Research toward improved harvesting and handling 'techniques is an 

 important ingredient here. An example of this type of aid is the development, 

 during 1971, of an improved chilled sea-water holding system adaptable to 

 certain fisheries (for example, salmon and tuna) . The new system, coopera- 

 tively developed by NOAA and the fishing and metal industries, uses titanium 

 alloy to prevent corrosion and carbon dioxide added directly to the chilled 

 sea water to reduce spoilage of the catch aboard the fishing vessel. Help is 

 also provided industry in the form of technological development data, 

 market news, and economic analyses. 



In 1971, under the Fish and WildHfe Act of 1956, 255 of 443 applica- 

 tions received for the Fisheries Loan Fund were approved for $6.8 million, 

 and 59 of 65 applications received for Fishing Vessel Mortgage Loan Insur- 

 ance were approved for $9.1 million. Federal economic aid also includes 

 providing financial assistance that offsets certain costs resulting from policies 

 of other nations which the U.S. views as inconsistent with international law. 

 An example of this is Federal payment of fines when U.S. flag vessels are 

 seized while fishing on the high seas off" South America. 



Additional public services provided by the Federal Government include 

 extension and technical services aimed at the consumer and homemaker that 

 emphasize fish-purchasing methods, fish cookery, and nutritional education 

 to improve the national diet. 



The Federal Government continues its efTorts toward developing practica- 

 ble and economic methods of producing fish protein concentrates (FPC), 

 a promising, high-protein food additive. During 1971, a pilot plant to make 

 FPC from underutilized fish began operations under contract at Grays 

 Harbor, Wash., to demonstrate process feasibility and to provide cost data 

 and FPC for research. The FPC produced there will be supplied to the 

 Agency for International Development (AID) for protein-supplement stud- 

 ies in developing countries, to American industry for product research and 

 development, and to universities for basic product studies. 



The NOAA and BSFW anadromous fish restoration and enhancement 

 programs, with matching funds from States, contribute significantly to the 

 protection and development of living resources by restoring runs of anadro- 

 mous fish damaged by water development projects on the Columbia River, 

 as provided for by the Mitchell Act. Included in these activities are the 

 construction and maintenance of hatcheries and of fish screens and ladders 

 for migrating salmon and steelhead. 



In 1971, BSFW fish hatcheries produced over 52 million young of several 

 anadromous species to stock the Nation's coastal rivers and Great Lakes. 

 State hatcheries along the west coast contributed approximately 20 million 

 pounds of coho, fall chinook, and steelhead to the commercial and sport 

 catch. The newly built Willamette Falls Fish Passage Facility in Oregon 

 will increase Willamette River fish runs by about 180,000 salmon and steel- 

 head, providing at least 250,000 new angler-days per year. 



Other progress during 1971 included further construction of artificial reefs 

 to increase angling opportunities by concentrating sport fish populations. 

 Tagging of deep-sea gamefish and coastal species continues to provide infor- 

 mation needed to assess populations and study migrations. 



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