REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 29 
other interests are well pleased with the advantages accruing from 
the development of an additional outlet. The trade is energetically 
building up markets to care for the increased production. The 
Bureau of Animal Industry has continued its cooperation in the 
conduct of feeding tests and in educating farmers to the value of 
this commodity and is issuing a publication g giving the results of the 
feeding tests. There are numerous problems that have arisen in 
connection with the utilization of waste fish which should receive 
attention from the Bureau of Fisheries, and it is hoped that means 
for studying these may soon be provided. 
On the basis of reports published by the Bureau of the Census the 
production of fish and marine mammal oils in 1920 amounted ie 
8,803,574 gallons, distributed as follows: Menhaden oil, 3,676,453 
gallons; whale oil, 3,073,574 gallons; sperm oil, 416,737 gallons; 
— oil, 380,379 gallons; cod and cod-liver oil, 196,108 gallons; 
and all other, 1 060, 322 gallons. 
The fishery for sharks is developing satisfactorily despite un- 
settled conditions i in the fishery industry, and the number of persons 
and companies attempting to place the fishery on a permanent basis 
is increasing. Shark hides are being tanned into leathers which are 
excellent for shoes. bags, brief cases, collar boxes, bill folds, and 
similar articles. Wearing tests of shoes with uppers of shark 
leather indicate that such leather is fully comparable to the best 
grades of calfskin, and shark leather has been produced whose ten- 
sile strength exceeded 6,500 pounds per square inch. 
As the Bureau’s small special appropriation for work in this field 
has lapsed, the future aid that can be given this industry will of 
necessity be limited. With the establishment of the facts that high. 
rade leathers can be made from the hides and that the remainder 
of the fish can be converted into marketable commodities, the chief 
purposes of the Bureau’s assistance have been served. There is still 
need for information relative to the possible extent of the fisheries 
and areas and seasons of greatest abundance of sharks, but with a 
certainty of markets for ‘the products it is believed that private 
enterprise will be able to cope with the situation. 
Tt is worthy of report that a number of American manufacturers 
are now engaged in the manufacture of “pearl essence” or “fish- 
scale essence” from the scales of native fishes, such as the river 
herring. sea herring, and shad, and that considerable quantities of 
the scales are now being utilized for the purpose. In 1919, 5.2 tons 
of alewife or river herring scales, valued at $5,200, or 50 cents per 
pound, were so used in Massachusetts. and at present silvery scales 
are being saved by the Eapernen of Maine, Massachusetts, and Vir- 
ginia. 
FISHERY CONFERENCES. 
The Secretary of Commerce has adopted the practice of calling 
from time to time conferences of men interested in the upbuilding 
of the fishing industry. These conferences have been well attended 
and promise to mark an epoch in the history of the industry by es- 
tablishing closer relations between the industry and the Federal 
agencies ‘concerned and by affording a better understanding of the 
problems which the industry is attempting to meet, of the means 
