Smelt and shrimp were the only principal items to show a decline from April 26, while the fillet group, with the exception of pollock and mackerel, increased.

Whiting holdings in New England plants on May 27 showed a slight decrease with 240,000 pounds in storage as compared to 247,000 pounds held on May 29, 1943.

CHICAGO COLD-STORAGE HOLDINGS AT END OF MAY TOTAL 6,954,000 POUNDS

Holdings of frozen fishery products in Chicago cold-storage warehouses on the last Thursday in May totaled 6,954,000 pounds, 14 percent above one month earlier and 198 percent above a comparable date in 1943, according to the Service's Chicago Market News office. Largest stocks reported were those of blue pike (including sauger) and whitefish, both showing important gains over 1943. An analysis of species which showed an increase during the month indicates that careful judgment is being used in taking up available cold-storage space as the majority of these varieties enjoy a good demand in the frozen form and will probably be moved before heavy arrivals of new stocks.

Holdings of frozen fresh fish in Canadian cold-storage warehouses on June 1, totaled 18,172,000 pounds, according to preliminary data furnished by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. This was an increase of 3 percent over stocks on hand on May 1, and 12 percent higher than those of June 1, 1943. Pickerel and tullibee holdings were much greater than those of 1943. Salmon and whitefish holdings were also considerably higher.

According to preliminary data furnished by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, 7,257,000 pounds of fresh fish and 1,229,000 pounds of smoked fish were frozen in Canadian freezers during May--an increase in both classifications compared with April. Freezings of fresh fish were 21 percent less than in May 1943, while those of smoked fish showed an increase of 20 percent. Cod fillets and sea herring were the principal items frozen, accounting for 76 percent of the production during the month. Due to the delay in the opening of the halibut fishery, only 33,000 pounds of halibut were frozen. This was less than one percent of the poundage frozen in May 1943.

MAY CALIFORNIA TUNA PACK SHOWS GAINS OVER APRIL AND PREVIOUS YEAR

The pack of tuna by California canners during May amounted to 367,383 standard cases, an increase of 85 percent over the April pack and 92 percent over that of May 1943, according to information released by the California Division of Fish and Game. This brought the total production for the first five months of 1944 to 876,385 standard cases--81 percent greater than for the comparable period during 1943. Yellowfin tuna and tuna flakes accounted for 72 percent of the May production,

The mackerel pack totaled only 111 cases during May. None was packed during April. The production for the first five months of the current year--84,555 standard cases--was 10 percent less than the same period in 1943.

*Standard cases of tuna represent cases of 48 7-ounce cans, while those of mackerel represent cases of 48 1-pound cans.

FEW CASES OF SHRIMP CANNED IN MAY

Only 1,443 standard cases of shrimp were canned in the five weeks ending June 3, according to the Service's Market News office in New Orleans. The season's total to June 3 for the canneries operated under the supervision of the Food and Drug Administration was 384,616 cases, 33 percent under the 1942-43 total to June 5 and 49 percent below the 5-year average. Wet and Dry Pack Shrimp in all Sizes in Tin and Glass--Standard Cases* MONTH SEASON

1944

1943

1943-44

1942-43

1944 Apr. 30-June 3 Apr.2-29 May 2-June 5 July 1-June 3 July 1-June 5

646

17,569

384,616

576,013

5-yr. average July 1-June 3

749,424

1,443 *All figures on basis of new standard case--48 No. 1 cans with 7 oz. per can in the wet pack and 6 oz. per can in the dry pack.

Canned shrimp quotations at wholesale remained at the following levels on June 1. These figures are per dozen plain No. 1 standard tins, f.o.b. point of production, and represent the maximum prices set by OPA effective February 2, 1943.

The largest pack of tuna since 1940 was predicted on June 27 by the Office of the Coordinator of Fisheries on the basis of recent reports from California, center of the fishery. It is estimated that the pack will be at least three million cases, compared with slightly less than 2 million last year. Predictions are based on the fact that the early season pack, consisting largely of tuna caught by purse seiners in the Gulf of California, was 20 percent larger than the pack for the same period last year.

Tuna fishing during the last half of the year is carried on chiefly by the large clippers that operate in offshore waters, using live bait and catching the tuna with hook and line. California representatives of the Coordinator's Office feel that with the strong early season lead, the total pack undoubtedly will be substantially larger than in 1943.

Because of heavy military purchases, the larger pack will not necessarily mean more tuna for civilians. Tuna, being delicately flavored and easily digested, is highly regarded for use in military hospitals.

The total pack of tuna during the first five months of the current year was 876,385 cases, compared with 485,095 cases for the same period last year.

GOVERNMENT RESERVES MORE CANNED FISH IN AMDT. 3 TO WFO-444

More canned fish from the 1944 pack than was previously estimated has been reserved by the Government because of substantial increases in military and other war requirements, the war Food Administration announced on June 29.

A new provision in an action by the WFA reserves 40 percent of the chum salmon packed during the period March 1, 1944, to February 28, 1945, inclusive. Packers must continue to reserve 60 percent of all other species of salmon except steelhead, packed during the same period.

The quantity to be reserved of pilchards, Atlantic sea herring, Atlantic and Pacific mackerel packed during the period June 25, 1944, to February 28, 1945, has been increased from 45 percent to 55 percent. For fish of the above species packed during the period March 1, to June 24, 1944, the quota for delivery to the Government remains at 45 percent.

This action, effective June 25, is contained in Amdt. 3 to WFO-44 which regulates the pack of canned fish (Fishery Market News, 1944, Mr pg. 30). According to current estimates of the 1944 pack, the new reserve provisions are expected to obtain an additional quantity of approximately 42 million pounds of all types of canned fish for Government needs.

