FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1936 9 
RETAIL SALE OF FISHERY PRODUCTS 
A study was made during the year by Fred F. Johnson, Assistant 
Chief of the Division, to determine the order of importance of the six 
species of fish or shellfish leading in the retail sales of about 60 cities 
of this country. The study was based on replies to questionnaires 
which were forwarded to retail and wholesale dealers in fishery prod- 
ucts, fishery associations, State fishery agencies, Chambers of Com- 
merce, and field representatives of the Bureau of Foreign and Domes- 
tic Commerce, and the Bureau of Fisheries. The survey was designed 
primarily to develop basic information on the varieties of fish and 
shellfish predominating in retail sales in important centers of popula- 
tion throughout the country, in order that the feasibility of inaugu- 
rating a service for the current collection of retail prices of these 
commodities might be investigated. This study is now under way. 
Apart from its value in connection with the development of a sys- 
tem for the collection of retail prices, the study was most interesting 
in showing the geographical variation in preferences for the several 
species. In general it was brought out that the most important of 
the six species predominating in the retail sales of cities close to im- 
portant producing waters, are usually the species taken in abundance 
in these waters; but in cities located farther inland the number of 
sources increases. However, such species as haddock, halibut, salmon, 
shrimp, and oysters appeared among the six species leading in retail 
sales in many inland cities as well as in those close to their natural 
habitats. 
NORTH PACIFIC HALIBUT FISHERY 
With an alarming decline in the productivity of the North Pacific 
halibut grounds, fished in common by vessels of Canada and the 
United States, steps were taken by treaty between the two Govern- 
ments to conserve and sustain this valuable fishery resource. Under 
the terms of the treaty the International Fisheries Commission (Hali- 
but Commission) of the United States and Canada was formed, with 
authority, among other things, to regulate the amount of halibut that 
can be taken from any fishing grounds or banks in convention waters 
of the North Pacific which extend westerly from the United States 
and Canada. This measure was adopted to allow natural spawning 
and reproduction of the halibut to replete the fishery. 
During the past few years the Commission has set the limit on the 
take by fishermen of both countries at around 46,000,000 pounds, and 
the landings have about equaled this figure each year. Even though 
this is somewhat less than the annual landings in many of the years 
during the heyday of the fishery (around 65,000,000 pounds were taken 
from area 2 alone in 1 year), the industry has had some difficulty in 
marketing at a profit the fish landed. In fact disputes between the 
fishermen and buyers, from time to time, over price ex-vessel has 
resulted in curtailing fishing operations with consequent lowering of 
incomes to the fishermen who depend upon this fishery for a livelihood. 
It is anticipated that as the reserve brood stock of halibut is restored 
on the banks, the Commission may set a higher limit on the annual 
take. If this is done new marketing problems may be faced by the 
industry. 
In order to aid the industry at this time in disposing of the present 
catch of halibut and to assemble data which may be useful to the 
industry in expanding the markets for halibut, should a higher limit 
