54 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



with the proper methods for displaying and handhng fishery products. 

 Facihties are such that only round or dressed fresh fish can he handled, 

 and these products require almost immediate disposal. Thus, the 

 goods remaining unsold near the close of the day's business are 

 marketed at little or no profit, rather than that the expense of holding 

 them over night be incurred. However, some dealers will hold fish 

 from day to day, usually under adverse conditions, and fish so mar- 

 keted are not always of the best quality. Marketing fish of inferior 

 quality will not create a demand for fish, nor will it increase their 

 consumption. 



The more or less unsightly method of marketing fishery products 

 practiced in the past should not be introduced into grocery stores. 

 Methods should be found to market fish in the most sanitary and 

 attractive manner possible with a perishable article. Unless this be 

 done, consumers will still be of the impression that fish are being 

 handled by antiquated methods, the only change being that the 

 generally unsightly fish market has moved into the grocery store. 

 While the writer believes that grocery stores in the future will become 

 one of the main outlets for fish, he also believes that the grocery trade 

 generally is not making an attempt to improve handling methods. 

 This may be due in part to wholesalers who, as a rule, have not as yet 

 sensed the responsibility that rests upon them in respect to improve- 

 ments in this class of marketing. 



Selling fishery products as a side line should not be encouraged ; and 

 until fish is considered a staple article for marketing in grocery stores, 

 it follows that little profit will accrue from their sales in such stores. 

 Wholesalers marketing fish to retailers should inquire as to the 

 manner in which they will be displayed and as to the facilities for 

 holding the surplus supply. In the absence of proper equipment in 

 retail stores for carrying on this trade, wholesalers should offer such 

 aid as will insure the product being handled in the most sanitary 

 and attractive manner. 



ANNUAL PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION 



The metropolitan area of Atlanta has been estimated, by the At- 

 lanta Chamber of Commerce, to have had a population of 325,000 

 as of January 1, 1927. The metropolitan area includes (besides the 

 city of Atlanta) the suburbs of Decatur, East Point, Marietta, Col- 

 lege Park, and Hapeville. Approximately 70 per cent of the popu- 

 lation is white and 30 per cent colored. 



During 1927, 4,683,000 pounds of fresh and frozen fishery products 

 in the round were consumed in the metropolitan area of Atlanta. 

 On the basis of a population of 325,000, the per capita consumption 

 is about 14 pounds annually. Considering only the edible portion 

 (amounting to 3,562,000 pounds), the per capita consumption is 11 

 pounds annually. This compares favorably with that for the entire- 

 United States, which averages about 15 pounds annually for all 

 forms of fresh, frozen, cured, or canned fishery products. 



