FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1&21. 25 



PISH LEATHER. 



There is continued interest in the use of shark skins for tanning into 

 leather, and fancy leathers of excellent quality and appearance are 

 being tanned. It has also been demonstrated that shoes made of 

 shark leather wear fully as well as high-grade caKskin shoes and retam 

 a better finish without abrasions. The present tendency in finishing 

 these leathers is to retain the special characteristics and finish, which 

 adds much to the attractiveness of such articles. As the unexpended 

 balance of the special appropriation for ''Developing aquatic sources 

 of leather" was not made available for use during the current fiscal 

 year, the bureau is restricted by lack of funds as to the service it might 

 render in developing this industry. Of the $10,000 provided in the act 

 approved by Congress June 12, 1917, there were expended during the 

 five years ended June 30, 1922, $5,759.39. 



FISH-SCALE ESSENCE. 



It is reported that the production of fish-scale essence in the United 

 States is sufficient to satisfy the demand, and inquiries have been 

 received from abroad relative to obtaining supplies in this country. 

 It is estimated that this commodity was produced in 1921 to a value 

 exceeding $15,000. 



AGAR-AGAR. 



Agar-agar, one of the most useful seaweed products, is now being 

 produced in southern California and gives promise of becoming an 

 mdustry of some importance. It is reported that along the coast of 

 southern California there are at least 15 species of algag suitable for 

 the purpose as compared with 7 or 8 in Japan. The red algae, from 

 which agar is chiefly made, grows unusually large on the California 

 coast, reaching a height of 3 or 4 feet. The material is gathered 

 chiefly by Japanese divers and to some extent by wading along the 

 beaches at low tide. It is dried in the sun on the beach and is baled 

 for shipment to the factory. 



The manufacturers are endeavoring to develop gelatinous substances 

 of varymg characters suited to a large number of new uses for such 

 products. The extent of the supply of the seaweeds suitable for the 

 purpose will, it is believed, fix the limitations on the industry. 



NEW ENGLAND VESSEL FISHERIES. 



GENERAL STATISTICS. 



In the vessel fisheries at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Port- 

 land, Me., during the past year there was a decrease in the number of 

 trips and also in the quantity and value of the products as compared 

 with the previous year. At Boston there was a decrease in the products 

 landed of 11.96 percent in quantity and 31.71 per cent in value, and at 

 Gloucester a decrease of 29.36 per cent in the quantity and 36.98 per 

 cent in the value. In the products landed at Portland there was an 

 mcrease of 3.84 per cent in the quantity but a decrease of 2.83 per 

 cent in the value. Statistics of these fisheries have been collected by 

 the local agents and published in monthly bulletins showing by 

 species and fishing grounds the quantities and values of fishery prod- 

 ucts landed by American and Canadian fishing vessels during the year 



