110 TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



MARKET AND INDUSTRIAL SURVEYS 



Market and industrial surveys are made to supply the trade with 

 useful market information regarding the distribution and consump- 

 tion of fishery products and to supply descriptive and economic data 

 on our fisheries and fishery industries. 



SOME UNUSUAL MARKETS FOR FISH AND SHELLFISH 



During 1931 surveys were made of the methods of several unusual 

 markets for fish and shellfish by F. F. Johnson. These included 

 commercial sport fishing in privately stocked waters, hot-fish shops, 

 clambakes, oyster roasts, oyster suppers, fish frys, etc. 



The survey of commercial sport fishing covered 40 firms which it 

 is estimated comprise 80 per cent of such firms in the United States.* 

 In addition, it covered 19 hatchery firms who indicated their inten- 

 tions of opening commercials pools. Some of these latter firms 

 already have pools under construction. The investment in sport 

 fishing waters and in hatcheries operated by sport fishing concerns 

 exceeded $500,000 during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1931. 

 The species used in these enterprises were usually rainbow and brook 

 trout although some firms reported that cutthroat trout, black bass, 

 and bullheads were used. About 322,000 pounds of fish were taken 

 by some 29,000 sport fishermen during the year. Customary charges 

 for fishing varied from 65 cents to $1 per pound of fish taken. 



It is estimated that sales through the hot-fish shops of Great Britain 

 account for nearly 70 per cent of the fish landed in the country. 

 The closest semblance to this type of trade in the United States is 

 the hot-fish business in and around St. Louis, Mo. More than one- 

 fourth of the total supply of whiting taken in the fisheries of the Middle 

 and North Atlantic coasts are used in this trade. They are frozen 

 shortly after capture near the fishing centers and usually reach the 

 St. Louis markets in carload lots. The study of the development of 

 the hot-fish trade in the St. Louis area has suggested the possibility 

 of similar activities in other cities. 



Clambakes and oyster roasts are old American institutions which 

 have been borrowed from our aboriginal predecessors and celebrated 

 by all our generations much after the traditional fashion. A discus- 

 sion of the methods of these functions has been deemed advisable due 

 to the general lack of detailed information concerning them. 



The full report of these marketing phases as well as of other unusual 

 markets is contained in Fishery Circular No. 11 entitled "Some 

 Unusual Markets for Fish and Shellfish." It may be purchased from 

 the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, 

 Washington, D. C. 



PUERTO RICO 



Believing that the fishery resources of Puerto Rico were largely 

 undeveloped and that methods for preserving and marketing fishery 

 products in the island were inefficient, Gov. Theodore Roosevelt 

 requested the Bureau of Fisheries to make an economic survey of the 

 situation and to suggest procedures leading toward fuller development. 

 In order to aid in this respect the bureau detailed N. D. Jarvis to 

 undertake this work in cooperation with the Bureau of Commerce 

 and Industry of Puerto Rico. The survey began on July 15 and 

 was completed on November 19, 1931. 



