be included in the talks for the conclusion of a peace treaty, and Japan cannot agree to the Soviet Government's claim that the territorial question has already been settled. "Japan is prepared to conclude a peace treaty at any time if the Soviet Union accepts Japan's just demand to hand over the two islands of Habomai and Shikotan, which are a part of Hokkaido, as well as the islands of Kunashiri and Etorofu, since both are the inherent territories of Japan. "The Soviet Government in its latest reply has made clear its attitude that it regards the territorial question as having been settled and that it cannot agree with any indication that the Soviet Union is attempting unilaterally to force upon Japan its claim on the territorial question in connection with fishing in coastal waters. Needless to say, however, the return to Japan of its inherent territories is the united and fervent desire of the Japanese people, and this claim cannot be relinquished. "Despite the opposing claims of both countries on the territorial question and the difficult position in which the conclusion of a peace treaty has been placed, Japan, in compliance with the spirit of the joint Japanese-Soviet declaration, has successively settled various pending problems between Japan and the Soviet Union and is pursuing a policy of furthering the friendly relations between the two countries. There will be no change in this policy in the future. "Japan's request for talks on the question of fishing in coastal waters is based on this policy. Japan, therefore, renews its hope that the Soviet Union will also, from the standpoint of promoting friendly Japanese-Soviet ties, agree to talks on the question of fishing in coastal waters and, at the same time, strive for a satisfactory settlement of the problem." VALUE OF FISHERY PRODUCTS EXPORTS, 1957: Exports of fishery products by Japan in 1957 were valued at US$122 million f. o. b. (exclusive of fish and marine mammal oils and aquatic products), according to figures compiled from customs data by the Japanese Ministry of Finance. Fishery products exports made up about 2.3 percent of the total value of US$2,858 million for all exports. The exports of fishery products in 1957 to the United States amounted to US$55 million, or about 45.1 percent of the value for all fishery products. The United Kingdom was second in terms of value with a total of $22 million and the Philippines was third with a value of US$5 million. These three countries accounted for 67 percent of Japan's foreign trade in fishery products. In addition to the above, Japan exported fish oils valued at US$23 million, of which the United States share was US$4 million. (United States Embassy report from Tokyo, dated April 24, 1958.) JAPANESE GOVERNMENT A Mexico LONG-LINER LANDS TUNA TRIP AT GULF PORT: The single Mexican tuna long-liner fishing in the Gulf of Mexico out of Veracruz returned to port in May with 6.2 metric tons of yellowfin tuna after a five-day trip (4 days of fishing). This was a particularly successful voyage since an average of 20 tuna per 100 hooks was maintained. The vessel, La Jarocha, is a converted purse seiner about 62 feet long equipped with a Japanese line-hauler, but with no refrigeration. The master fisherman is an experienced Japanese fisherman. The boat fishes 10 baskets of 30 hooks each. Upon capture the fish were gutted and iced-down in the hold. The fish were delivered to the Veracruz cannery that owns the vessel. At present only tuna are landed, but officials of the recently-formed Marine Biological Station of the Veracruz Technological Institute have become interested in the project and expect to find a market for the many sharks that are caught. An attempt is also being made to develop a market in Mexico City for fresh yellowfin. It is claimed that beheaded and gutted yellowfin can be delivered to wholesalers in Mexico City at about 18 and 25 U. S. cents a pound, which would place it in the upper-middle-class price range for fresh fish, the United States Embassy in Mexico City reported in a May 21, 1958, dispatch. TO FEDE Morocco FISHING AND CANNING TRENDS, FIRST QUARTER 1958: Canned Sardines: The current fishing and canning season in Morocco has been among the best for several years, as fish supplies were plentiful and of fine quality. France purchased the whole of its import quota of Moroccan canned sardines free of duty to help keep local prices down. This official quota was 12,000 metric tons, or 600,000 cases of 100 cans each. As the French catch was short, France accepted an additional 60,000 tons at normal duty. From June 1, 1957 (beginning of the fishing season) to December 31, 1957, the pack of canned sardines was estimated at 2 million cases. During the same period, 1.2 million cases were exported. Thus, a serious surplus has developed and markets for it are now being sought, principally through the use of trade agreements. Fish: Morocco produces large quantities of fish, but consumes only 3.3 pounds of fish a year per capita, whereas the average consumption in Europe is 15 times as much. To promote increased local consumption of fresh fish, a national committee decided to start a campaign of price control, to organize fish packing, refrigeration, transportation, and sanitary control, as well as appropriate advertising. Also, to permit continued fresh fish exports to Algeria at competitive prices, Moroccan exporters obtained