20 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



TRADE IN WESTERN HALII3UT AND SALMON. 



The extent of Boston's trade in western halibut and salmon is 

 shown in the appended table of carload arrivals of these fishes during 

 the year ending September 30, 1922. During this period Boston 

 received 169 cars of halibut and salmon, of which 78 were of halibut, 

 65^ of salmon, and 24 of mixed halibut and salmon. In addition to 

 rail arrivals, there were 2,990 boxes of salmon and 852 boxes of 

 halibut received from the Pacific coast on March 8 by steamer. 



Carload arrivals of halibut and salmon at Boston during year ended September 30, 1922. 



Month. 



1921. 



October 



November 



December 



1922. 



January 



February 



March 



Carloads. 



18J 



21 



20 



13 



8* 

 1 8 



Month. 



Carloads. 



1922— Continued. 



AprU I 7 



May 11 



June la 



July llj 



August 15 



September ' 201 



Total : 169 



1 Does not include 2,990 boxes frozen salmon, .542 boxes frozen halibut, and 310 boxes salmon received from 

 Pacific coast by vessel on March 8. 



wholesalers' suggestions on market expansion. 



Emphasis has previously been laid upon the fact that Boston's 

 catch can quickly be increased 100 per cent, provided the product 

 can be sold. Therefore, the enlargement of the present marketing 

 area, together with increasing consumption in districts already 

 buying, is the issue wherein lies the future of Boston's development 

 as a fishing port. For this reason a personal canvass was made of 

 all wholesale fish dealers, and their opinions were solicited as how 

 best to increase the sale of their product in markets outside of Boston. 

 The principal recommendations were as follows: (1) Reduction of 

 express rates and improvement of service; (2) granting of special 

 commodity rates on fish in car lots; (3) organized advertising; and 

 (4) better handling methods and Federal inspection. 



Agreement is prevalent that express rates are unreasonably exces- 

 sive, while unreliable service rendered is the cause of universal com- 

 plaint. Dealers are also emphatic in their denunciation of the present 

 lack of definite delivery schedules, which they declare must be 

 established and adhered to by transportation agencies. They assert, 

 in addition, that special commodity rates are needed on car lots, such 

 shipments to be labeled "Fish," and rushed as a perishable food. 

 As a means of procuring cheaper express rates and commodit}^ tariffs 

 the wholesalers suggest united action by all local fish dealers in con- 

 junction with trade and Federal organizations, that these issues may 

 be forced to the attention of the Interstate Commerce Commission 

 and remedied. Members of the trade express hope that by concerted 

 action at points of destination consignees may be able to compel some 

 concessions in the matter of definite delivery schedules. 



A majority opinion exists that the thorough prosecution of a well- 

 devised advertising campaign would prove very profitable. The war- 

 time propaganda distributed by the United States Bureau of Fish- 

 eries is considered by many as having brought satisfactory results 



