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SPECIAL COLLECTIONS TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30 30030005363255 LO LO C\J co CD CO LO o o o?0 3D !0 ► 1933 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. Price 15 cents ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT Secretary of Commerce---------------------------------- :_______ D aniel C. R oper. Assistant Secretary of Commerce______________________ J ohn D ickinson. Assistant Secretary of Commerce______________________ E wing Y. Mitchell. Solicitor_____________________________________________ South Trimble, Jb. Administrative Assistant to the Secretary_____________ Malcolm Keblin. Chief Clerk and Superintendent_______________________ Edwabd W. Libbey. Disbursing Clerk________________________________ Charles E. Molsteb. Chief, Appointment Division______________________ E dwabd J. Gaedneb. Chief, Division of Publications____________________T homas F. McKeon. Chief, Division of Purchases and Sales____________ Walter S. Ebwin. Director, Aeronautics Branch__________________________ E ugene L. Vidal. Director of the Census_______________________________ William L. Austin . Director, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce—__Willabd L. T hobp. Director, Bureau of Standards________ _______________ Lyman J. B biggs. Commissioner of Fisheries____________________________ F rank T. B ell. Commissioner of Lighthouses____________________ _____Geobge R. P utnam. Director, Coast and Geodetic Survey-----------------------------R. S. Patton. Chief, Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection___ Commissioner of Patents______________________________ Conway P. Coe. Director, Bureau of Mines____________________________ S cott Tuenee. Director, Federal Employment Stabilization Board______ D. H. Sawyer. ii CONTENTS Page Reduction in expenditures___________________________________________ vn Reorganization of Department_______________________________________ vn Functions of the Department____________________________ ix Economic review____________________________________________________ ix Assistance to foreign and domestic business___________________________ x v ii Reorganization of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce______ xix Progress in civil aeronautics_________________________________________ xx Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection______________________ xxi Lighthouse Service__________________________________________________ xxn Coast and Geodetic Survey__________________________________________ xxn Bureau of Fisheries_________________________________________________ xxm Bureau of Standards________________________________________________ xxm Bureau of the Census_______________________________________________ xxiv Bureau of Mines____________________________________________________ xxv The Patent Office___________________________________________________ xxvi Fees for Department services______________________________ xxvi Business Advisory and Planning Council_______________________________ xxvn REPORT BY BUREAUS C hief Clerk and Superintendent B ureau of the C ensus—Continued Page Page A century of progress exposition...................... 1 Personnel............................................................... 25 26 D isbursing office.......... . ...................................... 1 Appropriations. ................. 26 Appointment division......................................... 4 Legislation............................................... Division of publications____________ 4 B ureau of F oreign and D omestic Division of purchases and sales____________ 5 C ommerce Department library................ 5 Traffic office---------------5 Solicitor’s office..................................................... 5 The year in foreign commerce_____________ 29 The further erection of trade barriers_____ 29 Record of American trade_________ 30 Aeronautics B ranch Bureau’s services related to changing world conditions____________________________ 31 Air regulation service.............. 7 Significant services rendered in foreignInspection service...... ...................................... 7 tariff matters_________________________ 32 Licensing division____________________ — 7 Vital Airways division____________________ 10 facts provided for London economic 33 conference....................... Aeronautic development service........................... 11 Foreign commercial laws and publicInformation division...........— ........................ 11 finance measures studied______________ 33 Research division................................................. 12 The foreign service____________ 34 Airport section___________________________ 13 Foreign-tradecommerce activities Airway mapping section— ....................... 14 divisions____________ of commodity 34 Special research committees.............................. 14 on individual distributors of mer Administrative division......................................... 14 Data chandise abroad____________ 36 Bureau activities in promotion of domestic B ureau of the Census trade___________ 37 Important studies in field of merchandising Introduction_______________________ research______________________________ 17 37 Fifteenth Decennial Census--------------------17 “ Discussion and action” programs—busi Final reports......................................................... 18 ness information service______________ 37 Special reports..................................................... 18 Altered emphasis in domestic regional Special studies............................................. 19 work________________________________ 38 Financial statistics of State and local govern Domestic business furthered by commodity ments_____________________ divisions______________ 19 _______________ 39 Financial statistics of States and cities.......... 19 Economic research_______________________ 40 Quinquennial census of electrical industries. 20 Publications of the bureau_____ ___________ 41 Biennial census of manufactures____________ 20 Assistance rendered to domestic recovery or Vital statistics........................................................ 21 ganizations_______ 41 Institutional population......................................... 22 Substantial help accorded to the N. R.A._. 41 Marriage and divorce............................................. 22 Aid afforded to other governmental re Report on Negroes in the United States........ 22 covery bodies______ 43 Cotton and cotton seed....................................... 22 Conclusion__________ 43 Monthly and quarterly industrial statistics.. 23 Estimates of population......................................... 24 B ureau of Standards Searching old population records____ ________ 24 Official register........................................................ 24 General activities_________________________ 45 Machine tabulation........................................... 24Electricity------------------------------------------------ 46 Work done for other Federal offices and out Weights and measures_________ 49 side agencies........................................................... 25 Heat and power.............................. 51 in IV CONTENTS B ureau of Standards—Continued Page Optics---------------------- ------------------------------ 52 Chemistry_______________________________ 54 Mechanics and sound------ ------------------------- 56 Organic and fibrous materials_____________ 58 Metallurgy--------------------------------------------- 61 Clay and silicate products-------------------------- 63 Simplified practice------------------------------------ 66 Building and housing_____________________ 66 Specifications-------------------------------------------- 67 Trade standards and test item s.................... 67 General financial statement_______________ 70 B ureau of F isheries International relations-------- ---------------------- 72 International Passamaquoddy Fisheries Commission---------------------- -------------- - 72 North American Council on Fishery In vestigations................................................... 72 Conservation of whales----------------- --------- 73 Halibut investigations------------------ -------.. 73 Japanese vessels in Bering S ea.................... 74 Domestic i dations------------------------------------ 75 Cooperation with States and other agen cies----------- ------------------------ --------------- 75 Construction program............ ...................... 77 Propagation and distribution of food and 77 game fishes__________________________ Propagation of commercial species........... 78 Propagation of game fishes--------- ------ ----- 78 Rescue operations— .................... ................. 69 Aquarium. ........... ............................................. 79 Statistical investigations---------------------------- 79 Fisheries of the United States, 1931---------- 79 Manufactured products in the United States and Alaska, 1931------------------------ 80 Market investigations..................................... 81 Technological investigations-------------------- 82 Biological fishery investigations___________ 83 Fishery investigations of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts................................................... 84 Fishery investigations in interior waters. 86 Fishery investigations of the Pacific coast and Alaska---------------------------------------- 86 Fish screen and ladder investigations.......... 87 Aquicultural investigations......... .......... ..... 87 Fishery studies in national parks and for 88 ests-------- ------ -------------------------------- Shellfishery investigations............................ 88 Pollution studies--------------- ----------------- - 89 Alaska fisheries service___________________ 89 Administration of fishery laws and regula tions............................ ................................... 89 Alaska salmon hatcheries________ _______ 90 90 Products of the fisheries.............................. Alaska fur-seal service........................................ 91 General activities_____ _________________ 91 Seal herd_____________________________ 91 Take of sealskins_______________________ 91 Marking reserved seals_________ ________ 91 Sale of sealskins_____ __________ ______ 91 Foxes.................................. ............................. 92 Fur-seal skins taken by natives________ 92 Fur-seal patrol____________ ____________ 92 Protection of sea otters, walruses, and sea lions______________ _________ ________ 92 Law enforcement division_________________ 92 Vessels__________________________________ 94 Appropriations__________________ ____ ___ 95 L ighthouse Service Improvements in apparatus and equipment.. 98 Administration. :........................................ ....... 98 Personnel............................................................. 99 Lighthouse depots........................... ................... 99 Lighthouse tenders______ _______________ 100 Lightships................... ....................................... 100 Progress of vessels under construction............ 101 Progress of special works under construction or completed................................................... 102 Summary of appropriations, Lighthouse Serv ice, fiscal years 1929-1934................................ 106 Summary of costs, Lighthouse Service, fiscal year ended June 30, 1933................................. 107 Summary of public works appropriations___ 107 C oast and G eodetic Survey Scope of activities................................................ Field operations_________ Hydrographic and topographic work.......... Geodetic work.................................... Tide and current work.................................... Magnetic and seismological w ork............... Washington office____ ____________________ Division of Accounts...... ................................ Instrument Division_______ Division of Hydrography and Topography. Division of Geodesy.............. Division of Charts___ _____ Division of Tides and Currents.................... Division of Terrestrial Magnetism and Seismology..................................................... Page 109 111 Ill 115 119 121 125 125 126 127 127 128 129 130 B ureau of N avigation and Steamboat I nspection American shipping on June 30, 1933................ 133 International convention on safety of life at sea.............. 134 Inspection of motor ships..................... 134 Examination of motor-boat operators_______ 135 Revision of General Rules and Regulations of the Board of Supervising Inspectors_______ 135 Coasting trade___________ 136 Administration..._____________ 136 Hulls and equipment statistics.................. 139 Vessels inspected and certificates of inspec tion issued................. 139 Miscellaneous inspections.................... 142 Reinspections_________ 142 Certificates withdrawn or refused________ 143 Cargo vessels examined to carry persons in addition to crew______________________ 143 New life preservers inspected____________ 143 Life-saving apparatus inspected at factories. 143 Work performed by inspectors in central office................................................................ 143 Boilers__________________________________ 143 Marine boiler plates tested...................... 144 Steel bars and forgings tested_____ ______ 144 Statistics concerning ships’ personnel........... 145 Officers licensed______________ 145 Results of action against licenses................. 146 Examinations for color blindness_________ 146 Certificates issued to able seamen and to lifeboat m en................ 146 Transportation and loss of life.......................... 147 Passengers carried....................... 147 Lives saved............................... 147 Lives lost on vessels subject to inspection.. 148 Accidents resulting in loss of life.................. 149 Vessels lo st...__________________________ 149 Property lost........................................... 149 Shipping commissioners________ 149 Admeasurement of vessels............... 150 Load lines.............................................................. 150 Navigation patrol service_________________ 151 Preventing overcrowding of passenger ves sels................... 152 Passenger act of 1882____ 153 Appropriations..................................................... 153 Navigation receipts......................................... 153 P atent Office Downward trend halted...................... 155 Work impeded by vacancies______________ 156 Special committee at work______ _________ 156 Special committee’s recommendations............ 157 Inadequte classification causes delay........ .. 158 Classification would save $174,000__________ 158 Aid given to industry____________________ 159 Statistics___________________ 160 Other details of business for the fiscal year... 163 B ureau of M ines Finances_____________ 165 Technologic branch________ 168 Mechanical division........................ 168 Mining division.............................. 169 Metallurgical division.................................... 171 Petroleum and natural-gas division............. 172 CONTENTS B ureau of M ines —Continued Technologic branch—Continued. Experiment-stations division. _.......... Explosives division........... .......... .............. Helium division.................................... . . . Office of chief mining engineer_________ _ Economics branch-------------------------------Coal division_________ _________ ____ Mineral statistics division-----------------Petroleum-economics division------------Rare metals and nonmetals division----Common metals division_____________ V B ureau of M ines —Continued and safety branch____ ____________ Page Health Health division.._-----174 Safety division_________________________ 176 Demographical division................................. 