FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1930 125 



viewed members of the more important consuming industries (man- 

 ufacturers of soap, paint, linoleum, oil cloth, and feed), in order to 

 determine the attitude of the trade toward the oils, (2) interviewed 

 concerns interested in the sale and distribution of T-he oils, and (3) re- 

 view^ed all available statistics concerning the production, importa- 

 tion, and consumption of the oils during the past decade. 



The results of the survey show^ that both the consuming public 

 and the consuming industries hold a general apathy toward the use 

 of marine-animal oils, especially the fish oils. The consumption of 

 these oils is based upon their serving as cheap substitutes for other 

 fats and oil. This condition has resulted from the manufacture of 

 inferior products in the past, lack of uniformity in the qualit}^ of the 

 present domestic product, and improper marketing methods. In 

 addition, the competition received from foreign marine-animal oils 

 and the apparent preference of the consumer for some of these in^ 

 place of domestic oils has tended to decrease the utility of the domestic 

 oils by the development of a most unhealthy condition in the domestic; 

 supply. 



The study indicates that if the domestic marine-animal oil industry 

 is to prosper in the future it must break down the apathy towardi 

 the use of these oils, and increase their usefulness to the consumer' 

 by improving their quality, by finding new outlets, and by reducing 

 the present effect of competitive products. 



VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES 



After the President's return to Washington from his visit to the 

 Virgin Islands of the United States, the economic plight of these 

 islands was brought forcibly to the attention of the various govern- 

 mental departments and establishments, and, wherever possible, each 

 was requested to give consideration to methods for alleviating this 

 condition. 



As no recent data were available in its field, the Bureau of Fisheries 

 made arrangements for a brief economic survey of the fisheries with 

 the intention of securing detailed data on the methods and practices 

 followed, and to suggest possible changes for their improvement. 



On May 2, 1931, the writer and one of the division's technologists 

 were detailed to conduct this survey and on May 15, 1931, began 

 work in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. In the course of the work, 

 about 85 per cent of the fishermen were interviewed in all the prin- 

 cipal fishing localities as well as many people interested in the fisheries. 

 The preliminary survey was completed on May 30, 1931. 



As a result of the survey it was found that the industry in the 

 islands is faced with the problem of marketing the catch now obtained 

 rather than that of securing a sufficient supply, for there is reason to 

 believe that there are many times throughout the year when the local 

 markets are glutted with fish, making it impossible to dispose of the 

 catch. Two plans appeared feasible for expanding the market. These 

 are: (1) Expanding the market for fresh fish; (2) Establishment of 

 a local fish-curing industry to replace imported cured fish. In order 

 to further these plans, the division's technologist remained to conduct 

 experiments along these fines. If succ^^ssful, the economic welfare 

 of the fisheries of the islands will be matr^rially benefited. 