in February the suppression of the Algerian import quota. New Hebrides TUNA FREEZING PLANT IN OPERATION: The new tuna freezing plant (received its first fish in October 1957) located on the island of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, has a freezing capacity of 32 tons of tuna a day, storage space for 500 tons, a brine- and smoke-curing plant, an ice-making capacity of 20 tons daily, an ice storage space of 200 tons, and ample docking facilities. More storage space for an additional 200 tons is planned. Two Japanese tuna fishing vessels have been landing their catches at the new plant. Landings from the first few trips have been very good and prospects are good for the future. Catches have been made up of 60 percent albacore tuna, 10 percent yellowfin tuna, and 30 percent marlin, sailfish, and other fish, the United States Consulate at Noumea, New Caledonia, reported on May 8, 1958. Norway COD FISHERIES TRENDS THROUGH MAY 3, 1958: During the week ending May 3, 1958, in Finnmark, Lofoten, weather conditions were mostly good and landings of young cod continued to increase. The total landings of young cod in 1958 through May 3 amounted to 38,582 metric tons as compared with 22,143 tons and 17,363 tons, respectively, for the corresponding periods in 1957 and 1956. Total Norwegian landings of young cod and spawning cod amounted to 106,348 tons as of May 3, compared with 80,129 tons last year and 123,742 tons in 1956 for comparable periods. Of this year's landings, 60,113 tons were sold for drying, 29,440 tons for curing, and 16,795 tons for fresh purposes. U.S.S.R. OFFERS TO INCREASE HERRING PURCHASES: Although Icelandic herring makes up a relatively small proportion of Norway's total herring catch, it is of considerable economic importance, according to a May 19 dispatch from the United States Embassy in Oslo. It is fished off the coast of Iceland by Norwegian vessels which leave Norway at the end of June. The Iceland herring, the most desirable of all herring species, is used entirely for human consumption, since it is too valuable to be processed into oil and meal. When the Norwegian fleet leaves for the Iceland fishing grounds, it takes with it the barrels and necessary salt and spices for preparation and packing of the herring on board. The catch of Iceland herring fluctuates widely from year to year. A normal catch for a season is about 200,000 barrels; however, the fishing boats will sometimes take about 250,000-270,000 barrels in the event of a particularly rich haul. The United States and Sweden have traditionally been the principal purchasers of Iceland herring, and the amounts sold to these markets do not vary much from year to year. The U.S.S.R. represents a new element in the market. Sweden usually contracts for the herring before the fleet leaves while United States purchases take place after the fleet returns. In the past, the Soviets have not purchased in advance and have, in a sense, been taking what is left after Swedish and United States purchases. The Russian share of Iceland herring has not been large, but after a rich haul, the Norwegians have always had the possibility of selling the surplus to the Russians. The Russians have recently expressed a desire to increase their share of Iceland herring and have offered to make firm long-term contracts to purchase as much as 100,000 barrels annually. Due to this, the Norwegian fishing interests are faced with a quandry. If the season is a particularly good one there will be enough herring to satisfy the Russian contracts and the traditional markets in the United States and Sweden, but if Norway must first fill Russian contracts, not enough herring will be left (in the event of a disappointing season) to cover the traditional markets. Panama NEW FISH MEAL PLANT IN OPERATION: The largest shrimp fishing and processing firm in Panama has completed and is now operating a new fish meal plant on Taboga Island. In 1956 the company initiated a building program designed to transfer eventually all operations from its present site on the Gulf of Panama in a suburban residential district of Panama City to the Island of Taboga. The 12-hour, 18-foot tide of the Gulf of Panama and the limited space of its present location were the principal reasons for the move. The new site, on the southeast end of the Island, has a deep-water cove which will permit around-the-clock unloading and servicing of its boats. Substantial leveling and fill work has been carried out in preparation of the site. The program provides for the construction of expanded facilities for handling and freezing shrimp, docking facilities for up to 12 shrimp boats at a time, a marine yard with accompanying shops and storehouses, a 206-foot drydock, a small fish cannery, and the fish meal plant. The first stage of the building program was the fish meal plant. Construction of the modern plant with the accompanying floating dock was completed in April 1957, at a cost of about US$300,000. Used plant equipment purchased in the United States was supplemented by new equipment acquired abroad or constructed at plant site. Management of the plant was placed under an experienced German technician. Additional personnel presently consists of an American machinist in charge of the Diesel equipment, an Argentine national as assistant manager, and seven laborers. Establishment of the fish meal plant makes possible the use of scrap