338 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Canned fishery 'products and byproducts. — Beginning in 1921, the 

 Bureau has made annual surveys for statistics of the canned fishery 

 products and byproducts industries of every section. These are 

 begun the first week in January of each year for statistics of the pro- 

 duction in the preceding year. The surveys usually occupy 6 to 9 

 weeks' time. During this period the Bureau obtains by mail, so far 

 as possible, the production of canned fishery products or byproducts 

 from each plant in the United States engaged in this business. Where 

 it is impossible to obtain reports by mail the report is obtained by 

 personal visit by the Bureau's agents. They obtain statistics of the 

 production and value of the production for each commodity. Statis- 

 tics of the canned fishery products and byproducts produced in Alaska 

 are received on the same statements obtained by the Bureau that in- 

 clude statistics of their general fishery operations. 



An annual statistical bulletin is issued on this trade, and detailed 

 statistics of the output are published in the annual reports of the 

 Division. In addition to the data obtained on the output of these 

 products annually since 1921, data also usually were obtained prior 

 to 1921 for the years the various sections were surveyed. 



The value shown for canned products constitutes the gross amount 

 received by the packer at the production point, no deductions being 

 made for commission or expenses. 



Packaged-fish trade. — Complete statistics of the annual production 

 and value of fish packaged in the United States are obtained as a part 

 of the survey for the statistics of the canned fishery products and by- 

 products industries. These statistics are released in bulletin form 

 annually and detailed statistics are published in the annual reports 

 of the Division. Statistics of the production of packaged fish are 

 available for 1926 and the years from 1928 to 1934, inclusive. 



Cold-storage holdings of fish. — An arrangement has been made with 

 the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, Department of Agriculture, 

 whereby statistics of the cold-storage holdings of the various species 

 of fish, by sections of the United States, are furnished to this Bureau 

 monthly. Included with statistics of the holdings are statements of 

 the quantity of the various species of fish frozen and also the holdings 

 of certain cured fish. Bulletins showing these statistics are issued 

 monthly as well as annually, and detailed statistics are published in 

 the annual reports of this Division. Statistics of cold-storage holdings 

 of fishery products have been published since 1917 and data on quan- 

 tities of fish frozen, for the years from 1920 to 1925, inclusive, and 

 from 1928 to 1934, inclusive. 



Sponge market, Tarpon Springs. — A large proportion of the total 

 output of sponges in Florida is handled through the sponge exchange 

 at Tarpon Springs. In view of this, the Bureau has obtained from a 

 representative of the exchange annual statistics of the quantity and 

 value of the sponges, by variety classification, handled through it 

 annually. Statistics of the quantity of sponges handled through the 

 exchange are not published in bulletin form, but a summary of the 

 year's activities is published in the annual reports of tliis Division. 

 Statistics of the transactions on the sponge exchange are available for 

 1913, 1914, and for the years from 1917 to 19o4, inclusive. 



Foreign fishery trade. — Statistics of the foreign fishery trade are 

 obtained from compilations made by the Bureau of Foreign and 

 Domestic Commerce, Department of Commerce. Statistics of all 



