XVIII REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 



POXDFISH STATIONS 



A"ar3'in<r results Avere achieved at the stations engaged in rearing 

 ■vvarm-Avater fish in ponds. Certain of them surpassed previous 

 records, as was the case at Tupelo, Miss., where the output exceeded 

 u. 000,000. The San Marcos (Tex.) station also experienced a very 

 successful year. Unfavorahle weather conditions reduced the output 

 at some of the other stations, however, so that the aggregate distribu- 

 tion was about normal. The Louisville (Ky.) station achieved about 

 an average production of smallmouth black bass and distributed 

 slighth^ over 500,000 to applicants. 



RESCUE OPERATIONS 



During 1928 the work of rescuing stranded fishes in the States of 

 Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana was expanded greatly as a 

 result of the great flood, and 25,980,000 fish were captured and re- 

 turned alive to the waters of this region. This was in addition to the 

 regular rescue work on the upper Mississippi, which latter brought 

 the total number of fish rescued to 166,778,000. Approximately one- 

 half of 1 i^er cent of the total number of fish handled in the rescue 

 fields was shipped to other waters, wdiich reduced somewhat the num- 

 ber of applications in arrears for warm-water species. The distribu- 

 tion service handled efficiently the extra burden of transporting this 

 large output of fish, even though it was found necessary to discard 

 one of the old wooden cars because of its age and obsolete equipment. 

 LTntil a ncAv car is made available the distribution service will be 

 handicapped somewhat. 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES AND FISHERY INDUSTRIES 



According to the most recent statistics available, the fisheries of the 

 United States and Alaska employ approximately 118,600 commercial 

 fishermen and 4,300 persons on transporting vessels directly connected 

 with the fisheries. The annual landings of fishery products amount to 

 approximately 2,500,000,000 pounds, valued at about $103,000,000 to 

 the fishermen. In 1927, the production of canned fishery products 

 amounted to 475,655,000 pounds, valued at $81,384,000, and the output 

 of by-products was valued at $12,793,000. The value of salted, dried, 

 and smoked fishery products may be estimated at $12,000,000. Im- 

 ports of fisherv products were valued at $55,634,000, while exports 

 aggregated $18,717,000. 



The fisheries are subject to pronounced fluctuations. This, with the 

 fragmentary nature of the available statistics, makes it very difficult 

 to discuss trends in the fisheries with as great a degree of assurance 

 and completeness as might be desired. It is pertinent, however, to 

 point out some of the developments indicated by statistical data made 

 available by the bureau during the past year. 



Perhaps the most outstanding feature of 1927 developments on the 

 Atlantic coast was the continued growth of the packaged-fish trade. 

 This style of prej^aring fisli for market has opened new channels of 

 distribution because fish so marketed are handled readily by retailers 

 and housewives. The growth of this industry is having an important 

 effect on the complexion of the fisheries, which mav be illustrated by 



