VIII EEPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 



not self-supporting in regard to fishery products. For instance, while 

 the Virgin Islands produced a little over G00,000 pounds of fishery- 

 products in 1030, during the same year they imported about an 

 equal amount of fish, consisting largely of dry salt cod. The catch 

 in 1930 in Puerto Rico amounted to over 3,000,000 pounds, and in the 

 same year about 21,500,000 pounds of fishery products, consisting 

 also largely of dry salt cod, were imported. 



While the fisheries of these islands can not be expanded indefin- 

 itely, it is believed that they can be increased to a point where im- 

 ports can be lowered to a minimum. A large variety of fish is 

 found around the islands, and with present methods twice the present 

 catch can undoubtedly be taken around the Virgin Islands and the 

 catch of Puerto Rico also can be increased considerably. As the 

 inhabitants of the islands undoubtedly could not consume the entire 

 catch in a fresh state as taken, the bureau conducted studies toward 

 developing methods for preserving the catch for future use. Two 

 methods of accomplishing this appeared feasible: (1) Through the 

 introduction of improved methods of handling and the use of ice and 

 refrigeration; (2) by the development of a local fish-curing industry, 

 thus providing a product to replace imported cured fish. 



It was demonstrated that fresh fish products superior to any then 

 marketed with a greatly extended period of preservation could be 

 prepared, and a method was developed by which a dry-salt fish of 

 good quality could be prepared. It was found possible to cure most 

 of the larger food fish, barracuda being the most satisfactory. Small 

 fish could be smoked satisfactorily, thus increasing the demand for 

 these fish now in little demand. Inhabitants were instructed in the 

 proper handling and refrigeration of fresh fish and in curing fish. 



COOPERATION WITH THE STATES AND OTHER AGENCIES 



Cooperation with other agencies was conducted on an unprece- 

 dented scale, greatly extending the bureau's sphere of usefulness with 

 resultant economies in the cost of operation of the bureau and other 

 governmental services. 



In the field of biological investigations the Conservation Depart- 

 ment of the State of New York is providing financial support for 

 studies on nutrition of trout at Cortland, N. Y., in cooperation with 

 the College of Agriculture, Cornell University ; a limited amount 

 for pond-culture work at Rochester, N. Y., where some 20 acres of 

 ponds and lakes are already under cultivation; and a substantial 

 sum toward the publication of a scientific paper dealing with life- 

 history studies of the fishes of Lake Erie. Wisconsin and Michigan 

 authorities have taken an active part in studies of the destruction of 

 immature fish by fishing gear in Lake Michigan, contributing funds 

 for the operation of the bureau's vessel Fulmar. Louisiana and 

 Texas have contributed personnel and other assistance in furthering 

 the shrimp investigations. California is meeting half the costs of 

 investigations of trout and oysters. North and South Carolina, 

 Georgia, and Florida have contributed to the oj^ster cultural re- 

 search program in that area. Connecticut authorities have made 

 available a field laboratory and the State shell-fisheries research ves- 

 sel for oyster investigations in the Long Island Sound area. A field 

 laboratory for oyster research in Puget Sound, near Olympia, is 

 also being provided by the State of Washington. 