The amendment also includes a provision for relieving shipping difficulties by allowing canners, whose 1944 pack is less than 4,800 pounds of a particular species, to use such quantity as a substitute for like quantity of another species when delivering the portion of their pack reserved for Governmental use.

Excerpts from the revised order follow:

such canner had obtained, with respect to the canned fish included in such written tender, an inspection certificate, issued by an inspection service approved by the government agency to which the tender has been made, indicating that such canned fish meets all the specifications set forth in such canner's aforesaid written contract for such canned fish.

(5) For each 45 pounds of canned fish of any class numbered 6 to 9, inclusive (designated in (b) (1) hereof for the period March 1, 1944, to June 24, 1944, both dates inclusive), which a canner has sold or delivered to any government agency or with respect to which he has submitted to a government agency a written tender of delivery of such canned fish in compliance with a written contract between such canner and such government agency, such canner may sell or deliver 55 pounds of canned fish of the same class to persons other than a government agency: Provided, That, prior to the time of each such written tender, such canner had obtained, with respect to the canned fish included in such written tender, an inspection certificate, issued by an inspection service approved by the government agency to which the tender has been made, indicating that such canned fish meets all the specifications set forth in such canner's aforesaid written contract for such canned fish.

(6) For each 55 pounds of canned fish of any class numbered 6 to 9, inclusive (designated in (b) (1) hereof for the period June 25, 1944, to February 28, 1945, both dates inclusive), which a can

her has sold or delivered to any govern-
ment agency or with respect to which
he has submitted to any government
agency a written tender of delivery of
such canned fish in compliance with a
written contract between such canner
and such government agency, such can-
ner may sell or deliver 45 pounds of
canned fish of the same class to persons
other than a government agency: Pro-
vided, That, prior to the time of each
such written tender, such canner had
obtained, with respect to the canned fish
included in such written tender, an in-
spection certificate, issued by an inspec-
tion service approved by the government
agency to which the tender has been
made, indicating that such canned fish
meets all the specifications set forth in
such canner's aforesaid written contract
for such canned fish.

(7) If any canner's 1944 pack of
canned fish of any class (designated in
(b) (1) hereof) is less than 4,800 pounds,
such canner may consider such canned
fish as a part of his 1944 pack of canned
fish of any other class (designated in
(b) (1) hereof).

(8) The Director may issue specifications at any time relative to the packing of the canned fish, the containers, container treatment, can marking, labeling, boxing, and strapping in connection therewith, or he may authorize any government agency to issue such specifications. Each person subject to the provisions of this order shall comply with such specifications, issued by the Director or the government agency authorized by the Director to issue such specifications, applicable to the canned fish processed by such person.

(d) Contracts. The restrictions of this order shall be observed without regard to contracts heretofore or hereafter entered into, or any rights accrued or payments made thereunder. This order shall not, however, be construed as reducing the amount of canned fish of the 1944 pack which any person is required to offer or deliver pursuant to contracts heretofore or hereafter entered into with any government agency.

(1) Delegation of authority. The administration of this order and the powers vested in the War Food Administrator, insofar as such powers relate to the administration of this order, are hereby delegated to the Director. The Director is authorized to redelegate to any employee of the United States Department of Agriculture any or all of the authority vested in him by this order; and one such employee shall be designated by the Director to serve as Order Administrator.

(1) Effective date. The provisions of this order shall become effective at 12:01 a. m., e. w. t., June 25, 1944. With respect to violations, rights accrued, liabilities incurred, or appeals taken under War Food Order No. 44, as amended, prior to the effective time of the provisions hereof, the provisions of said War Food Order No. 44, as amended, in effect prior to the effective time hereof shall be deemed to continue in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any proper suit, action, or other proceeding with respect to any such violation, right, liability, or appeal.

DISTRIBUTION OF CANNED FISH PLACED UNDER NEW REGULATION

A new price regulation designed to reduce retail prices of canned fish and seafood by tightening up pricing methods for primary and other distributors, except wholesalers and retailers, was issued June 19 by the Office of Price Administration. It will be effective July 17, 1944.

One effect of the regulation will be to clarify the pricing position of many intermediate sellers, some of whom have been able to establish legal ceiling prices out of proportion to the services they render, OPA said. The regulation gives recognition to the historic practices of the relatively few legitimate primary distributors, while it definitely limits the prices that may be charged by intermediate sellers who have entered the field in recent months. In eliminating such of these distributors as are unnecessary and preventing the addition of unnecessary margins, the price of canned fish to the consumer will be lowered and the normal channels of distribution will be restored, OPA said.

The regulation covers distributor sales of canned Maine and California sardines, domestic crabmeat, salmon, mackerel, tuna fish, shrimp, Eastern and Gulf oysters, Atlantic sea herring and alewives, clams, fish flakes, and the domestic fish or seafood now priced at levels under the General Maximum Price Regulation, which establishes each seller's ceiling at the highest price he charged for the item during March 1942.

At present, all primary distributors and other pre-wholesale handlers of canned fish and seafood are required to price under the GMPR. Under its provisions, they may sell new brands at the price which a competitor charges for a "comparable commodity." In borrowing a competitor's price, many distributors have been able to establish ceiling prices much higher than are needed to cover expenses of the distribution services they actually perform. In addition, there have been numerous evasions connected with constant introduction of new brands, which have tended to inflate retail prices, OPA said.

The specific pricing methods, which OPA believes will put an end to these practices, were established after consultation with industry representatives. They establish a pattern