to the production of sggs„ This development tends to increase the proportion 

 of growing chicks and laying hens vrfiich are fed rations containing fish mealo 



The market for fish oils is currently in the doldrums and there is no in- 

 dication that the situation will change greatly in the next few years. The 

 chief hopes for improv^ient in the market for fish oils seem to lie in the devel- 

 opment of specialized uses and in the use of fish oils in feeds for various types 

 of farm animals o Extensive use of fish oils in feeds hinges on the success of 

 currant and future research. No immediate prospeds of successful substitution 

 is in evidence o Further research may develop not only special uses for fish 

 oils, imt special uses for individual types of fish oils or for certain fractions 

 or components of these oils. Here, again^, no immediate prospects of success 

 are observable « 



In the jneantime, certain unfavorable factors in the market situation are at 

 work^ and these^, for the :jao8t part, affect the markets for inedible fats and 

 oils rather generallyo A major unfavorable factor is the development of what 

 are called synthetic detergents, which have markedly decreased the demand for 

 fats and oils for the manufacture of soaps. Another negative factor in demand 

 is the increasing use of "rubber" bases or latex bases in paints, which has de- 

 creased the demand for oils in the industry. 



The domestic market for fish livers has been weakening for several years, 

 A major factor in the sit^.ation is the use of synthetic -vitamins, the declin- 

 ing cost of which has been accompanied by increasing production and widespread 

 substitution for vitamin-bearing fish-liver oils. Moreover^ fish livers and 

 fish-liver oils from other countries have been available in large volume and 

 at low prices. Under the circumstances, vriiich do not seem likely to change 

 significantly for the better, the livers and viscera of tunas do not seem likely 

 to provide an iiic«ntive to further tiina production or to provide alternative 

 income for processors. The value of these particular byproducts and others is 

 a minor factor in the operations of the industry when compared with its canned 

 products „ 



105 



