Although the tests summarized in this report were limited by the quantity available for trial, it is indicated that hemp sal cordage, made up of East African sisal and domestic hemp in the proportions of 70 to 30, or 50 to 50, respectively, will be fairly dependable for general fishing purposes. Hempsal has been found second to manila and superior to straight African sisal cordage in tensile strength, abrasion resistance, flexibility, and durability. Production of this mixed fiber cordage, in the proportion of 10 percent Am. hemp and 90 percent sisal, is scheduled for the latter half of 1944 and is expected to be available to the fishing industry within a few months. 0-0-0 1944 PRODUCTION OF U. S. FISHERIES ENCOURAGING AT HALF-WAY POINT Continuing the upward trend begun last year, production in the major U. S. fisheries made encouraging increases during the first six months of 1944 as compared with 1943, although catches of a few important species are lagging behind last year's figures, the OCF reported on July 26. A survey of production, just completed shows that although landings of California pilchards, Pacific mackerel, and shrimp are smaller, than last year, these losses are more than counterbalanced by increases in the production of California tuna, landings at New England ports, and the pack of Maine sardines. Since the first six months normally account for only a fourth of the year's total landings, the fishing industry still has ample time to increase the present lead over 1943 production. Landings of fresh fish at the major New England ports--Boston, Gloucester, New Bedford, and Portland, are substantially larger than last year, totaling 207,215,000 pounds or a 16 percent gain over last year's production of 178,989,000 pounds. By the end of June, Gloucester had received 80,356,000 pounds of fish and shellfish, compared with Boston's 75,720,000, New Bedford's 43,827,000, and Portland's 7,312,000 pounds. Landings at Gloucester and New Bedford increased about 33 percent over last year, while Boston's receipts were 5 percent less, and Portland also showed a small decline. The California tuna fishery, enjoying its best year since 1940, furnishes one of the most important increases. Landings during the first six months were 50 percent larger than last year, totaling 52,948,000 pounds, while the canned pack reached 1,149,370 cases, a gain of 61 percent. Less successful than the tuna industry, the Pacific mackerel fishery is having a relatively poor year. Landings amounted to 7,868,000 pounds for the first half of the year, as against 9,007,000 in 1943. The canned pack showed a corresponding decrease: 84,982 cases compared with 95,799. The Maine sardine industry has already packed 1,110,000 cases, or an increase of 35 percent over its production of canned fish last year. A considerable quantity of the sardines packed in Maine canneries is imported from Canada. Be In the Gulf area, shrimp and oysters declined while crabs made important gains. cause of labor difficulties and a scarcity of shrimp, production in the important shrimp fishery is 28 percent behind last year, with 73,340 barrels landed as against 101,738 in 1943. Oysters fell from 689,491 barrels to 459,306; while crabs increased from 3,796,000 pounds to 5,115,000. The Pacific Coast pilchard fishery, which alone produces a fourth of the total poundage taken by U. S. fishermen, is inactive from April through July in California, the center of the fishery. From January through March, however, production amounted to 81,417 tons, or a decline of 8 percent compared with the same period in 1943. Fishing for pilchards will be resumed from northern California ports on August 1. Fresh fish came into New York's wholesale markets in somewhat greater quantity than last year, totaling 126,487,000 pounds compared with 113,579,000. On the other hand, in Chicago, most important inland market for fish, receipts declined from 39,735,000 pounds last year to 33,915,000. The scarcity of shrimp and the late opening of the halibut season were probably important reasons for the decline, for these two products normally outrank all others in volume of sales in Chicago, Total production by all fisheries last year was approximately 4,000,000,000 pounds, and it is hoped that the yield may reach 4,300,000,000 in 1944. Although the fishing fleet is approaching its pre-war size through new construction and the return of many vessels requisitioned by the Army and Navy, lack of sufficient manpower to operate boats and shore plants, as well as inadequate refrigeration, have hampered production. OPERATION OF MANPOWER PRIORITY SYSTEM EXPLAINED BY OCF The War Manpower Commission Priority Referral Program which became effective July 1, is designed to benefit industries which are most vital to the Nation's war effort. The order which established this program requires that male labor with few exceptions be hired through the U. S. Employment Service. The application of this program