., illus., printed in Dutch with English titles and summaries, and statistical tables in both Dutch and English. Di- rectie van de Visserijen, 's-Gravenhage, Neth- erlands, 1958. NORWAY: Fiskeflaten, 1957 (The Fishery Fleet, 1957), Arsberetning Vedkommende Norges Fiskerier, 1957, no. 13, 35 pp., printed in Norwegian. John Griegs Boktrykkeri, Bergen, Norway, 1958. "Fiskerne og Farkostene i Lofotfiske, 1958" (Fishermen and Craft in the Lofoten Fishery, 1958) by Sverre Mollestad, article, Fiskets Gang, vol. 44, no. 50, December 11, 1958, pp. 654-659, illus., printed in Norwegian. Fiskets Gang, Postgiro Nr. 691 81, Bergen, Norway. OCEANOGRAPHY: Thermocline Topography, Horizontal Currents and "Ridging™ in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, by Townsend Cromwell, 32 pp., illus., printed in English and Spanish. (Reprinted from Inter- American Tropical Tuna Commission Bulletin, Vol. Ill, No. 3, pp. 135-164.) Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, La Jolla, Calif., 1958. PERU: La Industria Pesquera Peruana en 1957 (The Pe- ~.ruvian Fishing Industry in 1957), by Javier I. Cortez, Scientific Publication Series No. 10, 14 pp., illus., processed in Spanish. Ministerio de Agricultura, Direccion de Pesqueria y Caza, Lima, Peru, 1958. During 1957, Peru confirm- edits position among the principal fishing nations March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 117 of Latin America and maintained first place in production of fish byproducts. This report pres- ents statistical tables on the freezing and can- ning of fish and shellfish, production of fish meal and oil, catch and consumption of principal species, import and export of fisheries prod- ucts, and the whaling industry. PHILIPPINES: Fisheries Statistics of the Philippines, 1957, 62 pp-, illus., processed. Department of Agricul- ture and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisher- ies, Manila, Philippines. This comprehensive report is devoted to fishery production in the Philippines. The tables are grouped together under the headings (1) production, consumption, and requirement; (2) commercial fishing ves- sels; (3) fish ponds; (4) foreign trade; and (5) other data. Subdivision of the tables is made ac- cording to gear, kind of fish caught, monthly pro- duction, and fishing grounds. Statistics also cover reptile skins, seaweeds, sharkfins, shells, sponges, trepang, turtle eggs, and turtle shells. The appendices contain information on the fish- ery districts, the forms used in collecting fish- ery statistics, and an inventory of fishing gear used in the Philippines for the year 1953, Ex- cept for Table 1, which presents fish production data since 1946, most of the information covers the five-year period 1953-57. POISONOUS FISH: illus., printed. (Reprinted from Bulletin of Ma- rine Science of the Gulf and Caribbean, vol. 8, no. 3, September 1958, pp. 236-267.) The Ma- rine Laboratory, University of Miami, Miami, Fla. PORTUGAL: "La Pesca Portugesa de Arrastre y sus Prob- lemas" (Portugal's Trawl Fishing and Its Prob- lems), article, Industrias Pesqueras, vol, XXXII, no. 756, October 15, 1958, pp. 6-8, printed in Spanish. Industrias Pesqueras, Policarpo Sanz, 21-2, Vigo, Spain. REFRIGERATED WAREHOUSES: Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses in the United States, October 1, 1957, CoSt-2 Prelim 58, 31 pp., illus., processed. Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Wash- ington, D. C., October 1958. SALMON: ies Research Board of Canada, vol. 15, no. 5, 1958, pp. 891-908.) Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. A Comparison of Sockeye Salmon Catches at Rivers Inlet and Skeena River, B. C., with Par- ticular Reference to Age at Maturity, by Harold Godfrey, 23 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from the Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, vol. 15,no. 3, 1958, pp. 331-354.) Fish- eries Research Board of Canada, Biological Sta- tion, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. Density and Distribution of Young Sockeye Salmon (ONCORHYNCHUS NERKA) Throughout a Multi- basin Lake System, by W. E. Johnson, 22 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, yol. 15, no. 5, 1958, pp. 961-982.) Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. The Effect of Temperature on the Cruising Speed of Young Sockeye and Coho Salmon, by J. R. Brett, M. Hollands, and D. F. Alderdice, 19 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from the Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, vol. 15, no. 4, 1958, pp. 587-605.) Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada, The Evolution of Migratory Behaviour Amon ~ Juvenile Salmon of the Genus ONCORH YNCHUS, by William S. Hoar, 40 pp., illus., printed. (Re- printed from the Journal of the Fisheries Re- search Board of Canada, vol. 15, no. 3, 1958, pp. 391-428.) Fisheries Research Board of Cana- da, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C., Canada. Implications and Assessments of Environmental Stress, by J. R. Brett, 15 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from The Investigation of Fish-Pow- er Problems, pp. 69-83.) Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada, The Resistance of Cultured Young Chum an Sockeye Salmon to Temperatures Below 0 C., by J. R. Brett and D. F. Alderdice, 9 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from Journal of the Fish- eries Research Board of Canada, vol. 15, no. 5, 1958, pp. 805-813.) Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. Review of Certain Environmental Factors Af- fecting the Production of Pink and Chum Salm- on, by W. P. Wickett, 24 pp., iflus., printed. pp. 1103-1126.) Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. The Rivers Inlet Sockeye Salmon, by D. R. Fos- “kett, 23 pp., illus., printed. (Reprinted from the Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Can- ada, vol. 15, no. 5, 1958, pp. 667-689.) Fisher- jes Research Board of Canada, Biological Sta- tion, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. Spawning Stock Size and Resultant Production for Skeena Sockeye, by M. P. Shepard and F, C. Withler, 19 pp., illus., printed. (Reprintedfrom the Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, vol. 15, no. 5, 1958, pp. 1007-1025.) Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B. C., Canada. 118 SEA TROUT: The Sea Trout or Weakfishes (Genus CYNOSCION) “of the Gulf of Mexico, by William C. Guest and ~ Gordon Gunter, Technical Summary No. 1, 43 pp., illus., printed, for limited distribution. Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, 312 Audubon Bldg., New Orleans 16, La. A summary of the data accumulated in recent years by fish- ery scientists on the species of sea trout pres- ent in the Gulf of Mexico. This report covers the characteristics of the family Otolithidae; dis- tribution of the weakfishes; the life history of the speckled sea trout, Cynoscion nebulosus; habits of adult fish; parasitism; the commercial fishery; the sports fishery; and the life histo- ries and utilization of the white and sand trouts. SPAIN: Boletin de Informacion del Sindicato Nacional de la Pesca (Information Bulletin of the National Fishery Syndicate), No. 1, October 1958, 24 pp., printed in Spanish. Sindicato Nacignal de la Pesca, Paseo del Prado, 18-20, 6.~ planta, Ma- drid, Spain. Thisis the firstissue of Boletin de Informacion. It has been published by Spain's National Fishery Syndicate to replace their monthly periodical Espana Pesquera. The new bulletin containing news on all aspects of for- eign and domestic fisheries, will also be pub- lished monthly. The Syndicate plans to distri- bute the bulletin widely and free of charge. This couid not be done with Espana Pesquera since it was a very elaborate and expensive-to-publish magazine. Estadistica de Pesca, Ano 1957 (Fishery Statis- tics, Year 1957), 276 pp., printed in Spanish. Ministerio de Comercio, Direccion General de Pesca Maritima, Madrid, Spain. A statistical report presenting the weight and value of fish and shellfish by ports, regions, species, and months. Also contains tables on fishing gear, vessels, and canning factories. SPONGES: "La Pesca de las Esponjas en Tunez" (Tunisia's Sponge Fishery), by J. Gaudilliere, article, Pun- tal, vol. V, no. 53, August 1958, pp. 18-20, illus., printed in Spanish. Puntal, Ramon y Cajal 3, Apartado 316, Alicante, Spain. STURGEON: "About the Sturgeons of the Black Sea Basin," by ham Artuz, article, Balik ve Balikcilik (Fish and Fishery), vol. VI, no. 10, October 1958, pp. 15-17, printed in Turkish, Et ve Balik Kurumu, Istanbul, Turkey. THAILAND: Economic Survey of Pla-Tu Salting Industry 1956, 90 pp., illus., printed in English with portions in COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 3 Thai. Agricultural Economics Division, Min- istry of Agriculture, Bangkok, Thailand. This report comprises the first study undertaken by the Thai Fisheries Department and covers the industrial curing of this little-known but economically-important Southeast Asianfish. A detailed description is given of ownership of plants, products, source of fresh fish, credit, selling, prices, marketing costs, capital in- vestment, labor, assistance received by salt- ers, and assistance requested. Statistical ta- bles on products and prices received by the salting plants are presented. The report in- cludes a sample questionnaire on Pla-Tusalt- ing used by the researchers in compiling these tables. TRANSPLANTING FISH: "About the Transplantation of Plaices,"' article, Balik ve Balikcilik (Fish and Fishery), vol. VU, no. 1, January 1959, pp. 21-23, printed in Turkish. Et ve Balik Kurumu, Istanbul, Turkey. TUNA: Data Collected on Tuna Spawning Survey Cruise, July 1-20, 1957, Data Report, 17 pp., illus., processed, Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, La Jolla, Calif., 1958. "L'Industrie Thoniere ne Peut Continuer de Vivre Sans 'Esprit! d'Organisation'' (The Tuna Indus- try Cannot Continue to Exist Without the ''Spirit" of Organization), article, France Peche, vol. 3, no. 22, October 1958, pp. 19-20, printed in French. France Peche, Tour Sud-Est, Rue de Guemene, Lorient, France. WHALING: "Natal's Whaling Industry," article, Shell in n- dustry, no. 29, September-October 1958, pp. 3-5, illus., printed. The Shell Company, P. O. Box 2231, Cape Town, Union of South Africa, A description of the whaling industry off the Natal coast of South Africa. The official whaling sea- son in South Africa is governed by the regula- tions of the International Whaling Commission which restrict the sizes of whales and the peri- od of whaling. The season for catching sperm whales off the Natal coast is from April 1 to November 30. Baleen whales may be caught during six months of the year, the period falling within the eight months allowed for taking sperm whales--generally from April 15 toOctober 14. The weather usually prevents whale catching during September and October. During the South African summer the whales leave for the cold southern waters where food is abundant. This article continues with a description of the sperm and baleen whales and their byproducts, See nw March 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW CONTENTS (CONTINUED) TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS (Contd.): U. S. Foreign Trade: Edible Fishery Products, October 1958 Groundfish Fillet Imports Wholesale Prices, January 1959............ ee ROPER ESPEN Soa in ga abet by alifey a 54 eli & (elses elie ec al'ai la be) =i, aira\ y's International: Food and Agriculture Organization: Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council Annual Meeting ... World Fish Catch in 1957 Continued to Increase International Fish Meal Manufacturers Convention; World-Wide Control of Fish Meal Marketing Rec- RERRITEL EOS eerslcifaPr site io le 21%s) 6 aise) ein): aie, la teilel alate arte Latin America Pacific Coast Algae Being Studied .. Werth Pacitic Pur-SealiHesearch .. 2.0.22. ease Trade Agreements: Norway-Czechoslovakia Trade Agreement for 1959 Includes Fishery Products Whaling: Norway and Netherlands Announce Conditional With- drawal from Whaling Convention ........... Australia: Reaction to Russian Whaling Fleet Expansion ..... Whale Steaks for Animal Food Profitable ........ Brazil: Fishing Operations by Japanese Expand ......... Japanese Fishing Operations Continue to Expand .. . Canada: British Columbia 1958 Herring Catch Sets Record. . British Columbia Shucked Oyster Pack Lower in 1958 British Columbia Salmon Pack in 1958 Near Record . Dated Fresh Fish Fillets Being Marketed........ East Coast Scallop Fishery Trends, 1957 ... aie Prospects for North Atlantic Haddock Catch Refrigerated Sea Water for Fish Preservation Adapt- able to Small Fishing Vessels Transplanted British Oysters Grow in Atlantic Waters Chile: Foreign Fishing Vessels Required to Buy Permits. . Northern Area Has Good Prospects for Fisheries SMES PRICE TN Bue ete mas res, ote ls sviiet hirer alia) (6) (ail @) con ay ay'e" A Regulations on Use of Antibiotics in Ice for Refrig- erating Fish Issued Costa Rica: Amendments to Maritime Fish and Game Law..... Cuba: Development of Bonito Fishery Denmark: Fishery Products Exports up in 1958 .. BAM MMEDECHON SErVICE:. cls. <<\<\ 0 << <5 German Democratic Republic: Fishing Fleet Expansion Includes Plans for 20 Large Saree RRS LO TAY oor class sda" seta) salleucn| atc aierielis ‘eta Ghana: Plans for Development of Fisheries Guatemala: United States Firm Plans to Fish for Shrimp in Guate- malan Waters Hong Kong: Shrimp Fishing Industry ......... eve oc onan o Iceland: Fisheries Trends, December 1958 ...........4. Fisheries Trends, January 1959 ..........0.0.05 India: Development of Marine Fisheries Conference ..... Iran: Proposes 12-Mile Territorial Sea off Coast ...... Ireland: Five-Year Plan Provides US$8.4 Million for Fisheries PREM O DY aerate rete tetera eneten a) sis) s.uetis vires) aes 5 Israel; Trawlers to Fish off Canary Islands .......... ° Japan: Fishing Industry Recommendations for Conference ONTARIO Bie) ol aadinyennecece uch cata el Ol) Or er rei Nong Reaction to North Pacific Salmon Conferences . Salmon Industry Executive's Visit to Russia ...... Tuna Industry and Control of Atlantic Tuna ee and Exporting owe Republic of Korea: Fisheries Trends, December 1958 Fish-Liver Oil Industry Mexico; " Bureau of Fisheries May Be Transferred to Ministry of Industry and Commerce in 1959 ........... Merida Shrimp Fishery Trends, December 1958... Veracruz Fishery Trends, October-December 1958 . West Coast Shrimp Fishery Trends, December 1958 . Morocco: Pea vic SEKry ats, 14 51 © BUOY LINES —=— 20-FATHOM BUOY LINES 19-FATHOM BUOY LINE ELLOWFIN 1 1 11 —~——-20-FATHOM BUOY LINES 10-FATHOM BUOY LINES NO BUOY LINES 20-FATHOM BUOY LINES———-—»+<——_ 10-FATHOM BUOY LINES Fig. 7 - Diagrammatic presentation of depth-sounder records of individual baskets of long-line gear for M/V Oregon stations 1438-1440, 1476, 1290, and 1480. The bottom edge of the symbol indicates the depth of the center of the basket of gear. Only the baskets of gear recorded by the depth-sounder are shown. 10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 fish and the hooks can be made to fish shallower or deeper with respect to the main- line by regulating the length of the branch lines. The effects of construction are obvious, but less apparent are the other factors mentioned above. A factor producing a great effect on gear of a given design is the amount of slack allowed while it is being set. This is well illustrated by station 1440, figure 7. The depths of the baskets on 10-fathom buoy lines, being in the mid- dle of the set and unaffected by normal end sag, range in depth from 18-40 fathoms. Station 1476 shows baskets on 10-fathom buoy lines fishing as deep and in cases deeper than those on 20-fathom buoy lines. Station 1439 shows baskets without buoy lines generally deeper than those on 10-fathom buoy lines and as deep as those on 20-fathom buoy lines. It should be pointed out that these variations were not pro- duced intentionally but, on the contrary, an attempt at uniformity was made. The normal deeper sagging of the end baskets is also quite variable as is evident from figures 6 and 7. Current and wind also affect the depth of the gear. Wind action on the floats (Oregon floats are aircraft-tire and truck-tire inner tubes) has the greatest effect on the end baskets and is dependent on the force and direction of the windinrelation to the direction of the set. The effect being to push the buoys either farther apart or closer together, causing the gear tofish deeper or shallower. Thishas been most noticeable onthe endretrieved last of sets madeinto, or with the wind, on windy days. The effect toward the center of the set is minimized due to the large drag imposed by the many adjacent baskets. Wind at right angles to the set pushes the end buoys with it, but has little effect on the baskets toward the center. Effects of current or tide are similar to those of the wind, except that currents may vary in direction and velocity from depth to depth and from section to section of the set. This is undoubtedly part of the reason for the great variability in the depth at which the gear fishes from set to set and from one part of a set to another. Seo SSS SS SS aes POT OF BUOY LINE ATTACHMENT SCALE IN FATHOMS. Fig. 8 - The 138-fathom long-line basket with different degrees of sag. The depths shown on the left assume the main- line is suspended from 10-fathom buoy lines. Figure 8 is a scale graph of baskets of the Oregon mainline assuming catenary forms for different degrees of sag or buoy distance. The depths shown assume the baskets are suspended from a 10-fathom buoy line. The four-fathom branch lines are shown to give a comparison of fishing depths between hooks of similar position on baskets with different degrees of sag. It is of interest to note that deep-fishing hooks (5 and 6) of a basket at 20 fathoms are fishing shallower than the shallow- fishing hooks (1, 2, 9, 10) of a basket at 40 fathoms. April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 11 Another complicating factor in determination of optimum fishing depth for yel- lowfin is the possibility that baskets fishing at greater depths take yellowfin during the setting and hauling period, i.e., while they are either settling to or being re- trieved from their normal fishing depth through the range normally fished by the shallower gear. Considering the many variables acting sometimes simultaneously and some- times independently which determine the depth at which the gear fishes, and the actual behavior as shown by the depth-sounder tracings, it was apparent that deter- mination of optimum fishing depths for yel- Table 2 - Near-Surface Depths Produce the Greatest Yellowfin Catches, M/V Oregon Cruise 40 lowfin within the range of the Oregon long- line gear (18-50 fath- oms) was extremely difficult, if not im- possible. On cruise 40 in the northern Gulf, an attempt to determine yellowfin availability at greater depths was made. Table 2 shows the catch rates for the different length buoy lines. This limited trial suggests that the 18-50 fath- om range normally fished is the most practicable from a production and operational viewpoint. YELLOWFIN CATCH BY HOOK POSITION: The position of the individual hook on the basket, figure 9, has considerable influence on the relative number of yellow- fin caught. Data from the Gulf operations suggests that the differences are due, at the tuna might be part of the reason for higher catches by the center hooks is ice (Murphy and Shomura, 1953, 1954, least in part, to ''mainline interference.'' Since the end hooks fish much closer to the lower catches of the end hooks, The yellowfin catch by the position of the hook on the basket is tabulated by individual cruises in table 18 of the ap- consistent with the findings in the Pa- 1955), and the Japanese (Yoshihara 256 HOOK NUMBER ON A STANDARD 10-HOOK BASKET OF GEAR the mainline than those in the middle, jae (Al pale ee tener, ope eee figure 9, aversion to the mainline by pendix and summarized in figure 9. The cific by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Serv- 1954). It is obvious that the long-line basket as a unit does not function with uniform efficiency. Figure 9 reveals that the end hooks (1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10) caught 1,366 yellowfin or 228 per hook, whereas the middle hooks (4, 5, 6, and 7) caught 1,126 yellowfin or 281 per hook, The average catch per hook of the middle hooks is 23.2 percent great- er than that of the end hooks. Accord- ingly, if all hooks had fished at the rate of the center hooks the over-all catch ; would have bee i = SE ew apene ees Ae naan 2a: by hook« “percent ies Staged Seer atet pear that increasing the relative efficiency of the basket would result in a considerable economic gain. NUMBER OF YELLOWFIN CAUGHT 230 12 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 It has been concluded (Shomura and Murphy 1955) that because the middle and end hooks of a basket fish at different relative levels, the differential distribution of the catch is a reflection of greater numbers of yellowfin at the deeper levels. Yoshihara (1954) suggests the same reason, Although the catch distribwtion by hook position in Gulf operations has been similar to that in the Pacific there are a num- ber of indications in the data that the disproportionate catch is not fully explained by the relative fishing-depth theory. The explanation offered by Shomura and Murphy (1955) assumes that similar hook positions of all baskets are fishing at approximate- ly the same level. As pointed out earlier, the assumption that any given hook posi- tion on different baskets reflects a similar fishing level is questionable. Another consideration is the comparative slight difference in fishing depth of adjacent hooks of Oregon long-line gear. As indicated by figure 9, the difference of depth of the two end hooks (1 and 2 or 9 and 10) is approximately six fathoms. Because of this, little difference would be expected between the catch of these hooks. Figure 9 re- veals that the catch of hooks 2 and 9 was 12.8 percent, larger than that of hooks 1 and 10. A difference of this magnitude between hooks with a vertical difference of only six fathoms would appear to be related to something other than only the depth differential. Another relationship which contradicts the depth theory is the com- parative catch between the end hooks (1 and 10). Again, assuming that the two hooks fish the same level at all times, the catch should be approximately equal. However, figure 9 shows hook number 1 took 10.4 percent more yellowfin than hook number 10. The discrepancy between the catch of hooks on either end of the basket is ten- tatively attributed to the action of current on the branch line. If a set is made paral- lel to the current then the branch lines on the end of the basket toward the source of the current would be streamed toward the mainline and those on the other end away from it. A final consideration refers again to the extreme variability of the fishing level of the baskets. Since end hooks of some baskets at times fish as deep and deeper than intermediate and center hooks of other baskets the expectation would be for a more uniform distribution if yellowfin were actually as numercially superior at deeper levels as the pattern indicates. The conclusion is that the differential catch distribution by hook position in the Gulf is not entirely explained by the relative fish- ing-depth theory. If mainline interference is a contributing factor, the baskets on each end of the set should display a distribution pattern even more disproportionate than that of figure 9 since they sag considerably more than those toward the center of the set and consequently the end branch lines are much closer to the main- line Data of the 5 percent of bas- Table 3 - Summary of Yellowfin Catch by Hook Position of Terminal 5 Percent of Baskets Total 10 Percent) and Intermediate (90 Percent) of Baskets uy] Terminal 5% of Baskets Intermediate 90% of Baskets Yellowfin Catch on SSeS SGI Ce NG hi Middle Hooks End Hooks Middle Hooks End Hooks 4, 5, 6,7 Te tsp h0) CRE GK 7 UA tke) 51 40 252 299 20 29 141 179 kets on each end 46 57 213 293 of the sets sum- (Total: Vellow#in Catch] ssun 117.ni 1] munannn 126 mnans |i 60 alain 77:1 See Catch Per 100 Hooks 21 marized in table 3 corroborate this. The middle hooks for these baskets averaged 39 percent more fish per hook than the end hooks, whereas the superiority of the middle hooks of the remaining baskets was only 17.9 percent. The data in table 3 show, also, that the catch rate of both the intermediate and end hooks of the terminal baskets is approximately twice that of the intermediate baskets. It might be felt that because the end baskets fish deeper the superiority is due to greater numbers of yellowfin at deeper levels. It does not seem reasonable, however, to ascribe this two-to-one superiority en- tirely to greater numbers of yellowfin at deeper levels for a number of reasons. The baskets on each end of the set fish deeper due to end sag but they also fish a April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 13 larger volume of water per basket than the intermediate ones and therefore a larg- er catch per unit would be expected. For purposes of illustration consider the area exploited by a long-line set as shown in two dimensions in figure 10. The distances X, Y, and Z are dependent on the distances to which a yellowfin can detect the bait. Theoretically all fish enter She eee se ing areas A i‘ ae a ae ae laa eer a7 AY and B are a- vailable to basket number 1 and equal areas are a- vailable to all other baskets. In addition to areas A andB, the end bas- kets have avail- able to them the fishinareas Cand D. This Fig- 10 - The theorecical areas fished by the baskets of a hypothetical 8-basket long-line set as : See viewed from above. relationship is an extremely complex one, greatly simplified here, but does illustrate how baskets on the ends of sets would be expected to have higher catch rates than the intermedi- ate ones. Another consideration connected with the much higher catch rates of the end (and deeper) baskets are the results of the experimental gear fished on cruise 40, table 2. Fishing to levels considerably below that of the standard Oregon gear did not increase the catch rate, but actually diminished it. GEAR MODIFICATIONS: If mainline interference was a factor contributing to the lower catches of the endhooks, certain modifications to the gear might over- come this and consequently create a more efficient unit. On the basis of this, a limit- ed experiment with modified baskets was conducted during cruises 45 and 47. The experimental baskets differed from the standard in that the two branch lines on each end of the mainline were lengthened to six fathoms--the six intermediate branch lines remained the standard four fathoms in length. During cruise 45 three long-line sets were made. Seven experimental baskets were fished on two of these sets and five on the other. Standard baskets were alter- nated with experimental ones, Occasionally, however, two standard or experiment- Table 4 - A Comparison of Catch Rates of Standard and Experimental Baskets during Cruises 45 and 47 No. Yellowfin | Catch Caught Rate 7 E Average Catch Rate (No. of fish/100 hooks ruise 47: 1978 al baskets were set consecutively. Consequently, to obtain as accurate a compari- son as possible, the catches on all standard baskets which fished adjacent to an ex- perimental one were used in the evaluation. As is shown in table 4, the average catch rate of the experimental gear was 103 percent greater than the standard. On 14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 cruise 47 only one set took enough yellowfin to permit evaluation of the comparative effectiveness of the experimental gear. As shown in table 4 the experimental gear had an average catch rate 80 percent greater than the adjacent standard baskets. Of interest at this point is a comparison of the relative distribution of the catch by hook position for the experimental and adjacent standard baskets for these sets. The end hooks of the experimental gear took 22 yellowfin when 40 percent of the total of 57 or 22.8 would be expected. The end hooks of the adjacent standard bas- kets caught 9 yellowfin, whereas 40 percent of the total of 41 or 16.4 would be ex- pected. Further indication of the superior efficiency of the 6-fathom branch lines on the ends of the experimental baskets is the comparison of these hooks with the corresponding hooks of the adjacent standard baskets. On cruises 45 and 47 the 6- fathom branch lines had a catch rate of 21.0 tuna per 100 hooks and the correspond- ing branch lines of the adjacent baskets was 8.1 tuna per 100 hooks. List of Common and Scientific Names of Species Mentioned in This Article Common Names Scientific Names WACK ALEAAbNaEUN Gg G aNe a oo Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre) Bigimeyeditunallgs se i eneiene Thunnus obesus (Lowe) IB hithay INE BG Big 6 Goa 46 Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus) Albacore Hel (see s:6 Gis cites Thunnus alalunga (Gmelin) Blacktimetvina sal eie a eee Thunnus atlanticus (Lesson) Skipjackwmaxt coin cee: ie steerer Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus) White-tipped shark ...... Pterolamiops longimanus (Poey) Silky shark 5 i225 cite ee Eulamia floridanus (Bigelow, Schroeder & Springer) heme eles fo iES. Isurus oxyrhincus (Rafinesque) Wilatiitetaaataralll iia ea eames eaep een Makaira albida (Poey) Bilwetmaarliny seiner cine Makaira ampla (Poey) UA CEM CURL Mer GhURne eas Ti, Istiophorus americanus (Cuvier & Valenciennes) MUSH MERTON GSE: oe os Xiphias gladius (Linnaeus) OOD BLO O-0NG O10! 0 Tetrapterus sp. Reed ee EN ter oe te Alepisaurus ferox (Lowe) SRE RICE CER Came 15, Decapterus punctatus (Agassiz) Sea esis aie eek ee Loligo peali (Lesueur) Fa cobaie rau trol pet, ks Etrumeus sp. saci bees OP roaoaccwes Harengula pensacolae (Goode & Bean) SAMA EN oh coot teat Brevortia patronus (Goode) SOA, ute deGorenewisa setae: Micropogon undulatus (Linnaeus) Pres aT Ceniefoin ast ts ver tac Scomber grex (Mitchill) If the increased catch of the experimental baskets was the result of a superior- ity of longer branch lines rather than a minimizing of mainline interference, then the 6-fathom branch lines should have a markedly higher catch rate than the remain- ing branch lines of the same basket. On cruises 45 and 47 the catch rate of the long branch lines was 22.2 tuna and the standard branch lines 21.5 tuna. This is consist- ent with the findings of Shomura and Murphy (1955) who have compared the efficien- cy of long and short branch lines and found no significant differences. Quite obviously the large superiority of the experimental gear cannot be attri- buted to merely lengthening the four terminal branch lines when the intermediate branch lines of the same baskets were unchanged but yet caught approximately twice as many fish as the corresponding hooks of the adjacent gear. One reason which may contribute to this phenomenon is set forth by Shomura (1955)--the superiority of sardines over squid as long-line bait in moderate and rough seas, i.e., visibility. Shomura found that in calm seas there was no significant difference in the catches of the two baits, but in rough seas the sardines produced significantly larger catch- es. This was attributed to the silvery sardine being more visible to the tuna than the nearly translucent squid, particularly when rough seas caused the bait to move. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 15 April 1959 *aunf{ qonompy Arenuel buygsyy eut[-Buoy Aroyerojdxe yo vary - 1] ‘6ty gnOHLYS ol.) ‘9 NVHL J4OW \ -f- ) \ SHH oot wad 4A 0'9 O1 O'E ae Zé 7 | ie |E7 TWO NYHL AVON — ee 16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 A similar effect may have been influencing the catches of the experimental gear dur- ing cruises 45 and 47. It is possible that higher catches on the long branch lines produced greater activity on the adjacent baits, making them more attractive tomore fish and thereby increasing the catch of the entire basket. SEASONAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION Subsurface yellowfin have been found in varying abundance throughout the Gulf outside the 500-fathom curve. Figures 11 and 12 depict the areas of exploratory long-lining and the regions of greatest productivity for the periods January through June, and July through December. Table5 summarizes the catch rates experienced Table 5 - Catch Rate Summary (Number of Yellowfin Per 100 Hooks) by Month and Location NORTH GULF ENTRAL GULF] SOUTH GULF) Catch Rate Catch Rate Catch Rate Average .2-3.1 6 0- 2.6 UF: December monthly in dhree general regions of the Gulf. The north Gulf is defined as the area north of 27° N., the central Gulf the area between 23° and 27 , and the south Gulf the area south of 23° N. The catch rates shown are the average of allsets made during the respective months, regardless of the year or specific location in which they were made, and therefore should not be viewed as an indication of the absolute abundance but rather as an indicator of whether or not yellowfin are present. Sixty-two percent of all sets have been made in the north Gulf and it is here that a marked seasonal pattern has been noticed. Yellowfin have been taken from July through December at average monthly catch rates ranging from 2.4 to 3.4 yel- lowfin per 100 hooks with daily rates ranging from 0 to 11.2. The more or less uni- form average monthly catch rates show yellowfin stocks are present for the entire period. Fishing January through May has resulted in uniformly poor catches. Yel- lowfin were caught but not in commercial quantities. June has produced better catches presumably coincident with a northward movement of the yellowfin stocks. Although fishing effort by the Oregon has been entirely lacking in February and April, results of fishing by a commercial long-line vessel, the M/V Mike Flechas, during January and February corroborate the findings of the Oregon in this area during this season. It is during this period that 300- to 700-pound bluefin tuna ap- pear in the northern Gulf. ate species has not been taken in the west, central, or south Gulf during any season.2 Fishing by the Oregon in the central Gulf has been conducted primarily January through May and catch rates have been generally lower than either in the north or south Gulf. Fishing by the commercial long-liner Mike Flechas during February 2/Bluefin were later caught in the western Gulf by the commercial long-liner M/V Milmar in the early summer of 1958. 1G COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW April 1959 *raqureseq ySnomp An{ Supysty auz[-buoy Atoyerojdxe jo vary - zt “btyq “5 98 18 08 -68 206 ~i6 25 £6 N |SMH OOL 43d 4A 0°9 NVHL 330W | \ SHH OOL ¥3d 4A 0°9 OLO'E Bus |/ S. ~ AG HeYas- Sea 18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 experienced substantially the same rates as the Oregon. However, the commercial long-liner Santo Antonino fishing in this area south of the Mississippi Delta during September experienced catch rates ranging from 1.3 to 7.5 tuna. Data from this area are not sufficiently comprehensive to reveal any seasonal presence of yellow- fin, The incomplete seasonal coverage in the south Gulf indicates that yellowfin are available in commercial quantities during all seasons of the year. The most intense- ly fished and productive region of this area has been in the Gulf of Campeche im- mediately west of the Yucatan Shelf outside the 100 fathom curve. Here, the highest individual and sustained catch rates have occurred. The eight sets by the Oregon here during April, July, and November have produced catch rates of 15.4, 14.9, 13.6, 12.9, 12.7, 9.6, 3.8, and 2.4 tuna. The commercial long-liner, Alfhild, during July 1957, on eight consecutive sets in this area averaged 8.3 yellowfin per 100 hooks-- approximately 5 times the rate it had made in the north Gulf a week earlier. Good catches ranging to 7.6 yellowfin per 100 hooks during March and April also have been obtained in the area off Vera Cruz. Complete seasonal data for this region is lacking. BAIT COMPARISONS The comparative effectiveness of various bait species used in any fishery is of considerable interest, from both a commercial and exploratory point of view. The value to the commercial fisherman of knowledge of species, which for one reason or another result in either larger or smaller catches, is obvious. Cognizance of any bait preference in the evaluation of exploratory results is necessary in order to obtain the most accurate picture possible of the fishery. Since yellowfin was the only tuna taken in commercial quantities with long-line gear in the Gulf of Mexico, the examination of the bait data is con- cerned with this species only. There are a number of factors other than the number of yellowfin caught by various baits to be taken in- to consideration in the evaluation of their respective effectiveness. One of the most important of these is the schooling habit of the deep-swimming yellowfin. This has been noticed dur- ing all long-line operations of the Ore- on and has been demonstrated mathe- matically for the subsurface yellowfin of the Central Pacific by Murphy and Elliot (1954). The misleading effect, when uncontrolled, that this character- istic can have on the data will be de- NUMBER OF YELLOWFIN | | | | T 2 3 q Fig. 13 - Yellowfin catch by long-line geargroupedas 10per- monstrated later. cent units of 100-basket sets--all cruises combined. Consideration of the soaking time of respective baits is important in evaluating their effectiveness also. Figure 13, showing the catch by 10 percent units of the set verifies this. The breakdown of the catch in this manner represents a measure of catch by soaking time since the first 10 percent unit is the end of the set hauled first and consequently soaked the shortest time. The factor of schooling is impor- tant here also since it is obvious that regardless of how long a section of the gear is soaked, the catch rate will be low if comparatively few schools happen to come in April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 19 contact with it. This has been evident on numerous sets, but since the chances are greater for schools to locate gear soaked for longer rather than shorter periods, the soaking time is a factor of importance. Table 6 - Bait Loss by 10-Percent Units of Long-Line Sets - Cruise 37 mess) [1-10 jil-20 [21-30 41-50[51-60]61-70 | 71-80 [81-90 [91-100 Another important factor in the evaluation of bait species is that of bait loss during the soaking period. Table 6 shows the bait losses of cruise 37 by 10-per- cent units of the sets. The progressive loss of baits with increased soaking time is consistent with the findings of Shomura (1955). Percentage Baits Lost The principal factors contributing to bait loss during the fishing period are the action of the sea on the gear, the physical characteristics of the bait species and bait stealing by tuna and other species, The action of the sea and its effect on bait loss is demonstrated in table 7 which shows the number of baits lost by relative hook position. The end hooks (1, 2, 9, Table 7 - Bait Loss by Hook Position 10), which are sub- Hook Number ject to the greatest eee ee ee agitation from sur- face swells acting Percentage on the floats (Sho- Lost mura 1955), lost 1,063 baits when only 40 percent of the total or 944 would be expected to be losthad the action of the swells been uniform throughout the basket, whereas hooks 5 and 6 (the center hooks) lost only 406 baits when 20 percent of the total or 472 would be expected to be lost. Shomura (1955) has demonstrated that this bait-loss problem can be minimized by double-hooking, Bait stealing by tuna, sharks, marlin, and lancetfish has been established by the baits found in their stomachs after capture. An extreme case of this was re- vealed when seven baits were found ina single lancetfish. The relative ability of var- ious bait species to remain on the hook is shown in table 8. The variations are consid- erable and appear to be due to the physical characteristics of the fish, i.e., the tougher, smaller-eyed, wider-headed species (mullet) suffered smaller losses than the tender, large-eyed, narrow-headed species (cigarfish). The factor of bait loss, as demonstrated for herring and sardines by Shomura (1955), is of considerable significance, particularly in rougher seas, where one species may experience significantly greater catch rates, not because there is a preference on the part of the yellowfin, but because one species has a much greater tendency to remain on the hook and consequently is available where others may not be. Double-hooking will minimize this discrepancy. The factors previously mentioned which may give rise to erroneous conclusions, i.e., the schooling behavior of subsurface yellowfin and the soaking time may be con- trolled by alternating by basket or hook the species being tested. 20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 MENHADEN VERSUS CROAKER: Two bait species readily available in the Gulf of Mexico, menhaden and croaker, were utilized primarily on cruise 41. Compari- son of the over-all catch rates with the two species, eliminating stations where no yellowfin were taken, shows the apparent superiority of menhaden, as menhaden caught 5.1 yellowfin per 100 hooks and croaker 2.6 yellowfin per 100 hooks. Com- parison of the catch rates using only those stations where both baits were used a- gain shows a preference, but to a lesser degree, for menhaden. Menhaden caught 4.1 and croaker 2.6 fish per 100 hooks. If, however, only the data where the baits were alternated are considered (to minimize the effects of schooling behavior and soaking time), the resultant rates are menhaden 3.8 and croaker 3.1. During cruise 41, for the first time, commercial long-line vessels were oper- ating with the Oregon. Table 9 summarizes the data for those Oregon stations where the M/V Milmar was | ‘Table 9 - Comparative Catch Rates by Bait Species of | fishing in the same M/V Oregon and M/V Milmar area. The compari- Oregon _M/V Milmar son of the rates of the two vessels for Wenhaden stations 1612, 1613, Menhaden 5 Croaker 3 and 1615 indicates Menhaden Menhaden : a striking prefer- Menhaden : Menhaden ; ence for menhaden Menhaden : Menhaden 5 and is apparently confirmed by sta- tions 1617 and 1618 where the Milmar catch rate increased considerably coincident with the change of bait from croaker to menhaden. However, it should be noted that the Oregon catch rate for these two stations using the same bait (menhaden) dropped considerably and on station 1621 picked up again, whereas the Milmar catch rate, still using menhaden, dropped, indicating something other than a bait preference in- fluencing the catches. The construction of the gear fished by both vessels was iden- tical, sea conditions were the same, and the soaking time of the gear approximately equal which suggests that catch-rate differences were in part the result of chance variation in the number or size of schools encountered by the gear of the respective vessels. CIGARFISH VERSUS SQUID: The first two long-line cruises (23 and 24) of the Oregon employed principally cigarfish and squid as bait. The bait results for these cruises are summarized in table 10 The com- Table 10 - le 10 - Comparative Catch Rates of Squid and Cigarfish, Cruises 23 and 24_ bined data of the two be Sand —__ | Ciaestish parent strong preference |Cmise 23: on the part of the yel- lowfin for cigarfish as squid caught 0.6 yellow- fin per 100 hooks and cigarfish 1.9 yellowfin per 100 hooks, AUNWwrhAWWODe MN Using only the data where the baits were alternatedrevealsa rate of 1.1 yellowfin per 100 hooks for squid and 4.2 for cigarfish. Although the data do not lend themselves to mathematical analysis in view of the magnitude No sfof Fish /100'Hooks as . WwWOONNNOrS OR a4 -8 oe) 8 ie) 0 oe ce) 10) 0 0 0 ce) \o April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21 of the difference and the comparatively large sample, it is concluded that cigarfish are superior to squid as long-line bait. MACKEREL, CIGARFISH, ANDHERRING: Comparisons of the relative effec- tiveness of these species on cruises 33 and 37 (table 11) is difficult due to the lack of a systematic distribution of baits throughout the sets. Examination of the rates for those sets where these baits were used simultane- ously reveals variations of considerable magnitude. However, observation of the distribution of baits for each station reveals in all cases a bias to the advantage of the bait with the highest catch rate. A good example of this is station 1488A, cruise Table 11 - Comparative Catch Rates (Number of Yellowfin Per 100 Hooks) | of Three Bait Species Cigarfish a Eee ne wel CO ORO NG SON Cee ete puree) erielt.e) te jae) ier ‘e! « “8 © © © © ew ee ew STeia(ey (® @) (6 te ie ete) @ Average Catch Rate are |) Per 100 Hooks : ; i 37, table 11. In this case, herring has a rate (5.9) approximately twice that of mack- erel (2.9) and cigarfish (3.1), but the distribution of the baits was such that the last baskets of the set with herring as bait accounted for 16 yellowfin, thus 20 percent of the gear accounted for 42 percent of the yellowfin taken. If the last 15 baskets are not considered and using only the data where the baits are more or less competitive, the catch rates for the three species are cigarfish 3.1, mackerel 2.9, and herring 2.9. In view of the consistency of this phenomenon on these cruises and pending ex- periments of a design lending to valid statistical analysis, the tentative conclusion is that these species are equally effective. WATER TEMPERATURE AND CATCH RELATIONSHIP Surface water temperatures exhibit a definite seasonal pattern with average monthly temperatures in the north Gulf generally a few degrees lower than those of the south Gulf. In both areas the temperature reaches a peak in July or August, with a gradual decrease until January or February and a gradual increase until summer. Table 12 depicts the monthly surface temperature range for the north and south Gulf, with corresponding catch rates. In the northern Gulf the period from January through May shows a rise of temperature range from 69°-75° F. to 78°-80° F. and a uniformly low catch rate. During June, July, and August the temperature con- tinues to rise as does the average catch rate. From August through December the temperature drops steadily but the average catch rate remains more or less con- 22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 stant. In the south Gulf the data are very limited; however, it is also apparent that surface temperature and catch rate are not pares related in this area. North Gulf Yellowfin Bemperatune Yellowfin Catch Rate F Catch Rate] Range (° F.) 0.4 ; Bathythermograph recordings of water temperatures to a depth of 450 feet have been obtained on most long-line stations. Table 13 is a tabulation of these data for the north Gulf for the months of August and December. The temperature range from a depth of 100 to 300 feet is given, since the information from depth-sounder trac- Table 13 - Water Temperatures and Catch-Rate Relationship in the North Gulf, August and December Yellowfin Surface Temperature (CF. Thermoc line Beton Catch Rate {Temperature (°F.)| From 100 to 300 Ft. | Depth (Ft.) August--Cruise 33: 135610 ewe (eal 83-65 100 1360n os 8.9 83-66 130 IGA 5 66.6 6.7 83-66 100 13 G4 ceats 6.7 80-67 90 IBOOI™e Gee A 5.6 83-68 100 SG Crees 4.4 82-65 100 11316 Oe aenemrn ihe 84-73 130 Toit ers 1.9 82-67 100 TEN Shere sya 2.4 83-64 100 3 UO hesae ace 22 84-65 100 TUM (US re es 3.8 85-66 110 137 One ee ee 5.7 77-60 130 13810 uence igh erage [ke IDecember--Cruise ii: 60S aEaee. 5.6 75 75-68 240 G1Ov arn ae 8.4 75 75-69 250 GHD eugene cas 7.3 75 75-69 260 NGI > 6 66 7.5 75 75-69 250 GUN pene 4.7 76 75-70 260 1619. 3.8 76 75-71 250 1G Ohl eee at 76 75-70 250 1622, : 5.3 75 75-69 210 OMS Goon 1/ 75 75-69 210 1626... 2.6 75 75-70 210 Average 5g9 1/Not used in computing average catch rate since 3 vessels fishing this area on this day caught only one yellowfin. April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23 tracings indicates this is the depth range within which the Oregon's standard gear fishes. The depth of the thermocline, the lower limit of the warmer surface layer, is also shown, The maximum temperature range (19 degrees F.) observed within the fishing zone during the summer is much greater than the maximum winter range of 7 de- grees F. Coincident with this relationship is the much deeper thermocline and a slightly higher average catch rate during the winter. Table 14 - Water Temperature and Catch-Rate Relationship in the South Gulf, March-April and November eae Yellowfin Surface Temperature (° F.) Thermocline Catch Rate | Temperature (° F.) | From 100 to 300 Ft. Depth (Ft.) March-April--Cruise 37: PA SIOS os 2.8 76 ey (cS oa 1.0 74 VATS 6 6.6 0 73 VAG Hee sets 0.8 74 1478 ... 2.4 UT 1480... 1.2 76 1481 ... 6.9 76 1482... 7.6 76 1484... 0.8 76 1486... 1.0 ee 1488 4.7 78 1490 3.4 (iL 1491 12.9 77 2 e 4 0 -8 4 3 8 .8 Table 14 summarizes the temperature data for the south Gulf during the months of November and March-April. Comparison of the two periods shows a temperature range of approximate equal width (12° F.) with the November range 6° F.-8°9 F. warmer. Again, coincident with the lower temperatures in the fishing zone, the average catch rate is somewhat higher. When the temperature within the 100- to 300-foot range has not fallen below 72° F., the catch rates have been low. The available data neither establishes nor excludes the possibility that yellow- fin in the Gulf inhabit an optimum temperature range and pending more precise in- formation as to the absolute depth at which the fish are caught, this relationship can- not be further evaluated. SHARK DAMAGE The fraction of the total yellowfin catch damaged by sharks has varied from 4.2 percent on cruise 45 to 23.2 percent on cruise 24, and averaged 13.6 percent. Although approximately 50 percent of the damaged fish are acceptable for canning, shark damage constitutes a considerable economic loss to a commercial operation as seen in figure 14. 24 COMMERCIAL FISHE RIES REVIEW Vol. 21; No. 4 The relative severity of shark damage appears to be the result of a combination of factors. Iversen and Yoshida (1956) reported the degree of shark damage in Cen- tral Pacific long-line operations directly related to the magnitude of the shark catch. A similar re- lationship has been found in the Gulf of Mexico. This is particular- ly true when large shark catch rates are associated with high yel- lowfin catch rates. Environmental influence appears to be consider- able also. Table 15 summarizes this information for the north and south Gulf. In the north Gulf a 10° F. drop of average surface water temperature from August to December is accompanied by a sharp drop in shark population as evidenced by the much lower shark catch rate. As would be ex- pected, the percentage of damaged yellowfin dropped also. Shomura and Murphy (1955) pointed out that since the sharks taken on long-line gear are commonly seen at the surface, they are primarily a sur- face species. The indication then is that the 10° F. drop of surface water temperature in the northern Gulf creates an environment un- favorable to sharks. In the south Gulf a drop of surface tempera- ture from 82° F, in December to 77° F. in March-April resulted in no significant changes in either shark catch or percentage of dam- Fig. 14 - A shark-damaged bluefin tuna being brought aboard the aged yellowfin vessel, : An important factor affecting the severity of shark damage is the time taken to haul the individual baskets. Shark damage occurs principally while the gear is be- ing hauled and greater shark damage occurs with slow-hauling speeds. These data for four cruises are summarized in table 16. It is evident that the fraction of the catch damaged by sharks can be reduced by rapid and alert handling of the gear while hauling. Table 15 - Shark Damage to Tuna Related to Shark Catch and Surface Water Temperatures North Gulf | eas South Gulf Percentage {Shark | Average Percentage | Shark | Average of Yellowfin |Catch | Surface of Yellowfin| Catch] Surface Damage Rate |Temp. OF. Damage | Rate |Temp. OF. ummer 22 1.5 85° It ee) : The relationship between soaking time of the gear and the percentage of shark- damaged yellowfin is also shown in table 16. The larger damage rate with longer April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25 soaking time indicates that damage occurs to some extent while the gear is soak- ing and not only during the hauling period. Table 16 - The Relationship Between Hauling Time, Soaking Time, and Shark Damage Average Percentage of | Hauling Time Soaking Time |Shark-Damaged| Per Basket (Minutes) +/ Yellowfin (Minutes) 2 : Cruise 1/Computed by dividing the total soaking time of the set by the number of baskets fished. SUMMARY 1. Commercial-scale fishing on three trips produced quantities of yellowfin tuna of commercial magnitude. 2. Because of numerous factors affecting the vertical distribution of the long- line gear, determination of optimum depths of the subsurface yellowfin is difficult. 3. Yellowfin tuna catches were greater on the center hooks than on the end hooks of individual baskets. This disproportionate distribution was apparently rec- tified by employing longer branch lines on the ends of the baskets. 4, Yellowfin are present in commercial quantities in the north Gulf from July through December and apparently during all seasons in the south Gulf, 5. With the exception of squid, bait species were equally effective. 6. No relationship was noted between surface water temperatures and occur- rence of yellowfin. 7. Shark damage to the catch is determined by the number of sharks in the fishing area and the speed with which the gear is hauled. APPENDIX Detailed long-line stations list of the M/V Oregon and other detailed tables are not included here, but are available upon request as an appendix to the reprint of this article. Request Separate No. 545. The reprint, which contains the appendix, includes these tables: Table 17 - M/V Oregon Long-Line Stations List. Table 22 - Time of Setting and Hauling Long-Line Gear, Cruise 41. Table 18 ~ Yellowfin Catch by Hook Position (Standard Gear), Table 23 - Time of Setting and Hauling Long-Line Gear, Cruise 45. Table 19 - Yellowfin Catch by 10-Percent Units of Set. Table 24 - Shark Damage, Cruise 33, Table 20 - Time of Setting and Hauling Long-Line Table 25 - Shark Damage, Cruise 37. Gear, Cruise 33, Table 26 - Shark Damage, Cruise 41. Table 21 - Time of Setting and Hauling Long-Line Gear, Cruise 37. Table 27 - Shark Damage, Cruise 45. 