The term "sperm oil" means that oil obtained from the head or body of the sperm whale, alone or combined, including sperm oil which has been winterized, pressed, distilled, deodorized, sulphonated, sulphurized, sulfo-chlorinated, sulphated, blown, or otherwise physically or chemically treated, but excluding crude and refined spermaceti. The order, effective March 24 and superseding War Production Board Order M-40, continues the same restrictions on the use, processing, and delivery of sperm oil. It also adds the provision that persons making deliveries of sperm oil to the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Maritime Commission, or War Shipping Administration, must obtain specific authorization for such deliveries. Applications for authority to use, process, or deliver sperm oil should be filed hereafter with the Director of Food Distribution, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Applicants may continue to use WPB Form PD-481. Sperm oil has been under increasingly rigid control since October 16, 1941. Production has declined with the curtailment of world whaling activities, while the demand has grown as industrial production has expanded. Sperm oil is used as a machine tool cutting fluid, as a petroleum additive, and also in the production of textile, leather, duplication carbon, dyes, and synthetic rubber. ALASKA FISHERIES REGULATIONS FOR 1943 ANNOUNCED The Alaska fisheries regulations for 1943 contain fewer changes than for many years in the rules for protecting the commercial fisheries of Alaska, it was announced March 1 by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes. Transportation conditions and other problems due to the war made it inadvisable to hold the usual public hearings on the regulations, although, it was explained, all interested persons were given full opportunity to submit briefs or requests for desired changes. Salient features of the 1943 regulations include: In the Bristol Bay area the opening date for red salmon fishing has been advanced one day to June 25, and all commercial fishing has been prohibited in the small Ugashik district. Additional protection has been given the odd year pink salmon runs in the Cook Inlet area, in the Karluk region of the Kodiak area, and in the Southern district of the Southeastern Alaska area, by making the usual earlier odd year seasonal dates effective. Valdez Arm in the Prince William Sound area, heretofore opened to commercial fishing later than in other sections of the area, has been closed to fishing on the regular seasonal closing date of August 5. Minimum mesh requirements for gill nets in salmon fishing in the Icy Strait, Western, Eastern, Clarence Strait, and Southern Districts, in force for the first time in 1942, have been deleted from the 1943 regulations. No action has been taken with regard to adjustments in fish trap activities as any steps along this line necessarily will depend upon the outcome of plans under consideration to consolidate cannery operations for the duration. An increase in the herring catch quota of 50,000 barrels will permit a take of 200,000 barrels in the Kodiak area during the period from July 1 to October 15. In the Southeastern Alaska area an increase in the quota will permit a catch of 100,000 barrels during the period from June 1 to September 30 in specified waters. The three 6-day riosed periods effective during the 1942 season in the Kodiak area quota waters have been revoked. Quota waters in the Prince William Sound area have been extended to include the entire area, and commercial herring fishing, except by gill nets or for bait, is prohibited during the period from October 16 of one year to June 23 of the following year. Regulations providing a maximum take of razor clams from certain central bars in Prince William Sound and Copper River areas have been modified to remove special restrictions previ ously applied within one statute mile of First Egg Island, The season for the taking of shrimp in Southeastern Alaska has been lengthened 15 days allowing fishermen to begin operations on April 16 instead of May 1. WARTIME FISH COOKERY RELEASED Prepared by Elizabeth Fuller Whiteman, former Service food technologist, Wartime Fish Cookery, is a new, 24-page, illustrated handbook for consumers on the preparation of fish and shellfish. Countless consumers, it would seem, do not know what a wide variety of fishery products are marketed, nor with what comparative ease they may be served in economical and appetizing dishes. This new booklet lays down simple, basic rules to guide housewives in the purchase, use in the diet, and preparation of all retail cuts of fish. Diagrams show details of the dressing of the various cuts; tables list their fat content, seasons of availability, and suggest whether to fry, broil, bake, plank, or "boil", giving directions in each instance. Under the heading "Directions for Cooking", are included recipes for flaked fish dishes, chowders, cocktails, fish cakes, and salads using a score of species; suggestions for corning fish, for use of salted or smoked fish and, finally, sections on sauces and menus. The booklet, Conservation Bulletin 27, may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Ú. