264 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Prior to 1930, statistics on the catch of oysters in the Atlantic and Gulf 
States were collected for the oyster season; that is, from September to 
April, inclusive. Beginning with 1930 and down to the present, they 
have been collected on the basis of the calendar year. 
Scope.—The scope of the coastal statistical surveys includes can- 
vasses of the commercial fisheries of the oceans and bays and of the 
coastal rivers as far inland as commercial fishing is important. This 
usually coincides with the range of commercial fishing for anadromous 
species. Statistics of the fisheries of the Mississippi River cover 
canvasses of the fisheries of the Mississippi River proper as well as all 
of its tributaries wherein commercial fishing for either fish, crustaceans, 
or mollusks is prosecuted. Statistics of the fisheries of the Great 
Lakes cover canvasses of the fisheries prosecuted in the Lakes proper, 
adjacent bays, and the international lakes of northern Minnesota, 
as well as rivers which sustain a commercial fishery having outlets into 
these waters. Surveys for statistics of the wholesale and manufactur- 
ing fishery industries cover such plants located in the coastal, river, and 
lake areas adjacent to the waters mentioned above. 
Methods of collection.—Several methods for the collection of fishery 
statistics are employed, each of which has been carefully studied to 
obtain the best results with the available personnel and funds. In 
most instances the agents obtain lists of the names of fishing vessels, 
names or numbers of motor boats, and names of owners of these craft 
from local customs officials. Also it often is possible to obtain the 
names of licensed commercial fishermen and occasionally some statis- 
tics on the catch from several of the State fishery agencies; from other 
State, county, or city agencies; or from private organizations. 
With such preliminary records as are available for their guidance the 
agents then visit each fishing community in their field unless their 
preliminary records are so complete that personal visits in some areas 
may be eliminated. While it is impossible for the few agents available 
for this work to interview each fisherman in a given locality, the more 
important ones are visited, and a sufficient number of those of lesser 
importance are interviewed to obtain reliable information on their 
production. In practice virtually all wholesale firms are visited, as 
well as captains of fishing vessels (those of 5 net tons or over), and also 
most of the more important inshore fishermen. 
In the Great Lakes and Pacific Coast States such exceptional coop- 
eration has been obtained in recent years from the State fishery 
agencies in the collection of statistics that only fragmentary surveys 
need be made by the Bureau’s agents to obtain the necessary data. 
Also the State fishery agencies in Maryland and Virginia recently 
have developed very complete statistical systems which greatly 
facilitate the Bureau’s canvasses in these States. 
As regards the fisheries of the Great Lakes and international 
lakes of northern Minnesota the Bureau obtains most of the catch 
statistics and usually the value of the catch direct from the records 
of the State fishery agency. To obtain data on the number of fisher- 
men, boats, vessels, and gear the Bureau conducts such personal 
surveys among the fishermen as may be necessary to supplement 
the State records. 
Bureau agents are stationed at Seattle, Wash., and Terminal Island, 
Calif., who survey the fisheries of the Pacific Coast States. As a 
rule they obtain figures on the volume of the catch from the ae 
