Total landings during the first ten months of 1944 amounted to 68,671,000 pounds, valued at $5,595,400, an increase of 23 percent in the volume landed and 5 percent in the value received by the fishermen compared with the same period in 1943. The over-all weighted average price per pound was 8.15 cents compared with 9.50 cents during the same period in 1943.

The production of shrimp increased generally during October, with the greatest increase reported from the Galveston, Freeport and Sabine Pass area, according to the New Orleans Market News office. That area had been strike bound for some time, but the difficulties were settled during the first part of October. Weather conditions were very favorable, helping to increase production.

Oyster production was considerably smaller than that of October 1943, partly due to very warm weather which has lessened the demand for oysters. The price to the fisherman has been so high this year that the dealers reportedly find it less profitable to handle this line of shellfish than in other years. No ceiling price has been established for oysters.

Hard crabs and crabmeat still show a marked rise over 1943 production due to the very heavy summer production. Much of the crabmeat was packed during the spring season when there was a shortage of shrimp and shrimp canners could turn to process crabmeat rather than leave their plants idle.

OCTOBER NEW YORK RECEIPTS INCREASE 11 PERCENT OVER SEPTEMBER

With OPA's winter schedule of ceiling prices in effect as of October 1, more intensive action of fishing fleets, both in nearby and northern waters, led to large-scale increases in receipts of important "ceiling" species such as cod, flounder (blackbacks and yellowtails), pollock, and lemon sole, and smaller increases in whiting and hake arrivals, according to the New York City Market News office. Of the major species, haddock only showed a decrease.

Important "non-ceiling" species such as butterfish and scup (porgy) also showed increases, due largely to the fact that these species were found in abundance in nearby New York and New Jersey waters during the middle and latter part of October.

Increased arrivals from Canada were included in the greatly increased receipts of fresh and frozen halibut.

Of shellfish items, oysters, both in the shell and shucked, and shrimp were received in larger quantities, but these increases were offset somewhat by decreases in arrivals of lobsters and other shellfish items.

Receipts of Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products--Salt-water Market New York City*

OCTOBER RECEIPTS AT CHICAGO SHOW A DECREASE OF 1 PERCENT FROM SEPTEMBER

Receipts of fresh and frozen fishery products in Chicago during October were 1 percent less than in September and 6 percent less than during October 1943, according to the Service's Fishery Market News office in Chicago.

There was a considerable increase in the receipts of lake herring and lake trout over September, but this gain was virtually offset by decreases in receipts of practically all other fresh-water varieties.

Receipts of fishery products totaled 8,779,000 pounds during October, a gain of 68 percent over September and 18 percent over October 1943, according to the Service's Fishery Market News office in Seattle.

Heavier receipts of halibut caught in Area III, purse seine and gill net salmon from the Coast and Columbia River, and rockfishes were largely responsible for the increase in arrivals. However, the 10-month figure of 59,577,000 pounds was 14 percent less than for the same period in 1943 when 69,492,000 pounds were received.

- 37
4

5,382,000

+64

4,210,000

3,800,000

+10

4,901,000

Halibut and shark fleets and receipts from local and all other sources.

Frozen Fish Trade

U. S. HOLDINGS ON NOVEMBER 1 32 PERCENT GREATER THAN YEAR PREVIOUS

Holdings of fish and shellfish in United States cold-storage plants on November 1 amounted This to 130,914,000 pounds, according to the Service's Current Fishery Statistics No. 153. was an increase of 32 percent over stocks held on November 1, 1943, and 28 percent above the 5-year average for November 1. Substantial gains over 1943 were reported for all important items except rosefish fillets, flounders, sea herring, and scup.

Cured fish:

Herring, cured

13,387,000

18

14,947,000

3,290,000 + 20

Salmon, mild-cured

6 10 16,404,000 14,209,000 +57 -47 2,744,000 2,096,000 6,170,000

Since the date for reporting holdings of fishery products was changed from the 15th to the first of the month beginning January 1, 1943, data included in the "5-year average" consist of a combination of figures for the two periods.

Less than percent.

OCTOBER FREEZINGS BY U. S. COLD-STORAGE PLANTS 26 PERCENT LARGER THAN OCTOBER 1943

Fishery products totaling 23,733,000 pounds were frozen by domestic freezers during October, according to the Service's Current Fishery Statistics No. 153. This was an increase of 26 percent over October 1943 but a decline of 15 percent from the quantity frozen during September 1944. Items frozen in greatest quantities were rosefish fillets, halibut, mackerel, salmon, whiting, and shrimp.

3,679,000 +34 +101

Since the date for reporting freezings of fishery products was changed from the 15th to the first of the month beginning January 1, 1943, data included in the "5-year average" consist of a combination of figures for the two periods.

76

97 + 29

17,000

51,000 431,000

2,751,000 1,831,000 2,851,000

NEW YORK COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS CONTINUE UPWARD TREND IN OCTOBER

In line with increased receipts of fresh and frozen fishery products in the New York salt-water market, cold-storage holdings increased 7 percent in October, according to the Service's Market News office in that city.

To the over-all gain of 1,034,000 pounds, shrimp contributed 840,000 pounds. The very large shipments of shrimp into New York during October, totaling 2,610,000 pounds, exceeded by far the normal demand.

Freezer space continued to be at a premium, and there is little doubt that a greater increase in holdings would have resulted had space been available. This was true for practically all major species.

The increase of 49 percent in holdings over November 1, 1943, was reflected mainly in increased storage of groundfish fillets, halibut, sablefish, and salmon, which were received in far greater quantities than in 1943.

Holdings of fishery products in Boston cold-storage plants on the last Wednesday in October remained large, according to the Boston Market News office. Although landings of fresh fish were comparatively light between September 27 to October 25, the holdings on October 25 were only one percent less than those of September 27. After October 1, when OPA winter ceilings became effective, market activity centered on fresh fish and fillets. Frozen stocks on hand on October 25, 18,015,000 pounds, exceeded those of a year previous by over 4 million pounds, or 34 percent.

Despite the general condition of congestion, cod fillet stocks were reduced 20 percent and mackerel fillets dropped 8 percent. This occurred even though Government purchases of these items had been suspended. Haddock fillet holdings also decreased considerably. Scallop and shrimp stocks showed substantial increases of 269 and 146 percent, respectively.

Whiting holdings in cold-storage plants in New England on October 28 were 8,903,000 pounds, 4 percent larger than those of September 30, and 38 percent greater than October 30, 1943.