178 Administrative branch.................................... 178 Office-administration division-----------------179 Information division_______________ 179 General considerations........................................ 180 181 F ederal E mployment Stabilization 182 B oard ..................... 183 I nter -American H igh C ommission............. Page 183 183 185 187 188 188 189 190 191 193 TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE D epartment of C ommerce , O ffice of th e S ecretary , Washington, November i, 1933. To the P resident : I am submitting herewith, for transmission to Congress, the an nual report of the Secretary of Commerce for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1933. As I became Secretary of Commerce on March 4, 1933, the report covers only 4 months of my administration of the affairs of the Department. REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURES The daily increasing deficit of the Federal Treasury and the man date of the people for a reduction in the cost of government dictated that immediate attention be directed to a drastic reduction in the ordinary expenditures of this Department. Accordingly, an im mediate" survey was instituted with a view to eliminating all unneces sary outlays. As a consequence, while the Department had available for expenditure during the year $44,981,408, of which $39,421,408 was authorized in the regular annual appropriation acts and $5,560,000 in the Emergency Relief and Construction Act, the total expenditures for the year amounted to only $40,038,323. The ex penditure for the fiscal year 1932 was $56,239,340. Therefore, our expenses for 1933 were 11 percent less than the funds available and 28.8 percent less than the actual expenses of the previous year. The Director of the Budget caused a careful estimate to be made of the probable receipts of the Government for the fiscal year 1934 for the purpose of endeavoring to keep the normal expenditures within the revenues through a reduction in the appropriations made available by Congress. Under this apportionment of the Federal revenues for 1934 the Department of Commerce has been allotted $29,000,000 for the year by the Director of the Budget, with the understanding that every effort will be exerted to place the expendi tures on a $28,000,000 basis by January 1934, notwithstanding the fact that Congress appropriated $36,601,575 for the activities of the Department for 1933. REORGANIZATION 0E DEPARTMENT Reductions of such magnitude in expenditures could be accom plished only as a result of careful and painstaking estimate of the VIII REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE value of the work and services of the Department. A committee was accordingly designated, composed of men experienced in gov ernmental affairs, some not being in the departmental service at the time, to study the organization of the Department and submit recommendations for such changes as might be deemed advisable and which would make more effective the services rendered. Under the provisions of the act of March 20, 1933, entitled “An act to maintain the credit of the United States Government ”, the President issued an Executive order on June 10, 1933, for certain regrouping, consolidations, transfers, and abolitions of agencies. Many of the recommendations of the departmental committee were included in this Executive order, which under the law was to become effective 61 days from its date unless the President deferred the effective date. By that order the following changes were provided for affecting the Department of Commerce : The United States Shipping Board was abolished and its func tions, including those over and in respect to the Merchant Fleet Corporation, were transferred to the Department of Commerce; The Assistant Secretary for Aeronautics was redesignated an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, thus broadening the duties of that official; The Solicitor of the Department of Commerce was transferred from the Department of Justice to the Department of Commerce ; The fuel yards of the Bureau of Mines were transferred to the newly established Procurement Office in the Treasury Department; The function of preparation of the Official Eegister was trans ferred _ from the Bureau of the Census to the Civil Service Commission ; The function of the Bureau of the Census of compiling statistics of cities under 100,000 population was abolished for the period end ing June 30, 1935; The National Screw Thread Commission was abolished and its records transferred to the Department of Commerce; The Federal Employment Stabilization Board was abolished and its records were transferred to the Federal Emergency of Public Works.1 The purpose of changing the designation of the Assistant Secre tary for Aeronautics was to permit a more effective organization of the bureaus of the Department. It is proposed to group under one Assistant Secretary the bureaus dealing with trade and industry and under the other Assistant Secretary the transportation and maritime bureaus. Under the provisions of the Legislative Appropriations Act ap proved June 30, 1932, the Badio Division of the Department was transferred to the Federal Eadio Commission, effective July 20, 1932, and the Bureau of Navigation and the Steamboat Inspection Service were consolidated under the title of Bureau of Navigation and Steam boat Inspection, effective August 1, 1932. In'addition, the National Committee on Wood Utilization was dissolved and the Federal Timber Conservation Board completed its work, the functions of both being absorbed by the Bureau of* *By Executive order of July 26, 1933, the abolishment of this Board was deferred until 60 days after the convening of the second session of the Seventy-third Congress. REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE IX Foreign and Domestic Commerce insofar as it was proper for the Government to assume them. The President’s Committee on Home Building and Home Ownership completed its work and passed out of existence with the creation of the Home Loan Bank Board. FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT The chief service of the Department of Commerce, measured by the proportion of funds so devoted, is in the interest of public protection and safety. It has become customary to regard the Department as concerned almost exclusively with the promotion of trade. Most of its budget, however, is spent in protecting life and property. At least 65 percent of its available funds is devoted to the maintenance of lighthouses, marine and aeronautic inspection, to the prevention of mining disasters, to protection against dishonest weights and meas ures, and to the performance of other functions, the activities and responsibilities of which do not shrink with the general decrease of business. In times like the present, keener competition for the re duced volume of business naturally results in curtailing expenditures, subjects the general standards and practices of business and transpor tation to unusual strain, and it is especially necessary that vigilance in the interest of public security be maintained. The most important activities of those bureaus of the Department which are regulatory in character include maintaining coast, lake, and river lights, charting our coastal waters, registering and inspect ing vessels of our merchant marine, inspecting and licensing commer cial aircraft, and enforcing the navigation laws. Among the Depart ment’s promotive services are helping industry to simplify processes, to increase and improve output, to eliminate waste in production and distribution, and to promote employment. It carries on investiga tions and research to facilitate the production, transportation, and sale of goods produced by our industries; it assists the mining in dustry to eliminate waste and to safeguard lives; it conserves our fisheries and promotes fish production; it encourages invention by protecting inventors in their patent rights; at regular intervals it enumerates the population as well as gathers other social, industrial, and fiscal data; it promotes and develops the country’s civil air transportation system; and, finally, it supplies trade information to American business. ECONOMIC REVIEW Definite signs of business revival throughout the world appeared during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1933. By the close of the period activity in most of the leading countries was moderately im proved, but for the year as a whole the volume of business transacted was considerably less than in the preceding year. Excessive trade restrictions, disorganized finances, debt burdens, fluctuating exchange, and trade declines were among the factors operating to retard the expansion of business. It became increas ingly apparent as the year progressed that the ultimate solution of the world’s economic problem would be facilitated by international consultations and concerted action to eliminate some of the policies which were hampering revival. In an effort to secure concerted X REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE action a Avorld economic conference was assembled at London just prior to the close of the fiscal year. Notwithstanding the expansion in the international movement of goods which occurred in the latter part of the fiscal year, the trade totals for the period under review were considerably below those of the previous fiscal year. Partly by reason of price declines and partly because of shrinking volume total world exports of 50 leading countries were valued on a gold basis at only $10,241,374,000 and imports of $11,208,960,000, declines of approximately 25 and 26 percent from the preceding fiscal year. Falling prices resulting in lower purchasing power and thus in smaller consumption was an important factor in the continued downward trend of business prevailing throughout the early part of the fiscal year. Prices in foreign countries turned upward be fore the close of the fiscal year, but in most instances the advances were less pronounced than in the United States. Thus five “ gold standard ” countries had an average increase in the wholesale price level in June of 2.5 percent over the low point for the year. Five of the more important nongold countries had an average increase, on the same basis, of about 5 percent. In Europe, where unemployment rose to unprecedented heights during the winter of 1932-33, the spring and summer months of this year brought a partial renewal of industrial activity reflected in a much sharper decline in unemployment than in the previous fiscal year. In such industrial countries as England, France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium the number of unemployed had fallen by the end of June to a smaller figure than a year earlier. The influence of Government relief projects, however, must not be overlooked in this connection. In the United States signs of resistance to further contraction ap peared in the first half of the fiscal year and by the final quarter the tide of deflation was definitely stemmed. Confidence was greatly strengthened as a result of the decisive governmental action, business activity quickened, and by the end of the fiscal year substantial progress had been made. Nevertheless the descent from the 1929 level was so sharp and so long maintained that despite the construc tive work of the President and the Congress and the wholehearted support of the people, conditions at the close of the fiscal year re mained far from satisfactory. The economic structure continued to be badly in need of support and repair. XI BEPORT OE THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE M ajor economic indexes [Based on calendar years 1923-25=100] Rail Indus Manu Min roads, Electric Depart ment Depart ment Year ended June 30, trial factur erals ton- power store quarter, and month produc ing pro produc miles produc sales store tion duction tion revenue tion (value) stocks freight 89 1920 ........................ . 74 1921............................. 1922_............................ 74 98 1923............................. 98 1924______________ 99 1925_..........................105 1926............................. 109 1927.............................. 106 1928............................. 118 1929_........................... 110 1930__________ ____ 87 1931............................. 70 1932.............................. 67 1933.............................. Percent change, 1933 from 1932_............... -4 .3 61 Pinal quarter 1931-32 79 Final quarter 1932-33. i 125 i 98 i 83 » 59 June 1933................... i 92 91 73 75 98 97 99 106 109 106 118 110 87 69 66 -4 .3 59 79 1127 1 97 i 82 1 58 i 93 i Adjusted for seasonal variation. 82 83 69 93 102 98 99 113 103 112 110 91 77 73 96 90 79 96 97 98 105 111 104 110 104 86 66 52 -5 .2 -21.2 53 70 58 78 i 114 109 92 » 112 76 1 87 28 163 184 58 70 72 88 95 102 116 129 138 154 163 155 146 136 88 92 84 94 99 100 104 107 107 110 108 99 80 64 95 97 89 92 101 101 103 103 102 100 99 88 75 58 -6 .8 -20.0 -22.7 68 73 133 55 138 67 i 98 155 i 113 i 96 155 i 103 i 82 150 » 96 1 67 1 69 131 i 57 i 68 144 Manu fac Factory Factory tured employ pay goods ment rolls stocks 112 92 84 99 101 96 101 100 97 100 97 80 68 60 113 98 74 95 102 96 103 104 100 106 101 76 55 41 -9 .3 -11.8 62 107 61 97 122 i 103 i 90 T28 117 1 76 1 60 104 1 65 99 -25.5 46 86 90 91 87 101 104 104 110 117 120 121 120 108 98 110 91 68 43 46 At the beginning of the April quarter, activity had reached extremely low levels and had recently shown resistance to further declines. Inventories were abnormally small and in need of replen ishment. The return of confidence following the banking crisis, the possibility of direct and indirect inflationary action, and the legislative accomplishments of the first session of the Seventy-third Congress stimulated natural forces working toward recovery and thus contributed to the sharpest advance in business activity in any 3 months’ period during the Nation’s history. Indexes of activity registered a strong and consistent improvement after March to the close of the fiscal year, but in a few instances, as a result of specu lative action, the improvement was more rapid than the basic situa tion warranted. This condition, however, was in the process of read justment by midsummer. Although before the close of the fiscal year our financial structure was subjected to the most severe strain it has undergone in American history, the financial markets during the first quarter reflected increasingly favorable conditions. Monetary gold stocks increased as a result of imports and releases from earmark, currency returned from domestic hoards, the rate of bank suspensions showed a marked drop, and security prices increased substantially. Mean while, however, member bank loans declined almost uninterruptedly and bank investments tended upward. The liquidity of bank port folios was aided by legislation passed during the preceding months. In the second quarter money rates reached record low levels, new capital issues became exceedingly small, both stock and bond prices became highly irregular, and bank suspensions became increasingly XII REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE