PREFACE 



Price data of this study cover the period 1950-71 for finfish and 1959-71 for 

 shellfish. The report does not include the prices later than 1971 because prices 

 at the processor's level of different t'lsh products have not been published since 

 then. As a result of an unparalleled pattern of price variations that developed 

 in 1972 and the early part of 1973, price relationships among various marketing 

 levels (other than the processor's) tend to be different from those projected in 

 the present study. The deviation is striking in the pnce relationships among dif- 

 ferent levels during Phase II of price controls when the prices at the exvessel 

 level were not frozen but those at other levels were. 



The trends established in this study are influenced by more recent de- 

 velopments. The relaxation of price control in early 1973. the price ceiling im- 

 posed on meat products shortly afterward, and other proposals in the wind 

 would serve to create further disparities between the meat fanner's share of the 

 consumer's dollar and the fisherman's share. 



Also, fish products consumed in the United States have a higher percentage 

 of imports than most other major food products. The devaluation of the U.S. 

 dollar twice during the recent period not covered by this study has, therefore, a 

 buUfish effect on the prices offish products especially at the wholesale and retail 

 levels. 



Bearing the above qualifications in mind, readers will be able to reconcile 

 the results of this study with the newly developed situation. 



Washington, D.C. 



March 1973 



