196 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
stores within cities that reported sales of various species, 1t is hoped to 
obtain an indication of the importance of the fisheries of different 
regions in supplying fresh fish and shellfish to consumers in representa- 
tive localities in the Eastern United States. 
The tabulation of the species sold by retailers indicates that about 
150 names were reported for the salt-water species sold, about 60 for 
fresh-water species, and over 20 for shellfish. A preliminary analysis 
demonstrates that the actual numbers of species involved are much 
smaller than those indicated, for there is widespread confusion in the 
names applied to various species. Often a given species is sold by 
2 or more names, even within the same city. Over larger areas the 
same species may be sold under several names, or several species by the 
same name. This lack of standardized nomenclature is a handicap 
to increasing the sale and consumption of fishery products. 
Preliminary results of the study indicate that very few stores have 
extensive facilities devoted to selling fish, and only a relatively small 
amount of space is available for this commodity. Frequently stores 
handle fish only 2 or 3 days per week, and on these days fish is allocated 
to a small part of the space usually taken up by meats. 
A large percentage of stores report that fish business is profitable, 
and some operators indicate that fish is the most profitable item 
handled. However, some owners and managers evidenced little 
interest in fish sales and consequently devoted little effort to promoting 
this phase of their business. The schedules are being further analyzed 
to determine which policies and methods are most effective in the sale 
of fishery products. 
An investigation of food consumption in some of the cities included 
in our survey is being conducted by the Department of Labor. This 
material will be useful in interpreting the retail fish marketing data. 
It will also provide a basis for a detailed analysis of the total amount 
of fish consumption per capita and the relative consumption of various 
forms of fishery products in a considerable number of cities. 
SURPLUS-FISH SITUATION 
As a result of special legislation the Federal Surplus Commodities 
Corporation, during the fiscal year 1937, purchased 12,059,000 pounds 
of fishery products at a commodity cost of $597,000, for distribution 
to relief clients. In the following fiscal year purchases under similar 
authority amounted to 3,595,000 pounds at a commodity cost of 
$265,000. No fish were purchased by the Corporation during the 
fiscal year 1939, but in the fiscal year 1940 purchases through March 
14 had aggregated 382,000 pounds, with a commodity cost of $22,300. 
Authority for the purchase of surplus stocks of fish in 1940 was incor- 
porated in Public Act 393, which was approved on August 11, 1939. 
The text of this act follows: 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, That any part of the funds not to exceed $1,500,000 
per year, transferred by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Federal Surplus Com- 
modities Corporation created under and to carry out the provisions of section 32 
of the Act of August 24, 1935 (49 Stat. 774), as amended, may also be used by 
such Corporation for the purpose of diverting surplus fishery products (including 
fish, shellfish, mollusks, and crustacea) from the normal channels of trade and 
commerce by acquiring them and providing for their distribution through Federal, 
State, and private relief channels: Provided, That none of the funds made available 
to the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation under this Act shall be used to 
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