widespread. An additional factor in the disturbed state of the financial markets was the “ war-debt ” crisis which was followed on December 15 by defaults on the part of five foreign government debtors. Overshadowing all other developments of the year was the rapid spread of banking troubles in February and the first few days of March. The general situation throughout the country assumed the nature of a panic—one of the most serious through which the country has passed. On March 6 President Roosevelt found it necessary to proclaim a Nation-wide bank holiday. Following this action Con gress was convened in special session and immediately passed the Emergency Banking Act authorizing the reopening of the banks under a system whereby the institutions were first required to satisfy the Treasury as to their solvency. In the final quarter of the fiscal year confidence was restored and the financial indicators revealed a general improvement. Money rates dropped from their panic levels, money in circulation gradually de clined, and the upward movement in security and commodity prices strengthened the position of the entire banking structure. Progress was made in releasing the bank deposits not immediately made avail able after the crisis. Although 13,770 banks had been licensed to resume operations on an unrestricted basis by June 30, 1933, the several billions of dollars of frozen deposits in unlicensed banks and banks operating on a restricted basis tended to retard the progress of recovery. Coincident with the upward trend of commodity and security prices following the suspension of gold payments on April 20, the dollar dropped to a steadily increasing discount in term of the gold currencies, and in June the dollar averaged about 19 percent below its gold parity. Largely as a result of the extraordinary expenses incurred by the Government in its efforts to prevent the collapse of banks and other public institutions, the total interest-bearing debt of the United States increased approximately $3,000,000,000 during the fiscal year. A substantial part of this increase grew out of the operations of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation which up to June 30, 1933, had made loans aggregating close to 2y2 billion dollars. The banking crisis, serious as it was, ranked second to the tre mendous problem of the large number of people willing and able to work but unable to find jobs. Unemployment which had already reached a staggering total by the middle of 1932 continued to increase through the winter months despite widespread efforts to share employment. By March it was estimated that unemployment had reached a total of approximately 13,000,000. Along with the falling off in the volume of business and the increasing supply of unemployed labor, wage and salary rates were further reduced. Recognizing the inability of industry and trade to reabsorb rapidly these unemployed workers without affecting a reduction in hours and an increase in purchasing power, plans were perfected in the final quarter of the fiscal year for joint action on the part of employers to reduce working time and raise wages. Although this program entrusted to the National Recovery Administration did REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE XIII not directly contribute to increased employment in April, May, and June, indirectly its imminence had a marked effect. Unemploy ment decreased steadily throughout the three months and by the end of the fiscal year was about 1% million below the March peak. The creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps which aimed to remove from the labor market 300,000 young men between the ages of 18 and 25, also aided in improving the unemployment situation. For the fiscal year, as a whole, factory employment was approxi mately 12 percent less than in the previous fiscal year, and 40 percent below the fiscal year 1929. Pay rolls showed a similar but much sharper contraction. The average for 1932-33 was 26 percent below the previous fiscal year and 61 percent below the fiscal year 1929. In dustrial disputes continued to be relatively few but with the increased activity in the last quarter became more numerous. Emigration continued to exceed immigration. These further reductions in employment and purchasing power were reflected in the sales of goods in domestic markets. Distribu tion of goods at retail declined further from the level of the pre ceding fiscal year, and showed very little improvement in the final quarter of the fiscal year when productive activity was advancing rapidly and purchasing power reviving. This is not an unusual con dition at the beginning of recovery from a major depression since productive operations are inherently more sensitive to changing con ditions ; nevertheless, the disparity between production and distribu tion became so great by the close of the fiscal year that a narrowing of the gap became essential to orderly progress. Department store sales were about one fifth lower in dollar volume than in the preceding fiscal year. Price changes accounted for about half this decline. Department store stocks at the end of the fiscal year were 14 percent smaller in value, and. as prices were only about 3 percent lower the volume of merchandise on the shelves of such stores was less than at the end of the preceding year. Sales through the leading chain-store organizations were also lower in value, and for the variety chains the drop was 13 percent. Sales by leading mail-order companies were 14 percent smaller in value, which is a somewhat better record than in the preceding fiscal year. These de creases were, of course, largely influenced by price reductions. The movement of package freight hy the railroads dropped 16 percent, or at a slightly higher rate than in the preceding fiscal year. Advertis ing expenditures were further curtailed with newspaper linage off about a fifth and magazine linage down 28 percent. The record of commercial insolvencies showed a material better ment in the fiscal year, reversing the trend of the fiscal years imme diately preceding. After increasing to record levels in 1931-32, fail ures decreased 11 percent in number and the liabilities involved were 20 percent lower. In the final quarter of the fiscal year, failures averaged one third less than in the same quarter of the preceding fiscal year while liabilities were only half as great. The shrinking volume of trade continued to exert an influence on the course of prices and the pressure to dispose of goods in the face of weak demand brought quotations on many commodities to a point even below the costs of production. Domestic prices moved XIV REPORT OS' THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE lower during the first three quarters of the fiscal year, but following the suspension of gold payments in April there was a sharp upward movement, particularly in the prices of sensitive foodstuffs and raw materials. Although monetary action accelerated die movement in the United States, part of the gain was the result of the increased demand for goods which characterized the final quarter of the fiscal year. In June the wholesale price index was about 2 percent higher than in June 1932. Advances in wholesale prices during the latter part of the fiscal year were not confined to the United States, but were general in leading foreign countries. The upward movement was more moderate, however, than in the United States. At the low point reached in March wholesale prices were 40 per cent below the 1926 level. From then to the end of June an average advance of 10 percent occurred, bringing the general level of wholesale prices to 66 percent of the 1926 average. Despite the gain in the final quarter the average for the fiscal year as a whole was 7.7 percent below the previous fiscal year and was less than the pre war level. Prices of farm and food products, as in the years imme diately preceding, continued to record relatively greater declines than other products. Farm products prices averaged 15 percent lower, foods 12 percent lower, while all other products recorded an average decline of only 5.4 percent. Compared with the fiscal year 1913-14, the wholesale price index was 8.6 percent less in 1932-33, while farm products were off 36 percent; foods 8.1 percent; and other than farm and food products were 0.3 percent higher. Retail prices followed the trend of the wholesale price level. Food prices dropped 13 percent to 64 percent of the 1923-25 av erage. Fairchild’s index of department store articles also fell 13 percent. The National Industrial Conference Board’s index of the cost of living for a workingman’s family dropped 10 percent, or at approximately the same rate as in the preceding fiscal year. Despite price concessions and efforts to rebuild demand the low volume of purchasing power discouraged consumption and the output of mines and factories reached the lowest point in the post war period. Production increased rapidly, however, in the final quarter of the fiscal year and for these 3 months averaged 30 percent larger than in the corresponding period of 1932. For the year as a whole the volume of production was about 4 percent smaller than in the preceding fiscal year. By June several of the more important industries were operating at a rate not only far above the level of the previous year, but also higher than in June 1929, the approximate peak of activity in that year. Among these were the food products, leather and shoe, and textile industries. Conforming to the experience of previous depressions the declines in productive activity were most pronounced in the industries pro ducing durable goods. Continued stagnation in the construction in dustry throughout the year reacted unfavorably on those industries dependent, in large measure, on new construction. Industries manu facturing the major lines of consumers’ goods continued to show a relatively high output and these were among the leaders of the recovery movement in the final quarter of the fiscal year. A rate of increase without precedent in the initial stages of re covery from previous depressions was established by industrial REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE XV activity between March and June 1933. After declining to 60 per cent of the 1923-25 average rate of production, industrial activity expanded rapidly in the last quarter of the fiscal year and by June was 50 percent higher than in March. Although the National Recovery Administration was functioning before the end of June, no codes had been put into actual operation. Nevertheless, producers hastened to take advantage of the prevailing level of costs and a con siderable part of the increased industrial activity in May and June can safely be attributed to the imminence of codes being adopted. For the fiscal year as a whole the relative decline in the manufacturing and mining industries was approximately the same. Building activity also fell to an extremely low level, notwith standing continued efforts to expand public construction. The major Federal program of public works, involving an eventual expenditure of nearly $3,300,000,000, was adopted too late in the fiscal year to be reflected in actual operations during the period under review. The extent of the decline in this industry is indicated by the fact that in the latter half of the fiscal year the seasonally adjusted index of construction dropped to 14 percent of the 1923-25 average, and for the fiscal year the index at 23 compared with 127 in 1928-29. What this means in terms of business activity may be judged from the fact that the value of construction business handled in 1929, according to the construction census, was $7,286,000,000. Total contracts awarded in 37 States 2 amounted to $1,117,000,000, a reduction of 43 percent from the previous fiscal year. The best relative showing was in the public works and public utility group which fell 30 percent in value, compared with a decline of 52 percent for the residential group and of 49 percent for the nonresidential group. By June contracts awarded in 37 States were barely above $100,000,000 and signs of a revival in activity, other than on public works, were stillof lacking. Resumption private construction on a broader scale is depend ent, in a considerable measure, on the availability of easier capital. By the end of the fiscal year no change had occurred in the long term capital market which would tend to encourage private con struction. No long-term real estate bonds were publicly offered be tween February and June, and the total offered during the fiscal year was insignificant. Mortgage money from almost all sources has been hard to 'obtain and renewals have constituted a problem. Construction costs declined further during the first half of the fiscal year, but there was a fairly rapid rise during the latter half owing to the increase in construction material prices. The Engineer ing News Record’s index at the end of the fiscal year had advanced to”l66, compared with 153 at the beginning of the fiscal year and anAlthough average ofa difficult 207 in 1929. period for industry it, was possibly an even more trying period for agriculture. Crops were about equal in acreage to those of other recent years and yields per acre were about average. This acreage, however, has been producing a slight surplus for a number of years and the carry-over at the end of the fiscal year, which represented surplus, was close to a record for major crops, 2According to the P. W. Dodge statistics. XVI REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE such as wheat, cotton, and corn. Meanwhile the export markets for a number of important farm products have been considerably curtailed as a result of the growth of large-scale farming abroad, the bringing of new lands in foreign countries under cultivation, and the other factors generally tending to reduce trade. The combination of good crops and a large livestock inventory, together with the general depression and a decreased purchasing power, caused a steady decline in agricultural prices to the lowest point in about 35 years. Prices of goods produced by farmers de clined at a more rapid rate than the goods which they purchased and the farmer’s ability to buy products of industry thus has been greatly lessened. This has had an important influence on industrial activity. From March to June agricultural prices advanced sharply as a result of the Government’s agricultural program and an antici pation of adoption of inflationary measures. The decline in prices seriously aggravated the very great debt and tax burden on agriculture. The Department of Agriculture estimated that in 1933 over 40 percent of the farms were mortgaged and that farmers were in debt to the extent of 12 billion dollars, about 8 billions of which was mortgage debt. It also estimated that fixed charges paid by farmers were very high amounting to about 30 percent of the gross income last year. Deflation in industry and agriculture had a marked effect on rail road traffic and revenues. Car loadings of originating freight de clined 16 percent and ton-miles of revenue freight by 21 percent. Railway operating revenues for class “ I ” railroads, which handled over 98 percent of railway tonnages, amounted to about 3 billion dollars, 18 percent less than in the preceding fiscal year. Net oper ating income was only 6 percent below the previous fiscal year but almost 50 percent less than in 1930-31. In the closing months of the fiscal year net operating income showed an encouraging increase which