192 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Reports of various economic studies and activities in progress during 
1939, or completed during that year, are given below. 
FISHERY COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATIONS 
The research and services in regard to fishery cooperative organiza- 
tions, like those in the other economic fields covered by this Division, 
consist primarily of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating informa- 
tion. An advisory service is offered to fishermen who are considering 
the desirability of forming cooperatives, and information is given to 
enable them to decide whether or not cooperative organization is likely 
to bring them benefits. 
In addition, fishery cooperatives already in operation are advised 
as to how to meet characteristic problems of cooperatives, as well as 
difficulties peculiar to their particular situations. While it is difficult 
to handle requests on this subject by correspondence, our statistical 
agents are often able to give advice on the spot in regard to matters 
requiring broad knowledge of the fisheries. With specific regard to 
the organization of ccoperatives, and with reference to cooperative 
principles or methods; Fishery Circular No. 22, “Organizing and 
Incorporating Fishery Cooperative Marketing Associations,” by L. 
C. Salter, has been particularly useful in answering inquiries. 
Cooperative associations enable fishermen to undertake collective 
action in conducting their economic affairs. They also serve as a 
device for readily disseminating information and educating fishermen 
as to the fundamental economic relationships of their industry. 
When organized into cooperative associations, fishermen can effect 
desirable practices whereby the fish they catch are processed and dis- 
tributed. The cooperative enables them to extend their marketing 
operations, if necessary, into any phase of marketing which is not 
operating to their advantage. Through cooperatives fishermen are 
usually better able to control the availability, quality, and prices of 
supplies and services which they require. Cooperation offers a 
method whereby it may be possible to rehabilitate certain fish popula- 
tions which have suffered severe depressions over a long period. 
In the pursuit of its functions of collecting, analyzing, and dissem- 
inating information, the Bureau endeavors to keep informed of new 
cooperative undertakings by fishermen, and to serve as a clearing 
house for such material. 
At present, 35 active fishery cooperatives which engaged in economic 
activities are listed in the Bureau’s files, though full information is not 
available on all of them. Twenty-one are on the West coast, 11 on 
the East coast, and 3 in the Great Lakes region. As regards their dis- 
tribution by States, California has 10, Washington 9, Oregon 2, New 
Jersey 3, Florida 4, Minnesota and Maine each have 2, and Michigan, 
Maryland, and North Carolina each have 1. Cooperatives in 3 
States have suspended operations since the 1935 canvass, as follows: 
California 1, Minnesota 1, and Virginia 1. 
During the past year the organization of 7 fishery cooperatives on 
the West coast was reported; 6 of these being in Washington and 1 in 
California. Another West coast cooperative, organized in 1938, first 
came to the Bureau’s attention in 1939. Considerable organiza- 
tional activity occurred on the East coast without as yet resulting in 
the formation of new cooperatives. This interest was particularly 
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