148 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 
The Bureau again made an allotment of rainbow trout eggs to 
Puerto Rico in continuation of the program for developing trout 
fishing in that Territory. 
RESCUE OPERATIONS 
The virtual completion of the 9-foot channel in the upper Missis- 
sippi River brought to a practical close the practice of salvaging fish 
inthe overflowed areas and sloughs, which development has been 
predicted by the Bureau. There were handled in this activity only 
2,800 fish of all species in comparison with the 40 to 50 million which 
were seined and returned to the river in the past. The Bureau, 
however, has proceeded with the construction of propagating ponds 
in the Refuge, particularly at Genoa, Wis., and Guttenberg, Iowa. 
The yield of game fish, especially bass, from these ponds has been 
most surprising and there is ample evidence of a continuing supply 
of bass and sunfish if the program of construction can be continued. 
FISHERY INDUSTRIES 
ECONOMIC AND MARKETING INVESTIGATIONS 
Surplus fish situation—The holdings of frozen, cured, and canned 
fishery products in the United States in the spring of 1939 amounted 
to about 172,000,000 pounds, according to a study of the surplus fish 
situation. ‘This represents about 5,600,000 pounds more than normal 
holdings. 
Survey of retail marketing of fish and shellfish_—The field work of 
a survey of retail marketing of fish in about 50 representative cities 
east of the Mississippi River was completed late in the fiscal year 
1939. The results of the survey will be tabulated and analyzed to 
determine the factors which lead to the most favorable response from 
the public and to establish criteria which may guide retailers: toward 
those practices which are most successful or promising. 
Commercial fisheries of the world.—On the basis of the most recent 
available data, the world’s annual commercial catch of fishery com- 
modities amounts to about 33,600,000.000 pounds, valued at approxi- 
mately $740,000,000. The United States, including Alaska, ranks 
first in the value of annual yield and is exceeded only by Japan in 
volume. 
Cod fisheries off the east coast of North America.—In 1935, which 
is the most recent year for which complete statistics are available, the 
catch of cod off the east coast of North America by Canadian United 
States, French, and Portuguese fishermen, amounted to 1,109,000,000 
pounds, as compared with an average annual catch of 1,108,000,000 
pounds for the 10-year period from 1926 to 1935, inclusive, and 
1,169,000,000 pounds for the preceding 10-year period. The most im- 
portant country in the volume of its catch of cod in this area is New- 
foundland, which took an annual average of 495,000,000 pounds dur- 
ing the period from 1931 to 1935. Following in order of the im- 
portance of their annual catches were Canada, France, the United 
States, and Portugal. 
Cooperative marketing—During 1938 work was continued on the 
collection of data relating to fishermen’s cooperatives and other fish- 
ermen’s organizations in this country and abroad. Appeals for aid 
