XXVI REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES 



tlie salt-fish trade, sardine and salmon canners, and producers of 

 fisheries by-products. That this information is of value to the in- 

 dustry is evinced by the many expressions of appreciation that have 

 been received since its inception. 



SALT-FISH TRADE 



An important fisheries conference held in XeAV York on October 

 2, 1923, marked the beginning of intensive efforts to properly diag- 

 nose the problems of the salt-fish trade. It was successful in bring- 

 ing about a clearer understanding of the difficulties to which the 

 salt-fish trade is subjected, and a means by which these difficulties 

 might be obviated. Since then the bureau has materially aided the 

 salt-fish trade by the dissemination of foreign-trade information, 

 as mentioned previously. It also directed attention to the study 

 of the utilization of salt fish through its ex])ert in fish cookery. 

 Experiments were conducted and recipes for the attractive prepa- 

 ration of salt fish were evolved. A demonstration in the produc- 

 tion of a better grade of salt fish by the bureau's methods clearly 

 pointed the way for the production of salt fish which more nearly 

 retained the desirable qualities of fresh fish, principally in the pre- 

 vention of toughness without impairing the keeping qualities. 



CANNED FISHEKY PRODUCTS AND BY-PRODUCTS 



The annual canvass of fishery products and by-products of the 

 United States and Alaska was made for 1923 as in previous years. 

 The total value of canned products amounted to $72,445,205, as com- 

 pared with $60,464,947 in 1922, and the by-products, such as fish oil, 

 fertilizer, fish meal, liquid glue, poultry grit and lime from shell, 

 were valued at $12,702,861, as compare"d Avith $11,390,693 in 1922' 

 The results of the canvass were published and distributed to the 

 trade as Statistical Bulletin No. 608. 



The salmon pack in Alaska amounted to 5,035,697 cases, v^^lued at 

 $32,873,007, and in the Pacific Coast States the pack amounted to 

 1,367,263 cases, valued at $12,660,566. This is a substantial increase 

 over 1922. The prices, however, were somewhat lower. 



The pack of sardines in Maine, including one plant in INIassachu- 

 setts, amounted to 1,219,675 cases, valued at $5,288,865 in 1923. This 

 is less than the pack of the previous year, due to a scarcity of fish, 

 and is well below the prewar level. The California sardine pack of 

 1,115,422 cases, valued at $4,607,931 in 1923, marks an increase in 

 amount which has been continuous since 1921. The prices com- 

 manded by this product have suffered a decline during the past 

 three years and have reached a seriously low level. 



The tuna pack in California has continued to increase, the pack 

 of all tunas in 1923 amounting to 788,611 cases, valued at $6,914,760. 

 Of this, only 295,546 cases, valued at $3,106,329, were albacore, the 

 highly prized white-meated tuna. The pack of this fish has de- 

 clined considerably in recent years, its place being taken by related 

 species, a large portion of Avhich have been caught inlNIexican waters. 

 A development worthy of note is the '' tonno " pack. This is made 

 from several of the tunas, but principally the striped tuna or skip- 

 jack, and consists of a highly seasoned pack in oil prepared after the 



