FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1931 437 



week in January of each year for statistics of the production in the 

 preceding year. The surveys usually occupy six to nine weeks' time. 

 During this period agents visit each plant in the United States where 

 there is a production of canned fishery products or by-products. 

 The,v obtain statistics of the production and value of the production 

 for each commodity. In rare instances, where plants are not easily 

 reached by regular transportation facilities, returns are obtained by 

 mail. 



The value shown for canned products constitutes the gross amount 

 received by the packer at the production point, no deductions being 

 made for commissions or expenses. 



Statistics of the canned fishery products and by-products produced 

 in Alaska are received on the same sworn statements that include 

 statistics of the general fisheries. An annual statistical bulletin is 

 issued on this trade. 



Manufactured fishery products. — Statistics were obtained for 1930 

 for the first time on the total production of the many fishery products 

 manufactured in the marine and lakes sections of the United States. 

 These data appear only in the annual report of this division. 



Packaged-fish trade. — Complete statistics of the annual production 

 and value of fish packaged in the United States are obtained as a 

 part of the survey for statistics of the canned fishery products and 

 by-products industries. These statistics are published in bulletin 

 form annually. 



Cold-storage holdings offish. — An arrangement has been made with 

 the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, Department of Agriculture, 

 whereby statistics of the cold-storage holdings of the various species 

 of fish, by sections of the United States, are furnished to this bureau 

 monthly. Included with statistics of the holdings is a statement of 

 the quantity of the vaiious species of fish frozen and also the holdings 

 of certain cured fish. Bulletins showing these statistics are issued 

 monthly as well as annually. 



Foreign fishery trade. — Statistics on the foreign fishery trade are 

 obtained from compilations made by the Bureau of Foreign and 

 Domestic Commerce. Statistics of all known fishery products im- 

 ported or exported are assembled in one table and published annually 

 in the report of this division. 



COMPILATION PRACTICES 



Certain practices of importance used in the compilation of fishery 

 statistics are explained below. 



Days absent. — In computing "days absent" for vessels landing fares 

 at the various ports, the day of departure and the day of arrival are 

 included ; thus, a vessel leaving port on the 8th of the month and 

 returning on the 15th of the month will be shown as being absent 

 eight days. 



Operating units. — Operating units as referred to in this document 

 include persons engaged and fishing craft and gear employed. 



Vessels. — The term "vessels" refers to craft having a capacity of 

 5 net tons or greater. 



Incidental catch. — The term "incidental catch" refers to the catch 

 of certain species by a type of gear which ordinarily does not take 

 appreciable amounts, if any, of such species. 



