406 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



White meal produced by the vacuum process from haddock and cod 

 waste is a most excellent stock feed and is valued highly. This meal 

 is greatly appreciated abroad (especially m Germany, where it is 

 used for feeding hogs) as a protein supplement for cereals. It pro- 

 duces a sturdy frame in animals and prevents deficiency diseases 

 because it brings with it from, the sea elements necessary to normal 

 life. In the usual feed for farm animals, many elements are not 

 found in the proper proportions; iodine, for instance, may be absent 

 and goiter result, or calcium be deficient and bone formation (and 

 general health) faulty as a consequence. It is recognized that all 

 animals require 30 elements for normal life processes. Many occur 

 in very small quantities, but all are essential. Minerals obtained 

 from organic sources are assimilated best. In some cases the soil 

 has been depleted, so that land food may be deficient; but since the 

 sea has not been depleted of its minerals, sea food is "balanced" and, 

 when used by humans or lower animals, supplements deficient land 

 food. For these reasons the production of fish meal for feeding 

 purposes s.hould be increased, and its more extensive use in this 

 country will bring profit to the fish by-products industries and farmers 

 alike. 



Improved handling of fresh Jish. — Progress has been made in market- 

 ing fresh fish, notably in the development of the filleted and packaged 

 product. However, there are many phases of handling that are in 

 serious need of improvement. The highly perishable nature of this 

 commodity requu-es the most careful handling on shipboard, in the 

 wholesale houses, and in transit overland. This problem is being 

 surveyed in all .its aspects. Particular attention is being given the 

 New England vessel fisheries. To this end an office has been estab- 

 hshed on the Boston Fish Pier, where a technologist and an assistant 

 &re studying local conditions on shipboard and ashore. It is expected 

 that this undertaking will make possible the application of scientific 

 principles to the handling of sea foods in such a way as to insure their 

 delivery to inland consumers in the best condition. The immediate 

 adoption of improved methods of caring for fresh fish is highly im- 

 portant, but the trend of development in the fisheries indicates that 

 the future need will be still greater as it becomes necessary to fish on 

 more distant grounds. In six years the packaged-fish trade has 

 grown to be an industry that utilizes more than 50,000,000 pounds 

 of fish annually. While no one can estimate the limits of produc- 

 tivity of the fishing grounds, there is little doubt but that the exploi- 

 tation of more distant waters will follow the expansion in fish con- 

 sumption; and with the extension of the fishery will come the neces- 

 sity for refrigeration and insulation on shipboard. . In view of this, 

 there can be little doubt concerning the urgent need for technological 

 research in this field. 



Nutritive value of fish. — The nutritive value of sea' food for human 

 consumption is a matter of national importance. Fish and meats 

 are the principal sources of protein, and, in addition to its protein 

 value, fish contains minerals and vitamins to an unusual degree. 

 Nutrition experts appreciate the difference in various proteins and 

 the importance of minerals and vitamins m the diet. The exact 

 status of fish food m supplying such elements is not known, and to 

 secure this information the bureau has been conducting research on 

 the subject. During the past year it was determined that the pro- 



