24 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



immediate curtailment in production became necessary before the 

 pro<;ram of expansion had been completed and while the costs of 

 labor and materials were still advancinfr. Prices of fishery products 

 for domestic use and for ex])ort fell and operations in many fields 

 became unprofitable. Thus the fishin<r industry was one of tlie first 

 to feel the necessity for postwar readjustments and to respond to 

 that necessity. 



As instances of rectent marked chanjres in the fishery industries 

 it may be noted that the decreased production of the New England 

 vessel fisheries between 191S and 1920 exceeded 25.000,000 pounds, the 

 pack of sardines in Maine and California fell off 800,000 cases, and 

 the output of canned salmon dropped 3,000,000 cases. The curtail- 

 ment of operations in 1921 promises to l)e even greater in certain 

 branches, as the trawler fleet of New England has been idle much of 

 the time and a reduction of 50 per cent in the numl)er of operating 

 canneries is re])orted, and because of unsettled conditions in the oil 

 and fertilizer trades a numl)er of whaling and menhaden plants have 

 been idle. As indicative of the trend of the great foodfish fisheries 

 out of New England ports the landings during the first six months 

 of 1921 compared with the same period of 1920 showed a decline of 

 nearly 15 per cent in quantity and over 31 per cent in value, and 

 the average price of all fish dropped from 4.(5 cents to 8.68 cents 

 per pound. The unfavorable situation has been further compli- 

 cated by high transportation rates on fresh fish, which have dis- 

 couraged shipments and shortened tlie distances over wliicli it is 

 practicable to send many of the low-priced fishes. It is to be said to 

 tlie credit of the industry that it is striving wholeheartedly to meet 

 the untoward conditions, to make sacrifices, and to practice such 

 economies and to adopt such new policies as may be necessary to cope 

 with the situation. 



Under these circumstances it is not surprising that there should 

 have been a widespread public appeal to the Bureau for some kind of 

 assistance. Without enlarged provision of authority and funds for 

 work in this field the FMireau's ability to serve the industry has of 

 necessity l^een limited. Nevertheless, it has been able to render prac- 

 tical aid in numberless cases by suggesting ways and means for effect- 

 ing improvements or economies in the methods of handling, manu- 

 facturing, and merchandizing Avater products and by widely dis- 

 seminating timely statistical and other information for the use of 

 fishermen, dealers, manufacturers, and consumers. 



'^'he folloAviiig may be mentioned among tlie activities during the 

 past yeai- : The initiation of a fishery intelligence service on the north- 

 east coast for supplying information relative to the presence of 

 schoolin<r fish; the etFecting of aiTangements for an extended trial of 

 seaplanes as an adjunct of the fisheries: the collection of information 

 rcLMrdiuir the construction ami oi)eration of little-known types of 

 fishing gear that are adapted for more general use in our fisheries; 

 recommendations for improvements in the methods of handling and 

 ship))ino fish, as an aid to increased consiimi)tion and l)etter prices; 

 assistance' to j)rodii(ers in securing and transporting materials, such 

 as salt and l)ari'els, required for immediate use at a time when fish 

 were available; the practical application of methods developed in 

 fish-salting investigations; the dissemination of information on the 

 preservation of fi.sh nets; the stimulation of the saving and use of 



