8 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
probably no more loss of flesh than is left by the average person con- 
suming unboned shad; (8) the whole roe shad generally is too large 
for economical use by small families of two and three persons; and 
(9) families of two and three persons comprise nearly half of the 
families of this country. 
FROZEN-FISH SITUATION 
It is customary for the amount of frozen fish held in cold storage 
to reach a minimum around April of each year. Thereafter the 
prosecution of our commercial fisheries becomes more intensive, 
and much of the surplus of the species of fish which are customarily 
marketed fresh is frozen and stored for later consumption. From 
April until November quantities of fish frozen usually exceed with- 
drawals. In November, fishing operations usually decrease, and the 
margin of withdrawals over quantities frozen again results in minimum 
holdings by April. 
During 1936 this customary trend was apparent insofar as April 
being the month of minimum holdings was concerned; also surpluses 
from fishing operations represented by quantities frozen exceeded 
withdrawals following April. However, the margins of quantities 
frozen over withdrawals were much larger than in preceding years, 
and where holdings normally begin to decrease in December, an 
increase was shown during this month in 1936. 
By February 15, 1937, the total holdings of frozen fish reached 
about 70 million pounds as compared with 45 million pounds on the 
same date in the previous year. According to the trade this situation 
developed because of the mild open winter of 1936-37. This allowed 
almost continuous fishing operations and also resulted in a slackening 
of demand for frozen fish. The flood conditions in the Middle West. 
during the winter also had an effect in retarding consumption in an 
area which normally consumes large quantities of frozen fish at this 
season of the year. 
Realizing that these huge stocks of surplus frozen fish were hindering 
the normal conduct of the trade, appropriate legislation was intro- 
duced at the first session of the Federal Congress, and enacted into 
law to authorize the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation to 
purchase up to 1 million dollars worth of surplus fish over a period of 
90 days from the approval of the act, the fish purchased to be dis- 
tributed to relief clients. 
Statistics collected and/or published. by the Bureau and statistical 
analyses prepared by members of the Division on the frozen-fish 
trade were most valuable to members of the trade and to Congress in 
showing the condition and trend of the frozen-fish industry. The 
demand on the Bureau for certain statistical bulletins exhausted the 
regular supply on hand, and reprints had to be made. This is addi- 
tional concrete evidence that statistics showing conditions and trends 
are useful to the fishery industry. 
The buying program instituted by the Federal Surplus Com- 
modities Corporation under the terms of the legislation, has resulted 
in great good to the industry in general. Fishing operations were 
resumed on a more normal basis and a greater demand has been 
created for fish in some areas that normally were not large users of 
this food product. 
