PROCESSED FISH MARGINS FIXED BY OPA Salted, dried, pickled, and otherwise processed fish (except smoked fish and seafood not canned) were placed under the fixed margin food regulations for wholesalers and retailers on February 16 by the Office of Price Administration. This action also sets March 20 as the final date by which wholesalers must file their maximum prices on processed fish with OPA. Retailers are not required to file their ceilings. Under the amendments, No. 9 to Maximum Price Regulation 237 (Wholesale) and No. 10 to Maximum Price Regulation No. 238 (Retail), retailers and wholesalers, prior to any sale of the products covered on or after the effective date, February 20, must figure their maximum prices by applying specified margins to their net cost. If the net cost increases after the maximums have been figured, new ceilings may be computed, but no recalculations may be made after March 10. Retailers and wholesalers under the amendments must determine their ceiling prices on processed fish by multiplying their net cost by the figures indicated in the following tables: These wholesale and retail changes for vinegar-cured herring are made by simultaneously removing them from coverage under Maximum Price Regulation No. 255 (Permitted Increases for Wholesalers of Certain Foods) and Maximum Price Regulation No. 256 (Permitted Increasesfor Retailers of Certain Foods). On fish, previous price control was exercised by the General Maximum Price Regulation. Inclusion of the additional fish commodities under the regulation was made by changing the original term "canned fish" to "processed fish". The latter is defined as all canned fish and seafood and all salted, pickled, dried, and otherwise processed fish except smoked fish and smoked seafood not canned; excluded are all fresh or frozen fish and seafood. Smoked fish, not in cans, was excluded from the regulation because it is a highly perishable product and accordingly the margin taken is considerably higher than those prevailing throughout the regulations. It will continue under the General Maximum Price Regulation with ceilings based on March 1942 prices. Salt lake herring is one of the products placed under the margin control regulations. Prices of this product at the processor's level were recently established by a new regulation. By including wholesale and retail sales under margin control, OPA pointed out, danger of a squeeze at these levels has been removed. WPB TRANSPORTATION ORDER LIMITING TANK CAR USE PROBABLE FORERUNNER OF FUTURE RESTRICTIONS A new series of orders covering transportation, the first one designed to eliminate excessive hauling and transportation of less essential materials, was inaugurated by the War Production Board on January 31 with issuance by the Director General for Operations of General Transportation Order T-1. While Order T-1 relates only to steel tank cars and steel tank trucks, it sets up the framework by which any type of shipment can be regulated as the need may arise. The order applies only to shipments originating in the United States. It does not control imports, which are governed by General Imports Order M-63. The Chemicals Division is mainly concerned in the original order because the materials under the control of the War Production Board which move in tank cars come mainly under that Division, but the Food Administrator is expected to add other materials to the order. Three types of controls are set up by Lists I, II, and III attached to the order. List I materials are zoned. Shipments may not be made beyond the prescribed areas without special authorization of the Director General for Operations. List II materials are those that must be reported by the 20th day of the month prior to the month in which they will be shipped, or 10 days before shipment, if not previously reported. Reported shipments may be made without authorization, but special directions may be issued by the Director General for Operations, limiting such shipments. List III materials are exempt from control unless they also appear in List I or List II, in which case they are subject to the restrictions governing these lists. Fishery products on List III include fish or sea animal oil, oil foots or sediment, and stearine. T-1 applies only to shippers and not to carriers, bringing the order under the control of WPB, which has authority over distribution of materials, rather than the Office of Defense Transportation, which regulates the use of the railway and highway systems. Where ODT permits are required, they will be appended to permits required under the order, as a matter of convenience to the shipper. CIVILIAN CONSUMPTION OF FISH IN 1943 MAY DECREASE TO 9 LBS. PER CAPITA Unless necessary manpower is retained in the fishing industry and the Government is able to release more boats for fishing, the catch in 1943 is not expected to equal the relatively low catch in 1942, according to The National Food Situation's January issue. Present indications are that the total supply of fresh and frozen fish may be about 10 percent below the 1942 supply and the supply of canned fish about 15 percent below. Government purchases for lend-lease and the military forces will continue to increase and may amount to about 30 to 35 percent of the total production. The civilian supply of canned, fresh, and frozen fish may be the lowest on record (about 9 pounds per capita). This represents 68 percent of the per capita consumption in 1935-39, 63 percent of that in 1941, and 82 percent of that in 1942. Distribution of Food Supplies--Average 1935-39, 1941, Preliminary 1942, Production, imports, and stocks at the beginning of the year. 1943 estimated production is based on average yields and the production programs and goals set by