BUREAU OF FISHERIES 81 



pounds, valued at $23,076,000, a decrease of 11 percent in quantity 

 and 20 percent in value as compared with 1930. Important items 

 in this group were fresh-shucked oysters, amountin<^ to 5,438,000 

 gallons, valued at $8,372,000, and fresh and frozen haddock fillets, 

 42,014,000 pounds, valued at $6,109,000. 



Frozen products. — The pack of frozen fishery products in 1931 

 amounted to 112,257,000 pounds which had an estimated value of 

 $11,000,000. The volume of the pack was 19 percent less than in 

 1930. The more important products with respect to volume were 

 halibut, salmon, haddock fillets, mackerel, and whiting. 



Cured products. — During 1931 the output of cured fishery prod- 

 ucts (salted, spiced, smoked, and dried) amounted to 98,969,000 

 pounds, valued at $12,364,000 — a decrease of 21 percent in quantity 

 and 27 percent in value as compared with 1930. Important prod- 

 ucts were mild-cured salmon, 10,160,000 pounds, valued at $1,550,000; 

 smoked salmon (produced from mild-cured salmon), 7,788,000 

 pounds, valued at $2,270,000; and boneless cod, 12.205,000 pounds, 

 valued at $1,047,000. 



Canned products. — Canned fishery products produced in 1931 

 amounted to 506,702,000 pounds, valued at $62,940,000— a decrease of 

 12 percent in quantity and 24 percent in value as compared with 

 1930. Canned salmon, amounting to 6,740,000 standard cases (323,- 

 622,000 pounds), valued at $38,083,000, was most important. Other 

 important products were sardines, tuna and tunal'ike fishes, shrimp, 

 clam products, and oysters. 



Bypi'oducts. — During 1931 the production of fishery byproducts 

 amounted to $18,538,000, which was a considerable decrease from 

 1930. Important products in this group were marine-animal meals 

 and scrap, aquatic shell products, and marine-animal oils. 



MARKET INVESTIGATIONS 



Aquatic shell products. — A survey of the oyster, marine clam, 

 fresh-water mussel, and marine pearl shell industries, which in 1932 

 produced products valued at nearly $8,000,000, revealed the sources 

 of raw material and methods for its production and manufacture 

 into useful commodities, as well as practices folloAved in distributing 

 the finished product. 



F?s/ie/y hyjyroducfs industHes of Maine. — A technical survey of the 

 manufacture and marketing of fishery byproducts in Maine showed 

 that present factories have ample facilities for the greater utilization 

 of existing waste ; that fish meals produced in Maine are not rea' hing 

 markets that their good quality justifies; and that methods for pro- 

 ducing fish oils could be improved. 



Establishing marketing grades for fish. — Considerable confusion 

 and disorder exist in the marketing of some fish because of the lack 

 of uniform grades. Believing that this could be overcome in Vir- 

 ginia, authorities of this State requested the Bureau's assistance in 

 establishing marketing grades for fish in their State. This invitation 

 was accepted and after conferences by representatives of the Bureau 

 and the Division of Markets of the Virginia State Department of 

 Agriculture M'ith fishermen, wholesalers, retailers, and others, a sys- 

 tem was developed and established for grading various fish and fishery 



