FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1936 965. 
of the several State fishery agencies. In most cases the value of the 
catch is derived from dealers’ records and sometimes from estimates 
of prices. In Washington and Oregon the offshore fisheries are 
surveyed separately by the Bureau’s agent to obtain the number 
of operating units, catch, and value of the catch. Statistics of the 
wholesale fishery industry for this section are obtained largely by 
personal interviews of the agents. 
In the administration of the Alaska fisheries the Bureau obtains. 
sworn statements concerning their activities from those prosecuting 
the fisheries in this area. These statements are compiled by the 
Alaska Division of this Bureau. 
Statistics of the volume of the catch of fish of the Pacific Coast 
and Great Lakes States are usually shown in weights as landed, which 
may be in the round or dressed condition. Statistics on the volume 
of the catch of fish taken in the remainder of the United States are 
shown in round weight. 
The figures in the tables for shellfish represent the weight of the 
meats in the case of univalve and bivalve mollusks and gastropods, 
and the round weight of crustaceans and such mollusks as squid and 
octopus. 
Shore and vessel fisheries.—In general, statistics of the shore fisheries 
as collected by the agents include data on the number of casual and 
regular fishermen; number and tonnage of motor and other fishing 
boats and accessory boats; kind and quantity of gear used, and the 
volume, value, and method of capture of each species caught by 
boats (for our purpose craft of less than 5 net tons’ capacity are called 
‘hoats’”’) for each locality or group of localities. This method is 
not followed in some sections where the availability of data collected 
by the State fishery agencies obviates the necessity of detailed locality 
surveys. 
Statistics of the vessel fisheries include data on the number of the 
crew, rig of vessel, net tonnage, kind and quantity of gear used, 
accessory boats carried, and volume, value, and method of capture 
of each species caught by each vessel (for our purpose craft of 5 net. 
tons’ capacity or more are called ‘“‘vessels’’). As in the shore fisheries, 
the availability of figures collected by State fishery agencies may 
eliminate the necessity of our agents collecting these data for each 
vessel. 
All persons engaged in commercial fishing operations are included 
as fishermen. For our purpose these have been divided into “regu- 
lar’? and ‘‘casual’’ fishermen. Regular fishermen are those who 
receive more than one-half of their annual income from fishing; and 
casual fishermen are those whose principal business is something 
other than fishing, and who receive less than one-half of their annual 
compensation from fishing. 
The catch of fish is credited to the principal port of arrival and 
departure of the craft rather than its point of ownership, registration, 
documentation, or its port of landing. This accounts for catches 
of fish being shown in areas where they are not common since fishing 
vessels frequently fish in areas far from their principal fishing port. 
Wholesale and manufacturing trade.—All persons or firms engaged in 
the wholesale buying and selling of fishery products or who produce 
manufactured fishery products are surveyed under this title. Where 
the business of fishing and wholesaling or manufacturing is combined, 
