The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-08-10
CODE ON FISHING INDUSTRY
in FLORIDA Is SUBMITTED
tny As.Oclatea I.ressl

TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Aug. 10.
"A code of fair practice and COM
petition for the fishing industry in
Florida, setting up the prices of
fish and regulating working hours,
was sent to fishermen and dealers
today by George w. Davis, state
conservation commissioner.
1t provides a 44-hour week maxi
mum for fish handlers and office
workers. Regulation of hours of
fishing was held impossible be-
cause fishermen work on a per-
centage basis, and their work is
subject to weather conditions.
Minimum wage for any fish
handler was set at Is cents an
hour, with the minimum for any
office worker Of $45 month.
Fishermen, the code provides,
"shall be paid in acC nrdance with
the following scheduh From Aug.
/ to Dec. 81, mullet, redfish, sheep
head and mango snapper--3 cents
a pound; king mackerel-6 cents
a pound; trout--8 cents pound;
bluefish-3 cents a pound from
May / to Oct. 81, and from Nov.
i to April 80. eight cents pound"
Differential In Price
A differential for the dealer or
wholesaler of 2 1-2 cents a pound
is allowed on mullet, defish, sheep
head and mango snapper. The diff
ferential on trout and bluefish is
4 cents a pound.
Because production is governed
by wind and tide conditions, the
code holds that proration of pro-
duction "does not appear to be
practical or workable as applied
to the fishing industry"
Provision Given
If a producer "shall at any
time produce fish of any variety
in excess of the quantity he is able
to sell at not less than the cur
rent fixed minimum price, he
shall report the same to the con-
servation commissioner who shall
dispose of them in such manner
or such market as will absorb them
with least injury to the general
market price. One half, only, of
the amount realized from such
surplus fish shall be paid to the
producer thereof; penalizing the
producer one half the selling
price of fish being suffi, ient to
effectually control deliberate
oyerproduction."
Sales by producers are limited
TO wholesalers, retailers or other
licensed dealers, and wholesalers
are allowed to buy only from pro-
ducers. or other wholesalers, and
may sell only to retailers or other
wholesalers.
Shipments TO delinquent Gus
toners "shall automatically 60 on
a COD basis until their accounts
are brought up to date. All ac-
counts delinquent more than Isl
days shall be reported to the COM
missioner of conservation"
The commissioner of conser-
walton is authorized and directed
70 provide for penalties and for
FIXTURES to be imposed on all pro-
ducers. wholesalers, retailers and
jobbers for violations of any of
the provisions Of this code.
The code says:
"The fishing industry and the
adherents to this code hereby de-
clare that the purpose of this code
10 TO effectuate the policy of the
national recovery act during the
period of emergency caused by the
national depression. by reducing
and relieving unemployment, i'm.
proving the standards of labor.
eliminating unfair competitive
practices. and otherwise rehabili-
Eating the fishing industry by
malntaing reasonable balance be-
tween production and consumption.
restoring prices to levels which
will avoid the further depletion
and destruction of capital assets.
and encouraging the increased
consumption of the products of
the fisheries. and the conservation
and development of the natural re-
nonrces of the fishnriann