26 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



trawl, except that two vessels are required. The nets vary in length 

 from 25 to 35 fathoms, and the catch of food fish consists principally 

 of flounders. The lampara net, used chiefly in the capture of sardines, 

 anchovies, and other small surface fish, was introduced from the 

 Mediterranean about 1900. It is fished at or near the surface, usually 

 on dark ni^jhts, as these fish can more easily see the net in daylight or 

 moonlight and avoid it, and may be operated by one or two boats, the 

 net being laid around the school of fish after the manner of the 

 purse seine. Studies of the methods of conducting the fisheries and 

 of the effects of various methods of fishing on the supply are in 

 progress. 



IMPROVEMENT IN HANDLING FRESH FISH. 



Fresh fish being a highly perishable commodity, whose delicate 

 flavor and attractive qualities may be quicldy impaired by improper 

 handling, the first requisite to an increased appreciation of the value 

 of such fish for food and to increased consumption is to improve the 

 quality of the product offered to the consumer by the adoption of 

 improvements in handling and distribution. The more important 

 of these recommended by the Bureau are : The elimination of the pew 

 or fork, and where its use is unavoidable or can not be immediately 

 suppressed the employment of only a one-tined fork to be inserted 

 into the head or tail but not in the body of the fish ; the avoidance of 

 needless bruising and rough handling; the prompt removal of the 

 body heat by precooling, either on the vessel or at the landing wharf; 

 the use of shallow boxes rather than barrels for shipping purposes, as 

 fish in such receptacles keep longer and have better appearance ; the 

 use of an abundance of crushed ice to properly preserve the fish with- 

 out unnecessary bruising; the observance of every precaution which 

 will tend to retard deterioration ; and to offer for sale only sound fish 

 displayed in an attractive manner amid sanitary surroundings. The 

 fish trade should exercise as much care in handling fresh fish as is 

 now used in the handling of choice fruits. 



FISH-MARKETING SURVEY. 



Appreciating the lack of detailed information on marketing condi- 

 tions existing in the larger inland distributing and consuming cen- 

 ters, and believing that a survey of certain of these markets may 

 yield information of intrinsic value to the fresh and frozen fish trade 

 and aid in increasing the consumption of fish, the Bureau initiated 

 such a survey in June, 1921, beginning with Louisville. Ky., a city of 

 nearl}'^ 235,000 inhabitants. 



Among the items concerning which it is planned to secure informa- 

 tion are the following : Lists of wholesale and retail dealers, indicat- 

 ing the kinds of fish each handles; geographical sources of supply; 

 available transportation facilities and rates; character of containers 

 in which fish are received and reshipped ; population and preference 

 by nationalities for particular classes of fish; months of abundance 

 of the leading species; opinions of the trade regarding trade pros- 

 pects, etc. 



In the Louisville market less than 40 species of fresh and frozen 

 fish and other aquatic forms are marketed. There are but 2 whole- 