26 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 LITERATURE CITED BULLIS, HARVEY R., Jr. 1954, Recent Exploration for Yellowfin in the Gulf of Mexico, Proc, Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries, Institute, 7th Annual Session, November. , and CAPTIVA, FRANCIS J. 1955, Preliminary Report on Exploratory Long-Line Fishing for Tuna in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, Commercial Fisheries Review, vol, 17, no. 10 (October), pp. 1- 20. (Also Sep. No. 416.) , and MATHER, F. J., Ill 1956. Tunas of the Genus Thunnus of the Northern Caribbean, American Museum Novitates, Number 1765, April 6, pp. 1-12. IVERSEN, EDWIN S., and MURPHY, G. I. 1955. What the Jangaard Venture Found in Mid-Pa- cific, Pacific Fisherman, vol. 53, no, 4, PPecesncosmandi27is , and YOSHIDA, H. O, 1956. Long-Line Fishing for Tuna in the Central Equatorial Pacific, 1954, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Re- port--Fisheries No. 184, 33 pp. MURPHY, GARTH I., and SHOMURA R, S. 1953. Long-Line Fishing for Deep-Swimming Tunas in the Central Pacific, 1950-51, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report--Fisheries No, 98, 47 pp. 1955, Long-Line Fishing for Deep-Swimming Tunas in the Central Pacific, August-November 1952, U. S, Fish and Wildlife Service, Spe- cial Scientific Report--Fisheries No, 137, 42 pp. and ELLIOT, K. C. —— 1954, Variability of Long-Line Catches of Yellowfin Tuna. U. S, Fish and Wildlife Service, Spe- cial Scientific Report--Fisheries No. 119, 30 pp. SHIMADA, BELL M,, and SCHAEFER, M. B. 1956. A Study of Changes in Fishing Effort, Abun- dance, and Yield for Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, vol, 1, no. 7, pp. 351-469, SHOMURA, RICHARD S, 1955. A Comparative Study of Long-Line Baits. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report--Fisheries No, 151, 34 pp. A ee ee IMMINENT. Ee Il 1955. Long-Line Fishing for Deep-Swimming Tunas in the Central Pacific, 1953, U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report-- Fisheries No, 157, 70 pp. YOSHIHARA, TOMOKICHI 1954, On the Distribution of Catches by Tuna Long- Line, Journal of the Tokyo University of Fish- eries, vol, 41, no. 1, pp. 1-26. COR. surface of the sea. Council, November 1957). FISHING WITH UNDERWATER LIGHTS An Italian Food and Agriculture Organization fisheries expert re- ports that he has successfully demonstrated to Tunisian fishermen that they can catch more fish with less wattage by setting their fishing lights | beneath the water rather than above. He found fishermen using power- | ful petrol engines to generate powerfor a great number of surface lamps in their night fishing for sardines and anchovies. light. bulbs of 500 watts each. Another had 16 andathirdhad 12. But most of the lightfrom these lamps was wasted as it was reflected by the The whole area was illuminated like a city square, butfishing results were poor. A different technique, using a 32-volt gen- erating set and a 500-watt lamp placed under the water, was so success- fulin attracting fish that the local fishermen wanted to change their sys- tem so that they could use their lights underwater. percent in fuel costs, the underwater lights make for more effective fishing in rough seas and in strong moonlight. even more effective when used with an echo-sounder, whichreduces waste of time because the fisherman can use it to make sure that worth- while shoals offish are present before he anchors his boat and switches his lights on (Current Affairs Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries In Mahdia, one had 24 Besides saving 50 The submarine lamp is April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 27 FISHERIES INSTRUMENTATION LABORATORY OFFERS BIOLOGISTS NEW RESEARCH “TOOLS” 3 By Richard H. vanHaagen* and Harry P. Dale** A new and unique unit, the Fisheries Instrumentation Laboratory of the U. 5S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, has been established in Seattle, Wash., to assist fishery workers in making the most effective use of modern instrumentation and other physical science devices for their research problems. Just completing its second year of operation, the Fisheries Instrumentation Laboratory is the only one of its kind which combines the talents of a team of biol- ogists, engineers, electronic scientists, and instrument makers into a single uni- fied group. By working together in the laboratory and in the field, biologists and e Fig. 1 - Electronic fishing with d. c. pulses provides improved sampling method in rivers and streams. engineers are obtaining an understanding of each other's problems, This is mate- rially increasing their combined effectiveness. As a result, new techniques, instru- ments, tools, and materials constantly being developed by the rapidly progressing physical sciences, are quickly adapted and utilized to the fullest extent in fishery research, Services of the staff of the Fisheries Instrumentation Laboratory are available to all personnel of state, Federal, and private agencies who are contributing towards the advancement of fishery research and management. The constantly increasing and damaging intrusion of modern civilization on one of our most valuable natural resources--fish and shellfish--has imposed a heavy * Supervisory Electronic Scientist Fisheries Instrumentation Laboratory, Division of Biological Research, 2° Electronic Scientist { U. S, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Seattle, Wash. 28 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 4 burden on fishery scientists engaged in the conservation of this important protein source and recreational outlet. In many areas, increasing demands for water by in- dustry, residential areas, irrigation, and hydroelectric installations have seriously depleted or altered the supply of available water for fish PROD ae owas and recrea- tional purposes. In other areas, peat zi : me aba, lor increased fishing pressure, pol- lution, silting, and a variety of changing environmental factors have seriously interfered with efforts to maintain commercial and sport fishing catches. Overcoming these problems requires considerable expendi- tures of time, money, and man- power. Modern fishery workers are turning more and more to the powerful tools of physical instrumentation for data gather - ing and processing techniques. The effective use of modern instrumentation has shown that er aie : s: i i i ~2- ed herring ejector examines uy Seeea he reelined. “Some, minute and femoves individual fish containing a special intemal tag investigations have saved considerable money by installing instrumentation and bet- ter data-handling facilities; others have used their saved manpower to work toward other aspects of their projects. Many have been able to accomplish tasks which would otherwise have been beyond their means, physically and financially. Caused in part by necessity, fishery re- search work is spread broadly throughout the country, and in very few places are facilities available to workers to develop new instru- ments or repair old ones except at great ex- pense, A few universities and researchunits have allowed biologists access to their shop facilities. But even then, the problem of se- lecting the best materials or the most appro- priate mechanism has been limited by the dif- ficulty of communication between the biologist without engineering experience and the engi- neer or machinist with little awareness of the environmental problems of fishery biology. Such a situation has long existed in the design of instruments for biological research, Fig. 3 - ier model of current recorder provides and has often led to many awkward and semi- permanent and accurate 90-day record of waterspeed cotisfactory devices, cleverly conceived but and compass heading. 5 5 : : 9 inefficient in operation. Many satisfactory instruments are available, and need only to be brought to light. The need for a unit with an understanding of the environmental problems of fish- ery biology and a knowledge of the proper technical assessment of contemplated in- struments or systems of instruments is plainly evident. The present staff of the recently-organized Fisheries Instrumentation Labora- tory includes personnel trained and experienced in biology, physics, technical writing, | April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29 instrument making, and electronics, Gradual acquisition of precision tools and in- struments has enabled this organization to undertake problems of considerable va- riety and extent. Most of the present group were recruited from the staff of the Pacific Salmon Investigations, where the use of electronic instrumentation was most intensive with- in the Service. Several Bureau employees were instrumental in making the services of this unit available on a non-profit basis not only to the research biologists of the Bureau, but to fishery workers throughout the country. It must be emphasized that the present state of development of the in- strumentation industry is such that a foolproof machine can be made, but it will cost many times what it would be worth to the biologist. The biologist usually wants a satisfactory instrument at an absolute minimum of cost. Con- ventional design usually is too expen- sive, and even after considerable inge- nuity is exercised a compromise be- tween cost and performance is usually required, Fig. 4 - Battery -powered intervalometer provides bell buzzer As a result the Fisheries Instru- and light indication for precise timing of fish-counting sam - mentation Laboratory attempts to pro- ple intervals. 3 - . vide better and less complicated in- struments at a lower cost, and to provide information on availability of commercial devices and materials for more efficient use of research funds, Work requests are necessary for only about one-tenth of the problems, since the Laboratory is usually able to suggest available commercial equipment or serv- ices, simplify the problem in other ways, or accomplish the task in a very short time, The extensive files of commercially-available instruments, and the expand- ing stock of instruments for loan may solve a difficult a. problem, Several examples of modern instrumentation ap- plied to fishery research are: The manner in which an electronic fishing device is used to obtain population data in streams and rivers where nets and other means of collection are difficult if not impossible to use is illustrated in figure 1. Pul- Sating direct current applied between the hand-held positive electrode and the metal hull of the skiff tend to attract and momentarily stun the fish in the vicinity of the positive electrode. The fish are not harmed by this experience, and are easily captured by dip nets, An automatic high-speed tagged herring ejector is shown in figure 2. This fantastic machine will recover individual internally-tagged herring from a rapidly Fig. 5 - Treadle-operated tag injec- moving conveyor belt of the type used in a typical Alas- ‘or inserts special metal tag in body ka herring processing plant. The new device does not Sot hs Doe es slow or otherwise interfere with the high-speed processing of the commercial product. 30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 An improved self-contained current recorder being lowered into the water to measure the speed and direction of water flow is shown in figure 3, By means of photographic film exposed at precisely regular intervals, a permanent and accurate record of water speed and compass - heading is recorded for a period of 90 days without attention. A battery-powered intervalometer for selecting any combination of five- minute periods per hour, with bell or buzzer signals (fig. 4). A warning buzzer-and-light sequence is available 30 seconds before the timing bell or buzzer. A mechanical treadle-operated Fig. 6 - Fish-measnring instrument reads directly in milli- nae 7 meters lengths to = meter. tag injector which was designed to @ rapidly insert a small plastic-coated metal tag into the body cavity of herring (fig. 5). A mechanical half-meter measuring device which reads directly in millimeters the various lengths required by fishery biologists is shown in figure 6, The versa- tility of the instrument is greater than its apparent simplicity would seem to indicate. An adapter is avail- able which records this and auxiliary identifying data on either punch cards or teletype tape. A combination optical and elec- tronic device for the purpose of ac- curate, rapid, and semi-automatic salmon-scale reading (fig. 7). Al- though still in the development stage, the new instrument shows tremendous promise. A strong light is projected through one of a number of scale impressions on a transparent acetate sheet. A prism and mirror system allows the scale image to be magnified and pre- sented on a smooth white tabletop. The entire scale image is in focus at one time at a magnification of 50 di- ameters, A narrow slit cut in the sur- face of the table permits light to fall on a sensitive photomultiplier tube mounted on a movable carriage under- neath the table. As the photomultiplier scans the thin line along a scale radi- us, it detects and amplifies the varia- tions in light intensity representing the scale circuli, which are presented as pips on a strip-chart recorder, The new technique greatly simplifies the counting and measurement of circuli and annuli. Future plans call for presentation of the data on punch cards, which will materially increase the speed of the present operation. Fig. 7 - Electro-optic scale reader accurately, rapidly, and semi-automatically provides data on individual salmon scales, ee April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 31 A Gulf II plankton sampler which was built in modified form by the Laboratory is shown in figure &. The sampler is towed at 10 knots, collecting plankton and re- cording the sampled volume, ame oo Fig. 8 - Gulf II plankton sampler, modified to comply with needs of Alaska Region, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. A portable crab measuring instrument which reads directly in hundredths of inches, from $ to 8 inches, is shown in figure 9, Among fishery agencies which have used the services of the Fisheries Instrumentation Labo- ratory are the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, the University of Miami, Cornell Uni- versity, the Canadian Department of Fisheries, Fig. 9 - Portable crab-measuring instru- and the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries coger sia to one-hundredth of Commission. In addition to correspondence with the 49 states, the Laboratory has received and answered letters concerning instru- mentation problems from at least a dozen foreign countries, The wide utilization of this facility and of the instruments developed by it demonstrates the need for instru- mentation know-how in the fisheries field, and the advantages alert fishery workers can realize from the services of the Fisheries Instrumentation Laboratory. SINGAPORE'S SHRIMP PONDS PROFITABLE The Singapore Ministry of Commerce and Industry in its 1956 Report says that its brackish-water shrimp ponds (which cover 14 acres) since their construction in 1954 yielded 24,032 pounds of prawns and fish, which was sold for about US$6,400. The cost ($4,200) of building the em- bankments, sluice gates, and huts was fully recovered in less than two years. 32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 ig "RESEARCH | y IN SERVICE LABORATORIES ~® Lie ee tik ) 21, a Nie cane eae aging 1,300 pounds a day, with in- ; \ S dividual catches ranging from 100- V2 Vics 6 400 pounds. The catch was com- SS 7 | posed of approximately 30 percent S soa) large (10 pounds and over), 45 (ARCA cays percent medium (5-10 pounds), and 25 percent small fish (1-5 pounds), aL ) dpe Six exploratory tows in the vicinity of Cay Arenas, in 25-58 fathoms failed to produce com- mercial catches of snapper or grouper. M/V Silver Bay Cruise 14 (January 22-February 4, 1959). Modified New England-type nylon fish trawls, rigged with rollers and conventional V-D rig, were used through- out the fishing trials. A 2-inch stretched-mesh cover was intermittently attached to the cod end to determine the amount of unmarketable snapper released by the 54- inch mesh cod end. Preliminary observations indicate that approximately 95 per- cent of all snapper under 1; pounds successfully escaped through the large mesh cod end. The performance of the gear was again considered successful with only minor tear-ups occurring throughout the trip. The total snapper and grouper catch was comprised of 8 species of snapper and 6 species of grouper. Marketing EDIBLE FISHERY PRODUCTS MARKETING PROSPECTS, FIRST QUARTER 1959: United States civilian consumption of fishery products per capita in 1958 averaged close to the 1957 rate. Supplies in 1958 increased at about the same rate as the civilian population. Current supplies of processed products appear to be ad- April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45 equate to maintain civilian consumption of these items at a slightly higher rate this winter and early spring than last. Retail prices of fishery products in 1958 were the highest on record. Prospects for the next few months are that prices will con- tinue at a high level. The catch of edible fish and shellfish was somewhat larger in 1958 than in 1957. There was a moderate increase for the species used for canning, and a slight ad- vance in landings of items marketed mainly fresh and frozen. Commercial landings in the first quarter are at the seasonal low point of the year. The pack of canned fishery products last year was well above that of 1957. A- mong the major items, Maine sardines and mackerel were the only ones for which a reduction occurred. The pack of canned salmon was up sharply in 1958. Produc- tion of California sardines (pilchards) was more than 4} times as large as in 1957 and the heaviest since 1951. The canned tuna pack reached a record level. The domestic catch of tuna in 1958 was up only a little from the 1957 total, but imports of frozen tuna for processing were considerably heavier. Supplies of canned fishery products available for consumption in the next several months are well above the year-earlier total. Total stocks of frozen fishery products at the beginning of this year were much larger than on the same date in 1958. Stocks represent the principal source of sup- plies of these items until at least mid-spring when the commercial catch of fish and shellfish starts increasing seasonally. Imports of fishery products were moderately heavier last year than in 1957. The increase was relatively larger for the canned than for the fresh or frozen prod- ucts. Receipts of canned salmon and the sardines not in oil were heaviest in the first half of 1958 when domestic supplies were relatively light. Imports in the next several months will likely be less than a year earlier because domestic supplies are larger. Exports were much lower in 1958 than in 1957 because of our reduced supplies of canned fish earlier in the year. Prospects are for exports to be heavier this winter and spring than last. This analysis appeared in a report prepared by the Agricultural Marketing Serv- ice, U. S. Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Department of the Interior, and published in the former agency's February 25, 1959, release of The National Food Situation (NFS-87). SS Menhaden UNITED STATES LANDINGS, 1956-1958: Landings of menhaden in the United States during 1958 amounted to 1,527.2 million pounds as compared with 1,683.1 million pounds in 1957, and 2,097.2 million pounds in 1956. U.S. Menhaden Catch, 1956-1958 aine, Mass., and Rhode Island ew York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia orth Carolina, South Carolina, & Florida East Coast . Florida West Coast, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas 46 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 North Atlantic Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research COMMERCIAL STOCKS OF TUNA FOUND IN WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC (M/V Delaware Cruise 59-1): Commercial concentrations of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) with other tuna species were found in the Gulf Stream area of the western North Atlantic during this cruise Santer 12-February 6, 1959) of the U. S. Bureau r “eM EOREES ol” Novant aS if - Long-line station, Va ~ Vessel track. y Mean position axis of Gulf stream. Tuna exploration by M/V Delaware Cruise 59-1 (January 12-Febru- ary 6, 1959). bacares) and 4 albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga). was 74,2° F--the highest temperature recorded at any station. of Commercial Fisheries explor- atory fishing vessel Delaware. This marks the first time tuna have been caught in such quantity in the winter months, The results of this cruise contribute substan- tially to the knowledge of the dis- tribution of tuna species in the North Atlantic, especially at this time of the year. The Delaware's most signifi- cant catch was made in the Gulf Stream area 280 miles south of Nantucket Island and 287 miles east of Cape Henry at 36°46! north latitude and 70°00' west longitude. Here, over 5 tons of tuna were caught on only 60 baskets of gear. The catch consisted of 34 large bluefin, 9 yellowfin (Thunnus al- The surface water temperature Bluefin tuna occur- red in most of the areas fished. The exceptions were Stations 1 and 11, lying well to the north of the Gulf Stream, and Stations 6 and 10, lying to the east and south of the Gulf Stream. Substantial concentrations of bluefin tuna were taken at Stations 2 and 4, On 45 baskets of gear, 15 bluefin and 5 albacore tuna were taken at Station 2; while 25 bluefin, 1 albacore, and 1 big-eyed (Thunnus obesus) were caught at Station 4 using the same amount of gear. Table 1 - Tuna Exploration in eee North Atlantic by M/V Delaware (Cruise 59-1 cae Baskets ipecies | Number | Approx. W. Long. | N. Lat. at Temp. of Fish Wt. Other Species 66°42! 40°24! “49 = er oe eas Bluefin is 2, 150 Blue shark (1), lancetfish (3 O14 Bluefin 6 365 Blue shark (1) LDCR 3 110 Ray (1) Big ] 60 = 4 25 3,500 = alpacote 1 30 - 0 = i 1 5 Lancetfi Yellowfin 7 230 Blue shark (12), lancetfish (2) 60 74 Bluefin 34 10,080 Ray (1), lancetfish (1) Albacore 4 110 - | Yellowfin 9 20 = 8 - Yellowfin 1 30 Mako shark (1) Bluefin 2 600. Dolphin 9 -8 | Bluefin 4 950 Blue shark (3), lancetfish (1) Albacore ; 30 Hammerhead shark (1) eelew ee 20 - 10 68°45! .4 [Albacore [| 30 Blue shark (3), lancetfish (1 li 68955! Albacore 60 Lancetfish (1 April 1959 Yellowfin tuna were ee at Stations 6-9, inclusive, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 47 in surface water tempera- tures from 66.8° F, to 74.2° F, Big-eyed tuna occurred only at Stations 3, 4, and 5 in surface water temperatures of 58.69 F., 57.29 F., and 56.4° F., respectively. Oceanographic data was collected at all fishing stations in cooperation with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Night lighting for small specimens was con- ducted, in addition to the collection of biological data on the various species of tuna. Several severe storms were encountered during the cruise. These storms re- sulted in very rough seas which caused extensive damage to the port life boat. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, February 1959, p. 25. Oceanography WIDER STUDY OF THE SEA URGED: The Com- mittee on Oceanography of the National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council warned on February 15, 1959, that the United States must-- within the next ten years--double its present rate of deep-sea research or face serious economic, political, and military hazards. "Action on a scale appreciably less than that recommended,'' the Committee declared, ''will jeopardize the position of oceanography in the Unit- ed States relative to the position of the science in other major nations, thereby accentuating serious military and political dangers, and placing the na- tion ata disadvantage in the future use of the re- sources of the sea, This warning came at the head of a list of de- tailed recommendations released by the Committee in advance of a more extensive report to be pub- lished later. The Committee was appointed in 1957 by the President of the Academy-Research Council, and supported by the U. S. Atomic Energy Commis- sion, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Na- tional Science Foundation, and Office of Naval Re- search, The cost of the ten-year program, it was esti- mated, would total $651,410,000 over and above the present level of support. The three principal recommendations of the “Committee were that: 1. The United States government should expand its support of the marine sciences at a rate which will result in at least a doubling of basic research activity during the next ten years. 2, The increase in support of basic research should be accompanied during the next ten years by a new program of ocean-wide surveys. This will require a two-fold expansion of the present surveying effort. 3. The United States should expand considerably its support of the applied marine sciences, partic- ularly in the areas of military defense, marine re- sources, and marine radioactivity. To explain the urgent nature of its recommenda- tions, the report points out the many benefits that could accrue from intensive oceanographic research--in the acquisition of new knowledge, the development of the oceans! vast mineral and food resources, more accurate prediction and possible control of climatological change, and the improve- ment of military defenses against surprise attacks by missile-launching submarines, Excerpts from the report follow: New Knowledge: ''The seaspresent a challenge to man which in magnitude approaches that of space... Weknow less about many regions of the oceans today than we know about the lunar surface. Yet we have learned enough to know the major fea- tures of the ocean floor--35,000-foot trenches;- 2,000-mile-long fracture zones; flat-topped under- sea mountains; broad ocean-long ridges; abyssal plains asflatas a calm sea--are uniquely different from anything either onthe surface of the moon or on the land surfaces of the earth. How and when were these featuresformed and why are they so dif- ferent? An answer to these questions is essential if we are to decipher the history of our planet and its sister planets, Part of the answer lies in the records of ancient earth history locked in deep sea sediments; part will come from an intensive study of the rocks under the ocean. These studies, com- bined with studies of the waters and the living crea- tures of the sea, will also tell us much about the origin and evolution of life on earth. "During the last few years, four great subsur- face ocean currents--rivers in the depths of the sea one thousand times greater in flow than the Mississippi--have been discovered using newly developed current-measuring techniques. We sus- pect that others exist and we need to know where the waters come from and where they go." Ocean Resources: ''On the practical side the problems to be solved concerning the oceans are at least as urgent as those of space. How many fish are in the sea? No man knows, nor do we know what determines the numbers of fishes in different regions, the quantities of plant and ani- mal material on which they feed, or what could be done to increase these numbers. We must learn these things if we are to help solve the increasing- ly acute problems of providing animal protein food for the growing numbers of underfed people in the world. Given more study man can economically harvest considerably more food from the seas than 48 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW is now possible. Considering the position of the United States in the community of nations, it seems appropriate, even essential, that we lead the way in this respect." Climate Studies: ''We know that the average weather conditions we call climate can change over a few decades, and we suspect that changes in the storage of gases and heat in the oceans will profoundly influence the process. Studies of the mechanisms of interchange between the air-sea boundaries of regions where intense interchange occurs and of the slow mixing between the ocean deeps and the surface which controls storage of heat and gases are essential for further under- standing, hence for prediction and possibility of control." What is Needed: ''With these problems and prospects in mind, this Committee has attempted to assess the steps which should be taken in order that the United States might possess outstanding capabilities in the oceanographic field, and in order that we might obtain sufficient knowledge in time to avert a ‘crash"' program--which would be waste- ful in terms both of money and valuable technical manpower. "Of particular importance among the facilities are ships, which are to the oceanographer what cyclotrons or reactors are to the nuclear physicist. He simply cannot undertake adequate research with- out them, "Our oceanographic research ships are inadequate for the job which must be done. Most of the ships are old and outdated. Many are obsolete and should be replaced by ships of modern design which will be more efficient to operate and from which a greater variety of scientific observations can be made. In addition, the number should be in- creased, "The oceanographer also needs improved in- struments if he is to penetrate the water barrier and learn in detail about conditions at great depths. Accordingly, the Committee has recommended the establishment of a program of broad scope, aimed at developing and using new instruments and de- vices for exploring the sea. Using new deep-div- ing vehicles, for example, it is now possible for man to observe directly the ocean deeps. Itseems highly likely that within the next ten years men will descend through the water nearly sevenmiles to the deepest point on earth." Federal Agencies Involved: ''To achieve these aims in the next ten years will necessitate many agencies of the Federal Government working to- gether both in planning and in providing the mon- ies. Taking into account the relative degrees of interest and importance of oceanography to indi- vidual agencies, the Committee recommends: "The Navy and the National Science Foundation should each finance about 50 percent of the new basic research activity except ship construction. The Navy should finance 50 percent of the new re- search ship construction with the Maritime Ad- ministration and the National Science Foundation sharing the remainder. The Navy, through the Hydrographic Office, should finance 50 percent of the deep ocean surveys, while the Coast and Geo- Vol. 21, No. 4 detic Survey should finance the balance. The Navy should sponsor completely all military research and development operations. The Bureau of Com- mercial Fisheries should finance the greater part of the recommended ocean resources program. The Atomic Energy Commission should finance the major part of the research dealing with the problems of radioactive contamination of the oceans. The National Science Foundation and the Office of Education should sponsor jointly the proposed program for increasing scientific and technical manpower in the marine sciences. Ef- forts aimed at fostering international cooperation in the marine sciences should be sponsored by the Department of State, the International Cooperation Administration, and the National Science Founda- tion, Other agencies should take responsibility for certain aspects of the proposed program, particu- larly the Public Health Service, the Geological Survey, and the Bureau of Mines. Although the bulk of oceanographic research and survey work must of necessity be financed by the Federal Government, the value of state and private funds cannot be overestimated. Such funds are especially helpful for supporting initial ex- ploratory basic research and for starting new lab- oratories. Accordingly, the Committe recommends: "Private foundations anduniversities, industry, and state government should all take an active part in the recommended program of expansion." Specific Recommendations: The Committtee ad- vocated the broadening of educational opportunities in oceanography for graduate scientists through ac- tion by universities, the Federal Government, and the scientific community at large. This might be accom- plished, the report stated, by increasing the size of oceanographic faculties, by the affiliation of oceano- graphic research institutions with university fac- ulties, the development of new oceanographic cen- ters at universities with adequate existing facul- ties, and the creation of long-term fellowships tenable at more than one university. The Federal Government was asked to aid in the financing of the recommended faculty increases to the amount of $500,000 a year for salaries and other costs associated with the positions. The scientific com- munity was asked to undertake more active re- cruiting of prospective oceanographers among un- dergraduate students of physics, chemistry, biolo- gy, and geology. Need for New Ships Cited: The report under- takes tO map Out a detailed program for the con- struction of a fleet of research ships, noting that the ''conversion of vessels that were originally designed for other purposes into research, devel- opment, or survey vessels is to be discouraged." The Committee's recommendations call for the construction of 70 ships of 500 to 2,200 tons dis- placement between 1960 and 1970, which would re- sult in the modernization of the present fleet of 45 small vessels and its increase in size to a total of 85 ships of various capacities, at a cost of $213,000,000. Responsibilities for construction would be assigned to government agencies with ap- propriate interests, including the Navy, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Bureau of Commercial Fisher- ies, National Science Foundation, and the Maritime Administration, April 1959 The report also recommended that the Mari- time Administration be consulted in the designing of all research ships paid for from public funds and that all noncombatant surface ships used for research, development, or surveying be manned by civilian crews. The report further advised that the addition of each shir to research activity would result in an accompanying need for about 60 shore-based tech- nicians, the construction of about $1,500,000 in shore facilities, and the expenditure of about $1,200,000 per year in their operation. It was recommended that these costs be divided between the Navy and the National Science Foundation. Shore facilities will also be needed for survey ships, the report added. It recommended an initial allocation of $750,000 for construction costs and an equal annual allocation for operations be made for each new survey ship placed in operation. These costs would be divided between the Navy and the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Engineering Needs: The Committee declared that the advancement of our knowledge of the oceans depended greatly upon the development of radically new devices, the improvement of currently avail- able vehicles, and the working out of new research techniques, The report called for the development of manned submersibles that can operate down to and on the bottom of most of the oceans; stable, mid-ocean research platforms; anchored and drift- ing deep-sea buoys; and ice-breaking submarines. Need was also anticipated for assigned aircraft, up to four-engined; new engineering techniques for deep-sea drilling and bottom-sampling; and more effective instrumentation. A ten-year budget of $100,400,000 was proposed. Radioactivity in the Oceans: The report recom- mended that one agency be given over-all responsi- bility and authority for regulating the introduction of radioactive materials into the oceans and anoth- er the responsibility for monitoring. Vigorous programs should be launched, the report continued, to study circulating and mixing processes in the oceans, inorganic transfer of radioactive elements COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 49 to sedimentary deposits, and effect of radioactive elements on marine organisms, It was estimated that ten-year costs of new research in this area would cost approximately $44,130,000. Ocean Resources: Many activities to add to our understanding of marine biological resources were recommended, including laboratory studies of fish mortality, behavior, and genetics; feasi- bility studies on salt-water pond fish culture, ad- dition of nutrients to increase the productivity of marine organisms, and on marine transplantation; and surveys of ocean life. Concerning mineral resources, the report stated: ''Existing knowledge is inadequate to de- termine the feasibility of creating a marine min- eral industry." A ten-year budget for new research of $78,540,000 was proposed. International Cooperation: In the fieldof inter- national cooperation, the Committee recommend- ed that the U. S. offer financial support, through the National Science Foundation, to the Special Committee on Oceanic Research of the Internation- al Council of Scientific Unions, and that additional funds be sought to support participation in the Spe- cial Committee's proposed year-long study of the Indian Ocean. The report further recommended the promotion of increased intergovernmental co- operation in oceanographic studies and the encour~ agement of international programs in the use of protein foods from the sea for human nutrition, particularly in undeveloped areas. Proposed Ten-Year (1960-70) Budget for New Oceanographic Activity by Federal Agency $278,240,000 78,040,000 123,160,000 10,900,000 121,040,000 5,000,000 32,430,000 2,600,000 Coast and Geodetic Survey 3 Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Maritime Administration ..... National Science Foundation Office of Education Oregon FISH AND SHELLFISH LANDINGS, 1958: Landings of fish and shellfish by the commercial fishermen of Oregon totaled 57.8 million pounds--2.1 percent above the The landings in 1958. Were sharply higher for albacore tuna (increased from 3.4 million pounds in 1957 to 9.8 million pounds in1958), However, salmon landings were lower by 28.2 percent in 1958 as compared with the preceding year. shrimp fishery off the coast of Oregon yielded close to 1.6 million pounds, an increase of over 400 peice from 1957 total of 56.6 million pounds. MOI andings of Fish and Shellfish, (Oregon Species The new ERA. tee 1/Includes landings of tah iivems 2/Weight in the shell. (Based on a weight of 25 pounds per dozen. 50 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wolk, Ail, IN@, 4 Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations SKIPJACK TUNA MIGRATION STUDIES INITIATED (M/V Hugh M. Smith): The fishery research vessel Hugh M. Smith of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Hawaii Area Biological Laboratory at Honolulu returned February 11 from a 5-week cruise in waters around the Hawaiian Islands. This cruise was one in a series plan- ned to learn more about the migration of skipjack tuna which, in varying numbers, enter Hawaiian waters each year and are important to the Hawaiian fishing industry. The vessel worked in an area extending several hundred miles to the east, the south, and the west of the island chain. Observations included those for sea-surface temperatures and salinity, plankton, deep-swimming fishes, and the numbers of sur- face schools and of bird flocks. Except for scattering schools of small skipjack, few surface schools were sighted. No schools of the larger season skipjack were observed. These results suggest that the season fish migrate each winter to distant parts of the ocean which are at least 800 miles from the Hawaiian Islands--to areas as yet unknown. The results of the oceanographic observations made aboard the vessel reveal that surface waters characterized by low salinity and high temperatures had pene- trated northward to a line extending from approximately 120 miles east of the Island of Hawaii to 250 miles to the south and west of the Island of Kauai. Only isolated pockets of water of the type believed by the scientists of the Bureau to be prefer- red by the skipjack were found. The northward movement of the low-salinity high- temperature waters is believed to be a comparatively uncommon occurrence. The effects of this movement upon the migrations of the skipjack are anxiously awaited and will be studied during the forthcoming spring and summer cruises. ae Packaging EFFECT OF MULTIPLE PACKAGING ON SALES OF CANNED MAINE SAR- DINES TESTED: A test of muitiple-packaging for canned Maine sardines was con- ducted cooperatively by the Maine Sardine Council, a large container company, a Philadelphia retail food market chain, and a Philadelphia research company about a year ago, Hight different packaging arrangements for the canned sardines were used. Each was either a loose can arrangement, a multiple-packaging arrangement, or a combination of loose cans and multi-packs. Three-packs (three cans to the pack- age), four-packs, and six-packs alone were tested. The multi-pack with loose cans and in combinations with other multi-packs was tested. Each variation lasted two weeks in each store. Nopublicity or advertising was used; no price cuts were offered. The results showed that sales of multi-packs greatly increased the sales of sardines. For example, the three-pack without loose cans on the shelf did the best and showed a sales gain of 34 percent. This was a 34-percent increase over loose cans with no multi-packs, but priced 3 for 29 cents. It was also learned that the closer the store came to the normal multiple-pric- ing structure--3 cans for 29 cents is an example--the less need there was for loose cans on the shelf with the multiple-packaged product. For instance, for the three- pack and loose combination, the ratio of three-packs to loose cans sold was 70:30. With the six-pack and loose combination, however, the picture changed--the ratio of six-pack to loose was 58:42. April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 51 In addition to sales gains, the test revealed a few other marketing conclusions: (1) Income level is a factor in sardine multi-pack buying. Whether the shopper buys a three-pack or a six-pack, for instance, depends on the income level. (2) Three-packs sell best in low-income neighborhoods. (3) The three-pack, six-pack combination does best in stores serving higher in- come people. Evidently low-income shoppers shrink from tying up too much money in one item at one time. (Excerpts from address, ''Factors that Affect Response to Multi- ple Packaging," at the Marketing Session of the 52nd Annual Convention of the Na- tional Canners Association, Chicago, Ill., February 22, 1959.) ig et Sea Otter Food Habits Under Study A study to determine trends in the availability of feed and the range for sea otter is being conducted by a diving biologist with SCUBA gear. This innovation was announced on February 24 by the Department of the Interior. The site of the operation is Kuluk Bay, Adak, Aleutian Islands Na- tional Wildlife Refuge. The work is being done by the U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. A typical frogman's suit, with the self-contained underwater breath- ing apparatus is used, Two lungs are provided, one of them being held in reserve in case extra de- compression time becomes neces- sary. The project is intended as a sea otter food study in an area of growing sea otter population. Ku- luk Bay was chosen because a small colony of sea otters has already established itself there, it is typical sea otter habitat, and a nearby Naval Base facilitates the logistics of the project. Needless to say the water is usually cold and often whipped to violence by high winds. Activity is often hampered by waves and weather. Adult sea otter hauled out on the rocks, Because of the newness of the project no definite conclusions have been reach- ed except to verify that in the portions of Kuluk Bay explored there is plenty of sea otter food and lots of other sea life in which the sea otter has no interest. The sea urchin, a shellfish which looks like a cockleburr, is a primary article of diet for the otter. It was found on the bottom in numbers. The fringed greenling, two varieties of crabs, and the rock oyster--all favorites of the sea otter--are to be found in the bay. So also are such other mollusks as whelks, mussels, chitons, and clams. Other sea life includes the sea cucumber, starfish, brittle stars, and sand dollars. In some places shrimp was observed in large concentrations, but the sea otter is not among those animals which relish that particular type of shellfish. 52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 The diver has found the bottom of the bay rather rugged in terrain, with 40-foot underwater cliffs not unusual. This has made scientific sampling of the area a bit difficult. Also sampling an area in which the fauna was mobile was found to be much different from sampling areas in which mollusks were attached to each other and firmly to the bottom. One sample, taken from the sea bottom nine feet square and in 50 feet of water, resulted in a catch of 255 specimens weighing a total of 325 pounds. Mussels--127 of them--accounted for nearly 30 pounds of this. Then there were 56 sea urchins weighing just over a pound, 27 rock oysters, 37 clams, and 8 whelks, The study is not sufficiently advanced to know the maximum depth limits at which an otter feeds but indications in other studies are that most of the feeding of this deep-diving sea mammal is done in water less than 25 fathoms deep. In Kuluk Bay, work to the present time has been confined to about half that depth. The sea otter once could be counted by the tens of thousands in Alaskan and North Pacific waters. In one year alone, 1804, a shipment of 15,000 skins valued at one million dollars was shipped from Sitka, Alaska, to Russia, Heavy exploitation in the 1800's virtually exterminated the breed. Under the protection it has received in the past decades, the sea otter has made a promising comeback in Alaska and may be seen at other places along the Pacific Coast. rs) Shrimp Supply and Distribution of Shrimp, United States, 1953-58 UNITED STATES SUPPLY AND DIS- (Based on Heads-On Weight) TRIBUTION, 1953-58: The total supply of | heads-on shrimp (domestic and imported) available to the United States const a- mounted to 350 million pounds in 1958, an in- Supply: crease of 9.1 percent over the preceding year and about 4.2 percent above the aver- age for the six-year period, 1952-1958. In 1958 the total available supply of heads- on shrimp consisted of 212 million pounds, or 60.6 percent, from domestic landings and 138 millionpounds (39.4 percent) from imports. Imports are supplying an in- creasing share of the over-all United States shrimp supply. In 1953 domestic landings supplied 78.2 percent of the total shrimp supply of 333 million pounds. 55.0] 54.2] 62.7| 76.1| 94.4] 85.0 1/Preliminary. 3/Mostly frozen headless and some frozen peeled shrimp ree Ao may age come ree camel anit] The amount of shrimp utilized in the : ; pie Sey frozen form has steadily increased from Note: To convert to headless weight divide by 1.68. about 188.4 million poundsiindoseiebonn 238 million pounds in 1958. Most of the increase in the amount of shrimp frozen has occurred at the expense of the fresh shrimp. The quantity of shrimp canned has fluctuated according to the supply of the smaller sizes and the demand for shrimp for other uses, but the amount used for canning in 1958 was the highest in the past six years. The amount of shrimp utilized for drying has declined steadily since 1953. April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53 Striped Bass SURVEY SHOWS EXCELLENT CROP OF YOUNG IN CHESAPEAKE BAY: There nursery areas of Chesapeake Bay in the summer of 1958 than occurred in samples for the previous two years, biologists of the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory announced on February 16, 1959. "Not only did unusual numbers of young striped bass appear in Virginia rivers during the past summer, but Maryland scientists also found an abundance of young fish in rivers up the Bay," a fish- ery biologist of the Virginia Labo- ratory stated. ''These young fish should supply large stocks for both gre NFAY IG S33 xe Striped Bass (Roccus saxatilis) commercial and sports fishermen by 1960 when they will be about 14 inches long and should weigh about 14 pounds," he predicted. The biologist points out that success in breeding and survival of young fish usu- ally plays a more important part in determining the abundance of striped bass than does the removal of large fish by the commercial or sports fishermen. Because both sport and commercial fishing is valuable to the economy of the Chesapeake Bay area, the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory has repeatedly emphasized that nursery areas for striped bass, shad, croakers, oysters, and crabs must be protected from pollution or changes of any kind which would be detrimental to marine animals if this natural resource is to maintain itself. Though there have been large fluctua- tions in striped bass abundance since 1900 there is no evidence that a decline in the striped bass population has occurred. Indeed, statistics show that almost twice as many rockfish have been caught since 1940 as during any similar period for which records are available, The successful spawning of striped bass in 1958 is encouraging and should help compensate for the poor croaker spawning during the winter of 1957/58. he U. S. Fishery Landings, 1958 Commercial fishery landings in the United States during 1958 amounted to 4.6 billion pounds--about 3 percent less than the 4.8 billion pounds taken in 1957. The value of the 1958 catch was about $380 million, or $29 million more than in 1957 and $11 million more than the record in 1956. The preliminary data also show that the canned pack of fishery products for human food in 1958 totaled 740 million pounds, an increase of 90 million pounds over 1957. The heaviest decline in the catch was in the New England area where decreased haddock, whiting, and industrial fish landings helped to drop the annual harvest about 7 percent or 70 million pounds, and inthe Middle Atlantic area where lower menhaden catches contributed to the 300-million-pound de- crease in catch. While the catch of salmon was up in Alaska, production of herring declined and the total catch was about the same as in 1957, To partially offset these losses, 1958 landings in Chesa- peake Bay were up 43 million pounds, South Atlantic landings up 35 million pounds, and Gulf landings up 68 million pounds, The catch off the California coast was up 29 million pounds and the catch off Latin America by California fishermen was 18 million pounds above that of 1957. In these instances the sardine and tuna harvests were largely responsible for the increase, The State of Washington had landings 27 million pounds in excess of the 1957 catch while Oregon fishermen held even with the previous year. The principal decline by species were: menhaden land- ings were down 163 million pounds, New England industrial fish (excluding menhaden) down 73 million pounds, jack mack- erel down 59 milfion pounds, Pacific mackerel down 39 mil- lion pounds, anchovies down 32 million pounds, whiting down 31 million pounds and haddock down 14 million pounds, Landings in 1958 were up for Pacific sardines almost four times and reached 202 million pounds--an increase of 156 million pounds over 1957. Salmon landings in the Pacific Coast States were up about 38 million pounds; tuna landings in continental United States were up 18 million pounds; ocean perch up 14 million pounds; pollock up 9 million pounds; and shrimp landings on the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts {excluding Alaska) were up 6 million pounds. 54 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Table 1 - United States Fishery Landings of Certain Species, 1958 and 1957 F Tpunderss New Eng, & Middle ACL Statesiy-ieiekercleveketaietene Haddockyirs, sicisis cisystevenerctete Hakemwhites verereisictemenenenctone 2S See. 217,000 289,700 82,012 22,800 ehallelieKeie 1,527,200 Ocean perch, Atlantic ...... 147,700 Pollock# fyeraratevctetevenererersts 30,800 Salmonayetevetersxeuckenonstereverons 302,700 Sardine, Pacihichemyeieyepere 202,300 Tuna, Pacific Coast States: Albacore’.)....... shupjacks =.j05 ellowfiny asuerchersichetohovers Crabs, Dungeness, Pac, States (excluding Alaska) ....... Lobsters, Maine .........«- Shrimp (heads~on): South Atlantic States ..... GulfiStates sya irerrereiae Pacific Coast States (excl. (Alaska) Watetelecstitedslere . 10,000 175,000 Total all above items .. 3,920,446) Others not sted ..... 858,012 Vol. 21, No. 4 UNITED STATES CATCH BY AREAS, 1958 (Figures Represent Million Pounds) Preliminary Data Table 2 - United States Fishery Landings by Areas, 1958 and 1957 South Atlantic eee eee ee eee United States pening Fleer 1! pdditions 1958 1/ 1957 siep aie) AL, O00HIEDSs) erate 625,000 490,000 370,000 166,000 150,000 390,000 278,000 57,000 170,000 370,000 4,626,000 4,778,000 NOVEMBER 1958: A total of 36 vessels or 5 net tons and over was issued first documents as fishing craft in November 1958. Compared with the same month of 1957, the total was the same for both years, The Gulf Area led with 12 vessels, the South Atlantic was second with 9; and Chesapeake was third with 6. 1/Includes both commercial and sport fishing craft. April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55 Table 1 - . Vessels Issued First Documents as Fishing Craft by Areas, November 1958 pee Tota 1958] 1957 | 1958219572 | 1957 Te Ophwpce) 6, (a) 6, AL Wseeeneeee iy of is) fe et ie) o « 0 Issued First Documents as Pert Craft, by INew England.... IMiddle Atlantic .. e « owe ara rN rrPagrr of iup foie) sl) (en%e;\ 16) fo PNnNODrREH Fishing craft issued Such esekie documents as fishing craft during the first 11 months of 1958 totaled 656 ves- sels--an increase of 102 vessels, or 18 percent, as compared with the same period of 1957. Of the vessels documented for fishing, 39 percent were reported from the Gulf States. U. S. Foreign Trade GROUNDFISH FILLET IMPORTS, JANUARY 1959: During January 1959 im- ports of cod, haddock, hake, pollock, cusk, and ocean perch fillets (including blocks) into the United States amounted to 19.1 million pounds--an increase of 8.7 million pounds or 83 percent as compared with January 1958, Imports from Canada (8.3 million pounds) accounted for 44 percent of the month's total imports. Iceland was second (6.2 million pounds) for 33 percent, while the re- mainder (4.5 million pounds) for 23 percent was shipped in by 7 other countries. The quota of groyndfish and ocean perch fillets and blocks permitted to enter the United States at lg cents a pound in the calendar year 1959 is 36,919,874 pounds, based on a quarterly quota of 9,229,968 pounds. The quota for the calendar year 1958 amounted to 35,892,221 pounds. Imports during individual quarters in excess of the established quarterly quota enter at a duty of 25 cents a pound. Note: See Chart 7 in this issue. He OK OK OK SHRIMP IMPORTS, 1958: United States imports of all shrimp (fresh, frozen, canned, and dried) from all countries in 1958 amounted to 85.4 million pounds as compared with 69.7 million pounds in 1957. Shrimp imports from Mexico in 1958 totaled 56.1 million pounds as compared with 47.9 million pounds in 1957, Most of the imported shrimp is frozen except for some canned shrimp from northern Europe and some dried shrimp from Hong Kong and Japan. The United States imported shrimp from 39 countries in 1958 as compared with 36 countries in 1957. Some notable increases occurred in the imports of frozen shrimp from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina, Hong Kong, Australia, Korea, and Egypt. 56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW United States Shrimp imports Fresh, Frozen, Vol i2ieP Now anned, and Dried 1957-58 [Country of Origin [1988 [197 [Country of Origin [1088 [TOs | [Country of Origin "Tose [1957 Mexico by Customs ieee HWORUG ar merce emt ae 138 New Oreans Laredo ... Bl Paso .. % San Diego . Arizona) +) % . Los Angeles Efeswiallll ye =ci46 Puerto Rico British Honduras Greenland..... Canada .. El Salvador Guatemala Honduras . Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama ,. Canal Zone... Bahamas .... Gubareas toe. Netherlands (Amtities s) Colombilamenes-a eee Venezuela ... Surinam) 34 Ecuador , Peri eae Chile... Argentina Iceland .., Sweden .... Norway ..... Denmark .... United Kingdom Netherlands ... Western Germany spain®y -sleut. Ltaly.) Beek Greece mists Turkey 000 Israel, ee. MCE, So 5 Oo Pakistan Ao Philippines Vietnam . Korean eis. Hong Kong Taiwan . Japan , Australia Egypt. ELE anid total 95383 [Ooo Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, April 1958, p. 43. Alyy Wholesale Prices, February 1959 Wholesale prices for selected edible fishery products in February 1959 were down slightly from the preceding month due primarily to lower prices for fresh drawn haddock and haddock fillets, fresh and frozen shrimp, and canned sar- dines, But compared to the same month a year ago, the February 1959 edible fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) wholesale price index (133.7 percent of the 1947-49 average) was up 5.4 percent due to higher prices for fresh and frozen drawn and dressed fish, fresh and frozen fish fil- lets, fresh water fish, and canned Maine sardines. The February 1959 price index for the drawn, dressed, and whole finfish subgroup was down 1.8 percent from the preceding month because of a drop in drawn haddock prices (-8.6 percent) and slight declines in prices for frozen red king salmon and halibut. These lower prices more than offset increases in the prices for whitefish and yellow pike. As compared with February 1958, the subgroup index for this February was higher by 24.7 percent because of price increases for all the commodities in the subgroup. The fresh processed fish and shellfish subgroup index for this February was down 2.0 percent due to a decline in the wholesale prices for fresh haddock fillets (down 4 percent) and fresh shrimp (down 3.2 percent). Shucked oyster prices remained unchanged from January to February this year. The subgroup index in February 1959 as compared with February a year ago was up 4.5 percent. Higher prices for fresh haddock fillets (up 24.8 percent) and oysters (up 11.7 percent) more than offset a drop of 3,2 percent in fresh shrimp prices. Because of lower frozen shrimp prices at Chicago, the February 1959 index for frozen processed fish fillets and shellfish was down slightly (1.1 percent) from the preceding month, Ocean perch and flounder fillet prices were unchanged, but haddock fillet prices were up 2.4 percent. From Feb- ruary 1958 to February this year the wholesale price index dropped 2.6 percent due to a decline of 8.2 percent in fro- zen shrimp prices at Chicago. The lower frozen shrimp prices more than offset a 5.0-percent increase in frozen fillet prices in February this year as compared with the same month in 1958. From January to February 1959 the over-all canned fish subgroup index was about unchanged-~-slightly higher canned salmon prices just about balanced out lower prices for canned Maine and California sardines. The drop in the Maine sardine price was due to the sell-out of available stocks of the best-grade pack. Canned tuna prices were un- changed from January to February this year, but substan- tial promotional allowances are being offered to stimulate sales. As compared with the same month of 1958, prices for the selected canned fish products this February were lower by 3.2 percent. Higher Maine sardine prices (up 17.8 percent) were more than offset by a drop of 23,9 percent in the prices for California sardines and lower prices (down about 3 percent) for canned salmon and tuna. April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 57 Table 1 - Wholesale Average Prices and Indexes for Edible Fish and Shellfish, February 1959 With Comparisons Avg. Prices1/ Indexes Point of Group, Subgroup, and Item Specification Pricing ($) (1947-49=100) Feb. Jan. Dec, | Feb. 1959 1959 1958 | 1958 ay oh eels . : 133.7 | 135.4 | 134,8] 126.9 Fresh & Frozen Fishery Products; ....... Se ee ao 157.9 | 160.6 160.1 Drawn, Dressed, or Whole Finfish: ...... Bn 170.9 | _174,1 177,5 | 137,0 Haddock, Ige., offshore, drawn, fresh ..... Halibut, West., 20/80 lbs., drsd., fresh or froz. Salmon, king, Ige. & med., drsd., fresh or froz, Whitefish,L, Superior, drawn, fresh ..... Whitefish,L, Erie pound or gill net, rnd., fresh Yellow pike, L. Michigan & Huron, rnd., fresh Boston New York New York Chicago New York New York BrOCesSed Bresii(BISH Gc SHENMISH) © a) tie veils) ey ie) ease oles oe nee eee ele ee Fillets, haddock, sml., skins on, 20-lb. tins . Boston Shrimp, lge. (26-30 count), headless, fresh . . |New York Oysters, shucked, standards ...... .. | Norfolk Fillets: Flounder, skinless, 1-lb. pkg, . ... Haddock, sml.,skins on, 1-lb. pkg... . Ocean perch, skins on, 1-lb. pkg. . . . Shrimp, lge, (26-30 count), 5-lb. pkg. . . . Gannedirishery Products) 52 553 3 Ss ws < Salmon, pink,No,1 tall (16 oz.), 48cans/cs, ... Tuna, It, meat, chunk, No, 1/2 tuna (6-1/2 oz.), AStCanS/CSH a ee oils, ccm so sess epee Sardines, Calif,, tom. pack, No. 1 oval (15 02z.), PEECAUS COMME acts nto kee leceke ieiicinel det fein Sardines, Maine, keyless oil, No. 1/4 drawn (@=s/Aloz.), O0icans/Cs: ey oe
