FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UlSTITED STATES. 7 



Regarding the introduction of fish meal production on the Atlantic 

 seaboard, one writes: 



We estimate that the work done by yoiir force in behalf of fish meal increased the 

 value of last season's fish products at this point considerably above $100,000, and I 

 am frank to say that were it not for this new market I do not tliink it would ])e possible 

 for us to operate our plants this season, o-wiag to the A-ery unsettled conditions in the 

 fertilizer trade. 



Of the Bureau's paper on Preservation of Fish Nets, an authority 

 in the net and twine trade states: 



It was a surprise to find it had been possible to prepare siich an interesting and 

 instructive article, and the author is to be congratulated on his splendid work. 



AID IN IMPROVING FISHING OPERATIONS. 



Activities in this field have been confined mainly to aiding in the 

 determination of the value of aircraft for spottino; fish, to provision 

 for supplying reports from certain lightships and lighthouses regard- 

 ing the presence of schooling fish to the trade, and to studies of con- 

 struction and operation of fishing apparatus, the use of which is 

 limited. 



FISHERY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE. 



The search for fish in the sea is difficult and hazardous. In pro- 

 portion to cash returns, the expenditure of time, labor, and materials 

 IS heavy. Vessels may seek catches of bluefish, mackerel, men- 

 haden, or tuna for weeks without appreciable results. A vessel may 

 discover good fishing but in the absence of means of communication 

 can not advise other relatively near-by vessels operating unsuccess- 

 fully of the location of the scliools. In a calling conducted under 

 such handicaps it is important that use be made of every available 

 aid and of every new development of science which promises to 

 increase efficiency of operation without danger to. the supply of the 

 future. 



As early as 1883 the aid of the United States Life Saving Service 

 was enlisted by the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries 

 in reporting the presence of whales and other cetaceans and rare 

 sharks and supplying information regarding them. At various 

 times the Bureau s vessels have been employed m behalf of the fishing 

 industry in locating schools of fish such as mackerel and tuna. In 

 1917, the Bureau of Fisiierios, with the aid of the Washington-Alaska 

 Military Cable and Telegraph vSystem, operated by the War Depart- 

 ment, inaugurated an intelligence service to communicate by tele- 

 graph to a number of coastal to\\'ns in Alaska the current prices of 

 certain species of fishes ofi'ered at Seattle and Ketchikan. This 

 service furnishes at a very small cost information which could not be 

 gotten by private individuals without considerable effort and cost 

 and is appreciated. Details of this service are to be found in Alaska 

 Fisheries and Fur Industries reports of the Bureau for the years 

 1917 to 1921. 



II.SE OP AIRCKAFT. 



In April, 1919, attended by representatives of the New England 

 fisheries, the Bureau of Fisheries, and the patrol division of Nuval 

 Aviation, a conference was held in Washmgton, D. C, at which 

 tentative arrangements were made for a properly qualified observer 



