scrap and waste. However, due to the competition of the farmers for fish scrap and waste for fertilizing purposes, it is estimated that the output of the fish-meal plants during 1949 was not more than 650 or 700 tons. The demand for fish meal is estimated at about 2,000 tons. Fish Reduction Process: The first step in the processing of the fish scrap and waste is the extraction by a pressure process of all liquid elements which are deposited in large tanks. The residue is then dried by means of hot-air conveyors before it is passed on to the grinding mill. The second and only other step is the extraction of the oils and greases from the liquid elements deposited in the tanks, which is accomplished by a centrifugal process. The waste, or stickwater, that mains is estimated to amount to 400 tons to each 500 tons of liquid. Stickwater: In spite of the fact that the Lassen system for the processing of waste stickwater created an interest among the fish-me al processors, no one has, until recently, given the matter any thought. ex The possibility of processing fish stickwater, in accordance with Lassen's system, is now being studied by the Spanish processors, but the opinion is pressed that it would not pay to install the necessary equipment at this time due to the limited volume of material available from the fish canneries. Sweden ECONOMIC CONTROL OF FISHERIES EXTENDED: The Swedish Riksdag decided to ex tend the system of price and market regulation (including fishery products) until July 1951 and took certain steps to centralize the exports of fishery products. Exports of fishery products have met with increasing difficulties this year due to the bilateral trade agreements, and licensing and centralization of imports in certain foreign countries. Stocks of fish were high during the first four months this year and surpluses were used for the production of fish meal, an August 15 American Embassy dispatch from Stockholm reports. GOVERNMENT FROPOSES EXTENSION OF "GENERAL WATERS FOR FISHING: " A bill proposing, among other things, a certain extension of "general waters" in which anybody should have the right to fish, has been submitted by the Government. SWEDISH-NORWEGIAN DISPUTE OVER FISHING RIGHTS IN THE SKAGERAK: A complaint that Norwegian patrol boats on repeated occasions had intercepted Swedish shrimp trawlers in international waters south of Farder (Norway) in the Skagerak and ordered them not to operate within eight nautical miles of the Norwegian coast was made by the Central Organization or the Swedish West Coast Fishermen in a letter to the Swedish Government published on August 15. The most recent incidents of this nature were said to have occurred on July 25, when 20 Swedish trawlers were intercepted while fishing in what they regarded their old fishing grounds in the waters between four and eight nautical miles south Farder; and on July 27, when ten trawlers were similarly chased away from a of point 5 miles south of Farder. One of the Swedish fishing vessels was reported to have been threatened with gunfire by a Norwegian patrol boat, reports an August 18 American Embassy dispatch from Stockholm. Fishing, therefore, had to be abandoned and the trawlers returned to their home ports. They reported that a large number of Norwegian shrimp trawlers had been fishing in the same waters at the time and that even a Danish trawler had been allowed to remain although fishing much closer to the Norwegian shore. The Swedish fishermen protested against what they considered discriminatory treatment in their "lawful pursuits" and requested that the Swedish Government approach the Norwegian Government in an effort to rectify the situation. The matter is now being considered both by the Swedish Ministry of Agriculture, to which the Fishery Administration is subordinated, and by the Foreign Office. With regard to the most recent incidents reported, the Foreign Minister was quoted by the press as saying: "Swedish fishermen must naturally for the time being respect the Norwegian regulations pending a settlement of the dispute by agreement between the two Governments. It should be recalled in this connection that a dispute regarding the same question of principle concerning territorial waters in Norwegian fjords is under consideration by the Hague Court as a case between the United Kingdom and Norway." U.S.S.R. REAFFIRMS CLAIN TO TWELVE-MILE LIMIT IN BALTIC: The Soviet Government, replying to Swedish-Danish notes of July 24 regarding territorial waters in the Baltic, has reaffirmed its claim to the twelve-mile limit, according to Stockholm press reports quoted by a September 7 American Embassy dispatch from that city. The Soviet reply, as summarized by the Swedish Foreign Office, asserts that no general rules of international law exist regarding extent of territorial waters and that determination thereof falls within "exclusive competence" of each respective state. Reply also states that the extent of Russian territorial waters was established under decree of 1927, regarding Soviet frontiers, and that no extension been made of Russian territorial waters. has Venezuela 1/ FISH CANNERS ASSOCIATION URGES BAN ON CANNED FISH IMPORTS: The problem confronting the Venezuelan fish canners has two solutions for immediate application: stop importations and establish rules and regulations for fish, according to an article which appeared in El Nacional of August 27 and