    February 24; H. R. 5087 (Saylor) introduced in House February 26; H. R. 5121 (Huddleston) and H. R. 5130 (Oliver) introduced in House March 2; and nels SR 5215 (Smith of Kansas), H. R. 5221 (With- row) introduced in House March 3; all to the Com- mittee on Ways and Means. Similar to H.-R. 4846 and other bills previously introduced which pro- _ vide for meeting import competition. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF IN DEPRESSED AREAS: H. R, 4172 (Moore), a bill to assistareas to develop and maintain stable and diversified e- conomies by a program of financial and technical assistance and otherwise, and for other purposes; introduced in House February 5. Also H. R. 4253 (Byrne of Pennsylvania), H. R. 4259 (Conte), H. R. 4264 (Fenton), and H. R, 4278 (Kilburn), all introduced in House February 9; S. 1064 (Dirksen) introduced in Senate February 16; Hee) R. 4616 (Green of Pennsylvania), introduced in House February 17; H. R. 4878 (Van Zandt) in- troduced in House Fébruary 23; H. R. 4897 (Ad- danizio) and H. R. 4907 (Bennett of Michigan) both introduced in House February 24; H. R. 4996 (Foley) introduced in House February 25; H. R. 5065 (Perkins) introduced in House February 26; 2107 (Elliott) introduced-in House March 2; 73 (Diggs) introduced in House March 3; sa75 (Nix) introduced in House March 4;H.R. 5318 (Morgan) and H. R. 5330 (Toll) both introduced in House March 5, All to the Committee on Bank- ing and Currency. Similar to H. R. 71 and other bills previously introduced. ° H. R. H.R.5 H. R. A draft of proposed legislation to assist areas to develop and maintain stable and diversified 108 economies by a program of financial and technical assistance and otherwise, and for other purposes was transmitted with an accompanying paper from the Secretary of Commerce; to the Committee on Banking and Currency on February 6. The subcommittee on Production and Stabiliza- tion of the Senate Committee on Banking and Cur- rency on February 25 began hearings on pending area redevelopment legislation (S. 268, 722, and 1064). House Committee on Banking and Currency subcommittee No. 3 began hearings March 9 on H. R. 3505 and related bills providing for econom- ic assistance and unemployment relief to depress- ed areas. WAGES: H. R. 5171 (Diggs), a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 so as to increase the minimum hourly wage from $1 to $1.25; to the Committee on Education and Labor; introduced in House March 3; also H. R. 5339 (Halpern) intro- duced in House March 5; both to the Committee on Education and Labor. Similar to H. R. 83 andoth- er bills previously introduced to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, solely to increase the minimum hourly wage. H. R. 4409 (Teller), a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, to pro- vide coverage for employees of large enterprises engaged in retail trade or service and other em- ployers engaged in activities affecting commerce, to increase the minimum wage under the act to $1.25 an hour, and for other purposes; introduced in House February 11. Also H. R. 4488 (Roosevelt) and H. R. 4544 (Wier) introduced in House and S. 1046 (Kennedy & 6 other Senators) introduced in Senate February 16; H. R. 4579 (Dent) and H. R. 4664 (Zelenko) introduced in House February 17; and H. R. 4740 (Rodino) introduced in House Feb- ruary 18; House bills to the Committee on Educa- tion and Labor, Senate bill to Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. Similar to H. R. 188 andoth- er bills previously introduced to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, to pro- vide coverage for employees of employers who COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 are engaged in activities affecting interstate com- merce; to provide for review of industry commit- tee recommendations by the Secretary of Labor; to increase the minimum wage rates; to eliminate certain exemptions; and for other purposes. The bill retains provisions which would continue to exempt any employee employed in the catching, taking, harvesting, cultivating, or farming of any kind of fish, shellfish, crustacea, sponges, seaweeds, or other aquatic forms of animal life, including the going to and returning from work and loading and unloading when performed by any such employee. S. 1116 (Goldwater), a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, to pro- vide for review by the Secretary of Labor of the minimum wage recommendations of industry com- mittees; to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare; introduced in Senate February 19. Sim- ilar to H. R. 3865, previously introduced. The bill would restore certain provisions, abolished by the 1955 amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act, to provide for a review by the Secretary of Labor of the wage rate recommendations of the tripartite industry committees in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The proposal is designed to carry out a recommendation made by the President when he signed the enrolled enactment of the American Samoa Labor Standards Amendments of 1956. The amendment would also require that the Secretary of Labor prescribe by rules and regulations the procedures to be followed for the orderly review of the minimum wage determinations of the indus- try committees. H. R. 2435 (Libonati) as previously reported in February 1959 issue of Commercial Fisheries Re- view should have read H. R, 2345 (Libonati). H.R. 317 (Addonizio) previously listed under FAIR LA- BOR STANDARDS AMENDMENTS OF 1959, is now listed under WAGES, H. R. 188 (Lane), and H. R. 253 (Rooney), H. R. 450 (Zelenko), H. R. 1198 (Wier), and H. R. 2345 (Libonati) previously reported as similar to H. R 83, are really the same as H. R. 188 which con- tains provisions other than solely to increase the minimum wage rate. April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 109 INDICATORS aaa eruetnneepaerssapieres1 = meee CHART | - FISHERY LANDINGS for SELECTED STATES In Millions of Pounds MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND RHODE ISLAND aa NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK CUMULATIVE DATA 1mg. 1959 1 1958 12 Mos, 195 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA CUMULATIVE DATA 1 MQ. a tean MAR_APR_MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC FLORIDA tea Faas JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CALIFORNIA 1/ CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA UAN FEB MAR ol A JAN 2 APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SE OCT 5 V/ONLY PARTIAL--INCLUDING PRODUCTION OF MAJOR FISHERIES AND MARKET FISH LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS, 110 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 CHART 2 - LANDINGS for SELECTED FISHERIES In Millions of Pounds HADDOCK oe OCEAN PERCH (Maine and Massachusetts) (Maine and Massachusetts) CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA 2 mgs. 1959 - 13.0 2 MQS. 19! 13.5 2 , 1958 - 15.0 OF ies 12," 1958 - 105.4 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC /). SHRIMP WHITING (Gulf States~including Florida West Coast) (Maine and Massachusetts) CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA 2 mgs. 1959 2 mgs. 1959 Bou 1988 2 os 1958 - - : 12 1958 - 102.0 0 } JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 1/LA. & ALA. DATA BASED ON LANDINGS AT PRINCIPAL PORTS AND ARE NOT COM- plete. In Thousands of Tons MENHADEN PACIFIC AND JACK MACKEREL (East and Gulf Coasts) (California) CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC PILCHARD TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH (California) : CUMULATIVE DATA 2 mgs. 195: 18.2 2 18.1 CUMULATIVE DATA 1958/59 SEASON, TOTAL - 101.6 1957/58 SEASON, TOTAL - 20.5 1 LEGEND: ee 958/59 a = 12957/58 MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC UAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY JAN FEB April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 111 CHART 3 - COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS * LEGEND: U. S. & ALASKA HOLDINGS U. S. & ALASKA FREEZINGS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY, JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC MIDDLE & SOUTH ATLANTIC HOLDINGS2/ JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC V/MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, AND CONNECTICUT. 2/ALL EAST COAST STATES FROM N.Y. SOUTH, GULF & SOUTH CENTRAL HOLDINGS+ JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC B/OH10, IND., ILL., MICH., WIS., MINN., IOWA, MO., N. DAK., NEBR. & KANS. 4/ALA., MISS., LA., TEX., ARK., KY, & TENN. W ASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA HOLDINGS CALIFORNIA HOLDINGS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC * Excludes salted, cured, and smoked products. 112 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 | CHART 4 - RECEIPTS and COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS at PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS In Millions of Pounds RECEIPTS! AT WHOLESALE SALT-WATER MARKET COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS2/ (Fresh and Frozen) NEW YORK CUMULATIVE DATA CITY 2 MQS. 1959 2 , 1958 12 1958 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV’ DEC J/INCLUDE TRUCK AND RAIL IMPORTS FROM CANADA AND DIRECT VESSEL LANDINGS 2/AS REPORTED BY PLANTS IN METROPOLITAN AREA. AT NEW YORK CITY RECEIPTS AT WHOLESALE MARKET (Fresh and Frozen) CHICAGO CUMULATIVE DATA COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS 2 mgs. 1959 - 11.8 2 , 1958 - 16.0 12 "1958 - 92.3 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC BOSTON COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS SEATTLE WHOLESALE MARKET RECEIPTS, LANDINGS, & IMPORTS (Fresh and Frozen LEGEND: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC FISH OIL (In Millions of Gallons) CUMULATIVE DATA FISH MEAL In Thousands of Tons) CUMULATIVE 1 Mp, 1959 - 1 1958 - 12 MOS. 1958 - yp. 1959 - 0.1 1 1958 - = 12 MOS. 1958 - 21.6 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 113 TYE TCA CHART 6- CANNED PACKS of SELECTED FISHERY PRODUCTS In Thousands of Standard Cases : : 2 TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH - CALIFORNIA MACKEREL2! - CALIFORNIA CUMULATIVE DATA 2 mgs. 1959 - — 2 mgs. 1959 - 4.3 yi n1o58 ; 2 4 1958 - 71.9 1958 - 11,159.6 12 1958 - 403.9 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC ANCHOVIES - CALIFORNIA SALMON - ALASKA CUMULATIVE DATA 2 mgs. 1959 - - 2 , 1958 - 29.7 12 1958 - 63.8 CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 2,989.3 | ___ 12 1957 - 2,441.9 oo ama ok, JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV, DEC MAR_APR_MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC STANDARD CASES CUMULATIVE DATA 12 mgs. 1958 - 2,021.0 12 1957 - 2266.4 Variety No.Cans Designation Net Wet. SARDINES..... 100 + drawn 32 oz. SHRIMP....... 48 a 5 oz. ATU IN Aviratele inte 48 # % tuna 6&7 oz. PILCHARDS... 48 # 1 oval 15 oz. SALMON...... 48 1-lb. tall 16 oz. ANCHOVIES... 48 =7lb. 8 oz. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SARDINES - CALIFORNIA SHRIMP - GULF STATES CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA 1958/59 SEASON, 1958/59 SEASON, TOTAL ‘ AUG. -FEB. - 452.4 1957/58 SEASON, 1957/58 SEASON, TOTAL AUG. -FEB, - 231.0 1957/58 SEASON, TOTAL - 585.9 [AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY 114 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 4 CHART 7 - U.S. FISHERY PRODUCTS IMPORTS In Millions of Pounds LEGEND? FILLETS & STEAKS OTHER THAN GROUNDFISH seeeesess 1959 (Fresh and Frozen) 1058 GROUNDFISH (including Ocean Perch) FILLETS Fresh and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA 2 Qs. 29.3 2 21.6 12 mos, 1958 - 155.4 1 mg. 1959 1 1958 12 Mos, 1958 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC SHRIMP FROM MEXIGO LOBSTER AND SPINY LOBSTER (Fresh and Frozen) Fresh and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA MQ. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC TUNA | SEA HERRING, FRESH, THROUGH MAINE PORTS Fresh and Frozen CUMULATIVE DATA CUMULATIVE DATA 1 Mg. 1959 1 1958 1 MQ. 1959 0.7 1 12 Mos, JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC CANNED SARDINES (in Oil and not in Oil) CUMULATIVE DATA U.S. IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH in Oil and in Brine CUMULATIVE DATA 1 MQ. 1959 5. 1 MQ 1959 1 1958 1 1958 12 MOS. 1958 12 mos, 1958 ~ JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV. DEC April 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 115 | np { "49 FW) “4 i r= — <, SSS — or FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS THESE PROCESSED PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERV- 1CE, WASHINGTON 25, D. C. TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIG- NATED AS FOLLOWS: CFS - CURRENT FISHERY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA. FL - FISHERY LEAFLETS. SSR.-FISH.-SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORTS--F|SHERIES (LIMITED DISTRIBUTION). SEP. - SEPARATES (REPRINTS) FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW. Number Title CFS-1944 - Frozen Fish Report, November 1958, 8 pp. CFS-1946 - North Carolina Landings, November : 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1950 - Frozen Fish Report, December 1958, 8 pp. CFS-1951 - Fish Meal and Oil, November 1958, 2 Pp. CFS-1953 - Mississippi Landings, October 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1957 - Texas Landings, October 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1958 - Maine Landings, November 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1960 - Florida Landings, November 1958, 7 pp. CFS-1963 - Massachusetts Landings, September 1958, 5 pp. CFS-1964 - Alabama Landings, October 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1965 - New Jersey Landings, November 1958, 3 pp. CFS-1967 - South Carolina Landings, December 1958, 2 pp. CFS-1980 - Florida Landings, December 1958, 7 pp. CFS-1981 - Manufactured Fishery Products, 1957 4 Annual Summary, 7 pp. CFS-1984 - Fisheries of the United States and Alaska, 1957 Annual Summary, 13 pp. FL-9 - Available Leaflets on Fisheries--1958, 16 pp., revised November 1958, FL-476c - Canned Fish Retail Prices, December 1958, 27 pp. SSR-Fish. No. 260 - Nutritive Value of Pollock Fish Scales as Determined by Rat Feeding Tests, by Donald G. Snyder and Hugh W. Nilson, 17 pp., illus., 1958. SSR-Fish. No. 277 - Survey of the United States Shrimp Industry, Volume I, 322 pp., illus., No- vember 1958. This report published in two vol- umes provides a comprehensive examination of the shrimping grounds, vessel construction, Jee RECENT eae Ae en ha A IW at a 0p wma ee tal At OSE: — | CORK LINE 4 AGT a eS - 8g gta’ ™ seretaala noertentennornonmee ee MM sssccccreseroososcoees seerecoseseseseenereennotoeseseseateooreteteeete SLD SPSS SKK KKY anes i ERROR KR RIK RRR RRR NRK 8 RRR RG WEBRING RRR KEK RIK PRN em S552 SSK KOKO SRO | Sos RRR KORN RD ! ROR MK RMSGOOCTD | | xx} SSO ORK CORK KG O505 eretete.e. 4, CeO CCCCOOLL MMMM MM CCRC Clin 1 Zz) RRR RRR KKH RRR KOA =i RNR K KR RRM KS zl | = 3 SRK VHRR o F x Fall Se rr = wee OOY OY OOY OOL POON Sooo KM GRRE KKK RK RK? ELK ee | RNR IOOE RE RRNA RAN a SS SPIN WEBB I NG SOR KKK SRK KS CLEC CCCEOR MG CECCCCCLEO LS, ORK K KOKO SOROS I RKP KK SLR RRR IK OR RKC OIRO RK KGS SAMOS RR RKR KKH OH IIHS SMR KIS Dips ssscocesecococecessseatetecate etononssesoetatetatatetetateinnn att esttatetetaneteen KEKE RS | COCCI MMO SOR S55 KOOP OGK RRS " eierant ioemiooeemumaanmemnrrmmnmmenmneememee meee | COO PRO O00 SRRRKKKIOOY % PER eatateteneeees. 5G oO eaaatetstocevoeanenenesecoenetatststeroraneneneneereens aeareneneetirns. OKO KK Y | LR hoa SO LLCO MM MMM COOCOOO LL LLL LLY ORL xO LKR QOL {> LXOLR oes sonbbbdeboeesacsacco oT RRKKKYY Sh ec Pee SRK acetate SOK NET NORMALLY SINKS TO 38-40 FATHOMS ee ee Se “ crease infishing licenses amounted to 900,838; the Itisnenotae cee: 1,104,591 305,160 | 1,409,751 2,318,168.60 decrease in hunting licenses was 154,292. Mississippi 139,780 57,320 197,100 402,300.00 Missourt . 598,441 70,124 668,565 1,792,820.00 A Montana . 199,731 52,902 252,633 678,086.50 Total cost to hunters and anglers for alllicenses, ebraska ....| 184,303 9,780 194,083 sh ; BS leyadargemayern e 26,319 25,622 51,941 + “ permits, tags, and stamps (not including the Fed ew Hampshire | 81,977 52.976 | 134,953 446,610.25 eral ''duck stamp") was $99,018,130--an increase ew Jersey...| 141,540 9,922 151,462 ES j 1 ew Mexico .. 77,807 38,237 116,044 sj 5 of $8,401,091 over the previous year's total of ew York ....] 771,245 47,772 819,017 1,804,129.75 $90,617,039. Hunting licenses amounted to orth Carolina.| 349,616 40,460 390,076 eas i i th Dakota . . 76,340 2,533 78,873 33,939. $53,607,668 of the 1958 total while fishing licenses eae ae ona Be ARLES AGERE Le cost $45,410,462. klahoma ....] 399,710 86.342 486,052 1,072,020.75 EPO atelier! = 349,966 27,755 377,721 15 : 66 Mexico: Fishery Bureau Reorganized and New Policy An- MLOUNCEG ire oer) Wetlaiiceleteiatiehel -Med- Mele nnaeme ie etaae 66 New Closed Season for Shrimp Fishing on West COhyIs HoobooooKbooooOoonODOUDUOODD Ot 67 Shrimp Fishery Trends, March 1959 ......... 67 Shrimp Stocks off West Coast Compared with 1936 67 Morocco: Fisheries Trends, June-December 1958 ....... 68 Norway: Antarctic Whaling Production Lower for 1958/59 SEER gard aoudononobd Doondodgdo0s 68 Eisheries)Trends))/1958) iioc.0-1 110) uebehoneieneneiemeneits 69 Fishery Landings, Production, and Exports 1958 . 69 Improved Underwater Camera for Marine Research Developed ire cicusisleuedielicneseleen todo a oheieeon aes 71 Plan Research to Locate Subsurface Tuna with ASDIC 71 Philippines: Canned Fish Retail and Wholesale Prices, March 2, LOS OMe ei eilelhetielcmenel(chleiel elie elle fallel eel Nol oman weana 72 Poland: Plans to Build Factorship Trawlers by 1975 .... 72 Trawler Returns from Fishing Trip to West African Waters) yeren-v states a-telieh- Mele nelchell-ieh-ict site Em-Mete) 72 Portugal: Canned Fish Exports, January-November 1958... 72 Fishery Landings in Portugal, Madeira, and the IVs CIPO Boqoaoopocuuus don upod 90 c 73 Canned Fish Pack, January-September 1958 .... 74 Fisheries Trends , November 1958 .......... 74 National Fish Commission Formed .......... 14 New Cod-Fishing Vessel Launched,.......... 74 Spain: 74 Vigo Fisheries Trends, February 1959 ........ 74 Sweden: Contracts Signed for Fishery Products Exports to Past, Germany) vey ernplal cer cnet slemenlomoRercelflimei etter 76 Contents Continued Page 113. May 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 113 CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Page Page FOREIGN (Contd.): FEDERAL ACTIONS (Contd.): Sweden (Contd.): Department of Health, Education, and Welfare: Edible Fish Flour to be Produced on Commercial Food and Drug Administration: IGE LC RUE WOReB ERT a, ciate o\'eire, ericlisccet ation elias! efiwuelve 6 77 Food Additives Regulations Effective ........ 84 Sardine Canners Face Competition in Sales to Department of the Interior: SEIS so aom ooo coo oe ono DO OWO Ooo 78 Fish and Wildlife Service: Taiwan: General Use of Fish Traps Barred in Alaska United States Lends $686,000 to Expand Fishing In- Salmonihisheryer oy) cia ei rie siesererene . 90 MARA Kav Men OME MON CUG Te ueten nil euieiisitonee als cele Tolle ve 78 Treasury Department: Tunisia: Bureau of Customs; IMAGES EBS 6 Aan amo Bole On Gono 78 Canned-in-Brine Tuna Imports Quota for 1959 .. 92 Union of South Africa: Eighty-Sixth Congress (First Session) ......... 92 Intensive Study Under Way of Pelagic Shoal Fishing EISHE RY INDICATORS: sores 5) oaute ioe oti cinvaratercceaeneae 100 Waters off South African West Coast ........ 80 Chart 1 - Fishery Landings for Selected States 100 U.S: S. R.: Chart 2 - Landings for Selected Fisheries ....... 101 Fishing Fleet Reported off Alaska Coast ....... 81 Chart 3 - Cold-Storage Holdings and Freezings of United Kingdom: BisheryjEroducts! iste > hiss oiaicie ie avaverk te gta here 102 Humber Trawler Owners Contract to Sell Direct to Chart 4 - Receipts and Cold-Storage Holdings of Fish- irc SEO Nene teK eter cn skeheiela svere) secre ee <5 Se 81 ery Products at Principal Distribution Centers .. . 103 Venezuela: Chart 5 - Fish Meal and O11 Production - U. S. and Joint Venezuelan-Japanese Firm to Engage in Tuna Aldaksals (shayatsfecsais esheets i ae ee 103 Fishingand Canning 2... see cee ccc rscne 81 Chart 6 - Canned Packs of Selected Fishery Products 104 PIPRILA TAG TIONS: teieie elec falslisiisia'el= (wits (eva ere ene) 83 Chart 7 - U. S. Fishery Products Emporia A Secon} 105 Federal Trade Commission: RECENT FISHERY PUBLICATIONS: . 106 Meat Marketer Not a Packer with Ownership of Few Fish and Wildlife Service Publications = 106 MEEROE oc ait A. pa Sich De eit eo Bee ORR OREMOnO 83 Miscellaneous Publications ............+2+. 107 Seattle Seafood Broker Ordered to Stop Illegal Brokerape Payments ses cesses css wee cae 83 NEW TYPE PLASTIC FLOAT EASILY REPAIRED A new type of float of Norwegian manufacture can be easily repaired incase of damage in the same manner as a car inner tube. The float is made of heavy- gauge polymer plastic. The boss through which the rope is passed is molded in- The float can be easily collapsed by gentle pressure for tegrally with the float. stowage purposes and is available in sizes of 13 inches high, 10 inches across; and 24 inches high, 19 inches across. The smaller of the two has a buoyancy equivalent to 5 smaller metal floats and does not damage the webbing should it be caught between two floats which knock together (World Fishing, June 1957). Editorial Assistant--Ruth V. Keefe Illustrator--Gustaf T. Sundstrom Compositors--Jean Zalevsky, Alma Greene, Helen Joswick, and Vera Eggleston 2 ok ok ok Ok Photograph Credits: Page by page, the following list gives the source or pho- tographer for each photograph in this issue. Photographs on pages not mentioned were obtained from the Service's file and the photographers are unknown. Front cover & p. 19--Jack Schott, California Department of Fish and Game, Stanford, Calif.; p. 17--G. Sundstrom; p. 18--Al Alpin, Marine Fisheries, Stanford, Calif.; p. 30--Branch of Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research. INT.-DUP., D.C.-54286-59 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA, 1958 position of the landings; monthly catch and utilization; domestic catch from waters off the United States and on the high seas off foreign coasts; quantity of gear used and catch by gear; value of the landings by species; employment, fishing craft, and establishments en- gaged in the fisheries; per capita con- sumption; data on manufactured fishery products; value of industry and capital investments; foreign trade; available supplies of certain fishery products; and data on world fisheries. Included B are a number of graphs on various bagaasisel Bemaaae phases of the fisheries. ‘ Total Catch Fishermen, processors, and dis- eee anaes Be OeS ot pec Nace tributors have a capital investment of i - : more than a billion dollars in the fish business inthe United States. The es- timated retail value offishery products marketed during 1958 was more than $1.7 billion. The domestic catch was 4.72 billion pounds, adecrease of 62 millionpounds, but the value of the catch ex-vessel was a record $370 million, an increase of $19 million over 1957. Imports were up the equivalent of 290 million pounds live-weight basis over 1957, which — makes a net gainfor 1958 of 228 million UE ee pounds, This means that 7.4 billion pounds (live weight) available of fish and shellfish were for the American market. 1953 1954 1955: 19561957. 9958 The per capita annual consumption in 1958 was 10.4pounds, or 0.3 pounds higher than in 1957. FLOW CHART of the COMMERCIAL FISHERIES -1958 te, 688,000,000 tbs.-Marketed Fresh Lit 453,000,000 Lbs.-FILLETS (¢ ¥ oe Tesh G Frozen Ane 342,000,000 tbs.- FROZE y | | 156,000,000 tbs. (Nor Fille 88,000,000 Lis.-Cureg iets ) || 253,000,000 Lbs. Eel 62,000,000 Lbs. The domestic producers of fish have $411,500,000 invested in boats and $89,000,000 invested in fishing gear. The fisheries provide em- ployment for 142,000 fishermen and transporters and 97,000 persons in wholesale and manufacturing estab- lishments. A total of $242,600,000 is invested in freezing and process- ing plants and $217,600,000 in wholesale fishhouses. The value of the facilities for handling fish at Spline MARKETED WEIGHT 585,000,000 Lbs. 1,242,000, . - 000 Lbs. - CANNED 963,000,000 Lbs. MEAL the retail level is placed at poten tes. | $111,000,000. The grand total in- 1,903,000,000 Lbs.- BYPRODUCTS 163/000,000 Lbs. vestment on the basis of these data CONDENSED is $1,072,300,000. FISH SOLUBLES 199,000,000 Lbs. Forty percent of the domestic Wes 710,000,000 Lbs. - WASTE from -HOMOGENIZED catch was converted into byprod- : a Fresh & Processed 4 INDEN: FISH FI - igeR Fahiused|tor &| 511000000 1b, ucts--oil, meal or solubles--or bi Tapa t' Byproducts ‘ ‘ 3. usedas bait. More than 31 percent Note: The round and marketed weights shown above do not include imported items (1,483 million pounds) was utilized processed in the United States. The marketed weights listed do not include fresh bait, or freghor frozen for human food; over animal food prepared from waste; shell products, orothermiscellaneous byproducts. 26 percent (1,242 million pounds) , ili was canned and nearly 2 percent (88 million pounds) were cured. The Atlantic coast produced 43 percent of the domestic catch or 2,502 million pounds, Other producing areas show: Pacific coast, 904 million pounds; Gulf coast 780 million pounds; Alaska 380 million pounds; Great Lakes and Mississippi River, 150 million pounds, San Pedro again led all ports in poundage and value of fish landed, with 380 million pounds, principally tuna, Pacific sardines and mackerel, valued at $27,900,000. Copies of Fishery Leaflet 393 are available free from the Division of Information, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington 25, D. C. SH 1/ AY AEIX Et ShES so a) (22 in4 rales — beg oer ce Saneate (22 (22 C2 ¢ ewer dey oy COMMERCIAL BEU EEUU FISHERIES Wau Lu a sae, " i ets JUNE 1959 FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE United States Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. UNITED STATES BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DONALD L. MCKERNAN, DIRECTOR FRED A. SEATON, SECRETARY DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND SERVICES ARNIE J. SUOMELA, COMMISSIONER HAROLD E. CROWTHER, CHIEF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW A review of developments and news of the fishery industries prepared in the BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. ? 6m \ son Joseph Pileggi, Editor H. M. Bearse, Assistant Editor Mailed free to members of the fishery and allied industries. Address correspondence and requests to the: Chief, Branch of Market News, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Department of the Interior Washington 25, D. C. i Publication of material from sources outside the Bureau is not an endorsement, The Bureau is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions contained in material from outside sources. Although the contents of the publication have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely reference to the source is appreciated. ; The printing of this publication has been approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget May 21, 1957. : 5/31/60 CONTENTS COVER: A large Russian fishing fleet was reported operating late in March and early in April off Alaska's Bristol Bay. The fleet was said to consist of 50 trawlers and auxiliary or mothership vessels. A Rus- sian trawler and large mothership vessel are shown side by side inthis aerial photo. The fleet was operating northeast of the Unimak Island to Pribilof Islands deep-water trench, Since United States and Canadian vessels fish the trench area extensively, they probably have sighted some of the Russian vessels. Page Shrimp Explorations off Southeastern Coast of the United States (1956-1958), by Harvey R. Bullis, Jr. and Warren F. Rathjen f Page Page RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES: .......... 21 | TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS (Contd.): Flavor and Odor of Fish - Progress Report, by George F. Marketing: Mangan S092) erevers 210) ecne! ofel iol /elieleloli-ielelatielenaieueliane 21 Edible Fishery Products Marketing Prospects, Sum- Further Results on Use of Fish Oil for Ore Floation ... 27 MEL L959! his ciel cc rejestal ot cejienin ello uehved-MalkeitelvallsloMe Mona Baaa 39 Shark Repelent 27 Menhaden: TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS: y 28 Research on Parasites May Reveal Migratory Routes. . 40 Atomic Waste: National Fisheries Institute Convention: Atomic Waste Disposal to be Studied by Divers off New Certain Resolutions Adopted at 1959 Annual Convention 41 England Coast ....22+ 0-2 eseecerssecscce 28 Increased Sales and Consumption is the Only Answer to California: Problems,Facing the Fishing Industry .........- 41 Aerial Census of Commercial Fishing Continued (Air- Packaging and Quality Control Stressed on Food Store plane Spotting Flights 59-1, 59-2, and 59-3) ...... 28 Days iia eie: cacveustenes wielced eke on sine Nestousl ia ion> ican. 41 California Halibut Studied off Baja California Coast Need for Better Quality Stressed .........+5-++5: 42 (M/V N. B. Scofield Cruise 59-S-1 and M/V Nautilus North Atlantic Fisheries Investigations: Cruise’59-N=1-Sportfish) 20... se oso wteeenele 31 Yellowtail Flounders Tagged on Fishing Grounds South Preliminary Sampling of Fish Population in San Fran- and West of Martha's Vineyard and off Nauset Light cisco Bay (M/V Nautilus Cruise 59-N-2-Special (M/V Delaware Cruise 59-3) ....-...+++++-5-. 43 i Sxent it) poi Oi0 cau oben OOO Ubi DO Dm OO OOD .010 32 Haddock Tagging and Vertical Distribution Studies (M/V Canned Fish: Delaware Cruise 59-4) 2.02 2 cn swe olin eneens 43 Consumers! Motivation Study Initiated ..........4. 32 North Pacific Exploratory Fishery Program: Consumer Purchases, March 1959 ........-++24++ 32 Modified Otter Trawls Tested for Vertical and Horizontal Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products in 1958 by Area. 33 Openings (M/V John N. Cobb Cruise 41) ........-- 44 Clams: North Pacific Fishery Investigations: Hard Clams Raised Under Laboratory Control Shipped Albacore Tuna Migration Route Studied ........+-- 45 for Test Planting ....---eees eee cere rreres 33 Oysters: Federal Purchases of Fishery Products: New York and Connecticut Appropriate Funds to Combat Department of Defense Purchases, January-March 1959 34 Starfish! 2c ive cers loner edel oleel cy sllelleleiieleheleletemetelelo Mans 45 Fur Seals: Pacific Oceanic Fisheries Investigations: Near-Record Prices for Alaska Fur-Seal Skins at Survey of California Current Extension and Skipjack Tuna Spring Auction 2...0..--0 sees e ect w ese es 35 off Hawaiian Islands (M/V Hugh M. Smith Cruise 51)... 45 Great Lakes: Sardines: Sea Lamprey Control Program Extended .......-.- 35 Spawning Pattern off Southern California in 1959 Similar Great Lakes Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research LOREENA GS OOM Ooo OOOO DOOD OOO FOOD Gao N00 86 46 Program: Shrimp: Program for Lake Erie Started Year's Operation Gulf of Mexico Biological Investigations .......... 47 APriTeLG ays rensietomonen stone nel epicier-senslelieevonsiceneter sr siele 36 United States Pack of Manufactured Products, 1957-- Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program: Correctlonitie occcipeileteis (obo ovohale (olfal« i=piely-Renedeyeta Mate 47 Sardine-Like Fish Studied and Lampara Net Tested in Susquehanna River: Northeastern Gulf of Mexico (M/V George M, Bowers Fishery Study in Conjunction with Conowingo Dam .... 47 fobatlt-(MoUe) Hei nab Gate bod oO One ou Ob on 36 Tuna: Hawaii: Tagged Fish Recovered off Japan and Galapagos Islands 48 Commercial Fisheries Landings, 1958 ........-.. 37 U. S, Fishing Fleet Additions (January and February 1959) 48 Skipjack Tuna Landings Low, January-March 1959 ... 38 U. S, Fish Stick Production, January-March 1959...... 49 King Crab: United States Fishing Industry Investments Exceed a Bil- Tagging in Bristol Bay, Alaska .....-++-+-+++++ee> 38 Tion Dollars) (2). iellese ve) aiesionerieletie) oh oad euied neg iieamtalediags 51 Maine Sardines: U. S. Foreign Trade: Canned Sardines Included on Military Master Menu... 38 Edible Fishery Products, January 1959 ........ ee 52 Source of High Quality Protein ......--+++++--- 39 Groundfish Fillet Imports, March 1959 ........+.-- 52 Contents Continued Page 111. vee ae yD ili | i \\" LU aaa [|| (uti ull "|| nD or) 3 = s i S = a Sd = June 1959 SHRIMP EXPLORATIONS OFF SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES (1956-1958) By Harvey R. Bullis, Jr.* and Warren F. Rathjen** CONTENTS Page Page STEELY A cynic wih 6) sane) ish et ell sie se sWisbesies iets 1 Area Covered Including Physical Aspects (Contd.): Beel@nsinsl A Gb 6 peole 6 ig iden ONO Ononeen 2 Area 3: Southeastern Florida Coast. ...... 5 Operational Program and Cruise Itinerary. ... . 3 Area 4: St, Augustine-Cape Canaveral ..... 10 Description of Vessels Used in Exploratory Area 5: Savannah, Ga.-St, Augustine, Fla.... 11 ibey able Ag Go ool EutONOnG Aawd: 0. 0. Naw * 4 Area 6: Cape Fear-Savannah, Ga. ....... 12 IMjNebelican)., 3 «ss: « BOO Oo Heke Ee 4 Area 7: North Carolina Capes .....+:.--. 13 IVE ARCCOED DALI) «ini s) el ons) siismelivale: eles eye: 5 Fishing Results by Exploratory Fishing Vessels .. . 14 VAY SHIVER ATS 15 Oho ailolo OldeoldmblONOLooc 6 Commercial Fishing Efforts on Royal-Red Shrimp . 19 Gear and Methods ... So 86 6 industrially wish) Catches tem eeiaaen nein 19 Area Covered Including Physical Aspects: 7 Incidental Species of Possible Commercial Importance 19 Area 1: Key West-Dry Tortugas ........ 8 INspisethss pra. oo a0 0 oo bo ado 0 bldbo-o oc 20 Area 2: Florida Straits-Bahama Banks ..... 8 Literature Cited ...... FO Goo ooo On DO 20 SUMMARY New deep-water royal-red shrimp grounds were discovered off the Florida east coast during the 1956-1958 explorations of vessels chartered by the U. S, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. The trawling investigations were conducted from Cape Hat- teras, N. C., to Dry Tortugas, Fla. Commercial catches of royal-red shrimp have rangedashigh as 800 pounds (heads-off) per fishing day. These shrimp, of a size de- sired by industry, have been found most consistently indepths of 180 to 220 fathoms % between St. Augustine " and Cape Canaveral, ~ Fla. Other possible commercial fishery resources of rock shrimp, scallops and flounder also were located. The experience of both indu stry and Fig. 1 - M/V Pelican 70-foot steel shrimp vessel used during early part of explorations fhe Baenunin oper- for royal-red shrimp along the South Atlantic coast. ating conventionally-powered shrimp trawlers in the swift current of the Gulf Stream indicated that these vessels are presently underpowered for this work. * Chief Gulf Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research, Division of Industrial Research >> Fishery Methods and Equipment Specialist and Services, U. S, Bureauof Commercial Fisheries, Pascagoula, Miss. 2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 BACKGROUND Between 1940 and 1955 there were several limited exploratory shrimp trawling operations along the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States. All but one of these surveys were quite restricted in both area and depth coverage, and the total exploratory effort during this time left broad gaps in the seasonal picture. The gen- eral interest of the shrimp industry in more complete seasonal coverage, including broader depth ranges, led to an allocation of funds provided by the Saltonstall-Ken- nedy Act, for additional exploration between Cape Hatteras and Key West. This re- port presents the exploratory results obtained by the Pelican and Combat, U. 8. Bu- reau of Commercial Fisheries chartered vessels, which operated continuously in this area from February 1956 through October 1957. Two additional cruises to the Fig. 2 - Trawling winch used on the Pelican for deep-water shrimp exploration. area were made in Novembér 1957. and June 1958 by the Bureau's chartered vessel Silver Bay. These were scheduled primarily to develop improved gear and fishing techniques for operating in the strong Florida current. In programming this work, considerable time was spent in re-evaluating previ- ous explorations, primarily to obtain leads for future fishing trials. A total of some 901 exploratory drags made by the Bureau's vessels Pelican and Albatross II, the University of North Carolina work with the Reliance, the operations of the T-19 by the Bears Bluff Laboratory, and the cooperative Fish and Wildlife Service-Gibbs Corporation work on the Antillas, showed that with the exception of a few scattered June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3 brown-grooved shrimp (Penaeus aztecus), no commercial species were found be- yond their known and expected depth ranges. The deepest of any of these drags was 130 fathoms and the only species of shrimp that showed any new potential was the rock shrimp, Eusicyonia brevirostris. OPERATIONAL PROGRAM AND CRUISE ITINERARY With the exception of some trawling along the South Carolina coast during the summer and fall of 1955 by the Bears Bluff Laboratory, all previous exploratory fishing along the southeast Atlantic coast had been carried out during the months of January to June. Since this relatively large amount of effort, which had been con- fined to the Continental Shelf (inside 100 fathoms), had failed to turn up new shrimp fishing areas, and since the present program was to start in late February or March, deep-water exploratory coverage was given primary emphasis. Depth-temperature and bottom-type data that had been collected by the Service's Theodore M. Gill between Cape Canaveral and Cape Hatteras showed similar conditions, in many areas within the 150-250 fathom range, to those in the royal-red shrimp grounds off Dry Tortugas. Special effort was programmed to determine the presence of royal-red shrimp (Hymenopenaeus robustus) off the Atlantic coast. Cruise Itineraries Completed During the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 1956-58 South Atlantic Fisheries Explorations L220 ia a Areas of Coverage Depth Ranges Fathoms 5-235 Mar. 1-29, 1956 St. Augustine to Cape Canaveral Apr. 5-10, 1956 Apr. 23-28, 1956 May 1-22, 1956 June 8-14, 1956 une 20-27, 1956 July 27-31, 1956 Aug. 6-10, 1956 Aug. 16-22, 1956 Aug. 30-Sept. 4, 1956 Sept. 13-19, 1956 Oct. 2-4, 1956 Oct. 18-21, 1956 Oct. 31-Nov. 19, 1956 Dec. 5-6, 1956 Jan. 8-16, 1957 Jan, 28-Feb. 6, 1957 Feb. 27-Mar. 16, 1957 Apr. 17-30, 1957 May 29-June 3, 1957 June 12-27, 1957 July 17-30, 1957 Aug. 13-20, 1957 Sept. 12-13, 1957 Oct. 2-10, 1957 Nov. 20-30, 1957 Dec, 2-4, 1957 June 8-23, 1958 St. Augustine to Ft. Pierce St. Augustine to Savannah St, Augustine St. Augustine to Ft. Pierce Georgetown, S.C., to St. Augustine St. Augustine to Ft. Pierce St. Augustine to Ft, Pierce Jacksonville to St. Augustine Jacksonville to Cape Canaveral St. Augustine to Ft. Pierce St. Augustine St. Augustine to Daytona Beach Brunswick to Cape Hatteras Daytona Beach St. Augustine to New Smyrna New Smyrna to Stuart and northern edge of Little Bahama Bank Miami to Dry Tortugas Cape Fear to Cape Canaveral St. Augustine to Cape Canaveral Charleston to Cape Hatteras St. Augustine to Key West and along western edge of Bahamas Jacksonville to Ormond Beach St. Augustine to Daytona Beach Brunswick to Charleston South of Cape Canaveral to St. Augustine North and South of Cape Canaveral Jupiter Inlet to Jacksonville Delray Beach to Florida Straits 21-212 13-250 160-242 153-250 167 -252 175-250 170-210 16-190 13-190 150-215 170-200 180-230 175-250 185-230 13-250 18-225 21-225 40-565 20-230 180-210 In March 1957, explorations were started with the Pelican from Jacksonville, Fla, Program and operational supervision was carried out by the Bureau's Gulf Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research Office, Pascagoula, Miss. exploration by the vessels Combat and Silver Bay (see insert). Then followed In addition to these cruises, the Bureau's vessel George M. Bowers carried out shallow-water trawling for supplementary information during January-March 1956 between Jacksonville, Fla., and Cape Fear, N. C. During the course of the exploratory work, periodic cruise reports were issued covering the current operations. 4 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 DESCRIPTION OF VESSELS USED IN EXPLORATORY TRAWLING During the program, three vessels were chartered by the Bureau for explora- tory trawling: the M/V Pelican,1/ M/V Combat, and M/V Silver Bay. Twoof these vessels were engaged in commercial shrimp trawling and one in groundfish trawl- ing at the time they were chartered. The Pelican was used in the first phases of the work (February through June 1956). In July 1956, the Combat was obtained and continued through October 1957. The study was concluded with the December 1957 and June 1958 cruises of the Silver Bay. M/V "PELICAN": The Pelican is a steel-constructed (70 feet long with a beam of 20 feet) conventional design offshore shrimp trawler (fig. 1). It was built in Tam- pa, Fla., in 1953, and was powered with a Diesel engine developing 170 hp. at 1600 r.p.m. The rigging was for conventional shrimp trawling, and a number of changes were required for the contemplated deep-water work. Fig. 3 - Gallows frame arrangement on M/V Pelican. The smaller winch was replaced with a two-drum winch, with a capacity of 840 fathoms of 3-inch diameter wire rope per drum (fig. 2). The new winch was mount- ed fore and aft, about 5-feet to port from the centerline, and was powered by a main engine take-off. One of the drums held 750 to 800 fathoms of 2-inch diameter wire rope for towing the 40-foot exploratory nets, and 650 fathoms of 4-inch diameter wire rope for larger trawls was carried on the other drum, An A-frame gallows 1/Not the same M/V Pelican used in the earlier surveys in the Gulf of Mexico and along the South Atlantic Coast (Ander- son 1956). June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 5 was mounted on the starboard side (about amidships) directly opposite the winch (fig. 3). The wire-rope trawling cable was rove through a 9-inch x 4-inch hanging bol- lard blocks secured to the deck by a pad-eye, and a second similar block hung from the gallows. A guide bar was used for level-winding the cable on the winch drum, Fig. 4 - M/V Combat used during exploratory fishing program along South Atlantic Coast during 1956-57. A chock was welded to the stern rail on the starboard side to hold the cable while trawling. The cost of these rigging changes including new equipment and wire rope was approximately $3,500. The vessel came equip- ped with loran, radiotele- phone, and a shallow-water depth recorder. In addition, a recording depth-sounder with a range of 700 fathoms was installed. M/V ''COMBAT": The Combat, built in 1942, was converted from a United States Navy mine-sweeper (AMc) to a trawler in 1955 (fig. 4). The vessel was 97 feet long with a beam of 21.1 feet and a draft of 10.5 feet. The hull construction was of wood. The main en- gine supplied 585 hp., and the cruising speed was about 10.5 knots. The electrical system provided 110 and 32 volts; and latter was used for the operation of electronic equipment. This included two radiotelephones, two loran sets, radiodirection finder, automatic pilot, and two depth-recorders which had ranges of 0-200 and 0-700 fathoms. Fig. 5 - Afterdeck and winch arrangement, M/V Combat. 6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 6 The vesselhad accommodations for 11 men. The normal U. S. Bureau of Com- mercial Fisheries crew consisted of seven, including two scientific personnel. A 20-foot x 28-foot holding room could hold up to 70,000 pounds of frozen fish- ery products at -15° F. Two 10-hp. Diesels operated the compressors which re- frigerated six banks of plates in the holding room. The Combat had been rigged with stern davits and when desirable was capable of pulling two trawls simultaneously. A winch, which held 650 fathoms of 4-inch wire on each of two drums, was mounted aft of the pilot house (fig. 5) and was powered by a separate engine. M/V "SILVER BAY": The Sil- ver Bay was utilized during thefall of 1957 and the spring of 1958 to supplement the earlier work by the vessels Pelican and Combat. The Silver Bay, built in 1946, is a steel-constructed New England- type trawler, 96.4 feet inlength with a beam of 22.6 feet andadraft of 12 feet (fig. 6). The main en- gine develops 562 hp. at 350 r.p.m. Vessel equipment includes a large winch, which holds 650 fath- oms of 7¢-inch wire rope. The trawl is shot from a gallows rig Fig. 6 - M/V Silver Bay--a 96.4-foot New England-type sidetrawl- Which consists of gallows frames er used to terminate royal-red shrimp explorations alongtheSouth ym ounted fore and aft. Fishing may Atlantic Coast. e m5 be carried on from either the port or starboard sides. Loran equipment is provided in addition to depth-recorder, ra- dio, telephone, radar, and automatic pilot. Accommodations are available for 16 men, Water and fuel capacity limit con- tinuous operation to about 20 days. The main hold is not refrigerated and ice must be carried to preserve any catch, GEAR AND METHODS Since the greatest amount of trawl coverage was carried on the royal-red shrimp range, certain unique factors had to be considered in the operations. Depth and cur- rent were perhaps the most outstanding in this category. Generally speaking, fish- ing in depths of 150-230 fathoms was readily accomplished with only minor adapta- tions to conventional inshore shrimping gear. The use of a single towing cable with a bridle (25-35 fathoms in length) was the most distinct departure from methods in general use in the established fishery. During limited trials the Combat used two cables; however, these attempts were inconclusive in determining whether or not in- creased efficiency of the net resulted. Aluminum alloy floats were used in lieu of the more conventional plastic type which were crushed by the pressures encounter- ed at over 150 fathoms. The amount of cable needed to fish successfully in these depths followed the 3 to 1 ratio, that is, for trawling in depths of 200 fathoms about 600 fathoms of cable were put out (in addition to the bridle). Current fluctuations encountered throughout the area posed the most difficult obstacle in gear operation. It was by no means unusual to encounter surface cur- June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW tl rents exceeding 3 knots. Towing the trawl with the current or "fair tide'’ was not considered satisfactory, since steerage way was difficult or impossible to maintain, resulting in an inability to hold the proper depth range. In general, the 170 hp. of the Pelican was insufficient for counter-current trawling, and most of the work done with this vessel was down-current, Unless the current speed was con- sidered negligible, all fishing in the royal-red shrimp range with the Combat was done counter-cur- rent (fig. 7). With this as a con- sideration, it becomes necessary to stress the importance of pro- viding adequate power to any ves- sel designed to operate within the range of the Florida current. Attempts to drag with the current were sometimes further hampered by blocking of the depth- recorder. At times the forward motion of the vessel would be less than the speedof the current, and the agitated water or propeller wash, being carried past the depth- recorder transducer onthe bottom of the hull, caused interference that made accurate bottom recordings Baie i : : Fig. 7 - Large bag of royal-red shrimp coming aboard the M/V difficult or impossible to obtain. Combat. When setting the gear, the net was put over, the brake was released from the winch drum, and the vessel proceeded in the general direction of the drag at about three-quarter speed. When the desired amount of cable was put out, the forward motion of the vessel was reduced to a minimum, giving the trawl about 10-15 minutes to reach bottom. After a loran fix was taken, the vessel speed was increased to the point at which the net would be moving over the bottom at approximately 3 knots. With few exceptions standard 40-foot flat trawls, constructed of 21-thread cotton webbing with 2-inch and 2}-inchstretched mesh, were used for this exploratory work. Occasionally, 55-foot and 65-foot balloon-type trawls were used. For the most part, either 54-foot northern-type bracket doors, or 5-foot chain-type doors were used in conjunction with 40- to 65-foot trawls. The chain doors performed well when con- structed with extra-heavy runners; the bracket doors were used as received from the manufacturer and proved to be entirely satisfactory. The bridle of g-inch wire rope was attached to the trawling cable by a $-inch chain swivel. The depth-recorder used aboard both the Pelican and Combat provided a con- tinuous tracing of the bottom in depths down to 700 fathoms. Whenever practicable, any area not previously trawled would be recorder-surveyed for the purpose of lo- cating bottom obstacles which might be a hazard to fishing gear. Once the bottom had been surveyed, 1- to 3-hour (fishing time) trial drags were made. Whenever possible drags would be carried on for at least two hours. It took 45 minutes to re- trieve the trawl from depths of 200 fathoms. AREA COVERED INCLUDING PHYSICAL ASPECTS Bottom topography between Cape Hatteras and the Florida Keys displays con- siderable variation in both form and consistency. Off southern Florida the distance from shore to the 100-fathom curve (the edge of the Continental Shelf) is at many points less than 10 miles. At Cape Hatteras the 100-fathom curve is about 10 miles 8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 215 No.6 offshore and the 1,000-fathom curve is less than 30 miles from the beach. Between north Florida and Cape Lookout oe distance from shore to 100 fathoms varies from about 30 to 70 miles, and much ofthis shelf area is composed primarily of coarse sand. Throughout the entire SOUTH ATLANTIC area, the Florida Current (a portion FISHERIES EXPLORATION wie of the Gulf Stream system) closely parallels the edge of the Continental OPERATION ZONES Shelf. For the purpose of discussion, the coast from Cape Hatteras to Key Largo has arbitrarily been divided into sections (fig. 8). A total of 672 trawl stations were attempted be- tween February 1956 and July 1958. More than two-thirds of these were made in depths over 150 fathoms. Of the remainder, most were made in depths of 50 fathoms or less. AREA 1: KEY WEST-DRY TOR- TUGAS: This section of the Gulf of Mexico was explored for royal-red shrimp potential by the Bureau's M/V Oregon prior to the work now under discussion. Early in 1957 the Combat carried on additional explor- atory work within the royal-red shrimp range (fig. 9). The nature of the bottom, and the currents are dis- cussed in detail by Bullis (1956). AREA 2: FLORIDA STRAITS- ° ° ee 7 = — —— as? g40 63° “ax 10 BAHAMA BANKS: This sub-division Fig. 8 - Geographic limits of zones discussed and covered by the includes the Florida Keys east of exploratory fishing described in this article. 