FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 19 3 7 447 



the figures are collected for the calendar year. Where there are varia- 

 tions from this general practice, explanatory notes appear in the tables. 

 Prior to 1930, statistics on the catch of oysters in the Atlantic and Gulf 

 States were collected for the oyster season; that is, from September to 

 April, inclusive. Beginning with 1930 and down to the present, they 

 have been collected on the basis of the calendar year. 



Scope. — The scope of the coastal statistical surveys includes can- 

 vasses of the commercial fisheries of the oceans and bays and of the 

 coastal rivers as far inland as commercial fishing is important. This 

 usually coincides with the range of commercial fishing for anadromous 

 species. Statistics of the fisheries of the IMississippi River cover 

 canvasses of the fisheries of the Mississippi River proper as well as all 

 of its tributaries wherein commercial fishing for either fish, crustaceans, 

 or mollusks is prosecuted. Statistics of the fisheries of the Great 

 Lakes cover canvasses of the fisheries prosecuted in the Lakes proper, 

 adjacent bays, and the international lakes of northern Minnesota, 

 as well as rivers which sustain a commercial fishery having outlets into 

 these waters. Surveys for statistics of the wholesale and manufactur- 

 ing fishery industries cover such plants located in the coastal, river, and 

 lake areas adjacent to the waters mentioned above. 



Meihods of collection. — Several methods for the collection of fishery 

 statistics are employed, each of which has been carefully studied to 

 obtain the best results with the available personnel and funds. In 

 most instances the agents obtain lists of the names of fishing vessels, 

 names or numbers of motorboats, and names of owners of these craft 

 from local customs officinls. Also it often is possible to obtain the 

 names of licensed commercial fishermen and occasionally some statis- 

 tics on the catch from several of the State fishery agencies; from other 

 State, county, or city agencies; or from private organizations. 



With such preliminary records as are available for their guidance the 

 agents then visit each fishing community in their field unless their 

 preliminary records are so complete that personal visits in some areas 

 may be eliminated. Wliile it is impossible for the few agents available 

 for this work to interview each fisherman in a given locality, the more 

 important ones are visited, and a sufficient number of those of lesser 

 importance are interviewed to obtain reliable information on their 

 production. In practice virtually all wholesale firms are visited, as 

 well as captains of fishing vessels (those of 5 net tons or over), and also 

 most of the more important inshore fishermen. 



In the Great Lakes and Pacific Coast States such exceptional coop- 

 eration has been obtained in recent years from the State fishery 

 agencies in the collection of statistics that only fragmentary surveys 

 need be made by the Bureau's agents to obtain the necessary data. 

 Also the State fishery agencies in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia 

 recently have developed very complete statistical systems w^hich 

 greatly facilitate the Bureau's canvasses in these States. 



As regards the fisheries of the Great Lakes and international 

 lakes of northern Minnesota the Bureau obtains most of the catch 

 statistics and usually the value of the catch direct from the records 

 of the State fishery agency. To obtain data on the number of fisher- 

 men, boats, vessels, and gear the Bureau conducts such personal 

 surveys among the fishermen as may be necessary to supplement 

 the State records. 



