SECTION 1 - GENERAL REVIEW 



The commercial fisheries of the United States yielded a harvest of 4.9 billion pounds worth 

 a record $613.1 million — an Increase of 580.4 million pounds (13 percent) and $86.6 million (16 

 percent) compared with 1969. Landings were the best since 1962, the record year. There were 

 record landings of Gulf menhaden, shrimp, yellowfln tuna. Pacific anchovies, surf clams, Dun- 

 geness and snow crabs, American (northern) and spiny lobsters; and near-record landings of alba- 

 core tuna. Landings of Atlantic menhaden, salmon, spot, and blue crabs also Increased signifi- 

 cantly compared with 1969. Declines occurred, however in landings of alewlves , haddock, sea 

 herring, jack mackerel, mullet, and sea scallops. 



Fishermen took 898 . 3 million pounds of shellfish worth $286 . 1 million , an average of near- 

 ly 32 cents per pound — slightly less than in 1969. Shellfish accounted for 47 percent of the value, 

 but only 18 percent of the volume of U.S. landings. The value of shellfish exceeded the value of 

 finfish in the New England, Middle Atlantic, Chesapeake, South Atlantic, and Gulf States. 



Disposition of landings . In 1970, as in the previous year, landings for human food (2.5 billion 

 pounds) exceeded the quantity taken for industrial products (2.4 billion pounds). NMFS statisti- 

 cians estimate that the 1970 landings were used as follows: 2,537 million pounds (round weight) 

 for human food — of which 1,479 million were used fresh and frozen, 987 million were canned, and 

 71 million were cured; and 2,380 million pounds for industrial purposes — of which 116 million were 

 used fresh or frozen, 163 million were canned, and 2, 101 million were reduced into meal, oil, and 

 solubles. In addition to the latter items, the quantity processed into industrial products includes 

 fish used for bait, fed to fur-bearing animals and pets, and manufactured into such items as shell 

 buttons, and pearl essence and novelties. 



Per capita consumption . The per capita consumption of commercially caught fish and shellfish in 

 the United States was 11.8 pounds (edible weight) — compared with 11.2 in 1969. 



Per capita consumption of commercially caught 

 fish and shellfish, 1961-70 



(Edible weight) 



Year Pounds Year Pounds 



1961 10.7 1966 10.9 



1962 10.6 1967 10.6 



1963 10.7 1968 11.0 



1964 10.5 1969 11.2 



1965 10.9 1970 U.8 



Note:--Data have been revised for 1963, 1966, 1967, and 1969. 



Principal States . Louisiana again led the Nation in volume of landings with 1.1 billion pounds — 

 23 percent of the U.S. landings. California was next with702.7 million pounds, followed by Vir- 

 ginia, 550.6 million; Alaska, 545.3 million; Mississippi, 301.0 million; and Massachusetts, 

 286. 9 million pounds. These six States had 71 percent of the U.S. landings. 



Alaska led all States in exvessel value of landings with $96.1 million--16 percent of the 

 value of the Nation's landings. California was next with $86.4 million, followed by Louisiana, 

 $62.5 million; Texas, $53.6 million; Massachusetts, $47.0 million; and Florida, $43.3 million. 

 These six States accounted for 63 percent of the exvessel value of landings. 