819 W. longitude, as far northasEl- liot Key and the eastern portion of the Florida Straits adjacent to the Bahama Banks. This sectionis strongly affected by the action of the Florida Current, which greatly ham- pers trawling operations throughout its range. For example, east of Fowey Rocks the average surface velocity ex- ceeds 3 knots, and it is not un- usual to experience surface ve- locities in excess of 5 knots. For the most part, the Continental Shelf in this area is relatively narrow and the slope from 100- 250 fathoms is steep and rug- ged, with numerous jagged lime- stone and coral peaks interfer- ing with trawling operations (fig. 10). A third set of factors existing here which tend to con- fuse exploratory efforts are the contrasting temperatures and bottom conditions encountered along the east and west sides of the Florida Straits. The temperatures adjacent tothe Ba- Fig. 9 - Catch of exploratory drag being emptied on ste deck M/V hama-Cay Sal Bankareasranged Combat. —e _ June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 9 from 6° to 14° F, warmer than in comparable depths (200-300 fathoms) along the western edge of the Florida Current. The bottom adjacent to the Bahama Banks in depths of 200-300 fathoms is typically composed of white calcareous mud with oc- casional patches of coral. By contrast, the bottom conditions encountered at the same depths in close proximity to the Florida coast consist primarily of green mud similar in general appearance to the bottom found in these depths along the Conti- nental Slope further north. AREA 3: SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA COAST: This small subdivision embraces the waters adjacent to the southeastern coast of Florida. It extends southward from Malabar (latitude 28°00' N.) to a point just south of Fowey Rocks (latitude 25°30'N.). Fig. 10 - Depth-recording made sailing across Straits of Florida from Miami eastward. Middle portion of tracing illus- trates the drop-off from 150 to 350 fathoms. Throughout this area, particularly unfavorable trawling conditions persist. The Florida current reaches its maximum velocities within these boundaries. The Con- tinental Shelf is extremely narrow. Concentrations of live coral and jagged lime- stone formations are the outstanding bottom characteristics (fig. 11). Although occasional attempts were made to trawl in this area, most of these re- sulted in heavy gear damage. In addition to the effect of the currents and the poor trawling circumstances found here, unusually heavy convergence of shipping activi- ty further complicates efforts to fish in these waters, @ 10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 AREA 4: ST. AUGUSTINE-CAPE CANAVERAL: This portion received by far the greatest amount of coverage. Of the 672 trawl stations made between Cape Hat- teras and the Florida Keys, 405 were made between latitudes 30° N. and 28° N. 150 Fathoms and Greater: A total of 340 trawl stations were occupied in this segment, and of these, 302 were made between 29° N, latitude and 30° N. latitude. With the exception of a small patch of rough bottom between 29°55'N. and 30°N., the bottom is relatively free of trawling hazards. For the mostpart, the bottom between er Teh ae ARATE hak eats came tas . eee eieaay 8 cnn sees cu ‘y: hed Re Fig. 11 - Depth-recording made in royal-red shrimp range east of Miami Beach, Fla. This type of bottom is not trawl- able with conventional shrimp trawls. 150 and 250 fathoms consists of green mud and provides excellent trawling bottom (figs. 12 and13). On occasion, the trawl would bog; however, in most cases when this occurred, it was observed that the vessel speed had been allowed to fall below the desired trawling rate of 3-knots ground speed. An important factor at this location is the variable nature of the current speed and the flow here, on occasions, reaches velocities of at least 3 knots. A constant surveillance of its effect on trawling speed is required. Hourly checks were made by loran fix to insure a trawling speed of 2.5-3 knots over the bottom. When the vessel speed was observed to vary significantly from these speeds, a suitable al- lowance was made by increasing or decreasing the engine acceleration. Variations in the force, direction, and relative position of the current have been observed to occur in short periods of time. No correlation is obvious between the local weather and the actions of the current. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW ill In addition to the effect of the current on vessel speed, a second factor was ap- parent. Whenever the direction of the wind is from a northerly point, and if its ve- locity reaches a speed in excess of 20 knots, an unusually difficult sea is built up against the north or northeast flow of the surface waters. Since strong northerly winds are common between September and May, the resultant sea conditions fre- Yuently force curtailment of fishing operations until the wind moderates. In June 1958, the Silver Bay made 13 drags beyond the 300-fathom curve (out to depths of 590 fathoms) and found that this depth range is practically untrawlable with conventional shrimp gear. Extensive patches of the deep-sea coral (Lophelia pro- lifera) predominate and contact with these invariably resulted in gear loss or exten- sive damage. Fig. 12 - East-West transect from 160-260 fathoms at southern edge of royal-red shrimp grounds off east coast of Florida. Coverage in Less than 150 Fathoms: Relatively good trawling coverage was given to areas inside the 150-fathom curve. In particular, the shelf waters adjacent to Cape Canaveral and east of the St. John's River entrance received considerable attention. Much of the shelf, inside 20 fathoms there, consists of sand with occasion- al impairment to trawling by isolated limestone outcroppings and concentrations of seafans. Between the 20- and 100-fathom curves, much of the bottom is dominated by rugged coral formations and sponge which make trawling difficult or impossible with conventional gear. AREA 5: SAVANNAH, GA, Spe AUGUSTINE, FLA,: This zone received consid- 12 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 latitudes 32° N. and 30° N. displays a typical ''tropical'' fauna. Although many of the fishes and invertebrates generally considered to be tropical occur further tothe north, it is at about the latitude of northern Florida where such forms as the mas- sive loggerhead sponges and many of the reef fishes are relatively common. 150 Fathoms and Greater: The offshore area between Savannah, Ga., and St. Augustine, Fla., is characterized by extremely irregular bottom. Attempts to drag on the Continental Slope here were often interrupted by severe rises or depressions which made it compulsory to haul back the gear to prevent damage. Occasional samples of the bottom brought up in the trawl consisted of smooth limestone rock, known to the fishermen as ''slab rock,'' Twenty-three drags were attempted at depths of 150 fathoms or Less than 150 Fathoms: Sixty-two drags were made, most of these between 25 and 40 fathoms. There are large por- tions of trawlable bot- tom in this section. It is, for the most part, composed of sand and shell. There are also sporadic patches of coral, sponge, and sea-fan communities which often cause net dam- age. i Sy } | | greater. Due to the 7 t limited amount of | | IPIISS cs » trawlable bottom, i | 1H9-3/30 © however, most were Tinswithot — . of short duration, j 1 ee i H | | fe ~boéo : ! 200/50 | i t 2 wi 4 ht w | 2 c] 5 [= se Nee (=) AREA 6: CAPE FEAR-SAVANNAH, GA: In this division, the Continental Shelf i reaches its greatest Fig. 13 - East-west transect from 160-240 fathoms at northern limit of royal-red shrimp breadth along the grounds off east coast of Florida. g southeastern seaboard of the United States. From a point at the latitude of Georgetown, S. C., the distance, in an easterly direction to the 100-fathom curve is over 100 miles. 8 ‘Mb i Pe Oe a ter 150 Fathoms and Greater: At a point in the vicinity of latitude 33° N., the dis- tance between the 150-fathom and 250-fathom curves reaches a width of about 20 miles. This distance is the greatest between these depth ranges for any point along the entire region from Cape Hatteras to South Florida, For the most part, the bot- tom between 150 and 250 fathoms in this subdivision is composed of mud and sand and trawling is usually possible. A total of 31 drags was made at depths greater than 150 fathoms in this section (fig. 14), Six of these resulted in serious gear dam- age. Less than 150 Fathoms: The shelf along here is gradual and composed chiefly of sand and shell. Intermittent ridges of dead shell (mostly Pecten gibbus) and oc- casional mud patches characterize the depths from 20-50 fathoms. In the vicinity of the 50-fathom curve sporadic rocky spots interfered with trawling. Between 11 June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 13 and 150 fathoms a total of 20 trawl drags was made. The coverage accomplished by these is not truly respresentative of this portion of the shelf. AREA 7: NORTH CAROLINA CAPES: Two exploratory cruises by the Combat were carried out in this section. One of these was made during the fall of 1956 and the other during June 1957. 150 Fathoms and Greater: The nature of the Continental Slope between Cape Hatteras and Cape Fear hampered trawling operations. The slope between these points is steep and occasionally rocky resulting in considerable loss of gear. The bottom types along this portion are variable with alternating stretches of sand, mud, coral and gravel mixed with large rocks. Although there is some good trawling bot- tom (fig, 15), it is not extensive. a i} ce | Fig. 14 - Depth-recording of bottom east of Beaufort, S. C. (150-350 fathom scale). Although the northerly flow of the Gulf Stream system is less pronounced north of Cape Fear as compared with the area to the south, current did influence trawling operations in deep water as far north as Cape Hatteras. Less than 150 Fathoms: Forty-two drags were attempted in depths of less than 150 fathoms. All trawling in these depths was carried on between Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras. In this vicinity the slope of the shelf is gradual between 25 and 40 fathoms. Trawling conditions are relatively good out to the 40-fathom curve. Most of the bottom in this range consists of sand with some shell and only occasional 14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 patches of hard bottom. By contrast, from about the 40-fathom depth contour sea- ward, the slope of the bottom increases sharply and is characterized by sometimes rugged bottom, showing little prospect of trawling with conventional shrimp fishing gear. No coverage was attempted to the south and west of Cape Lookout inside 150 fathoms. Some of this has been covered by other programs (Buller 1951: Institute of Fisheries Research 1951). Fig. 15 - Depth-recording of bottom in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras, N. C.; vertical line indicates start of drag C-174 which was made at 175 fathoms, (0-400 fathom scale.) FISHING RESULTS BY EXPLORATORY FISHING VESSELS & Se Beas The first attempts by the Pelican to trawl in 180-235 fathoms were successful in finding promising concentrations of royal-red shrimp (fig. 16), From March 2 to June 14, 1956, a total of 55 exploratory stations were made in 150 to 250 fathoms from Cape Canaveral to St. Augustine, delimiting what appeared to be grounds of commercial potential. In May and June, 25 drags in this area produced 2,700 pounds of royal-red shrimp, with the most productive drags in the 175-212 fathom range off St. Augustine where 3 drags of 4 to 5 hours duration caught 1,020 pounds of heads-on shrimp. The work of the Combat, starting in July, was directed to more precisely define the area, to obtain seasonal catch information, and to explore to the north and south for possible new royal-red shrimp fishing grounds, Of the 19 trips made by the Combat, 15 were devoted either in part or entirely to work in the St. Augustine to Cape Canaveral area, chiefly between 299 N. and 309 N. latitude. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 15 SeOnc man i Fig. 16 - Geographic distribution of trawl stations made by the vessels Pelican, Combat, and Silver Bay, from 1956-1958. Numbers within latitude and longitude quadrangles represent the total number of drags made in each quadrangle. Fig- ures on extreme right designate the total drags by season and depth for each degree of latitude. 16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 A summary of the 20 months of trawling operations between 29° N. and 30° N. latitude shows an apparent seasonal shifting of the highest concentrations of shrimp, and some change in availability. Using 40-foot trawl catches for comparison, high- est catch rates (75 to 135 pounds of heads-on shrimp per hour) were located between 29° N. and 29°20' N. in the winter. In the spring, catches of 72 to 118 pounds per hour were made be- ‘Lia tg tween 29°20' N. and 29°45' N. In the sum- mer, catches of 78 to 98 pounds per hour were made near atthe northern limit of good trawling bottom, be- tween 29940' N, and 29°58' N. In the fall, catches of 72 to 82 pounds per hour were made between 29°20'N, and 29°35! N. (fig. 17). Catch rates of over 50 pounds per hour were found to extend both north and south of the above ranges, and, for the most part, minimal catch rates of 20 pounds per hour were made over the entire area within the 160- 220 fathom depth ranges. Fig. 17 - Portion of royal-red shrimp catch on deck of M/V Combat. Gear fouling, water hauls (when trawl fails to reach bottom), and loss of gear precluded sustained production at the above rates, whichreflect the best 25 percent of total exploratory drags made. Simulated commercial fishing was carried out on several occasions with the following results: 40-Foot Weight of Fishing Total Successful Days Drags Drags Trawls Lost Shrimp (Heads off). Me ME ey eee cS July 1956 44 22 16 Aug. 1956 5 119 Sept. 1956 5 25 Oct. 1956 1 8 Jan. 1957 2 10 Feb. 1957 2 10 Aug. 1957 2 9 Subsequent to the Combat work, the Silver Bay trawled this area in November 1957 and in June 1958. During the November trip, strong winds and strong current nullified most of the fishing effort. The only successful fishing occurred during a two-day lull in the weather when 530 pounds heads-off of royal-red shrimp were landed from seven drags. In June, seven days of trawling produced 2,143 pounds of heads-off royal-red shrimp. Of the 35 drags attempted during this period, 9 result- ed in fouled gear or water hauls. Considerable time was usually spent at the beginning of each trip in locating the best fishing depths and areas, Daily and drag-by-drag fluctuations in the catch rate COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 17 June 1959 180-210 FATHOMS LOW CONCENTRAT | < W a < o z 2e 72) w > BAD BOTTOM a . 250 FATHOMS 150- Shading g area off east coast of Florida where best catches of royal-red shrimp were taken. 18 - Map of fishin refers to concentration of royal-red shrimp. Fig. 18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 are still unexplained, and may be attributed to variation in gear operation or behav- ior of the shrimp. Catches of 10 pounds or less are frequently interspersed with 300 to 500-pound catches, with all trawling factors apparently equal. The range of the royal-red shrimp is known to extend as far north as Georges Bank. The results of these exploratory drags confirm continuous distribution through- out the Dry Tortugas to Cape Hatteras area. However, between Key West and Ft. Pierce and north of St. Augustine to Cape Hatteras the quantities caught gave no in- dication of commercial concentrations (fig. 18). The Combat and Silver Bay carried out limited exploratory trawling north of Little Bahama Bank, along the western edge of Grand Bahama Bank, and off the north- ern edge of Cay Sal Bank in depths of 180 to 590 fathoms. Nota single royal-red shrimp was taken in the 29 drags made. Due to many problems in obtaining accurate bottom temperatures in the Florida Current under normal circumstances, temperature information for catch correlation is scanty. Eleven bottom temper- atures in the 200-fathom range be- tween Cape Canaveral and Cape Fear show a gradual lowering of some 44° F. over the 300-mile rapid decline in numbers below temperatures of 47° F, Alongthe east coast, temperatures fall be- low 47° F, in the 200-fathom range approximately opposite Savannah, Ga. Catches north of this have contained only scattered individu- als of royal-red shrimp (fig. 19). Several other features of the shrimp catches, however, have been in direct opposition to Gulf of Mexico findings. In the Gulf, Penaeopsis megalops, a smaller pink-colored shrimp, is frequent- ly caught in quantity along the shal- lower margin of the royal-red shrimp range, and consequently in warmer water. Along the East Coast, this spe- cies has been observed primarily outside the royal-red shrimp range and in colder water. North of Savannah in colder water, it is apparently more abundant than the royal-red shrimp. Another difference is that on the East Coast, the larger royal- red shrimp are on the shallower edge of the depth range, while in the Gulf the op- posite is true. Fig. 19 - Royal-red shrimp being weighed prior to freezing aboard the M/V Combat. Another striking difference is that catch rates off eastern Florida were high in winter with a gradual decrease until fall. In the Gulf, the catches show lowest catch rates in winter gradually increasing to a high in fall. These differences, however, are based only on exploratory data and may not reflect the actual availability to com- mercial operations. Data available on the sizes of royal-red shrimp caught during this work present a confused seasonal picture. Throughout the year, the majority of the catches ranged between 16 to 20 and 31 to 35 count heads-off, with an average count of 25 per pound However, the differences in sizes between the sexes wasvery striking, withthe males usually less than half the size of the females. An average count for the entire catch would then be materially affected by the sex ratio within the shrimp catch. In the St. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 19 Augustine area, the females ranged between 15 and 25 count and made up over half the catch by total weight. The males ranged from 35 to50 count. Signs of very small shrimp were obtained during the September 1956 to February 1957 period, when 50 to 70 count (heads-off) catches of mixed sexes were caught with the larger shrimp. COMMERCIAL FISHING EFFORTS ON ROYAL-RED SHRIMP Some six vessels have attempted to commercially fish for royal-red shrimp be- tween St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral. This work occurred at various times be- tween August 1956 and May 1957. A complete summary of the various results isnot available. Considerable trouble was encountered in trawling in this area because of the Florida current and sea conditions. The first vessel experienced severe fouling of gear and trawling cables while trying to use two cables in the conventional man- ner. In September, a second vessel made four short trips off St. Augustine and was successful in using two warps, and several good catches were made with 80-foot trawls. Catches averaged some 400 to 500 pounds of heads-off shrimp per day. However, bad weather disrupted operations and this vessel discontinued deep-water fishing. In November, a North Carolina trawler made a short trip to these grounds and re- ported very large catches of 50 to 60 count royal-red shrimp. Catches of large shrimp were relatively small and fishing was discontinued. During February to May 1957, from 1 to 5 vessels were in operation. Frequent periods of bad weather kept these vessels in port more than 50 percent of the time and, although an estimated total of over 40,000 pounds of heads-off royal-red shrimp was landed, because of various factors all deep-water shrimp fishing was discon- tinued. These initial fishing trials by commercial vessels provided several pieces of valuable information, and indicated several points of importance for any future ef- fort. First, weather conditions prevalent along the eastern Florida coast prevent efficient year-round offshore operation with the conventional shrimp trawler, A suitable vessel would have to be able to work safely in fairly heavy seas. In addition, vessels with less than 200 horsepower experience difficulty in towing counter-cur- rent, and for the most part, are able to do so only during periods of slack current. Finally, catches have been variable but a sufficient number of good trips were made to indicate a potentially profitable fishery if continuous fishing effort can be main- tained. INDUSTRIAL FISH CATCHES Industrial or ''scrap'' catches in the 200-fathom area varied in amount from a few to several hundred pounds; however, large catches of royal-red shrimp were for the most part quite clean of ''scrap'' species. INCIDENTAL SPECIES OF POSSIBLE COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE Although principal effort was given to evaluating royal-red shrimp potential, limited coverage was given to areas inside the range of this species. Indications of several species appearing in significant amounts were observed. ROCK SHRIMP: The rock shrimp (Eusicyonia brevirostris) was taken over a a wide area of the Continental Shelf between the depths of 10 and 80 fathoms, Sig- nificant amounts were taken from several locations between Cape Canaveral and Cape Hatteras. The best concentrations observed were in the 22-45-fathom depth range. Off North Florida in 22 and 23 fathoms, good catches of this species were made. One drag (C-101) there produced 150 pounds of rock shrimp after one hour's fishing time. Farther to the north, up to 40 pounds per hour were taken in 25 fathoms south- east of Cape Lookout, N. C. 20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 6 Considerable information regarding the distribution of rock shrimp was obtain- ed in earlier work by Anderson (1956) and current explorations being carried on by the vessel T-19 operating out of the Bears Bluff Laboratory at Wadmalaw Island, 5. (Ce SCALLOPS: The scallop (Pecten gibbus) was taken in varying amounts between Cape Canaveral and the Georgia coast in depths from 20-30 fathoms. On several occasions over two bushels were taken in short drags with a conventional shrimp trawl. A one-hour drag (C-160) off the Florida-Georgia border in 21 fathoms re- sulted in a catch of 165 pounds of scallops up to 2 inches in diameter. FLOUNDER: Occasional catches of the flounder (Paralichthys squamilentus) at depths of 60-90 fathoms offer the possibility that further exploration at these depths might uncover concentrations of this species. This flatfish, which is similar to the summer flounder (P. dentatus), reaches a size of over three pounds. OTHER SPECIES: Intermittent large catches of several species of fish were made while using shrimp trawls. Among species sometimes taken in good numbers along the edge of the Continental Shelf were spot (Leiostomus), croaker (Micropogon), butterfish (Poronotus), hake (Urophycis), and whiting (Merluccius). Approximately 3,000 pounds of spot were taken in one tow off Georgia in 75 fathoms, during early October 1957. APPENDIX Complete fishing logs with detailed station records are not included here, but are available upon request as an appendix to the reprint of this article. Write for Separate No, 551, which contains the fishing logs of the vessels which participated in the Bureau's 1956-58 South Atlantic fisheries explorations. LITERATURE CITED ANDERSON, WILLIAM W. 1956, January to April Distribution of the Common Shrimp on the South Atlantic Continental Shelf. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Spe- cial Scientific Report - Fisheries No. 171. BROAD, CARTER 1950. Results of Shrimp Research in North Carolina. eries Institute, Third Annual Session, pp. 27-35. 1951. Survey of Marine Fisheries of North Carolina. Part Il. Biology and Natural History of the Economic Species, The Shrimps in North Carolina. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, N. C., pp. 191-204. BULLER, RAYMOND J. 1951. ASurvey of Southern Coastal Waters. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report - Fisheries No, 58. BULLIS, HARVEY R., Jr. 1951. Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Trawl Designs. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fishery Leaflet 394. 1956a. Preliminary Results of Deep-Water Exploration for Shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico by the M/V Oregon (1950-1956). Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 18, no. 12 (December). (Also Separate No. 460.) 1956b. Royal-Red Shrimp - A New South Atlantic Re- Fisheries Institute, Ninth Annual Session, pp. 56-60. INSTITUTE OF FISHERIES RESEARCH 1951. The Shrimp Survey in North Carolina Waters. The University of North Carolina, Institute of Fisheries Research, Morehead City, N. C. LUNZ, ROBERT G,. 1957. Notes onRockShrimp (Sicyonia brevirostris) (Stimpson) from Exploratory Trawling off the South Carolina Coast. Contribution from Bears Bluff Laboratories No. 25; Bears Bluff Labora- tories, Wadmalaw Island, S. C., pp. 1-10. SPRINGER, STEWART and BULLIS, H. R., Jr. 1952. Exploratory Shrimp Fishing in the Gulf of Mexi- co, 1950-51. U. S, Fish and Wildlife Service, Fishery Leaflet 406. 1954. Exploratory Shrimp Fishing in the Gulf of Mexi- co. Summary Report for 1952-54. Commer- cial Fisheries Review, vol. 16, no. 10 (Octo- ber). (Also Separate No. 380.) TAYLOR, FRANCIS B. 1956. 39 Fathcnis Southeast, North Edisto Sea Buoy off South Carolina, Contribution from Bears Bluff Laboratories, No. 20, Bears Bluff Labo- ratories, Wadmalaw Island, S. C., p. 15. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21 xs RESEARCH Z_ IN SERVICE LABORATORIES < LEE ager ate a BRON FLAVOR AND ODOR OF FISH - PROGRESS REPORT INTRODUCTION Knowledge of the flavor and odor components of fish products has adirect bear- ing on numerous problems of fishery technology. Since the odorof fishery products is often used as a subjective method of quality assessment, a better knowledge of the odor components could lead to the development of objective methods for quality assessment. This knowledge could be further utilized to study such questions as species identification through qualitative or quantitative differences in odor com- ponents, changes which occur in flavor and odor components on freezing and storage, the composition of off-odors, irradiation odors, flavor loss, and numerous other problems with which fishery technology is concerned. With the objective of isolating and identifying the chemical components of the flavor and odor of fresh raw fish, an agreement was made March 10, 1958, fora collaborative project between the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Fishery Technological Laboratory, East Boston, Mass., and the Analytical Section, Pioneer- ing Research Division, Quartermaster Research and Engineering Command, Natick, Mass. The experimental work on the project is being performed at the Quartermaster Research and Engineering Laboratories, Natick, Mass., under the direction of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, and the Chief, Analytical Section, Pioneer- ing Research Division, Quartermaster Research and Engineering Command. METHODS OF INVESTIGATION The general methods of investigation of an unknown odor, shown in figure 1, were developed by the Analytical Section of the Pioneering Division and have proven highly successful in defining the chemical components in the odors emanating from onions, irradiated beef, insect secretions, anda variety of vegetable products (1, 2, 3). The general method is divided into seven separate steps. Steps 1 and 2 are obvious and need no further explanation. Step 3 consists of low temperature, high vacuum bulb-to-bulb distillation of the composite odor, allowing a separation of widely boil- ing components, so that when put into the chromatographic column finer separations can be achieved. Steps 4 and 5 involve the use of gas chromatography for further fractionation of the odor components. The principles involved in the use of gas chromatography have been discussed in numerous publications (4, 5). However, in this application gas chromatography is not used as an analytical technique but simply as an elegant means of separation. This is made possible by attaching a trap to the exit part of the chromatographic column and condensing each fraction as it is eluted. Since we are primarily interested in presenting the contents of the trap for mass spectral analysis, a high vacuum system is used to pump out the carrier gas and leave only the condensables. These are then run on the mass spectrometer. 22 | CY yy i | ! } COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 SOURCE OF RAW ODORANT MATERIAL EXTRACTION AND/OR CON CENTRATION PREPARATION TO BE ANALYZED ODOR PANEL EVALUATION a. Vapor transfer to PREFRACT 1ONAT ION: cooling traps b. Distillation 4 4 ANALYTICAL VAPOR PHASE CHROMATOGRAPHY TRIAL RUN, REQUIRING DATA ON: a‘ Amount of sample 7b. Specific type of column ¢ c. Column temperature 77 d. Flow rate Bes Gu nd ah ria Aoi ie 2 SSS NaN J 17 2 DOBTAIN MASS SPECT RUM PIS Ae TPROCURED SYN- | = ; THETIC CALI- ! 1 BRATING CHEM- | MASS SPECTRUM | CAL PURIFIED | oe ee Er ' 6 READ RECORD, OBTAIN PATTERN ' QUALITATIVE IDENTIFICATION CALIBRATION OF GrWGNL | es SPECTRA COMPOUND OR COMPOUNDS RECONSTITUTED ODOR PANEL 2 See ODOR EVALUATION > SPECTRA OF RECONST | TUTED ODOR Fig. 1 - Scheme for investigation of an unknown odor. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23 Figure 2 is a diagram showing the principal parts of a mass spectrometer. The sample, usually in the vapor state, is admitted to the spectrometer through the inlet 3-LITER Mi CROMANOMETER BRIDGE AMPLIFIER INLET SYSTEM GALVANOMETERS ANALYZER ASSEMBLY te ‘ ELECTROMETER U . ‘ ‘ ‘ 7 NS TUBE ine . z COLLECTOR Sue ASSEMBLY CO @ RECORD! NG OSC1LOGRAPH Fig. 2 - Diagram showing principal parts of a mass spectrometer, system. In the isotron the molecules which are electrically neutral are bombarded by electrons, some become positively charged ions, while others are fragmented and become positively charged fragments. These ions are then accelerated toa high velocity and are sorted according to weight by magnetic means. As each beam of separated ions sweeps across the collector, its intensity is recorded. Figure 3 shows the fragmentation pattern of a simple molecule, acetaldehyde. It is poted that this molecule is broken up into 3 major positively-charged fragments -CH3, -CHO , and a parent mass peak of CH3CHO™. Theabscissais fragment mass while the ordi- nate reflects the comparative quantity of each fragment; thus this relationship is specific for acetaldehyde and no other molecule. Each chemical compound has a pattern unique to it. There are, however, limitations in the use of the mass spectrometer insofar as identifying food odors is concerned. Under normal operating conditions, that is, without a special heated inlet system, data can only be obtained on compounds up to molecular weight 300. A C12 hydrocarbon is typical of the upper limits of useful- ness of this spectrometer. A second and more serious limitation is the following: if one has an unknown mixture of 12 components, contributions will be obtained at all mass peaks, and one will be unable to make a start without assuming the pres- ence of a certain compound and thereafter, by dint of laborious calculations, try and fit them into a pattern. Thus in the case of unknown compounds, certain iden- tification is improved by the lesser number of compounds present for mass spec- trometric analysis. Again, if only a single pure compound is presented, and although one does not know what it is, a structural analysis of the spectrogram will allow one to predict what it is; this is followed up by comparison to a known standard spec- trum, and the identification can be verified. It is for these reasons that preliminary 24 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 separation of a complex odor into single compounds or simple mixtures by vapor phase chromatography or low temperature fractional distillation is desirable. Relative Peak Height 29 mass/charge Fig. 3 - Fragmentation pattern of acetaldehyde under influence of electron bombardment. Step 7 is the ultimate goal, the reconstitution of the odor under investigation. But we have not yet progressed this far in any of our research, RESULTS Operating within the framework of the procedures outlined above, the determina- tion of the chemical components of the odor of fish was carried out in three sepa- rate experiments. EXPERIMENT 1: The haddock used in this experiment were in rigor when ob- tained from a local distributor. The samples were prepared for analysis as soon as they were received. Two-hundred grams of finely chopped fillet were placed ina gas bottle and frozen with liquid nitrogen. Air was then pumped from the sample bottle to a pressure of less than 1 micron. The sample was allowed to come toroom temperature and the volatile components from the sample were vacuum distilled in- to a receiving flask cooled with liquid nitrogen. The distillation was allowed to con- tinue for six hours. The fraction obtained, designated as total condensables, was further fractionated by freezing to -80 C. (-112° F.). The vapors which did not condense at this temperature were collected in a flask cooled by liquid nitrogen. The fraction oktained was designated as the center cut. The center cut was then cooled to -145° C, (-229° F.) and the vapors not condensing at this temperature were collected in another liquid nitrogen trap. This fraction is the carbon dioxide frac- tion. Figure 4 is a schematic of the fractionating procedure. A photograph of the apparatus used in high-vacuum low temperature fractionation is shown in figure 5. Mass spectra were then obtained of the fractions separated by the above pro- cedures. Only water vapor and carbon dioxide could be positively identified. How- ever, the mass spectra did indicate the presence of other components in the center cut. Positive identification of these substances could not be made because of their low concentration. Attempts were made to increase the concentration of these sub- stances by doubling the size of the sample and increasing the distillation time. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25 Considerable difficulty was encountered with these samples due to the large amounts of water in the distillate. Fractionation and analysis of the larger samples gave the same results that were obtained with the smaller samples (6, 7). EXPERIMENT 2: This experiment was designed in order to increase the num- ber and concentration of odorous material in the total condensable fraction, This Total Condensable =50° ©. to 20°C. Seated Sane Cc. =80° C, to-50° C. Carbon Dioxide -190° C. to-140°C. Fig. 4 - Low temperature vacuum fractionation of neutral volatile substances from fish fillets. was done for two reasons: (1) to test the separation methods, and (2) to obtainsome indication of the type of compounds one could expect to find in the neutral volatile distillate. In this experiment the sample used was 1,500 grams of haddock fillets which had been held at ice temperature (0 C. or 32° F.) for 8 days. The sample was pre- pared in the same manner as the sample used in Experiment 1 and carried through the same low-temperature, high-vacuum prefractionation procedures. Three com- pounds could be identified in the center cut from this sample. Positive identifica- tion was made of dimethyl sulfide, acetaldehyde, and ethanol. However, these com- pounds are not unique constit- uents of fish odor but appear Table 1 - Compounds Identified in Neutral Volatiles of Haddock uples Held at Different Temperature Levels. to be present in the volatile ae fraction of many foodstuffs. 3 0° C, (32° F.) and 3 Further examination of the to- Months at -109C. (14°F. tal condensable fraction of this iScrapor ads) F Acetaldehyde - sample indicated that most of Dimethyl] sulfide is the fish odor remained in the Methanol Methanol aqueous residue and was not re- Ethanol : Ethanol Trimethylamine Trimethylamine moved by low tem perature Trimethylamine oxide Trimethylamine oxide fractionation. Solvent extrac- tions of this residue with diethyl ether and isopentane were carried out. It was pos- sible to transfer some of the odorous material to the organic phase. However, at- tempts to increase the concentration of the odorous material by reducing the vol- ume of solvent were unsuccessful. Most of the odorous material distilled off with the solvent. 26 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 A more concentrated odor solution was obtained by straight distillation of the total condensable fraction. The cut coming over at a temperature of 90 C.(194° F.) appeared to have the highest con- centration of odorous material. The residue remaining after dis- tillation was odorless (8, 9). Vapor phase chromatography was then investigated as a means of further fractionating the con- centrated fish odor. Suitable con- ditions for separating unknown substances were sought using column substrates of Carbowax, Silicone, and Apiezon Grease on a firebrick support. Carbowax and Apiezon Grease gave poor resolution of the aqueous solu- tion. Separation was achieved using Silicone as the substrate although considerable quantities of water were trapped along with the separated components. Using the Silicone column four com- ponents were detected and these components were collected by condensing the column eluate in traps cooled to-80 C.(-112 F.). Mass spectral analysis indicated that one fraction contained only Fig. 5 - Apparatus for high-vacuum low-temperature fractionation of CO2, another fraction contained odor components. ethanol and methanol, a third fraction contained trimethylamine and water, and the fourth fraction contained trimethylamine, trimethylamine oxide, and water. EXPERIMENT 3: The sample used in this experiment was 1,500 grams of had- dock fillets which had been at ice temperature (0 C. or 32° F.) for 8 days, stored at -10° C. (14° F.) for three months and thawed at room temperature for 8 hours. Total condensables were collected; the fish odor was concentrated by distillation under reduced pressure; the concentrate was chromatographed on a Silicone column and fractions separating were collected and analyzed by mass spectrometry. The same compounds which were identified in Experiment 2 were also found in this sam- ple. There were indications that this sample contained larger quantities of trimethyl - amine than the previous sample and that the residue remaining after distillation con- tained other compounds which contribute to the odor of fish. Methods for removing these remaining compounds from this residue are presently being investigated. The results obtained in this investigation to date are summarized in table 1. sa xh rd KR E c ani<—m Tee DISCUSSION The approach used in this study has so far been of a qualitative nature only. Considerable effort has been devoted to developing and testing methods in order that future work may be of a quantitative nature. The results to date indicate that "fish odor" is a complex mixture of organic compounds occurring in minute con- centration in gross amounts of water. The results stated in this report are subject to change on the basis of additional evidence. --By George F, Mangan, Jr., Formerly Chemist, Fishery Technological Laboratory, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, East Boston, Mass. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 27 LITERATURE CITED ANONYMOUS NIEGISCH, W.D.; and STAHL, W.H. 1958. Quarterly Progress Report, Project B 102-3, 1956. The Onion: Gaseous Emanation Products. Food May 26. Research, Vol. 21, p. 657. 1958. Progress Report, Project B 102-3, June 25. STAHL, W.H. 1957. Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry in 1958. Quarterly Progress Report, Project B 102-3, Study of Flavor Chemistry of Natural Food August 26. Flavors, A Symposium, Washington, D. C., May. 1958. Progress Report, Project B 102-3, October 27. ; NIEGISCH, W.D.; HERK, L. F.; and LEVY, E. J. COURTENAY, PHILLIPS 1957. The Application of Isolative Gas-Liquid Parti- 1956. Gas Chromatography, Butterworths' Scientific tion Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry London, to Odor Problems in Food Technology. Re- search Report No. 5, Pioneering Research KEULEMANS, ALOYSIUS L. M. Division, Quartermaster Research and En- 1956. Gas Chromatography, Reinhold Pub., New gineering Command, Natick, Mass., Jan- York City. uary 30. ogoa0000000 FURTHER RESULTS ON USE OF FISH OIL FOR ORE FLOTATION The School of Mines and Metallurgy at the University of Minnesota, under a con- tract with the Bureau, has reported further very promising results in the use of fish oils for iron-ore flotation. In previous work using fish-oil fatty acids, it has been possible to reduce the silicate impurities in the ores from the 8 percent level left after magnetic concentration down to about 5 percent. Recent work employing chem- ical derivatives of fish-oil fatty acids has reduced this level to one percent. Such ex- treme concentration is not necessary for efficient commercial operation. Whenthese laboratory experiments are triedin commercial-scale experiments, the level of im- purities is likely to be somewhat higher. The contractor also reports that high temperature iron-ore flotation, first pro- posed in our research program more than a year ago as a means of improving flota- tion efficiency, has been adopted by a commercial iron-ore flotation plant in Michi- gan. SHARK REPELLENT The Office of Naval Research recently awarded a research contract to the East Boston Fishery Technological Laboratory. This work, to be done in Boston, will in- clude chemical studies on decomposing shark meat with the eventual aim of finding an effective shark repellent. Shark meat will be decomposed under various conditions. The resulting product will be extracted, concentrated, and an attempt made to isolate and identify the ac- tive material. The biological testing of the effectiveness of the resulting products will be done by the Navy who will maintain close contact with Bureau technologists. oo0000000 28 % pA NYA Wy i fess we COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 TS 2 Atomic Waste ATOMIC WASTE DISPOSAL TO BE STUDIED BY DIV- mer as Simulated packages of ‘‘radioactive waste’’ are dumped into 50 feet of water off the New England coast. The job will be done under an agreement with the Atomic Energy Commission by oceanographers of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, U. S. Department of Commerce. Instead of real atomic waste materials, the packages will contain a dye that will be readily recognized in the water if a package leaks. The Atomic Energy Commission wants to know whether such containers remain intact, break open, gradually disintegrate, or are buried in the bottom. Perhaps they behave differently according to the nature of the sea floor. The skin-divers will lower themselves from the fantail of the survey vessel Gilbert and station themselves at the bottom as the dye-containing packages are dropped from an- other part of the vessel. The containers will be numbered for identification. If the visibility is poor, the divers can locate them by dragging a wire that will catch on hooks in floats attached to them. The diving operations will be carried on over Browns Ledge, which is about eleven miles west of Marthas Vine- yard. The team of three survey divers may be accompanied by another scientist from the Fish and Wildlife Service. The Browns Ledge studies are part of a larger project planned to find out what happens to radioactive waste dropped into the sea, so that the best disposal areas and methods can be determined. Other data will be gathered in a disposal area about 20 miles off Boston harbor, where wastes of low radioactivity and obsolete ammunition have been dumped in the past. The depth is about 300 feet. No diving will be done here, and the equipment used will be tested with a counter for radioactivity whenever it is pulled aboard. The direction and speed of the currents at three depths will be taken every half hour for 100 hours with meters lowered at two Stations several miles apart. Every hour during the same period, a record of temperatures at all depths will be made with a bathythermograph, Water temperatures will also be measured, as the survey starts and ends along a line from the Boston harbor entrance to a point beyond the disposal area. Many samples of bottom sediment and seawater will be gathered by the Survey’s personnel for analysis by the Pub- lic Health Service. Samples of plankton (minute animal and plant life) taken by the Coast and Geodetic Survey in nets will also be turned over to a biological laboratory, such as that of the Fish and Wildlife Service at Woods Hole. At Browns Ledge it is planned to make similar current and temperature records and to obtain water, sediment, and plank- ton samples. Here the divers will try to ‘‘shave’’ the top half inch off the bottom to get samples of sediments. Analysis of the water, bottom, and marine life from the dis- posal area is expected to show the extent of absorption of radioactivity. The current data will help to determine where the materials have been carried. In some new area where dumping has started, it is planned to study possible absorption by ‘‘bottom dwellers’’ such as crabs and molluscs indigenous to the section. Many marine animals can concentrate trace elements and may prove to be good indicators of radioactive concentration when examined by bioradiologists of other Government or private agencies. The Coast and Geodetic Survey made an exploratory survey on Georges Bank last summer to test the feasibility of ob- servations and sample collections by diving oceanographers, and also of measuring deep currents from anchored buoys. California AERIAL CENSUS OF COMMERCIAL FISHING CONTINUED: Airplane Spotting h The inshore area from Morro Bay (Point Estero) to the Mexican Bor- Flight 59-1: der (Tijuana River) was surveyed from the air (February 9-10 and 13, 1959, by the California Department of Fish and Game Cessna 170 (1359D) to determine the dis- tribution and abundance of pelagic fish schools and to observe general marine con- ditions and activity. Weather conditions during the flight ranged from broken clouds and showers with good visibility to clear skies and almost unlimited visibility. Few pelagic fish schools were observed in the northern and southern portions of the survey area, but from Point Dume to Newport Beach 471 schools of anchovies were seen. The heaviest concentration occurred between Los Angeles Harbor and June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29 Huntington Beach where 309 schools were tallied. Morro Bay LEGEND; Another group consisting of = 155 schools was present between SEY ag A Santa Monica and Malibu. These had the appearance of typical an- Pt. Conception chovy schools, but some encoun- Santa Barbara tered in the vicinity of Malibu be- haved more like sardines. A pos- itive distinction was not made. SN) santa Monica Long Beach A total of 34 grey whales was Huntington Beach seen in the survey area and all but 2 were traveling in a souther- ly direction. They were all quite close to shore and two at Pismo Beach were just outside the surf line. San Diego - ANCHOVY SCHOOL GROUP. Wo GRAY WHALE Oceanside MEXICO Large porpoise schools were observed between one and two Airplane Spotting Flight 59-1 (February 9, 10, & 13, 1959). sT. GEORGE REEF Lake Earl ° ° >? Bodega Bay 0 Crescent City sy co ae Half Moon Bay Klamath River Legend: / - Indicates a line of trap. Santa Cruz Legend: K - Indicates a line of trap. Monterey Airplane Spotting Flight 59-2 (March 15, 1959, north of REODING ROCK \ Golden Gate; March 16, 1959, south of Golden Gate). oO | miles offshore near Laguna Beach, O- | ceanside, and Del Mar. Airplane Spotting Flight 59-2 (March 15, 1959), 30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Legend: 4 - Indicates a line of trap. False Cape Airplane Spotting Flight 59-2 (March 15, 1959). Altogether 146 lines of traps were counted, About 45 California grey whales were seen on the flight from the Golden Gate to the Oregon line. In the area from the Golden Gate to Big Sur State Park, 32 whales were counted. All ap- peared to be migrating northward. Airplane Spotting Flight 59-3: The inshore area from Half Moon Bay to Mexican Border and the Channel Islands was surveyed from the air (March 16-17, Vol. 21, No. 6 Water in the inshore area was gen- erally dirty. This condition probably was due to the rain storms during the week of the survey. Particularly dirty water was noted from Santa Barbara to Port Huen- eme and near Santa Monica and Dana Point. Airplane Spotting Flight 59-2: The coastal waters from Monterey to the Ore- gon line were surveyed from the air (March 15-16, 1959) by the Department's Cessna 180 to determine the crab fishing localities of northern and central Cali- fornia. Excellent weather and sea conditions made the trips entirely successful. Areas where traps were found were covered in a zigzag pattern extending offshore to the maximum depth which could be fished. From the California-Oregon boundary to below Shelter Cove 63 lines of traps were counted while between the Russian River and Martins Beach there were 72 lines and from Moss Landing to Monterey 11. 1 *® San Jose Legend: \ Flight Pattern March 16 s+++D=++++ March 17—$€—— fi \ "4 Pt. Conception i \. Santa Barbara wh ~ Long Beach A Airplane Spotting Flight 59-3 (March 16-17, 1959). 1959) by the Department's Beechcraft to locate specific areas of commercial aba- lone diving activities on the opening days of the abalone season. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 31 Although storm warnings had just been taken down the evening of March 15, the ocean was reasonablycalm. Five diving boats off Cambria and two at San Miguel Island were observed on March 16. On March 17 there were three at Santa Barbara Island and two at Ocean Beach. Most ofthe fleet had remained in port due to the weather. Approximately 50 schools of fish were observed off Partington Canyon, These schools were all within a distance of 5 to 6 miles of each other and were close to shore. offshore. Many schools were seen off Vandenburgh Air Force Base, about five miles A total of 43 California grey whales was noted between Half Moon Bay and Long Beach. All appeared to be moving north. North of Cambria approximately 20 miles, a herd of 50 to 80 sea otters was ob- served in the kelp. No. fish schools were noted among the Channel Islands but a school of approxi- mately 200 porpoises was seen off San Diego. Note: See Commercial Fisheries Review, March 1959, p. 26. 7 HK OK Oe Ak CALIFORNIA HALIBUT STUDIED OFF BAJA CALIFORNIA COAST (M/V N. B. Scofield Cruise 59-S-1 and M/V Nautilus Cruise 59-N-1-Sportfish): The coastal wa- ters from the United States border of Baja California to Cedros Island were survey- ed to obtain specimens of the ''California halibut" (Paralithythys californicus) for tagging purposes, morphometric studies, and length-weight-age studies. The work was done by California Department of Fish and Game vessels N. B. Scofield and Nautilus from January 4-22, 1959. Other objectives were (1) to determine what physical and oceanographic conditions prevail in the areas where halibut, their eggs, and young are found; (2) to obtain samples of other fish species found in association with halibut; and (3) to test the efficiency and practicality of trawl- ing gear in Mexican waters. A total of 139 hauls with trawl nets produced 826 California halibut for tag- ging. Cape Colnett proved to be the most productive area, although heavy seaweed growth at San Quintin and other places prevented thorough investigation of for- merly productive areas. It was interesting to note that in two localities there was practically no vari- ation in water temperature between the bottom and the surface. In 54 feet of wa- ter at Colnett Bay, the bottom was only 0.5 F. colder thanthe surface. In Todos Santos Bay a variation of 0.3° F. was noted in water 44 feet deep. The bottom waters at these localities were 58 F. San Diego CALIFORNIA. — -—-—'—" ipxICO Coronado Is # \ Descanso Pt. > Pt. San Miguel Todos Santos Is", 5. Cape Colnett San Martin Is.¢ ry ey Todos Santos Bay an Quintin Sacramento Rf. Legend; @) - Number of halibut tagged by area. San Benito Ls.» - Cedros Is Natividad Is.q M/VN. B. Scofield and M/V Nautilus Cruise 59-S-1 and 59-N-i (Jan. 4-22, 1959). 