FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1931 435 



Washington and Oregon the offshore fisheries are surveyed separately 

 for units of operation, catch, and vaUie of the catch. In almost all 

 other respects the statistics are as collected by the States. Statistics 

 of the wholesale industry for this section are obtained largely by 

 personal interview. 



The fisheries of Alaska are conducted primarily by large operators. 

 Sworn statements are required from these operators concerning their 

 operations. These are collected and compiled by the Alaska division 

 of this bureau. 



Statistics on the catch of fish collected in the above general can- 

 vasses are shown in this report on the basis of round weight, that is, 

 the weight of the fish as caught, except in the Pacific Coast States 

 where "as landed" weights are shown. 



In general in the Pacific Coast States halibut is landed heads on 

 but eviscerated; tuna and tunalike fishes are landed headless and 

 eviscerated; swordfish may be landed headless and eviscerated; some 

 salmon, especially that caught by troll lines, may be eviscerated; 

 "lingcod," rockfishes, and sablelish may be landed eviscerated. 

 The weight of cod caught off Alaska and shown in the Pacific coast 

 tables has been converted to the basis of round weight. 



Bulletins containing statistics for each section are released following 

 the survey. 



Landings at certain important United States ports. — Statistics of the 

 landings at the principal New England ports, Boston and Gloucester, 

 Mass., and Portland, Me., are similarly obtained. An agent is per- 

 manently stationed at each of these ports. His duties include the 

 obtaining of statistics on the quantity of fish landed each day by 

 each fishing vessel, the value of such fish landed, information con- 

 cerning the date of departure and arrival of the vessel, and also a list 

 of the grounds from which the fish were taken and the gear used in 

 their capture. These statistics are forwarded to the bureau, where 

 compilations are made. Monthly statistical bulletins are issued for 

 these landings as well as annual bulletins summarizing the year's 

 activities. 



Statistics of the landings of fish at Seattle, Wash., are collected by 

 the bureau's agent in that city. Landings are classified as those 

 made by American fishing vessels and those received by Seattle 

 wholesale dealers. The landings credited to United States fishing 

 vessels are made by vessels operating distinctly as primary fishing 

 units, usually in the offshore fisheries, while those credited as received 

 by wholesale dealers are usually products of the shore fisheries col- 

 lected mainly from points in Puget Sound and do not include fish 

 received from Alaska or Canada, or landings made by the halibut 

 fleet. Monthly statistical bulletins are issued for these landings as 

 well as annual bulletins summarizing the year's activities. 



Statistics on the landings of fish at New York City are obtained by 

 J. H. Matthews, executive secretary of the Middle Atlantic Fisheries 

 Association, while those for Groton, Conn., are obtained by the 

 bureau's agents. Statements of these landings are forwarded to the 

 bureau, where they are compiled. These statistics have not included 

 the value of the catch. Monthly bulletins including these data are 

 not issued; however, a summary is published in this document. 



