Radcliffe. — Division of Fishery Industries 107 



of these too little known forms. In the light of the predatory 

 character of sharks capable of consuming upwards of 50 

 pounds of fish at a single meal and the fact that they have pre- 

 viously been neglected by the fishermen seeking marketable 

 species, the value of the establishment of such fisheries is seen. 

 Another fishery receiving attention is that for black drum, a 

 little used fish of large size of the south Atlantic and Gulf 

 section, for which specific information as to seasons and lo- 

 calities of abundance has been lacking. 



IMPROVEMENTS IN FISHING OPERATIONS 



In the spring of 1919 the Bureau suggested to menhaden 

 companies the desirability of giving seaplanes a trial for spot- 

 ting the schools of fish to increase production and eliminate 

 unnecessary trips on the part of the fleet of vessels in seeking 

 the fish. Later the Bureau was instrumental in having naval 

 seaplanes detailed for the work to determine the commercial 

 possibilities of their use in this fishery. One menhaden com- 

 pany has installed radio equipment on two of its vessels 

 and at its station ; vessels and planes are using charts in which 

 the fishing areas are blocked off in lettered squares which are 

 subdivided into numbered squares, and when a school is sighted 

 its location is sent by wireless to the fishing boats. The work 

 thus far has proved very successful and it is believed that the 

 use of seaplanes may become a regular adjunct to the fishery. 



The Bureau is also making preparations for the establish- 

 ment in a limited way of a Fishery Intelligence Service, suit- 

 ably located lightships and lighthouses along the New England 

 coast sending daily reports of the presence of schooling fish 

 to the Bureau's local agents at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., 

 and Portland Me., for the benefit of local fishermen. 



HANDLING, DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING OF FISHERY 

 PRODUCTS 



For years the Bureau has been advocating the necessity of 

 making certain improvements in the handling of fish from the 