32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 The most successful fishing was found in water ranging from 66 to 84 feet in depth. Fifty percent of the captured halibut were 13 to 17 inches long and 9 percent equaled or exceeded the California length requirement of 22 inches. A total of 557 cartilaginous fish was taken--representing 21 species in 13 fam- ilies and 17 genera. The greatest number were bat rays (151), shovelnose guitar fish (87), and round stingrays (74). The 56 species of bony fish were from 30 fami- lies and 48 genera. There were 1,840 of these and California halibut (842) were most numerous, followed by diamond turbots (287), and fan-tail soles (80). Several bony and cartilaginous fish collected were rare, others established ex- tensions of range and depth records, and one smoothhound shark established a new maximum size record. Several institutions and individuals were presented with specimens in which they were particularly interested. He ok ok ok ok PRELIMINARY SAMPLING OF FISH POPULATION IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY (M/V Nautilus Cruise 59-N-2-Special Projects): Preliminary fish population sam- pling in the polluted waters of South San Francisco Bay immediately north and south of Dumbarton Bridge, was conducted by the California Department of Fish and Game's research vessel M/V Nautilus on February 26-27, 1959. Experimental trawling was conducted with an eight-foot beam trawl made of one-inch stretched mesh. The net was towed on the bottom for about six hauls on the first day resulting in a catch of several hundred each of spider crab and shrimp, a hundred or more shiner perch, and 1-3 specimens of several other varieties. On the second day, about six mid-depth hauls were made with an eight-foot beam trawl made of two-inch stretched mesh. Only four shiner perch were caught. CONSUMERS! MOTIVATION STUDY INITIATED: a motivational study of house- hold consumers'! attitudes towards the use of canned tuna, salmon, sardines, and oth- er canned fishery products has been contracted out by the U. S. Bureau of Commer- cial Fisheries. A private research firm located in Philadelphia, Pa., is interview- ing a sample of households in Boston, Mass., Detroit, Mich., Birmingham, Ala., and rural Orangeburg County, 8. C. Trained interviewers will probe-in-depth the home- maker's motivations, preferences, attitudes, and use of canned fishery products. The research was undertaken after consultation with representatives of the canned fish industries and is designed to enable the industry to more effectively market its products. Funds provided by the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act of 1954 are being used to finance the study. cag Std ge 3) ES CONSUMER PURCHASES, MARCH 1959: Canned tuna purchases by household consumers in March 1959 were 879,000 cases of which 46,000 cases were imported. By type of pack, domestic-packed tuna purchases were 187,000 cases solid, 554,000 cases chunk, and 92,000 cases grated or flakes. The average purchase was 1.8 cans at atime. About 29.9 percent of the households bought all types of canned tuna; only 1.7 percent bought the imported product. The average retail price paid for a 7-oz. can of domestic solid or fancy was 35.0 cents and for a 63-o0z. can of chunk 28.1 cents. Imported solid or fancy was bought at 30.3 cents a can. March purchases June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33 were lower than the 1,125,000 cases bought in February by 21.9 percent; retail prices were slightly higher. During March household consumer purchases of California sardines were 46,000 cases, and 34,000 cases imported. The average purchase was 1.6 cans at a time for California sardines, and 1.8 cans for imported. Only 1.9 percent of the households bought canned California sardines and 2.2 percent im- ported. The average retail price paid for a one-pound can of Cali- fornia sardines was 23.4 cents, and for a 4-oz. can of imported 26.1 cents. Retail prices were lower for California sardines but higher for imported. Because of the liberal stocks of canned California sar- dines, there has been a steady increase in purchases since October 1958. Canned salmon purchases in March 1959 were 249,000 standard cases, of which 132,000 cases were pinks and 57,000 cases reds. The average purchase was 1.2 cans at a time. About 17.2 percent of the households bought all types of canned salmon; 8.7 percent bought pinks. The average retail price paid for a 1-lb. can of pink was 55.8 cents and for red 84.4 cents. March pur- chases were down about 23.4 percent from the 325,000 cases bought in February and retail prices generally higher. Cans--Shipments for Fishery Products in 1958 by Area Out of total shipments of 123,602 tons of steel for use in the manufacture of cans for packing fishery products in 1958, the Pacific area (including Hawaii) used 89,306 tons or 72.2 percent. The Pacific area was followed by the Eastern area (includes New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Puerto Rico) with 29,958 tons or 24.2 percent. The balance of the country or Central area (includes Gulf States) used only 4,338 tons or 3.6 percent of the 1958 to- tal. Shipments of steel for the manufacture of cans for fish- ery products on a quarterly basis were heaviest during the third quarter for all the geographic areas. In the East 39.4 percent or 11,807 tons out of a total of 29,958 tons were consumed in the third quarter of 1958. The Central section used 1,333 tons (30.7 percent of the 4,338-ton annual total) and the Western area 33,932 tons (38.0 percent of the annual total of 89,306 tons) during the third quarter. Note: Statistics cover all commercial and captive plants known to be producing metal cans. Reported in base boxes of steel consumed in the manufacture of cans, the data for fishery products are converted to tons of steel by using the factor 23.0 base boxes of steel equal one short ton of steel. Clams HARD CLAMS RAISED UNDER LABORATORY CONTROL SHIPPED FOR TEST PLANTING: Early in April 1959 close to 150,000 hard clams, Venus (Mercenaria mercenaria were shipped to France and England for test plantings. The hard clams were produced in the tanks of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Laboratory at Milford, Conn., as part of a continuing program to develop methods of rearing clams and oysters under laboratory-controlled conditions for commercial opera- tions. 34 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Long Island, N. Y., area. led conditions. Vol. 21, No. 6 One commercial hatchery has already been set up on the east- ern shore of Virginia and another is in the planning stage for the Some shellfish biologists predict that within 20 years a substantial part of the commercial clam catch will be derived from seed clams reared under laboratory-control- Federal Purchases of Fishery Products DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PURCHASES, JANUARY-MARCH 1959: Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products: Table 1 - Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products Purchased by Military Subsistence Market Centers, March 1959 with Comparisons QUANTITY (AIO BSE) S Soo Ilo el ole ao ( 2,023|1,698 [4,949 | 5,024 | 1,179]1,008] 2,800 | 2,952 1/ Not available For the use of the Armed Forces under the Depart- ment of Defense, 2.0 mil- lion pounds (value $1.2 mil- lion) of fresh and frozen fishery products were pur- chased in March 1959 by the Military Subsistence Market Centers. This ex- ceeded the quantity pur- chased in February by 40.8 percent and was 19.1 per- cent above the amount pur- chased in March 1958. The value of the purchases in March 1959 was higher by 51.7 percent as compared with February and 17.0 percent above March 1958. During the first three months of 1959 purchases totaled 4.9 million pounds--a decrease of 1.5 percent in quantity and 5.1 percent in value as compared with the first three months of 1958. Prices paid for fresh and frozen fishery products by the Department of Defense in March 1959 averaged 58.3 cents a pound, about 4.7 cents more than the 53.6 cents paid in February, but 1.1 cents less than the 59.4 cents paid during Table 2 - Canned Fishery Products Purchased by Military Subsistence Market Centers, March 1959 with Comparisons March 1958, QUANTITY VALUE Species eae Jan.-Mar. earch Jan.-Mar. Canned Fishery Products: Tuna and APE L000 Lbs!) a Pa eeae (S000) eae sardines were the only |Tuna.... wing 96 | 869 412 58 Ma jee 218 canned fishery products |Salmon. . = 546 = 1,241 - 295 = 673 purchased for the use Sardines .| 228 3 | 265 24| 27 1 40 8 of the Armed Forces during March 1959. For the first three months of 1959 purchases of canned tuna were up by 111.0 percent and canned sardines were up tenfold from the first three months of 1958. No canned salmon was purchased during January-March 1959, but close to 1.2 million pounds were purchased in the same period of 1958. Note: Armed Forces installations generally make some local purchases not included in the data given; actual total pur- chases are higher than indicated, because it is not possible to obtain local purchases. Correction for tables 1 and 2 on p. 35 of the December 1958 issue of this Review: first two columns of both tables should have been headed "September" instead of "June." June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35 Fur Seals NEAR-RECORD PRICES FOR ALASKA FUR-SEAL SKINS AT SPRING AUCTION: At the semi-annual sale of Alaska fur-seal skins held inSt. Louis on April 10, 1959, a total of 24,578 United States-owned fur-seal Soa were sold for $2,450,000 for the account of the United States Gov- . ernment. The skins are products of the sealing operations of the U.S. Bureauof Commercial Fish- eries on the Pribilof Islands. The annual production of the Pribilof Islands, which in-recent years has varied from 65,000 to 120,000 skins, is divided, under treaty, 70 percent to the United States and 15 percent each to Canada and Japan. The United States and Japanese skins, plus lesser quantities of South African and South American skins, all processed and ready for use in garment manufacturing, are dis- posed of at sales each spring and fall. Of the total amount received ] for United States skins on April 10, An Alaska fur seal family. $1,630,000 will be deposited in the United States Treasury as the Government's share; the rest represents the share of the St. Louis company, handling and processing the skins for the Government. The prices received at the April 10 sale averaged $99.75 per skin. This price seldom has been exceeded previously; on October 5, 1956, the skins sold for an av- erage of $100.96. This year's average represented an increase of 10.1 percent over the price obtained at the last previous sale (October 17, 1958). The increase in price was considered modest in view of the increased business confidence evident at the sale. The attendance included the largest number of buy- ers at any sale of fur-seal skins ever held at St. Louis. Also in evidence was the greatest interest in fur-seal products ever shown by foreign buyers; included among the accounts represented at the sale were firms from Canada, West Germany, Den- mark, Sweden, Switzerland, France, and Italy. The auction's average prices by types were: dark-brown or matara $87.87 per skin, black $120.97, and dark shade kitovi $95.51. Japanese Government Alaska fur- seal skins sold: black $117.59, matara $91.09, total average $99.53. All South Africa fur-seal skins averaged $39.76. Uruguay skins averaged $49.46. The sales of all fur-seal skins at this spring auction yielded $3,519,168. Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, January 1959 p. 30. I Great Lakes SEA LAMPREY CONTROL PROGRAM EXTENDED: The extension of the chem- ical treatment program for control of the sea lamprey to Lakes Michigan and Hur- on in the United States fiscal year beginning July 1, 1960, was agreed upon at ameet- ing of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission at Ottawa, Canada, April 16 and 17, 36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 1959. The program for Lake Superior is scheduled to be largely completed by the end of fiscal year 1960 (June 30). The program in Lake Superior has just been advanced by the purchase of 25,000 pounds of the lamprey-control chemical. Also, treatment was carried out success- fully this month on the Brule River in Wisconsin, a tributary to Lake Superior which is famous for its rainbow trout fishing. Biologists report that the treatment was successful, with the complete kill of lamprey larvae and no damage to game fish. Great Lakes Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Program PROGRAM FOR LAKE ERIE STARTED YEAR'S OPERATION APRIL 15: The Fisheries Exploration and Gear Research program of the U. S. Bureau of Commer- cial Fisheries, left Sandusky, Ohio, April 15 on the first of a series of two-week cruises scheduled for the period ending November 30. The vessel has been outfitted to carry on the experimental smelt fishing which was initiated in September 1958. Current program objectives are to determine the commercial availability of smelt, alewives, and other underutilized species; and to determine the feasibility of cap- ture of these species by seines and other types of gear not presently used by United States fishermen in Lake Erie. Port calls during the year are planned for Sandusky, Lorain, and Ashtabula, Ohio; and Erie, Pa.;and other Lake Erie ports. Gulf Exploratory Fishery Program SARDINE-LIKE FISH STUDIED AND LAMPARA NET TESTED IN NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO (M/V George M. Bowers Cruise 17): An 18-day cruise inthe north- eastern Gulf of Mexico a for the purpose of test- ing an experimental lampara net and to ob- tain data on the season- al occurrence of sur- face schools of sardine- like fish was completed by the U. 5. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries exploratory fishing ves- sel George M. Bowers on April 10, 1959. The Mississippi Sound, Cape San Blas, St. Peters- burg, and Sanibel Island areas were surveyed during the cruise. 3 eo - Search area - Day set. - Night set - Night light station. Atotalof 13sets was made, 2 of which were blind sets for the purpose of studying the behavior of thegear in certain tidal and wind conditions. Underwater M/V George M, Bowers Cruise No. 17 (March 24 to April 10, 1959). - Day trolling - Day dive. Booe@r Py - Night dive. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 37 observations were made of the operation by SCUBA divers, and aerial observations were made through the cooperation of a Florida seafood company. Several minor modifications were indicated by the lampara net studies. The 213-fathom net was sufficiently large to encircle most of the schools, however, thread herring, the principal species encountered, showed little hesitation in charging through the 4-inch stretched-mesh wings when lack of strain allowed the meshes to open. Nighttime attraction of thread herring and pilchards (Harengula) was tested using a 500-watt floodlight placed three feet above the surface, a 100-watt subma- rine lamp placed six feet below the surface, and a 12-volt sealedbeam lamp 6 feet below surface. on depth recorders. Observation of fish aggregations were made by SCUBA divers and The largest and most compact concentrations were obtained with the 500-watt above-surface floodlight. Adverse weather conditions restricted actual fishing operations to five days. COMMERCIAL FISH- ERIES LANDINGS, 1958: The commercial fisheries landings of sea and pond fish and shellfish inthe Hawaiian Islands during the calendar year 1958 amounted to 11.4 million pounds, valued at about $2.6 millionex-vessel, ac- cording to a statistical summary by the Hawaiian Division of Fishand Game. As compared with the pre- ceding calendar year, the catch increased 650,000 pounds or 6.1 percent in volume and $34,000 or1.3 percent in value. The in- creases in weight and val- ue were due primarily to higher landings of skipjack tuna (aku) which was up 705,000 pounds or 11.5 percent in weight and $105,275 or 13.3 percent in value. The increase in the landings of skipjack tuna more than compen- sated for the lower land- ings of big-eyed tuna and mackerel. Ex-vessel prices paid for fish and shellfish con- tinued at a highlevel, m= Hawaii Landings and Ex-Vessel Values, 1958 1957 able 1 - Hawaiian Commercial! Fishe English Name Hawaiian Name Value US$ 1,000 Ocean Catch: Amberjack 19 Big-eyed scad 128 Dolph in 72 Goatfish 83 Ki Crevall Ulua 39 11 achat [serra fae lesa Mackerel Snappers: Gray 74 = 101 Pink : Em Te [al fo Ulaulu (ehu Swordfishes, sailfishes, spearfishes, & marlins |A'u & A'u lepe efi | Tuna & tunalike fish: Albacore Big-eyed & bluefin | Yellowfin ¥ 117 Skipjack = Bonito Shellfish: Crabs 3 16 8 Limpet 10 4 17 6 Lobster, spiny 6 14 9 Octopus 4 9 5 Shrimp 1 ‘a 3 S quid 25 6 o Other fish & shellfish [= ____{ 436 [162 sae {187 | Total Ocean Catch... - Pond Catch: Clams 1 Crabs Kuakonu, Papai 1 Milkfish Awa 8 Mullet Amaama 47 Tilapia : = - Other species - 16 Giotalikond! Catchimaain aan inna isle GRAND ELO TAREE EenNan Soon ane 11,361 | 2,632[10,727 1/ Includes only marlins (black, silver, striped) and swordfish. 38 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 except for skipjack tuna which is usually processed into canned tuna and has tocom- pete with mainland United States production. The price paid for skipjack averaged about $263 a short ton. The Hawaiian landings in 1958 as in past years were relatively heavy from June through August--40.2 percent of the total was landed in that period. The value of the landings for this three-month period was, however, only 32.9 percent of the total an- nual value. The month of March was the month of lightest landings with only 3.7 per- cent of the 1958 total, but the value for this month was about 6.2 percent of the total. The landings in 1958 at the Island of Oahu made up 75.2 percent of the total quantity and 75.5 percent of the total value. The Island of Hawaii accounted for 14.6 percent of the quantity landed and 15.2 percent of the value and the balance of about 9 percent was divided between four other islands of the group. HO OK FE IK SKIPJACK TUNA LANDINGS LOW, JANUARY-MARCH 1959: Skipjack tuna land- ings in Hawaii during January-March 1959 were low. Comparable partial landings for 1957 and 1958 show the 1959 landings were only 36.6 percent of the 1958 landings. Most of this decline resulted from lower January landings. This should not be taken to indicate either a poor season or a good one in the fishery because the winter catch and that of the subsequent season have no apparent relation. Only about 5 out of 18 sampans of the Honolulu fleet are fishing. Some industry members attribute this to a lack of fishermen. This lack, however, may be traced to the low total landings of skipjack during the past two years. Many fishermen, es- pecially the younger ones, have left the boats to find employment ashore. King Crab TAGGING IN BRISTOL BAY, ALAS- gr a : KA: The United States and Japan have id i! ee ee been tagging king crabs in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and in the Aleutian Islands to determine if regulations should be set up to protect them. Inthelastfive years biologists of the U. S. Bureau of Com- mercial Fisheries, Seattle, Wash., tag- _ es as ged about 30,000 large crabs to deter- Se neces mine their movements and growthrates. ‘ Using SCUBA gear, they captured and measured 1,350 small king crabs at Unalaska and conducted molting observations on 150 other small crabs in March 1959. Later this year they will study growth rates. Maine Sardines CANNED SARDINES INCLUDED ON MILITARY MASTER MENU: Canned Maine sardines will be included as an optional item on the over-all United States Military Master Menu, effective January 1, 1960. Assurance of this action was given the Maine Sardine Council on April 24, 1959, by the Chief of the U. S. Army Subsistence Market Center in Chicago. Final approval was given after testing and consideration of the product by the Military Master Menu Board. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 39 The action will mean that canned sardines will be listed as a menu item for cer- tain meals at all Air Force and Army installations, but that final usage will be a de- cision of the individual commanding officers. Under Federal laws the Armed Forces must pur- chase domestically-manufactured items when availa- ble and this coupled with the menu listing should add considerably to the procurement volume for Maine sardines, the Maine Sardine Council's Executive Sec- retary stated. The Council has been working on this project for several years and the Maine sardine industry's big progress in quality control, package development, and other factors contributed much to the decision, OK OK OK AK SOURCE OF HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN: The findings of extensive investigations on the nutritive value of canned Maine sardines were discussed by the Head of the Department of Food Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in an address at the Annual Research Meeting of the Maine Sardine Industry on April 10, 1959, in Bangor, Maine. The results brought home some very interesting and sig- nificant facts about Maine sardines. One of the rnost important factors that was brought out in the address was that Maine sardines contain about 25 percent protein, and this is not just ordinary pro- tein, but high-quality protein with a good pattern of amino acids (the building blocks which make up proteins) of the type that are found in eggs, meat, and milk. In comparison with bread, Maine sardines contain appreciably higher quantities of that important amino acid, lysine. Thus, Maine sardines not only provide a de- licious sandwich filler, but also enhance the nutritive value of bread by contributing the essential protein nutrients which are not present in bread to the same extent as in Maine sardines. It was indicated that from the standpoint of lunches, bread and sardines are a good, logical combination, combining the best features of both foods. Some of the work done with feeding laboratory animals Maine sardines as the source of protein and fat of the diet was also discussed. These studies were of sig- nificance in that they showed that Maine sardines favored good muscle building and reduced the tendency towards a production of fat in the animals. He also pointed out to the Maine industry the value of the Maine Sardine Re- search and Quality Control Program in producing better, more acceptable Maine. sardines which can mean so much to producing better nutrition for more people. CIT Marketing EDIBLE FISHERY PRODUCTS MARKETING PROSPECTS, SUMMER 1959: U- nited States civilian per capita consumption of fresh and processed fish and shell- fish through early summer will likely be about the same as a year earlier. Average retail prices in the next several months probably will average a little below the high levels of the same part of 1958. Supplies of commercially-caught fishery products are now increasing seasonal- ly. The relatively high level of prices together with improved weather are expected to encourage intensive fishing operations. 40 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 There are substantially larger stocks of processed fishery products on hand this spring than last. Cold-storage holdings of the frozen items this April 1 were up by more than a fourth from the year-earlier level. Stocks of canned tuna and Californ- ia sardines are much heavier this spring. Imports of fishery products this spring and early summer may be a little heav- ier than a year earlier because of the relatively high level of prices in the United States. Exports may be no higher than in the same part of 1958 unless foreign out- lets can be developed for canned California sardines (pilchards). This analysis appeared in a report prepared by the Agricultural Marketing Serv- ice, U. S. Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Department of the Interior, and published in the former agency's May 4, 1959, release of The National Food Situation (NFS-88). AS EEO re Xe Menhaden RESEARCH ON PARASITES MAY REVEAL MIGRATORY ROUTES: If young menhaden pick up parasites in the rivers and estuaries and retain them after the win- ter migration to the ocean, it may be possible to locate the home river or estuary for fish caught anywhere the following year, a Virginia fishery biologist stated on April 3, 1959. Tags are often applied to fish when scientists want to learn about their migrations or where they hatched and grew up. Virginia fishery biologists be- lieve that parasites can be used as natural tags. It is possible that young menhaden growing up in the Delaware Bay or in Albe- marle Sound, N. C., or some other section, will carry different parasites, or may differ in degree of infestation with the same parasite from those growing up in Ches- apeake Bay, the Virginia biologist stated. The biologists hope that it will be possible to locate the home waters for fish taken in the commercial catches by examining the external parasites living on the fish. Of particular interest are the monogenetic trematodes (small parasitic worms), butitis possible that the biologists will have to resort to copepods, isopods, leaches, and other parasites to give the needed infor- mation. If these fail, the parasites of the digestive tract may furnish the clues needed to unravel the migratory patterns of the menhaden. Samples of young fish collected at two-week intervals from estuaries along the Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts to Florida will be sent to the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory. By examination of the samples taken in this manner, the biologists hope to learn at what time the fish pick up parasites, and what types and numbers of parasites are present on fish caught from various bays. The U.S. Bureau of Com- mercial Fisheries is cooperating closely with the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory in the study, and is supplying most of the young fish. Research on the life history of menhaden at the Virginia Laboratory will beuse- ful in managing this fishery to keep catches at a high level. More menhaden are caught by commercial fishermen than any other fish on the Atlantic Coast. Next to oysters and crabs they are the most valuable sea products landed in Virginia. Knowl- edge of the habits and behavior of the menhaden will be useful to fishermen and plant operators alike. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 41 National Fisheries Institute Convention CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT 1959 ANNUAL CONVENTION: A total of 16 resolutions was presented and adopted unanimously by those attending the 14th Annual Con- vention of the National Fisheries Institute (N.F.I.) in New York City, April 10-15, 1959. Those of more general inter- est follow: That N.F.I. oppose the principle of dumping waste materi- als in rivers, bays, estuaries, and contiguous ocean waters, but that if such dumping is deemed essential by constituted State or Federal authority, then the effects of such dumping be determined in advance by the Fish and Wildlife Service or controlling State wildlife and fisheries officials, and the loca- tions and manner of dumping be explicitly set forth by these authorities. Further, thatthis resolution be forwarded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That N.F.I. instruct its Director of Trafficto work towards the preservation and continuation of express-type service at a level of rates which will permit and encourage the move- ment of small-quantity-shipments of perishable seafood prod- ucts throughout the United States. That N.F.I. instruct its Director of Trafficto reaffirm dur- ing the 86th Congress the National Fisheries Institute’s previ- ously explained position in support of the fishery exemption. That N.F.I. support legislation designed to make unlawful the compulsory payment of fees for the unloading of fishery products from motor vehicles. That N.F.I, instruct its Director of Traffic to oppose the suggested repeal of the fishery exemption, and support in principle the extension of the fishery exemption to rail car- riers, subject however to the adoption of guarantees and conditions which will protect the fishery industry in using motor carriers which provide existing vital services. That the N.F.I. express to the Secretary of Interior and to appropriate officials of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries the industry’s ap- preciation for and approval of the Bureau’s program to de- velop voluntary grade standards for fishery products, noting with satisfaction the publication during the past year of grade standards for two additional products, haddock fillets and halibut steaks, and requesting that the development of grade standards for cod fillets, ocean perch fillets, Pacific ocean perch, salmon steaks, swordfish steaks, and sole fillets pro- ceed as rapidly as practical. That N.F.I. approve continuation of the standard industry practice of making adequate glaze allowances, and further, recommend that when the glaze on frozen fish is to be checked that the industry use the method proposed by indus- try members in Southern California, in which method the product is quickly washed with water so as to remove the glaze but not to thaw the flesh, the deglazed product is weighed and correction of 3 percent is added to compensate for losses of fish fluids, and an allowance of 2 percent is provided for individual variability. That N.F.I. strongly protest against the unfair and arbi- trary interpretation by the Secretary of Labor of the exemp- tions provided by Section 13(a)(5) and 13(b)(4) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, and urgently insist that it be given an opportunity to present its position before the Sec- retary of Labor prior to any enforcement thereunder, and that meanwhile this interpretative ruling be withdrawn pend- ing further consideration by the Department of Labor and action by Congress in pending legislation. He OK OK Ke OK INCREASED SALES AND CONSUMPTION IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO PROB- LEMS FACING THE FISHING INDUSTRY: Increased sales and consumption of fish and shellfish products is the only answer to the complexity of problems facing the United States fishing industry today, according to Arnie J. Suomela, Commissioner, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Suomela, who called the National Fisheries Insti- tute 14th Annual Convention in New York City, April 10-15, 1959, ''the sounding board in attacking the industry's problems,'' said fishermen, vessel owners, processors, and wholesalers are plagued by soaring production costs in day-to-day operations. Costs of vessel replacement and construction, gear, and fuel make it impera- tive that fishermen and fleet operators find more effective and economic methods of catching and landing the fish, he said. At the same time, processors and wholesalers too must reduce costs of handling the industry's products. "Unlike other industries you have no consumer problem,'' Suomela told the In- stitute, ''only to convince him to buy more of your high-quality products." With the annual per capita consumption of fish and shellfish at 10 pounds as op- posed to 160 pounds of meat, Suomela pointed out that, "if we can sell just one more pound per capita" it will be enormously rewarding to the entire industry. PACKAGING AND QUALITY CONTROL STRESSED ON FOOD STORE DAY: A number of chain-store operators urged that the fishing industry improve its packaging, ex- ercise quality control on its self-service items, and de- velop new merchandising techniques. They spoke to the National Fisheries Institute during its 14th Annual Con- vention at New York City on Food Store Day on April 13. They further suggested that the fishing industry ship in smaller units and use promotional aids to attract the eye of the consumer. ‘“‘The package that you as processors pack, and we as retailers sell, is our ambassador to Mrs. Consumer,’’ a Chicago chain-store operator pointed out. Speaking on packaging and labeling, he told members of the fishing and allied industries to consider what size package will best 42 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW satisfy the American housewife--wnether it should be for two people, for the average family, or a large economy size. He told his audience to consider Mrs. Consumer’s refrig- erator or freezer in designing new packages. He also spoke of the need of establishing quality standards for the product inside the package, and adhering to them, The president of a large chain store in Philadelphia told the Institute that their future progress hinged on further refinements in packaged frozen merchandise rather than the high handling costs of their fresh products. ‘‘With super- market selling now so impersonal,”’ he said, ‘‘any success in distributing a product is heavily dependent on a high uni- ok kk NEED FOR BETTER QUALITY STRESSED: The great need for increased quality standards in the fishing indus- try was stressed on Food Store Day by representatives of five of the nation’s largest chain stores on April 13, Ad- dressing the general session of the 14th Annual Convention of the National Fisheries Institute at New York City was a panel of speakers--Joseph Mueller, National Tea; Sidney Beck, Food Fair Stores; Lloyd Johnson, Super Valu; E, J. Voigt, Loblaw; and Louis Voron, Grand Union. The mod- erator was W. Jackson Catt, prominent in Buffalo’s fishing business, ‘Quality must be consistently tops,’’ said Voigt, whose subject was ‘‘Private Labels.’’ But he said, ‘‘before we can talk quality, let’s get quality standards throughqut the industry.’’ He also pointed out that private-label products should be retailed sufficiently below the national brands to effect a Saving for the consumer. Too, the private label should show a greater profit structure to the retailer. But, he asked, ‘‘how can this be done with every seafood packer sharpshooting to cut the other’s throat?’’ Johnson of Super Valu also urged that more fishery products be brought under quality standards, although ‘‘a good deal of progress in quality improvement has been brought about by new and improved methods of handling from the fishing beds to the processing plants.’"’ Emphasizing his subject ‘‘Quality,’’ Johnson said, ‘‘The quantities in which frozen and prepackaged fish and sea- Vol. 21, No. 6 formity of quality. The customer who buys a satisfactory product today, wants to find it exactly the same when she buys it a week or a month hence.’’ He also pointed out that two-thirds of all the food sold at retail in the United States is in self-service markets and predicted that it will reach **90 percent of the total.’’ Congratulating the group on the enormous strides in fish packaging and processing during the past ten years, he added that one-third of all the things sold today were not on the shelf ten years ago, and another one-third have been sharply improved in quality and dressed up in new and better packages. %* OK foods are purchased and the nature of the processed prod- uct make it practically impossible to make anything other than rather superficial spot checks on quality. We must rely on the character and established reputation of our sup- pliers.’’ Speaking on packaging and labeling, Mueller of National Tea told the fishing industry, “‘The package that you as processors pack and we as retailers sell is our ambassador to Mrs, Consumer.’’ He told his audience to decide what the best size of pack- age should be--for two people, for the average family, or large economy size. And he said also to consider Mrs. Con- sumer's refrigerator and freezer. Further, he said, look at the retailer’s needs. Package must be of good design and display; construction should be that package will not look shopworn as it is handled, and should be tightly sealed. Speaking on merchandising, Beck of Food Fair, reminded his audience that the average shopper spends only 20 to 25 minutes in a supermarket; yet she wants to shop the store to get ideas for meals. Trained personnel, he said, can pre- pare the merchandise to the customer’s satisfaction. And, he added, ‘‘regardless of service or self-service, display for eye appeal, attractiveness, appetite-stimulation, and col- or are absolutely necessary.’’ “‘For quality control,’’ Voron of Grand Union Stores said, ‘‘you might ship fresh fishery products in smaller units. A 50-pound box could come into our warehouse and out to the stores without touching it, except to ice as needed, thereby arriving in better condition,’’ Fig. 1 - Food Store Day panel of speakers at the April 13 session of the 14th Annual Convention of the National Fisheries Institute. Left to right: seated--Sidney Beck, Food Fair Stores; Lloyd M. Johnson, Super Valu Stores; E. J. Voight, Loblaw, Inc.; Louis Voron, Grand Union Market; J. H. Mueller, National Tea. Standing are fishery dealers Art Froh- man, Chicago; W. Jackson Catt, Buffalo (chairman of meeting); and Lewis Goldstein, Philadelphia. | | . : June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 43 North Atlantic Fisheries Investigations YELLOWTAIL FLOUNDERS TAGGED ON FISHING GROUNDS SOUTH AND WEST OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD AND OFF NAUSET LIGHT (M/V Delaware Cruise 59-3): A total of 72 I-hour tows were made by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries research vessel Delaware from March 18-26, 1959, with a No. 36 otter trawl in 20-30 fathoms for the purpose of catching yellowtail flounder for tagging and for length and age distribution sam- ples. Yellowtails were tagged to further define stocks, migrations, and for the es- timation of fishing mortality. Sets were made on the commercial fishing fleet grounds from south of Martha's Vineyard to south of Block Island and off Nauset Light. On the fishing grounds south of Martha's Vineyard to south of Block Is- land 2,100 fish were tagged. On the fish- ing grounds off Nauset Light 1,000 fish were tagged. Scale samples were col- lected to determine the age distribution of the tagged fish. Hydrographic data The Bureau's research vessel Delaware. was collected throughout the area of the cruise. 2 KK OK Ok HADDOCK TAGGING AND VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION STUDIES (M/V Delaware Cruise 59-4): The tagging and release of large numbers of haddock on Georges, Browns, and Massachusetts inshore banks was the principal objective of the April 2- 17, 1959, cruise of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries research and explora- tory fishing vessel Delaware. The secondary objective was to test the use of under- water television as a monitoring device used in conjunction with a mid-water trawl to study the vertical distribution of haddock. About 1,100 haddock were tagged on Eastern Georges Bank, half of which were released on Georges and half transported to Browns Bank for release. Another 1,100 were tagged on Browns, half released there and half returned to Eastern Georges for release. Scales were taken from all fish for growth study purposes. Approxi- mately 600 haddock were tagged at ''the Corner'' on the eastern side of the South Channel. Half of these were kept in tanks aboard the vessel for the duration of the tagging operation before being liberated and half were released immediately. An- other 200 haddock were tagged at Jeffries Ledge. The fish were taken in 40-45 fath- oms on all grounds with a standard No. 41 trawl towed at low speed (180 r.p.m. or about 23 knots). Tags used were the plastic tubing (''spaghetti"') type, inserted into the Goecal musculature, Approximately 900 haddock of the 1958 year-class (13-24 centimeters or 5.1- 9.4 inches) were tagged on the eastern edge of Stellwagen Bank in 22-24 fathoms. The fish were taken in a 13-inch mesh cotton cover attached to the cod end of a standard No. 41 otter trawl. The net was towed at about one-half normal towing speed (170 r.p.m. or about 2 knots). High turbidity and a cable failure prevented completion of underwater television tests. Methods developed for handling and positioning will be useful for future tele- vision work with trawls. 44 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 The haddock caught for tagging were generally in excellent condition and very lively. Somewhat higher than expected mortality occurred with fish kept in the 5,000- gallon tank for transplanting (about 50 percent with 550 fish accumulated over 30 hours, less for fewer fish and shorter retention period). Two lots of live herring, taken in the small mesh cover, were returned to port for serological analyses. Drift bottles were released and hydrographic observations were made over the whole area. North Pacific Exploratory Fishery Program MODIFIED OTTER TRAWLS TESTED FOR VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL OPENINGS (M/V John N. Cobb Cruise 41): Fishing-gear research in the waters of Puget Sound and the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca was conducted by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fish- eries exploratory fishing vessel John N. Cobbduringa 45-day cruise which ended on March 25, 1959. Two types of modified otter trawls for bottom fish were tested: one designed to increase the horizontal opening, and the other designed to increase the vertical opening. In addition, three types of otter doors were compared as to their relative spreading ability. = Res Be ' Although favorable prelimin- ary results were obtained during experiments with the modified ot- ter trawls, further modifications and trials will be required to per- fect the gear, so that maximum efficiency will be obtained, before undertaking com- parative fishing experiments with conventional trawls. The Bureau's exploratory fishing vessel John N. Cobb. Two types of light aluminum doors were compared to standard 5-foot wooden shrimp doors on a standard 43-foot Gulf of Mexico-type flat shrimp trawl. The var- iance in size, shape, and weight of the three doors was so great that a complete ap- praisal could not be made at this time. SCUBA divers, making underwater observations, measurements, and evalua- tions from a diving sled, greatly expedited all phases of the gear research activities. Participating gear specialists consider direct underwater observation indispensible to this type of work. Underwater work was supplemented with surface measure- ments of water speed, dynamic forces, and distances between floats streamed from various parts of the fishing gear. The M/V John N. Cobb was scheduled to leave Seattle on April 13, 1959, fora three-week cruise which will combine fishing-gear instrumentation research and English ''sole'' migration studies. The work will be done off the northern Oregon Coast between Cascade Head and the Columbia River. Fishing-gear instrumenta- tion research plans included: (1) checking out anew Norwegian-made depth-sounder which was designed to operate at depths up to 1,000 fathoms; (2) evaluating the fa- tigue properties of a new-type electrical trawl cable used in connection with tele- metering information from fishing gear to the vessel; (3) testing an on-bottom indi- cator which will cause a light to go on in the wheelhouse when the trawl door is in June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 45 contact with the ocean floor; and (4) testing an automatic bottom sampler which will be attached toatrawldoor. English''sole'' taken while testing gear will be tagged by bi- ologists of the Oregon Fish Commission. The tagging will be acontinuance of the Oregon Fish Commission's program involving the study of migrational habits of commercial species of fish found in waters contiguous to that State. Gear instrumentation work was planned for various depths up to 1,000 fathoms and on different types of ocean bottom. ca North Pacific Fishery Investigations ALBACORE TUNA MIGRATION ROUTE STUDIED: From April 29 to June 16 the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries research vessel Hugh M. Smith is sched- uled to cruise to the locality which adjoins the area of the normal United States west coast summer albacore fishery. The biologists of the Bureau are studying the mi- gration route and time of entry of the albacore into the fishery. The California De- partment of Fish and Game planned to participate in this investigation. ws ine Oysters NEW YORK AND CONNECTICUT APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO COMBAT STAR- FISH: The States of New York and Connecticut have appropriated $25,000 to carry on research on control work for starfish--oyster predators--in Long Island Sound. Action was taken in both Legislatures and plans are being made to coordinate their work with that of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Shellfish Laboratory at Milford, Conn. These steps were taken to clear the way for endorsement of the starfish control legislation now pending before the United States 86th Congress. Last year the legis- lation failed to win the support of the Executive Branch of the Government on the grounds that no efforts were being made by the states to solve the problem locally. “293 Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations SURVEY OF CAL- 1 160° w 155° w 150° w 145° w IFORNIA CURRENT L farms EXTENSION AND SKIP - JACK TUNA OFF HA- WATIAN ISLANDS (M/V Hugh M. Smith Cruise 51): The studies of the California Current Ex- tension and the occur- rence of skipjack tuna : and other marine or- ~ Station. 5 ~ - Plankton tow. ganisms inthe current - Longline . on. area around the Hawai- Isohaline line. - Vessel's track. ian Islands was contin- ued bythe U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fish- eries research ves- sel Hugh M. Smith from March 3-April 6, 1959. A = 1,979 babe Vay (Saat ART es = 1,504 Decembenza ara = 2,060 . in opposite column otal ipa: keene 8,864 | 21,790 1/ Preliminary. SAAAOAAAAA June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 51 United States Fishing Industry Investments Exceed a Billion Dollars Fishermen, processors, and distributors have a capital investment of more than a billion dollars in the United States fishing industry. The estimated retail value of fishery products marketed during 1958 was more than $1.7 billion. The domestic catch in 1958 was 4.72 billion pounds, a decrease of 62 million pounds; but the ex-vessel value of the catch was a record $370 million, an increase of $19 million over 1957. Imports from 1957 to 1958 were up the equivalent of 290 million pounds on a live-weight basis, which makes a net gain in the total supply of fish and shellfish for 1958 of 228 mil- lion pounds. This means that 7.4 billion pounds (live weight) was available for the American market. The per capita consumption of fishery products in 1958 was 10.4 pounds, or 0.3 pounds higher than in 1957. The $370 million value of the catch as landed increased to $633 million at the processor level for the products produced from domestic-caught fish and shellfish. At the wholesale level the value of the total United States catch was estimated at FLOW CHART of the COMMERCIAL FISHERIES -I958 ok aap aes Mi ~~ ROUND WEIGHT — 688,000,000 tbs.-Marketed Fresh 395 m lg : 453000000 tbs FILLETS (mag 342,000,000 Lbs. FROZEN yoy MARKETED WEIGHT 585,000.000 Lbs. EXE Filler. 88,000,000 Lbs.-Cureg *) | | 253,000,000 tbs. : annie E } side? ~' 1 62,000,000 Lbs. 1242,000, . Ti, 000 Lbs. CANNED ; 963,000,000 Lbs. o> Oe 2 Ol 1,903,000,000 Lbs.- BYPRODUCTS CONDENSED FISH SOLUBLES ie || 199,000,000 tbs. 710,000,000 Lbs. - WASTE from -HOMGGENIZED . Fish used for Fait ae Byproducts Frozen} | 156,000,000 tbs. - 481,000,000 tbs. | 163,000,000 Lbs. ~ Fresh @ Processed | INDENSED FISH ~ Note: The round and marketed weights shown above do not include imported items proc - essed in the United States, The marketed weights listed do not include fresh bait, or animal food prepared from waste, shell products, or other miscellaneous byproducts. $882 million and to the retailer at $1.2 billion. The value of the imported fishery products which were received fresh, fro- zen, and otherwise processed was $320 million. Imported items processed in the United States were worth $155 million after manu- facturing. The val- ue of the imports reached $502 million at the wholesale lev- el and $552 million when they reached the retailer. Do- mestically-caught fish andimports were valued at $788 million to the proc- essor, $1,384 million to the wholesaler, and $1,702 million to the retailer. The domestic producers of fish have $411.5 million invested in boats and $89.0 million invested in fishing gear. The fisheries provide employment for 142,000 fish- ermen and transporters and 97,000 persons in wholesale and manufacturing estab- lishments. A total of $242.6 million is invested in freezing and processing plants and $217.6 million in wholesale fish houses. The value of the facilities for handling fish at the retail level is placed at $111 million. The grand total investment on the basis of these data is $1,072 million. 52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 A total of 40 percent of the domestic catch was converted into byproducts--oil, meal or solubles--or used as bait. More than 31 percent, or 1,483 million pounds, was utilized fresh or frozen for human food; over 26 percent, or 1,242 million pounds, was canned; and 88 million pounds, nearly 2 percent, were cured. The Atlantic coast produced 53 percent of the domestic catch or 2,502 million pounds. Other producing areas show: Pacific coast, 904 million pounds; Gulf coast 780 million pounds; Alaska 380 million pounds; Great Lakes and Mississippi River, 150 million pounds. U. S. Foreign Trade EDIBLE FISHERY PRODUCTS, JANUARY 1959: Im- ports of edible fresh, frozen, and processed fish and shell- fish into the United States during January 1959 increased by 11.8 percent in quantity and 6.0 percent in value as com- pared with December 1958, The increase was due primari- ly tohigher imports of groundfish fillets (up 11.3 million pounds) and canned tuna in brine (up 4.5 million pounds), andtoa lesser United States Foreign Trade in Edible Fishery Products, January 1959 with Comparisons Quantity Value 1959] 1958 (Millions of Lbs.) (Millions of $) mports; Fish & shellfish: Fresh, frozen, & processed. . 88.2 | 67.6 | 956.8 xports: Fish and shellfish: Processed only 1/ (excluding fresh & frozen) ....| 2.4 2.6 41.2 0.8 0.6 1/Includes pastes, sauces, clam chowder and juice, and other specialties. 15.6 | | degree, an increase in the imports of other fillets and frozentuna. These increases were partly offset by a 2.2 million-pound decrease in the imports of frozen shrimp and canned salmon (down 1.2 million pounds). Compared with January 1958, theimportsin January 1959 were up by 30.3 percent in quantity and 27,2 percent in value Bet §-3 GROUNDFISH FILLET IMPORTS, MARCH 1959: due to higher imports of groundfish fillets (up 7.6 million pounds), frozen tuna other than albacore (up 8.8 million pounds), canned tuna in brine (up 3.2 million pounds), andfrozen shrimp (up 2.5 million pounds). Compensating, in part, for the in- creases was a drop of about 2.5 million pounds inthe imports of frozen albacore tuna and frozen and canned salmon (down 3.0 million pounds), United States exports of processed fish and shellfish in January 1959 were lower by 46.0 percent in quantity and 33.3 percent in value as compared with December 1958. Compared with the same month in 1958, the exports in Jan- uary 1959 were down by 6.1 percent in quantity, but were higher by 33.3 percent in value. The exports this January as compared with the same month in 1958 were lower due to the poor demand for California sardines in foreign mar- kets and the lack of any exportable surplus of other canned fish products, The value of the January 1959 exports was higher than for the same month in 1958 due to an increase in the exports of high-value canned shrimp and salmon. The fishing season for California sardines ended on Decem- ber 31, 1958, with a pack of over 2.2 million cases. OK Imports of groundfish (includ- ing ocean perch) fillets and blocks into the United States during March 1959 amount- ed to 12.1 million pounds--an increase of 18 percent compared with March of last year. Canada led all other countries in imports with 4.1 million pounds. Iceland was second with 3.5 million pounds, followed by Denmark with 2.4 million pounds, and Norway with 1.6 million pounds. During the first three months of 1959, imports of groundfish (including ocean perch) and blocks amounted to 41.5 million pounds, about 30 percent above the same period of last year. 1959 three-months period. Canada accounted for 41 percent of the total imports during the The quota of groundfish (and ocean perch fillets) and blocks permitted to enter the United States at 12 cents per pound inthe calendar year 1959 is 36,919,874 pounds, based on a quarterly quota of 9,229,968 pounds. Imports during individual quarters in excess 1958 amounted to 35,892,221 pounds. The quota for the calendar year of the established quarterly quota enter at a duty of 23 cents per pound. Note: See chart 7 in this issue. sk ok KOK 3K June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53 IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA IN BRINE UNDER QUOTA: The quantity of tuna canned in brine w which may be imported into the United States during the calendar year 1959 at the 123-percent rate of duty has been established as 52,372,574 pounds. Any imports in excess of this established quota will be dutiable at 25 percent ad valorem. Imports from January 1-April 4, 1959, amounted to 11,308,844 pounds, accord- ing to data compiled by the Bureau of Customs. From January 1-March 29, 1958, a total of 8,352,090 pounds had been imported. The quota for 1958 of 44,693,874 pounds was reached on November 20, 1958, ? Vessel Safety Program COMMITTEE FORMED IN MAINE TO PROMOTE PROGRAM: The first ''Port Safety Committee" for fisheries in the United States was formed in Maine through the efforts of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Fishing Vessel Safety Pro- gram in New England. Fishery leaders at Portland announced April 2 that the Com- mittee was formed and would work with the Bureau's Safety Program to develop a safety and health program for the Maine fishing fleets. Initial activities of the Com- mittee will be confined to Portland vessels with a gradual expansion to all commer- cial fishing craft based in Maine ports. The Committee represents people directly interested in the welfare of the Maine fishing industry with diversified experience in vessel operation, marine insurance and inspection, engineering and construc- tion, and fishing vessel maintenance. The primary objective of the Commit- tee will be to provide leadership for the industry in establishing a practical acci- dent-prevention and health program for commercial fishing vessels in the State of Maine. Action under consideration by the Committee to initiate the program was stated to include the following measures: ing PEW Ros 1. Establish a frequency accident rate for the Portland fishing fleet based on disabling work injuries and hull and machinery accidents. 2, Improve working conditions and eliminate hazards aboard fishing vessels. 3. Study accident reports to devise ways to direct accident prevention and elim- ination of unsafe conditions that may exist in the fleet. 4. Establish a code of safety standards for various classes of vessels engaged in the otter-trawl, scallop-dredge, and purse-seine fisheries. 5. Make available facilities to encourage safe operating practices and demon- strate approved devices and equipment to all industry members. 6. Promote the idea of fleet safety at all times, and by exercising control of operational precedures to reduce the accident rate and effect a reduction in marine insurance premiums to vessel operators. The U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Safety Program hopes to assist in forming similar committees in the ports of Gloucester and New Bedford, Mass. —fe Otro 54 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 Ways Sought to Control Mosquito Without Harming Fish and Wildlife The need for research to develop mosquito control methods compatible with fish and wildlife management objectives was stressed by most speakers participating in a mosquito control-fish and wildlife management symposium held in mid-April 1959 in the Department of the Interior Building, Washington, D. C. The purpose of sympo- sium was to provide a better under- standing of mosquito control and wild- life management objectives and meth- ods, and to explore possibilities for a greater coordination of interests where conflicts exist. About 75 persons actively engaged in mosquito control or wildlife manage- ment in the eastern portion of the U- nited States attended the meeting. A feature of the two-day session was a constructive group discussion follow- ing the presentation of 12 prepared Malarial Mosquito (Anopheles maculippenis) (Resting position) papers. Because of the growing resistance of mosquitoes to many insecticides and the damage that these chemicals may cause to fish, shellfish, and wildlife, the trend in present-day control programs is toward the use of water management and biological~ control methods. Ditching and filling are widely used but since these practices often adversely affect fish or wildlife, there is a growing recognition by mosquito control workers that effective substitute methods are needed. Cooperative studies by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies in Delaware and New Jersey, from 1953 to 1955 showed the value of controlled flooding as a means of mosquito abatement in some areas. Under this system, the production of salt-marsh mosquitoes was virtually halted by preventing the exposure of soil upon which the pests lay their eggs. At the same time, waterfowl conditions were greatly improved. This method is now being used in suitable situations in Florida for the control of mosquitoes. The symposium, the first of its kind, was sponsored jointly by the American Mosquito Control Association, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, the Wild- life Society, the Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Department of Agricul - ture, and the United States Public Health Service. Papers on the first day were restricted to the fundamentals of mosquito biology and control and to the fundamentals of wetland management for fish and wildlife. Papers on the second day included reviews of methods of mosquito control by chem- icals and by water management, their effects on various types of fish and wildlife, and the effects of fish and wildlife water-development projects on mosquito breeding. Proceedings of the meeting will be available at $1 a copy through the American Mosquito Control Association, Morris Plains, N. J. