ECONOMICS OF THE FISHERIES 457 



their total sales were $83,121,000.^ They were not observed to be outstand- 

 ing as merchandisers of fish. The arrangement and display are considered 

 advertising and the importance of personal salesmanship is largely disre- 

 garded. A few retail stores own frozen food cabinets and stock a variety 

 of brands of frozen foods. Most, but not all, independent grocers who handle 

 fish dress the fish for customers at no charge. 



Pricing does not reflect keen analysis of what prices should be. Independent 

 stores usually add to delivered buying price, regardless of kind and prices, 

 10 to 15 cents per pound for finfish, 10 to 20 cents per pound for shrimp, 

 and 15 to 25 cents per pint of oysters. If the goods do not move at these 

 prices after a day or two, or late on Saturday, the prices are marked down 

 to little or no margin. 



The following table indicates typical prices in independent retail grocery 

 stores : 



c. Chain Stores. There are said to be between 150 and 250 retail chain 

 store grocery stores in North Carolina, selling an estimated minimum of 

 about 100,000 pounds of seafood per week. These chain stores perform a 

 typical chain store operation in the State. Unlike retail fish markets and 

 independent grocers, they prefer standardized products handled and priced 

 in a uniform manner. In general, this type of merchandising has been of 

 great value to the fisheries of the whole United States, and while they seem 



8. U. S. Census of Retail Trade. 



