228 



MARINE PRODUCTS OF COMMERCE 



In post war years fresh and frozen products have accounted for about 57 per 

 cent of the average consumption of 11,1 pounds, canned products about 35 per 

 cent, and cured products about 8 per cent as compared with 1935-1939 averages 

 of 48 per cent, 43 per cent, and 9 per cent, respectively ( Sherr, Power, and Kahn, 

 1948 and 1949). 



In 1939 the Bureau of Labor Statistics index number for the average monthly 

 retail price for fresh and frozen fish was 99.8 as compared with a 1935—1939 

 average of 100 (Table 53). In 1948 the index number was 264.9. The average 

 price of red salmon rose from 23.6 cents per 1-pound can in 1939 to an estimated 

 69 cents in 1948 and pink salmon from 13.1 cents to 54.9 cents. 



Table 53. Index Numbers of Average Monthly Retail Prices of Specified Foods 



IN Leading Cities and Average Monthly Retail Price for Canned Salmon in 



the United States, 1939-1948. 



(1935-1939 average = 100) 



■"^11 month average price. 



^ Average for first 6 montlis. 



3 Estimated by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 



Note: 51 cities covered prior to February 1943, 56 cities thereafter. 



Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 



U. S. Foreign Trade in Fish and Fishery Products 



During the pre-war period, 1935-1939, the foreign trade in fish and fishery 

 products of the United States averaged 57 million dollars annually (Table 54). 

 Imports accounted for 75 per cent and exports for the remaining 25 per cent. 

 By 1948 imports and exports had increased in value to a total of $210,127,484, 

 the percentage relationships remaining practically unaltered (Lund, 1946; Sallee 

 and Wallar, 1949), However, within the export category there was a striking 

 rise in the value of inedible products, the result of increased trade in fish and 

 marine animal oils, mostly vitamin-bearing. The major edible fishery products 

 imported in 1948 were: ground fish fillets, 53,963,546 pounds, valued at $10,751,- 

 838; canned sardines, 31,155,954 pounds, valued at $10,737,400; and pickled or 

 salted ground fish, 54,887,465 pounds, valued at $8,643,343. 



The more important inedible products included: fish and marine animal oils, 

 10,808,856 gallons, valued at $23,118,305; fish scrap and meal, 41,124 tons. 