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55 Wholesale Prices, April 1959 Wholesale prices for selected edible fishery products in mid-April 1959 continued the downward trend of the past few months, Lower wholesale prices for fresh haddock, fresh and frozen fillets, and fresh and frozen shrimp were responsible for a drop of 4.3 percent in the index from March to April this year. The April 1959 edible fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) wholesale price index (122.7 percent of the 1947-49 average) was about unchanged (down 0.2 percent) from the same month in 1958. Higher wholesale prices for the fresh-water varieties, frozen had- dock fillets, frozen salmon, and canned Maine sardines were more than offset by lower prices for all other items that enter the fishery products wholesale index, wholesale prices for all the fresh-water items and frozen king salmon, Fresh drawn haddock (down 6.1 percent) and frozen western halibut prices (down 2.5 percent) were low- er in April this year as compared with April a year ago, The fresh processed fish and shellfish subgroup index from March to April this year dropped 6.4 percent due to a drop in wholesale prices for fresh haddock fillets (down 40.0 percent) and fresh shrimp (down 4.5 percent). The subgroup index in April 1959 as compared with April last year was lower by 3.9 percent. Lower wholesale prices for fresh haddock fillets (minus 9.5 percent) and fresh shrimp (minus 7.5 percent) more than offset slightly high- er prices for fresh shucked oysters. Table 1 - Wholesale Average Prices and Indexes for Edible Fish and Shellfish, April 1959 With Comparisons Point of Avg. Prices1/ Pricing nit (3) Group, Subgroup, and Item Specification Fresh & Frozen Fishery Products: ....... . Drawn, Dressed, or Whole Finfish: .......... Haddock, lge., offshore, drawn, fresh . .... Halibut, West., 20/80 Ibs., drsd., fresh or froz. Salmon, king, lge. & med., drsd., fresh or froz. Whitefish,L, Superior, drawn, fresh ..... Whitefish,L, Erie pound or gill net, rnd,, fresh Yellow pike, L. Michigan&Huron, rnd.,fresh . Processed,Fresh (Fish & Shellfish): ....... Fillets, haddock, sml., skins on, 20-lb. tins. . Shrimp, lge, (26-30 count), headless, fresh . . Oysters, shucked, standards Processed, Frozen (Fish & Shellfish): , Fillets; Flounder, skinless, 1-Ib. pkg. .... Haddock, sml,,skins on, 1-lb, pkg... . Ocean perch, skins on, 1-lb. pkg. . . . Shrimp, lge, (26-30 count), 5-lb, pkg. . . GannediPishery Products). 2 2). = + 0 6 « » « Salmon, pink, No, 1 tall (16 oz.), 48cans/cs. ... Tuna, It, meat, chunk, No, 1/2 tuna (6-1/2 o2z.), AS ICAUSLCSER A ctbcetel vehi. levis (Site Yel, iol sve Sardines, Calif,, tom, pack, No, 1 oval (15 0z.), AD EYES A Ao Goo 0 Ob Opa Ono B OnonD Sardines, Maine, keyless oil, No, 1/4 drawn (3-3/4 oz.), 100 cans/es... . Indexes (1947-49=100) Feb. Apr. 1959 1958 133.7] 122.9 CEA Pes eet ee et 29} .48 97.0} 161.6] 205.9| 107.2 87) 91 137.4] 143.8) 145.3) 148.5 5.75 | 5,88 142.3] 145.4} 148.5) 139.2 128,3 | 2/133.9 V/ Represent average prices for one day (Monday or Tuesday) during the week in which the 15th of the month occurs, These prices are published as indicators of movement and not necessarily absolute level, Daily Market News Service “Fishery Products Reports’’ should be referred to for actual prices, 2/Revised, vin wnt | The April 1959 wholesale price index for the drawn, dressed, and whole finfish declined 7.6 percent from the preceding month due to a sharp seasonal drop (49.1 per- cent) in the drawn fresh haddock price and slightly lower wholesale prices for frozen halibut and yellow pike. In- creases in wholesale prices for whitefish (due to short supplies and good demand) and frozen salmon failed to off- set lower prices for the other subgroup items, The sub- group wholesale price index this April as compared with April a year ago was up by 14.8 percent due to higher Further declines in wholesale prices for domestic and imported frozen shrimp at Chicago and frozen haddock fillets at Boston from March to April this year resulted in a 4.2 percent decline in the index for the frozen proc- essed fish fillet and shellfish subgroup. From April 1958 to April this year the wholesale price index fell 3.1 percent due primarily to lower frozen shrimp prices (down 5.7 percent). Frozen fillet prices in April 1959 whencom- pared with April last year were unchanged, except for fro- _zen haddock fillets which were higher by 1.4 percent. 56 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 From March to April the over-all canned fish subgroup index dropped slightly (down 0.2 percent) due to a 5.4 per- cent lower canned California sardines price. Canned pink Salmon was up about 25 cents a case and the two other canned fish items (Maine sardines andtuna) were unchanged from March to April. Canned fish prices inApril this year were lower by 5.1 percent when compared with the same month in 1958. All canned fish products in the subgroup were lower except for Maine sardines which was up about 9.6 percent. The most pronounced change in price levels between April last year and April this year was for Cali- fornia sardines--down 37.9 percent. As of mid-April this year the market for canned Maine sardines and all types of canned salmon was firm, but the record-size pack of canned tuna was exerting some pressure on primary price levels for this product. The market for canned California sardines appeared tobe firmer following a price decrease and the remaining stocks from the 1958 pack are firmly held. an we! pails this manner. BOIL-IN-BAG FOOD PRODUCTS The housewife is now finding an ever-increasing variety of frozen food products packaged in airtight plastic bags. mersing the unopened bagin boiling water. Advocates of this method of pack- aging claim that plastic bags retain flavor even better than most other types of packaging and cooking. Using this method, a housewife can prepare as many as six courses with the use of a single pot of boiling water. Since this method of packaging and preparation seems to be "catching on,'' fish processors may wish to explore the possibility of using this packaging technique with fishery products. Afewfishery products are being packaged in The product is cooked by im- June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 57 International NORTHWEST PACIFIC FISHERIES COMMISSION RUSSIA MODIFIES PROPOSALS FOR JAPANESE NORTHWEST PACIFIC SALMON FISHING: On March 25 and 26,1959, the Soviet delegates to the North- west Pacific Fisheries Commission added tothe four salmon fishing areas already offered to the Japanese a fifth, ex- tending from175 E.to175 W. longitude; dropped their ear- lier demand that starting dates for fishing be prescribed; and made an initial catch quota of 50,000 metric tons to the Japanese, who had asked for 165,000 tons. The Japanese promptly termed the Soviet proposals unacceptable, but will continue to discuss them within the Commission. Oa March 7 the Soviet delegationtothe Japan-Soviet Com- mission for the Northwest Pacific Fisheries, currently holding its annual meeting at Tokyo, proposed a plan under which Japanese high-seas salmon fishing in 1959 would be confined to four areas west of 170° E. longitude. Both the opening and closing dates for fishing in these areas were to be prescribed, and in no case would the fishing period be longer than from June 1 to July 31. The Japanese rejected this plan out of hand, claiming that it was contrary to the spirit of the fisheries treaty, that the establishment of closed areas far off shore is without any sound basis in salmon conservation practice, and that the closing of large areas of the ocean is an infringement of ‘the freedom of the high seas."’ The Soviet delegation esti- mated that the Japanese would be able to catch as much as 70 percent of their average salmon catch of the past three years within the proposed fishing areas. The Japanese, on the other hand, estimated that they could not catch more than 30,000 to 40,000 tons within the proposedarea and time limitations. The negotiations were stalemated at this point for about two weeks, the Japanese refusing to discuss the Soviet pro- posal seriously until the Russians agreed to reveal their ideas on the total salmon catch quota for the Japanese fish- ery, and the Soviet delegation declining to talk catch quotas until the Japanese came to terms on fishing restrictions. Oa March 25 the Soviet delegation moved to break the deadlock by offering a modification of their original pro- posal. This modification, which was placed before the Com- mission in the morning and explained at a press conference in the afternoon by the chief Soviet spokesman, would more than double the area open to Japanese fishing under the first Russian plan. Not only would the original four areas in the west be slightly enlarged, but the whole area between 175 E. and 175° w. longitude would be added as a fifth fishing zone. As an additional concession, the Russians dropped their proposal to set dates for the beginning of fishing and set back the closing date for one fishing area by 5 days. The Japanese again rejected the new Soviet plan, stating that the same objections applied to it as to the original proposal. ‘‘Japanese experts’’ were quoted as saying that the newly proposed fifth fishing area, next to the Provisional Abstention Line of the International North Pacific Fisheries Convention, is one into which few salmon migrate, so that operations there could not be expected to add more than about 10,000 tons to the total catch. The Japanese delega- tion countered with a proposal that the restrictions im- posed on fishing areas last year be continued unchanged this year, These restrictions are simply closed zones 29 to 40 miles wide along the coasts of Soviet territory. Among the main Japanese arguments against the Soviet- proposed restrictions are the following: (1) Closed areas for conservation are biologically justified only in coastal areas, where the fish are densely congregated for their ascent of the spawning streams; (2) Tne arbitrary opening of passages for the migrating salmon between fishing areas to the coast is of little use because the paths of m‘gration of the fish vary unpredictably from year to year; (3) It is more rational and puts less pressure on the salmon stocks to disperse the mothership fleets widely, rather than concen- trate them withinsmallareas; (4) At lastyear’s conference, Japan agreed that the Sea of Okhotsk be closed to high-seas salmon fishing as a conservation measure from 1959o0n, No more closed areas should be established until the effects of the Okhotsk closing have been seen. At his press conference, the second that he has held during this year’s negotiations, the Soviet spokesman com- plained of the negative attitude shown by the Japanese side in rejecting all Soviet proposals without full discussion. He stressed that before the war Japan had imposed on the high-seas salmon fishery considerably more severe re- strictions than those whichtheU.S.S.R. is now proposing. At that time, he said, the number of motherships was limited to eight, the number of catch boats to 300, and the restric- tions on net mesh sizes and the number and dimensions of nets set were stricter than those now in force, The point of the Soviet spokesman’s statement which at- tracted greatest attention was his revelation that Russia plans to take only 95,000 tons of salmon in the Far East in 1959, as compared with catch goals of 120,000 tons in 1958 and 140,000 tons in 1957. Tne Japanese press, which is always looking for a hint of the Russian intentions with re- gard to the Japanese catch quota, seized on this datum as a base point for speculation. On the grounds that in past years’ negotiations the Soviet delegation has attempted to hold the Japanese catch quota 10,000 to 20,000 tons below the planned Soviet catch, it was predicted that the Russians would offer Japan a total quota of 80,000 to 90,000 tons of salmon. However, when the Soviet delegation, on March 26, made its first catch quota offer, the figure was only 50,000 tons, and this was coupled with a demand that the Japanese Govern- ment also take steps to restrict the catch in waters south of the treaty area, So meager a quota, in contrast with the original Japanese demand for 165,000 tons, was immediate- ly labeled as unacceptable by Japanese spokesmen, who pointed out that it would mean a cut of more than 50 percent in the scale of the high-seas salmon fishery. The Japanese Foreign Minister, the Chief Cabinet Secre- tary, and the Minister of Agriculture all were quoted as Saying that the time had not yet come to abandon hope of reaching a settlement within the Fisheries Commission, a type of statement which has of late become an almost auto- matic followup to each new development in the negotiations, Apparently neither side wants to be the first to call for “*Do- litical’’ negotiations. In view of the wide separation of the positions of the two national sections, however, it is being generally predicted that the final agreement will have to be reached at a higher level than the Commission, (United States Embassy dispatch from Tokyo, dated April 1, 1959.) 58 International (Contd.): TERRITORIAL WATERS FAROE ISLANDS FISHING LIMITS AGREEMENT WITH UNITED KING- DOM APPROVED BY DENMARK: The Danish Folketing with no dis- senting votes approved the Faroe Is- land-United Kingdom territorial waters fishing limits agreement on March 20. The agreement designates how close to the Faroe Islands coast British trawl- ers can fish ana is based on fishing limits of 6 plus 6 miles. Following a week of negotiations, the Faroese Pre- mier and his party returned to the Fa- roe Islands with the general agreement in their pockets not only for a substan- tial loan from Danish sources (exact a- mount undisclosed) for the Premier's development projects, but a commitment to introduce into the Faroe Islands the people's pension system now in force in Denmark and plans for improving other social legislation for the Faroes, (The United States Embassy of Copenhagen reports in a March 24, 1959, dispatch.) Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, May 1959, p. 92. WHALING ANTARCTIC WHALE OIL PRODUCTION LOWER IN 1958/59: Preliminary production data from 19 of the 20 whaling expeditions operating in the Antarctic in 1958/59 indicate a small decline in Antarctic whale-oil pro- duction despite an increase in the catch limit this year. The 1958/59 catch limit was 15,000 blue-whale units, 500 above 1957/58. Antarctic production by country (excluding the Soviet Union) for the 1957/58 and 1958/59 seasons was as follows: Country and No. peditions REYES 1957/58 South Georgia land stations .. . All 3 South Georgia iand stations (Nor- wegian, British, and Argentine) operated this season. The Norwegian station was inactive in 1957/58, reportedly for eco- nomic reasons. Output of the reactivated COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 station tended to offset the production decline by the 9 Norwegian factory- ships. 2k ok ok ok JAPANESE ANTARCTIC WHALING FLEETS HAVE SUCCESSFUL SEASON: The Antarctic baleen whaling season, which began January 7, 1959, came to an end on March 16 in east longitudes and on March 17 in west longitudes, with 20 fleets from five nations taking a total of 15,288 blue-whale units as against a planned limit of 15,000. By next season the whaling nations are expected to agree on a system of assignment of national catch quotas. The six Japanese fleets captured about 5,038 blue-whale units, nearly one-third of the total catch, and three of the Japa- nese factoryships exceeded their catch goals. In the sperm whaling season, which preceded the baleen season, the Japanese fleets also made a good record, taking 1,911 whales as compared with a goal of 1,700 whales (United Embassy in Tokyo, March 27, 1959). Sg PRODUCTION AND EXPORTS OF FISH MEAL AND OIL, 1957-1958: Production: gola's production of fish meal and oil dropped sharply in 1958 due primarily to a shortage of fish for re- duction into meal and oil. In 1958 only 45,034 metric tons of fish mealand 3,505 tons of fish oil were produced as com- pared with 85,205 tons of fish meal and 7,209 tons of fish oil in) 1957. Angola Exports: Fish meal exports (see table) by Angola in 1958 amounted to 81,243tons (value US$10.1 mil- lion) and in 1957 totaled 94,149 tons (value US$11.4 million). Exports of fish oil in 1958 totaled 8,559 tons, down 3,625 tons from FISH ore June 1959 Angola (Contd.): the 1957 exports of 12,184tons. Average prices f.o.b. Angolafor fish mealin 1958 were about US$124 aton, slightly higher than the average of $121.3latonfor 1957. The reverse was true for 1958 fish oil ex- ports--average f.o.b. pricesin 1958 were about $145.09 aton, down about $28 a ton from the 1957 average of $173 a ton, Table 1 - Angola's Explorts of Fish Oil and Meal in 1958 by Country of Destination Escudos 30, 200 3,751 164 United States... . Holland Mozambique .... Other countries 6 -| 81,243 289,599 10,073 Total Fish Meal i/Values converted at rate of 28.75 escudos equal US$1. In 1958, Germany was far the most important buyer of Angola's fish oil-- it bought 7,315 tons (value $1,050,000) or 85.5 percent of the 1958 total exports of 8,559 tons. Denmark was the only oth- er important buyer of Angola's fish oils. The United States was the leading buy- er of Angola's fish meal in 1958 with 26,954 tons or 33.2 percent of the 81,243- ton exports. In 1958, the Netherlands followed the United States with imports of 23,935 tons (29.5 percent) and Belgi- um-Luxemborg imported 9,681 tons or 11.9 percent, the United States Consul in Luanda reported on March 31, 1959. = FISHING INDUSTRY EXPANDING RAPIDILY: The increased catch of Brazil's ex- panding fishing fleets has reached such large proportions that Brazil has now become an exporter of fishery products. Brazil COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59 In only two years, fishery production of the Rio Grande de Sur area has increased tenfold. During the first half of 1958, Brazil exported to the United States some 500 metric tons of frozen tuna, valued at US$300,000. In 1957, Brazil exported a total of US$400,000 worth of spiny lob- sters to the United States. The Brazilian Government has estab- lished a program to increase fishery pro- duction, and fishery products exports. The Government plans to increase exports of tuna in 1959 to 15,000 tons, valued at US$9 million. The revenue from more exports will in turn further increase pro- duction. This increase in production is based on the use of modern fishing ves- sels manned by well-trained technicians, and continuing studies of Brazil's marine fauna, Brazilian fishermen are presently be- ing instructed in the use of modern fish- ing equipment by Japanese technicians from the five Japanese fishing companies now operating in Brazil. The contracts signed between the Japanese companies and the Brazilian Government stipulate that the Japanese must register their fish- ing vessels in Brazil after two years and that subordinate officers and two thirds of the crews of the fishing vessels must be Brazilian. Brazil also plans to expand its whaling industry. The whaling fleet captured 125 whales last season. The take during the coming season is expected to total 500. (Boletin de Informacion, No. 5, February 1959, Sindicato Nacional de la Pesca, Ma- drid, Spain.) British Guiana FISHERIES TRENDS, MARCH 1959: The fishing industry is not yet making a major contribution to the British Guiana economy; however, Government efforts to improve the industry appear to have been speeded up. The fact that imports of fish and fish products are substantial, and in 1958 totaled almost 6 million pounds, has enhanced the desire to increase local pro- duction. 60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW British Guiana (Contd.): The annual production of fish has been estimated arbitrarily to be about 20 million pounds, and it is believed that about 4,000 persons are employed in the industry. The main sources of fish pro- duction are the coastal mudflats and es- tuaries. Offshore fishing grounds (ex- cept for snapper) and inland river fish- eries are relatively untouched. The principal means of fishing are "pin" seines, ''Chinese'' seines, lines, and trawlers. The research vessel Cape St. Mary, has been continuing its survey opera- tions. This modern ship carried outa trawling survey of the continental shelf between 10 and 20 fathoms. A prelimi- nary review of the ship's work has re- sulted in an estimate that the most pro- ductive waters are at the shallower depths. The Government Wholesale Fish Mar- keting Centre continued to be the hub of the industry by purchasing all fish brought to it at fixed prices. With the Cape St. Mary bringing in trips averaging 35,000 pounds, however, the capacity of the Cen- tre frequently was overtaxed. In partic- ular, it was found that the cold-storage and ice-making facilities were very in- adequate. As a result of the relatively greater supply of fish, local prices of fresh fish were down from previous lev- els during most of the year. An United States enterprise continued shrimp trawling operations throughout the year. Due to a lack of success in finding adequate quantities of shrimp (only 1,839 pounds in 1958), however, ac- tivities were sharply curtailed in the lat- ter half of the year. As regards inland fisheries, the em- phasis continued to be on expanding the Government fish culture station at On- verwagt on the west coast of Berbice and encouraging the establishment of small brackish-water fish ponds, By the end of 1958, some 440 fish ponds were in ex- istence. These were stocked principally with Tilapia from the fish hatchery near Georgetown. Efforts continued, also, to encourage the establishment of large co- operative fish ponds. Vol. 21, No. 6 In July 1958 the Fisheries Sub-com- mittee of the Industrial Development Ad- visory Committee submitted a report which has been accepted as the basis for future fisheries development. The prin- cipal recommendations included govern- ment grants and loans for the construc- tion of trawlers; income tax and import duty concessions to fishermen; continua- tion of a guaranteed market; increased cold-storage and ice facilities; encourage- ment of fish cooperatives; the further de- velopment of fish culture and inland fish ponds; and further efforts to obtain addi- tional International Cooperation Adminis- tration (ICA) assistance. The subcommit- tee also considered but failed to make a definite recommendation concerning the proposal that the Government construct one or more fish processing plants for producing fish meal and salted, smoked, or canned fish. An ICA fishing expert, an experienced long-line snapper fisherman, visited Brit- ish Guiana during October and November to demonstrate the use of high-speed fish- ing reels and teach more efficient use of lines and ancillary equipment. ok ok ok HOPE FOR SHRIMP FISHERY REVIVED: Virtually lost hopes for shrimp fish- ing in the waters off British Guiana were revived by a recent announcement by a British Guiana company that it is plan- ning to undertake a new survey for shrimp off the coasts of the Guianas and northeast Brazil. The improved prospects, itseems, are based on a few good catches of shrimp which were made in March, suggesting the possibility that shrimp may be making an appearance in this area, According to the company's manager, the six-months survey will be made in association with several other United States shrimp fishing concerns. Report- edly, the companies will provide 12 shrimp trawlers, all of which will operate from Georgetown basing themselves at the fa- cilities of the British Guiana company. On April 8 and 9, four of the trawlers arrived at Georgetown amid a fair amount of publicity. The possible significance of a shrimp "strike'’ came in for some discussion in the press. A good shot-in-the-arm would June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61 British Guiana (Contd.): be provided to the struggling British Guiana fishing industry if shrimp are found in commercial quantities, states a United States Consul dispatch from Georgetown, dated April 13, 1959. — «ES British Honduras FISHERY PRODUCTS EXPORTS, 1958: Exports of fishery products by Brit- ish Honduras in 1958 amounted to 493,379 pounds (value US$173,512), higher by a- bout 31.3 percent in quantity and 29.0 percent in value as compared with 1957. Spiny lobsters (whole and tails) export- ed to the United States in 1958 totaled 369,028 pounds valued at $157,760. Dur- ing 1957, 195,639 pounds (value $110,601) and in 1956, 125,251 pounds (value $81,608) of whole and spiny lobster tails were exported to the United States. British Honduras Exports of Fishery Products, 1958 (Total Exports & Exports to United States) 1958 a Lbs. US$" 53, 377 26, 608 6,701 3,764 Saistisige Nel (a (6) e516 co Spiny lobster, whole and ‘ails: Totalvexports! sis sla slots 369,028 | 157,760 Pxportsito WU W Si. 60 aiswoucd os sus 324,768 | 149,740 Staite xports tise! ele} ars! els) e EX pOLtshtOMUeS steemeictielisis. sis Total all fishery products: POtallexportsies wale slist siheisice EX POKtS OM WolteiaNlsls els ellel le Exports of fish and shellfish to the United States from British Honduras in 1958 accounted for 71.4 percent of the volume and 88.6 percent of the value. In 1957 exports to the United States made up 62.0 percent of the volume and 87.7 percent of the value. (United States Con- sulate in Belize, March 24, 1959.) British West Indies SPINY LOBSTER FISHING PERMIT GRANTED FOR ST. VINCENT ISLAND: The St. Vincent Island Government has granted a permit for one year toa Trinidad company to fish for spiny lob- sters in waters adjacent to the Island. The company will be allowed to fish for spiny lobsters with pots only and has per- mission to fish out of and purchase spiny lobsters from the Grenadines. The fish- ing permit will be reviewed after one year. 1OeZy = - Canada NEWFOUNDLAND FISH PLANT PURCHASED BY UNITED STATES FIRM: The Newfoundland Minister of Fisher- ies announced in the House of Assembly on March 18, 1959, that the Fortune Fish Plant, located at Fortune on the south coast of Newfoundland, Canada, had been sold to a large United States fisheries firm with headquarters in Chicago, Il, The Fortune Fish Plant, built in 1952, was closed in September 1956. It was financed principally by government funds. Its closing caused much criticism and ap- proximately 225 persons were unemploy- ed. The construction of the fish plant in- creased the population of the small town of Fortune by 300 persons, many people in the surrounding district leaving their homes in isolated villages and bays to build new homes in the then thriving town of Fortune. It is expected that the plant will start operating in May 1959, and pro- vide employment for between 200 and 300 people, states a United States Consul dis- patch from St. John's, dated March 24, 1959. *K OK K OK OK NORTH PACIFIC HALIBUT REGULATIONS FOR 1959 APPROVED: The Pacific Halibut Fishery Regula- tions for 1959, as adopted by the Interna- tional Pacific Halibut Commission, were approved by the Canadian Government by Order-in-Council No. PC 1959-255 of March 5, 1959. (United States Embassy in Ottawa, April 7, 1959.) Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, April 1959, Doren a ae) 62 COMMERCIAL Cuba CLOSED SEASON FOR BULLFROGS AND CERTAIN FINFISH: The Cuban National Fisheries Insti- tute by Ministry of Agriculture resolu- tions published in the Official Gazette of April 1, 1959, imposed a closed sea- son on the capture of mojarras (perch), joturo, biajaca (tripletail), dajao, and bullfrogs. The closed seasons were ef- fective on April 1, 1959, and will remain in force until cancelled by subsequent resolutions, According to press reports, a group of bullfrog fishermen from the provinces of Las Villas and Habana requested that their union petition the Government to suspend the closed sea- son on the capture of bullfrogs, since such closed seasons had never been imposed in prior years before the end of the month of May. In addition to complaints that the closed season was premature and would deprive them of a source of income, the fishermen protest- ed that they were underpaid for fresh bullfrogs which could be sold at high prices in the United States by Cuban freezing plants (United States Embassy in Havana, April 10, 1959). 2k OK OK AK os CLOSED SEASONS FOR SHRIMP AND SPINY LOBSTER: The Cuban National Fisheries Insti- tute by a Ministry of Agriculture reso- lution published in the Official Gazette No, 40 of March 9, 1959, imposed a closed season on the capture of ocean shrimp and spiny lobster effective March 15, 1959, The closed spiny lob- ster season will remain in effect until cancelled by a subsequent resolution. A later resolution (Official Gazette March 18, 1959) canceled the closed sea- son for shrimp effective March 16,1959. The reason for the cancellation of the shrimp closed season was that the neces- sary studies warranting a closed season had not been realized (United States Em- bassy in Havana, dispatches dated March 12 and 25, 1959). FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 Denmark GREENLAND PERMITS ADDITIONAL FAROESE VESSELS TO FISH IN ITS WATERS: The Greenland National Council in Godthaab has agreed to grant their fellow Nationals from the Faroes the right to in- crease from 60 to 180 the number of Fa- roese boats fishing in Greenland waters and the right to erect a number of tem- porary stations on both coasts. The a- greement is valid for only one year and the Faroese must observe certain con- servation regulations. Negotiations for long-range joint ex- ploitation of the waters on an equal basis will take place this summer. The Green- land Council also gave notice of a desire for more money for its own vessels and canneries. (United States Embassy in Copenhagen, March 17, 1959.) ba Egypt CONTRACT WITH JAPAN FOR SHRIMP-FREEZING AND SARDINE- CANNING PLANTS SIGNED: An Egyptian Industrial Mission to Ja- pan, according to press reports, has sign- ed contracts with the Japanese for the con- struction of a shrimp-freezing plant (esti- mated cost about US$63,000) and a sardine preservation and canning plant. The con- tract for the plants was signed under an Egyptian-Japanese economic agreement, the United States Embassy in Cairo re- ported on March 19, 1959. JAPANESE RESEARCH VESSEL TO STUDY TUNA RESOURCES: The Japanese research vessel Shoyo Maru arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, dur- ing March to conduct exploratory fishing for tuna between Alexandria and Sollum (Libyan border). The project was ar- ranged by the Egyptian Ministry of Agri- culture and the Japanese Ministeries of Commerce and Industries. The Shoyo Maru was scheduled to explore for tuna between March 17-20 and later on to op- erate in the Red Sea, the United States June 1959 Egypt (Contd.): Embassy in Cairo reported on March 19, 1959. KK OK OK Ok MARKET FOR CANNED SARDINES: A market for California sardines (pilchards) in Egypt in the near future is not promising due to the scarcity of dollar exchange. Beforethe exchange problem became acute, Cali- fornia sardines were well known and liked in Egypt. Table 1 Country o anuar There is at present no production of canned sardines in Egypt, although, according to reports, a sardine canning plant is to be established in Egypt with the technical assist- ance of the Japanese. Canned sardines imported into Egypt are classified into two distinct groups: True sardines; and other canned fish COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW - Egypt's Imports of True Sardines, 1957 and Januar -June 1958 63 1959. At present, therefore, the market seems well supplied with this commodity. The most popular packing medium is natural, approxi- mately 90 percent of allimports. Tne most popular sizes of cans are the 5-oz, tall (about 60 percent), the 15-oz. tall (about 30 percent); all others about 10 percent, Although Japanese canners are generally able to quote better prices than their competitors in the United States, this is not the real problem of the inability of the United States firms to sell canned pilchards to Egypt at this time. The biggest marketing problem is the scarcity of dollar exchange with which to buy canned sardines from the United States. -June 1958 1957 SR OanuaryaneNOnS “Ey oe Comparative prices prevailing for Japanese canned mack- erel late in 1958 were as follows: 48 15-oz. tall, natural, US$7.10 per case, c.i.f. Port Said; and 100 5-oz, tall, natu- ral, US$7.00 per case, c.i.f. Port Said. Although the above were the original prices quoted by the Japanese late in 1958, a severe competition ensued 1 EG 84, 5 343 15 = 840.0 2, — 1/Mostly mackerel, Note: Values converted at rate of one Eq including pilchards, mackerel, anchovy, and herring, but not including tuna and salmon. Under normal import conditions, true sardines are imported largely from Portugal. However, in recent years, because of the scarcity of Portuguese for- eign exchange, imports of true sardines from Portugal have dropped considerably. Because of Egypt’s policy of preserving its limited supply of dollar exchange for more essential goods, no import licenses were issued in 1957 and in 1958 for the importation of pilchards, or other canned fish, from the United States. Although Japan is a normal source of canned fish for Egypt, imports of this commodity from that country dropped to a very low figure in 1958, also because of the scarcity of for- eign exchange to pay for such imports. however, Japan and the United Arab Republic signed a new Trade and Payments Agreement, as a result of which sub- stantial orders of canned fish (mostly mackerel) were booked for immediate shipment to Egypt. Stocks of canned sardines at the end of 1958 were very low. However, as a result of the trade agreement with Japan, new supplies of canned mackerel began to arrive early in On November 8, 1958, and including pilchards, anchovy, and herring but not including salmon and tuna. ptian pound equals US$2. 872. later among Japanese exporters resulting in the granting of additional discounts averaging 10 percent. South African sardines were quoted as follows: 48 1-1lb, tall, natural, a- bout US$6.53 per case, c. & f. Port Said. No business was concluded because of the lack of import licenses. (United States Consulate in Cairo dispatch dated March 24, 1959.) El Salvador FISHING INDUSTRY DEVELOPS SLOWLY: Fishing is probably El Salvador's most neglected available natural re- source. The present fishing fleet con- sists of only 16 sizable fishing boats. 64 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Viol) 215) Nowns El Salvador (Contd.): French trade sources indicate that further expansion of production in the Mediterranean, even in the presence of ate P greatly increased resources of sardines, is severely limited Although this is four times as many as by several factors. First, there is a shortage of canning there were a year ago, the Government facilities (in 1957, about three-quarters of the catch was con- : nye P f ae 0 sumed as fresh fish). Second, there is insufficient equipment, is avoiding issuing any additional licenses including a paucity of refrigerator ships, to handle large pending a propo sed technical study to catches. Third, it is unlikely that a greatly increased catch . . Rite could be disposed of profitably. determine whether operation of addition- P F “f al boats would deplete shrimp beds. France’s Sardine Landings (both Atlantic and Mediterranean Ports), 1955-58 Up to the present, the country has SS SSS SSS limited its fishing to shallow-water op- AA on Seo erations, specializing in shrimp. Lack of refrigeration in the coastal area has been a serious handicap but refrigera- tion installations are being established and so it may be expected that fishing 1/Estimated. as a source of cheap food and of foreign dished Lol ar exchange will expand within the next few greements, notablyeite iasecan, has traditionally peed fa years, There is no indication that deep- engagement to import sardines, in return for which the other sea fishing will be developed soon by Sal- | Smerwiec have «difficult time catering that meckeh me vadorans. (United States Embassy inSan lower price offered for sardines by other countries also has its effect on their inclusion in bilateral treaties. In addition, Salvador, February 16, 1 959.) it is not unusual for fishing boats to limit their catch, since the presence on the market of larger quantities might have a depressing effect. For the above reasons, trade sources do not believe that the French fishing industry will in the foreseeable future sup- ply a much greater percentage than at present of the 40,000 Fra nce metric tons of sardines consumed annually in France. (United States Embassy, Paris, report of March 11, 1959.) INSPECTION CONTROLS ESTABLISH- ED FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS: The French Government recently is- sued an edict which imposes inspection . controls on the preservation of fish and French West Africa shellfish. The inspection will be carried out by the Scientific and Technical Insti- tute of Marine Fisheries. i ‘ ; DAKAR'S TUNA FISHING INDUSTRY PROSPECTS UNFAVORABLE FOR SUMMER SEASON: In France there have been discussions on whether or not owners of vessels based in France fishing for ''white'' tuna should be allowed to participate in tuna fishing No shipments of preserved fishery products will be allowed without certifi- cates of inspection, The inspections will cover the freshness of fish and shellfish and also the additives and ingredients Cus Dele, used in the various types of processing. France's Comite du Thon (Tuna Com- mittee) does not oppose letting the tuna Violators of the new inspection con- vessels fish off Dakar if two problems trols will be subject to punishment rang- | can first be solved. The problems are ing from 10 days to three months inpris- | (1) the prices that canners would be will- on, and fines of 36,000 to 2,000,000francs| ing to pay for tuna in Dakar or French (US$734 to US$40,791). (Boletin de In- mainland ports and (2) how much tuna the formacion, Sindicato Nacional de la Pes- | canners could absorb in Dakar and the ca, Madrid, Spain, January 1959.) French mainland. eS fa) Ha Saas The price problem results because the final retail price of canned tuna must SARDINE FISHERY AND PROSPECTS FOR EXPANSION: not exceed 160 francs (38 U.S. cents) for The French Government's bureau for maritime fish re- 1 search, ‘‘L'Institut Scientifique et Technique des Peches a 212-gram (7.5-oz.) can. Dakar's can- Maritimes, pee announced that one ot its Penal ships neries havea capacity for approximately as reported the presence along the French Mediterranean p . coast of much larger schools of sardines than had previ- 5,000 metric tons of tuna for canning and ously been thought to exist there. subsequent shipment to the French main- June 1959 French West Africa (Contd.): land. In order to sell at the prescribed retail price, the canners cannot pay the fishermen for tuna more than 40-50 francs per kilogram (4.5-5.5 cents a pound). Also, the canned tuna produced to sell at the stipulated retail price will still be more expensive than the canned tuna offered by the competitive products from Japan and Peru. It is thought that only 2,000-3,000 tons of tuna caught off Dakar during the 1959 fishing season can be absorbed by French mainland canneries. This isa reduction in demand caused by a large 1958 production of cannedtuna by French mainland canneries, which used some 13,000 tons of ''white'' tuna in the sum- mer of 1958. Decisions will soon be made on wheth- er French tuna fishing vessels will be allowed to fish off Dakar. Regardless of the decisions made, and despite the fact that Japan has raised its prices of can- nedtuna, Dakar's tunaindustry prospects for the 1959 season donot look favorable. (Industria Conservera, November 1958.) ai German Federal Republic FISHING INDUSTRY AND EUROPEAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION: At the invitation of the Bremerhaven Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the West German Undersecretary of the Min- istry of Agriculture spoke on March 9, 1959, about European economic integra- tion and the position of the fishing trade. In his remarks to the fishing industry, the Undersecretary pointed out the multi- tude of problems prevailing at present in the West German fishing trade, resulting primarily from the necessity of fishing in distant waters, and the obsolete fish marketing system in West Germany. The speaker stated that essentially the fishing trade should solve its own problems rath- er than look for government support. In this connection, he suggested (1) the de- velopment of new types of factoryships and closer cooperation among the fishing companies to ensure not only a more uni- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 65 form fish supply to the West German market, but also more stable prices; (2) a reform of the present marketing sys- tem to speed up the handling of fish and to achieve an improvement of the quality of fish and fish products; and (3) the ex- pansion of deep-freezing facilities. The Undersecretary agreed that in some phases of such a wide-flung development program, limited government support might be inevitable to insure speedy re- sults. He also stated that the position of the West German fishing trade within the Eu ropean Economic Community is a strong one. However, he said, the German fish trade will include some formidable com- petitors, such as England, Norway, and Iceland, which have an export surplus of fish that equals about the entire West German fish production. While there is still time, the West German fishing trade should prepare itself for such keen inter- national competition. However, it will be essential for the West German Govern- ment, the speaker said, to avoid proceed- ing rashly in seeking to bring about such international competition. Bilateral a- greements may provide ameans of adjust- ing West German fish imports to its own production. (United States Consul dis- patch from Bremen, dated March 16, 1959) 2K ook OK oe Ok MARKET FOR CANNED SARDINES: In West Germany, canned California sardines (pilchards) are classified separately from other sardines, Although under existing legislation, pilchards may be sold as sardines, fish traders in West Germany prefer to market them as ‘‘California Pilchards.’’ They believe that these large sar- dines do not meet the German consumer's specifications for a sardine, and are anxious not to upset the carefully- cultivated brisling or sild-type sardine market in West Ger- many. California sardines were first marketed in Germany after World War I. In subsequent years, a modest market was created for this product. However, through the intro- duction of foreign-exchange controls by the Third Reich, imports of California sardines were discontinued in 1934. As a result of the liberalization of sardine imports by West Germany in 1956, California sardines have reappeared on the German market, As California sardines are not considered comparable with the sardine products imported from Portugal, French Morocco, and Yugoslavia, there is practically no competi- tion from other imports. However, California pilchards must compete with the abundant domestic supply of canned filleted herring offered in a large variety of packs, includ- ing tomato sauce. The German products are offered at prices which are substantially below those quoted for approx- imately comparable packs of California sardines; an oval can of German-packed filleted herring in tomato sauce, containing 270 grams (about 9-1/2 ozs.) of fish, is sold at a wholesale price of DM 0.60 to 0.68 (about 14.4-16.3 U. S, cents) per can, and a can containing 200 grams (about 7 ozs.) 66 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW German Federal Republic (Contd.): of filleted herring sells for DM 0.47 to 0.55 (about 11.3- 13.2 U. S. cents). An 8-ounce (about 227 grams) oblong can of California sardines packed in tomato sauce would sell for approximately DM 0.80 (about 19.2 U. S. cents) whole- sale. In spite of the higher cost, there appears to be a limited market for California sardines in West Germany, but only as a delicatessen item. Import trade sources stated that German fish dealers prefer one particular American brand of canned California sardines. They claim that this brand accounts for well over 90 percent of California sardines at present on the West German market. Although repeated attempts have been made to Sell other American brands, this has been found extremely difficult because of the un- receptive attitude of wnolesalers and retailers. West German canned fish importers state they have met with considerable difficulties in developing even a modest_ market for canned California sardines in the past few years. The first postwar deliveries in 1956 amounted to some 900 cases of 15-ounce cans of sardines, which were sold with considerable effort. In the following year no deliveries of California pilchards were made, allegedly because of great- ly reduced catches. In spite of this interruption in the sup- ply, West German importers in the fall of 1958 bought 500 cases of California sardines packed in 15-ounce cans at $9.50 per case, c.i.f. Hamburg, and 350 cases of 8-ounce cans at a price of $7.30 per case, c.i.f. Hamburg. These imports are selling slowly. The larger part of the ship- ment containing the 8-ounce cans is still unsold. In the meantime, the prices for these two types of packs have dropped to $8.50 and $7.10 c.i.f. Hamburg, respectively, much to the annoyance of the importers who had stocks on hand. Importers have not been able to expand the market even at the reduced prices. At present, South African or Japanese sardines are not sold on the West German market because the quality of some trial shipments received in 1957 and 1958 was not satisfactory. 1957-1958 Jan.-Nov, 1958 Jan.-Nov. 1957 Value Quantity Metric Tons DM_ | 1,000 9,086.5]19,700| 4,717 4,605.7 1,473.0 West German Imports of Canned Sardines ¥/ Country of sees 31,572] 7,559]11,739.2]27,874| 6,675 1/West German statistics do not differentiate between "Sardines" and "Pilchards. " West German importers stated unanimously that given a steady supply and more or less stable prices, it might be pos- sible to develop a market in West Germany for about 1,500 to 2,000 cases of 48 15-ounce cans per year of California sar- dines packed in tomato sauce. In their opinion, the price per case should not be much higher than $7.60 to $7.80 c.i.f. Ham- burg. This would enable the West German fish trade to sell the imported product at a retail price of about DM 1.50-DM 1.60 (35.9-38.3 U.S. cents) a can and thus compete with do- mestically-packed herring fillets. (United States Consul dis- patch from Bremen dated March 20, 1959.) QO Vol. 21, No. 6 Greece LOBSTER FISHERIES: There are three types of lobster gen- era found in Greek waters--Homarus vulgaris (two-claw Maine type), Astacus sp. (fresh-water crayfish), and Palinurus vulgaris (spiny lobster). The spiny lobster is found in all Ae- gean and Ionian Sea waters and is caught with both pots and nets. The lobster pots, baited with mackerel or octopus, are used for night fishing in calm waters. Nets are used with a mesh size of about 110 mm. (about 4.3 inches) and are set out early in the morning and lifted about four hours later and reset again and hauled back be- fore the end of the day. At the Island of Corfu long lines are used as well as pots, both of which are baited with fish. Ata number of fishing ports, the spiny lob- sters are maintained alive in natural hold- ing pounds and are fed with small fish and sea urchins (Alieia, March 1959). =p Indonesia JAPANESE TO AID IN ESTABLISHING A FISHING AND CANNING INDUSTRY IN WEST SUMATRA: Two Japanese fishing experts during March 1959 were making a survey of the Padang region of West Sumatra with an objective of establishing a sea fishing and canning industry in that area. The indus- try is to be financed by Japanese repara- tions and is sponsored by the Indonesian Ministry of Veterans Affairs, which sent the technicians to make the survey. Basic equipment and supplies will include a 30- 40 ton vessel with a 100 hp. engine, three 70 ton vessels of 200 hp., an ice plant with a daily capacity of ten tons, two freezing rooms, a cannery with a capacity of 200 cases of canned fish a day, and a fish meal factory. One of the Japanese technicians said the reason for establishing the industry in the Padang area was that West Suma- tra suffers an acute shortage of fish, with prices twice as high as in Djakarta (Unit- ed States Embassy in Djakarta, March 25, 1959). June 1959 Italy CANNED FISH PRICE TRENDS: Acute competition prevails within Italy's canned fish trade. Portuguese canned sardine prices have been lower- ed continually to meet Moroccan com- petition. Canned tuna from Japan is ex- pected to sell at prices higher than the Italian product which is priced at 550 to 580 liras per kilo (40-42 U.S. cents a pound). Italy's demand for canned fish centers mostly on "'extra'' quality merchandise. Spanish canned tuna sells for 790 liras per kilo (58 cents a pound) in Italy. The best quality canned anchovy is very high- priced inItaly due toa shortage of stocks. Italian stocks of canned cod have dimin- ished considerably. (Boletin de Informa- cion, Sindicato Nacional de la Pesca, Ma- drid, Spain, January 1959.) KOK AK I 3K PURCHASES OF JAPANESE-CAUGHT TUNA: In Italian fishing circles there is con- cern about Japanese vessels that have been fishing for tuna off the Canary Is- lands and selling it in Italian ports for prices below those asked by Sicilian tuna fishermen. Since it has become more difficultfor the Japanese to sell tuna to the United States, the Japanese have arranged to sell tuna to Italy by means of compen- sating tuna for rice. The Japanese sold about 10,000 metric tons of tuna to Italy in 1957, and considerably more in 1958. The tuna sold to Italy comes from Japa- nese fishing operations in equatorial wa- ters of the Atlantic. (Industria Conser- vera, November 1958.) Japan ATOMIC-POWERED FISHING VESSEL PLANNED: Plans for building the first atomic-powered fishing ves- sel for experimental purposes were announced at the sec- ond World Fishing Boat Congress, Food and Agriculture Organization Headquarters, Rome, by Professor Atsushi Takagi of the Department of Naval Architecture of the Uni- versity of Tokyo. The vessel will have a displacement of 3,000-4,000 tons and will be powered with an American-type reactor. It COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 67 will have a complement of 100, of which 50 would be sailors and 50 research experimenters. Of the research crew, 20 will act as observers and 30 will be responsible for han- dling the reactor. The reactor will be installed in a container and will use as fuel 29-percent condensed dioxidized uranium. For emergency use, a 120 hp. Diesel will be installed so that the boat can be navigated should the reactor be put out of use. Professor Takagi said that this was ‘‘our trial design which we hope will be as economical as possible, but it is up to the Japanese Government whether or not we shall get the necessary appropriation to construct the vessel. It is a very expensive project even for our proposal which is on a modest scale.’’ Professor Takagi went on to say that he believed that high-speed fishing boats driven by reactors will be coming into general use before 1970 and that the atomic energy in them would be used directly as power rather than through the use of boilers. ‘‘We can compare this transition with the change that took place when steam engines were replaced by Diesel engines,’’ he continued. ‘‘If the new atomic plant is com- pact and of light weight, it will certainly be used in fishing boats. We can also imagine that such an atomic plant would enable us to build subsurface fishing boats as the power required to drive them would not consume oxygen. Further- more, the development of electronics will be the means of introducing superior automatic control systems and with such boats will be able to trawl any depth in the sea, and submerge to the calm bottom in rough weather.’’ Earlier in his address Professor Takagi referred to the formation of the first atomic-powered industrial group in Japan which has been conducting research on a trial design of the smallest unit reactor for use in smaller vessels. The use of such reactors in experimental vessels would help to develop the technology involved in propelling boats by atomic energy. The American-type reactor (PWR), which the Japanese propose to use, has been selected because ‘‘it has already proven its value in vessels,’’ The reactor will be used to drive a 2-step reduction steam turbine developing 8,000 ship hp. at 200 revolutions per minute. The total weight of the reactor and its screen would be about 1,100 tons, of which 795 tons would be the weight of the shield. He OK oe OK OK CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS EXPORTS, 1958: Japanese exports of canned fishery products in 1958 to- taled 9,197,450 actualcases as comparedto 7,459,632 cases in 1957. This means that 73.4 percent of all canned food ex- ports in 1958 were fishery products while the balance con- sisted of agricultural and meat items. Total canned food exports in 1958 totaled 12,521,944 actual cases, 18 percent Table 1 - Japanese Exports of Canned Fishery Products, 1957-58 Product aren (Actual! Cases) \eucke ia. Crabimeatyere seis s! e's) = 621,278 601,343 nadir Ol Sree cionetsataletere 1,299,145 1,547,924 Hits Myr 6 no oO 2,031,584 1,744,260 (Duna Other 7). «ate c= = « 174,536 33,287 3,505,265 3,325,471 Sardine ce ter cee ° 669,492 789,973 Rete san seeecadsed 6 2,786,588 1,540,211 Otherwise ses tencrstate ioe 288,857 309,845 BS oi (a)! (0) oaits} olisftepalt= 339,333 222,842 site! eysale. 986,637 669,947 9,197,450 7,459,632 Total all fishery items. 