SMELT PRICES ESTABLISHED FOR SAN FRANCISCO REGION Amendment 1 to Order G-3 under MPR-418--Fresh Fish and Seafood--effective February 19, set the following maximum prices for sales of fresh smelt (Eulachon or Thaleichthys pacificus) in Region VIII of the Office of Price Administration: February 1 holdings of fishery products in domestic cold-storage plants, which totaled 85,859,000 pounds, were 14 percent less than those at the beginning of the year, although 15 percent greater than the stocks held on February 1, 1943, according to data published in Current Fishery Statistics No. 107 by the Fish and Wildlife Service. While stocks of all important items except flounders decreased during January, the holdings of flounders, sea herring, scup, lake herring, and shrimp were substantially larger than stocks held on February 1, 1943. Cured fish: Herring, cured Salmon, mild-cured 7,327,000 -13 4,417,000 5,295,000 7,322,000 5,814,000 12,927,000 87 1,247,000 4.995,000 4,960,000 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-yr. average" consist of a combination of figures for the two periods. **Data not available. ***An increase of less than one-half percent. + 66 +38 8,418,000 + 6 52 DOMESTIC FREEZINGS DURING JANUARY GREATER THAN YEAR AGO There were 8,481,000 pounds of fishery products frozen in United States cold-storage plants during January, according to Current Fishery Statistics No. 107, published by the Fish and Wildlife Service. This was somewhat less than the previous month but exceeded freezings for January 1943 by 26 percent or 1.7 million pounds. Compared with December, all important items showed considerable declines except haddock fillets and flounders. Freezings of these two items had been light during December because of a tie-up of a portion of the New England fleet in a dispute over prices. Compared with January a year ago, freezings of all important items increased except haddock fillets, mackerel, and whiting. *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-yr. average" consist of a combination of figures for the two periods. **Data not available. NEW YORK HOLDINGS DROP 6 PERCENT IN JANUARY Although the over-all holdings of fishery products in New York City's cold-storage warehouses showed a loss of only 6 percent in January, many of the leading species decreased to a larger extent, according to the Service's Market News office in that city. Butterfish, croaker, halibut, gray sea trout, and whiting led the declines because receipts of these fish were negligible. Salmon, although decreasing only 6 percent, was removed from coldstorage in large quantities, the withdrawals being compensated for by large shipments of frozen salmon into New York. Mullet showed the largest drop as commercial fishing for this species in Florida remained prohibited until the latter part of January. Yellowtail (dab), on the other hand, showed the largest increase because fishing vessels brought in heavy quantities of this species, while OPA retail ceiling prices going into effect the latter part of January made retailers reluctant to buy yellowtail. This caused heavy accumulations which had to be diverted to the freezers. Also showing large gains were southern species, such as Spanish mackerel and king mackerel. The largest shipment of these fish in recent years was received in New York. Unusually heavy shipments of smelt into New York caused a large increase in that species and, according to yearly warehouse inventories, flounder fillets were also stored in larger quantities. BOSTON HOLDINGS DROP 27 PERCENT IN JANUARY Registering a decrease of 27 percent since December 29, the holdings of frozen fishery products in Boston cold-storage warehouses amounted to 8,517,000 pounds on January 26, according to the Service's Market News office in Boston. This figure, however, represents an increase of 5 percent when compared with the holdings on January 27, 1943. All important items dropped considerably from the holdings on December 29. Rosefish fillets stocks fell 29 percent; cod fillets, 49 percent; and scallops, 60 percent. When compared with 12 months earlier, most of the important species showed decreases, the exceptions being shrimp, which increased 172 percent; cod fillets, which rose 44 percent; and flounder fillets, which gained 24 percent. The total whiting holdings in 13 cold-storage warehouses in Maine and Massachusetts amounted to 4,593,000 pounds on January 29. This was an increase of 1,153,000 pounds when compared with a year previous, but a decrease of 1,481,000 pounds when compared with December 25. These whiting holdings were divided as follows: 72 percent dressed, H & G, fillets, and skuljoes; 28 percent round; and less than of 1 percent animal food. Chicago cold-storage warehouses held 7,639,000 pounds of frozen fish and shellfish