162 U. S. BUEEAU OF FISHERIES 



Republics, England (including Scotland, Northern Ireland and 

 Wales), China, Norway, Canada and Germany. The world's annual 

 commercial catch of fishery commodities is about 30,000,000,000 

 pounds, valued at $730,000,000. 



DOMESTIC MARKETS FOR LOBSTERS AND SPINY LOBSTERS 



In view of the interest manifested in connection with the increasing 

 imports of lobsters and spiny lobsters from foreign countries, the 

 Division conducted a study of the trend in this trade. 



Preliminary data, compiled by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic 

 Commerce, show that the imports of fresh and frozen products of 

 both of these crustaceans during 1937 amounted to 14,700,000 

 pounds, and canned products 800,000 pounds, or a total of 15,500,000 

 pounds, exceeding the total imports in 1936 by 29 percent, and the 

 average of the 10 years ending in 1936 by 43 percent. This increase 

 is reflected entirely in the fresh and frozen products, there having 

 been a downward trend in recent years in the imports of the canned 

 commodity. 



Large increases were recorded for imports of fresh and frozen lob- 

 sters and spiny lobsters during 1937. Specifically, the imports of 

 fresh and frozen lobsters, which come almost entirelv from Canada, 

 increased from 8,800,000 pounds in 1936 to 10,700,000 pounds, or 21 

 percent, in 1937. This increase was most interesting in view of the 

 fact that for several years prior to 1937 the total imports of this 

 commodity had not reached 9,000,000 pounds. The imports of fresh 

 and frozen spiny lobsters increased from 2,300,000 pounds in 1936 

 to 4,000,000 pounds in 1937, or 74 percent. Probably even of more 

 interest in connection with the imports of fresh and frozen spiny 

 lobsters is the fact that as late as 1932 imports amounted to only 

 763,000 pounds and during the decade prior to 1934 receipts from 

 foreign countries had never exceeded 1,200,000 pounds. 



The principal sources of our imports of spiny lobsters, in order of 

 their importance, are Union of South Africa, British West Indies, 

 Mexico and Cuba. Small quantities come from other tropical and 

 subtropical countries. 



Among the important countries which supply us with fresh and 

 frozen spiny lobsters, the Union of South Africa has made most rapid 

 strides in marketing her product in this country. Imports from 

 that country increased from 1,020 pounds in 1934 to 130,000 pounds 

 in 1935, 570,000 pounds in 1936, and 1,700,000 pounds in 1937. Our 

 imports from the British West Indies have grown nearly as rapidly, 

 increasing from 290,000 pounds in 1934 to 1,100,000 pounds in 1937. 

 Cuba's shipments to this country increased from 38,000 pounds in 

 1934 to 207,000 pounds in 1937. Imports from Mexico have varied 

 between 840,000 pounds and 940,000 pounds during the past 4 years. 



The domestic catch of lobsters in recent years has varied from about 

 10,000,000 pounds to 14,000,000 pounds and that of spinv lobsters 

 from 1,500,000 pounds to 1,900,000 pounds. 



IMPORTATION OF COTTON FISH NETTING 



The imports of cotton fish netting from foreign countries has been 

 consistently increasing during the past 4 years, according to foreign 

 trade statistics compiled by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic 



