\U. S. Fish Stick Production JULY-SEPTEMBER 1958: The United States production of fish sticks during the third quarter of 1958 amounted to 13.7 million pounds, an increase of 588,000 pounds (or 4 percent) as compared with the third quarter of 1957. The peak month of the 1958 third quarter was September when 5.1 million pounds were reported, and July and August followed with 4.3 million pounds each. Cooked fish sticks (12.4 million pounds) accounted for 90 percent of the total production, while uncooked fish sticks (1.4 million pounds) made up the remaining 10 percent. The Atlantic Coast States led all other areas with 10.8 million pounds (or 78 percent) of the total production. The inland and Gulf States were second with 1.8 million pounds (or 13 percent), followed by the Pacific Coast States with the remaining 1.2 million pounds (or 9 percent). During the first nine months of 1958, a total of 44.5 million pounds of fish sticks was produced--an increase of 5.6 million pounds over the same period of 1957. Cooked fish sticks were up 15 percent as compared with the quantity reported for the same period of 1957, and uncooked fish sticks were 9 percent above last year. United States Fishery Landings, January-September 1958 Landings of fish and shellfish in the United States and Alaska the first nine months of 1958 were only one percent below those for the same period of 1957. By the end of August 1958, landings were seven percent below those for last year, but in September large catches of sardines in California and menhaden in Delaware and Virginia closed most of the gap. Sardine landings in California were 120 million pounds greater through October 23 this year than for the same period of 1957. Salmon landings in Alaska in the 1958 season were up 45 million pounds. Tuna landings in California for the first three quarters of 1958 were nearly 21 million pounds higher than for the same period of the preceding year. Ocean perch landings in New England were up 18 million pounds. Menhaden landings, which were 128 million pounds behind at the end of August, improved in September. This year's landings at the end of that month were only 61 million pounds below the first nine months of 1957. Jack mackerel landings continued light and totaled less than three million pounds for the first nine months this year. During the same 1957 period, landings amounted to over 65 million pounds. Herring landings in Maine (106 million pounds) were practically the same as last year. Herring production in Alaska, however, was short by 35 million pounds. Landings of anchovies in California and whiting in New England were both down around 29 million pounds. U. S. Foreign Trade EDIBLE FISHERY PRODUCTS, JULY 1958: Imports of edible fresh, frozen, and processed fish and shellfish into the United States during July 1958 were up 21.2 percent in quantity and 11.0 percent in value as compared with the preceding month. Increases in July over June this year were due primarily to a sharp increase in the Table 1 - United States Foreign Trade in Edible Fishery Products, Item Imports: Fish & shellfish: Fresh, frozen, & processed Exports: Fish & shellfish: Processed only1/ (excluding fresh frozen).. .100.9 89.1 837.0 28.3 25.7 248.4 imports of groundfish fillets and blocks (28.9 million as compared with 19.8 million pounds); and canned tuna in brine and frozen albacore tuna from Japan. As compared with July 1957, imports this July were higher by 13.3 percent in quantity and 10.1 percent in value. Imports were higher for fresh and frozen tuna (up about 2.6 million pounds), canned tuna in brine (up about 2.1 million pounds), frozen salmon (up about 1.0 million pounds), and groundfish fillets and blocks (up 6.4 million pounds). Imports of lobster and spiny lobster were lower by 2.7 million pounds this July as compared with July a year earlier. 1.9 3.9 69.7 1.0 1.0 16.8 1/ Includes pastes, sauces, clam chowder and juice, and other specialties. United States exports of processed fish and shellfish in July 1958 were lower by less than one percent in quantity but higher by 66.7 percent in value as compared with June 1958. Compared with the same month in 1957, exports in July 1958 were down by 50.6 percent in quantity and unchanged in value. Exports this July as compared with the same month in 1957 were made up primarily of higher-priced products such as canned salmon. Exports of canned California sardines, anchovies, and mackerel were down substantially because of the very light packs of those products the last half of 1957 and the first half of 1958. * IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA IN BRINE UNDER QUOTA: The quantity of tuna canned in brine which may be imported into the United States during the calendar year 1958 at the 12-percent rate of duty has been established as 44,693,874 pounds. Any imports in excess of this established quota will be dutiable at 25 percent ad valorem. Imports from January 1-October 4, 1958, amounted to 38,069,410 pounds, according to data compiled by the Bureau of Customs. This leaves a balance of 6,624,464 pounds of the quota which may be imported during the balance of 1958 at the 121⁄2percent rate of duty. Last year from January 1-September 28 a total of 30,034,996 pounds had been imported. * FISHERY PRODUCTS EXPORTS LOWER IN 1957: Foreign markets bought less fishery products from the United States in 1957 than in 1956. Principal declines occurred in trade with the Philippines, West Germany, and the Netherlands. The decline was mainly due to reduced exports of canned sardines and fish oil. United States fishery industries depend on foreign market outlets for many of their products. During 