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., for 10 cents. D. C., for 10 cents. In quantities of 100 or more, a discount of 25 percent is allowed. LAKE TROUT, LEAFLET 15, RELEASED BY SERVICE The lake trout (Cristivomer namaycush) is principally an inhabitant of the cool and usually large lakes of the northern latitudes. In North America, it is most abundant in the Great Lakes (although rare in Lake Erie), where extensive commercial fisheries have been developed for it from the time of the earliest settlement, according to Fishery Leaflet 15, Lake Trout, by John Van Oosten, Service biologist, In Charge of Great Lakes Fishery Investigations. The eleven sections begin with the geographic distribution of the lake trout and end with a discussion of the commercial production and abundance in the Great Lakes. The methods of fishing described by Dr. Van Oosten, especially trolling and bobbing, should be of interest to the sport fisherman. Fishery Leaflet 15 may be obtained free of charge by writing to the Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Publications, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, Illinois. Sectional Marketing Reviews FISHERIES OF NEW ENGLAND A large fishery for yellowtail flounders in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is hampered during a considerable part of the year by the inability of the local shore plants to handle the volume brought in, according to the Service representatives in Massachusetts. Unloading facilities are often overtaxed, and packing and filleting houses are so overburdened that boats must frequently wait a day before being unloaded. Fishery operations have been curtailed for long periods because the shore facilities are inadequate. The situation seems to offer an opportunity for new enterprises in the city of New Bedford since WPB officials report that there are waterside locations available for new fishery industries. Some sites have buildings adaptable to the fish business. The demand for the leading products of the New Bedford fisheries is excellent. The yellowtail flounder has been marketed over a considerable area and is widely accepted along with the other flounder species. Much of the catch flows to New York City. Yellowtail flounders should be easily established in new areas while the public is welcoming additional types of meat and as supplies of standard protein foods become shorter. The rewards for vessel owners and fishermen were high in Boston in early March. The value of single fares mounted rapidly from $21,000 the former record to $27,000, $29,000, $32,000, and over $34,000 in a matter of days. Most of the trips were from 6 to 8 days in length. On March 15, the range of prices per hundred pounds for offshore landings sold over the New England Fish Exchange were as follows: Large cod, $15.00-$20.00; market cod, $15.00-$18.00; scrod cod, $12.00-$15.00; haddock, $17.00-$18.00; and haddock scrod, $15.00$17.50. A meeting was held at Boston, February 1, for the purpose of discussing standard market names for a number of little known species of fish expected to be landed and marketed in increased quantities in the future. Representatives from the industry, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce, the Atlantic Fishermen's Union, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service attended the meeting. The names recommended by the committee were as follows: Prices on dressed soupfin shark in Seattle ranged from 7 to 12 cents per pound to the fishermen and receipts ran as high as 198,000 pounds during a one-week period, according to the mid-March report of the Service's local Market News office. In the first three weeks of February, soupfin shark deliveries to Seattle totaled approximately one-half million pounds, exceeding deliveries of any other species. The landing of soupfin shark livers, which was originally the only reason for conducting this fishery, amounted to 102,968 pounds during the four weeks ending March 13, with prices ranging from $4.00 to $4.75 per pound. Another item of importance in increasing this year's production over last was greatly increased runs of eulachon smelt, especially in the Cowlitz River. Approximately 407,000 pounds of this species was handled in Seattle in the four weeks mentioned, bringing a price of 4 to 12 cents per pound, depending on the supply. In the same period a year ago, less than 20,000 pounds were reported received in the Seattle Market. Arrivals of troll-caught king salmon from the Washington coast showed a marked increase during the week ending March 6. The market received an additional supply from the season's first shipment of troll-caught kings from Vancouver Island. The king salmon price continued high, averaging 35 to 40 cents, more than 10 cents per pound higher than a year ago. Fresh Fish Trade LANDINGS AT THREE NEW ENGLAND PORTS DURING JANUARY LOWEST SINCE 1926 Landings by fishing vessels at the ports of Boston, and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Me., during January amounted to 14,517,730 pounds of fishery products valued at $1,321,057, according to Current Fishery Statistics No. 53 released by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This represented an increase of 17 percent in amount landed and 28 percent in value received by the fishermen as compared with December 1942. Compared with January 1942, however, it was a decrease of 6 percent in volume, but an increase of 50 percent in value. The January landings were the lowest for this month since 1926 when 13,264,000 pounds were received at these ports. Other comparatively low months during recent years were January 1928 when 14,683,000 pounds were delivered; January 1934, 15,340,000 pounds; and January 1942, 15,387,000 pounds. Considering the landings by ports, 9,938,573 pounds, valued at $1,034,082 were landed at Boston; 3,389,689 pounds, valued at $230,210, at Gloucester; and 1,189,468 pounds, valued at $56,765, at Portland. During the month, 