1. Q. What are the uses of sardine and menhaden oils which are classified as essential under War Food Order 60, Amendment No. 1?

A. The uses classified as essential are as follows: In hot dip tinning, terne plating, and galvanizing; and in the manufacture of insulating varnishes, ship bottom paint, alkyd resins, heat-resistant paint, water insoluble metallic soaps, lubricants, caulking pounds, mechanical packing, textile sizes, and in natural or synthetic rubber products.

2. Q. What part of the sardine and menhaden oil production must be set aside for these essential uses?

A. The second, fourth, seventh, and tenth tank cars, and every third tank car thereafter, during the period April 1, 1944 to December 15, 1944.

3. Q. To whom may this set-aside oil be delivered?

A. Unless specifically authorized by the Director to make deliveries elsewhere, producers may deliver the set-aside oil only on certified orders. However, the oil is automatically released from set-aside if the producer (1) has no unfilled "certified order" which he received 14 days prior to production; or (2) has not been specifically authorized by the Director to deliver such oil.

4. Q. May certified purchasers obtain as much oil as they desire by filling out the certification and delivering it to the producer?

A. No. They may obtain up to four tank cars simply by certification, but quantities in excess of four tank cars cannot be obtained during the 1944 production season without the approval of the Director of Distribution, War Food Administration, Applications must be filed prior to May 20, 1944.

5. Q. Does the new order (WFO 60, Amendment 1) change the requirements of FDO 60, Amendment 2, relative to the use of fish oil in the manufacture of vitamin feeding oils?

A. No. The new order continues these provisions as follows:

(1) Fish oil may not be used in the manufacture of any feed or in Vitamin A feeding oil without specific authorization of the Director.

(2) Fish oil may be used in the manufacture of Vitamin D or Vitamin A and D ́feeding oils for poultry only when the vitamin oils are fortified to contain not less than 400 A.0.A.C. units of Vitamin D per gram.

6. Q. Under War Food Order No. 60, Amendment 1, at what stage in the manufacture of vitamin feeding oil should a manufacturer consider that he has used or consumed fish oil?

A. A manufacturer has used or consumed fish oil when he performs the first operation which changes the biological characteristics of the fish oil.

7. Q. In making application to use fish oil, must form FDA-477 be used in addition to form TDA-478?

A. No.

8. Q. What are the limitations on the use or processing of seal oil and Pacific Coast herring oil?

A. Seal oil may be used only in the manufacture of natural leather; and Pacific Coast herring oil may be used only in the manufacture of water insoluble metallic soaps, natural leather, lubricants, or metal working compounds other than core oil. Seal and Pacific Coast

herring oils may not be processed except to render them suitable for these purposes.

9. Q. What are the reporting requirements of the order?

10.

A. Users of more than 6,000 pounds of fish oil in any calendar quarter should file forms
BM-1 (monthly) and BM-2 (quarterly) with the Bureau of the Census.

Q. Are fish liver oils subject to restriction under WTO 60, Amendment 1?

Foreign Fishery Trade

NORTHEAST TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO, SUPPORTS SIZABLE FISH EXPORT INDUSTRY

Exportation of fresh fish taken from waters along the coast south of the mouth of the Rio Grande as far as Laguna Madre constitutes one of the principal industries of the district, according to the American Consulate at Matamoros, Tamps., Mexico. The shipment of fresh fish on a commercial scale has increased measurably since the commencement of the war due primarily to the fact that commercial' fishing fleets previously operating in American waters along the coast north of the mouth of the Rio Grande found it necessary to abandon that area because of the close proximity of military installations, and established business in Mexico.

Approximately 125 boats operating in these waters constitute the commercial fishing fleet under American ownership but operated by Mexican personnel. In addition to the boats, all equipment in the form of nets, seines, sacks, floats, and other similar accessories as well as motor trucks used in transporting fresh fish from shipside to Brownsville, constitute a part of the American capital invested in this enterprise. American citizens owning and operating fishing fleets in Mexican waters along this section of the coast reside, in most instances; in Brownsville, Texas, and fresh fish exported through Matamoros to the United States through the ports of Matamoros and Brownsville are for ultimate marketing in Texas and in the interior of the United States.

The exportation of fresh fish taken from waters along the northeast coast of Tamaulipas, and this consular district, approximate 800,000 pounds monthly throughout the year. The output of this industry is lowest in volume during November, December, January, and part of February of each year at which time country roads along the coast are impassable for periods of time due to winter rains. There are no paved highways in this area paralleling the coast.

Considerable concern is being displayed at the moment over a news account carried in the columns of the Brownsville Herald, Brownsville, Texas, in its issue of April 18, 1944, regarding a ban placed by the Federal Government on exports of fish from Mexico. This decree does not, however, affect the industry of this consular district but is applicable elsewhere in Mexico. Nevertheless, operators of fishing fleets in this district are concerned over this pronouncement and consider that a measure of like kind will in time affect the business carried on in this district. Fish dealers indicated that no surprise would be registered should a ruling of some degree be applicable here in time to come affecting materially the exportation of fresh fish from this district to the United States.

