Frozen Packaged Fish and Shellfish 



Frozen packaged fishery products vere handled by more than 90 

 percent of the stores, as compared with only 5U percent selling fresh fish* 

 In general, only the fresh &sh markets and small neighborhood groceries 

 did not sell frozen packaged fishery products. 



About hi percent of the frozen packaged fishery products was 

 distributed to retailers by frozen food irtiolesalers • Salmon, halibut, sole, 

 rockfishes, and crab accounted for more than 60 percent of the frozen pack- 

 aged fishery products sold. Halibut and sole were the two most important 

 items. 



Only 9 percent of the retailers had complaints about frozen pack- 

 aged fish. Most of the criticism was concerned with poor quality. Nearly 

 IjO percent of the adverse comnents mentioned off-flavor and off-color* 



About lli percent of the retailers kept the tenperature of their 

 frozen food cabinets above O*^,, or above that recommended by the supplier. 

 One of four retailers did not know the temperature setting at which their 

 frozen food display cabinets were then operating, nor did they recognize 

 the significance of 0OF.,ar below temperature for frozen fishery products. 



Nearly IjO percent of the retailers determined their selling prices 

 by marking np all fishery products a fixed percentage. The amount of marktp 

 was often the one suggested by the wholesale distributors, Pbrty-seven 

 percent of the retailers carried frozen packaged fish as a profit item, while 

 on]jr 21 percent carried fresh fish as a profit item, 



More than IjO percent of the retailers said that frozen packaged 

 fish sales were increasing. Sixty- two percent of the supermarkets reported 

 increases In sales. Increased sales were attributed mainly to modern 

 display cases and to the availability of a greater variety of frozen fishery 

 products. Only 19 percent of the retailers reported increases in fresh 

 fish sales. 



Smoked Fish 



Smoked salmon was sold by 62 to 68 percent of the retailers In 

 Oregon and Washington, but by only 26 percent of the retailers In California, 

 Only 11 percent of the retailers in the three states stocked smoked sable- 

 fish. Almost 38 percent of the retailers complained that the smoked fish 

 received was not of uniform quality. Improved packaging was a suggestion 

 offered by retailers when queried as to how smoked fish sales could be 

 Increased, 



lU 



