30 REPORT OF THE C0:MMISST0XER OF FISHERIES. 



whereby Federal agencies can cooperate, and of tlie limitations be- 

 yond which these agencies can not go. 



The fii'st of these conferences, attended by about 30 men promi- 

 nently identified Avith the industry from the Atlantic and Gulf 

 coasts, the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi Valley, representing 

 the fresh, frozen, salt, and canned fish trades, and the oyster, crab, 

 shrimp, and menhaden industries, was heUl at the Department of 

 Commerce on May 9 and 10, 1921. The conference in a formal 

 expression of views emphasized the seriousness of polhited coastal 

 waters as affecting the fisheries and the need for remedial legisla- 

 tion; the effects of high transportation rates on the marketing of 

 fish, especially of the lower-priced grades ; the desirability of educa- 

 tional work among all classes to improve the quality of fisli marketed 

 and increase the consumption of fish; and the need of closer coopera- 

 tion for the protection of important migratory fish. 



The second conference, held on June 16, 1921, was called to con- 

 sider measures for the prevention and control of water pollution 

 and the protection of anadromous and shore fishes and other aquatic 

 forms. It Avas attended by about TO conferees, State fish commis- 

 sioners, fish producers, and anglers from the Atlantic and Gulf 

 coasts, as well as by Members of Congress and interested Federal 

 departmental officials. The conference revealed a very great in- 

 crease in the quantity of undesirable material dumped into our 

 coastal waters in recent years, with impairment of their use for 

 bathing and other recreation purposes and resultant damage to 

 aquatic life, to which may be added the menace to our cities from 

 fire due to oil on the water. There was indicated a general failure 

 or inability of the States to cope Avith the many important and com- 

 plex j)roblems involved, and the demand for assistance from the 

 Federal Government was practically unanimous. 



On the question of the control of migratory fishes there was a 

 greater diversity of opinion, but it Avas the sentiment of the meeting 

 that our anadromous fishes and certain shore forms require greater 

 protection that may be attained through uniform State acticm, the 

 Department of Commerce to use its best offices to the accomplish- 

 ment of this end in an advisory capacity. 



^'EAV EN(iLAXn VESSEL FISHERIES. 



The Bureau, through its local agents, has collected detailed sta- 

 tistics of the extensive vessel fisheries centx^.ring at Boston, Glou- 

 cester, and Portland, which have been published in monthly and an- 

 nual bulletins. Two annual bulletins haA^e been issued, one showing 

 the catch by months, the other by fishing grounds. The number of 

 trips and the catch at these ports Avere not so large as in the previous 

 year, but there was a considerable increase in the total value of the 

 products. There was a large increase in the fishei'v ])roducts landed 

 at Boston during the year, but a decrease in the receipts at Gloucester 

 and Portland. 



The fishing fleet at these ports during the calendar year 1920 num- 

 bered 471 sail, steam, and gasoline-scrcAv A'essels, including 41 Ameri- 

 can and 3 Canadian steam trawlers. These vessels landed at Boston 

 8.342 tri])s, aggregating 118,558.902 pounds of fish, valued at $6,130,- 

 569; at Gloucester 2,381 trips, aggregating 46,740,296 pounds, valued 



