shrimp are usually taken through the first part of June, after which most of the shrimp tend to be much smaller, due to the influx of a new crop small shrimp. The major part of the production in this area is canned. Table II Monthly Index of Production of Shrimp (other than for drying) in the More Important (Expressed for each area in percentages of its greatest monthly volume.) area in New Orleans, La. area. --In this area, which comprises that part of Louisiana south of and including New Orleans, and east of and including Golden Meadows and Grand Isle, most of the shrimp boats are small, but there is also a considerable number of larger boats. Because the two types of boats fish different waters, the sizes of shrimp landed generally are dependent on the grounds fished. Usually there are several sizes available at all times. Table III Monthly Index of Production of Shrimp (other than for drying) in the More Important Producing Areas of the Gulf States 1941 Item · (Expressed for each area in percentages of its greatest monthly volume.) Percentage of largest month's landings Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Avg. Year's Largest Produc month Note.--Eased on landings reported in New Orleans daily Fishery Market News reports. A barrel of shrimp, "heads on", weighs 210 pounds -- "beads off" 125 pounds. However, the shrimp tend to be small (50 count or smaller) during August with the predominant size increasing to about 30 count by October. During December, this usually decreases to 50 count or smaller although 25 and 30 count shrimp are also being caught. During April and May, the size again increases with the majority of shrimp reaching 25 to 28 count or even larger. During the latter part of June, the proportion of smaller shrimp begins to increase again. About two-thirds of the shrimp in this area is canned, the balance being sold fresh, frozen, or cooked and peeled. Biloxi, Miss.--In Biloxi, the shrimp boats are larger than those in most other sections of the Gulf. Although they are about the same length, they have less draft than those used in the Morgan City section, and can, therefore, be used in the shallower water found in Lake Borgne and Chandeleur Sound. As a considerable number of them are also used for oystering, or laid up during the oyster season from December to May, the bulk of the production is during the fall months. During this time, the shrimp generally average 40 count and smaller at the opening of the season. They gradually increase in size until in October they average 30 count, with many larger. Some smaller shrimp are taken during December and January. From then on until fall, the size is usually 28 count or larger. An increasing amount has been canned in recent years--28 percent in 1940, 54 percent in 1941, and 68 percent in 1942. The balance, mainly the larger sizes, is sold fresh, frozen, and cooked and peeled. Table IV - Monthly Index of Production of Shrimp (other than for drying) in the More Important (Expressed for each area in percentages of its greatest monthly volume. Percentage of largest month's landings Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Avg. Item Year's Largest 1942 Production Bbls. month Note.--Based on landings reported in New Orleans daily Fishery Market News reports. A barrel of shrimp, "heads on", weighs 210 pounds "heads off" 125 pounds. Mobile and Bayou Labatre, Ala.--In this area, the shrimp boats are usually of shallow draft, adapted to fishing inshore waters. As a result, most of the production occurs during the fall months. At the beginning of the fall season in August, the shrimp generally are small, averaging around 40 count. They grow quite rapidly, until by October, they usually average 25 count and larger. Small shrimp again enter the catch in December. Normally, very little shrimping is done from then until May, at which time, 25 and under count shrimp are again predominant in the catch. A decreasing amount has been canned in recent years-60 percent in 1940, 38 percent in 1941, and 29 percent in 1942. The balance is shipped fresh, frozen, or cooked and peeled. 0-0-0 RECEIPTS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS AT CHICAGO, 1942 By E. C. Hinsdale, Asst. Fishery Marketing Specialist U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Despite the purchase and charter of fishing craft by the Navy and Army, and the loss of fishermen and shore personnel to our Armed Forces and war industries plants, Chicago, the most important consuming and distribution center for fishery products in the Great Lakes region, received 68,167,000 pounds of fresh and frozen fishery foods during 1942, an increase of 4 percent over 1941. Fresh-water fish increased 8 percent to 35,913,000 pounds; saltwater varieties 2 percent to 21,913,000 pounds; while shellfish declined 2 percent to 10,342,000 pounds, as is indicated in Table I. During 1942, fresh and frozen fishery products were received from 36 States, Alaska, and 8 Canadian Provinces. Wisconsin was the leading producer of fresh-water fish for the Chicago market, shipping 8,596,000 pounds, or 24 percent of the fresh-water total. Wisconsin's shipments increased 7 percent over those received during 1941, with heavier shipments of carp, frozen lake trout, sheepshead, and suckers accounting for the gain. In second place, Michigan produced 7,849,000 pounds, or 22 percent of the fresh-water receipts, a 28 percent increase over 1941. Massachusetts was the leading domestic shipper of salt-water fish with 8,013,000 pounds, representing 35 percent of the salt-water and 3 percent of the shellfish totals. However, 1942 receipts from Massachusetts declined 11 percent from 1941 with a pronounced drop in the volume of frozen rosefish fillets the main factor. Louisiana was the most important Gulf State supplying Chicago, shipping shellfish totaling 