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management measures that rarely consider the price effects which may be 

 induced. This is a qualitative dimension which has rarely been considered 

 in demand analysis but which could be quite readily by an integrated analysis 

 of biological and economic data. 



Major determinants of domestic fish prices are the magnitudes and 

 composition of fish imports. In the last two decades U.S. imports of fish 

 have increased very rapidly. Approximately two-thirds of edible fish con- 

 sumption in the U.S. is currently supplied by imports. The corresponding 

 proportion in 1950 was only one-quarter. It would be naive to ignore the 

 implications of jurisdictional extensions elsewhere and their potential im- 

 pacts on U.S. markets. Demand analyses should therefore treat imports as 

 endogenous and include an investigation of probable supply shifts in major 

 fish exporting nations. 



Another area of demand analysis in which the data base is quite poor 

 is that of cross-sectional data on consumption patterns of households both 

 at home and in restaurants. The existing time series data base is best 

 suited to estimating short run demand relationships. It is not suitable for 

 estimation and projection of long run demand relationships for reasons which 

 are somewhat technical. For long run relationships, cross-section data are 

 more suitable. Long run demand relationships are particularly critical in 

 connection with product development, market expansion and changes in pro- 

 duct form. It is probable that any substantial increases in supplies of 

 fishery products would necessitate frozen product forms and development of 

 new markets. The only comprehensive (national) survey data which could be 

 used in this area was conducted by NMFS several years ago and was restricted 

 to consumption patterns at home. A similar survey but more comprehensive 

 should be conducted at five-year intervals as is done by the USDA for 

 agricultural products. 



