FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF STATISTICS AND METHODS OF 

 THE FISHERIES FOR 1919. 



By Lewis Radclipfe, Assistant in Charge. 



INTRODUCTION. 



On the basis of canvasses of the fisheries made in the last decade, 

 the present annual production of fishery products in the United States, 

 including Alaska, is estimated to be about two and one-half billion 

 pounds, valued at approximately 80 million dollars to the fishermen,* 

 an industry employing more than 200,000 persons. For the fiscal 

 year ended June 30, 1918, the value of the imports of fishery products 

 was $26,268,014 and of exports, S57,017,427. 



Among the important functions of the Division of Statistics and 

 Methods of the Fisheries of the Bureau of Fisheries in its relations 

 with the commercial fisheries are the following: (1) Studies of the 

 methods of conducting fishing operations for the purpose of effecting 

 improvements and revealing the use of unnecessarily destiTictive or 

 unprofitable methods; (2) the development of improvements in the 

 methods of handlmg, distribution, and marketing of fishery pi*oducts; 

 (3) technological mvestigations of the underlying scientific principles 

 governing the preservation of fishery products in order to standardize 

 methods and effect improvements and economy of operation, to 

 determine feasibility of preserving fishery products by untried 

 methods, and to discourage the use of unsatisfactory, wasteful, or 

 uneconomical practices; (4) to introduce useful foreign methods or 

 processes of capture, preservation, and utilization of fishery products; 



(5) to develop the use of the by-products of the fisheries and the 

 unutilized products of the sea to the greatest economic advantage; 



(6) to increase the demand for the little used or neglected fishes and 

 fishery products for food ; (7) to collect the statistics of the fisheries 

 and fishery industries; (8) to study the vessels and boats employed, 

 for the purpose of effecting improvements; (9) to study and develop 

 fishing grounds and fisheries for hitherto unutilized fishes; and (10) 

 to disseminate information bearing on the commercial fisheries. For 

 the conduct of its work in these fields during the fiscal year begmning 

 July 1, 1919, Congress appropriated $15,000, 



SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS. 



During the year the Bureau has aided in the development of 

 fisheries for black drum, sharks, and porpoises and in increasing the 



1 The value of Alaska's fishery products in 1918 as prepared for market was $59,154,8.59, but the estimated 

 value of the fish to the fishermen was only about $11,000,000, which is the amount included in the 

 estimate given above. 



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