was well in excess of the rate of growth in traffic volume. Although the total for the month of February was only $10,314,408, income had climbed to $60,723,013 by June. Railroad credit, impaired as a result of shrinking revenues, was maintained by additional advances from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. During the fiscal year $193,956,702 was advanced to 51 railroads or their receivers. The motor truck has continued to grow in importance as a vehicle of transportation for both passengers and freight. Although the most effective use of the motor truck has been found to be on com paratively short hauls, the range of its effectiveness was somewhat widened during the past fiscal year. Air-transport _operations were adversely affected by prevailing economic conditions, but despite this handicap continued expansion occurred in several directions. Passenger-miles flown increased from 120,121,467 in 1931—32 to 137,006,531 in 1932—33, an increase of 14 percent despite a reduction of 12 percent in the number of passengers carried. Express poundage carried increased 28 percent to 1,252?860 pounds. Mail poundage was reduced 24 percent to 6,741,788 pounds. A further shrinkage in commerce prolonged the recovery of ship ping? especially that engaged in foreign trade. For the final quarter of the fiscal year the advance in both domestic and foreign trade re acted favorably on marine business and on June 30, 1933, idle ton nage was 5.5 percent less than on the corresponding date of 1932 REPOET OE THE'SECRETARY OP COMMERCE XVII Considerable progress was made during the fiscal year in the develop ment of our inland waterways system. Foreign trade of the United States was affected by the forces, both national and international, that continued to restrict the free ex change of goods and services. Notwithstanding a relatively marked expansion during the final quarter of the fiscal year, foreign trade touched the lowest level in about three decades. United States exports dropped from $1,948,000,000 for the year 1931—32 to $1,440,000,000 in 1932-33, or 25 percent. Although the decline in unit value of 11 per cent was responsible for a part of this drop in value, the decrease in physical volume was about 17 percent, or relatively as great as in the preceding fiscal year. Imports fell off 33 percent from $1,730,000,000 in 1931-32 to $1,168,000,000 in 1932-33, but owing to a relatively greater drop in the level of import prices—19 percent—the decrease in quantity was only 17 percent, or about the same as in exports. The country’s “ invisible ” transactions also fell to new post-war low levels during the calendar year 1932, the latest period for which estimates are available. Such an important item as United States tourist expenditures abroad fell in the calendar year 1932 approxi mately 22 percent below the level of 1931. Immigrant remittances were only about four fifths as large as in 1931, while both shipping receipts and payments fell about 50 percent. The most important class of “ invisible” receipts, namely, interest on United States investments abroad, fell about 33 percent. In the final quarter of the fiscal year, foreign merchandise trade returns assumed a more favorable aspect, and by June the dollar value of shipments was larger than in the corresponding period of the preceding year, for the first time since 1929. Although these increases in both exports and imports were in part attributable to increasing business activity throughout the world they were influ enced in large part by the trend of prices and dollar exchange. The volume, as well as the unit value, of both exports and imports for the quarter showed increases over a year earlier. ASSISTANCE TO E0EEXGN AND DOMESTIC BUSINESS The stagnation of the movement of goods between nations is admittedly not only one of the serious results of the world depres sion, but, at the same time, a fundamental reason for the prolonga tion of this unhappy state of affairs. Apart from the importance of our export trade in manufactured products, American agriculture is also dependent, to a considerable extent, upon foreign outlets. Even last year, when the value of our exports had shrunk to the lowest point in more than a quarter of a century, foreign markets furnished the means of subsistence to several important groups of our farm population, notably those interested in producing cotton, tobacco, wheat, and hog products. During 1932, in spite of unparalleled handicaps, more than one half of the raw cotton produced m the United States was sold abroad, as was more than one fourth of our leaf tobacco, and a like percentage of our hog lard; 136,000,000 bushels of wheat—more than one seventh of that important crop last year—went to foreign markets. 19865— 33------ 2 XVIII REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE During the year, the foreign service of the Department has been able to render varied services to our trade with the rest of the world. The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce has followed, and reported upon, every vital commercial aspect of changing world conditions. It has provided a wealth of useful data on such per plexing matters as tariffs, surtaxes, quotas, import licenses, foreignexchange controls, commercial treaties, and international agreements. Important data on the monetary situation have been prepared; such subjects as credits, foreign investments, and debt payments have been studied comprehensively. With a view to possible aid to our own governmental agencies, as well as to individuals or organizations, the Bureau has investigated unemployment relief abroad, aid to the farming community, foreign social insurance, and loans abroad for public works. Foreign commercial laws have been studied, as have taxation matters and life-insurance developments abroad. Much of the basic data used by the American delegation to the London Eco nomic and Monetary Conference was compiled in the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Serving individual industries in foreign-trade matters, the Bureau has secured equitable treatment for American chemicals under cer tain embargo and quota systems; has inauguarated a series of studies of foreign radio markets; has acted as an intermediary in problems connected with Chinese goatskins; has issued world charts of facts on major minerals; has helped to overcome formidable obstacles to the distribution of American motion pictures abroad; and has per formed similarly substantial foreign-trade services in numerous other industrial fields. In the domestic field, because of curtailment in the budget, it has been necessary to abandon the work of making special surveys and investigations which in past years have been often beneficial only to particular industries. The Department, however, has now under taken assistance to domestic manufacturers and merchants of a more general and long-range kind. The object of these studies will be to disclose the underlying forces which are at work in our business system—studies which no single industry is in a position to under take, but which are essential if in the future the different parts of our industrial system are not to be permitted, through the over development of some and the under-development of others, to fall into the dislocations from which we are now suffering. In its endeavor to stimulate domestic business, the Bureau of For eign and Domestic Commerce has made studies of operating costs and production capacity in various industries, ranging from jewelry to marking devices and from confectionary to drop forgings. It has completed the National Drug Store Survey. It has taken energetic steps toward the elimination of the “ returned-goods ” evil in retail ing. It has studied the “ location structure ” of retail trade. Indus trial marketing problems have been given careful consideration. A series of “Aids to analyzing markets ” has been issued. A new type of marketing and economic-background study by “ commercial dis tricts ” has been carried out in cooperation with 10 universities in the West-Mid-Continent. A study of the national income has been undertaken. REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE XIX REORGANIZATION OE THE RUREATJ OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE The activities of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, having been the subject of considerable study by the Department, a reorganization was effected. For many years the Department has maintained a rather extensive foreign service, engaged not merely in the promotion of American export trade and m rendering service to American business men abroad but in economic reporting and in studying the general business trends in the various countries m which are staff stationed. The they foreign of the Department has been drastically curtailed and its personnel reduced to approximately one third of the number of men in the foreign field at the close of the last fiscal year. Relieved of the necessity for acting in a capacity somewhat analo gous of that of salesmen for American products abroad, the foreign representatives of the Department of Commerce will now be able to concentrate on their primary function of providing the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, for the_ benefit of American business as a whole, with complete and intelligently analyzed infor mation concerning the significant economic, financial, and commer cial developments that are constantly taking place m foreign coun tries. Current reporting on such changes m foreign government regulations is essential and is a legitimate activity of the Department. Equally important is the Bureau’s function as a coordinating an distributing center for information, whether obtained through its own service at home or through the consuls of the State Department, bearing on basic economic, financial, and commercial trends abroad. While looking forward to a general coordination agreement with the Department of State, the Department of Commerce announced on June 14 (effective June 30) as a part of its program for main taining the efficiency of its service at greatly reduced cost, the closing of 21 of its 53 foreign offices, with m some instances, a reduction of the staff at the offices retained. Most of the posts abandoned are located in the countries less important from an ex porting standpoint. The territories which they have been serving will hereafter be served from the nearest Department of Commerce office located at an important capital. The separation from the service of the officials in charge of the closed offices in no way reflected on their ability or on the character of the services they have rendered, and efforts have been made, in many cases success fully, to find employment for a number of the men recalled, fhe offices closed on June 30 were: : Belgrade, Berne, Bucharest, Budapest, Helsingfors, Lisbon, Latin America : Caracas, Guatemala, Montevideo, San Juan, Sao Paulo. F ab, East : Bangkok, Hong Kong, Mukden, Wellington. Canada : Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver. A frica : Accra. E urope In the interest of economy the Department, m June, also reor ganized its domestic district office service. It is believed that the laving of approximately $325,000 in the annual cost of maintaining the domestic field service system can be effected without endangering essential services to local business by substituting cooperative offices XX REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE for the 10 district offices which have been closed and by curtailing expenditures in the 24 offices retained. District offices in the' follow ing cities have been closed: Charlotte, N.C.; Denver, Colo.; Des Moines, Iowa; El Paso and Galveston, Tex.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Mobile, Ala.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Wilmington, Del. In each case the Department has signified its willingness to estab lish a cooperative office in these cities after negotiations with the local commercial organization (association of commerce; chamber of commerce; or board of trade). The Department now main tains cooperative offices in 49 important cities in the country under the arrangement with the local commercial organization. The latter pays the salary of a qualified foreign trade secretary and furnishes the necessary office equipment and space. In return, the Depart ment supplies a wide range of foreign and domestic trade informa tion kept always current by a steady flow of information reaching the Department from its foreign offices as well as facts and figures developed through the facilities of the Department in Washington. The Government information is supplied under a guarantee by the local commercial organization that it will be made available impar tially to all interested business men in the community. PROGRESS IN CIVIL AERONAUTICS The Federal Airways System, as now established, comprises 18,100miles of lighted and 900 miles of unlighted airways equipped with 262 landing fields and 68 radio communication stations, besides beacon lights, a weather reporting service, more than 13,000 miles of teletypewriter communications circuits, and the trained personnel necessary to operate and service this equipment. During the year, no new airway construction was authorized, and, for reasons of economy, the lights on three routes over which no operations were scheduled were removed. New steps taken by the Aeronautics Branch to surround passengers on the scheduled air lines of the country with safety precautions in cluded the practical service testing by the Department and the radio system for the blind landing of aircraft. This system makes useof radio throughout and enables aircraft to land at an airport en tirely obscured by fog. It was installed at the Newark Municipal Airport, Newark, N.J., and numerous tests under conditions which would be experienced if in regular use, were made. Department of Commerce pilots effected scores of blind landings in demonstrating the practicability of the system, which has been welcomed as the most practical solution yet devised for the problem of bringing air craft consistently to safe landings where the ground cannot be seen by the pilot. The Aeronautics Branch flight checked and examined more than 500 pilots engaged in interstate scheduled air-passenger service dur ing the year to ascertain their ability to fly blind, and their knowl edge of the use of radio and other aids to air navigation, including meteorological data. Upon the accomplishment of the flight tests and written examinations, these pilots were issued scheduled air transport ratings. REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE XXI The transmission of weather maps over the teletypewriter circuits of the Federal Airways System was found to be practicable in tests and such a service was inaugurated on a nation-wide scale with the cooperation of the United States Weather Bureau, dhe United States is divided into three sections for this purpose, with a map transmitted for each section every four hours, enabling airmen to ascertain beforehand the type of weather prevailing in any part oi the country, both on and off the Federal Airways System. An im portant improvement in the transmission of the radio range beacon signals which guide airmen along the Federal airways was accom plished by the development of a new type transmitting antenna. This antenna, designated as the T-L type, eliminates night variations found in the old loop type and which caused the radio courses to shift and