4,696,000 pounds or 45 percent of this classification's total. Heavier shipments of fresh and frozen shrimp resulted in a 7 percent increase over 1941. Of the Canadian Provinces, British Columbia led with a total of 9,338,000 pounds, of which 7,845,000 pounds were taken by U. S. vessels. Receipts from British Columbia made up 43 percent of the salt-water total and increased 13 percent over 1941, with fresh and frozen halibut contributing mainly to this gain. The ten States and two Provinces listed in Table II accounted for 88 percent of Chicago's receipts. They are: British Columbia, 14 percent; Wisconsin, 13 percent; Massachusetts and Michigan, 12 percent each; Manitoba, 10 percent; Louisiana, 7 percent; Minnesota, 5 percent; and Iowa, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Washington, 3 percent each. During 1942, 103 classifications of fresh and frozen fishery products were received, consisting of 47 salt-water, 38 fresh-water, and 18 shellfish and miscellaneous items. Receipts from domestic sources amounted to 47,694,000 pounds or 70 percent of the total. Imported receipts, all from Canada, accounted for the remaining 30 percent, or 20,473,000 pounds. Table III shows that more of Chicago's fishery supplies, 37 percent, arrived by motor truck than by either of the other methods of transportation used. Rail freight followed closely, carrying 35 percent, while rail express transported 28 percent. It is significant, in view of war restrictions, that the use of motor trucks in 1942, only declined 2 percent from 1941. Rail freight arrivals also declined approximately 2 percent from 1941, due principally to a lesser use of this carrier for shipments from the Atlantic Coast. Counteracting the decline in truck and freight usage was a 23 percent increase in rail express shipments, influenced to a considerable extent by the trend toward a larger volume and quicker deliveries of fresh fish. Table III clearly indicates the trend of Canadian, or imported, shipments toward a greater use of the railroads with express increasing 22 percent and freight 6 percent while truck shipments declined 26 percent. Well over one-half of the truck shipments--64 percent--consisted of fresh-water varieties and 89 percent was from domestic sources, according to Table IV. Express shipments also of one percent. Lbs. % Principal reason 557.144 + 7 12 -1,002,960 -11 5 +497,635 +36 3 182,094 - 9 3+ 498,711 +40 14+1,055.559 +13 10 389.527-5 +Carp, frozen lake trout, Frozen rosefish fillets. +Carp and suckers. + Fresh and frozen salmon. + Fresh and frozen halibut. **Includes catch taken by U. S. vessels and shipped through Canada to the U. S. in bond. were mostly fresh-water fish and 70 percent originated in the United States. Freight shipments were more evenly divided with 49 percent salt-water varieties and equal amounts of imported and domestic origin. *Includes catch taken by U. S. vessels and shipped through Canada to the United States in bond. The leading species during the year were fresh and frozen halibut, shrimp, and lake trout. Halibut, totaling 8,977,000 pounds, gained 7 percent and accounted for 13 percent of the total volume. Shrimp followed with 7,119,000 pounds, a gain of 1 percent, and accounted for 10 percent of the total receipts. Lake trout totaled 6,417,000 pounds, a gain of 5 percent, and made up 9 percent of the total volume. Fresh and frozen fishery products trends are clearly demonstrated in Table V. Significant is the fact that receipts of blue pike from the eastern section of the Great Lakes Region increased 219 percent, indicating a specific demand and market for this species as 30 ་ a replacement for less available varieties. The percentage changes are in contrast to last year when the trend was largely away from the fresh commodity and toward the frozen. During 1942, nine frozen varieties showed a gain and nine showed a decline. Of the 23 fresh species listed, receipts of 16 increased while 7 declined. This definitely indicated the trend of the market toward a wider usage of fresh fish and a tendency to minimize the use of frozen items, except in the case of pickerel, sole fillets, mackerel, and whiting fillets which met with a fair degree of success in replacing frozen haddock fillets, salmon, and rosefish fillets. Also indicative of the fresh-fish trend is the fact that while frozen fishery products of all kinds amounted to 33 percent of the 1942 receipts, in 1941, frozen fish of all kinds amounted to 36 percent. This represents a decline of frozen fish in 1942 of close to a million pounds or approximately 5 percent. Each month in 1942, except July, was marked by the peak receipts of some classification of fishery products. Fresh-water species as a whole were most abundant in March, saltwater varieties in November, and shellfish, as well as all fishery products, in October. The relative volume for individual items may be quickly obtained from Table VI. There are no fixed standards in the Chicago Wholesale Market covering grades or weights of fishery products. The classifications and weights listed in Table VII represent those generally used by most dealers. Weights will vary to some extent during certain seasons depending upon the fatness of the fish. In all cases, irrespective of weight, small fish must meet size (legal length) requirements imposed by individual State fishing laws. (Tables VI and VII appear on pages 8 and 9, respectively.) FUEL OIL REGULATIONS MADE MORE STRINGENT IN EASTERN STATES BY OPA Tightening the already stringent restrictions on the use of fuel oil by boats in the eastern shortage area, the Office of Price Administration on February 17 denied oil for non-essential commercial boating in the 17 Eastern States and the District of Columbia by Amendment 38 to Ration Order No. 11, effective February 23. As a result, fuel oil now |