the Department of Agriculture. Stocks at the end of the year for 1942 and 1943 include commercial stocks and Government holdings. Exports (including lend-lease), shipments, supply for domestic consumption (including military) and other uses. 4/ Statistics on fish for 1935-39 which are comparable to 1941 and 1942 are not available. The Fish and Wildlife Service estimates the average per capita consumption for that period at 13.3 pounds. BOSTON TRAWLER CORMORANT COMMENDED FOR PRODUCTION The captain and crew of the Boston fishing trawler CORMORANT received special recognition for their contribution to the nation's war food program on February 9. The recognition, for a recent exceptional production record, was contained in a telegram to Captain Cliff Vanamburg from Coordinator of Fisheries Harold L. Ickes. "Your outstanding catch," the Coordinator said in his message, "of more than 653,000 pounds of fighting food in five trips from December 30 through January 28 deserves special recognition. The country should know about it. To you and each of the men in your crew I send my heartiest and most sincere commendations with encouragement to you and your men to continue this splendid work." The CORMORANT, built in Boston in 1928, is a 140-foot, 370-ton otter trawler, outfitted for offshore groundfish operations. In 1941, the last year for which complete catch figures are available, the vessel brought in almost 3 million pounds of fish. Then, as for the current catch, the species landed were mainly pollock, haddock, cod, and "dabs". "High liner" hailing catch figures have recently been an object of special attention by the Coordinator's Office. Some recent compilations indicate amazing individual records of production, according to Coordinator Ickes. On the basis of 'year-round seasonal fishing, for example, one New England trawler, catching flounders, haddock, cod, hake, etc., took 391,000 pounds for each of the 17-man crew; one tuna clipper, with 15 men took 274,000 pounds per fisherman; a small otter trawler (dragger), with 4 men, fishing flounders, took 225,000 pounds per man; and one rosefish trawler, with a 9-man crew, took 337,000 pounds per man. Other records of highliners include a pilchard (and tuna) seiner which, in an 8-months season, took 1,170,000 pounds per man with a crew of 11; a mackerel seiner, with 12 men, which took 150,000 pounds per man in the same length season; a herring seiner, carrying 8 men, which took 812,000 pounds per man in its 4 months operation; a salmon purse-seiner which, with 8 men took 104,000 pounds per man in 3 months; and a salmon gill-netter, each of whose 2-man crew, took 163,000 pounds in the 18 days of fishing permitted for the season in that particular area (Bristol Bay, Alaska). SPOONBILL FISHERY ON WHEELER RESERVOIR PROFITABLE ENTERPRISE Spoonbill fishermen on Wheeler Reservoir have begun to receive five cents each for spoonbill livers according to an item in the February issue of The Tennessee Conservation-ist. The liver of a 12-pound spoonbill weighs about five ounces. Fishermen get 20 cents per pound for all spoonbill that dress out at better than 10 pounds, and 15 cents per pound for fish that dress out less. The fish yield about 70 percent on dressing. SOFT AND HARD CLAMS OF THE ATLANTIC COAST OF THE UNITED STATES Among the commercial mollusks of the Atlantic Coast of North America, two species of clams occupy a position which is second in importance only to that occupied by the American oysters, according to V. L. Loosanoff, Service biologist, in Fishery Leaflet 13, entitled Soft and Hard Clams of the Atlantic Coast of the United States. These two mollusks are commonly known as the soft clam (Mya arenaria), and the hard clam (Venus mercenaria). The clam fisheries yield approximately 30 million pounds of meat annually valued at nearly $3,000,000. Only about 10 percent of the total catch is supplied from privately leased areas, while the rest comes from uncultivated public bottoms. If proper methods of clam cultivation were practiced in all the areas suitable for clam culture, it is estimated that the annual production of clams of both species could easily be increased to 50 or 60 million pounds or perhaps more, and steady employment and a good income would be assured to many persons engaged in clam farming. Dr. Loosanoff reports further on the economic value, distribution and habitat, natural history, cultivation, sanitary control, and regulation of fisheries for both of the above species of clams. Fishery Leaflet No. 13 may be obtained free of charge by writing to the Office of Publications, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Room X-7, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, Illinois. Sectional Marketing Reviews FISHERIES OF WASHINGTON AND OREGON Deliveries of soupfin shark livers to Seattle during the month of January totaled 83,900 pounds as compared with a total of 5,106 pounds during the same month a year ago. A tremendous increase in the number of fishing craft using soupfin gill nets has contributed materially to the increased production during January. It is reported that a fleet of over 100 halibut boats, 15 sardine purse seiners and 50-75 salmon trollers are at present engaged in the soupfin shark fishery off the Washington and Oregon coasts. Nearly all of these craft use the shark set-net gear which has proven the most effective in this type of fishery. While there have been a few outstanding deliveries of soupfin shark livers to Seattle, yet the average as applied to most of the vessels engaged is very low. Prices paid for soupfin shark livers at Seattle during January increased from $3.25 per pound at the beginning of the month to $4.35 per pound at the end of the month. Deliveries of soupfin