68 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Japan (Contd.): more than in 1957. sociation says that 1958 canned food exports set a new all- time record, and the value of those exports in 1958 was up 40 percent, chiefly because a large amount of high-priced salmon was exported. The Japan Canned Food Exporters As- Canned tuna in oil was the only important fishery prod- uct which showed a drop in exports in 1958 as compared with1957. The biggest increase was in canned salmon, ex- ports of which in 1958 were 1,246,377 actual cases more thanin1957, Exports of canned tuna in brine, canned saury, and canned shellfish also increased substantially in 1958. Prior to 1958 the United States was the principal buyer of Japanese canned foods, but in 1958, because of Britain’s relaxation of import restrictions on canned salmon, Man- darin oranges, and other items, the United Kingdom be- came Japan’s best canned foods customer. The United States was second followed by the Philippines and West Germany. CANNED WHITE MEAT TUNA IN BRINE PRICE CUT PROPOSED: A price cut on white meat tuna canned in brine sold to the United States was discussed on April 3, 1959, at a joint sales committee meeting of the Japan Canned Food Exporters Association in Japan. The problem of the next ''sale- out'' was also discussed. New York importers of Japanese can- ned tuna have been asking for a $1.00 per case cut on canned white meat tuna in brine in order to promote the sale of that product, But the Japanese packers have been talking of a cut of 50 cents a case because the ex-vessel price for the fish is high. The decision was scheduled to be made about mid-April. BES eg bd DROP IN RAINBOW TROUT EXPORTS TO UNITED STATES CAUSES CONCERN: The recent substantial drop in Japa- nese exports of frozen rainbow trout to the United States is causing concern among exporters of that product in Japan. The export price has dropped by about 13 cents a pound from the 49 cents a pound c.i.f. prevailing in the summer of 1958, For the first three months this year only about 150 metric tons have been shipped.to the United States. In all of 1957 a total of 1,200 tons were ship- ped to the United States, but in 1958 ex- ports dropped to 900 tons. The Japanese contend that the drop in sales to the United States is due to the Vol. 21, No. 6 improved sales methods and incentives by Danish exporters of rainbow trout. Because of this, the Japanese are con- sidering the need of setting up a sales system, agreeing on export prices, or establishing an export quota for rainbow trout. 1K OK KOK EXPORTS OF FROZEN TUNA TO EUROPE EXPANDING: A direct export of frozen tuna to Yu- goslavia was reported in March by a Japa- nese fishery company. The same com- pany, according to reports, has also con- cluded a similar contract with a buyer in Greece. In addition, two other Japanese firms are accepting offers from Turkey. A sample of frozen tuna early this year was shipped to West Germany and the Netherlands. The price of these offers to Europe is $280-290 a metric ton c.i.f. the European country. The Japanese are enthusiastic about this new outlet for frozen tuna, and it is considered a blessing to Japanese Atlantic tuna clippers because their land- ings in Italy have been restricted to only two times a year on the basis of the latest agreement, kok 3k Ok ok KING CRAB PRODUCTION PROSPECTS, 1959: The Japanese 5,000-ton king crab fac- toryship Tokei Maru, sailed from Hako- date, Japan, on Aprill for her annualtrip to the fishing grounds off the north shore of the Alaska Peninsula, The Tokei Maru is the only Japanese king crab factoryship operating in the Bristol Bay area. As in the past, the factoryship (operated jointly by three large Japanese fishing companies) will employ two 108-ton fishing vessels and 8 Kawasaki boats, and will be fishing until about July 15, 1959. In their license application, submitted on March 24, 1959, the operating compa- nies asked for an increase in the quota from the 57,000-case limit of the past two years to 70,000 cases, Since the per- mitted five-+percent allowance for error has resulted in a pack of 59,850 cases in each of the past two years, it is expected that the pack this year will be about 73,500 cases, As reasons justifying their request June 1959 Japan (Contd.): for an increase, the companies cited last year's satisfactory catch rate of about 11 crabs per shackle of net, the good re- covery rate of 18.9 crabs per case, and the fleet's ability to attain its catch goal well withinthe scheduledtime. The Japa- nese Fisheries Agency, in granting the request, agreed that the Bristol Bay king crab resource appears to be in a healthy condition. The Agency further noted that, since last year, American crab trawlers, who had been fishing the same grounds as the Japanese shifted their efforts to new grounds south of the Aleutians, thus removing some fishing pressure from the resource exploited by the Tokei Ma- ru. The Agency emphasized that the new pack quota limit has been granted for one year only and that the effect on the king crab population will be studied carefully before any decision is made to continue fishing at the new high level. In the other Japanese king crab fac- toryship fishery, that of the Sea of Ok- hotsk, prospects are less bright. On March 31, in the first session of the Ja- pan-Soviet Fisheries Commission to deal with king crab, the Soviet delega- tion proposed that the Japanese catch be cut to 200,000 cases from last year's 320,000 cases, at the same time offering to reduce their own production from 340,000 to 300,000 cases. The Soviets also proposed allocation of definite fish- ing areas to the fleets of each country, shortening of the fishing period, cutting down the amounts of net set, and short- ening the length of time that nets can be left in the water. The Japanese delega- tion’, while admitting that the king crab population of the Sea of Okhotsk shows signs of a decline, rejected the Soviet proposals as unnecessarily severe and unwarranted by conservation considera- tions. The press quoted industry sources as saying that the proposed allocation of fishing grounds gave all of the good grounds to the Soviet fleets. mK OOK OK OK OK PROBLEMS ARISE IN INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES: King crab: During the second week of April the Japa- nese-Soviet Northwest Pacific Fisheries Commission came to agreement on king crab catch quotas and fishing restric- \tions for the grounds west of Kamchatka in the 1959 season, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 69 The Japanese industry was forced to accept a cut of more than 10 percent in its production quota to 280,000 cases as compared with 320,000 cases last year, but it will be able to continue operating four fleets as in past years. Although Japanese king crab fishermen have gained a 20-percent in- crease in their catch quota for the eastern Bering Sea this year, they seem to be facing serious trouble elsewhere. Land-based vessels from Hokkaido, which recently opened their regular seasonal fishing off the Maritime Province, were reported to have found crabs abundant and to be mak- ing fine catches. The Japanese fisheries press has carried reports that four Soviet fleets of fast vessels have appeared on the same grounds and are systematically raiding and sabotaging the Japanese nets. Two of the Japanese com- panies report more than 8,000 units of crab not damaged or lost already, and it is being predicted that the Japanese fishermen may have to abandon the grounds until the Russians leave. Salmon: In negotiations on the Northwest Pacific salm- on mothership fishery, the Soviets have raised their catch quota offer from 50,000 to 70,000 metric tons (the 1958 Japanese quota was 120,000 tons) and have modified their demands for establishment of new areas closed to fishing. They are still insisting, however, on a large closed area east of the northern Kuriles to allow salmon to migrate from the Pacific into the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Japanese seem to be faced with a choice of accepting new area restrictions, which might prove to be permanent, or resigning themselves to a drastic cut in their catch quota. A Japanese newspaper on April 16 stated that the three largest mothership operating companies are planning to withdraw one fleet each from serv- ice this year, cutting the Japanese high-seas salmon fishing fleets from 16 to 13. Tuna: One consequence of the increasingly slim future in prospect for the Japanese mothership salmon fishery has been a determined movement by salmon boat operators to get government approval to engage in mothership-type tuna fishing. Beginning in Hokkaido about a month ago, this move- ment has met strong opposition from tuna boat owners, who fear overproduction of tuna. In its statement of tuna mother- ship fishery licensing policies for 1959, announced on April 8, the Japanese Fisheries Agency approved for the first time participation in mothership fleets by vessels primarily li- censed for other fisheries. It was made clear at the same time, however, that there would be no increase in the over-all catch limit of 13,600 tons for the mothership tuna fishery. Pearl Shell: A cutback is also in prospect for the pearl- shell fishery of the Arafura Sea off Australia, a relatively small-scale operation but one which is of local importance to the port of Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture. The Austral- ian Government is reportedly asking that the Japanese catch be cut to 375 tons from last year’s 470 tons. The matter was discussed at Tokyo in March between the Foreign Ministers of Japan and Australia, and the Australian position is said to have been very firm. It is estimated that the catch limit pro- posed by Australia will mean a reduction of the Japanese pearling fleet from 15 to 12 or fewer boats, the United States Embassy in Tokyo reported on April 17, 1959. se se sk sk Ok oe te ney ok) i TARGETS FOR 1959 FISHERY PRODUCTS EXPORTS REVISED: On March 31, 1959, the Japanese Ag- ricultural and Fisheries Products Export Committee of the Ministry of Internation- al Trade and Industry set export goalsfor the 1959 export year of US$117,348 ,000 worth of canned fishery products and $60,612,000 worth of other fishery prod- ucts (exclusive of fats and oils). The total, $177,960,000, is about 10 percent above the 1958 goal, but is little, if any, 70 Japan (Contd.): above last year's actual exports, as in- dicated by preliminary estimates. These estimates were revised upward from preliminary estimates. The following figures are the targets for major canned fish products exports in 1959: canned tuna, 3,445,000 cases ($27,757,000); salmon, 2,210,000 cases ($55,250,000); crab, 555,000 cases ($11,460,000), sardines and saury, 1,845,000 cases ($11,849,000). For oth- er important fishery exports, these goals have been set: frozen tuna, 118,300tons ($27,776,000); frozen swordfish, 5,000 tons ($3,500,000); cultured pearls, 74,430 pounds ($20,250,000); agar-agar, 1,500,000 pounds ($1,800,000); salted and dried fish- ery products, 17,000 tons ($7,286,000). Somewhat more detailed figures on the canned goods categories were pub- lished about a week before the committee meetings. It is interesting to note that almost all categories were revised up- ward during the meetings. The prelimi- nary figures were: 2,206,000 cases of tuna in brine and 1,100,000 cases of tuna in oil; 2,100,000 cases of salmon; 500,000 cases of crab; 900,000 cases of sardines; and 1,000,000 cases of saury. The Committee made a number of interesting recommendations, among them the formation of a joint Govern- ment-industry headquarters for fighting import restrictions against frozen prod- ucts; inclusion of sardines and saury in reparations for the Philippines, Indone- sia, and Burma; increased Government efforts to secure larger import quotas for canned fish in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern countries; increased can- ned salmon and crab quotas in the new Japan-France trade agreement; efforts to get the United States canned tuna ''glob- al quota'' allotted among exporting coun- tries on the basis of past records; and simplification of procedures for sending money abroad needed to pay expenses of fighting import restrictions and tariff in- creases, (United States Embassy dis- patch from Tokyo, dated April 9, 1959.) Note: Also see Commercial Fisheries Review, May 1959, p. 64. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 Korea FISHERY PRODUCTS EXPORT PROGRAM FOR 1959: The Korean Fishery Bureau of the Of- fice of Marine Affairs has announced its target for the export of fishery products in 1959 as 14,500 metric tons (26 differ- ent categories) valued at US$7.5 million, more than double the 1958 export value. Dried cuttlefish (4,200 tons--$1.5 million), agar-agar (500 tons--$1.5 million), fresh and live fish (4,000 tons--$960,000), laver or edible seaweed (200 tons--$800,000), and canned fish (823 tons--$722,000) ac- count for 72 percent of the exports pro- grammed, Increasing exports (from 5,065 tons in 1955 to 11,048 tons in 1958) of sea- food in recent years have constituted a bright spot in the generally unsuccessful efforts of Korea to better its balance of trade. A Korean mackerel seiner equipped with a power block for hauling in the huge net. Financing has been one of the key dif- ficulties in expanding the potential of Ko- rean fishery production and exports. A leading frozen shrimp processing firm, with modern facilities, is ready to export to the United States market if requisite loans to finance initial exports can be ob- tained, the United States Embassy inSeoul reported on March 27, 1959. te sk ok OK Ok FISHING INDUSTRY EXPANDS WITH HELP OF FOREIGN AID: The U. S. Office of Economic Coopera- tion (OEC) fisheries program, carried out jointly with the Korean Bureau of Marine Affairs, benefits almost exclusively indi- vidual fishermen and their guild associa- June 1959 Korea (Contd.): tions. Among the many activities which serve to strengthen the Korean fisheries industry are the construction of 359 boats up to 80 tons in size (most of them in private shipyards in Korea), establish- ment, from counterpart funds, of a Fish- eries Revolving Fund to supply short- term operating capital to fishery activi- ties; construction of modern buildings for storage and equipment; improvement of methods of processing of fishery prod- ucts (including exports); and instruction in the use of new types of fishing gear. With these and other activities, the OEC has helped the Korean fishing industry to expand rapidly. The annual landings of fish and other seafood by Republic of Korea fishing ves- sels were about 500,000 metric tons in 1958, as compared to only 250,000 tons in 1954. During 1958, the fishing industry exported US$2.2 million worth of products out of a total of $16.3 million of exports. Mexico ENSENADA AREA PRODUCTION OF FISHERY PRODUCTS, 1957-58: Landings of finfish in the Ensenada area (Baja California) of Mexico were up about 82.3 percent due to sharply higher exico's Ensenada Area Production ~ . (1,000 Lbs.). . 32,594 Jack mackerel Rock cod Barracuda Bonito Pollock . Production of Other Marine Products: Marine algae COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW (al landings of sardines (pilchards) and a fourfold increase in the landings of tuna. Landings of shellfish dropped slightly (about 4.1 percent). Production of processed or manufac- tured fishery products was down about 41.8 percent due to much lower production of seaweed or kelp (down 49.0 per- cent). The production of fishery products in 1958 reflects the situation prevailing in Southern California--more plen- tiful supplies of sardines and the increasing shortage of available beds of marine algae. 7K OK OK OK Ae WEST COAST SHRIMP FISHERY TRENDS, MARCH 1959: The shrimp fishery off the Mexican west coast of Sinaloa and Sonora experi- enced a steady decline in catches during the first quarter of 1959. Catches at Ma- zatlan, for example, amounted to only 244 tons in February as compared with 900 tons in November of 1958. A similar drop was experienced during the first quarter of 1958 and the industry is at loss to ex- plain this seasonal decline. Some hope has been expressed that the Federal Goyv- ernment announced change of the ''closed season'' from March 25-May 15 to July 15- September 15 might result in both in- creased catches and larger shrimp (Unit- ed States Consul in Nogales reported on March 31, 1959). Morocco FISHING OF SPINY LOBSTERS BY VESSELS OVER 20 TONS PROHIBITED: A two-year prohibition against the capture of spiny lobsters and related spe- cies in Moroccan territorial waters by vessels over 20 tons was announced by the Government on February 28, 1959. The regulations were effective on March10, 1959, The regulations restricting the spiny lobster fishing to small vessels was a- dopted as a conservation measure. The small size of the spiny lobsters taken in Morocco's territorial waters indicates overfishing. In October 1958 rules and regulations were established for inland waters, per- taining to fishing preserves, sport and commercial licenses, species of fish that can be legally caught, legal lengths, and daily catch quotas. The new regulations are the first ma- jor revision of Morocco's fishing laws 72 Morocco (Contd.): and regulations since 1922. (The United States Consul dispatch dated March 20, 1959, from Casablanca.) Netherlands BUILDING 32 STEEL FISHING VESSELS FOR DENMARK: A Netherlands shipbuilding company of Monnikendam, near Amsterdam, with the assistance of several small ship- building firms, has received an order for 32 steel vessels for delivery to Den- mark. The cutters will be about 82 feet long, of 90-95 tons, and powered with 260-300 horsepower engines. The cut- ters will be used in the Danish fishing industry whichis presently changing over from wooden fishing vessels to steel ves- sels. (United States Consul dispatch from Amsterdam, dated March 20,1959.) KK oe OK oe NEW FACTORYSHIP TRAWLER: The new 572-ton factoryship trawler, the Rotterdam, will join the Netherlands fishing fleet in July 1959. This will be the first vessel of this type to fly the Dutch flag. The vessel will have a ca- pacity of 5,000 crates of fish, 980 of which canbe stored in the cold-storage hold and 4,020 inthe cooler-hold. In addition, the vessel will be able to carry 56 metric tons of fish oil and 60 tons of fish meal. The Rotterdam will be ableto stay atsea for 35 days. (United States Consul dis- patch from Amsterdam, dated Febru- ary 19519595) ote Iie] He) loki coe NORWAY'S OFFER FOR WHALING FACTORYSHIP UNACCEPTABLE: The President of the Netherlands Whaling Company has termed the Nor- wegian offer of fl. 30 million (about US$7.9 million) for the factoryship Wil- lem Barendsz unacceptable. The Nor- wegian offer, he said, did not include pur- chase of the whale catchers and the tank- er Bloemendael which also belong to the company. The replacement cost of the Barendsz today is about fl.42 million COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 (US$11.1 million). Moreover the Bloe- mendael, under the Norwegian terms, could not be used for whaling again and the whole offer was too doubtful since it was based on Norwegian take-over of the Dutch blue-whale quota under the Inter- national Whaling Agreement. (The United States Consul dispatch from The Hague, dated March 20, 1959.) New Hebrides TUNA INDUSTRY AIDS ECONOMY: The only significant economic advance made during 1958 in the New Hebrides was the opening of a fish cannery at San- tos. Frozen tuna valued at LSt.382,156 (about US$964,000) accounted for the ma- jor portion of the increase of exports from the Condominium in 1958, The can- nery, inoperation most of the year, proved to be an excellent source of overseas earn- ings for the Territory and is one of the few important and successful industrial or commercial developments in the South Pacific area in recent years. In 1958 the New Hebrides exported 3,509 metric tons of frozen fish (valued at US$964,000) and imported 210 tons of canned fish valued at about US$69,400, the United States Consul at Suva, Fiji, reported on March 11, 1959. @ fs Nicaragua SHRIMP FISHERY TRENDS, DECEMBER 1958: By the end of December 1958, eight companies had applied to the Nicaraguan Office of Natural Resources of the Minis- try of Economy for fishing exploitation licenses. Previously fishing was done under exploration licenses that expired December 31. Six of the applying com- panies are American; one is incorporated in Panama, but believed to be American capital; and the eighth is incorporated in Nicaragua, but believed to be French capital. The Nicaraguan corporation also has applied for a license to grow oysters in Laguna de Perlas north of Bluefields. June 1959 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 73 Nicaragua (Contd.): Shrimp exports during the last quar- ter of 1958 amounted to 314,000 pounds, FISH CONSUMPTION UP IN 1958: Norwegians consumed 130,000 metric tons of fish in 1958, an average of about 82 pounds a person, according to a Nor- valued at $162,700. As many as 80boats | wegian Government press release, an in- were fishing at one time, according to a February 13, 1959, dispatch from the United States Embassy in Managua. yen DISPUTE OVER ENDING SUBSIDY ON FISH FOR FILLETING AND FREEZING CONTINUES: The dispute between the fish freezing and filleting industry and the North Nor- way Fishermen's Marketing Association (Norges Raafisklag) over the discontinu- ance by the Association of the subsidy on fish sold to the frozen fish industry has assumed wider proportions and, accord- ing to the industry, has affected the sales prospects of Norwegian frozen fillets in foreign markets. The Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Norway, and also Chairman of the Commission which re- cently investigated the profitability of the fisheries, has now entered the dis- pute, Norway According to a press account of an address he made in Trondheim on A- pril 15, 1959, he spoke critically of the Association's action, describing it as discriminatory and shortsighted. He in- timated that there are many who ques- tion whether the organization should con- tinue to have the right to establish the prices fishermen shall receive for their catches. He conceded that the freezing and filleting industry, because of its high- er quality requirements, should pay a somewhat higher price than the drying and salting sector, but argued that the price should take into account changes in the volume of fish supplies and in the market conditions for frozen fish fillets. He also stated that the fishermen should, in the long run, be able to operate profit- ably without Government price supports, but that, for the time being, such support is absolutely necessary, acc rding to an April 17, 1959, dispatch from the United States Embassy in Oslo. *K ok ok OK OK crease of 3 percent over 1957. Norway exported 525,000 tons of fish and fish products in 1958, about 14 per- cent less than in 1957. OK ke ok Ok FISHERMEN SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT: Representatives of the Norwegian fish- ermen's organizations and the fishing in- dustry have met with officials of the Min- istry of Fisheries to seek assistance from the Government for the fishermen who are in economic difficulties as a result of the poor herring and cod catches during the 1959 winter fishery season. Following the meeting, the Govern- ment announced that it would ask the Stor- ting to increase the subsidy to the cod fish- ermen by 2 million kroner (US$280,000) to 34 million kroner (US$4,760,000) in 1959. The funds will be used to support mini- mum prices and to subsidize part of the cost of fishing equipment and bait. The Government also announced that it will in the course of the year submit proposals to the Storting based on the recommendations of the Brofoss Report for increasing the profitability of the fish- eries. The president of Norges Raafisk- lag, the Norwegian fishermen's associa- tion, reportedly has expressed his satis- faction with the Government's decision to increase the subsidies and has called off the fishermen's strike which he had threatened would take place in April, the United States Embassy in Oslo reported on April 4, 1959. kK ok ok MOST OF 1958/59 WHALE OIL PRODUCTION SOLD: According to press reports from San- defjord, Norway, the Norwegian whaling companies have contracted for the sale of 91,500 long tons of whale oil from the 1958/59 season's production to United Kingdom and Norwegian processors at £72 10s. (about US$204.36) per long ton. 74 Norway (Contd.): Some 9,500 long tons of whale oil from this season's production had been sold earlier from 174-75 (about $208-211) per long ton. Thus, nearly all the anticipated pro- duction of the Norwegian Antarctic ex- peditions during the current whaling sea- son has been sold. Last season's Nor- wegian production was sold at an aver- age of 1.72 (about $203) per long ton, a decrease of £13 (about $36.50) compared to the average price obtained during the two previous seasons, A large portion of the 1957/58 season's production re- mained unsold until the middle of 1958. A Sandefjord newspaper which re- flects the views of the Norwegian whal- ing industry, stated that the prices ob- tained this year must be considered sat- isfactory in view of the state of the mar- ket for whale oil, the United States Em- bassy in Oslo reported on March 6, 1959, dk oe oie ste 3c SUBSIDY ON FISH FOR FREEZING AND FILLETING TO BE ENDED: The Norwegian Fishermen's Associa- tion has decided that it will discontinue its subsidy on sales of raw fish to the fish freezing and filleting industry. As a result the industry is faced with the prospect of paying higher prices to the fishermen in order to obtain supplies of fresh fish and the need to increase the price of its products. The industry is very concerned over this development, which it fears would seriously affect the ability of Norwegian frozen fish fillets to compete in foreign markets, and is protesting vigorously against it. If the protest is unsuccessful and the parties are unable to reach agree- ment, the Government may be forced to intervene in order to settle the dispute, according to a March dispatch from the United States Embassy in Oslo. rns ted Ent End Es VALUE OF FISHERY PRODUCTS EXPORTS TO UNITED STATES HIGHER IN 1958: Exports of fish and fish products (in- cludes frozen fish fillets but excludesfish COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 meal) by Norway to the United States in 1958 increased in value from about 75,1 million kroner (US$10.5 million) in 1957 to almost 90.0 million kroner ($11.3 mil- lion) in 1958, an increase of 7.8 percent. During the same period exports of fish meal and kelp decreased about 77 per- cent, from 3.7 million kroner ($515,000) to 0.8 million kroner ($119,000). The increase in value of exports to the United States of fish and fish products was due primarily to greater sales offro- zen fish fillets. Fish fillet exports, which were valued at 6.6 million kroner (about $924,000) in 1957, rose to 14 millionkron- er (about $1,961,000) in 1958. Trade sources report that the prospects are ex- cellent for increased sales of fillets on the American market, provided that suf- ficient fish is available. Poor catches in recent years have resulted in raw mate- rial shortages at the freezing plants, Can- ned fish, primarily sardines and kippers, represent the bulk of Norwegian fish ex- ports to the United States, and were val- ued at 50.6 million kroner (US$7,087,000) in 1958, slightly below the previous year. Norwegian fish canners are not optimis- tic over 1959 prospects. Poor catches and rising costs have caused concern over the competitive position of that industry. Norwegian canneries will be pleased if the 1958 level of canned fish exports to the United States is maintained. Herring meal exports to the United States virtually ceased in 1958. To some extent this was the result of the poor Nor- wegian herring catch, but a downward trend in Norwegian fish meal exports to the United States has been noted in recent years, Norwegian fish meal exporters have found it increasingly difficult to com- pete with other types of feeds on the A- merican market, and have been able to obtain better prices for their product in Europe, according to a March 20, 1959, dispatch from the United States Embassy at Oslo. He oe ke ok oe WINTER HERRING FISHERY FAILED AGAIN IN 1959: For the second consecutive year Nor- way's winter herring fishery has been a failure. With the end of the large and spring herring (winter herring) fishing season on April 8, the total catch was June 1959 Norway (Contd.): only about 413,850 metric tons, or about 20.3 percent above the 344,053 tons caught during the very poor 1958 season, Fishing during the early and most pro- ductive part of the season was hamper- ed severely by storms. The spring her- ring landings for the latter half of the season amounted to only 92,535 tons (value US$15.7 million), the lowest in 20 years. The fishermen and fish meal and oil reduction plants are equipped to catch and process close to 1,116,000 tons dur- ing the fishing season of about 11-12 weeks. Landings of at least 744,000 tons are needed to insure a profitable season. As a result of the two successive failures of the winter herring fishery, the fisher- men are in severe financial difficulties and the reduction plants have worked at only a fraction of their capacity, accord- ing to an April 10, 1959, dispatch from the United States Embassy at Oslo. oi EXPORTS OF MARINE PRODUCTS, OCTOBER-DECEMBER AND YEAR 1958: Exports of marine products by Peru in October-Decem- ber 1958 amounted to 56,085 metric tons (valued at US$7.3 million). During the year 1958 exports totaled 161,656 tons valued at US$22.0 million. Fish meal was the leading item exported in terms of both tonnage and value. Peru Peruvian Exports of Principal Marine Products, October-December 1958 and Year 1958 4th Quarter 1958/ Year 19584 Marine Products 1,000, Fish meal... Fish, frozen, canned, etc. . 7,618 Fertilizer ele. fe\ fe\"s 1,270 1,103 Whale oil.... 181.4 {7,299 |161.656 }512.3 |21,986 A/F.0.b. values converted at rate of 24.85 soles equal US$1 for 4th quarter 1958. 2/F.o.b. values converted at rate of 23.30 soles equal US$1 for year 1958. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 73 Philippines CANNED FISH RETAIL AND WHOLE- SALE PRICES, MARCH 16, 1959: Retail and wholesale prices on March 16, 1959, for canned sardines and canned salmon in Manila were: Wholesale Retail US$/cs. US¢/can Canned Sardines: (48 15-oz. cans) (15-0z.) U. S. brand 12.00-12.75 27 .5-32.5 Japan brand tS 7AS) 25.0-27.5 Canned Salmon: (48 16-02. cans) Ss braxdg2"5.he 29.00 67.5-75.0 Nt CANNED FISH EXPORTS, 1958: Portugal's exports of canned fish dur- ing 1958 amounted to 68,102 metric tons (4,217,000 cases), valued at US$36.0 mil- lion as compared with 58,407 tons, val- ued at US$35.0 million in 1957. Sardines in olive oil exported during 1958 amounted to 48,373 tons, valued at US$25.2 million. Portugal Portuguese Canned Fish Exports, 1957-1958 Sardine in olive oil Sardinelike fish in olive oil Sardine & sardinelike fish in brine Tuna & tunalike fish in olive oil 68, 102 | 36, 002[ 58, 407 134, 958 During 1958, the leading canned fish buyer was Germany with 11,744 tons (val- ued at US$6.3 million), followed by Italy with 11,123 tons (valued at US$5.7 mil- lion), Great Britain with 7,983 tons (val- ued at US$4.0 million), the United States with 6,399 tons (valued at US$4.5 million), and Belgium-Luxembourg with 4,922 tons (valued at US$2.5 million). Exports to the United States included 2,713 tons of anchovies, 2,540 tons of sardines, and165 tons of tuna. (Conservas de Peixe, Feb- ruary 1959.) Tl Kk Ok ok 76 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 Portugal (Contd.): CANNED FISH PACK, JANUARY-OCTOBER 1958: The total pack of canned fish for Jan- uary-October 1958 amounted to 46,580 metric tons as compared with 45,874 tons for the same period in 1957. Can- ned sardines in oil (31,198 tons) account- ed for 67.0 percent of the January-Octo- ber 1958 total pack, higher by 27.4 per- cent than the pack of 24,482 tons for the same period of 1957, the February 1959 Conservas de Peixe reports. Portuguese Canned Fish Pack, January -October 1958 Net Canners' Product Weight Value In Olive Oil: Sardines wesw aepe cet ur-risiciis Sardinelikelfishyasenicuememeie cle Anchovy fillets ©) 2). ye ) @) ANDER Gio o16 Oo Ooo oro OO 0 Other species (incl. shellfish) . lin Brine: Sardinelike fishy (che) 1.) ete tethe Otherispecies Uva aemsulemsiatony« 46,580 24, 883 INote: Values converted at rate of 28.75 escudos equals US$1. 1 3K OK ok ok FISHERIES TRENDS, DECEMBER 1958: Sardine Fishing: During December 1958, the Portuguese fishing fleet landed 11,395 metric tons of sardines (valued at US$829,252 ex-vessel or about $72.80 a ton). In December 1957, a total of 12,488 tons of sardines was landed (valued at US$1,270,000). Canneries purchased 49.2 percent or 5,609 tons of the sardines (valued at US$413,843 ex-vessel or about $73.80 a ton) during December. Only 139 tons were salted, and the balance of 5,647tons was purchased for the fresh fish market. Other Fishing: The December 1958 landings of fish other than sardines were principally 3,968 tons of anchovies (value US$425,.774), 3,304 tons of chinchards (value US$102,956), 435 tons of tuna (val- ue US$101,461), 190 tons of mackerel (value US$13,983), and 32 tons of bonito (value US$5,183). (Conservas de Peixe, February 1959.) pa Gores as South-West Africa FISHING INDUSTRY HAS GOOD YEAR IN 1958 DUE TO RECORD CANNED PILCHARD PRODUCTION: - The fishing industry of South-West Africa as a whole recorded a highly suc- cessful year due to a record production of canned pilchards at Walvis Bay (56,422 tons as compared with 42,838 tons in 1957). The rock or spiny lobster indus- try centered in Luderitz was less success- ful due mainly to generally unfavorable weather conditions which reduced the landings tonearly half of normal. The catch of white fish, which is of relatively minor importance when compared with pilchards or lobsters, also dropped con- siderably in 1958 due to the fact that few- er boats came up from Union of South Africa waters to fish for snoek. Income of the fishing industry was estimated at about 1.8.5 (US$238 million) as compared with 17.3 (US$20.4 million) in 1957. A firm demand existed through- out the year for fish meal and canned fish at favorable prices, but the price of fish- body oil declined. All pilchard factories at Walvis Bay, however, are in the fortu- nate position of being able to pump their fish oil directly to dock-side storage tanks for bulk shipments. By chartering bulk cargo vessels, the industry has saved very substantial sums in shipping fish oil, primarily to Europe. The exceptionally profitable year ex- perienced by the pilchard industry is due to the excellent condition of the fish which made it possible to can a higher than nor- mal preportion of the catch. The oil con- tent of the fish was also above normal thereby enabling factories to recover nearly 20 percent more fish oil than in 1957. There has been no change in the policy regarding annual quota limits on the total catch of pilchards (250,000 metric tons) and on the export of lobsters (3 million pounds). These quotas are apportioned between the six pilchard factories at Wal- vis Bay and the six lobster canning and freezing factories at Luderitz. There is a strong possibility that the 250,000-ton quota for pilchards will be revised up- ward this year to 260,000 tons but will then include both pilchards and maasbank- June 1959 South-West Africa (Contd.): er. A small quantity of maasbanker are caught in the Walvis Bay area but are not now under a quota restriction as is the case in the Union of South Africa. It is improbable, however, that any further increases, other than that noted, will be permitted in the near future with respect to the total catch of fish or the number of factories operating in the territory. Although pilchards are plentiful in the Walvis Bay area and the annual 250,000-ton catch could easily be ex- ceeded, the Administration is clearly determined to limit the catch to the pres- ent level until such time as it has been established through research that a great- er rate of exploitation will not deplete this natural resource. The Government is continuing with a very active fisheries research program in which it works closely with the Union of South Africa's Department of Fisher - ies, There are two research stations in the territory, one at Luderitz and the other at Walvis Bay. A new and larger research station is now under construc- tion at the latter port. The Administra- tion also owns and operates three re- search vessels and is commissioning a fourth vessel in April, 1959. The outlook for 1959 is encouraging. Although it is expected that the market for canned pilchards will be weakened by intensified competition, fish meal prices and sales are promising. Spiny lobster catches at Luderitz have also been exceptionally high in 1959. The lobster catch for the early part of 1959 is already approaching the total landed during the entire year of 1958. There is some speculation to the effect that the spiny lobster export quota may be tem- porarily increased for 1959 as a means of compensating the industry for the poor catch last year. It is not improbable that the Administration may consent to such a measure especially since the pilchard catch in Union of South Africa waters was allowed to exceed the quota limit in 1958 for a similar reason. Since spiny lobster catches in Union waters have also been heavy there is every likelihood that there will be a very COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 77 substantial increase in exports of frozen spiny lobster tails to the United States in 1959. (United States Consul in Cape Town reported in a recent dispatch.) Spain BILBAO FISHERIES TRENDS, MARCH 1959: During the middle of March the Bermeo fleet of 7 vessels fishing for tuna off the waters of Dakarin French West Afri- ca returned to its home port. The operation this year (the thirdin as many years) was more successful, due principally to better transportation for the fresh tuna from the fishing grounds to the temporary storage facilities in Dakar. This year five transport vessels were used instead of the twopre- viously available for transhipment of the fish. The fishing vessels returning home with about 115 metric tons of tuna, averaged 7 to 8 tons per work day, although a record haul of 20 tons in a single day was made by one of the vessels, Financially, this year was a huge success. Each vessel earned 920,000 pesetas (about US$21,905) almost double the earnings ofa single vessel during the first year, One vessel, the Siempre Santa Maria was shipwrecked early in the sea- son, Its owners, however, will share in the profits of the other vessels, In contrast to the financially successful operations of the Dakar tuna fleet, the 105 vessels of the same type and ton- nage which remained in Bermeo during the winter season and fished in home waters caught fish (mackerel, sea~breams, anchovies, etc.) worth about US$175,000 or about US$1,667 per vessel. The winter season for the local fishermen in Bermeo was disastrous, mainly because of the lack of salted bait. On this account many of the craft were unable to put out to-sea for several weeks at a time. The hardships suf- fered by the fishermen and their families this winter were such that the Brotherhood of Fishermen in Bermeo was obliged to distribute cash donations among its members, Each fisherman received about US$11.90 at Christmas time and at New Year’s an additional US$9.52. As the cash re- serves of the Brotherhood were not sufficient to take care of all the needs, it applied to a local bank for a loan. Al- together, the Brotherhood distributed the sum of about US$36,321 as outright donations and US$19,833 as loan ad- vancements which the fishermen will repay whenever they can, On the occasion of the recent renewal of the commercial treaty between Spain and Iceland, the Icelandic Ambassador to France, also accredited to Spain as Minister, spoke to a high official of the Spanish Ministry of Commerce who was very much interested in the possibility of importing frozen cod from Iceland for sale by the Spanish Government through its supermarket outlets. The Spanish official talked about importing an initial amount of 2,000-5,000 tons of frozen cod within the near future. This, in the opinion of the Bilbao representative of the Union of Icelandic Fish Producers, seems to be entirely out of the question at present, since Spain does not have suitable or sufficient refrigeration fa- cilities to import such large amounts of frozen cod, accord- ing to a dispatch dated April 8, 1959 from the United States Consul in Bilbao. OOK 3K OK OK TUNA FISHING INDUSTRY EXPANDING: Spain’s most commercially-important tunas are bluefin (Thunnus thynnus) and albacore, which are referred to as “‘red tuna’ and ‘‘white tuna,’” respectively. Spanish can- neries usually process all tunas in the same manner, gen- erally labeling them with the common name of tuna. Spain’s principal fishery zone for albacore and bonito is the North, where fleets of vessels from the Cantabrica and Northeast regions have fished successfully for many years. Spain has also begun to fish in the subtropical waters of the East Atlantic--an area which is considered to have excellent prospects, 78 Spain (Contd.): The north fishery zone has developed into a major fishery area because the fishing fleets of the north and northwestern ports of Spain have been the only fleets to pursue tuna fishing on a large scale. These fleets have not limited their opera- tions to fishing for bonito off the Spanish coast but have also fished off West Africa for tropical tuna. Spain’s Landings of Tuna and Tunalike Fish, 1953-57 Millions of Pesetas Tons 42,409.8 489.6 40,380.2 408.8 36,822.3 243.9 41,480.8 302.8 32,987.3 253.9 Note: Values for 1953-56 converted at the rate of 30.42 Spanish pesetas equals US$1, Values for 1957 converted at the rate of 42.00 pesetas equals US$1. Except for unusually high landings in 1954, the table shows that tuna landings have increased steadily, Statistics on the 1958 landings have not yet been compiled, but it is estimated that the 1958 landings were higher than in 1957. The Basque bonito fleet, operating out of the port of Las Palmas, Grand Canary Island, fished southern waters for tropical tuna. Although the landings form a small part of the total, they deserve mention. During the 1956/57 season, the Basque fleet landed about 1.3 million pounds of tuna. The landings inthe 1957/58 season increased to about 3,5 million pounds, The 1958/59 season is expected to also be very suc- cessful for the Basque fleet, especially since the fleet includes several refrigerated vessels. (Industria Conservera, Vigo, Spain, December 1958.) OK Kk VIGO FISHERIES TRENDS, MARCH 1959: Fish Exchange: Landings of fish and shellfish in March 1959 at the Vigo Fish Exchange totaled 4,735 metric tons, an increase of 203 tons over the preceding month and 511 tons more than March 1958. Major species sold over the exchange in March 1959 were: pomfret 1,957 tons; small hake 1,160 tons; and horse mackerel 440 tons, March 1959 landings were valued at US$1,319,000 (US$1.00 = 42 pesetas), adecline of US$65,000 from the pre- ceding month, but higher by US$345,000 as compared with March 1958, The landings at the exchange from January-March 1959 totaled 15,097 tons, a drop of 7,730 tons from the last quar- ter of 1958, but an increase of 3,616 tons over the same period in 1958. In the first quarter of 1959 landings were valued at US$3,894,000, about US$1,075,000 above the Jan- uary~- March 1958 value. Fish Canning and Processing: Canners at Vigopurchased only 82 tons of fish and shellfish from the exchange during March this year. During March 1958 the canners purchased 321 tons. In the first quarter of 1959 the canners purchased only 583 metric tons, a decline of 4,676 tons from the last quar- ter of 1958, but an increase of 93 tons over the first quar- ter of 1958. Marketing Trends: Following a year of good catches in 1958, the canners expect good supplies in 1959 when the sardines and albacore reappear. But pessimism prevails as to the market for canned fishery products. Predictions were that sardines would be plentiful with lifting of the closed season during April. Due to the tinplate shortage, canners fear ‘‘starvation in the midst of plenty.’’ In ad- dition, canners felt that the prices of fish and shellfish are too high. Since early 1958 sardine prices have risen 80 per- cent, anchovies 125 percent, and skipper 100 percent. The one exception among the major fishery products was alba- core tuna which declined about 5 percent. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol, 21, No. 6 As aresult of the higher raw material costs, Spanish canned fish products are becoming a luxury item in the domestic market and are being priced out of the world mar- ket. Ex-vessel prices for sardines in Portugal are about 50 percent lower than the prices paid to the Spanish vessels. Due to increasing costs, Spanish bankers were screening early spring loan applications carefully. Canned stocks normally decrease during late winter and early spring because of increased consumer demand for higher-quality ‘‘aged’’ stocks, but canned albacore tuna stocks have moved slowly through April as a result of in- creased catches in southern Europe in1958. The new canning season will be in full swing by June or July. Government Loans to Fishing Industry: The Central Bank of Maritime Credit of the Marine Social Institute has granted a loan of about US$236,000 to the Shipowner’s Co- operative of Cadiz for the construction of an ice plant with a daily capacity of 300 tons. In January the same bank granted loans of US$371,000 for construction and overhaul- ing of fishing vessels and for improvements in shore-based fishery plants. Loans made by this bank during the past 15 years have totaled US$143 million, Sweden BIOLOGY OF WHITING STUDIED: The Swedish fishery research vessel Skagerack returned to Goteborg in March ter a month's trip to the North Sea and the Skagerrak. The trip was part of a 6- year research program for the purpose of investigating the biology of whiting. After the survey has been completed itis expected that a review of the whiting's life and habits over a period of one year will have been recorded. An abundance of research material was obtained. No results, however, have as yet been published, except for the com- ment of the leader of the expedition to the effect that it was found that at this time of the year large whiting are found only inone area of the North Sea, namely the Eger- sund Bank. Trawling took place every day and the whiting caught were carefully analyzed. Every single fish was measured andscale samples were examined to determine the age. Efforts were also made to determine the existence of different races by record- ing the area, time, and age of maturity. Other studies were also made for the International Council for Exploration of the Sea, for example the relationship be- tween trawl mesh size and the size of the fish caught. An international convention contains regulations as to the size ofmesh which may be used for different kinds of June 1959 Sweden (Contd.): fish, and it was desired to find out how this works out in practice. It was found that the fiber used in the trawl plays an important part. A trawl made of artifi- cial fibers, for example, retains larger fish than one with the same size of mesh made of manila. Local sources state that a new con- vention on trawl-mesh size may there- fore be needed, and for this reason pre- liminary investigations of this nature are being made (United States Consul in Goteborg reported on March 25, 1959). Switzerland MARKET FOR CANNED SARDINES: Imports of California sardines (pilchards) by Switzerland are included under tariff No. 89a, entitled ‘‘Sardines (pil- chards) and herring in tomato sauce; preserved salmon,."’ Official customs statistics do not separate pilchards from herring and salmon imports. According to 1958 figures, imports totaled 774.6 metric tons valued at about 2.0 million Swiss francs (US$466,000). Switzerland’s Imports of Canned Sardines (Pilchards) and Herring in Tomato Sauce and Preserved Salmon Country of Origin Metric COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Tons 357.7 39.4 51.9 68.7 36.8 West Germany supplied 148.8 tons under tariff item 89a, valued at 457,849 francs (US$106,000) and Holland, 29.7 tons valued at 271,542 francs (US$63,000). It is believed, how- ever, that in the exports of these two countries to Switzer- land no sardines were included. Switzerland’s per capita consumption of fish is one of the lowest in Europe in spite of publicity campaigns by the im- porters. While some consumer groups still consider fish to be a luxury, the main reason is apparently that the average Swiss does not care for fish in general. The demand for both California and Japanese pilchards is considered fair. In 1958 the suppliers’ quotations for canned California pilchards in tomato sauce sold in oval cans was US$7.25 per case (48 cans of 15 oz. each) landed aboard ship California while the Japanese exporters offered the same quantity at US$8.50 c.&f. Antwerp. Freight and duty per can amounted to Swiss francs 0.28 (6.5 U. S, cents) for California Sardines and Swiss francs 0.21 (4.9 cents) for Japanese pil- chards. Wholesale costs per can were reported to be forU.S. pilchards Swiss francs 0.93 (21.6 cents) and for Japanese Swiss francs 0.97 (22.5 cents). Tne wholesaler’s margin of profit in both instances is 10 percent. Prospects for considerably increased Swiss fish consump- tion in the near future are small. On the other hand consump- tion of seafood is increasing as indicated by the fact that in 79 1958 imports of lobsters, oysters, and mussels exceeded the highs of the boom year of 1957. (United States Embassy in Bern reported on March 24, 1959.) Trinidad PLANS FOR TUNA PROCESSING PLANT PROGRESSING: Plans for a new tuna processing plant in Trinidad are moving steadily ahead, The executive vice-president of the new company has completed arrangements with the Government for a factory site. A consulting engineering firm has been asked to prepare plans so that construc- tion tenders can be requested. The total investment is expected to be about US$5,300,000. Capital will be pro- vided by Hong Kong interests, a well- known local industrialist, and by some other Trinidadian investors. A Japanese firm will supply 5 or more fishing ves- sels that are expected to fish for tuna off Africa and Latin America. The plant will have freezing and cold- storage units as wellas processing and can- ning facilities. Canned tuna is expected to be the most important product with the United States as a main market. There should be no problem in selling locally large quantities of fish meal, an impor- tant byproduct of the operations. The plant may also be used on a modest scale to process local fruits and vegetables for consumption in the local area as well as for export. Union of South Africa FISH MEAL MARKETING PROSPECTS GOOD: The general manager of a group of fishing companies operating in the Union and South-West Africa stated in Cape Town in mid-March that prospects for the marketing of fish meal were excel- lent this year. He reported that the in- dustry already had entered into contracts to supply 74,000 metric tons of fish meal at higher prices than ever before, prin- cipally to Great Britain and other Euro- pean countries. 80 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Union of South Africa (Contd.): Fish meal exports from the Union and South-West Africa totaled 57,244 short tons in 1957 and 83,481 tons in the period January 1-November 30, 1958. While optimistic about prospects for marketing fish meal, the industry antic- ipates some problems in marketing can- ned pilchards, particularly in the Far East and the Philippines, due largely to Japanese competition. He OK OK oe Ok SHORE BASED WHALING PRODUCTION, 1957-1958: Union of South Africa's whale kill by the Durban shore-based fleet was slight- ly higher in 1958 than in 1957 (1,616 as compared with 1,606 whales), but the over-all yield of oil and whale byprod- ucts was down about 2.5 percent. The total value of the 1958 catch was about US$2,938,000 (SAE£1,050,000). Union of South Africa's Production of Whale and Sperm Oils and Byproducts, 1957-1958 ale meat extract. itamin oils The Union of South Africa has not participated in Antarctic whaling opera- tions since the Abraham Larsen whale Viol. 21 33sNonas factoryship was sold to Japan at the end of the 1956/57 season. Venezuela MARKET FOR CANNED SARDINES: Leading Venezuelan importers, in- cluding a large chain of supermarkets, catering to the large foreign colony, re- port that they ceased importing sardines due to the November 30, 1958, duty in- crease from Bs 2.00 to Bs 8.00 a kilo (about US$0.27-1.09 a pound). They neith- er import now nor see future importation as a possibility. Over one-fourth of all sardines canned in Venezuela are packed in the 130-gram (about 4.6-0z.) flat square can, This pack retails at Bs 0.50 a can (15 U. S. cents). The Bs 1.04 (31.2 cents) duty on this can forces the imported product up to a re- tail price of Bs1.54 (46.2 cents), even higher if freight costs are not offset by high local production costs, and this dif- ference is even more pronounced in the heavier packs, The imported products cannot compete at three times the price, particularly with local sardines of satis- factory quality in a variety of packs on the market. The Venezuelan market for imported sardines is virtually gone and future ex- ports of sardines to Venezuela will be in- significant unless present duties are drop- ped. This is extremely unlikely, states a United States Embassy dispatch from Caracas, dated March 25. June 1959 Federal Trade Commission CALIFORNIA CANNER OF FISHERY PRODUCTS DENIES CHARGES OF ILLEGAL BROKERAGE PAYMENTS: A San Francisco, Calif., canner of fish and fish products on April 23, 1959, denied (Answer 7438 Food Products) Federal Trade Commission charges of illegal brokerage payments to food chain customers and asked that the complaint be dismissed. The San Francisco firm is a buyer, processor, and canner of fish and fish products, plus other food products. The firm sells its products nationally, both through brokers who are paid a 23 per- cent commission and directly to large food chain retailers. The Commission's complaint of May 18, 1958, alleged that the firm vi- olated Sec. 2(c) of the Robinson-Patman Amendment to the Clayton Act by grant- ing various chains allowances in lieu of brokerage on direct purchases in their own names or for their own accounts for resale. The company asks that the complaint be dismissed. OK ok ok Ok SALMON CANNER ORDERED TO STOP PAYMENT OF ILLEGAL BROKERAGE: The Federal Trade Commission on April 9, 1959, ordered (Order 7201 Canned Seafood) a Seattle, Wash., salm- on canner and its vice-president to stop making unlawful brokerage payments to customers. The Commission adopted Hearing Examiner Loren H. Laughlin's initial decision based on the evidence present- ed by its counsel. The respondents FEDERAL ACTIONS COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 81 neither answered the complaint of July 22, 1958, nor appeared at the hear- ing. The examiner had found that the com- pany granted discounts or allowance in lieu of brokerage or price concessions reflecting brokerage in selling both its own seafood pack and that of other pack- ers for whichit acted as primarybroker. Agreeing that these payments are for- bidden by Sec. 2(c) of the Robinson-Pat- man Amendment to the Clayton Act, the Commission ordered them stopped. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ANTIBIOTIC USE APPROVED TO AID IN MAINTAINING QUALITY OF FRESH FISHERY PRODUCTS: The use of an antibiotic to aid in keep- ing certain fresh-caught fish and shell- fish in sound condition was authorized on April 21, 1959, for the first time by the Food and Drug Administration in an order setting a safe limit on the amount that may remain in these foods without harm to the consumer. The order allows commercial fish- ermen to use an antibiotic known as chlorotetracycline on fresh-caught whole, headed, and gutted fish, shucked scallops, and unpeeled shrimp. It does not allow use of the antibiotic on proc- essed seafood products, including fish cuts, steaks, and fillets, peeled shrimp, and shucked oysters. The Agency point- ed out that chlorotetracycline has been used on uncooked poultry since 1955 82 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW and extensive data on its safety are a- vailable. A minute amount will remain in fresh fishery products treated with the antibi- otic and will not always be removed in cooking, the Agency said. The Agency's scientists and physicians have deter- mined from all available data and feed- ing tests that this amount of chlorote- tracycline can be consumed without harm, even by the very few exceptional persons who may have developed a sen- sitivity to antibiotics. The law requires the label of treated fishery products to show the fish con- tains chlorotetracycline and that it has a preservative effect. Commercial fishermen may use the antibiotic as a dip or in the ice as anaid to keep their catch in sound condition. They may not use the antibiotic in place Title 21—FO0D AND DRUGS Chapter [—Food and Drug Adminis- tration, Department of Health, Edu- cation, and Welfare SUBCHAPTER B—FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS PART 120—TOLERANCES AND EX- EMPTIONS FROM TOLERANCES FOR PESTICIDE CHEMICALS IN OR ON RAW AGRICULTURAL COM- MODITIES Tolerances for Residues of Chlortetracycline A petition was filed with the Food and Drug Administration by the American Cyanamid Company, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20, New York, requesting the establishment of tolerances for resi- dues of chlortetracycline in or on fish (vertebrate) and any cuts therefrom, oysters (shucked), scallops (shucked), shrimp (peeled), shrimp (unpeeled), each in uncooked form. Tolerances to permit application of chlortetracycline to certain of these seafood products are not being established in this order be- cause they are products of plant proc- essing rather than raw agricultural commodities. The Secretary of Agriculture has certi- fied that this pesticide chemical is useful for the purposes for which tolerances are being established. After consideration of the data sub- mitted in the petition and other relevant material which show that the tolerance established in this order will protect the public health, and by virtue of the au- thority vested in the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (sec. 408(d)(2), 68 Stat. 512; 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(2)) and delegated to the Com- missioner _of Food_and Drugs by the Also see Commercial Fish. eries Reyiew, March 1958, p. 98. Note: Vol. 21, No. 6 of adequate refrigeration, nor, because of its use, neglect to maintain thorough- ly clean conditions aboard their boats for assurance of clean, wholesome fish- ery products. The order sets 5 parts per million as the maximum amount of chlorotetra- cycline that may legally remain on fresh-caught unprocessed fishery prod- ucts. The order became effective on publication in the Federal Register of April 21. The action was taken in response to a petition by American Cyanamid Com- pany, New York City, for establishment of a tolerance of 5 parts per million for use of chlorotetracycline on fresh fish and any cuts from it, shucked oysters, shucked scallops, and shrimp, both peel- ed and unpeeled. The regulations as printed in the Federal Register of April 21, 1959 follow: Secretary (21 CFR 120.7(g)), the regu- lations for tolerances for pesticide chem- icals in or on raw agricultural com- modities (23 F.R. 6403) are amended by changing § 120.117 to read es follows: § 120.117 Tolerances for residues of chlortetracycline. Tolerances are established for residues of.chlortetracycline as follows: (a) 7 parts per million in or on un- cooked poultry. This tolerance Tevel shall not be exceeded in any part of the poultry. (b) 5 parts per million in or on fish (vertebrate), scallops (shucked), shrimp (unpeeled), from application for re- tardation of spoilage to whole, headed, or gutted fish (vertebrate); scallops (shucked) ; shrimp (unpeeled); each in fresh, uncooked, unfrozen form. Any person who will be adversely af- fected by the foregoing order may, at any time prior to the thirtieth day from the effective date thereof, file with the Hear- ing Clerk, Department of Health, Edu- cation, and Welfare, Room 5440, 330 Independence Avenue SW., Washington 25, D.C., written objections thereto. Ob- jections shall show wherein the person filing will be adversely affected by this order, specify with particularity the pro- visions of the order deemed objectionable and reasonable grounds for the objec- tions, and request a public hearing upon the objections. Objections may be ac- companied by a memorandum or brief in support thereof. All documents shall be filed in quintuplicate. Effective date. This order shall be effective upon publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER. (Sec. 408(d)(2), 68 Stat. 612; 21 U.S.C. 346a(d) (2) ) Dated: April 14, 1959. [SEAL] Gero, P, Larrick, Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Spain: Bilbao Fisheries Trends, March 1959 Tuna Fishing Industry Expanding .. . Vigo Fisheries Trends, March 1959 Sweden: Biology of Whiting Studied Switzerland: Market for Canned Sardines .................. Trinidad: Plans for Tuna Processing Plant Progressing ...... Union of South Africa: Fish Meal Marketing Prospects Good ........... Shore Based Whaling Production, 1957-1958 Venezuela: Market for Canned Sardines Igo ONE NCU OLEH So sas GOO Mao oo aS Jaga ao Federal Trade Commission: California Canner of Fishery Products Denies Charges of Dlegal Brokerage Payments ..°............-. Salmon Canner Ordered to Stop Payment of Illegal IBROKEKAPe ec ctcie iyo) siecle Wie aie went cpa. = aeons nonete Department of Health, Education, and Welfare: Food and Drug Administration: Antibiotic Use Approved to Aid in Maintaining Quality of Fresh Fishery Products Department of the Interior: Fish and Wildlife Service; Fishing Vessel Mortgage Insurance Procedures... . Transfer of Fish and Wildlife Management to Alaska Approved Regulations Close Bristol Bay, Alaska, to Commercial Redisalmon Wishing soceeus i aes sole sienene nae ere Department of the Treasury: Bureau of Customs: Regulation on Labelling of Imported Frozen Fresh- Watery Miron tiiarcsi talon ien elise ieitsl'= tee tenses) ol eine) Eighty-Sixth Congress (First Session) RISHERY INDICATORS: icicles sme encnene ie cies cenonone Chart 1 - Fishery Landings for Selected States Chart 2 - Landings for Selected Fisheries ......... Chart 3 - Cold-Storage Holdings and Freezings of Fish- EL yee NOUUCTA UE aus te tere lateneee tenet al cbaies ts ieee oie ist oie ene Chart 4 - Receipts and Cold-Storage Holdings of Fishery Products at Principal Distribution Centers ........ Chart 5 - Fish Meal and Oil Production - U. S. and ATA SKS. cleunkeus oa coh ee acent eben ies sheas eases ania oie Chart 6 - Canned Packs of Selected Fishery Products Chart 7 - U. S. Fishery Products Imports RECENT FISHERY PUBLICATIONS: ........... Fish and Wildlife Service Publications Miscellaneous Publications INT.DUP.,D.C.59- 56293 ib ital 100 100 SUCCESSFUL FRESH-FISH RETAILING The essential ingredients of fresh-fish retailing, as practiced by aleading Eastern chain store organization were published recently by Supermarket News. Quality, a large variety of fish, and customer service were named as the princi- pal factorsfor success. As aresult, sales areup. Peo- ple make special stops to buy their fish and shellfish at those stores. Emphasis on quality extends through the entire operation until the final sale to the customer. Whenever possible, this chain store organization requests its suppliers to use water- proof-corrugated card- board boxes with a 50- pound capacity rather than the larger wooden contain- ers. They claim that this not only enables easier a handling, but is more sanitary and results in better qualityfish. Further, since the cardboard boxes are cheaper, they are disposable, thus eliminating the dangers of a high bacterial count after use. Fish received at the company warehouses are inspected by aseafood buyer and shipped out to its stores the same day. Store personnel are instructed to supervise continuously the quality of the fish, and are warned never tosell any fish that isn't perfect. Each of the stores in this chain has a self-contained fish department with its own cabinets, storage facilities for fresh fish, its ownice-making machine, and other important features for adequate customer service. This chain always sells a full variety of all available fish, which are cleaned and prepared for cooking in the manner requested by the customer. Fish depart- ment managers are trained to advise consumers how to cook each species of fish, and can suggest various recipes. Hs AYSY¥EBX 72 SBS COMMERCIAL BE WEE Uz! FISHERIES RE Ee ge ys cnptemehabe Vol. 21, No.2a FEBRUARY - SUPPLEMENT 1959 FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE United States Department of the Interior Washington ,D.C UNITED STATES BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DONALD L. MCKERNAN, DIRECTOR FRED A. SEATON, SECRETARY DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND SERVICES ARNIE J. SUOMELA, COMMISSIONER HAROLD E. CROWTHER, CHIEF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW (ex A review of developments and news of the fishery industries prepared in the BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. S Ss S a \ =p Ta Joseph Pileggi, Editor H. M. Bearse, Assistant Editor Mailed free to members of the fishery and allied industries. Address correspondence and requests to the: Chief, Branch of Market News, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Department of the Interior, Washington 25, D. C. Publication of material from sources outside the Bureau is not an endorsement. The Bureau is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions contained in material from outside sources. Although the contents of the publication have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely, reference to the source is appreciated. The printing of this publication has been approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, May 21, 1957. 5/31/60 CONTENTS COVER: Menhaden are customarily processed into fish meal and oil. The quality of the meal, an important part of poultry rations, is large- ly determined by its content of amino acids, the building blocks of animal tissue. The structural formula of methionine, a sulfur-con- taining amino acid, is illustrated. Page Progress on Investigations of Nutritional Value of Fish-Meal Protein, ©. RaGrau,.L. ESOusterhout, B: ‘©. Lundholm; and N: lb. Karrnick eee 1 Studies on Effect of Processing and Storage on the Content of Unknown Growth hactors) insbishiviealsbyakts ts Birds) 6s cc cee) tlm cnenetun(- aetna 4 Protein Analysis of Shrimp-Waste Meal, by RusselL. Brown ........ 6 Rat-Feeding Studies to Determine Nutritive Value of Fish Scale Protein, by C. R. Fellers, N. I. Lemack, L. R. Parkinson, and G. E, Livingston . . 9 Rat Bioassay of Unidentified Growth Factors in Pollock Fish Scales, by Donald:G., Snyder! sls) 200%. WA ay aie tet foment ich te Ua) a) one's, elven oh ee ea ne el Proximate Composition of Gulf of Mexico Industrial Fish: Part 1 - Winter and Spring of 1958 Studies, by Mary H. Thompson..... 17 Part 2 - Summer of 1958 Studies, by Mary H. Thompson.......... 21 PROGRESS ON INVESTIGATIONS OF NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF FISH-MEAL PROTEIN By C. R. Grau,* L. E. Ousterhout,* B. C. Lundholm,** and N. L. Karrick*** ABSTRACT The objectives of the investigations reported here were to determine the causes of variability of protein quality in fish meal. BACKGROUND A study of the nutritional value of fish meal was begun in 1955 when funds were made available by the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act. As a part of this study, a joint in- vestigation on nutritional value of fish-meal protein was started by the Poultry Hus- bandry Department, University of California, and the Seattle Fishery Technological Laboratory of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. The objectives of this investigation were (1) to survey the variability of protein quality in commercialfish meals and (2) to determine the causes for the variation. A detailed report of the survey is given in another paper in this supplement. The present paper reports progress on the investigation of the causes of the variability. These investigations include studies on (1) effect of raw material and its condition, (2) effect of storage, (3) effect of processing conditions, and (4) devel- opment of chick assays to measure ''available'’ amino acids. EFFECT OF RAW MATERIAL AND ITS CONDITION Results of preliminary studies on the effect of raw material were described by Grau, Barnes, Karrick, and McKee (1956). These studies were made on tuna. Tests on spoiled and unspoiled, cooked and uncooked material also were made using other species of fish. In each test, meal dried from cooked fish that subsequently was al- lowed to spoil did not permit growth of chicks. On the other hand, meal prepared (1) from cooked fish that was unspoiled or (2) from raw fish--whether unspoiled or spoiled--permitted good growth. Attempts now are being made to determine the cause of the detrimental effect of material that is cooked and then spoiled. Studies are being made on extracts of the material, and bacteriological investigations are being started under the super- vision of Dr. Reese Vaughn of the Food Technology Department at the University of California. EFFECT OF STORAGE A menhaden meal was prepared in a steam-jacketed drier at the Seattle Fish- ery Technological Laboratory. It is being stored both at room temperature and at *Associate Professor and Research Assistant, respectively \ Department of Poultry Husbandry, University of Cali- *#*Biological Aid, Division of Industrial Research and Romi avisaCalis Services, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Sa ae *#**Chemist, Fishery Technological Laboratory, Division of Industrial Research and Services, U. S. Bureau of Commer- cial Fisheries, Seattle, Wash. 2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2a -20° F. in atmospheres both of air and of nitrogen. After 6 months of storage, the quality of the protein had not deteriorated in meal stored under any of these condi- tions. The meal will be tested again, however, after longer periods of storage. Storage studies also are being made on commercially-prepared meals. EFFECT OF PROCESSING CONDITIONS Studies are under way on the effect of processing conditions on the nutritional quality of fish meals. Meals are prepared in the pilot-plant drier described by McKee and Karrick (1956). Initially, meals were prepared under extreme conditions of cooking, pressing, and drying. Meals dried at 395” F. for 3 hours, when fed as the only source of protein, did not permit chicks to grow. Time and temperature relationships on the effect of the nutritional value of the protein are being studied. In preliminary studies on the effects of length of time a meal is subjected to a high temperature, one series of meals was dried at 390 F. for time intervals ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. In the studies on the effects of temperature, another series of meals was dried for one-half hour at temperature increments of 25° F., ranging from 200° F. to 390° F. Nutritional tests are pres- ently being made on these two series. Meal dried for a long period of time has a low moisture content. Poor quality of the protein in these meals may be due to (1) damage by heat or (2) the lowmois- ture content. Consequently, an experiment was run to determine whether a mealof low moisture content prepared at relatively low temperatures affected the nutri- tional value. In this experiment, a meal sample was dried to,10-percent moisture in the drier at 270° F. It then was dried under vacuum at 90° F. to 1.9-percent moisture content. No significant decrease in nutritional value was noted. DEVELOPMENT OF CHICK ASSAYS FOR "AVAILABLE" AMINO ACIDS The method that has been used at the University of California to determine the nutritional value of the meals measures the over-all protein value and aminoacid balance of the meal. This procedure, however, does not indicate whether an excess of any amino acid exists. Such knowledge is of importance if the fish meal is being used as a supplement for other proteins. Lysine and methionine, for example, of- ten are deficient in the vegetable proteins that furnish most of the protein in prac- tical poultry diets, and an excess of these amino acids ina fish meal therefore im- proves its value as a supplement. Consequently, work was started to develop chick assays that would determine the amounts of individual amino acids available to the chick. These assays will help to pinpoint differences among meals and will give a quantitative measure of the difference. The assay now has been found to be successful for lysine, methionine, arginine, threonine, and combined methionine and cystine. It shows promise for histidine, phenylalanine, tryptophane, and combined phenylalanine and tyrosine. The assays are being refined at present. A paper describing the assays has been prepared. SUMMARY The objectives of the investigation reported here were to survey the variabili- ty of protein quality in commercial fish meals and to determine the causes for these variations. A detailed report of the survey is published elsewhere in this supple- ment. The research into causes of variations in quality reported in the present pa- per includes studies on (1) effects of raw material, (2) effects of storage, (3) effects of processing conditions, and (4) development of a chick assay to measure ''avail- able'' amino acids. February 1959 - Supplement COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3 Conclusions have not been reached on the relative importance of any of the causes of variation. The condition of the material used to prepare the meal, how- ever, can cause decreased or even negative growth of the chicks. Studies are being made to determine the cause of this phenomenon. The presence and availability of individual amino acids are being studied. An important development has been the establishment of an assay to measure in ameal the amounts of individual amino acids that are available to chicks. LITERATURE CITED GRAU, C. R.; BARNES, R, N.sj KARRICK, N. L.} and MCKEE, L, G,, and KARRICK, N, L, M L. G. 1956, Pilot-Plant Fish-Meal Dryer, Commercial 1956. Effect of Raw Material on Tuna-Meat Quality. Fisheries Review, vol, 18, no, 12 (December), Commercial Fisheries Review, vol. 18, no. 7 pp. 17-23. (Also Sep. No. 462.) (July), pp. 18-20. (Also Sep. No. 443.) SLAOZBBAAAh OLD FISH BOXES--BACTERIA UNLIMITED!! "Bacteria in Fish Boxes" was the title ofa report made by R. Spen- cer in 1955 (The Fishing News, December 30, 1955, p. 5). The data he presented should have irightcned every handler of fresh fish. Old fish boxes were loaded with bacteria--the worst enemy of good quality in fresh fish. The old fish boxes he tested were found to have 450,000,000 bacteria per square inch. After these boxes were cleaned by hosing with water, there were still 175,000,000 (equal to the population of the United States) bac- teria per square inch. A strong ''chlorine"' bactericide, with 1 part of free chlorine per1,000 parts of water, was notvery effective. Even with plenty of scrubbing, these ''chlorine'' compounds leftover 1,000,000 bac- teria per square inch, and then after standing 48 hours these bacteria were off on another growing rampage. Bacteria counts around 250,000 per square inch were obtained on old boxes even after thoroughly hosing with water and then steaming for 60 minutes. Wooden boxes, used only once to ship fish, were wellinoculated with bacteria--20,000,000 per square inch. This number was reduced to 2,000,000 by washing with plenty of water. A chlorine bactericide or steaming would lower the number another 90 percent. Even then, there would be a multitude of ''seeds'' to start rapid spoilage in otherwise good fish. What about new boxes? The unused, new boxes showed only 70 bac- teria per square inch (and these bacteria probably were not mainly spoil- age-producing bacteria). Thus a once-used box--remember, used only once--is several thousand times worse than a new box. An old box, even after it is washed well with a hose, has a few million times as many bacteria as a new box. (N. F. I. Flashes, No. 595, December 5, 1958.) 4 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2a STUDIES ON EFFECT OF PROCESSING AND STORAGE ON THE CONTENT OF UNKNOWN GROWTH FACTORS IN FISH MEAL’ By H. R. Bird* ABSTRACT Within the limits of precision of the assay, the methods of processing and of storage used in the present study had no measurable effect on the relative content of growth fac- tors in fish meal. BACKGROUND During 1955 and 1956, more than 20 samples of commercial and experimental fish meals, including 8 commercial menhaden meals, were assayed for unknown growth factors by feeding the meals to chicks according to the procedure of Barnett and Bird (1956). In each assay, a standard sample of fish solubles was fed at sev- eral levels. The standard sample was assigned a potency of ten. The potencies of all of the fish-meal samples, when compared with the standard sample of fish solu- bles, ranged from 2.5 to 13.8. The comparative potencies of the eight commercial menhaden meals were 13.8, 11.8, 9.5, 5.4, 5.3, 3.0, 2.7, and 2.7. Attempts to re- late this wide variation to known differences in origin, processing, or storage of the meals were unsuccessful. The variation in growth-factor content of the meals was great enough to be of practical importance, so it was desirable to study systematically the variables that might influence growth-factor content. EXPERIMENTAL AND RESULTS Two special samples of menhaden meal were set aside for storage studies. Results obtained thus far are given in table 1. [Table 1 - Effect of Storage on the Relative Unknown-Growth-Factor | Potency of Two Menhaden Meals storage Conditions Relative Unknown- Kind of Growth-Factor Atmosphere Potenc Temperature | Time Number Degrees F. Units Per Gram Air Room Air Room Air Room Nitrogen Room Air -20 Nitrogen -20 A series of tuna meals was processed experimentally, and the individual meals were exposed to different temperatures for different times during cooking anddry- ing. The results are given in table 2. DISCUSSION Storage up to 7 months did not cause measurable variations in the experimental meals (table 1) and thus did not help to explain the previously observed variations 1/This research was performed under a collaborative agreement between the University of Wisconsin and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. * Chairman, Department of Poultry Husbandry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. February 1959 - Supplement COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 5 in commercial meals. Unfortunately, the initial assay of sample G. F. 600 yieldeda wide range of values, including some that were questionably high. The relatively consistent values obtained in subsequent assays, for example, cast doubt on the val- ue of 14.7 obtained in the first assay. A real decrease in potency during the first 44 days of storage is unlikely, es- pecially since no such decrease was measurable in the case of sample G.F. 601. Likewise, it cannot be said that temperature or exposure to air influenced potency during storage of G. F. 600 for 7 months. The sample kept under nitrogenat -20° F. showed slightly greater potency than did the one stored in air at room temperature, but no importance can be attached to such small differences in an assay as variable as this one. Unfortunately, the assays of the meals subjected to different processing condi- tions also showed considerable variability from one test toanother. It does not appear that any of the treatments causeda measurable decrease in growth-factor potency. Processing Conditions Cooking Meal Sample Time l/ | Time [Temperature| Test 1 Number Hours} Degrees F. | Units/g. (YA 270 9.1- = 3 390 105 390 270 If variability of growth-factor potency is not related to storage time or tem- perature and time of processing, one must next consider variations in raw material before processing. Meals made from a number of species of fish have already been tested without showing any marked or consistent variation due to species. There remains the possibility that holding time and conditions before processing might be important. Although the method of assay used is as precise as present knowledge will per- mit, the method obviously will not reveal small differences in potency. In fact, with results as variable as those obtained in the processing study, the growth-factor po- tency would have to be almost completely destroyed before the assay would reveal, with certainty, a decrease in potency. It might be pointed out that the development of a precise method of assay for unknown growth factors is difficult. The experi- ence gained in the present studies may eventually contribute to the design of an as- say with greater precision. SUMMARY Growth-factor potency of menhaden meals was not measurably decreased by storage for 7 months in air at room temperature. The potency of tuna meals was not measurably decreased by any of the heat treatments tried during cooking and drying. The assay for growth factors, being quite variable, does not reveal small differences in potency, however, so we cannot say that these factors had no effect. LITERATURE CITED BARNETT, B. D., and BIRD, H. R. 1956. Standardization of Assay for Unidentified Growth Factors. Poultry Science, vol. 35, no. 3 (May), pp. 705- 710. oo0000000 6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2a PROTEIN ANALYSIS OF SHRIMP-WASTE MEAL By Russel L. Brown* ABSTRACT A method for the analysis of chitin nitrogen in shrimp meals and a procedure for correcting the crude protein fraction for the apparent protein contributed by chitin nitrogen is given. INTRODUCTION Fish meal is characterized for animal-feeding purposes by a proximate analy- sis for protein, oil, moisture, and ash. In shellfish meals, this analysis gives er- roneously high results if no correctionis made for the ap- parent protein contributedby chitin, an N-acetylated glu- cosamine polysaccharide. This shortcoming has been recognized by South African workers (Black andSchwartz 1950), who have devised a method for the estimation of chitin and chitin nitrogen. Since the protein frac- tion is of great interest to both the buyer and the pro- ducer of shrimp-waste meal, a more reliable estimate of ; my Pe (DI “at Ny ie the protein was needed. In -~ a — LY Mes the use of the Kjeldahl Fig. 1 - A rotary steam-jacketed batch drier used for the preparation of meal from shrimp waste. The drier is fitted with a water-injection va- method for determining the cuum pump (not shown). protein fraction, a figure is obtained that includes not only protein nitrogen but also chitin nitrogen. Attempting to solve this problem, we turned to the South African work. Upon investigation, we Table 1 - Crude Protein in Shrimp-Waste Meal Corrected for Apparent Protein Contributed by Chitin Protein as Apparent Crude Protein Calculated Contests by Chitin Nitrogen Aver- Corrected Sample forsee eel R li Crude je age || protein dahl Nitrogen Loycule elias: ER En RE COR eae (Bercent)h jane « suslcen ee eneeee Meal A 45.70 3.34 j 3.33 Seoul Boal 42.39 Meal B 53.85 3.24 3.30 SoAil Sea) 50.60 Meal C 54.85 3.14 3.06 3.07 3.09 51.76 Meal D yal srt) Ran 3.20 Bho Ce) Boeri 48.58 Meal E 53.58 SRD) 3.49 Boek 3.52 50.06 found that this method involved filtration and that, possibly owing to fats in the meal, the filtration was very laborious and sometimes impossible to carry out. A variety of filtration techniques such as using different grades of filter paper, filter- cel, butcher's linen, and filter-paper pulp were studied, but all proved to be im- practical. A review of the literature therefore was undertaken, aimed at finding a more satisfactory analysis for chitin nitrogen. The literature indicated that in almost all cases, the major problem involved in this analysis was filtration. An investigation of a procedure for the isolation of *Chemist, Fishery Products Laboratory, Fisheries Experimental Commission, Ketchikan, Alaska. February 1959 - Supplement COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW tl chitin (Horowitz, Roseman, and Blumenthal 1957) showed that if the formic acid di- gestion used in this method was preceded by a modified acetone extraction (Dam- Table 2 - Proximate Analysis of hrimp-Waste Meals Corrected : ; Part of Meal Not | Ash |" accounted For bergs 1956) and that if it then was combined with the caustic digestion used by Black and Schwartz, filtration could be replaced, for the most part, by centrifugation. This combination finally was found to be satisfactory. The principle of this method, in brief, is as follows: (1) acetone extracts the fat, (2) formic acid decalcifies the meal and extracts colored impurities and part of the protein, and (3) sodium hydroxide extracts the remainder of the protein, leaving only chitin and any silica present in the sample. PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to describe this procedure and to report the re- sults obtained by use of it. PROCEDURE The determination of the amount of crude protein in shrimp meal, corrected for the amount of apparent protein contributed by chitin nitrogen, is as follows: 1. Weigh a 5-gram sample of meal into a 250-milliliter centrifuge bottle fitted with a reflux condenser. 2. Add 100 milliliters of acetone, reflux for 45 minutes using a boiling water bath, centrifuge for 20 minutes at 2,000 r.p.m., and discard the supernatant. 3. Add 100 milliliters of a 70-percent acetone-water mixture, shake well, cen- trifuge for 20 minutes at 2,000 r.p.m., and discard the supernatant. 4. Add 100 milliliters of 90-percent formic acid, stopper, shake for 18 hours, centrifuge for 15 minutes at 2,000 r.p.m., and discard the supernatant. 5. Wash the residue with acetone, centrifuge for 20 minutes at 2,000 r.p.m., and discard the supernatant. 6. Repeat step 5, substituting 70-percent acetone-water for the acetone. 7. Add 100 milliliters of 5-percent (w/v) sodium hydroxide, reflux for 90 min- utes on a steam bath, filter with suction through a sintered glass funnel (coarse porosity), and discard the filtrate. 8. Wash the residue with boiling water once, discard the filtrate, transfer the residue quantitatively to a 250 milliliter Kjeldahl flask with the smallest possible amount of water, evaporate until less than 5 milliliters of water remains, and pro- ceed with the Kjeldahl determination in the usual manner, but digesting for 6 hours. 8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2a 9. Calculate the percent protein from the amount of nitrogen determined, em- ploying the usual factor of 6.25. (The figure obtained by this method is the percent- age of apparent protein contributed by chitin nitrogen.) 10. Subtract the figure obtained in step 9 from the percent of crude protein ob- tained by the regular Kjeldahl determination. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Samples of commercial shrimp-waste meals were obtained, and by the use of the procedure just described, the true amount of crude protein in the meals was estimated, with results reported in table 1. The data for the proximate analyses, using these estimated values, are given in table 2. Chitin isolated by this method was dried and added to a commercial meal to test the recovery. These results indicated a 109-percent recovery of chitin. The 8 to 10 percent of the meal left unaccounted for by the proximate analysis is probably due, for the most part, to the chitin fraction itself. Although a method for estimating this fraction might be derived, no attempts were made to do so be- cause some deacetylation of the N-acetylglucosamine fragments reportedly occurs (Horowitz, Roseman, and Blumenthal 1957) during the digestion steps. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS As the result of production of commercial shrimp-waste meal in Alaska, a method of analysis for chitin nitrogen was needed that would permit a reliable es- timate of the true crude protein fraction of such meals. The present paper reports a method involving (1) extraction with acetone to re- move fats, (2) digestion with formic acid to decalcify the meal and extract colored impurities and part of the protein, (3) digestion with sodium hydroxide to extract the remainder of the protein, and (4) determination of Kjeldahl nitrogen. Use of centrifugation eliminates many of the troublesome filtrations required in earlier methods. The results obtained by the present method are sufficiently reproducible to favor its adoption for use in proximate analyses of shrimp-waste meal. LITERATURE CITED BLACK, M. M.; and SCHWARTZ, H. M. eries Research Board of Canada, vol. 13, no. 1950. The Estimation of Chitin and Chitin Nitrogen 6, November, pp. 791-797. in Crawfish Waste and Derived Products. The Analyst, vol. 75, no. 889, April, pp. 185-189. HOROWITZ, SYLVIA T.; ROSEMAN, S.; and BLUMEN- THAL » H. J. DAMBERGS, N,. 1957. The Preparation of Glucosamine Oligosaccha- 1956. Acetone-Hj0 Mixtures for the Extraction and rides. I. Separation. Journal of the Ameri- Rapid Estimation of Biological Materials, par- can Chemical Society, vol. 79, no. 18, Sep- ticularly Fish Products. Journal of the Fish- tember, pp. 5046-5049, AOABZBABKZALKBKA February 1959 - Supplement COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 9 RAT-FEEDING STUDIES TO DETERMINE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF FISH SCALE PROTEIN = By C. R. Fellers,* N. I. Lemack,* L. R. Parkinson,* and G. E. Livingston* ABSTRACT The nutritive value of both raw ground and hydrolyzed ocean perch and herring scales was studied by means of three rat-feeding experiments. It was determined that scales may not be used as the sole source of protein in the diet, but that they may be used to supplemer% part of the protein with no loss of nutritive value. INTRODUCTION Thousands of tons of fish scales have had to be disposed of as nonutilizable waste during the past several years, since fillets have now replaced round and ‘ ay So n = = o iS & x g = 4 A Nelle's[el ale), «\ ejiwie ele Anchovies Anchoa hepsetus 13-14 16.9-17.1 17.0 2.9-3.2 3.0 3.21-3.43 3.36 |75.0-75.9 75.6 Butterfish Poronotus triacanthus 37-41 14.1-15.0 14.4 2,1-2.5 2.3 2,85-3.31 3.06 | 80.5-80.9 80.7 Shad Pomolobus chrysochloris 2 19.4-19.6 19.6 2.0-4.4 3.2 2.01-3.23 2.52 | 72.7-74.9 73.6 Spots Leiostomus xanthurus 2 15.5-16.2 15.8 |16.0-16.8] 16.5 3.27-4.17 3.74 |63.3-64.4 63.9 Thread herring Opisthonema oglinum 2 19.4-19.4 19.4 4.8-5.4 5.0 4.46-4.94 4.59 |69.9-70.8 70.4 Note: Data on the physical measurements of these fish are given intable3. sarily limited in this initial study. A discussion of the data is therefore deferred until additional observations can be reported. LITERATURE CITED LEE, CHARLES F,; NILSON, HUGO W.,; and CLEGG, SANFORD, F. BRUCE WILLIAM 1958. Fish-Reduction Industry. Bureau of Commercial 1955. Technical Note No, 31 - Weight Range, Prox- Fisheries, Technical Leaflet No. 14, May, 18 imate Composition and Thiaminase Content pp. Washington, D. C. of Fish Taken in Shallow-Water Trawling in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Commercial STANSBY, M, E, Fisheries Review vol. 17, no. 3 (March), pp. 1953. CompositionofFish. BureauofCommercial Fish- 21-23. (Also Separate No. 396.) eries, Fishery Leaflet No. 116, December, 16 pp., Washington, D. C. 20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 1954. Composition of Certain Species of Fresh Water Fish. I. Introduction: The Determination of the Variation of CompositionofFish. Food Re- search, vol. 19, no. 2(March-April), pp.231- 234. Viole 2s Nor Za THURSTON, CLAUDE E. 1958. Sodium and Potassium Content of 34 species of Fish. Joumal of the American Dietetic Association, vol. 34 no. 4 (April), pp. 396-399, MANUSCRIPTS CITED (These manuscripts now are being prepared for publication.) MANGAN, GEORGE F., Jr.; SOHN, BERNARD I.; CAR- VER, JOSEPH H.; and PISKUR, FRANK T. 1958. The Composition of Commercially Important Fish Taken from New England Waters. (Ad- dress of senior author: Fishery Technological Laboratory, East Boston, Mass.) THURSTON, CLAUDE E,; STANSBY, MAURICE E.; KARRICK, NEVA L.; MIYAUCHI, DAVID T.; and CLEGG, WILLIAM C, 1958. Composition of Certain Species of Fresh-Water Fish, 2. Comparative Data for 21 Species of Lake and River Fish. (Address of Senior author: Fishery Technological Laboratory, THURSTON, CLAUDE E, Seattle 2, Wash.) 1955. Current Proximate Analysis Procedures (Address of author: Fishery Technological Laboratory, Seattle 2, Wash.) THURSTON, CLAUDE E,, and GRONINGER, HERMANS. 1958. Composition Changes in Puget Sound Pink Salmon During Storage in Ice and Refrig- erated Brine. (Address of Senior author: Fishery Technological Laboratory, Seattle 2, Wash.) 1958. Variation in Composition of Southeastern Alaska Pink Salmon. (Address of author: Fishery Technological Laboratory, Seattle 2, Wash.) fonuooooad. CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENTS WITH THE PLANTING OF FRESH-WATER SHRIMP FROM FLORIDA A trial planting of fresh-watershrimp from Florida has been made inthe Colorado River near Lake Havasu by the Cal- ifornia Department of Fish and Game. The Department is trying to expand the food supply of sport fish inthe river, which now lacks invertebrate food organisms. This fresh-water shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus) is con- sidered a boon to sport fish in Florida and the Department has hopes it will prove to be of equal benefit to Colorado River fish. Little is known of the life history of this shrimp. It prob- ably breeds once a year, in the spring, and grows to a maxi- mum size of about twoinches. It does not exist introut waters. It poses no problem of competition with sport fish for food since it does notfeed on insects. It converts detritus algae di- rectly into food and becomes food itself for such species as cat- fish, bass, crappie and bluegills. The first shipment--225 shrimp--was merely for testing purposes to determine whether the animals would survive the long airplane flight from Florida andthe automobile trip across the desert tothe Parker Dam area. They survived bothin good shape. Planted in a pond near Parker Dam, they will be observed by the Department to determine how wellthey adapt themselves to their new environment and whether they will reproduce there. The Department has asked for another 1,000 for testing pur- poses. February 1959 - Supplement COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21 PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF GULF OF MEXICO INDUSTRIAL FISH Part 2 - Summer of 1958 Studies By Mary H. Thompson* ABSTRACT Tables giving the length and weight of 15 species of industrial fish and the protein, oil, ash, and moisture contents of these fish are included in this report, These species are representative of the ones most commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico during the summer season. INTRODUCTION Continuing the work begun in the winter of 1958 on the length, weight, and prox- imate composition of various species of industrial fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico, the same type of data now has been obtained for 15 species commonly found during the summer months (June, July, and August) in this re- gion. Protein, oil, ash, and mois- ture contents, and also length and weight data of these fish thus far have been determined for the win- ter, spring, and summer seasons, Some of these constituents-- particularly oil and moisture--tend to change markedly in most species from season to season. It isneces- sary, therefore, not only that these data be known for each species, but that they also be known for each : species in each season. e sess. ‘ i P| m alele rae . =. : ; ‘ pes a TaOBE On SAMPLES Fig. 1 - Industrial fish being unloaded at a Pascagoula, Miss. , dock with a "fish pump." All of the samples were indus- trial fish landed in Pascagoula. The fish had been well iced from 1 to 3 days prior Physical Measurements of Industrial Fish Commonly Caught in the Summer Table 1 - Location of Catch and pete caught Location Fish in eae Rength Weight Name (1958) Each Sample | urement | Range Average] Range [Average : | . (Centimeters) . .. (Grams)... Anchovies Anchoa hepsetus June | Breton Island 14-16 Forktail | 10.1-11.8 10.8 8.4- 19.4 253 Bumper Chloroscombruschrysurus } July | Cat Island 2 Forktail | 15.4-17.2 16.5 | 50.7= 71.1 61.0 Butterfish Poronotus triacanthus | June |Grand Isle 2-4 Forktail] 9.7-15.0 11.6 | 19.0- 90.9 42.2 Croaker (June) Micropogon undulatus June | Grand Isle 2 Over-all] 17.9-21.0 19.4] 65.6-111.3 88.1 Croaker(July) |Micropogon undulatus | July |Cat Island 2 Over-all| 20.2-26.0 22.2] 81.4-181.7] 118.5 Hardheads Galeichthys felis | June |Grand Isle 1 Forktail | 22.1-24.2 23.3 |149.8-204.2| 182.6 Harvestfish Peprilis sp. | July |Cat Isle 1-2 Forktail | 13.0-16.2 14.8 | 83.9-129.9| 111.2 Menhaden Brevoortia sp. Aug. |Chandeleur Island 12 Forktail | 15.9-19.5 17.4} 82.2-161.4) 110.3 Razorbellies Harengula pensacolae June | Breton Island 4 Forktail | 11.0-15.0 12.9 | 22.8- 60.1] 37.5 aie os Trichiurus lepturus June |Grand Isle 3 | Over-all| 38.3-54.7 48.5 | 26.4- 99.8 62.5 cutlassfish) © (_————— ————= pots Leiostomus xanthurus July Cat Island 2 Forktail | 17.7-19.5 18.5 | 84.7-112.3 98.3 tar drum Stellifer lanceolatus June |Horn Island 9-10 Over -all| 10.9-13.9 12.5 |] 10.8- 29.4 20.2 ‘Threadfin Polynemus sp. July Cat Island 8 Forktail | 10.4-12.2 11.3] 15.9- 27.9 20.7 ‘Thread herring |Opisthonema oglinum Aug. |Cat Island 1-2 Forktail | 18.1-18.8 18.5 | 89.0-109.9] 100.1 hite trout Cynoscion s July {Cat Island | 1-2 Over=all/17.6-29.9| 22.2 | 55.1-128.0 87.8 ote: Data on the proximate analyses ee fish are found in table 2. to being collected by laboratory personnel. Upon receipt, the fish were frozen and [e) 1) = stored at -20° C. (-4” F.) until analyzed. emist, Fishery Technologic aboratory, Division of Industrial Research and Services, U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Pascagoula, Miss. 22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 2a PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS Measurements of length and weight were obtained on the fish after they were thawed. The measurements of length were of two types. Those species with a well-de- fined HOSES tail were measured from the tip of the mouth to the apex of the angle Table 2 - Proximate Composition of Industrial Fish Commonly Obtained in the Summer 5 No. of 7 Common Scientific Fish in Protein Oil Ash Moisture Name RENTS Each Sample| Range Il Average} Range | Average | Range [ Average | Range | Average Sonim ooo noon biog poop mg (Rexcent)rarsgcucuesiy Weems arena iene mann [Anchovies Anchoa hepsetus 14-16 17.1-17.3 17.2 2.2- 3.3 2.6 3.20-3.44 3.29 76.9-77.6 77.3 Bumper Chloroscombrus chrysurus 2 18.6-18.9 18.7 4.8- 6.9 6.0 3.42-5.15 4,22 70.3-73.0 71.3 Butterfish Poronotus triacanthus 2-4 15.0-15.9 15.6 4:9- 1-4 6.2 1.49-3.12 2.36 | 74.2-78.5 76.0 \Croaker (June) Micropogon undulatus 2 15.6-16.3 15.9 6.3-10.0 8.6 4,29-5.60 4.85 67.1-73.0 69.9 (Croaker (July) Micro on undulatus 2 16.4-16.9 16.7 2.8- 4.5 3.6 2.37-3.41 3.05 75.0-77.8 76.0 [Hardheads Galeic thys felis 1 16.6-17.5 17.0 61- 7.2 6.7 2.70-5.06 4.14 70.5-72.1 71.0 Harvestfish Peprilis sp. 1-2 16.1-16.8 16.4 4.8- 9.0 7.5 2.08-2,69 2.31 70.4-76.9 73.0 Menhaden Brevoortia sp. 1-2 14,1-16.1 14.9 13.1-20.5 | 17.8 | 3.30-4.08 3.66 60.5-66.8 63.3 Razorbellies Harengula pensacolae 4 17.1-18.9 18.4 4.4- 5.4 5.0 | 3.64-5.61 4.81 70.9-73.4 71.8 Rane Sere) Trichiurus lepturus 3 15.9-16.6 | 16.3 2.3- 2.8| 2.6 |1.90-2.91| 2.26 |77.2-78.8) 77.9 Spots Leiostomus xanthurus 2 14.8-15.6 15.2 11,6-13.7 12.9 2.85-3.78 3.39 67.1-70.4 68.1 Star drum Stellifer lanceolatus 9-10 14.4-15.2 15.0 3.4- 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.89-4.28 4.11 75.1-76.9 76.3 Threadfin Polynemus sp. 8 16.9-17.6 17.3 1.6- 2.1 | 1.8 3.52-4,15 3.98 76.2-77.3 76.6 Thread herring | O iphonente oglinum 1-2 18.3-18.8 18.6 3.2- 3.9 Shs} 2.76-4.19 3.27 73.4-75.2 74.4 C 3.3- 6.3 5.0 2.56-3.76 3.09 73.1-76.5 74.3 || ote: Data on the physical measurement of these lish are White t: t ynoscion sp. 1-2 17.0-18.1 17.5 oo = : awe Te formed by the two sides of the tail, This measurement is referred to as ''forktail." Those species with a more-or-less blunt tail were measured from the tip of the mouth to the farthest end of the tail. This measurement is referred toas over-all," The measurements of weight were made by means of a double-beam pan bal- ance. The data are given in table 1. PROXIMATE COMPOSITION Details of the methods of proximate analysis used were reported in the first paper in this series (Thompson 1958). Results of the present analyses are shown in table 2, and seasonal changes in oil and moisture contents are shown in table 3. Changes in protein and ash contents Common Scientific Name Name Anchovies Anchoa hepsetus Butterfish Poronotus triacanthus Croaker Y/ Micropogon undulatus | + Razorbellies Harengula pensacolae Silver eels (cutlassfish) Spots Leiostomus xanthurus Thread herring | Opisthonema oglinum Trichiurus lepturus = 1/ The time intervals for the croaker were as follows: winter to early summer, early summer to late summer, and winter to late summer. Note: These estimates are based on only a few samples. Although they represent the best presently-available knowledge, further studies may change them markedly. are not presented because they were relatively small. Discussion of the results will be deferred until the fish can be sampled more extensively. To obtain a completely reliable estimate of the proximate composition of fish requires a large number of samples of each species, a large number of fish ineach sample, and a sampling period covering several years (Stansby 1954). Unfortunately, February 1959 - Supplement COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23 other than the findings of Lee, Nilson, and Clegg (1955) and of the present studies, the literature has little information of the proximate composition of Gulf of Mexico fish. The fish-meal and pet-food industries, however, need this information to guide their manufacturing operations. Even the relatively small amount of data available here should, therefore, be of help, LITERATURE CITED LEE, CHARLES F,; NILSON, HUGO W,; and the Variation of Composition of Fish. Food CLEGG, WILLIAM Research, vol. 19, no, 2 (March-April), 1955. Technical Note No. 31 - Weight Range, Prox- pp- 231-234. imate Composition, and Thiaminase Content of Fish Taken in Shallow-Water Trawling in Northern Gulf of Mexico. Commercial Fish- THOMPSON, MARY H, eries Review, vol. 17, no. 3 (March), pp. 1958. Proximate Composition of Gulf of Mexico 21-23, Washington, D. C. (AlsoSep. Ne. Industrial Fish. Part 1 - Winter and Spring 396.) Studies (1958.) See this issue, pp. 18-21. STANSBY, M, E, 1954, Composition of Certain Species of Fresh-Water Fish. I, Introduction: The Determination of SASAAAAA FIDDLER CRAB Fiddler crabs are cosmopolitan inhabitants of our marine and brackish water shores and therefore attract the curiosity of both layman and scientist. Nearly 30 species of fiddler crabs are recognized along both coasts of North and Central America. The banks of almost every sluggish, brackish water display fiddler burrows from the fresh headwaters to the sea. Shallow muddy or sandy tidal flats often contain large populations of these animals. Salt-marsh areas may support the burrowing and feeding activities of several species within a suprisingly small area. The fiddler's burrow is excavated above or within the tide marks. Burrowing depth appears to be greater in areas above the high tide line with some holes extending several feet beneath the surface. The digging of a burrow is a soli- tary effort on the part of its inhabitant and serves as its home for periods of from several hours to a week or more. Crabs normally leave their burrows during lo w tide to feed along the water's edge, but when the tide floods back most species return to the burrow and plug the entrance with a bit of mud. Very young crabs apparently do not burrow but run freely in and out of the holes occupied by adults. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the fiddler is the grotesque enlargement of one of the claws. This large claw identifies only the male and plays an important partin courtship behavior. During ibreeding season the color pat- terns of the upper parts of the body and claw of the males assume brilliant multicolored conirasts. At this time the male apparently abandons feeding and stands on tiptoe at the mouth of his burrow waving the large claw witha rhythmic beckoning motion. He may continue this activity for days before a femaleis attracted. The regular motion of the claw evidently has reminded many an imaginative naturalist of a violin virtuoso bowing his instrument. The large claw is seldom, if ever, used in feeding. Fiddler crabs seem to feed on minute particles of organic debris and the tiny organisms that are associated with such material. This food is conveyed to the mouth parts in bits of mud which are picked up bythe small claw. Structures aroundthe mouth are covered with fine bristles that sepa- rate the edible material from the mud and leave the latter free to be expelled in tiny pellets. The mating of fiddler crabs takes place in late May or early June inthe Delaware area. The female deposits sev- eral thousand eggs in a protected spot beneath her abdomen where they are cemented to fine hairs on the appendages. Although she carries this egg mass out of the water, she regularly ''washes"' the eggs to prevent drying and to provide oxygen for the developing embryos. The eggs mature during the late summer and early fall when the larval forms or zoeas are hatched into the water. The young resemble those of most other crabs although the larvae of only afew species of fiddler crabs have been identified. Fiddler crab larvae are free-floating members of the zooplankton until the following spring, by which time they have passed through at least one more developmental stage and have lost the ability to remain suspended in the water. Their general body form is now much like that of the adult, and the acquisition of protected gills and certain unique physiological mechanisms has prepared them for an amphibious life. The fiddler crab plays a most interesting and integral part in the economy ofour tidelands. The fisherman is gen- erally familiar with their use as bait; they are popular dinner fare for herons, egrets, sandpipers, gulls, lizards, and raccoons; their planktonic larvae doubtlessly represent a major diet item for many species of fish; and the amount of nutrient material that the adults release from marshlands must be comparable to that freed by earthworms from tillable land. The contribution of this little animal to our welfare is not limited, however, to these items of localinterest. The scientist is finding the fiddler an extremely valuable animal for physiological experimentation in research of direct medical value to man. (Estuarine Bulletin, Autumn 1958, University of Delaware.) INT.—DUP. SEC., WASH., D.C. u9lTE : MENHADEN INDUSTRY--PAST AND PRESENT Fishery Leaflet 412 (Menhaden Industry--Past and Present) describes the early history of the menhaden industry from its start in New England sometime prior to 1875, the role of the Federal Government in the development of this industry, a description of the menhaden, the ear- ly history of the menhaden oil industry, and a comparison of the early and modern menhaden plants, economic comparison of past (about 1875) and present-day (1950) plant operations, geo- graphic shifts inthe importance of menhaden fisheries, fishing methods, uses of menhaden--past and present, and thé future of the menhaden industry. Since this Fishery Leaflet was published (June 1953), the menhaden have returned to New England waters and at the present time are of considerable economic importance to the port of Gloucester, Mass. The menhaden industry has expanded considerably during recent years--the catch reached a record high of 2.1 billion pounds in 1956, plants and vessels have beerl modernized, demand and prices for both menhaden oil and meal have been excellent, and due toa vigorous program of research on the improvement of present and the development of new uses, the future appears bright for this industry. The modern plantis mechanized to the ultimate degree. Fish are unloadedfrom the hold by conveyors, or, in manyplants, bylarge suction pumps, onto conveyors which carry them through a weighing device and directly to the cookers or to temporary holding bins. The fish are then forced through long steam cookers in a continuous stream by screw conveyors, and, while hot, go di- rectly to huge continuous screw presses. In some plants the press liquors are still run off to settling tanks, a proce- dure not unlike the earliest methods. However, in most modern plants the The menhaden, alias porgy, fatback, mossbunker, old wife, bony-fish, hardhead, fines are first filtered out on vibrating white-fish, bug-fish, chebog, alewife, and yellowtail shad--in short Brevoortia SCreensand the filtrate of liquor-and-oil tyrannus--is similar in appearance to the herring, has a black spot justback § mixture goes through two batteries of of the head on each side, ranges in size from 5 to 8 inches, which make up most centrifuges. An almostdry, clear, yel- Cs HS ESE CEE OTe EE low oilemerges from the second series of centrifuges. The water phase, called stickwater, contains considerable amounts of dissolved protein and vitamins but was ordinarily discarded. However,-itis now concentrated to 50-percent solids in many plants to yield ''condensed fish solubles.'' Most plants now have equipment of all types individually driven by electric motor rather than by steampower. This eliminates the maze of shafting and belts whichis necessaryfor power transmissionfrom a single central power unit. The press cake is fed directly into large rotary, directflame or steam driers where the wet materialis reduced to ''scrap'' with a moisture content of six to ten percent. Most of the driers are now fired with fuel oil rather than coal, a change which results in a cleaner, more readily controlled operation. Some plants have cyclone separators to remove fine materialfrom the ex- haust gases. The dried scrap is piled on the ''scrap house" floor to cool before being bagged. In many plants, cooling is hastened by shoving the scrap into a conveyor that carries it up to the ceiling and then sifts it down to the floor in afine shower. The ultimate in mechanical handling is reach- ed by plants using small truck-tractors equipped with 'dozer blades for moving meal piles a- round the cooling floor. In some plants the scrap is ground to meal, in others the unground scrap is shipped. In either case, the materialis weighed into sacks automatically and the sacks are sewed by a spe- cial sack-sewing machine in modern plants. Another recent innovation in the menhaden industry is the use of pallettes and special fork-hoist trucks to load the sacked scrap or meal into trucks or freight cars. a8 TED E* 1035 ff RNSTITE é ! Wast INSTITL SI ix ‘On ZON Dt S31uYV if Uf Vi INSTITL AaNsSO) :, S31uV X SS S3a1yyv {F 22 S mm Nwosws Wass S SS was SiNosesy bose 7 ZS ” : SAINVUGIT_ LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS Saiuvugi7_LIBRAR ” ma n Zs a) z wn : =) ne S hei we! Ne 1 GR: Bei = VU. 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