124 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



FISH-FARMING INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES 



Continuing the work started in 1928 in a survey of the goldfish 

 industry, the fish-farming industry was further studied during 1930 

 when a market survey was made of the trout and pond-fish industries. 

 The fish farmed in the trout industry are brook trout, brown trout, 

 rainbow trout, cut-throat trout, lake trout, and landlocked salmon. 

 In the pond-fish industry, largemouth and smallmouth black bass, 

 crappie, blue-gill sunfish, and catfish are farmed. 



As a result of the survey it was found that the commercial raising 

 of trout extends throughout the United States, although it is chiefly 

 centered in the northern regions and those of high altitude, with the 

 most important centers of the industry being located in Colorado, 

 and in the North Atlantic States. The pond-fish industry, with 

 but few exceptions, is confined to the more southern parts of the 

 United States, where warmer waters, which are necessary for the 

 growth of pond-fish are found. 



In 1929 there were 133 trout and 11 pond-fish establishments 

 raising fish commercially in the United States. These employed 262 

 persons, who were paid $277,538 in salaries and wages. Those raising 

 trout used 5,969 acres of water, and those raising pond fishes used 638 

 acres. The products marketed in the trout industry were valued at 

 $1,072,700, and consisted of eggs, fry, fingerlings, yearlings, and 

 adults. The products of the pond-fish industry were valued at 

 $21,444, and consisted of fingerlings, yearlings, and adults. The 

 value of these products combined with $942,000, the value of the 

 products marketed annually by the goldfish industry, makes the 

 annual production of all fish-farming industries in the United States 

 worth $2,036,144. 



Trout and pond-fish products are distributed mainly during the 

 summer months, and almost wholly by the individual producers. 

 The greater proportion of the production is sold directly to consumers 

 at the hatchery, or shipped to them on orders received at the hatchery. 

 Eggs, fry, and fingerlings are purchased for stocking mainly by sports- 

 men's organizations, and State and Federal Governments, although 

 some are purchased by individuals for stocking private streams or 

 lakes. YearHngs and adults are also bought by the above types of 

 purchasers for stocking purposes, although the greater proportion is 

 purchased by hotels, restaurants, dining cars, other commercial eating 

 houses, and individuals for eating purposes. 



The full report on this survey is contained in Fishery Circular 

 No. 2 entitled, "Fish-Farming Industries of the United States." 

 This may be purchased for 5^ from the Superintendent of Docu- 

 ments, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C 



FISH OILS 



During the year 1930 the price of all fats and oils decreased mark- 

 edly — marine-animal oils being affected more adversely than any 

 others. In addition to the drop in price the demand for domestic 

 oils of marine origin decreased to the point where very little oil 

 could be sold at even the extremely low prices which prevailed. In 

 order to determine the reason for these conditions the bureau con- 

 ducted a study of the markets for marine-animal oils in the United 

 States. In making the study, the bureau's representative (1) inter- 



