APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
of processed convenience items at supermarkets and away 
from unprocessed items at smaller independent markets, 
a trend which hinders moving unprocessed fresh and frozen 
seafood items. Since mullet are sold primarily in the round, 
the consumer is not attracted. 
Another factor hindering the development of mullet 
products is the technological problem of rancidity. This 
problem has limited the use of mullet as a processed item 
and has therefore kept the mullet industry from adjusting 
to changing-consumption trends and consumer-buying patterns. 
Efforts to resolve this problem have been sporatic, of low 
priority, and not very successful. Work in this area is 
continuing under a Federal grant. Resolving this problem 
will permit the development of new products and markets 
which should result in increased demand and use of mullet. 
The image problem is considered minor, compared to rancidity. 
A lesser problem inhibiting the development of mullet 
products is the fact that mullet have a low dress-out fact- 
or--about 30 percent for boneless fillets and about 60 per- 
cent headed and gutted. This low yield results in a higher 
cost product. Mullet also develop off-flavors and odors 
resulting from feeding habits or from pollution in some 
localities. 
Market development 
Outside the coastal areas in which black mullet are 
caught and mostly consumed, an image problem exists. This 
problem is most prevalent in large metropolitan areas 
among consumers who think of mullet as a cheap food for low- 
income people. Also, because mullet are often sold in the 
round and needs cleaning many consumers hesitate to buy them. 
Canned mullet and fresh and frozen headed and gutted 
mullet have been marketed on a test basis several times, 
but the results were not encouraging. However, development 
of a better product could provide a basis for successful 
marketing at a future time. 
EFFECTS OF A 200-MILE LIMIT ON THE FISHERY 
The 200-mile-extended jurisdiction will have little 
impact on the fishery because most mullet harvested by U.S. 
fishing craft are caught within 12 miles off the coast. 
There is no ;foreign activity within 200 miles\ofethe ws: 
COaSi SOs sess rarsiis 
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