354 



REVIEW OF CERTAIN MAJOR FISHERIES 



U.S. CRAB LANDINGS, 1975 



The U.S. catch of crabs was 306.1 million pounds worth $81.0 million, decreases of 8 percent in 

 volume and 5 percent in value compared with 1974. All species of crabs declined in volume except for 

 dungeness, king, and rock crabs. However, the principal reason for the lower volume was a 27-percent decline 

 in landings of snow crabs, mainly because of poor market conditions and high inventories in cold storage. 

 Landings of snow crabs (landed only in Alaska) were 46.9 million pounds value at $7.0 million in 1975 

 compared with a record 63.9 million pounds valued at $13.1 million in 1974. A price dispute between 

 fishermen and buyers almost halted snow crab fishing during part of the 1975 fishing season. The average 

 price per pound for snow crabs was 15 cents in 1975 and 20 cents in 1974. Hard blue crabs with 134.7 million 

 pounds or 44 percent of the total production declined 10 percent. 



The Pacific Coast States led in volume with 164.3 million pounds (54 percent of the total), 

 followed by the Chesapeake States, 61.5 million pounds (20 percent); the Gulf States, 41.0 million pounds (13 

 percent); and the South Atlantic States, 30.6 million pounds (10 percent). The rest were taken in the New 

 England and Middle Atlantic States, and Hawaii. 



Fishermen took 283.2 million pounds (93 percent of the total) with pots and 10.3 million pounds 

 (3 percent) with lines. Otter trawls and dredges each took 5.4 million pounds (2 percent). The remainder was 

 taken by haul seines, purse seines, pound nets, gill nets, dip nets, lift nets, scrapes, and brush traps. 



BLUE CRAB 



SUMAAARY OF CRAB POT OPERATING UNITS, 1975 



(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) 