become distorted. Thorough tests have demonstrated the merits of this antenna and installations are now being made. Another distinct forward step in the Department of Commerce supervision over the design and construction of commercial aircraft was taken by a revision of the airworthiness requirements. The changes were made also for the purpose of taking full advantage of all available aerodynamic information, and to make the standards more adaptable to the individual characteristics of specific aircraft. Some apprehension was expressed lest, in the effort to hold down expenses, the efficiency of the Department aids to air navigation might be impaired and consequently pilots and passengers placed in peril. There is no foundation for this apprehension. The safety of air travelers is, and may be counted on to remain, a paramount consideration of the Department. BUREAU OE NAVIGATION AND STEAMBOAT INSPECTION During the year the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspec tion collected more than $1,600,000 in revenue through tonnage duties, navigation fees, and fines. It recommends legislation strengthening the laws protecting our coastwise trade and excluding alien from1933, our the domestic fisheries. •. i cu. A On vessels June 30, merchant marine of the TT United States comprised 24,868 vessels aggregating 15,060,157 gross tons. These figures include 642 vessels of 190,803 gross tons built during the year. On July 1, 1933, there were being built, or under contract to be built, in our shipyards for private shipowners, 60 vessels of 34 846 gross tons. The above total indicates a reduction of 288 ves sels of 797,498 gross tons from the merchant marine of the preceding year. This reduction is accounted for by the scrapping of a large tonnage by the United States Shipping Board. There are at pres ent laid up and out of commission 2,662 vessels aggregating 4,146,538 tons. The crews for the merchant marine, excluding masters, aggregate approximately 184,953. Of this number 41,136 were serving on the laid-up vessels. The approval of the act of June 13, 1933, as amended, relating to the construction and inspection of boilers, “ unfired pressure vessels, and the appurtenances thereof ”, will enable the Board of Super vising Inspectors of Steam Vessels to prescribe rules and regulations covering these subjects that are thoroughly modern in every respect. XXII REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE In order to extend and improve its service in inspecting marine construction and boilers on the vessels coming under its jurisdiction, the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection urges ratifica tion by Congress of the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea which would place the United States on a parity with the other principal maritime nations of the world in promoting the safety of ships, passengers, and crews at sea. It also urges the exten sion of existing steamboat inspection, legislation to apply to the con stantly increasing number of diesel-engine-propelled ocean-going vessels, and the amendment of existing law so as to permit the local inspectors of steam vessels to make more exacting tests of operators. LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE In the Lighthouse Service progress is recorded in revision of the entire system of aids to navigation made necessary by the economy program. A thorough review was made of the whole system, marine interests were consulted, and a program of economies prepared. This work is still in progress. Considerable reduction of maintenance costs has been found possible through the discontinuance of some lightships and light stations, and the conversion of a number of stations to automatic operation, accelerating economy plans under way for some years. In a number of instances it was found possible to supply better service with less expensive aids, and the availability of more modern equipment, including improved lighted buoys, and of radio aids to navigation. Although 1,718 aids to navigation were discontinued during the year, the total number on June 30 was 22,495, showing an actual net increase, mostly in the smaller types of aids marking improved waterways. Facilities for the efficient operation of the Lighthouse Service were distinctly improved by important depot construction at Portland, Maine, Chelsea, Mass., and other places, and by the com pletion of 4 new lighthouse tenders; in addition, the construction of 3 others was commenced. Important advances and technical im provements were made in the application of electricity for signal lights at stations and on buoys, and also with respect to fog-signal apparatus. The maintenance of aids to navigation on the entire Mississippi^ River system was consolidated under a superintendent at St. Louis. Important lighthouse construction was in progress. Extensive service tests were initiated of a new system of distinguish ing buoys at night by the nature of the flash. The radiobeacon sys tem maintained now includes 104 signals, well distributed along the coasts. COAST AM GEODETIC SURVEY By new and extensive surveys of the adjacent water areas, the Coast and Geodetic Survey has added considerably to the basic surveys of the interior of the country, and contributed much scien tific knowledge helpful in warding oil dangers from earthquakes by its studies of earth movements, its investigations of the densities of the earth’s crusts, and in many other ways. New instruments for recording strong earth motions have been developed by the Survey and tried out during the year. These make it possible to get ac v REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE XXIII curate information concerning the actual motions of the earth, and such information is of great importance to engineers and archi tects in designing buildings that will withstand earthquake shocks. Three of the new instruments were in operation at Long Beach, Calif., during the earthquake of March 10, 1933, and very valuable records for study and investigation were obtained in learning what types of buildings are most likely to suffer the least damage. The radio has revolutionized the methods used m charting the waters along our coasts. Through sound waves produced by bombs exploded near a sounding ship and transmitted through the water to shore stations and automatically returned to the ship as radio signals, the Coast and Geodetic Survey has discovered a large sub merged mountain over a mile high, 20 miles long and 8 miles wide about 70 miles off the California coast and accurately charted it by this radio acoustic method during the past year. On the Atlantic coast a continuation of the Delaware River Valley was found 60 miles from shore and charted by this same method, which is espe cially valuable where the distance out is so great that shore stations cannot be made visible. BUREAU 0E FISHERIES The Bureau of Fisheries carried forward its biological surveys of the commercial and game fisheries of the marine and interior waters for the purpose of determining changes in abundance, of assisting in the formulation of proper conservation measures, and of pro moting the science of “ water farming.” Contributions to fish hatchery management and technique were made, which, in several cases, have resulted in more economical operation arid, better fish. Such technological research as the development of fish oils and fish meals of high quality for animal feeding have been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to the American farmer and the American fisherman. During the past year the discovery and development of an electrometric method for detecting the relative freshness of fish may make revolutionary changes in distribution and marketing m Economies and waste correction have resulted from the policies followed in the control of commercial fishing in Alaska, lhe Alaska fisheries have been built up so that an abundant yield may be obtained each season without impairment of the future supply. Activities in the fur-seal industry at the Pribilof Islands in the fiscal year 1933 resulted in the take of more than 49,000 sealskins. BUREAU OF STANDARDS The work of research and scientific investigation has been con tinued. The testing of supplies purchased by the Federal Govern ment was one of the major activities of the Bureau of Standards during the year. Government purchasing bv_ specification, while leading to large economies, is steadily increasing the demands on the Bureau for this work. During the past year, for example, 3 401 566 barrels of cement were tested, an increase of 10 percent over ’l932. The total fee value of the testing done (the greatest XXIV REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE volume in the Bureau’s history) for Federal and State Governments and for the public—which pays commercial prices, the fees being returned to the Treasury—amounted to about $960,000. The Bureaus of Standards and Mines led in activities along the lines of eliminating waste. During the year the Bureau of Standards rendered noteworthy assistance to manufacturers, distributors, and consumers interested in reduction of waste through simplification, commercial standards, and the use of nationally recognized specifica tions, also to governmental and private organizations concerned with the promotion of building activities. Noteworthy accomplishments in the field of fundamental measure ments include the determination of the value of the ampere and the ohm by absolute methods. This was a part of an international program to establish the electrical units on an absolute basis in terms of the fundamental units of length, mass, and time, thus avoiding the_ necessity of relying upon material electrical standards for their maintenance. _The determination, now under way, of the absolute value of gravity at the Bureau of Standards is of importance as a basis for absolute force measurements, and will be of value to the Coast and Geodetic Survey in connection with its gravity survey. Further refinements have been made in the frequency standards maintained at the Bureau, and frequency signals are now broadcast weekly with an error of not more than 1 part in 10,000,000. This service is especially valuable to broadcasting stations in checkin« their frequency standards in order that they may adhere closely to their assigned wave length. Special motor fuels, made up of blends of alcohol and gasoline, have been studied in the laboratory and in cars on the road, and the performance characteristics of these fuels have been established. The American Standards Association has offered to carry on much of commercial standards work which has been discontinued at the Bureau of Standards. It is planned that the association (which is a cooperative nonprofit making national standardizing agency made up of trade associations, technical societies, and governmental departments) will hereafter continue the above-mentioned activities under the guidance of the 37 industrial groups, technical societies, and the governmental departments included in its membership. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS The outstanding achievement of the Bureau of the Census during the fiscal year was the completion of the Fifteenth Decennial Census, the largest task in census taking ever undertaken by the United States—-at a cost of approximately $39,000,000. The census included population, agriculture, irrigation, drainage, distribution, unemploy ment, ^manufactures, and mines. An important feature was the inclusion, for the first time, of statistics on distribution, in response to a wide-spread and increasing demand for Federal statistics relat ing to the distribution of commodities. The final reports consist of 32 volumes, containing 32,019 pa«es, as compared with 12 volumes, containing 13,323 pages, for the pre ceding decennial census. Twenty-four of the Fifteenth Census volumes had been published by June 30, 1933, and the eight remain ing volumes were in various stages of printing. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE XXV The law provides for the collection of certain statistics once every 10 years or once every 5 years, in years not conflicting with the decen nial census of population, etc. Two such censuses relating to 1982 •were taken during the past year—the decennial census of financial statistics of State and local governments (formerly known as the census of wealth, public debt, and taxation) and the quinquennial census of electrical industries. Preliminary figures on both of these subjects were issued and final reports on financial statistics of State and local governments were published for a number of States. BUREAU 0E MINES Progress in improving apparatus and practice to prevent accidents in mines is recorded by the Bureau of Mines. One hundred and forty-seven approvals of electric equipment were issued during the year and 18 explosives tested and approved as permissible for use in gaseous or dusty coal mines; 8 of these explosives tested failed to meet the Bureau’s requirements. A fee is charged for this service. The Bureau also reports first-aid or mine-rescue instruction during the year to 74,500 persons in 578 communities in 36 States and Alaska. Such training, together with advocacy of rock dusting as a preventive of coal-mine explosions, studies of causes of falls of roof and coal, and the testing of explosives and electrical machinery already mentioned, no doubt deserve a large part of the credit for the low-fatality rate in coal mines. During the past year experi ments by the Bureau have also proved that the pollution of streams by acid coal-mine drainage can be mitigated, if not entirely pre vented, by sealing up worked out or abandoned mines so as to ex clude air. Removal of this pollution in the streams reduces corrosion and water-treatment problems, increases domestic water supply, and preserves aquatic life. A saving of more than $300,000 in investment and more than $15,000 in annual expense resulted from studies made by engineers of the Bureau of Mines to devise ways and means of effecting econo mies in the use of fuel at more than 100 Government-owned power and heating plants. Eight departments of the Federal Government made use of this service. Reports covering the best methods of the development of small lode-gold mines, giving unit costs, are in preparation. Studies of controlling and gaging natural-gas wells have enabled the petroleum industry to eliminate many noneconomical processes formerly based upon the rule-of-thumb methods in 011 and gas fields, and have resulted in a marked conservation of these natural resources. Research on nonmetallic minerals by the Bureau of Mines has laid the foundation for a new potash industry to produce at home an important commodity formerly imported. It has also developed domestic substitutes for foreign chalks, whitings, glass and pottery sand, and clay; and devised methods of recovery that may assist the Alabama graphite industry to meet foreign competitors. The Bureau’s helium-production plant manufactured helium with an average purity of 98.20 percent and an average recovery of 90.12 percent—two new records. Educational motion-picture films, pro duced under the Bureau’s supervision, were circulated with 34,638 showings to a total audience of 2,996,000 persons. XXVI REPORT OP THE SECBETARY OP COMMERCE THE PATENT OFFICE With nearly 2,000,000 domestic patents already granted and an almost equal number of foreign patents on record in the office, the work of examining each succeeding application becomes more and more