will vary considerably from one local area to another because of the recognized need for flexibility in considering location of employment, types of essential production, and administrative factors. The priority program sets up the relative importance of industries and plants for the guidance of U. S. Employment Service personnel in referring workers to jobs. Commercial fishing is one of the industries which can benefit from the application of this program. Employers in the fishing industry should take all necessary action to see that they secure the maximum benefit obtainable under this program. In order to secure such benefits each commercial fishing producer and manufacturer of fishery products should: Apply for a priority rating at his nearest local office of the United States Employment Service. It should be borne in mind that the awarding of a priority rating is not automatic merely because the industry is essential. The United States Employment Service local offices will be in a position to inform employers of the conditions which must be met by the employer in order to obtain and hold a priority rating. When filing application for priority rating, the employer should indicate the number of workers he currently needs or anticipates he will need in the near future. Any change in numbers of workers needed should be made known to the United States Employment Service Office. The employer should discuss with the local United States Employment Service office the practical aspects, with respect to his production, of the requirements of the War Manpower Commission order. If it is not practical for hiring to be limited solely through the United States Employment Service, the employer should request authority to continue his own recruitment of workers, subject to such conditions or limitations on direct hiring as may have been found necessary in the particular locality. It is possible for the employer to continue his own recruitment of workers and still receive benefits from the application of the War Manpower Commission order. Under certain conditions, communities may be exempt from this order. However, it would not be to the best advantage of the commercial fishing industry employer to have his community exempt, especially if the employer has obtained priority rating and permission to hire his workers direct. The Area Coordinators are empowered to appear before the Area or State Manpower Priorities Committee whenever matters in which the fishery industries are interested are under consideration. Whenever manpower problems of nation-wide importance will arise or whenever interregional recruitment requests will be discussed, in which the fishery industries are interested, the Coordinator of Fisheries will present the data and demands of the industries before the National Committee. APPROVAL OF FISHING VESSEL CONSTRUCTION RESTRICTED The Office of the Coordinator of Fisheries announced on July 12, that, with few exceptions, it will not approve applications for priorities for the construction of any additional fishing vessels during the remainder of the year. Construction of fishing vessels during the first half of the year has been so accelerated, Dr. Ira N. Gabrielson, Deputy Coordinator, said, that the materials originally estimated for the entire year of 1944 have been greatly depleted. The action was necessary to keep the vessel construction program at the level approved by the WPB. Since materials were made available by the WPB a year ago, OCF has recommended priorities for the construction of 1,029 vessels. "When vessels now under construction or approved have been completed," Dr. Gabrielson said, "and with the addition of requisitioned vessels which are now being returned by the Navy in increasing numbers, the U. S. fishing fleet will be substantially at its pre-war size, although there will be a deficit in certain categories of vessels." The OCF will not apply to the War Production Board for authorization of additional materials beyond that already programmed for the rest of the year, the Deputy Coordinator said, for the reason that manpower shortages, lack of shore facilities, and inadequate refrigeration are already acting as brakes upon the production of the fisheries in many areas. They are: In four categories, applications will still be considered. 