shark livers to Seattle during 1942 totaled 287,430 pounds as compared with 84,100 pounds during 1941 and 11,800 pounds during 1940. However, deliveries of dogfish livers during 1942, which totaled 2,100,535 pounds, decreased 11 percent as compared with 1941 deliveries of 2,354,780 pounds. Increased fishing efforts for food fish accompanied by a reduction in prices paid the fishermen for dogfish livers contributed to the lighter receipts of these livers during 1942. During the week ending February 13 dressed soupfin shark again was the most important species of fish received at Seattle and accounted for 41 percent of the total fresh receipts. Fishermen received from 7 to 9-1/8 cents per pound for soupfin shark sold over the Seattle Fish Exchange. Most of the soupfin shark are being filleted and marketed in California. There has been no attempt as yet to market this product in Seattle, although it is reported that considerable quantities have been shipped to Portland, Oregon. A sample shipment of dressed fish was marketed in New York, selling at 16 cents per pound. Prices paid for "lingcod" and rockfishes over the halibut exchange continued to remain unusually high, with fishermen receiving as much as 22 cents per pound for these species. Small deliveries of fresh troll-caught king salmon have also brought the fishermen abnormal prices of 39 to 42 cents per pound. On February 15 the International Fisheries Commission announced that the 1943 halibut season will open at midnight, April 15. It was also announced that the total quota of halibut has been increased 1 million pounds, which will permit 50 million pounds of halibut to be taken during 1943. Seven hundred thousand pounds of the increase will come from Area III with the balance from Area II, Copies of the 1943 regulations are available from the office of the International Fisheries Commission, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Fresh Fish Trade THREE PORTS LANDINGS DROP SHARPLY DURING DECEMBER Fishing vessels delivering their catches during December to the ports of Boston and Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine, landed 12,388,970 pounds of fishery products, valued at $1,034,453, according to Current Fishery Statistics No. 50, released by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This was a decrease of 56 percent in the volume landed as compared with December 1941, and 48 percent compared with November 1942--declines of about 16 million and 11 million pounds, respectively. Considering the landings. by ports, 7,494,579 pounds valued at $719,679 were landed at Boston; 4,124,681 pounds, valued at $276,729, at Gloucester; and 769,710 pounds, valued at $38,045, at Portland. Boston landings consisted mainly of haddock and pollock; Gloucester, pollock and rosefish; and Portland, rosefish. During the month, 174 vessels made 577 trips to the fishing grounds compared with 246 vessels making 804 trips during December a year ago. The over-all weighted average price per pound received by the fishermen for the catch was 8.35 cents as compared with 6.42 during November and 4.23 during December 1941. Items for which fishermen received unusually high prices were cod, 10.55 cents; haddock, 11.14 cents; halibut, 42.20 cents; rosefish, 4.34 cents; and scallop meats, 49.53 cents per pound. Prices received during December were in most cases nearly double those received during the same month in 1941. Total of landings at the three ports during 1942 amounted to 372,967,905 pounds, valued at $19,312,523. This was a decline of 21 percent in volume but an increase of 26 percent in value compared with 1941. Of the total, 194,687,188 pounds, valued at $12,548,742 were landed at Boston; 157,740,961 pounds, valued at $6,083,864, at Gloucester; and 20,539,756 pounds, valued at $679,917, at Portland. The higher weighted average price received at Boston was due to the heavier landings of the higher priced species at this port. Landings of groundfishes--cod, haddock, hake, pollock, and cusk--totaled 184,688,203 pounds during 1942--a decrease of 30 percent or 80,692,285 pounds under landings of these species in 1941. This, and a drop of 24,205,821 pounds in rosefish receipts account for the major portion of the decline. Item Landings by Fishing Vessels at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Me. December 1942 November 1942 Pounds Cents Pounds Cents 98.932 9.02 257.998 5.593 34.08 Twelve months ending with-- December 1941 Pounds Cents 6.04 75.034.291 3.56 Cod Haddock Hake Pollock Cusk Halibut Mackerel Flounders: 8.90 3.887.596 9.39 7.425.428 6.83 147.229.347 4.13 7.72 338.397 5.29 3.723.585 6.15 5,162,667 3.99 5.69 7.998.871 5.66 33.579.895 2.85 4.47 2,512,195 5.88 4.374.288 3.38 ་ 14.005 22.31 327.375 4.57 114.776 36.28 474.535 29.26 6,408,750 2.36 115,146.964 3.01 139,352,785 2.03 Tuna 7.108 9.44 144.967 6.00 28,109,171 4.45 22,360,411 2.09 994.702 4.21 1,046,888 3.84 Other, fresh Scallops (meats) 27.671 49.53 Total 12,388,970 13.166 36,063 41.29 19,659 31.04 16,507 8.35 23.896.363 6.42 28,196,320 4.23 372.967.905 5.18 473,496,428 3.24 NEW YORK SALT-WATER RECEIPTS CONTINUE SLIGHT DECLINE IN JANUARY Receipts of fresh and frozen fishery products on the salt-water market in New York City during January totalled 16,492,000 pounds, a decrease of less than one-half percent below those of the previous month and only 2 percent below January 1942, according to the Service's local Fishery Market News office. The leading item, yellowtail flounders, made up 23 percent of the total receipts for the month and increased 43 percent over December. Gains in other important items during the month occurred in cod, haddock, halibut, and smelt, but these were offset by decreases in most of the other species received. |