KEPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES, 29 



other interests are well pleased with the advantages accruinji" from 

 the development of an additional outlet. The trade is energetically 

 buildino; up markets to care for the increased production. The 

 Bureau of Animal Industry has continued its cooperation in the 

 conduct of feedinof tests and in educatino; farmers to the value of 

 this commodit}' and is issuinir a publication giving the results of the 

 feeding tests. There are numerous problems that have arisen in 

 connection with the utilization of waste fish which should receive 

 attention from tlie Bureau of Fisheries, and it is hoped that means 

 for studying these may soon be provided. 



On the basis of reports publislicd by the Bureau of the Census the 

 production of fish and marine mammal oils in 1020 amounted to 

 8,803.574 gallons, distributed as follows: Menhaden oil, 3.076,453 

 gallons; whale oil, 3,073.574 gallons; sperm oil. 41G,737 gallons; 

 herring oil. 380.370 gallons: < od and cod-liver oil, 100,108 gallons; 

 and all other, 1.0C,().322 gallons. 



The fishery for shaiks is developing satisfactorily despite un- 

 settled conditions in the fishery industry, and the numljer of persons 

 and companies attem])ting to place the fishery on a permanent basis 

 is increasing. Shark hides are being tanned into leathers which are 

 excellent for shoes, bags, brief cases, collar boxes, bill folds, and 

 similar articles. Wearing tests of shoes with uppers of shark 

 leather indicate that such leather is fully comparable to the best 

 grades of calfskin, and sharlc leather has been ])ro(luccd whose ten- 

 sile strengtli exceeded 0.500 pounds per square in 'h. 



As the Bureau's small s)iecial apj^ropriation for work in this field 

 has lapsed, the future aid that can be given this industry will of 

 necessity be limited. With the establishment of the facts that high- 

 grade leathers can be made, from the hides and that the remainder 

 of the fish can be converted into marketable commodities, the chief 

 purposes of the Bureau's assistance have been served. There is still 

 need for information relative to tlie possible extent of the fisheries 

 and areas and seasons of greatest abundance of sharks, but with a 

 certainty of markets for the products it is believed that private 

 enterprise will 1)0 able to cope with tlie situation. 



It is worthy of rejiort tluit a number of American mamifacturers 

 ai-e now engaged in the manufacture of "pearl essence"' or "fish- 

 s-ale e.ssence " from tho scales of native fishes, such as the river 

 herring, sea herring, and shad, and that considerable quantities of 

 the scales are now being utilized for the purpose. In 1010, 5.2 tons 

 of alewife <^)r river herrinir scales, valued at $5,200, or 50 cents per 

 |5ound, were so used in Massachusetts, and at present silvery scales 

 are being saved by the fishermen of Maine, Mas.sachusetts, and Vir- 

 ginia. 



rTSHP:i{Y COXFKRENX'ES, 



The Secretary of Commerce has adopted the practice of calling 

 from time to time cf)nferenc('s of men interested in the u])building 

 of the fishing industry. Hiese conferences have been well attended 

 and |)rorMise to mark an e|K)ch in the history of the industry by es- 

 tablishing closer relations hetween the industry and the Federal 

 agencies concerned and by affording a better understan<]ing of the 

 problems which the industry is attempting to meet, of the means 