fish caught by the Company's shrimp fleet and previously discarded as waste. Fish caught the last day out are left on deck, but if the boat is to be out for more than a day the fish are stored in the hold. The boat stops at Taboga on its way in from sea. Unloading at the fish meal plant may be done at low tide when it would not be possible for the trawler to reach the Company's dock in Panama City to discharge its shrimp catch. The fish are unloaded onto a screw conveyer mounted on the floating dock and are pumped with water through a pipe to the plant. Water and waste products and an occasional pelican are separated from the washed fish as they come out on the conveyer. The fish are weighed as they pass along the belt conveyer and are separated as to size on entering one of three concrete holding bins. The difference in cooking time necessitates separate handling of the large and the small fish. The fish are lifted from the bins by bucket conveyer to the steam sealer. They are carried by screw conveyer through the steam sealer, the primary and secondary cookers, and into the press. Liquids extracted by the press, which include the oil and some solid residue, are channeled into a bin. Solids pass by screw conveyer into the primary grinders and continue by screw conveyer to the dryers. Blow dryers were selected because the meal cannot overheat with this process. The dried meal passes through a second grinder before moving on by screw conveyer to the sacking chute. Facilities are provided to permit meal considered too moist for fine grinding and sacking to be rechanneled through the dryers. The pulverized dried meal is placed in 100-pound burlap bags lined with tar paper and is permitted to cool before the bag is closed. These bags, which cost 40 U.S. cents each, are practically waterproof. Presently, the oil and press liquors are lost in the liquid waste dumped into the sea. Pilot tests have shown the most efficient operation of the plant to be 9 to 10 tons of raw fish per hour. The footsreel press installed with the original equipment has an efficient operating capacity of no more than three tons per hour. This footsreel press is to be replaced by new equipment ordered from Germany with a capacity comparable to that of the other plant equipment, which will also clarify liquids, remove solids, and refine oil. The fish meal recovery is about 20 percent of the raw fish weight. Recovery of solids from the press liquids will raise the percentage by 2 or 3 points. Oil content of the scrap fish is about one barrel (53 gallons) per ton of fish. The meal runs about 61 percent protein content and sells at US$6.50 to US$7.00 a 100-pound bag. About half of the plant's production is exported and half consumed in Panama, primarily in hog feeding. Production of the plant is still very restricted by the lack of fish. Presently, production is limited to the scrap fish caught in the shrimp nets. The Company pays the boat crew $10 a ton for the fish. The shrimp boats are bringing in from 2 to 6 tons each but the limited space on the trawler does not warrant saving these fish except on the last day or two of the trip. In order to increase the plant's fish supply, the Company has purchased five landing barges for use in picking up the day's catch of scrap fish from the shrimp boats at sea. Plans are to provide the plant with its own purse seiner fleet. The costly nets, however, make trained captains essential in the operation of a purse seine and experienced personnel is not available in Panama. The establishment of the initial fleet of purse seiners, therefore, is dependent on the import of experienced captains. There are some 50 varieties of scrap fish of no commercial value found in the Gulf of Panama. The modern plant has the capacity to handle 240 tons of raw fish on a 24-hour-day basis. Present operations carry the fish from the bin to the meal sack within 15 minutes. Adequate space has been provided in the plant layout for additional holding bins for raw fish and storage room for the hot sacked meal. Any additional plant labor needed is available on the Island. Special feeding programs now being encouraged for improvement of the national livestock industry should increase local consumption of fish meal, the United States Embassy in Panama reports in a March 25, 1958, dispatch. Poland FISHERY MOTHERSHIP LAUNCHED FOR U.S. S. R.: A fishery mothership built for the U. S. S. R. was launched in Poland on April 12, 1958, according to a Polish newspaper. It is reported to be the largest ship, in respect to dimensions, thus far built in Polish yards. The vessel will operate in the Arctic, and is reinforced against ice. It is described as being 157 meters (515 feet) long, 20 meters (65.6 feet) wide, and 9 meters (29.5 feet) in depth. Designed for handling the catches of 40 trawlers at sea and a crew of 263, it is equipped with five refrigeration compartments, a drying chamber, "enormous fuel tanks," and a helicopter. Spain BILBAO AREA FISHERIES TRENDS, MARCH 1957: Fishing: Bilbao area fish wholesalers reported that while average catches were made in January and February 1958 by the trawling fleet on the high seas, smaller vessels operating close to the coast obtained poor results, because of the bad weather. Fishing in Dakar: To fill in the gap of forced unemployment due to poor fishing in the Cantabrian waters during the month of November to February, a sizable