ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF THE WORLD'S FISHERIES 231 



Table 57. Estimate of Capital Investment in Commercial Fisheries of the 



United States and Alaska. 



Item 1948 Replacement Value 



Producers : 



Vessels and boats $358,500,000 



Nets and other gear 59,900,000 



Freezing and processing plants 231,100,000 



Wholesale fish houses " 207,300,000 



Retail fish dealers, chain stores, etc.** 94,200,000 



Total $951,000,000 



* Capital investment devoted to fish trade. 

 Source: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 



that annually producers turn over their capital investments devoted to fishery in- 

 terests once, wholesalers and processors about 4.4 times and retailers about 15 

 times. 



Profits in the fishing industry are subject to many variations. A study for the 

 year, completed in 1945, indicated there was an average profit of 9 per cent 

 of sales to the vessel owner, 5 per cent to the wholesaler, and 3 per cent to the 

 retailer (Walford, 1945) (Table 58). In 1948 changed conditions indicated that 

 because of higher prices and a higher sales volume the percentages of profit re- 

 lated to sales may have been reduced slightly. 



In 1940 the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service calculated that the average fisher- 

 man produced 47,000 pounds of food as compared to 34,500 pounds produced by 



Table 58. Disposition of Average Dollar Received by Vessel Owner, 

 Wholesaler and Retailer, 1945. 



Item Vessel Owner Wholesaler Retailer 



Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent 



Total 100 100 100 



Source: Walford, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Ser^'ice (1945). 