on January 27, a 3 percent decline in comparison to stocks held on December 30, according to the Service's local Market News office. Salt-water species showed little change, while stocks of shrimp declined due to light production in the Gulf area, Holdings increased 31 percent over January 28, 1943, reflecting somewhat overburdened refrigeration facilities. Winter-caught pickerel, whitefish and yellow pike from the Canadian Prairie Provinces contributed in large measure to the gain. Compared to that date, however, practically all leading species manifested sizable gains. CANADIAN COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS 26,287,000 POUNDS ON FEBRUARY 1 Holdings of frozen fresh fish in Canadian cold-storage plants on February 1 amounted to 26,287,000 pounds, 13 percent under those of January 1, but an increase of 34 percent when compared with February 1, 1943, according to a preliminary report furnished by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. Compared with February 1, 1943, a number of items showed large increases. Among these were cod and cod fillets, haddock and haddock fillets, salmon, sea herring and whitefish. Halibut and mackerel showed large decreases. CANADIAN PLANTS FREEZE 3 MILLION POUNDS OF FRESH FISH IN JANUARY Canadian cold-storage plants froze 3,272,000 pounds of fresh fish and 772,000 pounds of smoked fish during January, according to preliminary data released by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. Compared with January 1943, this was an increase of 72 percent in freezings of fresh fish and 66 percent in smoked fish, Freezings of all important items were greater than in January 1943. Increases in freezings of cod, sea herring, and finnan haddie were especially large. AMENDMENT 1. TO MPR-364 EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 26 Changes in the regulation governing prices for frozen fish and seafood which alter its record-keeping requirement were announced by the OPA February 21. Buyers and sellers after February 26 must indicate on their records the size of fish or seafood and specify that the items are frozen. The invoice provision was amended to require that the invoice also indicate that the fish or seafood is frozen. This change, along with the record-keeping requirements, will facilitate enforcement of the regulation. The invoice provision already requires a statement of the size. Amendment 12 to MPR-364 also provides a definition for "round," which, as applied, means fish and seafood as it comes from the water. 1. Section 7 (a) is amended to read as follows: (a) Every processor making a sale and every person making a purchase of frozen fish or seafood in the course of trade or business or otherwise dealing therein other than a purchaser at retail, after April 13, 1943, shall keep for inspection by the Office of Price Administration for so long as the Emergency Price Contral Act of 1942, as amended, remains in effect, accurate records of each such purchase or sale, showing the date thereof, the name and address of the buyer and of the seller, the price con Excerpts from the amendment follow: tracted for or received, the quantity, 2. Section 7 (a) is amended by chang- (e) Every person making a sale of any 'rozen fish or seafood subject to this regulation shall furnish to the purchaser at the time of delivery a written statement setting forth the date; the names and addresses of the buyer and seller; the species sold; a notation that the fish or seafood is frozen; the quantity, sizes, grades, and styles of processing of such species. and the prices charged therefor, a separate statement of the container differentials, if any, and a separate statement of allowable transportation costs, if any. 3. In section 12, after the definition of "Processor" and before the definition of "Scaled" the following definition is inserted: "Round" fish or seafood means fish or seafood as it comes from the water. FROZEN SHRIMP PRICES ESTABLISHED FOR THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII Amendment 39 to MPR-373--Frozen Shrimp and Prawn in the Territory of Hawaii--was issued February 5, by the OPA. Excerpts follow: Section 55 is amended to read as follows: Sec. 55. Maximum wholesale and retail prices for frozen shrimp and prawn. (a) Maximum prices for sales at wholesale and retail of frozen shrimp and prawn in the Territory of Hawaii, shall be: (c) Maximum prices for sales at wholesale and retail of frozen shrimp and prawn not set forth in this section shall be a price approved by the Office of Price Administration, Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Hawaii, which approval shall be obtained before any such shrimp is sold or offered for sale at wholesale at retail. This amendment shall become effective as of November 16, 1943. price per panod |
