XXII REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 



PACKAGED FRESH, FROZEN, AND SMOKED FISH 



Packaged fresh, frozen, and smoked fish were produced in 112 

 plants (27 more than in 1928) operated in 12 States. The output 

 amounted to 84,396,505 pounds, vahied at $14,812,987, which repre- 

 sents an increase of 29 per cent in amount and 51 per cent in vahie 

 when compared with the trade in 1928. It is estimated that 212,000,- 

 000 pounds of whole round fish were utilized. 



FOREIGN FISHERY TRADE 



The Yalue of the United States foreign trade in fishery products 

 during 1929 amounted to $90,395,769, of which $66,565,599 represents 

 the value of imports for consumption and $23,830,170 the value of 

 exports. Compared with the previous year, this is an increase of 13 

 per cent in total trade, in the value of the imports, and in the value of 

 the exports, respectively. 



NEW ENGLAND STATES 



In 1929 the fisheries of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, 

 Connecticut, and Rhode Island employed 16,659 fishermen, or 11 per 

 cent more than in 1924. The catch amounted to 603,598,050 pounds, 

 valued at $25,619,904. This is an increase of 48 per cent in the catch 

 and 36 per cent in value of the catch as compared with the quantity 

 and its value in 1924. 



Vessel fisheries. — In 1929 landings of fish by American vessels at 

 Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Me., amounted to 

 327,096,327 pounds as landed, valued at $13,051,704, and were larger 

 than the amount and value of the landings for any one year for which 

 there are records. Of this amount, 187,203,733 pounds w^ere haddock. 



Mackerel fishery . — The mackerel fishery showed a sharp recovery 

 from the decline in 1926 to 1928. The total catch amounted to over 

 46,000,000 i^ounds and was 49 per cent greater than the previous year. 

 Th(^ gain was clue to the appearance of a new year class, which fur- 

 nished nearly 21,000,000 pounds of small mackerel. 



Packaged-fish trade. — Packaged-fish trade in New England, cen- 

 tering at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Groton, Conn., expanded 

 during 1929, and the increased production over 1928 was about 50 

 per cent. 



Canned sardines. — The sardine canners in Maine and Massachu- 

 setts packed 2,025,801 standard cases, valued at $6,897,946 during 

 1929. Production was about the same as in 1928, but the value was 

 considerably less. 



MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES 



According to the latest general canvass of the fisheries of these 

 States (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware) made 

 for 1926, the situation can not be considered as giving reasons for 

 optimism as the production of many of the staple fish showed heavy 

 declines as compared with 1921. Landings of fish at New York 

 City and (iroton. Conn., amounted to 75,325,000 pounds in 1929. 

 This is somewhat more than in 1928. The production of menhaden 

 in 1929 was somewhat under that for 1928. 