portion of the fishing fleet of the provinces of Viscaya and Guipuzcoa has been seeking new fishing areas in the past few years. Efforts have been concentrated in the Dakar waters (off French West Africa) and in the Mediterranean. During the 1956 winter season, 8 fishing vessels from Bilbao area ports fished for tuna in the region off Cabo Blanco, just north of Dakar. Operating about 60 days from the middle of November until the middle of January, the vessels caught 623 metric tons of tuna which sold for US$95,238. Encouraged by the good results obtained in 1956, 20 fishing vessels participated in this fishery in 1957, in the neighborhood of Dakar. Approximately 1,600 tons of tuna were caught and sold (headless) to canning factories in Las Palmas and Arrecife in the Canary Islands for about 7.7 U.S. cents a pound (US$154 a short ton). While satisfied with their season's earnings, most of the returning fishermen expressed some disappointment in that they did not obtain the excellent catches made by the French vessels in the same waters. They pointed out that they were handi * VIGO FISHERIES TRENDS, JANUARY-MARCH 1958: Fishing: Despite bad weather during March 1958, fish landings at Vigo, Spain, rose to 9.3 million pounds, valued at US$973,000. Leading species were dollarfish or pomfret, Brama raii (3.4 million pounds), small hake (1.5 million pounds), and horse mackerel (1.3 million pounds). The landings represented an increase of 0.3 million pounds over the preceding month, but were below the March 1957 total by 1.4 million pounds. Total landings for the first quarter of 1958 were 25.3 million pounds valued at US$2,820,000. This was an increase of 363,492 pounds and US$347,000 over the first quarter of 1957. capped by the lack of adequate equipment and supplies, such as refrigeration and freezing units, nylon nets, fish detectors--all standard equipment of the French vessels. Cod Fishing: After months of study and discussion an agreement was signed on March 6, 1958, in San Sebastian among Spanish, French, and Portuguese cod interests. The agreement is described as an attempt to find amicable solutions to certain basic problems, such as mutual aid to injured and sick fishermen, assistance in lifesaving, collision rights, etc., which result from the close-quarter methods of fishing traditionally employed by the fishermen of the three countries off the banks of Newfoundland, Labrador, Spitzbergen, and in the Barents Sea. Early in March the Spanish cod fleet headed for the fishing banks off Newfoundland where it fishes until the end of October. Of the 100 ships of various tonnage, the largest were trawlers of 1,300 tons. The fleet carried a combined crew of 3,500 men. Annually about 80,000 metric tons of cod are caught which are valued at approximately US$19 million. A round trip to Newfoundland requires about 30 days. As usual, two sore problems will beset the fishermen. One concerns the lack of hospital facilities to take immediate care of sick or injured seamen. The other problem arises from the scarcity of water either for drinking or cooking. There will be a strict rationing of water among the seamen who will be away from their base port of operations in the French island of St. Pierre de Miquelon for over 70 days at a time. About 20 fishing boats (mostly "parejas") left for the fishing banks off Newfoundland during February and March. This was an increase of seven from this area due to the additions to the fleet, and the shift of some vessels from the southern tuna fishery. The closed season on mollusks and crustaceans went into effect on April 1. It was reported that the shellfish season for January-March 1958 was poor and below the 1957 landings. The sardine season began in March after a two-month closed season in the Northeast and Cantabrian regions. Fishing circles were optimistic that this year might see the end of the poor sardine catches which have plagued the in FROZEN TUNA SHIPPED TO UNITED STATES: In January 1958 the China Fisheries Corporation, a Taiwan Government Corporation, made a trial shipment of 28 metric tons of frozen tuna to Los Angeles. The shipment was sold to a California firm at c.i.f. prices ranging from US$310 for yellowfin to US$330 for albacore, the former predominating. China Fisheries Corporation operates 4 tuna long-liners and 21 otter trawlers, the latter procured from the United Nations Near East Relief Agency. The four long-liners were built in Taiwan and self-financed. The only International Corporation Administration aid financing received by the Company is NT$4,820,000 (US$237,000) under a refrigeration project, which is still under construction. It is reported that the price obtained for this trial shipment at Formosa was about NT939 (US$46) and NT412 (US$20) under the local sales price for yellowfin and albacore, respectively. U. S. S. R. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE HERRING RESEARCH IN THE NORWEGIAN SEA PLANNED: The leader of Soviet fishery research recently stated that Soviet science is, among other things, working toward the development of scientific cooperation with Norway, Denmark, and Iceland for the development of a joint research project on herring grounds in the Norwegian Sea. A Soviet research vessel, Professor Mesjatsjev, will take part in the joint hydrological research in the Norwegian Sea, according to the May 14, 1958, issue of the Norwegian periodical Fiskaren. |