XVI REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 



bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas employed 26,643 fishermen, 

 or 7 per cent less than in 1928. The catch amounted to 535,394,859 

 pounds, valued at $14,903,945 — an increase of 18 per cent in the 

 catch and a decrease of 7 per cent in the value as compared with 

 1928. 



In 1930 sponges sold on the exchange at Tarpon Springs, Fla., 

 amounted to 414,082 pounds, valued at $802,938. This is an increase 

 of 9 per cent in quantity and 14 per cent in value over 1929. 



Pacific Coast states. — In the calendar year 1929 the fisheries of 

 Washington, Oregon, and California employed 19,992 fishermen, or 

 1 i^er cent more than in 1928. The catch was the largest and most 

 valuable on record, amounting to 1,034,433,666 pounds, valued at 

 $25,038,414 — an increase of 47 per cent in the catch and 22 per cent 

 in the value over 1928. 



In 1930 the total catch of halibut by United States and Canadian 

 vessels amounted to 49,408,000 pounds, valued at $4,974,000— a de- 

 crease of 11 per cent in quantity and 26 per cent in value as com- 

 pared with 1929. 



Lake States. — In the calendar year 1929 the lake fisheries (Lakes 

 Ontario, Eric, Huron, Michigan, Superior, and Namakaii. Lake of 

 the Woods, and Rainy Lake) of the United States and Canada pro- 

 duced 114,826,907 pounds of fish and shellfish. Of the total, the 

 United States accounted for 85,389,467 pounds, valued at $6,787,750. 

 The total catch showed an increase in 1929 over 1928, due largely, 

 however, to a revised and more complete method of collection used 

 in the lake fisheries in 1929. 



Mississippi River and tributaries. — During the calendar year 1930 

 the catch of fresh-water mussel shells amounted to 59,490,000 pounds, 

 valued at $1,092,156 — an increase of 9 per cent in the quantity and 

 a decrease of 18 per cent in the value as compared with 1929. The 

 pearl-button industr}^, centered in Iowa, manufactured pearl buttons 

 and various novelties from fresh- water mussel shells valued at 

 $5,007,419 in 1930. The fisheries of Lakes Pepin and Keokuk de- 

 creased in 1930 as compared with 1929. 



MANUFACTURED PliODUCTS 



I. Ca/nned products. — During the calendar year 1930, 464 establish- 

 ments canned fishery products in the LTnited States and Alaska 

 amounting to 14,767,186 standard cases (576,685,454 pounds), valued 

 at $82,858,261. This is a decrease of 18 per cent in the value as 

 compared with 1929. Salmon canned on the Pacific coast accounted 

 for 6,086,479 standard cases (292,150,992 pounds), valued at $42,- 

 835,953. This is 52 per cent of the total value. Sardines canned 

 in California and Maine and tuna and tunalike fishes canned in 

 California each accounted for 16 per cent of the total value. The 

 remainder of the production consisted principally of shrimp, clam 

 products, and oysters. 



By-prod'iDcts. — During the calendar year 1930 by-products worth 

 $23,720,778 were manufactured. Excluding marine-pearl shell prod- 

 ucts, statistics for which were not included in 1929, there was a 

 decrease of 19 per cent in the value of the production. The most 

 important by-products were marine-animal meals and scrap, fresh- 



