to operate with maximum efficiency to take full advantage of available supplies. While individual boats will probably make catches of normal size, schools of fish may be scattered and without careful organization of operations, the total catch may decline. The Coordinator's Office has completed arrangements with the Navy for two different types of experiments designed to aid fishermen in locating schools of pilchards, which swim at or near the surface and are usually caught at night, when they can be seen by phosphorescence. One of the tests, being made for the first time this year, is designed to show whether the Navy's extremely sensitive sonic depth-finding apparatus can be adapted to locating schools of pilchards swimming too deep to be sighted at the surface. These tests, which are scheduled to begin immediately, will be concentrated in the area between San Francisco and Monterey, where some of the principal pilchard fishing grounds are located. Dr. L. A. Walford, a biologist of the Fish and Wildlife Service who is thoroughly familiar with the pilchard fishery, will accompany a naval vessel on its routine cruises through the fishing area. If it is found feasible to locate and identify schools of pilchard with the echo sounding instruments, naval patrol vessels along the coast will be instructed to notify the fishing fleet through the Coordinator's Office of the location of schools. Apparatus now in use by the Navy, even if it proves adaptable to locating fish, will not be available for commercial use until after the war. However, a somewhat similar, although much less sensitive, device is part of the equipment of many fishing boats and has been used with some success in detecting schools of herring in British Columbia, southeastern Alaska, and New England. Experiments begun last season in the use of Navy blimps to spot schools of pilchards from the air will also be continued. Tests made during January and February indicated that observers with previous experience as mast men on pilchard boats could distinguish schools of pilchards from other fish such as tuna. The position of the fish was then radioed to shore and the fishing crews were notified so that they might operate that night in areas where the fish were concentrated. While useful, the method has several limitations: schools cannot be sighted in rough weather, which disturbs the surface, visibility is at its best only around the middle of the day, and the schools do not always appear near enough to the surface during the day to be sighted. The boat situation in the pilchard fishery is definitely better than it has been for several seasons, officials of the Coordinator's Office said. Although the fishery has been operating for several years with a fleet greatly depleted by the requisitioning of boats by the Navy, it is again approaching its normal size as a result of the return of many of the vessels and new construction. A netting shortage, which was threatened earlier in the year, is believed to have been averted by action taken by the WPB at the recommendation of the Fishery Coordinator. Netting manufacturers were authorized to concentrate on the manufacture of netting for the pilchard fishery during June and it is believed that an adequate supply is now in the hands of the fishermen. For the second consecutive year, the pilchard fishery is operating under a production program administered by the Coordinator of Fisheries in the interest of obtaining maximum production and insuring a proper division of the catch among canned fish, meal, and oil. 1944 SWORDFISH LANDINGS LARGER THAN EXPECTED Swordfish, expected to be a missing item in seafood markets this summer, is arriving in New England fishing ports at a rate reminiscent of pre-war days, the Office of the Coordinator of Fisheries reported on August 13. Contrary to all pre-season predictions, approximately 160,000 pounds of swordfish have already been landed at Boston and Gloucester, and over 100,000 pounds at New Bedford and Woods Hole. The total season's landings at Boston. and Gloucester are expected to reach 400,000 pounds--the largest since 1941 at those ports. The fleet of 30 to 40 harpooners that operated out of Boston and Gloucester before the war had been reduced to three or four boats in recent years because of the good money to be made in the rosefish and mackerel fisheries. As recently as June, it was generally predicted that landings of swordfish this year would be confined to incidental catches. As a result of recent developments, about 8 large vessels are now operating for swordfish out of Gloucester and one from Boston, while the New Bedford swordfish fleet consists of more than 20 harpooners or about its normal size. The revival of swordfishing has been brought about chiefly by the lack of shore plant facilities for filleting, freezing, and storing rosefish and mackerel, the Coordinator's Office explained. Swordfish, unlike these species, can be handled easily and does not require much labor for processing. The fishery for swordfish is largely confined to the northern part of Georges Bank, which lies southeast of Cape Cod, and the "gully" between Georges and the adjacent Browns Bank. Although fishing normally begins in June, a month of foggy weather on the banks, the most profitable swordfishing is carried on during July, August, and September. Some swordfishermen formerly went as far east as the Cape Breton area, but as long as the fish are plentiful on the nearby grounds these long trips are avoided. Harpooners out of New Bedford and Woods Hole make most of their catches of swordfish around Block Island, No Man's land, and other southern New England grounds. MARYLAND CATCH RECORD SYSTEM IMPROVED An improved system of catch recording has been instituted for the fisheries of Maryland cooperatively by the Maryland Department of Tidewater Fisheries, the Maryland Department of Research and Education, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After consultation with commercial