1. Applications that have already been submitted to the Office of the Coordinator of 2. Requests for increase in previous allotments; 3. Bona fide emergency or hardship cases, such as the loss (not sale) of a boat which 4. Applications that are intended to authorize a production schedule and preference MANILA ROPE RESTRICTIONS AGAIN TIGHTENED BY M-84 Further restrictions have been placed on the use of manila fiber to conserve available supplies of this critical fiber, the War Production Board reported on July 6. Amendments, issued June 28, 1944, to Conservation Order M-84, provide for a 25 percent reduction in manila processing quotas. Commencing July 1, 1944, cordage manufacturers may process manila rope only for the 10 end uses listed in the Cordage End Use List of the order. The permitted end uses are life-saving equipment used aboard Great Lakes, coastwise and ocean-going ships, and cables, crackers and torpedo lines required to meet the program for increased drilling of oil and gas wells. The amount of manila allocated for these uses possibly will be sufficient to meet minimum requirements, WPB said. However, if these requirements during the third quarter exceed the amount allocated for these end uses, it will be necessary to use sisal rope as a substitute for manila rope. Operators of commercial fishing boats, narbor and river tugs, ferries, barges and lighters will be required to use sisal rope because processing quotas do not include any manila rope for these users. The permitted end uses for rope are included in Schedule A and for twine in Schedule B. (See following pages for Schedules A and B.) The fishery cordage end uses permitted under the series of M-84 orders have varied considerably, according to a recent report of Frank E. Firth, a Service technologist conducting cordage studies in New England. Previous orders permitted more liberal use of this fiber in the fishing industry. The October 1943 order allowed 23 end uses, while that of April 1944 permitted 20 uses. In May 1943, however, only one end use was permitted in the order issued at that time. The increase in the uses of manila for our fisheries between October 1943 and July 1944 was due to the WPB's recognition of the great need which the Fish and Wildlife Service pointed out existed for dependable cordage in fishery uses where life or valuable property would be at stake if ropes made of an inferior fiber were substituted. Increases were granted on the strength of reports which indicated that an increased supply of manila fibers was expected Schedule A--Cordage End Use List End use Anchor buoy spar rope.. Definition A rope used to steady a spar projecting from the side of a vessel... Anchor lines submerged Fishing A line used to fix the position of stationary gear such as pounds or trap nets, fykes, and anchored glar. Anchor lines-sea plane.. Anchor lines-vessel. Anchor lines--small ships. Anchor lines-sea anchor.. Auxiliary line-Lyle gun.. Breast line-30 to 50 ton booms. Breast line-Sea Plane and Flying Breast line-Seines & Trawls... gill nets. The anchor rode of a sea plane. See anchor lines... A line used to connect the anchor chain and the vessel.. A rope attached to a canvas sea anchor used to retard the progress of a small boat or life raft.. A 3" circ. hawser-drawn to or from a vessel by means of a whip line and which is used to support Rope for reinforcing and securing awning in place. A small sized rope used to hoist or lower an awning. The rope stitched to the back of the middle of an awning and to which the crows foot is spliced.. A heavy wrapping twine for securing large bales or bundles.. A special type of sling used only to hoist fuel drums aboard ship where rope is passed through See Guard rope.... A rope eye or grommet used for the hook of a block.. A small piece of rope with an eye spliced in each end to hold the end of a sprit to the mast. A rowlock formed of a rope grommet secured over a throle pin in a sailing launch.. A short loop inserted at regular intervals in the ground line to provide fastening for the snell A small hand rope suspended or attached to a bell and used for the purpose of ringing the bell. Frequently used on machinery as a medium of shifting belt drive from idler pulley to driving A network of rope fashioned inside a frame which constitutes the bottom of the berth.. A line used to support a heavy line at the bight.... A line used to tend boats when coming alongside. A rope or chain preventing the bowsprit from jumping and leading from the end of the bow A line lashed to the foot rope on which the bottom section of the otter trawl is hung. A rope to which a sail is sewed to reinforce the sail and maintain its shape. The efficient action A line rove through tackle blocks attached to the mast and boom. It is used to adjust the A line used to hold the boom away from the amidships when men are working and as a stop to A rope used to clean inside of large caliber gun barrels after being bored or filed.. The rope to which is suspended a piece of board on which a man working aloft is swung and See Hanging Rope-Fishing Industry.. See mooring lines. A line used in mooring or docking to check the vessel from going astern. Ropes used for furling fore and aft sails such as spanker to the mast. Can be foot-throat- A line rove, singly, through a block attached near the outer end of the boom, or suspended See mooring lines. A line used in mooring or docking vessels and runs at rightangles to keel and dock. Yes.... Yes..... Yes..... Usually the breast line is formed by continuing the lead and cork lines vertically at the ends of A line passed