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the United States fish business had become increasingly effective in stimulating 
fishery development on a world-wide basis, particularly in respect of shrimp, 
tuna, fish meal and ground fish. They have paid continuously a less amount of 
attention to the product of domestic fishermen as the proportion of fishery prod- 
ucts consumed in the United States has dropped from the 80% dependence on 
domestic supplies that existed in 1948 to the 28.6% dependence that existed in 
1967 (it will be less in 1968 than it was in 1967). 
Accordingly the U.S. flag fishermen have become increasingly less important 
to their direct customers as they have become to the several aspects of United 
States policy and strategy noted above. In these frustrating circumstances the 
the fishermen from the particular coastal area have importuned their particular 
Senators and Congressmen for increased federal attention to their specific 
problems and this has resulted in further fragmentation of remedial measures, 
couched in terms of regional and specific palliatives rather than as solutions to 
problems having national importance and scope. 
In consequence of the absence of any national policy, or recognition of any 
national need, some fisheries have thrived (tuna, shrimp, king crab) on perse- 
verance and economic opportunity, others have vanished or diminished through 
lack of conservation measures (California sardine, Pacific mackerel, oysters, 
and now menhaden), or stagnated from lack of opportunity (ground fish), and 
some have just wasted away or held level by effects outside their control 
(oysters, clams, and the other products of polluted estuaries). In overall per- 
spective United States flag production has held about level for 30 years, having 
been 2.8 million tons in 1938, 2.8 million tons in 1957, and 2.1 million tons in 
1967. It will be a little less in 1968 than in 1967. 
CHAPTER II—U.S. USE OF FISHERY PRODUCTS THE NATURE OF UNITED STATES FISH 
BUSINESS 
The use of fishery products in the United States for all purposes has increased 
steadily over the years in both absolute and per capita terms. In 1948 this use 
(in terms of round weight) was 2.9 million short tons, in 1957 it was 3.7 million 
tons, and in 1967 it was 7.1 million tons (14,187 million pounds). It will be higher 
in 1968 than in preceeding years. 
The per capita annual use in 1967 was about 70 pounds. This is one of the 
higher statistics of per capital consumption of fishery products in the world. The 
effect has been to make the United States the largest importer of fish in the 
world, one of the most lucrative fish markets in the world, and user of about 138% 
of the total production of fish and shellfish in the world, in spite of having only 
about 6% of the world’s population. The rapid increase in use of fishery prod- 
ucts in the United States has been in terms of both volume and value. In 1948 
the value of U.S. catch at the fishermens level plus the value of fishery products 
imported was $428 million in 1957 it was $652 million, and ten years later (in 
1967) it had nearly doubled to $1,125 million. It will be higher in 1968 than in 
previous years. 
(a) Fish meal and related products—U.S. use of fishery products 
In terms of volume of product used, and increase in use, the overwhelming item 
has been the category called industrial fishery products by the Bureau of Com- 
mercial Fisheries. In terms of round weight this use amounted to 1.8 billion 
pounds in 1948, 3.1 billion pounds in 1957, and 9.1 billion pounds in 1967 (or 65% 
of the total supply of fishery products to the United States). In 1968 the volume, 
and percent of total use, will be higher than in previous years. 
This category is primarily composed of fish meal and it is this commodity which 
has experienced the Spectacular rise in use. It is used in animal husbandry and 
primarily in chicken nutrition. The use of fish for pet food has been steadily in- 
creasing too. 
The increase in supply of this commodity has come chiefly from imports. In 
1948 imports supplied 23.1% of the total; in 1957—26.1%; and in 1967—81.6% 
of the total. In 1968 the supply, and the percentage of it supplied by imports, will 
be higher than in preceding years, with 1968 the highest on record. Use of fish 
meal alone will be nearly 850,000 tons in 1968 which would be the round weight 
equivalent of about 4.7 million tons of fish, or more than double the total catch of 
fish and shellfish by United States vessels in terms of physical volume. Most of 
the imports of fish meal come from Peru. 
The imports non-edible fish products to the United States in 1967 were valued at 
$155 million, or 23% of the total value of fishery imports. 
