142 U. S. BUEEATJ OP FISHERIES 



INTRODUCTION 



In 1923 the fishery industries to a marked degree recovered from 

 the severe depression that existed in 1920 and 1921. This was 

 evidenced by an increased number of landings, a greater amount of 

 fish frozen and canned, and the generally higher prices that pre- 

 vailed during the year. 



The landings oy vessels at the principal New England ports 

 substantially exceeded those of previous years. The average price 

 paid the fishermen for all fresh fish landed at Boston was 4.37 cents 

 in 1923, as compared with 3.78 cents per pound in 1922. Although 

 this was a substantial increase, the prices of fish as compared with 

 those of other commodities are still below the pre-war level, though 

 nearly approaching it. A decreased number of landings at Seattle 

 was offset by their increased value, due to the relatively greater 

 salmon catch in Puget Sound. The landings of fresh fish in California 

 also exceeded those of the previous year. 



The production of canned fishery products and by-products in 

 1923 was greater than in 1922, the total value of the former amounting 

 to $72,445,205 and of the latter to $12,702,861. This registers an 

 increase of 19.8 per cent in the value of canned products and of 11.5 

 per cent in the value of by-products. The Maine sardine and crab 

 packs alone showed a decrease as compared with 1922. The exports 

 of canned fish amounted to 95,365,169 pounds, an increase of 8 per 

 cent over the 88,416,266 pounds exported in 1922. 



SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS 



During the year statistical canvasses were made of the fisheries 

 of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, the Great Lakes, and the 

 Pacific coast for the calendar year 1922; the shad and alewife fisheries 

 of the Potomac River for 1922 and 1923; and of the canned fishery 

 products and by-products of the United States for 1 923 . The landings 

 of the vessel fisheries at the ports of Boston and Gloucester, Mass., 

 Portland, Me., and Seattle, Wash., have been collected as heretofore, 

 and published as monthly and annual bulletins. In addition, there 

 have been published monthly bulletins showing the amount of the 

 various species of fish frozen and held in cold storage in the 

 several sections of the country. The results of the canvasses men- 

 tioned and summary analyses of the freezing and cold-storage data 

 are embodied in the present report, together with the quantity of 

 fish landed in California in 1923 and the fishery products received 

 at the municipal fish wharf and market, Washington, D. C. 



In fisheries technology continued investigation of net preservatives 

 has'shown results in commercial practice, the investigation of canning 

 sardines has yielded notable results, and an investigation of the iodine 

 content of fishes has extended our knowledge of the health properties 

 of sea food. 



PUBLICATIONS OF THE DIVISION 



During the calendar year 1923 the following publications, prepared 

 in this division, were issued. This list does not include the monthly 

 statistical bulletins for Boston and Gloucester, Mass., Portland, Me., 

 and Seattle, Wash., and the monthly publication of the cold-storage 

 holdings of frozen fish. 