through rings attached to the breast line of a purse seine and fastened near the Bridles-Seines, submerged traps and A length of line connected to the float and bottom lines of seines and submerged traps and gill nets, the approximate midpoint being attached to an anchor line. A rope attached to a bucket and used to raise or lower the bucket.. A rope working through a bull's eye, especially one used in securing a light yard of mast. A rope secured to the outside of the gunwale of a small boat and used as a permanent bumper.. A line connecting a surface buoy and the trawl line and the anchor on the bottom. The lines used by the Chinese shrimp bagnet fishing industry generally confined to San Fran. related to fishing industry. Restrictions on other fibers Coir only Schedule A--Cordage End Use List (Continued) Definition End use Clews Hammock........... The ropes running angularly from the hammock surface to the ring or other fitting whereby the A type of lashing rope used to secure the hem rope of a sail to the mast of a small boat.. This line is passed through the last meshes or rings attached to the fish bag opening and serves See cod end rope.. Small sized lines, generally lightly tarred, used for ground fishing. Ropes used in the mining industry for emergency stretching of wire ropes. A small rope rove through the middle of the steps of a Jacob's ladder. Used in construction of new machinery and repairs to existing machinery or equipment. Also Construction Rigging Rope (1" diam. Same as above... Yes..... Yes..... Yes. Yes.. Yes. See Falls-Lifeboat. Down hauls-Pounds and traps.. A line passing around a windlass and trap or pound, and through an eye fastened to a pile, or Yes. Down hau.. Drag ropes-Shrimp.... Yes. Dory lift... Restrictions on. other fibers Drag ropes-Trawls.. The lines used in the display of national colors (flags) at all mastheads and the flagstaff aboard A line by which the net is secured to the boat while drifting........ Used for operating the tools in "cable tool" drilling. Used for operating the tcol: in "cable tool" drilling.................. Used on portable machine: for drilling water wells. Usually made in size 11⁄4" diam. to 17%," Used on drilling machines for drilling blast holes. Usual sizes 1" diam. to 2" diam. ¡ncl..... A short piece of rope secured to a cringle for hauling out the cringle. A line used in clearing hawse and in mooring for easing out a chain which has been unshackled.. A rope filler in double deck coils for securing insulation, used principally in electric traction Used by linemen on high voltage work as a general utility line.... A hoisting rope which supports an elevator...... A rope used to stop and start power of a power driven elevator; Iso a hand rope to raise or A rope attached to a gate or door and attached to *Emergency Line-Bristo Bay Gill An emergency all-purpose ine used by Bristol Bay Fish ́rmen.... Cotton only. counterbalance to facilitate operation of Yes.... Yes..... Falls-Anchor... Falls-Awning tackle. Falls-Boat..... Falls-Boom tackle (fishing vessels).. Falls-Cargo (below 3′′ circ.). Falls-Fishing dory. A rope used, generally in conjunction with a pair of davits to raise or lower small boats, other A tackle attached near the outer end of the boon or suspended from a pendant attached to one A 3 or 4 strand rope used in loading or discharging cargoes.... A rope used to check the speed and direction of the anchor chain. A 3 or 4 strand hard laid rope used in discharging coal cargoes.. See Halyard-flag and signal..... The tackle used for hoisting an anchor to the deck, usually used in connection with davits.. A rope used to lower, hoist or support a ship's ladder or pilot's ladder over to side of a vessel.. Falls F. O. Ilose Davit.. Rope used to raise, lower or otherwise handle fuel oil hose for refueling vessels. Yes. Falls-Kingpost.. See topping lift fall.... The falls used for raising and lowering the boom... Same as above... See bumpers. Falls-Lifeboat.. Rope used for fire escape in hotel rooms, etc., not connected with outside stairways. See anchor lines. Cable laid rope, sometimes tarred, for use off the fishing banks for anchor line. The floatline is used to support the leader netting of fyke nets.. A line to which the corks or floats are attached and supports the netting. The line which contains the floats and is used to float a haul seine.. The main line to which the top netting of an otter trawl is attached. A buoyed line which supports the webbing.. The main bottom line of a trawl to which the foot rope hanging line is secured. "Bolsch' *Indicates end use related to fishing industry. Used in handling powder tanks (lowering and hoisting).. A pair of tackles suspended from davits used to raise and lower the purse boats and seine which A rope used generally in conjunction with a pair of davits, used to raise or lower lifeboats which Yes. Rope for adjusting windsails (ventilators) in position.. Coir only. Yes. Yes. Yes.. Yes. Yes. |