difficult. In spite of difficulties, however, the achievements of this agency of the Department during the fiscal year just closed have been gratifying. Although the volume of new business presented to the Patent Office was the lowest in 25 years, and the fiscal year as a whole continued the steady decline in patent applications which started several years ago, the last 3 months of the year was marked by an increase in new applications. The fiscal year recorded a decrease of approximately 14,000 in the number of new patent applications filed and a small decrease in the number of trade-mark applications, as compared with the previous year, and an appreciable gain in design patent applications and applications on patents for plants. The number of patent applica tions awaiting action on the part of the office was reduced 36 percent, a result that merits comment in view of the fact that the office was operating with a smaller personnel than has been available for sev eral preceding years. The work in the Patent Office is now more nearly current than for many years. The revenue of the Patent Office did not suffer a loss proportionate to the decline in the volume of business, the annual receipts being only $141,000 less than those.for 1932. The increase of the filingfee for patent applications from $25 to $30 was undoubtedly responsible for the relatively high receipts in the face of the decline in business. The year closed with a deficit of only $165,000 as against the huge deficit of $827,000 of the previous year. It is believed that a deficit will be avoided for the fiscal year 1934. A special committee of representative patent experts was ap pointed by me to study the practice and procedure in the Patent Office and to formulate recommendations designed to expedite the work, to improve operating conditions generally, and to remove sources of dissatisfaction voiced by inventors and members of the patent profession. FEES FOR DEPARTMENT SERVICES The Economy Act of 1932 provided that the Department of Com merce shall charge fees to all persons desiring to obtain more than an occasional statistical and trade statement. These were formerly free to all who applied; but with the need for economy, fees have been imposed for all such data and reports, and it is the testimony of the bureaus concerned, although it is difficult to get the exact fig ures, that substantial sums are accruing to the Government from this source. In this connection, it should not be forgotten that sev eral of the big units of the Department are completely or nearly self-supporting. The Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspec tion has almost always turned in a surplus to the Treasury. Then there is the Patent Office the operations of which are almost all taken care of by the fees received. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE XXVII More detailed information concerning the activities of the various agencies of the Department is contained in the attached appendix (p. 1). BUSINESS ADVISORY AND PLANNING COUNCIL On June 26, 1933, at our instance, a group of business men met at the Department and organized the Business Advisory and Plan ning Council for the Department of Commerce. The personnel of the council was selected from industry by a group of leading busi ness men, and it is representative of American trade and industry. The purpose of the council is to assist in directing the work of the Department along the most effective and productive lines a,t mini mum expense to the taxpayer and to cooperate in the selection and development of fundamental long-range studies considered essential to the proper advancement of business. A conception of the com prehensive program of the council may be gathered frorn the titles of the following committees and subcommittees it has designated to study various problems : Decentralization of Industry International Trade Relations Business Ethics, Unfair Competition, Standardization, and Elimination of Wastes of Distribution Statistical Reporting and Uniform Accounting for Industry Equivalent Compensation in Industry Social Legislation General Economic Research Departmental Problems Foreign Service of the Department Work of the Department in making Domestic Commerce Surveys Fees for Departmental Services Mineral Services and Publication Policy of the Department Coast and Geodetic Survey The Department anticipates invaluable constructive assistance from the study, research, and recommendations of this volunteer group of public-spirited industrialists. Sincerely yours, D aniel C. B orer, Secretary of Commerce. REPORT BY BUREAUS CHIEF CLERK AND SUPERINTENDENT Notwithstanding the curtailment of some of the activities of the Department, the problem of space became acute with the housing in the Commerce Building of the Home Loan Bank Board and the National Recovery Administration. However, the moving of the Bureau of Mines to the Interior Department Building and with some readjustments and crowding, space was found to accommodate these organizations. A CENTURY OE PROGRESS EXPOSITION The Secretary of Commerce being one of the three members of the United States Commission for this international celebration, which opened at Chicago on May 27, 1933, the Department provided the Commissioner General with considerable assistance in organizing his office and in the preparation of a coordinated plan for govern mental participation. Scientific units furnished counsel and mate rials to the exposition authorities as well as to groups of private exhibitors in planning and assembling presentations of progress made during the last century in research and industry. All bureaus are represented in the 6,300 square feet of space allotted to the Depart ment with displays depicting some features of their services and activities, and have assigned attendants to explain their major func tions to visitors. DISBURSING OEPICE The table following shows the total amount of all appropriations for the various bureaus and services of the Department for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1933. Bureau Annual ap Funds reap propriation propriated from prior act years Appropriat ed under Allotments Emergency Special act by other de Relief and partments Construc tion Act Total $553,200 i $86,790.20 $639,990.20 8,553,500 $500,000 9,053,500.00 75,000 75,000.00 2 490,000 490,000.00 Bureau of Foreign and 3,988,000 3,988,000. 00 862,125 $106, Ó5Ò. Ó5 968,125.00 Bureau of the Census------^Chicago World’s Fair Centennial Celebration. 2 $468,218.91 of this amount transferred to Federal Radio Commission under provisions of Economy Act (Public No. 212, 72d Cong.). 1 Federal E m p l o y m e n t REPOET OF THE SECRETAEY OF COMMERCE 2 Annual ap Funds reap propriation propriated from prior act years Bureau Appropriat ed under Allotments Emergency Special act by other de Relief and partments Construc tion Act Total Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection... $1,476,165 3 $1,628.84 $1,477,793.84 Bureau of Standards........... 2,137, 280 $152,700.00 2,289,980.00 Coast and Geodetic Sur2,399,813 $1,250,000 30,000.00 3, 679,813.00 9,849,280 3,810,000 13,659, 280.00 4 2, 086,020 $162, 595.00 2,248,615. 00 1,860, 325 5 850,608. 92 184,000.00 2,894,933.92 3,790,700 3,790, 700.00 Printing and binding: All bureaus except 600,000 1,100,000 1,700,000.00 39,821,408 1,119,203.92 5,560,000 1,628.84 453,490.20 46,955,730.96 3 Refunding penalties, etc. (permanent indefinite appropriation). 4 Includes $110,000 made immediately available in commerce act for 1934. 8 Includes $850,608.92 fuel yards revolving fund. Disbursements during the year ended June 30, 1933, from appro priations and from funds transferred from other departments were as follows: Appropriation for— Bureau 1931 and prior years Office of the Secretary...................................... $293.08 Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce— 147.38 Bureau of the Census.................................. ......... ................. Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspec tion............. ............................................................................... Radio Division---------------------- --------- -------------------------Patent Office....... ........... ......................................................... 1,044.80 Coast and Geodetic Survey. Bureau of Standards........ . 10,719.82 Bureau oi Lighthouses____ 2,809.70 749.31 Bureau of Fisheries.............. 211,948.00 Aeronautics Branch............ 104. 80 Bureau of Mines................... Total. 227,816.89 1933 $348, 653.13 $934,597. 77 83, 796.07 3, 657, 581.08 2, 554,050. 04 759,155. 74 31,722.46 1,321,161.58 5,937.01 23,409.93 358.041.86 4,458,986. 27 367,923.07 2,970,421.90 205, 742.82 2,160,613. 51 904,396.04 11, 150,398. 33 222.845.86 1,793,447.37 2,492,924.18 6,419,800.10 66, 554. 40 3, 252,101.00 7, 642, 586.94 38,901, 674. 58 Total $1, 283, 543. 98 3, 741, 524. 53 3, 313, 205. 78 1, 352,884.04 29,346.94 4,817,028.13 3,339,389.77 2,377,076.15 12,057,604. 07 2,017,042. 54 9,124,672.28 3,318, 760. 20 46, 772, 078.41 M ISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS Office of the Secretary: Copying fees------------------------------------------------------------------Forfeitures, bonds .of contractors--------------------------------------Sale of stores, condemned-----------------------------------------------Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce: Reimbursement, Government property lost or damaged_____ Reimbursement for transportation-----------------------------------Sale of publications--------------------------------------------------------Work done______________________________________________ Sale of equipment, etc___ _________________________________ Fees under China Trade Act______________________________ Bureau of Census: Copying fees------------------------------------------------------------------Work done______________________________________________ $127. 00 120. 00 550. 50 907.41 15. 90 32, 555.16 1.16 63. 32 2, 050. 00 87. 00 3,63S. 83 CHIEF CLERIC AND SUPERINTENDENT 3 Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection: Reimbursement, Government property lost or damaged---------$7. 00 Sale of publications----------- --------------------------------------------228.20 Sale of scrap and salvaged materials--------------------------------204. 50 Sale of waste paper--------------------------------------------------------5. 54 Tonnage tax------------------------------------------------------------------- 1, 418, 774.87 Navigation fines_________________________________________ 51, 498. 98 Navigation fees--------------------------------------------------------------- 169,121. 32 Bureau of Standards: Reimbursement, Government property lost or damaged-------15. 00 Sale of scrap and salvaged materials--------------------------------10. 00 Interest on deferred collections on payments-----------------------. 16 Testing fees, Bureau of Standards------------------------------------ 21, 601. 70 Bureau of Lighthouses: Commissions on telephone pay stations in Federal buildings outside Washington, D.C-----------------------------------------------23. 55 Forfeitures, bonds of contractors--------------------------------------6. 71 Unexplained balances in cash accounts-----------------------------2.12 Furlough compensation deductions and vacancy savings------5. 00 Refund on empty containers--------------------------------------------218. 00 Reimbursement, excess cost over contract price-----------------343. 58 Reimbursement of expenses----------------------------------------------659.12 Reimbursement, Government property lost or damaged-------4, 487. 56 Reimbursement for transportation--------------------------- -------. 34 Sale of scrap and salvaged materials-------------------------------4,024. 29 Sale of stores, condemned-----------------------------------------------159. 55 Sale of stores---------------------------------------------------------------31. 84 Telephone and telegraph service--------------------------------------62. 30 Work done--------------------------------------------------------------------1> 222. 71 All other services-----------------------------------------------------------91. 88 Rent of public buildings and grounds--------------------------------4, 283.93 Rent, telegraph and telephone facilities-----------------------------. 2. 00 Business concessions-------------------------------------------------------7. 00 Permits, fishing and hunting--------------------------------------------117. 00 Pipe-line water rights-----------------------------------------------------85. 00 Sale of buildings-------------------------------------------------------------345. 70 Sale of equipment, etc-----------------------------------------------------8, 858.17 Sale of land_________________________________ 25.00 Sale of land and buildings-----------------------------------------------3, 234.13 Coast and Geodetic Survey: Copying fees-----------------------------------------------------------------900. 48 Refund on empty containers--------------------------------------------33. 00 Reimbursement of expenses--------------:-----------------------------11. 76 Sale of charts___________________________________________ 43, 351. 54 Sale of maps-----------------------------------------------------------------6, 603. 50 5, 258.11 Sale of publications------------ v------------------------------------------Telephone and telegraph service----------------------------------------17. 04 Work done--------------------------------------------------------------------- 50 Sale of equipment, etc---------------------------------------------------469.10 Bureau of Fisheries: Reimbursement, Government property lost or damaged-------36. 75 Sale of scrap and salvaged materials-------------------------------248. 03 Telephone and telegraph service--------------------------------------10. 32 Sale of equipment, etc----------------------------------------------------78. 50 Sale of subsistence--------------------------------------------------------1>058.48 Patent Office: Patent fees, 1932_______________________ __________________ 7, 240. 75 Patent fees, 1933-------.---------------------------------------------------- 4, 054, 886. 67 Bureau of Mines: Sale of gas from helium plants (5078)-------------------------------- 13, 833. 86 Sale of gas from helium plants (5091)----------------------------- 35,223,05 Sale of publications--------------------------------------------------------1, 235. 06 AVork done----- --------------------------------------------------------------3. 60 Rent of public buildings and grounds-------------------------------55. 00 Rent, land for grazing---------------------------------------------------1,837. 88 Pipe-line rentals, gas____________________________________ 15.000. 00 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE 4 Bureau of Mines—Continued. Rentals on leases covering gas rights 1----- ----------------------$850. 00 2, 500. 00 Business concessions__ 1_________________________________ Sale of equipment, etc___________________________________ 207.01 Testing fees, Bureau of Mines___________________________ 7, 035.00 Aeronautics Branch: Copying fees------------------------------------------------------------------8. 08 Sale of scrap and salvaged materials_____________________ 17. 50 Violation Air Traffic Regulations_________________________ 1, 620. 