386 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



VESSEL FISHERIES AT SEATTLE, WASH. 



During 1931, a total of 40,746,241 pounds of fishery products, 

 valued at $2,308,024, were handled by Seattle wholesale dealers, 

 exclusive of quantities received by transporting vessels or rail from 

 Alaska or Canada. This represents an increase of 5 per cent in 

 quantity and a decrease of 33 per cent in \- alue as compared with the 

 previous year. 



Of the total quantity handled, 17,208,224 pounds, valued at 

 $1,172,314, were landed by fishing vessels, an increase of 4 per cent in 

 quantity and a decrease of 31 per cent in value as compared with the 

 previous year. The vessels made 1,064 trips to the fishing grounds 

 during the year, which is 170 trips less than during 1930. Halibut 

 was the most important species taken by the fishing vessels, account- 

 ing for 88 per cent of the catch. Sablefish accounted for 8 per cent; 

 and "lingcod" and rockfishes, each 2 per cent. 



The catch by fishing vessels was taken off the Pacific coast from 

 Oregon to Unalaska Island. South of Cape Spencer ranked as the 

 most productive area, furnishing 56 per cent of the catch. Grounds 

 west of Cape Spencer provided the balance. 



During 1931, 23,538,017 pounds, valued at $1,135,710, were re- 

 ceived by wholesale dealers from sources other than Alaska or Canada, 

 or from vessels in the halibut fishery. Most of these products were 

 taken in Puget Sound. This is an increase of 6 per cent in the quan- 

 tity received from similar sources in 1930 and a decrease of 35 per cent 

 in value. The increase in quantity was due to the large catch of 

 humpback or pink salmon as compared with the "off year" for this 

 species in 1930. All varieties of salmon accounted for 91 per cent of 

 the fishery products handled by the wholesale dealers from sources 

 other than the halibut fleet or from Alaska or Canada. 



Fishery products landed by United States vessels at Seattle, Wash., 1931 ^ 



BY BANKS 



i Halibut fleet. 



