176 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
year ago. The holdings this year represented an excess of about 
5,600,000 pounds over normal holdings for this time of the year. 
SURVEY OF RETAIL MARKETING OF FISH AND SHELLFISH 
Following an intensive preliminary study to determine the most 
efficient procedure and coverage, a survey of retail marketing of fish 
and shellfish was undertaken in March 1939 under the direction of 
Ralph Russell, Associate Fishery Economist, to include about 50 rep- 
resentative cities east of the Mississippi River. 
The annual domestic per capita consumption of fish amounts to 
only 13 pounds; less than that of most of the important countries of 
the world. This low consumption not only curbs the potential growth 
of our commercial fisheries but also is evidence of the restricted volume 
of these healthful foods in the average diet. Recent studies indicate 
wide variations in the consumption of fish among various cities as well 
as among the various social and economic groups of residents of these 
cities. 
It is the purpose of this survey to study the conditions under which 
fish are sold in retail markets. To accomplish this, the Bureau’s inves- 
tigators are interviewing a large number of dealers representing all 
segments of the retail trade to obtain information on retail methods, 
equipment used, prevalence and nature of advertising, consumer pref- 
erence and response, location of retail outlets, and “characteristic as 
well as unusual merchandising practices and selling methods. The 
field work of this survey will continue until about the end of June 1939, 
after which 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. It is 
expected that one or more reports will be published following the 
completion of this work. 
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE WORLD 
The world’s annual catch of fishery products, based on the most 
recent available data, amounts to about 33,600,000,000 pounds, valued 
at $740,000,000. The United States, including Alaska, with a catch 
valued at $93,000,000, leads the countries of the world in the annual 
value of its vield. Japan’s annual catch, valued at $87,000,000, ranks 
second. Other countries, the annual catch of which exceeds $50,000,- 
000 in value are, in order of their importance, Union of Soviet Socialist 
Republics; England, including Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales; 
China; and France. Japan, with a catch of 6,600,000,000 pounds, 
leads in the annual volume of the catch among the countries of the 
world. Following is the United States with a catch aggregating 
4,800,000,000 pounds. Other countries whose annual catches exceed 
1,500,000,000 pounds are, in order of their importance, Union of Soviet 
Socialist Republics; China; England, including Scotland, Northern 
Treland, and Wales; Norway; and Germany. 
THE ROSEFISH FISHERY OF NEW ENGLAND 
The rosefish or “redfish” fishery of New England experienced another 
good year in 1938 from the standpoint of total yield, although the 
average value to the fisherman decreased to 1.2 cents per pound from 