Statistical Summaries

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES

A slight increase was recorded in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' wholesale index for foods, in the month ending March 11. No change was recorded for wholesale prices of the fishery commodities covered by the Bureau's indexes.

Retail prices for foods in large cities dropped 0.3 percent from February 15 to March 14, making a net reduction of 2.4 percent for the 12 months ending March 14. During the month, retail prices for fishery items increased. Red salmon prices gained for the fourth consecutive month.

MARCH PURCHASES OF FISHERY PRODUCTS BY WFA TOTAL ONLY $511,806

Purchases of fishery products by the War Food Administration fell to the comparatively low figure of $511,806 in March, the WFA reported. The average of the 14 preceding months was $5,615,411. Purchases of food and related commodities by the WFA during the month totaled $147,666,296. Of the fishery items procured, canned sardines and pilchards were the most important.

FROZEN FISH TRADE

CANNING OF FISHERY PRODUCTS

"Principles and Methods in the Canning of Fishery Products" by
Norman D. Jarvis, Technologist, has recently been published by the
Fish and Wildlife Service. This publication, the Service's Research
Report No. 7, can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents,
U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C., for 50 cents.

Canning is the most important factor in the fishery industry today, but information concerning the principles of canning fishery products has not been assembled, nor has a description of modern canning methods been previously available. This report is a reference handbook on problems in the commercial canning of fishery products. In addition to discussing the scientific principles on which canning is based, it outlines the various engineering problems faced by the canner, and gives a detailed description of the methods used today in the commercial canning of 58 varieties of fish and shellfish packed commercially in hermetically-sealed containers. Information on spoilage and methods used in the examination of fishery products is of use to the laboratory worker. The discussion on fishery products as food is of benefit to producers, brokers, dealers, food technologists, home economists, consumers, and all others interested in foods and their use.

CONTENTS, CONTINUED

Northeast Tamaulipas, Mexico, supports sizable fish export industry... STATISTICAL SUMMARIES

FEDERAL SOURCES OF COMMERCIAL FISHERY DATA

Current Fishery Statistics:

Fish and Wildlife Service Reports

Landings at Important Fishing Ports.--Monthly and annual detailed data: Landings at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Maine, by poundage and value, and catch by species, gear and bank; and receipts and landings at Seattle, Wash., and operations of Pacific Halibut Fleet. Freezings and Cold-storage Holdings of Fishery Products.--Monthly and annual data on fishery products frozen and held.

Production of Manufactured Fishery Products.--Annual information on production of canned fishery products and byproducts; production of fresh and frozen packaged fish; summary of quantity and value of all manufactured fishery products; and preliminary statements on canned salmon and oyster packs and production of fresh-water mussel-shell products.

Sectional Surveys.--Annual information on number of commercial fishermen; kind and quantity of fishing gear operated; poundage and value of catch; employment in fishery wholesale and manufacturing establishments; and data on the production of manufactured fishery products for: New England, Middle Atlantic, Chesapeake Bay, South Atlantic and Gulf, Pacific Coast and Lake States, and Alaska.

Fishery Market News:

Market News Reports.--Daily, monthly and annual mimeographed reports on production, movement, prices, storage and canning of fishery products from 6 field offices.

Market News Review.--"Fishery Market News", a periodic current review of fishery marketing information.

Annual Statistical Digest:

Fishery Statistics of the United States.--Summary of Current Fishery Statistics, usually in greater detail.

Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce Reports

Foreign Commerce Weekly.--Special textual and statistical reports by country, industry, and commodity in the interests of promotion of foreign trade.

Bureau of the Census Reports

Imports of Fish and Fish Products.--Monthly advance statement on poundage and value of imported edible fishery products by country of origin.

*Exports of Meat and Canned Fish.--Monthly advance statement on exports of canned salmon, sardines, shrimp, and other shellfish, to individual foreign countries.

Monthly Summary of Foreign Commerce of the United States.--Report on total poundage and value of fishery products imported and exported.

Quarterly Canned Foods Stock Report.--Information on canners and distributors stocks of canned salmon, sardines, and tuna.

Foreign Commerce and Navigation of the United States.--Annual report on imports and exports with principal items shown separately.

Production, Consumption, and Stocks of Fats and Cils.--Quarterly statement on domestic production, and stocks of cod and cod-liver oil, whale oil, and other fish oils.

Factory Consumption of Primary Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils, by Classes of Products.--Advance annual report on poundage of marine-animal (whale oil) and fish oil utilized in manufacture of various edible and industrial products.

Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils.--Annual summary combining two reports above, plus comparative figures for preceding years.

Bureau of Labor Statistics Reports

Wholesale Prices.--June and December issues contain average monthly wholesale prices of canned pink and red salmon, pickled cod and herring, salt mackerel, and smoked salmon for each of the preceding six months.

The Cost of Living.--Mid-month report containing retail prices of pink and red salmon, and fresh and frozen fish.

Tariff Commission Reports

Periodic Reports.--Include studies on specific fisheries or fishery problems.

The National Archives

Federal Register.--Daily publication containing regulatory orders issued by all Government agencies, and available by subscription from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C.

Available for official use of other Government agencies only.

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