48 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



of stations, and average number of herring per station, for the period 

 1910-1922, is given below. 



Note.— Taken from Fish and Fur Supplies of the Far East, by Dalrybokhota, 1923, p. 15. Vladivostok. 



These figures are very much lower than the actual catch. Adding 

 the catch of the local population, which is from one-half to three- 

 fifths of that caught by the commercial fisheries, the average annual 

 catch of herring in that region is estimated at 60,000,000 to 65,000,000 

 fish. Owing to the loss of internal markets, the bulk of herring, fresh 

 and salted, is exported to Korea, Japan, and China. Thus in 1919 

 Korea and Japan took 53 per cent of the catch; in 1920, 63 per cent; 

 in 1921, 75 percent. 



Fishing is carried on near the shore and during the period of spawn- 

 ing, when the quality of fish is poor. Therefore, this product does 

 not enjoy a high reputation, being fit only for unexacting markets, 

 or being used for production of fertilizer or fish oil. Fish fertilizer 

 is exported entirely, while fishery products, as well as poultry grit 

 and other by-products used as feed stuffs, might find a market in 

 Siberia. 



Recently crab canning was begun there on a small scale. Small 

 canneries were built in Valentin Bay, Nakhodka Bay, at Povorotnyi 

 Cape near America Bay > at Bassargin Cape, on Popov Island near 

 Troitza Bay, and in other places. The production of other plants 

 was small. During 1923 one of the plants packed 820 cases, another 

 1,200 cases, and still another 2,000 cases. 



Fishing for tuna and related species (Thunnus aldlunga, Th. 

 thynnus, Seriola aureovitta) is practically nonexistent there, although 

 these species are common along the entire coast from the Korean 

 boundary in the south up to Vanin Bay in Tartar Straits. This may 

 be explained in part by the fact that this industry is unknown, and 

 therefore is exposed to more risk because the fish run beyond the 

 3-mile limit and fishing for them requires vessels elaborately equipped. 

 In 1913, however, a local firm started preliminary work for fishing 

 for these species. 



The production of sea kelp, mussels, and trepang has not been 

 developed commercially. Some of these products are consumed 

 locally, while others are exported to Korea and China. Edible 

 mussels are abundant all along the main shore. In 1920 a trial pack 

 was made at the canning plant at Povorotnyi Cape, the product 

 being of quite satisfactory quality. 



