with the problem of raising personnel qualifications in the fishery. An 

 extension of the scope of operations of such a body to include functions 

 relating to the study of markets would seem to be logical. 



Seasonal supply and inventory increases of unusual size must 

 be met by the wholesale and retail trade by stepping up promotional 

 activities to assure faster turnover. The potential benefits to be 

 derived from stepped-up advertising, broadening of product line, and 

 better quality control, were pointed up in the course of a merchandisir^ 

 experiment conducted in four metropolitan centers, and described in 

 Chapter VII of this report. It should be noted that the best results 

 can only be obtained when retailers and wholesalers fully cooperate. 



Another means of stabilizing s\5)ply and prices would be through 

 conclusion of an international commodity agreement with foreign countries, 

 notably including Mexico, our most in^^ortant foreign supplier. 



Some thovight should be given to the establishment of futures 

 trading in shrimp products. Hedging on a commodity exchange tends to re- 

 duce fluctuations in price due to seasonal ups and downs in production. 

 Before trading in futures could become a reality the basic requirement 

 of universally accepted standards of grade and qusility must be met. In 

 the past, establishment of a futures market for shrimp has been handi- 

 capped by the absence of such standards for the more inportant shrinp 

 end-products. This situation is gradually being remedied. With standards 

 for frozen raw breaded shrimp now promulgated by the Department of the 

 Interior, consideration can be given to developing standards for other re- 

 lated items. As soon as quality standards are available for the bulk of 

 manufactured shrimp products, the major hurdle in the way of the establish- 

 ment of a futures market in shriup will have been eliminated. 



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