158 U.S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



MEASUREMENT OF MESH SIZE OF FISHING NETS 



For many years there has been a controversy over the proper 

 method for determining the mesh size of nets fished in the Great Lakes 

 region. This has led to confusion among fishermen, State authori- 

 ties, and net manufacturers. At the request of law-enforcement 

 authorities in this region the Bureau of Fisheries and the Bureau of 

 Standards cooperated in an extensive laboratory and field investiga- 

 tion of this problem in an effort to correct this condition. As a result 

 of this work a principle for determining legal mesh measurements 

 by a spring steel gage was developed and has been generally accepted 

 by the State authorities. 



RED SNAPPER FISHERY AND INDUSTRY 



During the past year a study was made by Norman D. Jarvis, of the 

 technological staff of the Division, on methods of production used 

 in the red snapper and grouper fishery at Pensacola to determine the 

 possibility of introducing more efficient types of gear for catching 

 these fishes. Experiments were conducted especially to determine 

 the efficiency of small fish traps or pots and trawl lines. In this work 

 it was found that a slightly modified type of the West Indian fish 

 pot could catch red snapper in considerable numbers, the catch for a 

 single pot running from 7 to 93 fish, with an average around 20 fish, 

 in a 2-hour period. However, it was determined that trawl lines 

 could not be fished' successfully on most of the red-snapper fishing 

 grounds even when modified to meet local conditions, but they might 

 be used to advantage in certain areas for catching grouper. 



A series of experimental cures of smoked red snapper were made in 

 an effort to learn whether these fish would be suitable for marketing 

 as a cured fish. As a result it was found that a smoked product of 

 the finnan haddie type could be prepared. This product has an 

 excellent flavor and keeps in good condition over a considerable 

 period of time after preservation. The industry has adopted the 

 method developed and is now marketing smoked red snapper on a 

 small scale. 



Mr. Jarvis also was detailed to aid the State of Florida in conducting 

 experiments in preserving various locally caught fishery products for 

 home use. This work was received with enthusiasm, for it has 

 shown the fishery industry in the State the possibilities for expanding 

 the market for local fish. 



MARKET AND INDUSTRIAL SURVEYS 



Market and industrial surveys are made to supply the trade with 

 useful market information regarding the distribution and consump- 

 tion of fishery products and to supply descriptive and economic data 

 on our fisheries and fishery industries. 



AQUATIC SHELL INDUSTRIES 



During 1932 a survey was made of our oyster, marine-clam, fresh- 

 water mussel and marine-pearl shell industries by F. F. Johnson. The 

 value of the products of these industries in 1932 was valued at nearly 

 $8,000,000. 



