PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES 



221 



This is the third year in a row that landings have been above those of most previous years. The 1975 landings 

 were the highest since 1948. 



Pacific cod . U.S. landings of Pacific cod were 12.2 million pounds valued at $1.4 million in 1975, up 22 

 percent in quantity and 10 percent in value over 1974. Washington led the other States with 92 percent of the 

 total; Oregon accounted for 5 percent and Alaska 3 percent. The great bull< of the Washington landings were 

 caught in waters off British Columbia and landed at Puget Sound ports. 



The foreign catch of Pacific cod off U.S. shores was 128 million pounds in 1975, down 8 percent 

 from 1974. All or almost all of the foreign catch was taken in Alaska waters, principally the Bering Sea and 

 Aleutians area. Japan was the principal catching nation. 



Pacific hake. U.S. landings of Pacific hake were 3.4 million pounds valued at $50,000 in 1975, down 35 

 percent in quantity and 54 percent in value compared with 1974. This quantity was the lowest since 1965. 

 Almost 99 percent of the total landings in 1975 were made at Washington ports. As in other recent years 

 almost all the landings were sold directly for animal food or processed into meal and oil. 



Foreign catches of hake principeilly off Oregon and Washington, were 434.2 million pounds. The 

 U.S.S.R. was the principal catching nation with 79 percent of the total; Poland followed with 21 percent. 



Pacific ocean perch and other rockfishes . Total U.S. landings of Pacific ocean perch and other rockfishes 

 were 38.9 million pounds valued at $4.8 million in 1975, down 6 percent in quantity and 4 percent in value 

 compared with 1974. Landings of other rockfishes, although down slightly compared with 1974, were above 

 the average for the previous 5 years. Landings of Pacific ocean perch, on the other hand, have declined in 

 recent years and in 1975 were the lowest since 1951. California was the principal landings State for other 

 rockfisiies; and Washington was the principal State for Pacific ocean perch. 



The foreign catch of Pacific ocean perch and other rockfishes was 231.5 million pounds in 1975, 

 down 20 percent compared with 1974. Japan was the principal taking nation with 55 percent of the total; 

 followed by the U.S.S.R., 40 percent; Republic of Korea, 3 percent; Poland, 2 percent; and Canada, less than 1 

 percent. 



Sea herring . U.S. landings of Pacific sea herring were 51.2 million pounds valued at $3.6 million in 1975, 

 down 9 percent in quantity and 6 percent in value compared with 1974, but substantially above the average of 

 31.1 million pounds for the previous 5 years. Of the total, Alaska accounted for 69 percent; Washington, 26 

 percent; and California, 5 percent. About 66 percent of Pacific sea herring landings was used for human 

 consumption. The remainder was used as bait in other fisheries. 



The foreign catch of sea herring off U.S. Pacific shores was 37.8 million pounds in 1975. Japan 

 and the U.S.S.R. were the only catching nations. All the foreign catch was taken from the Bering Sea and 

 Aleutian area, whereas almost all domestic landings were caught in the Gulf of Alaska area. 



Sablefish. U.S. landings of sablefish (black cod) were 19.3 million pounds valued at $2.6 million in 1975, up 23 

 percent in both quantity and value compared with 1974. Both quantity and value in 1975 were a record. 

 Landings of sablefish have been at a relatively high level since 1972, because of heavy landings in California. 

 Of the 1975 landings, California accounted for 73 percent of the total; Alaska, 13 percent; Washington, 10 

 percent; and Oregon, 4 percent. About half of the California catch is made by a greatly expanded pot fishery. 

 The market in California, which has been exceptionally good in recent years, has been strengthened by large 

 exports to Japan of prime-quality frozen sablefish. 



Foreign catches of sablefish off the U.S. Pacific Coast were 72.0 million pounds in 1975, down 6 

 percent from 1974. Catches in the Gulf of Alaska were 54.0 million pounds; in Bering Sea and Aleutians, 9 

 million pounds; and in Washington, Oregon, and California, 9 million pounds. Of the total, Japan accounted 

 for 81 percent; Republic of Korea, 18 percent; and Poland, 1 percent. 



Salmon. Domestic landings of Pacific salmon were 202.0 million pounds valued at $107.0 million in 1975, up 

 less than 1 percent in quantity, but down 11 percent in value compared with 1974. The decrease in value was 

 due to lower prices, chiefly in Alaska. Alaska accounted for 68 percent of the total landings; Washington, 23 

 percent; Oregon, 6 percent; and California, 3 percent. 



