FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1934 79 



Relief Administration, in extending credit to the industry throiif;:h tlie 

 Keconstruction Finance Corporation, in the develoi)nient of coo])era- 

 tive associations under tlie act approved by the President on June 

 25, 1934, and in other ways. 



During past years the Bureau conducted some studies on the mar- 

 keting and distribution of fishery products. However, ])ecause of 

 Umited funds, tliese were of somewhat local nature and did not cover 

 the situation in as detailed a manner as present necessity dictates. 

 In view of this, and because fishery economic studies are needed, the 

 writer has encouraged the various States to undertake marketing 

 studies designed to aid the fishery industry within their States. This 

 was urged upon the National Planning Council of Fish and Game 

 Commissioners at the organization meeting of the council in St. Louis, 

 Mo., in April 1934. At this time it was explained that fishermen are 

 in dire need of assistance to market their catch profitably and it was 

 suggested that the State fishery agencies might take a leading part 

 in studying the marketing of fishery products. Some State fishery 

 agencies have taken steps to conduct such studies, and in addition 

 considerable fishery marketing work is being done by several State 

 marketing departments. For instance, the Massachusetts Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture has recently conducted schools in various cities of 

 the State to instruct retail fish dealers in the proper care and handling 

 of fresh fish and shellfish. 



MARKET SURVEY IN SOUTHEASTERN STATES 



With the limited funds at the disposal of the division for fishery 

 marketing work, a study was made during the past year, by W. T. 

 Conn and Herbert E. Munger, on the marketing of fish and shellfish 

 in certain inland cities in the States of Maryland, Virginia, North 

 Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, 

 Kentucky, West Virginia, Oliio, and Indiana. In all, 39 of the larger 

 cities in these States were visited by these men, who interviewed mem- 

 bers of the wholesale and retail fish trade, restaurant owners, health 

 officers, and others. 



As a result of this study it was found that per capita consumption of 

 aquatic foods west of the Appalachian Mountains in the area visited 

 is about half of that east of the mountains. Great variations in trade 

 practices and domestic demands were found in the several cities, 

 almost every locality having special characteristics. In general, it 

 was revealed that the usual domestic method for cooking fish is by 

 frying, and that housekeepers and domestic help do not want to clean 

 fish. There apparently are two distinct classes of domestic consumers 

 in tins area, one demanding (|uantity and the other demanding quality. 

 A considerable proportion of fish is sold by retailers who have no inter- 

 est in promoting tlie industry and who have taken business formerly 

 handled through retail fish markets. Further, it was found that sea- 

 food can be retailed at a profit by ])rogressive merchants; motor-truck 

 peddlers have altered former trade practices in many localities; 

 Negroes in the area apparently have double the per capita consump- 

 tion of whites; there is a general lack of information regarding seafood 

 and its domestic cookery; consumption through public eating places, 

 especially cafeterias, is growing steadily; and that there is need of 

 research to produce improved commercial handling of stocks. 



