Part 2. FISHERY STATISTICS, 1938 
GENERAL REVIEW 
Data on the 1938 catch of fishery products were collected in all 
sections 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. De- 
creased catches were made in each of the geographical sections except 
the Chesapeake Bay and South Atlantic and Gulf States. Marked 
declines 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 over 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, estimated to be 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 Mississippi 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 pack- 
aged fish and shellfish) valued at about $50,000,000 were marketed 
during 1988. The total marketed value to domestic primary handlers 
of all fishery products in 1988 is estimated at $214,000,000. 
New England States—In 19388 the commercial catch of fishery 
products in these States showed ah appreciable decrease in both the 
quantity and value as compared with 1937. Smaller catches of cod, 
hake, haddock, and sea herring chiefly contributed to the decrease, 
while catches of mackerel approximately doubled as compared with 
1937. 
A comparison of the combined vessel landings at Boston and 
Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Maine, which are available for 1937 
and 1938, shows that although the 1938 landings increased 3 percent in 
quantity, they declined 9 percent in value as compared with the 
preceding year. 
Middle Atlantic States—Although the yield of the commercial 
fisheries in the Middle Atlantic States during 1938 was less than in 
1937, the value of the products landed showed an increase. Fewer 
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