which quoted the President of the Association of Fish Canners. He believes that unless measures are promptly taken to solve the problem definitively, the situation of the local fish canners will reach alarming proportions, a September 1 American consular dispatch from Caracas states. SEE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, AUGUST 1950, PP. 63-4. In addition, the President of the Association announced that four of the principal fish canners have stopped canning, and that of the three now in operation, two will have to close shortly. All the Venezuelan canners through their association are advertising the following wholesale prices: 2/Converted on the basis of 1 Venezuelan bolivar equals 29.8507 U. S. cents. EGYPTIAN FISHERIES Manufacturing operations in the Egyptian fishing industry are limited to the canning of sardines at the Suez landing point and in a small factory at Aboukir near Alexandria during the short sardine season lasting for about four months. The Aboukir factory was established in 1941 with a paid-up capital of 50,000 Egyptian pounds. With some 100 workers, it has an annual output of 200 metric tons. Small takings of sardines during the current season have restricted operations this year. The only other operation is the salting of mullet and sardines in a very primitive way, using barrels and empty gasoline cans. There appears to be a need of canning factories during the sardine season. Egyptian waters are also rich in mollusks and crustaceans which might be preserved. An effort has been made to can shrimp but results so far have not been satisfactory. Other secondary industries are the manufacture of fish oils, fish meal and fertilizers. All of these are projects which should receive the attention of local authorities as well as the National Government for the expansion of Egyptian canning, smoking, salting and preserving industries would absorb thousands of workers and reduce unemployment. --Fishery Leaflet 363 FISHERIES TRAINING PROGRAM OF FILIPINOS TERMINATED: The program of providing practical training for Filipinos in fisheries under the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946 was terminated on September 23. On this date, the last group of 23 trainees departed from San Francisco to the Philippines after being presented with certificates of merit awarded by the Director of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF MERIT TO FILIPINO FISHERY TRAINEES, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., DECEMBER 2, 1948. LEFT TO RIGHT: TRAINEE SUSANO V. CAMILOTES; ENSIGN WILLIS UNCAPHER, U. s. MARITIME SERVICE; DR. STILLMAN WRIGHT, U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE; CAPTAIN M. E. CROSSMAN, U. S. MARITIME SERVICE; TRAINEE VICENTE B. ALCERA. THE LAST AWARD OF CERTIFICATES WAS MADE TO TRAINEES AT SAN FRANCISCO ON SEPTEMBER 23 THIS YEAR. The Service is informed that opportunities for employment in the fisheries exist for these men upon their return to the Philippines. Of the 102 other Filipino trainees who have completed their training previously, all but a very few are now employed in the fisheries or fishery administration, thus utilizing their training to good advantage. This training program would not have been successful without the widespread and generous cooperation of the commercial fishing industry and other interested organizations throughout the United States. Food and Drug Administration "PACIFIC PERCH" NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ROCKFISH ("SEBASTODES ALUTUS") FILLETS: Earlier this year, some Columbia River processors of rockfish fillets asked the Food and Drug Administration its opinion with reference to the use of "Pacific Perch" as a market name for fillets of the Pacific rockfish Sebastodes alutus. On August 23, the Food and Drug Administration replied that the name "Pacific Perch" was not appropriate for the species in question. The full text of the reply by P. B. Dunbar, Commissioner of Food and Drugs follows: "We have given very careful consideration to the petitions you have submitted on behalf of members of the West Coast fisheries industry in support of a proposal to market fillets of the species of Pacific rockfish, Sebastodes alutus, as 'Pacific Perch.' "After a review of the available facts, it is our opinion that the name 'Pacific Perch' is not appropriate as applied to fillets of Sebastodes alutus and that the product so labeled would be in violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. "The industry petition stresses the similarity of Sebastodes "The situation which resulted in the industry proposal arises, we understand, from the fact that this fish species has not previously been marketed commercially and, therefore, has no established common or usual name. In seeking to establish a common or usual name for a new product it is, of course, a basic principle that an erroneous or misleading designation should not be used. The name 'Perch' as applied to Sebastodes-alutus is erroneous since the fish is not one of the perches. In occasional instances, misnomers have become established as common or usual names for fishes on the basis of general acceptance and long usage where the names do not conflict with those of other established species. Such instances are rare and the necessary conditions do not exist in the case before us. "We regret that we cannot make a favorable response to your petition." |