Evening star., 1935-03-10
Increased Consumption
Of Fish Food i'm U. S.
BY HARDEN COLFAX,

Americans are apparently develop
ing a greater liking for sea food. Re
tail food merchants throughout the
country are increasing the number OF
fish days" while, according to the
Bureau of Fisheries in the Depart
ment of Commerce, campaign has
been begun in various parts of the
country to promote the greater con-
sumption of fish.
The bureau, working in co-opera-
ton with the newly formed Fish and
Seafood Institute of the United
States, will supply to the public,
through the press and otherwise,
helpful information regarding food
values and the uses of fish.
Formerly, in the small towns
throughout the country, fish was on
sale only on Friday. Today the Amer
ican housewife provides her family
with fish any day of the week. This
means that the nutritive and eco
nomical values of seafood are being
more and more realized by the house
| wife.
The Bureau of Fisheries. devoted to
the promotion of fish culture and use,
is constantly giving the public infor-
nation as to how fish may be pre-
| served over moderate periods and how
it may be prepared for the table. Last
month cold storage holdings" of
fish, the bureau reports, were A per
cent more than year ago and II
per cent above the preceding five
year average, and there were more
than 100000 pounds of edible fish
in cold storage in various parts of
the United States.
4 = X
The fish industry, says the bureau,
at present is more than a billion-dol-
lar business. In 1882 fishermen re-
allied $55,O00, 900 by their efforts,
even though prices were low that year
and provided employment to only
1l6,000 fishermen. Figures for 1888
are available for the States of Mary
land and Virginia and for the three
principal New England ports, Boston,
Gloucester and Portland. These cities
have reported vessel landings OF fish
worth close to 100000. Reports for
10 months Of 1884 show a further in
crease.
The commercial catch of fishery prod
ucts in Maryland and Virginia in 1888
amounted to 272,0o0 pounds, valued
at $5,100,000 This is a decrease of
"a per cent in volume, but only IA
per cent in value as compared with
the catch in 1882. Maryland and
Virginia fisheries gave employment
to 10000 fishermen and $4,000 per-
sons in wholesale and manufacturing
establishments. Based on the value
to the fishermen, market oysters
were the most important product,
amounting to 25,000,000 pounds,
valued at $1,725,O0O. Following in
order were crabs. shad and men
haden.
Fish prices, compared with the cost
of other foods, have not risen so
rapidly since 1928. In fact, the cost
of fish in our markets has risen only
to so per cent of what consumers had
to pay seven years ago.
The Bureau of Fisheries recently
has given out information concern
ing the mineral and vitamin content
Of fish. Oysters are particularly
commended, since they contain size
able quantities of iron and copper.
oysters rank second to liver as an
important source of iron, making
them valuable food for the treat
ment of nutritional anemia. The bu-
reau directs attention to the already
known vitamin content of fish oils,
such as cod, halibut-hver, sabine and
salmon.
Experts on fish culture have been
speculating for some time on a pos
sible diminution in supply. On this
point, the Bureau of Fisheries says it
has no evidence to indicate that mod
ern methods are taking excessive