STATISTICAL SURVEY PROCEDURE 



and catch statistics were collected, but that no information was obtained on employment in whole- 

 sale and manufacturing establishments and that only partial data were obtained on the production 

 of manufactured fishery products. In some instances the designation "partial survey" is used for 

 regions in which only catch statistics were collected. The legend "no survey" indicates that a 

 general canvass was not conducted to obtain operating unit, catch, employment in wholesale and 

 manufacturing plants, and complete manufactured products data. Although the chart indicates that 

 in certain regions no surveys were conducted, some information may be available on the landings 

 at certain Important ports. Likewise, information on the catch of certain species, such as men- 

 haden, may be available as a result of data collected in connection with the annual canned fish 

 and byproducts survey. Data on the annual production of canned fishery products and byproducts 

 have been collected for all regions since 1921, while information has been obtained on the pro- 

 duction of packaged fish for 1926 and annually since 1928. 



A bibliography listing the various surveys made since 1880 and the publications in which the 

 results were published appeared in Statistical Digest No. 43. "Fishery Statistics of the United 

 States, 1956." Figures for recent years are available from NMFS in bulletin form, but data for the 

 earlier years are available only in the Fish Commission and Bureau of Fisheries printed reports. 

 These reports are on file in the Department of Commerce library and in many public libraries. 



Field Personnel — The statistics contained in this volume have been collected by trained 

 fishery reporting specialists of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and, in some cases, 

 by personnel of State fishery agencies. The fishery reporting specialists are assigned to field 

 stations, generally in the principal port within their areas, and travel from that station to conduct 

 their various surveys. 



Period Covered — Most of the reporting agents collect statistics on landings for the cur- 

 rent year and assemble final operating unit, catch, and processed products data for the previous 

 year. It is usually 3 to 10 months after the end of the calendar year for which they are collect- 

 ing data before the final figures for the Digest are available. The data are tabulated and prepared 

 for publication as soon as possible after the end of the year. The figures are collected and pub- 

 lished on a calendar year basis. Prior to 1930, statistics on the catch of oysters in the Atlantic 

 and Gulf States were collected for the oyster season; this is, from September to April, inclusive. 

 Since 1930, they have been collected on a calendar year basis. 



Scope — The coastal statistical surveys include canvasses of the commercial fisheries of 

 the oceans, bays, and coastal rivers as far inland as commercial fishing is Important. This usu- 

 ally coincides with the range of commercial fishing for anadromous species. Statistics on the 

 fisheries of the Mississippi River include those of the Mississippi River proper as well as all of 

 its tributaries wherein commercial fishing for either fish, crustaceans, or moUusks is carried on. 

 Statistics on the fisheries of the Great Lakes cover canvasses of the fisheries of the lakes proper, 

 adjacent bays, the International Lakes of northern Minnesota, and rivers which sustain a com- 

 mercial fishery having outlets into these waters. Statistics on the fisheries of Florida include 

 the commercial fisheries in Lake Okeechobee and other inland lakes. Surveys for statistics of 

 the wholesale and processing fishing industries cover plants located in the coastal, river, and 

 lake areas adjacent to the waters mentioned above . 



Methods of Collection — There are several methods used to collect fishery statistics, 

 each of which has been carefully studied to obtain the best results with available personnel and 

 funds. In the preparation of operating units data, field personnel are supplied with a deck of 

 prepunched vessel cards obtained from the Bureau of Customs. These cards indicate the name, 

 official number, rig code, gross tonnage, length, and year built. Field personnel enter the num- 

 ber of crewmen, and number and type of gear used by the vessel. These data are obtained by 

 interview. Data on the craft of less than 5 net tons are obtained from State conservation agen- 

 cies and by contact with firms purchasing fish or shellfish from fishermen. The data thus ob- 

 tained are machine processed to ensure accuracy. 



