July 1951 



CaiMERGIAL FISHERIES KSVIE/; 



27 



Wholesale and Retail Prices 



WHOLESALE PRICES . MAY 1951 : A drop in production during May in the major fish- 

 eries throughout the country (except Pacific Coast halibut) was reflected in an over- 

 all increase in the prices of the major categories of fisher^"- products. The whole- 

 sale index for edible fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) for May was 108.9 

 percent of the 1947 average (see table 1) — 1.0 percent above the previous month and 

 15.2 percent higher than May 1950, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department 

 of Labor reports. Except for halibut, demand was generally better than in April. 



The drawn, dressed, or whole finfish subgroup index during May was 2.2 percent 

 above April and 2.5 percent above May 1950. During May, the substantial increase 

 in fresh large-drawn haddock prices and the sUght rise in fresh or frozen dressed 

 salmon were offset by a considerable drop in the prices of fresh-water fish (high 

 prices in April were due to Hebraic holidays) and fresh or frozen halibut. Fresh 

 haddock prices this May were 9.8 percent above a year earlier and 22.4 percent above 

 April. Salmon prices were 1.9 percent higher than the previous year and 0.4 percent 

 over the previous month. On the other hand, the fall in fresh or frozen halibut 

 prices which started in March this year continued in May due to heavy cold storage 

 stocks and the opening of the Pacific Coast halibut season on May 1, This species 

 was quoted during May at 10.0 percent below a year earlier and 4.5 percent lower 

 than this April. 



