12 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



that the trade will accept frozen Florida fish and that the freezing 

 and storing of these fish might be done readily m Florida. Many 

 times Florida producers cease fishing operations because the markets 

 of the country are glutted with fish of their production. In instances 

 of this nature, if the products were frozen near the place of production 

 producers could contmue fishing and freeze their catch, thereby avoid- 

 ing glutting the consuming markets and at the same time laying aside 

 a supply for future use. 



Certain credit features enter into financLng a cold-storage "pack." 

 Fishermen must be paid on delivery of fish, gear must be paid for at 

 time of purchase, and freezing and storage charges on the fish need to 

 be paid monthly. Most producers are unable to enter into these 

 financial obligations but must sell their fish at the prevailing market 

 price or discontinue operations. The introduction of standard cold- 

 storage regulations may possibly induce outside capital to finance fish 

 in cold storage. To offer such inducements, capital desires that as 

 far as possible risks of loss be minimized. To accomplish this the fish 

 must be frozen, graded, and packed in a uniform manner. At present 

 no special State or city regulations govern operations in Flordia. 

 Should standard regulations be adopted by these governmental 

 agencies, it is believed that the freezing and storing of fish would be 

 stimulated and that Jacksonville would forge to the front as a fish- 

 distributing center. 



RETAIL TRADE 



During 1926 Jacksonville retail fish dealers handled 3,743,000 

 pounds of 48 varieties of fishery products. Of this amount 3,214,000 

 pounds were salt-water and 529,000 pounds fresh-water varieties. 



Important commercial products. — Ten varieties of fishery products 

 handled by retailers, amounting to 2,821,000 pounds, are considered 

 as the important commercial products and constitute approxmiately 

 75 per cent of the retail trade. Virtually all of these, except 

 croakers, were produced in Florida. 



Table 6. — Fishery products upon which approximately 75 per cent of the trade is 



based ^ 



I Tables 6, 7, and 8 are to be considered together as regards the relative rank of importance of the product 

 s a whole. 

 » Listed in order of importance. 



1 