fishermen, specially designed triplicate record sales pads were prepared for the various types of commercial gear fished in Maryland waters. Each licensed fisherman has been provided record books for the gear he operates and instructions for their use. The original sales slip is to be returned to the State fishery offices. Catch information is to be tabulated by punch card machines. After the cards are prepared, it will be possible to quickly determine the catch by month, gear, water, county, or species or any combination of these data. The system will provide information on the condition of the resources of such accuracy and detail that it can be used as the foundation for sound and practical measures to maintain and increase the yield of fish in Maryland waters. WFA REPORTS ON FISH SUPPLIES FOR 1944 Again this year, supplies of fresh and frozen fish will be much more plentiful for civilians than canned fish, according to the War Food Administration. Although this year's pack of canned fish is expected to be slightly larger than last year's, heavier demands for canned fish from U. S. military and war services will leave stocks in grocery stores less than half as large as usual peacetime supplies. Catches of some seasonal varieties of fish are now unusually large, and good supplies of fresh fish are expected on the market, differing with the season and the part of the country. In New England, fresh mackerel is now particularly abundant and prices reasonable. In the Middle Atlantic region, fresh croakers, sea trout, butterfish, sea bass, and mackerel are good buys. Stocks of frozen fish in cold storage are the largest on record for this time of year-50 percent larger than a year ago, Larger than normal supplies of frozen mackerel fillets are stocked in the East--so much larger, in fact, that the WFA is urging housewives to buy mackerel, both fresh and frozen, at this season to relieve the storage situation and prevent waste of this excellent food. Other frozen fish in volume supply are cod fillets, whiting, hake, ocean pout, and haddock fillets. As for canned fish, salmon and California sardines (pilchards) will be most abundant on the market, but the fancier varieties of salmon will be hard to find on grocery shelves because most of this stock will be taken by the military. The less expensive grades of canned salmon, however, are quite as valuable nutritionally and good in flavor. Other canned fish which will be for sale in smaller quantities are tuna, Maine sardines, mackerel, and flake fish. WFA ANNOUNCES POLICIES FOR SELLING GOVERNMENT-OWNED FOOD STOCKS Food released from Government-owned stocks for the civilian trade is being offered for sale in various ways, the WFA announced on August 7. It is improbable that any single procedure will govern all cases. Nor does the fact that a procedure has been or is now being followed mean that it will be followed in all future instances. The nature and quantity of the commodity, its location and condition, and the state of the market are factors to be considered in determining which one of several methods of disposition should be employed. Accordingly, any statement of policy concerning the sale or disposition of Government-owned food commodities should take full account of all qualifying circumstances. During the current period of relatively short supply, it has been found practical in some instances to offer the commodity first to the original vendor or processor at ceiling prices less the usual trade discounts and reasonable allowances for relabeling and repackaging. Any remaining quantity is then offered on the same terms to all processors of the commodity. In both instances, the offers are made directly to the respective processors or vendors and information that such an offer is being made is promptly released to the trade and the public. Two things may be said of this procedure. First, it seeks to utilize the normal distributive facilities of industry in returning the commodity to civilian markets. Second, it presents a method of getting the commodity back into civilian channels with a minimum of shock to industry--an obligation that industry recognizes and accepts. Sales can be made, and on occasions are being made, through the services of established food brokers. Here again, distribution goes through normal channels. There are occasions when other methods of disposition are expedient. The product may be so out-of-condition that it cannot be offered in its present form for sale into civilian trade channels. It may, however, be possible to recondition or use it in the making of another product. In such instances, the offer is made to the industry that can use the commodity. The sale may be by negotiations directly with representatives of the industry or on the basis of competitive bids. The same procedure may be followed in the sale of small lots or out-of-position lots. It may be proper, in these instances, to limit bids or negotiations for a commodity to a certain area or to definite trade groups, depending upon the circumstances of the particular case. In the case of quantities of certain foods, such as potatoes purchased under the Price Support Program, an offer of sale back to the original producer is, of course, out of the question. If supplies are in excess of needs for human consumption, certain commodities are converted into industrial uses. Other quantities may be held and offered for sale later when needed to meet deficiencies in the regular supply. It is important, then, to keep in mind that a sales procedure must of necessity be kept flexible. Any method of sale is best judged by its observance of these objectives: 1. Prompt and orderly movement into civilian trade channels of foods released from 2. As little disruption of established markets as possible. 