292 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 
The Bureau has remained cognizant of the real and potential value 
of this vast food resource which has been intrusted to its keeping and, 
although continually providing the markets of the world with a 
canned fishery product of unquestioned excellence, it has constantly 
maintained a balance sufficient that should the need arise, production 
can again be stepped up to the required level. 
In carrying on the work of the Bureau it has been necessary to 
maintain a number of vessels which, although designed primarily 
for specialized fishery activities, could readily be converted for use 
by the Navy in times of national emergency. The Bureau fleet could 
be augmented by hundreds of fishing craft and thus form a defense 
unit that would contribute materially to the conduct of naval 
operations. 
SUMMARY 
Data on the 1938 catch of fishery products were collected in all sec- 
tions of the United States and Alaska except the Mississippi River 
area. The combined catch in the areas surveyed shows a decline of 
2 percent in volume and 7 percent in value as compared with the 
catch in the same sections during the preceding year. Decreased 
catches were made in each of the geographical sections except the 
Chesapeake Bay and South Atlantic and Gulf States. Marked de- 
clines in the value of the catch occurred in the New England, South 
Atlantic and Gulf, and Pacific Coast States, and in Alaska. The 
value of the pack of canned fishery products in all sections declined 
21 percent as compared with 1937; byproducts decreased 17 percent ; 
cured fish about 5 percent; and packaged fish, 2 percent. 
The total catch of fishery products in the United States and Alaska, 
as based on the most recent surveys, amounted to 4,253,445,000 pounds, 
valued at $93,547,000. Slightly more than 130,000 fishermen were 
employed in making this catch. 
The production of canned fishery products in the United States 
and Alaska during 1938 amounted to 667,527,840 pounds, valued at 
$83,445,889; the output of byproducts was valued at $30,576,367; the _ 
production of frozen fishery products, excluding packaged products, 
amounted to 117,125,519 pounds, valued at $7,800,000; and fresh and 
frozen packaged fish and shellfish, 216,661,255 pounds, valued at 
$27,243,645. Based on surveys for 1938 in all sections except the Mis- 
sissippi River area, and for 1931 in that area, the production of 
cured fishery products amounted to 102,617,256 pounds, valued at 
$14,865,530. It is estimated that about 680,000,000 pounds of fresh 
fishery products (excluding packaged fish and shellfish) valued at 
about $50,000,000 were marketed during 1938. The total marketed 