00 Miscellaneous: Reimbursement, gasoline State tax_____________ 56.46 Total______ ___________________________________________ 5, 927, 957.15 APPOINTMENT DIVISION At the close of the year the personnel of the Department numbered 17,842 (15,864 permanent and 1,978 temporary). Of the total num ber 4,998 are employed in the District of Columbia, and 12,844 constitute the field force. The number of employees retired on annuity during the year under the civil service retirement act was 85—48 by reason of age and 37 on account of disability. The average annuity of those re tired under the act is $885. Under the Lighthouse Service retire ment system 31 were retired for age and 49 on account of disability with an average annuity of $1,101.80. A total of 1,335 employees have been retired under the two systems to the close of June 30, 1933. DIVISION OP PUBLICATIONS The following statement gives, for the fiscal years 1932 and 1933, the amounts available to the Department for printing and binding, the amounts expended, and the unused balances. Fiscal year— 1932 Services other than the Patent Office: Patent Office: 1933 1 2 $757,500.00 753,370. 89 4,129.11 3 $476,000.00 4 347, 770. 32 128, 229. 68 1,430,000.00 1,406, 570. 28 23,429.72 1, 300, 000.00 4 1, 274,639. 49 25,360. 51 1 Does not include the Bureau of the Census. During the period July 1,1929, to June 30, 1932, the cost of printing and binding for that Bureau was paid from appropriations for the Fifteenth Decennial Census. 2 Includes a contribution of $1,500 to the Bureau of Fisheries, accepted under provisions of section 8, Public Act 240, Seventy-first Congress. 3 The appropriation for printing and binding for 1933 was $600,000. This amount was reduced by the Bureaufof the Budget to $476,000. Estimated; exact figures for 1933 cannot be given until all work ordered in that year is completed and billed. * Receipts from sales of the Department’s publications for the fiscal year 1932 (the latest period for which complete data are available) were $632,005.55, compared with $699,593.94 for 1931. The follow ing table presents a comparison for the two years by selling agencies: 1 Transfer and counter warrant issued in 1933 to correct erroneous deposit made in 1932. CHIEF CLERIC AND SUPERINTENDENT 5 Receipts Sales 1931 By the Superintendent of Documents:- Miscellaneous sales and subscripBy Coast and Geodetic Survey: Coast pilots, inside route pilots, tide tables, By Patent Office: Specifications of patents, reissues, etc., trade-mark section and decision leaflet of Official Gazette, and classification bulletins and 1932 $230,099.64 73,394.95 $204,922.99 56,042.86 396,099.35 699,593.94 371,039.70 632,005.55 DIVISION OF PURCHASES AND SALES During the year there were placed 14,412 purchase orders, cover ing freight, travel, rent, and miscellaneous supplies, and 455 con tracts for the field services were examined and forwarded to the Department for approval. Through the cooperation of the Chief Coordinator’s Office of the Bureau of the Budget, material comprising airplanes, engines, boats, etc., to the value of approximately $74,874.69, was obtained from surplus stocks of other Government departments without the trans fer of funds. Surplus material amounting to approximately $51,089.49 was transferred, without the exchange of funds, from this Department to other branches of the Government, the principal item being the motor vessel Sequoia, valued at $48,860, transferred to the Navy Department. DEPARTMENT LIBRARY At the close of the fiscal year 1933 the number of books in the library, exclusive of the fisheries collection, approximated 177,584 volumes. During the year 9,526 books were cataloged and 23,612 cards added to the card catalog. The circulation of books for the year shows an increase of 70 percent over that of the preceding year. There has also been a marked increase in the number of outside visitors using the library for research purposes. • TRAFFIC OFFICE The traffic office has kept abreast of changes in rates and condi tions, enabling the Department to take advantage of opportunities to reduce costs in the transportation of employees and property. SOLICITOR'S OFFICE During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1933, 527 contracts, totaling $4,140,712.25, together with 77 contracts of indeterminate amounts ; 2,013 leases, amounting to $256,919.52; 9 insurance policies, amount ing to $1,607,740; 37 revocable licenses, amounting to $1,644; 23 deeds, involving the sum of $72,270; 212 contracts with bonds, amounting to $1,871,097.88; 76 annual bid and performance bonds; 126 official bonds, amounting to $979,985, were examined (approved, disapproved, drafted, redrafted, or modified). 19865— 33------ 3 6 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE The number of legal opinions rendered, formal and informal (memorandum), totaled 173 (a great many’verbal opinions of which no record is kept were also rendered during the year); legislative matters handled which concern the Department of Commerce (drafting and redrafting bills, reports relative thereto, etc.) num bered 90. Power of attorney cards, authorizing agents to execute official and contract bonds for surety companies, totaled 4,200. In addition, approximately 10,500 miscellaneous matters, embracing everything submitted for the advice or suggestion of the Solicitor, or for the formulation of departmental action, not included in the foregoing items, were handled by this office. AERONAUTICS BRANCH The organization structure of the Aeronautics Branch was not changed during the past fiscal year, the activities of the Branch being met by the Air Regulation Service, the Airways Division, and the Aeronautic Development Service. AIR REGULATION SERVICE In carrying out the details of the regulatory powers vested in the Secretary of Commerce by the Air Commerce Act, the Air Regu lation Service coordinated the work of two principal divisions, Inspection Service and Licensing Division. INSPECTION SERVICE The adoption of an amendment to the Air Commerce Regulations requiring that transport pilots flying airplanes engaged in scheduled operation of interstate air passenger service hold ratings issued by the Department of Commerce resulted in an increase in the duties performed by the Inspection Service during the year. A total of 557 scheduled air transport ratings were issued to pilots who successfully accomplished exhaustive tests and examinations by Department inspectors and met the requirements as to flying experience. Airline inspectors completely reinspected all of the interstate air passenger lines as to qualifications for certificates of airworthiness to operate. This inspection included, in each case, a thorough analysis of equipment, operation and maintenance procedure, and the facilities used. In addition, the Inspection Service inspected and examined all aircraft and airmen applying for new licenses or renewals; inspected and tested aircraft for approval by the Department; inspected air craft repair stations, civilian flying schools, and parachutes for which approval was asked; conducted field investigations of accidents in civil aeronautics; investigated reported violations of the Air Com merce Regulations; and enforced the Air Commerce Regulations and Air Traffic Rules. LICENSING DIVISION The accomplishments of the five sections that comprise this di vision—medical, registration, enforcement, accident board, and engineering—are set forth as follows: 7 8 EEPOBT OP THE SECEETAEY OP COMMEECE Medical section.—The following table shows the number of physical examinations certified during the past fiscal year and those in the preceding 4 years: 1928-29 1929-30 1930-31 1931-32 3,709 8, 013 16, 756 28,478 2,701 18,595 22, 606 43, 902 894 23, 296 15,196 39,386 695 25,117 11,704 37,516 1932-33 769 26,167 7,295 34, 231 The continuing decrease in the number of original examinations of student pilots is believed to be due primarily to economic conditions. On June 30 there were 756 medical examiners authorized to make physical examinations for the Aeronautics Branch. There were 23 examiners at points outside the United States. The use of the perimeter as a method of measuring the visual field was discontinued on February 1 and on February 6 the fees to be paid for original and annual physical examinations were materially reduced. On October 1, 1932, the office which had been maintained by the assistant medical director in Kansas City was closed and the assistant medical director returned to the Washington office. Registration section.—This section, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1933, reviewed 26,397 applications for aircraft and air men’s certificates for compliance with the Air Commerce Regula tions, and approximately 15,000 aircraft inspection reports for conformity with approved type certificates; issued 17,344 certifi cates for aircraft and airmen; recorded 6,239 transfers of title to aircraft; recorded 29,781 renewals of aircraft and airmen’s certifi cates; maintained all files and records pertaining to aircraft and airmen; prepared correspondence relating to status of aircraft and airmen’s licenses, and prepared all forms pertaining to the licensing of aircraft and airmen. It also issued 223 certificates of airworthi ness for export covering aircraft and components exported to 29 countries. The renewal of aircraft and pilot certificates continued to increase. The increase over last year was as follows: Aircraft, 22 percent; pilots, 6 percent. The total volume of accountable work during the year decreased 5 percent from that of the previous year. Enforcement section.—During the year this section has handled the technical phases of enforcing the provisions of the Air Com merce Act of 1926 and the preparation of amendments in the en forcement of the Air Commerce Regulations and the Air Traffic Rules. It has taken care of the assessment and settlement of penal ties, and has acted in a general advisory capacity to the Aeronautics Branch in all matters pertaining to air law. The section has coordinated with the State authorities in the inter pretation and enforcement of Federal and State aeronautic regula tion, and a great deal of research has been conducted into the sub jects under consideration by the International Committee of Tech nical Aerial Legal Experts. The work of this committee culminates AERONAUTICS BRANCH 9 in the preparation of international conventions on subjects dealing with private air law, and these conventions will in the future have a great deal of effect on United States air commerce. The section has handled in conjunction with the Department of State all arrangements for foreign flight in United States aircraft. Accident hoard.—This board analyzed 1,965 accidents, 304 ground accidents, and 159 mishaps, which occurred in civil aeronautics dur ing the fiscal year. The membership of the board consists of two pilots, a flight surgeon, an aeronautical engineer, a lawyer versed in air law, and a statistician. The board analyzed all accidents, regardless of statistical group ing, as nearly as practicable in accordance with the method outlined by the special committee on aircraft-accident analysis of the Na tional Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. This method has been adopted as a standard for the analysis, classification, and comparison of aircraft accidents, so that both civil and military aircraft accidents may be made comparable. Engineering section.—During the past fiscal year the number of technical data entries decreased slightly, but_ owing to the number of large transport airplanes and the greatly increased speeds of all types of airplanes which were investigated and the special problems which are constantly arising because of the advanced structural and aerodynamic features which are incorporated in most of the new airplanes, the work of the section has increased materially. The establishment of closer contact with the industry has aided greatly in reducing the volume of necessary correspondence. The result of the rationalization of the airworthiness requirements for aircraft, which has been in the process of preparation for the past two years, was forwarded to the aircraft manufacturers for their consideration. These changes in the requirements were made for the purpose of making the design standards more adaptable to the individual characteristics of specific aircraft with the least pos sible change for conventional types. The comments received from the manufacturers indicate that this first attempt to rationalize the current requirements will be highly satisfactory. Further study was made on the requirements for autogiros on the basis of test reports of actual flight conditions. The requirements for aircraft components and accessories were formulated and placed in effect on March 1, 1933. These specifica tions apply to all important components and accessories which are manufactured as complete units, except engines and propellers, and purchased by aircraft manufacturers and/or operators for use on licensed aircraft. Aeronautics Bulletin No. 7-G pertaining to the requirements for engines and propellers was revised to include certain changes deemed necessary. In an effort to cooperate with the engine manufacturers the policy of permitting the manufacturers to conduct the required type test of new engines at their own factory was adopted. For the fiscal year, 21 approved type certificates were granted for airplanes, 1 for an autogiro, 1 for a glider, 42 for propellers, 19 for engines, 12 for parachutes, and 17 for components and accessories. In addition 36 types of airplanes, 43 propellers, and 10 components and accessories were examined and approved without being granted 10 EEPOBT OF THE SECEETAEY OF COMMEECE approved type certificates. There were also 929 cases of airplane repairs and 386 alterations to licensed aircraft. The total number of technical data entries for the year was 4,569. AIRWAYS DIVISION Three outstanding achievements are of record for the Airways Division during the fiscal year: ( 1 ) the inauguration of weather-map service every four hours by teletypewriter circuits to 78 air terminals in the United States; (2) the substitution of the new T-L antenna for the old loop type for the transmission of radio range beacon sig nals to guide airmen flying through conditions of poor visibility; (3) and the installation of distant control of radio aids to air navigation. The teletypewriter transmission of weather maps, conducted in cooperation with the United States Weather Bureau, provides a com plete weather map of the United States, divided into three sections, six times a day. This service enables airmen and airline operators to plan their flights many hours ahead with a reasonable knowledge of the weather conditions to be encountered thereon. Heretofore, weather maps were available only twice a day. . The new T-L antenna has satisfactorily disposed of the problem of night errors that was formerly encountered with the old loop an tenna. Six of the new type now are in operation, 38 are about to be placed in service, and the equipment is available for installation at 6 additional sites. Centralization of the operation of radio range beacons and air ways radio communication stations is provided by the distant-con trol system. Heretofore, the operators of these aids to air naviga tion were located on the premises of each radio facility, and as these were far removed from the air terminal owing to the hazards of the radio towers, the operators seldom came in personal contact with the people whom they served. Now they are located at the airport in the teletypewriter station and they operate their airways radio broadcasting stations and the radio range beacon