156 vessels made 416 trips to the fishing grounds. Of the total, 82 landed 170 trips at Boston; 68 landed 167 trips at Gloucester; and 17 landed 79 trips at Portland. Operations were limited due to the steady gales which prevailed during the greater part of the month. Line trawlers and the inshore fleet were especially hampered by the rough weather. The over-all weighted average price per pound received by the fishermen for their catch during January was 9.10 cents as compared with 8.35 cents during December 1942 and 5.70 cents during January 1942. Highest over-all prices were received at Boston where fishermen averaged 10.40 cents per pound for their catch due to landings of the higher priced fish. Items with especially high individual prices were cod, 11.55 cents per pound; haddock, 10.84 cents; pollock, 9.58 cents; rosefish, 4.74 cents; and scallop meats, 52.08 cents. Haddock and rosefish accounted for 71 percent of the total January landings. Item Landings by Fishing Vessels at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Me. Twelve months ending with December 1942 Cod Haddock Hake Pollock Cusk Halibut Mackerel Gray sole Yellowtail 292,017 8.74 1.971,190 9.58 38.995 9.86 2.559 37.98 2,630 17.30 218,015 9.80 5.172,272 7.64 98.932 9.02 2,405 42.20 57.990 9.12 5.580,793 7.33 109,799,196 6.83 3.723.585 6.15 25.393.157 5.66 2,512,195 5.88 5.548 26.44 Dab Other 101,323 8.67 153.590 8.23 4.170 2,100,361 4.34 119.215 5.97 1.334,838 6.19 2,763,260 4.38 Tuna Whiting Wolffish 7.108 9.44 28,109,171 4.45 Scallops (meats) Other, fresh Total 7.425 8.88 31,132 52.08 28,653 14.594 8.46 15.925 7.80 27.671 49.53 6,691 37.00 505,702 32.52 9.598 522,848 15.390.733 5.70 372,967,905 5.18 10,835,618 6.40 Gloucester 3.389,689 6.79 4,124,681 6.71 3,668,388 4.23 157.740,961 3.86 Portland 1.189.468 4.77 769.710 4.94 886.727 3.32 20.539.756 3.31 *Weighted average of prices per pound paid to fishermen. 1942 ROSEFISH LANDINGS DECLINE DUE TO WARTIME RESTRICTIONS The rapid expansion of the rosefish fishery during the past 10 years has seen the catch of this species increase from a position of 130th in 1933 to about sixth place in 1942 with respect to the volume of the individual fishery products landed in the United States and Alaska. Prior to 1933, this species was of slight importance and although large quantities were available for the taking, those caught were usually discarded. In 1932, the total catch of rosefish was only 132,000 pounds, valued at approximately $2,000. Nine years later, in 1941, the catch reached 145,400,000 pounds having a value to the fishermen of $2,900,000. In 1942, due to wartime restrictions, the production declined to 127,700,000 pounds. However, the value of the catch was considerably greater than the previous year due to heavier demands for fish of all kinds, and fishermen received about $3,800,000 for the fish landed. The remarkable development of the rosefish fishery is shown by the great increases in catch which have taken place in several of the years. In 1936, for instance, the catch was nearly 50 million pounds greater than in the previous year, while in 1941, the production increased over 60 million pounds compared with the 1940 catch. In only two years did the production decline--in 1937, a decline of 17 percent in Boston landings caused the total to drop 12 percent; and in 1942, a decline also in Boston landings of 60 percent brought the total landings down 12 percent. MILLIONS OF POUNDS 150 140 130 120 110 100 Total The entire domestic catch of rosefish is taken off the coast of New England by otter trawls and is landed almost exclusively at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland and Rockland, Maine. An interesting development of the fishery has been the decline in volume of landings at Boston which reached a peak of 49,419,000 pounds in 1936 but dropped to 9,949,000 pounds in 1942--less than the receipts at any of the other ports at which rosefish are normally landed. While the Boston landings declined, there was a corresponding increase in the receipts at Gloucester where nearly 100 million pounds were received in 1941. During each of the past three years, about 70 percent of the total rosefish catch has been landed at Gloucester. In recent years, fishermen have found it advantageous to land their catches at this port and the ports of Portland and Rockland due to the proximity of the fishing grounds and the improvement in facilities for handling the catches at these ports. Landings at Rockland during 1942 were 108 percent greater than the 1941 receipts. The accompanying graph indicates the rapid growth of the fishery during the 10-year period from 1933 to 1942, inclusive, and the trend of the landings at the various ports. Boston Gloucester Portland Rockland 1933 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 RECEIPTS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS IN FEBRUARY AT NEW YORK CITY CONTINUE BELOW YEAR AGO Receipts of fresh and frozen fishery products on the salt-water market in New York City during February totaled 13,973,000 pounds, according to the Service's Fishery Market News office in that city. This was a decrease of 15 percent below the previous month and 4 percent below receipts for February one year earlier, Greatest declines occurred in smelt, scup, and lobsters as compared with a year ago. Arrivals by fishing vessels during the month dropped 24 percent below January and 31 percent below February 1942, reflecting the direct effect of the war on this phase of the industry. Receipts of Fresh and Frozen Fishery Products--Salt-water Market, New York City |