Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04


10 years have contributed to the estab-
lishment of new fisheries by-productS
industries valued at upward of $15,-
10000 year.
Congress- in appreciation Of the possibilities
In this field, has authorized expansion Of the
bureaus investigations. and research labora-
tories have been established at Brunswick, Ga,
for the study Of shrimp by-products problems;
Reedville, Va. to study the problems Of the
menhaden and by-products industries, and at
Erie, Pa. for investigations Of net preservation
on the Great Lakes; in addition to what is re-
garded as the worlds largest fisheries techno-
logical laboratory in this city.
An exhibition Of by-products at the WASH
ihgton laboratory includes literally scores Of
commodities from the iridescent substances de-
rived from fish scales and which are used to
decorate hairbrushes and other toilet articles,
to shoes and nose grips made Of shark skins
Fisheries waste, which was formerly dis
carded. Is shown in various forms Of fats and
oils that are used in Smaking scented soaps,
vanishing creams and other cosmetics or for
treating feathers, lnoleums and many other
commercial articles
There are pearl buttons from the mussel fish,
cries on the Mississippi. fish meal obtained
from fish scrap, imitation pearls that retail for
10 cents to more than $40, and other CONNER
cial articles
Although the fisheries have always furnished
many products Of importance in the arts and
industries, the number Of fisheries products
catering to our needs and vanities today, de.
clares Deputy Commissioner Lewis Radcliffe Of
the Bureau of Fisheries lis greater than at
any time in the history of the world"
Figuratively speaking, the modern woman
might dive into the sea and emerge COM
pletely clothed and adorned with aquatic prod
uctS ranging from clothing Of artificial silk
made from the shells Of crabs Holsters or
other cruStaceans to shark skin shoes and cod.
skin gloves.
A BOSTON fish dealer eight years ago be-
came discouraged at the state of the fish,
er1eS Industry. Costs Of catching and handling
Iresh t1sh were mounting rapidly. but without
any visible means Of increasing consumption.
Feople were Friday-fsh-day minded and M
appreclaole consumption could be induced on
otner days OF the week. There existed 500 miles
inland from all coasts a potential market nj
miiilons OF people who had never tasted a salt
water nst, but no method had been deyeloped
as yet OF placing this highly perishable COM
street homes "A'
How pry open this market? Would II be
possible say, to cut fish steaks or fllets nack
them In ice and deliver them for inland mar
kets in good condition?
An experimental shipment was made of fillets
wrapped IN parchment paper and packed in
wooden boxes holding about 20 pounds of fish
Inc experiment was moderately successful. and
d rev months later another firm began packing
tne parchment wrapped fillets in tin contain
eis surrounded by ice in large wooden ship
ping cases '-p
WlCnn four years 40 firms were engaged in
tne nietlng business, and in 1926 these firms
handled 100000 pounds of fresh and frozen
nSn IN the round, in addition to the produce
tlon and marketing of approximately Is, 800, 900
pounds Of prepared products
the following year rs, 0OOO pounds of fresh
nsn were used in this trade and the current
ngure runs well over 100, 100000 pounds Ont
OF the concentration Of huge quantities of in
eoloFe portions OF fish at the filleting plants
cnere has been developed a by-products indus
try In fish meal and fish oil that aggregates
more than $1,OC0OO0 annually.
Inc growth of these filleting and by-products
industries has produced new problems dealing
with the development of new sources of sup
pies OF raw materials and considerable work
along this line is being conducted by the Fish
cries Bureau
Methods have been developed by the bureau
whereby 1t is possible to forecast future sup
plies OF fish from microscopic examination of
nSh scales, and many scales are being collected