Pacific, all species.............................. do Fresh-water fish Shellfish, etc. Unclassified United States: Cod fillets Haddock fillets Halibut Mackerel (except Spanish) Croakers Rosefish fillets Salmon Whiting Shrimp .... New England, all species Middle Atlantic, all species South Atlantic, all species .... 1 Includes all arrivals as reported by express and rail terminals, and truck receipts as 2/ Data for individual cities are as of the last Thursday of the month, except those for Note:-Data for the latest month are subject to revision. 3,250 2,747 2,201 1,471 873 1,056 336 371 485 3,065 2,680 2,351 Scallop and lemon sole. prices advanced by Andt. 21 to MPR-418 ... Regional Administrator permitted to set fish prices on Pacific Coast by Andt. 22 Sliced codfish prices reduced in Amdt. 23 to MPR-418 Storage charges on fish oils may be added to maximum prices WFA--Export packaging specifications revised Lists Government canned fish requirements for 1944-45 Restriction on pet foods revoked ..... Fish oil to be released from Government reserves Sperm oil freed for essential uses ... Purchases in January valued at nearly $3,000,000 WMC--Outlines basis for allocating labor Workers to be recruited for canning plants WPB--Purchase of fibre and wooden shipping containers restricted Canned foods restricted to human consumption Vitamin A supplies allocated SECTIONAL MARKETING REVIEWS Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries of Washington and Oregon FRESH FISH TRADE Landings at three ports during January lowest since 1923 New York salt-water receipts gain in January Chicago receipts during January increase 14 percent over 1943 Biloxi price dispute cuts Gulf production in January Contents continued on page 42 ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WASHINGTON Page 2 10 15 39 8 9 14 12 13 13 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FISHERY MARKET NEWS A REVIEW OF CONDITIONS AND TRENDS OF THE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES - MARKET NEWS R. A. Kahn Applications for FISHERY MARKET NEWS, which is mailed free to members of the fishery industry and allied interests, should be addressed to the Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, Washington 25, D. C. Rapidly growing importance of Chicago as the nation's leading inland wholesale market and receiving and distribution center was indicated by 1943 receipts of fishery products in that city. Over 84 million pounds of fresh and frozen fishery products, in 165 classifications, were received during 1943. Shipments from 34 states, Alaska, and 8 Canadian Provinces provided Chicago with the heaviest volume of fishery receipts since Market News data were first obtained in 1938. The year's receipts consisted of 55 fresh-water, 88 salt-water, and 22 shellfish items and represented an increase of approximately 16 million pounds or 23 percent compared to 1942. Analysis of the 1943 receipts--Table I--shows that, although handicapped by lack of gear and manpower, intensified efforts of the industry enabled Chicago dealers to receive and distribute 36 percent more salt-water fish, 18 percent more fresh-water fish, and 13 percent more shellfish than during 1942. Fifteen of the sources of Chicago's supply in the United States, Alaska, and Canada were particularly important. Leading in domestic shipments were Wisconsin and Massachusetts, each accounting for 11 percent of the total receipts, and following were Michigan, with 9 percent; Louisiana and Minnesota, 6 percent each; Washington and Ohio, 4 percent each; Illinois, Iowa, and Texas, 3 percent each; and New York and Alaska, each 2 percent. British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia led the shippers of imported fishery products to Chicago, accounting for 13, 10, and 4 percent, respectively, of the total volume. It is interesting to note that these three provinces contributed 81 percent of the total imported figure of approximately 27 million pounds. Receipts from the most important shipping sources are shown in greater detail in Table II. Reflecting the serious rubber and gasoline problems, transport by motor trucks declined 24 percent in poundage during 1943 in comparison with 1942 figures, while accompanying rises of 82 percent in express and 25 percent in freight usage occurred. Tables III and IV show that 42 percent of all classifications arrived by rail express, 35 percent by rail freight, and 23 percent by motor trucks. Rail freight's Rail freight's share of the shipments remained the same as in 1942, but express increased its proportion from 28 to 42 percent at the expense of truck *Fishery Marketing Specialist, Chicago, Ill. **Includes catch taken by U.S. vessels and shipped through Canada to the United States in bond. transport, which, in 1942, handled 37 percent, Canadian imports show more strongly the conservative use of truck shipments. Forty-eight percent of the total imported poundage arrived via express, an increase of 121 percent over 1942. Rail freight accounted for 47 percent, an increase of 5 percent. Trucks carried but 5 percent of all imports, a decline of 45 percent from last year. The most noticeable and important change in 1943 in the nature of the products handled in Chicago's markets was a trend toward proportionately greater supplies of filleted fishery Freight Lbs. 29.780,905 35 84,033,635 100 23.782,029 35 68,167,357 100 +5,998,876 +25 +15,866,278 +23 6,862,254 16 42,508,392 51 6,105,159 17 35,912,625 53 +757,095 +12 +6,595,767 +18 15,117,059 51 29,819,559 35 11.581.586 53 21,913,143 32 +3,535,473 +31 +7,906,416 +36 7,801,592 67 11,705,684 14 6,095,284 59 10,341,589 15 +1,706,308 +28 +1,364,095 +13 17,266,868 30 57,065,402 68 11,817,325 25 47,694,315 70 +5.449,543 +46 +9,371,087 +20 12,514,037 47 26,968,233 32 11,964,704 58 20,473,042 30 +549,333+5 +6,495,191 +32 *Includes catch taken by U. S. vessels and shipped through Canada to the United States in bond. |