1957, about 289 million pounds of United States fishery products were exported to foreign markets. These products were valued at $36 million. During 1956, 325 million pounds, valued at almost $40 million, were sold abroad. Canada, the Philippines, and West Germany were the three leading markets in 1957, taking fishery products valued at $8.3, $6.0, and $5.0 million, respectively. Canada's trade increased slightly over that of 1956; that with the Philippines declined by $2 million; and West Germany trade dropped by about $1 million. The Netherlands, among the leaders in previous years, in 1957 dropped behind the United Kingdom which was in fourth place in dollar value of trade. Canned salmon was the most widely-distributed fishery product in our 1957 export trade; this product was sent to 73 countries, and exports were up about 25 percent from 1956. Canned shrimp was exported to 47 countries; canned sardines The Philippines in 1957 imported products valued at $6.0 million, consisting principally of canned anchovies, mackerel, sardines, salmon, and squid. Shipments to the Philippines in 1957 declined by $2.0 million from 1956, mainly owing to reduced shipments of canned sardines. Canned mackerel exports, however, increased by $1.7 million in value from 1956. West Germany, the principal market for the United States fish oils, imported fishery products in 1957 valued at $5.1 million, and indirectly, was believed to be the ultimate destination for a large part of the fish oils sent to the Netherlands valued at $2.5 million. The United Kingdom in 1957 bought fishery products valued at $3.7 million, of which canned salmon made up $3.4 million. Exports to Latin American countries in 1957 totaled $3.2 million. Cuba and Venezuela were the two largest outlets in Canned salmon exports in 1957 totaled $4.7 million, an increase of $1.1 million from 1956. Most of this gain represented increased shipments to the United Kingdom. Canned sardine exports in 1957 fell to $2.7 million in 1957, a decline of $3.8 million. Most of this drop was sustained in decreased shipments to the Philippines. Canned mackerel exports in 1957 were valued at $2.1 million; canned anchovy exports were also about this level. Canned mackerel exports were $1.8 million above their 1956 level, almost entirely accountable to increased shipments to the Philippines. During 1957 canned shrimp exports were valued at $2.4 million, down slightly from 1956; frozen shrimp exports amounted to $1.5 million, a small gain from the previous year. 1.1 billion pounds. This was greater than the quantity received in 1956 but considerably less than the quantity imported during the record year 1952, when imports of fish meal were about 2-1/2 times those of 1956. Fishery products imported for food purposes increased to a new record level of 884 million pounds (valued at $251 million) during 1957, surpassing the previous record year of 1954 by 80 million pounds, and of 1956 by nearly 100 million pounds. Although the total value of fishery imports rose for the eighth consecutive year, the value of non-food products fell to $46.5 million in 1957, the lowest value since 1950. This decrease resulted from reduced fish meal imports, which reached a four-year low value of $9.4 million in 1957. The United States is the world's leading importer of fishery products. Imports of groundfish fillets contributed about 59 percent of the groundfish used in the United States during 1957; 36 percent of the tuna used in canning, 16 percent of the canned tuna, 42 percent of the lobsters, 35 percent of the shrimp consumed, 14 percent of the canned salmon, and 24 percent of the fish meal. Trends by Countries: During 1957, Canada, Japan, and Mexico, supplied products which made up two-thirds of the total value of all fishery imports. Canada, the primary source, supplied products valued at $97.4 million at the foreign port of shipment, an increase Price trends for fishery commodities from September to October this year were mixed over a narrow range, but from October 1957 to October 1958 wholesale prices for some products were sharply higher. The October 1958 edible fish and shellfish (fresh, frozen, and canned) whole-. sale price index (129.6 percent of the 1947-49 average) was down slightly (only by 0.4 percent) from the previous month. But it was up 8.6 percent when compared with October a year ago. Prices in mid-October 1958 for the drawn, dressed, and whole finfish subgroup were 1.3 percent higher as compared with September. An increase of about 3 cents a pound in fresh and frozen salmon prices more than offset the drop in prices for frozen halibut, fresh-water fish, and large drawn haddock. As compared with October 1957, the subgroup index this October was up 19.3 percent due primarily to higher prices for fresh haddock (up 26.3 percent), fresh and frozen West Coast salmon (up 12.1 percent), and Great Lakes yellow pike (up 15.7 percent). But wholesale prices this October were lower for frozen halibut (down 3.1 percent) and Lake Erie whitefish (down 7.3 percent) compared with the same month of 1957. The fresh processed fish and shellfish subgroup index for October 1958 was down 2.1 percent from September. Higher fresh haddock fillet prices (up about 7.5 percent) were more than offset by a 5.1-percent drop in fresh shrimp prices. The index this October when compared with October 1957 was higher by 5.2 percent due to a 28.2-percent increase for haddock fillets and a 7.0-percent increase in fresh shrimp prices. The index for frozen processed fish and shellfish declined 1.2 percent from September to October this year due to a drop of 3.7 percent in wholesale shrimp prices at Chicago. |