3. Protection of the Government's investment in the food. 4. Full information, and adequate notice to all interested trade factors. Information On Sales--To present full information to the public and adequate notice to the trade of sales of food surpluses, the following procedure is followed regularly in the preparation and issuance of informational releases and reports on sales of Governmentowned food stocks: A. When food stocks are offered to the original vendors: 1. A press release gives the following information: A brief statement of the fact that the offer is made only to the original vendors The commodity being offered for sale. How packed. The quantity. The name or names of the original vendors and addresses. Any other statement needed to expedite the sale of the commodity. 2. This release is distributed immediately to wire services, trade association repre- The information is sent by leased wire to WFA's Office of Distribution regional offices Copies of the release are sent immediately to the Office of War Information for further distribution if OWI deems it advisable. Further distribution is made by briefing the information in WFA's weekly Food Trade Letter, which is sent to trade groups and other interested parties throughout the country. B. When food stocks are not purchased all or in part by the original vendor and are offered for sale to processors of a like commodity: 1. A press release is issued stating that the commodity is being offered to like processors 2. It states further that the food was offered to the original vendors and gives the 3. Location and how packed, and any other statement needed to expedite the sale is included. C. A procedure is being worked out in cases where foods are not purchased by either the original vendor or processors of like commodities. D. When sales have been completed: 1. As sales are completed and the abstract of sale is available, a sales report (Information Sales Report) is made and sent to all who have requested this type of information. A mailing list based on these requests is being built up. This information on completed sales is rushed to regional and district offices so local trade interests will know who purchased the food. 2. This report includes the following: Commodity, quantity, location, price--by units and E. Once a month a round-up of sales is issued in the form of a trade release. The release NETTING LIMITATION ORDER REVISED BY WPB ON AUGUST 29 On August 29, the War Production Board issued a revised order limiting the production and sales of fish netting. Excerpts from the revised L-282, (b) Definitions. For the the purposes of this order, (1) "Seine twine" means any type of cabled or hawser laid twine of cotton, or other materials, customarily used in the production of netting. (2) "Commercial fish netting" means any type of netting used by commercial fisherman for the taking of fish (including shell fish) or for the taking of bait (except bait for sport fishing). (c) Restriction on production and sales. (1) No person who produces dur- (1) That required to fill specific mili- (2) No such person shall sell or deliver any netting which he knows or has reason to believe will be used for any purpose other than camouflage or for issued August 29, follow: the taking of fish or bait for commercial purposes. (f) Reports. All producers of fish netting shall on or before the 10th day of each calendar month file Form WPB2695 as specified in said form. This reporting requirement has been approved by the Bureau of the Budget in accordance with the Federal Reports Act of 1942. WPB RESTRICTIONS RELAXED IN CUTBACK OF FIBER PRODUCTION The War Production Board announced on August 10, that in the event of cutbacks or terminations of Government textile contracts, WPB may, in the case of certain items, grant temporary exemptions from the restrictions of Conservation and Limitation orders governing production, sale, use, or delivery of those items, to fill essential civilian requirements. The action was taken in amendments to Conservation Order M-328. The items affected by the revised order are contained in Schedule A of the regulation. Materials and Products Covered by Conservation Order M-328 in Schedule A which affect the fisheries follow: Manila, agave, istle, hemp (Cannabis sativa), Sunn hemp, raffia, flax, jute, coir yarn and Sponges, marine. WPB RESTRICTS SALES OF SEINE TWINE To meet military and naval procurements as well as requirements of the war food program for seine twine, hawser or cabled cord, the WPB on August 2, issued directions to producers, sharply restricting sales and deliveries of the products. In addition to regular Navy, United States Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration needs for these materials, the Army has placed orders for large supplies of seine cord, used in the manufacture of camouflage nets, WPB explained. Under the war food program, there have been heavy purchases of netting for the fish catch, of which a large percentage goes to the Armed Forces. The directive requires that, effective August 15, 1944, producers may not sell or deliver any seine twine, hawser or other cabled cord, except on a preference rating. These ratings may be assigned (a) on Form WPB-2842, (b) on Form WPB-547 (Distributor's application for preference rating), (c) by the Foreign Economic Administration, (d) in connection with an authorization of the Canadian Cotton Administrator, (e) or as specifically authorized in writing by the WPB. The following transactions are excepted from the foregoing restrictions: 1. Sales made directly by producers to a consumer for his own use, provided that not more 2. Deliveries made prior to October 1, 1944, on orders accepted prior to August 15, 1944, The direction was issued pursuant to Conservation Order M-328. OPA FISH ADVISORY COMMITTEE NAMED Appointment of a Fresh and Frozen Fish Industry Advisory Committee, which includes eastern, southern, midwestern, and western representatives of the industry as well as all segments of the trade, was announced on August 2 by the OPA. The committee will work with OPA on all problems involved in price control for fresh and frozen fish and seafood. |