transmitters by means of a dial switch and leased telephone lines. This cen tralization of control and close contact with the flying public will promote efficiency and reduce the cost of operation and maintenance of these air navigation facilities. Three distant-control installations have been completed and the equipment for 62 additional stations has been purchased and delivered for installation during the first few months of the next fiscal year. Owing to the need for economy in the operation of the Federally lighted and radio-equipped airways, the lights on three routes over which there was no scheduled operation were removed. These were: Norfolk-Washington, Phoenix-San Diego, and Kingsville-Houstom There was no new airways construction authorized for the fiscal year. Part-time operation of lights to conform with scheduled air mail andofpassenger program economy. operations was ordered in keeping with the The work of constructing and maintaining the lighted and radio equipped airways was transferred from the Bureau of Lighthouses to the Aeronautics Branch, effective July 1, 1933. a e r o n a u t ic s b r a n c h 11 The Federal airways system as now established comprises 18,100 miles of lighted and 900 miles of unlighted airways on which are installed 262 intermediate landing fields, 1,550 rotating and 281 flashing beacon lights, 68 radio communication stations, 99 radio range beacons, 95 radio marker beacons, and 13,000 miles of tele typewriter communications circuits with 232 teletypewriter stations. AERONAUTIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICE The activities of the aeronautic development service centered around the collection and.dissemination of aeronautic information, promotion, and correlation of aeronautic research, assistance to com munities in the selection and development of airports and rating of airports, publication of airway maps and bulletins, and the geneial promotion work of the Department looking toward the development ofFive civil units aeronautics. . out these , functioned throughout the year m. carrying duties: Aeronautic information division, research division, airport section, airway mapping section, and a section devoted to special research committees. INFORMATION DIVISION Composed of four sections—editorial, statistics and distribution, airway bulletin, and aeronautics reference library—the information division served as the contact office between the Aeronautics Branch, the aeronautic industry, and the general public. The editorial section edited and prepared for publication the 24 issues comprising volume 4 of the semimonthly Air Commerce Builetin through which official contact is made by the Aeronautics Branch with the public. It also edited 6 aeronautics bulletins and 4 other publications, and in addition assisted in preparing articles and addresses and statements for the press concerning various phases of aeronautics in response to requests. In keeping with the adminis tration’s economy plan, revisions of 10 aeronautics bulletins, non periodical publications on technical and nontechnical subjects were discontinued. , ,. ,. and, Various economic studies were conducted. ,by the statistics distribution section to assist the industry and many special tables and summaries were prepared in compliance with requests for aero nautical information. Following are some of the most important subjects on which studies were prepared during the fiscal year: Census and value of aeronautic manufacture for the calendar year 1932, which included aircraft, engine, propeller, parachute, pontoon, and accessory production, as well as quarterly figures based on registrations and reports 5 study of licensed and unlicensed aircraft by year of manufacture, segregated as to gross weight and horsepower of single- and multi-engine craft; quarterly reports showing status of aircraft, gliders, pilots, glider pilots by States; scheduled air transport operations statistics, both foreign and domestic, compiled monthly, semiannually, and annually; miscellaneous aircraft opera tions statistics; scheduled air transport and miscellaneous aircraft accident statistics; annual and total accumulated flying time of all 12 REPORT OE THE SECEETARY OE COMMEECE pilots by grades; and special material on civil and commercial aero nautics for actuarial groups and insurance companies to be used as a basis for analyzing aeronautical risks and in fixing premiums. The Airway Bulletin Section inaugurated the publication of a special weekly bulletin entitled “ Weekly Notices to Airmen,” which serves as a supplement to Airway Bulletin No. 2. It carries current information regarding airport establishments, changes and warnings, information relative to the Federal aids to air navigation in operation along the airways, aeronautic light establishments and discontinuances, and special warnings that might affect the safety of flight- II is made available to all established airports and landing fields. The section also prepared special material for publication in the Air Commerce Bulletin, published a weekly bulletin showing the status of all proposed airports, this material being of particular use to manufacturers of airport equipment; maintained airport records in a current condition at all times through means of cor respondence and from reports of Aeronautics Branch field personnel and served as the clearing house for all information relative to airports and landing fields and the Federal airways system. The growing interest and increased activities in commercial aero nautics were shown by a greater use of the aeronautics reference library during the past year, requests for information and service having increased each month. Publications received numbered 6 ,000 ; 620 magazines and reports were indexed and 230 books and documents were cataloged. The circulation answered. was 5,315, and 4,200 requests for information were RESEARCH DIVISION Radio aids to air navigation.—The research work on the use of radio in aeronautics was devoted principally to improvement of the radio system of blind landing aids, the radio range beacon system, and an airplane direction finder. The system of radio aids for blind landing was perfected and many completely blind landings were made, both at College Park Md., where the experimental work was carried on, and at Newark Airport, N.J., where an installation was made for practical service tests. A completely blind flight in dense fog was made from College Park to Newark and was climaxed by a blind landing, showing the practicability of the system. The radio range beacons were made still more reliable through improvements in the T-L antenna system which was developed to eliminate the difficulty of course fluctuations of the radio range beacon. The T-L antenna was also adapted for use with the simul taneous radio telephone and range beacon system previously devel oped. In cooperation with the airways division, means were devised to secure simultaneous visual and aural operation in an airways radio range beacon. The Department installed a combined radio telephone and range beacon, with simultaneous aural and visual operation, and with T-L antenna, at Elizabeth, N.J. A simple means for positive identification of location of airplanes using the range beacons was worked out. An improved airplane direction finder with visual indicator was developed and flight tested. AERONAUTICS BRANCH 13 Patent applications were filed on 20 of the radio developments. Lighting research and testing.-—-An exhaustive study of the use of the newly developed bipost lamp in 24- and 36-inch beacons showed that the use of the new lamp would be advantageous. Nine sets of airplane position lights were tested for approved type certificates, and a reflector for position lights was developed which makes pos sible the regular production of position lights of greatly increased effectiveness. Tests on several types of landing lights were made. Neon boundary lights were tested, and illuminated wind indicators were studied by an exposure test. A complete test on an automatic light-sensitive device was made under temperature conditions ranging from 40° F. to approximately 200° F. Specifications for the colors of aviation red and green glasses have been prepared and standard color glasses furnished. The candlepowers of a number of parachute flares were measured and a code-flasher mechanism was tested. Aircraft engines.—For the first time since the construction of the Arlington laboratory in 1929 the demand for type tests of commer cial aircraft engines has shown* a marked decrease. In the course of the year only two engines were submitted for test. One of these engines failed twice during July 1932 and the other passed in Octo ber. Facilities now are available at the Bureau of Standards for the dynamometer calibration of all types of aircraft engines under sea level and under approximate altitude conditions. Many fuels, propellers, and engine parts have been tested in con nection with the investigation of service difficulties. Four out of six crank shafts from approved engines examined for fatigue cracks were found to be unsafe for further use. An electrical method of testing has been devised for applying repeated stresses to metal propellers to determine their resistance to failure under service conditions. The octane number ratings of aviation fuels are determined accord ing to A.S.T.M. method D357-33T, pending the development of a standard method for rating aviation gasolines. AIRPORT SECTION The field staff of the airport section rendered advice in connection with the selection of airport sites and the general requirements for safe airport development; inspected airports preliminary to the assignment of Federal ratings; and appeared before civic groups and meetings of various kinds in the interest of the development of aviation and airports in particular. Eight hundred and fifty-four airports were visited and 32 talks given. During the past year 244 airport ratings and 73 designations as marked auxiliary fields were issued. These bring the total of rated airports on June 30,1933, to 287 and the number of marked auxiliary fields on the same date to 73. The section and its airport specialists worked with State authori ties in coordinating their activities with the Department of Com merce and in field inspections of State-developed landing facilities. At the request of the State officials in each case, airport section repre 14 REPORT OF THE SECEETAEY OF COMMERCE sentatives have operated during the past year in the following States: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. AIRWAY MAPPING SECTION The publication of airway maps for the Aeronautics Branch has been carried on by the airway mapping section of the Coast and Geodetic Survey using the printing facilities of that bureau. The work completed during the fiscal year brought the total sec tional airway maps published up to 18 with 16 additional ones in progress, some of which were near completion at the end of the year. The many changes in aids to air navigation requiring frequent new editions necessitated an increasing proportion of time spent on maintenance. Sectional airway maps now adequately cover continuous passage on many of the more heavily traveled routes. The sales of these maps and comments on their value by airmen have been most gratify ing. The number of new maps published was greater than in any previous year. The completion of several maps to fill in gaps has formed a continuity in these maps from Boston to Los Angeles and San Francisco and from Chicago to Washington that brings out for the first time their potential value not only for flying but also for general administrative purposes of the air transportation companies. During the fiscal year, 17,647 copies of sectional airway maps, and 11,722 copies of strip maps were issued. SPECIAL RESEARCH COMMITTEES Two special research committees met and reported during the year. One was the liaison committee on aeronautic radio research which is a continuing body. It rendered its third annual report on May 15, 1933. The other was the committee on airport traffic control which reported on February 15, 1933. Both these reports are available at the Aeronautics Branch. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION During the year this division maintained all accounting and book keeping records of expenditures from the appropriation “Aircraft in commerce ” as well as budget, personnel, and other records relat ing thereto. Arrangements were made at the close of the year for the transfer to the division of the work relating to accounting, con tracts, and personnel paid from the appropriation “Air navigation facilities.” This work has heretofore been performed by the Bureau of Lighthouses. Following is a tabulation of the amounts that have been appro priated under the two titles since the Aeronautics Branch began to function: AEBONAUTICS BEAK CH in Air naviga facil Fiscal year— Aircraft commerce tionities 1927 i 19292 . 1930________ $250,000 $300,000 700.000 3,091,500 859,500 4,659,850 958.000 5,458, 620 15 Total in Air naviga Fiscal year— Aircraft facil commerce tionities $550,000 3,791,500 5,519,350 6,416, 620 1931________ $1,260,830 $7,944,000 $9,204,830 1932________ 1,369,660 8,992,640 10, 362,300 1933________ 1,000,000 7,553, 500 8,553,500 1934________ 1,070, 570 6,590,210 7,660,780 Total 1 Second deficiency act, fiscal year 1926, approved July 3,1926. 2 Includes under “Aircraft in commerce,” $72,500 appropriated by the second deficiency act of 1928 and $85,000 appropriated by the second deficiency act of 1929, and under “Air navigation facilities” $1,000,000 appropriated by the second deficiency act of 1928. The personnel paid from the appropriation “Aircraft in com merce ” for the past six years is as follows : Date June 3(j 1930............ District of Co lumbia 104 146 166 Field 68 127 150 Total Date 172 273 316 June 30, 1933______ District of Co lumbia 175 159 135 Field 136 146 133 Total 311 305 268 BUREAU OF THE CENSUS INTRODUCTION The Fifteenth Decennial Census was completed and the reports had been published or were in process of printing on December 31, 1932, the close of the decennial census period. By January 1,1933, the last of the large force of temporary employees had been dropped from the roll, and the Bureau went back to its permanent basis on that date. The magnitude of the Fifteenth Census, the most extensive ever undertaken, is evidenced by the size of the final report—32 volumes containing 32,019 pages. The report of the Fourteenth Decennial Census consisted of only 12 volumes containing 13,323 pages. The Fifteenth Census volumes, bulletins, and special studies contain a total of approximately 66,000 printed pages. During the fiscal year just closed, the Bureau conducted its regu lar annual, quarterly, and monthly inquiries, as well as the following investigations: Census of Financial Statistics of State and Local Governments (decennial); Census of Electrical Industries (quin quennial) ; and Census of Manufactures (biennial). The prelimi nary or final reports were issued. FIFTEENTH DECENNIAL CENSUS The Fifteenth Decennial Census work during the fiscal year 1933 consisted principally in preparing copy for the remaining volumes of the final report and the special reports and studies which had not already been sent to the printer, and in reading proof. Of the 32 volumes comprising the final report of the Fifteenth Decennial Census, 7 volumes had been published prior to July 1,1932, 17 volumes were published during the year, and the 8 remaining vol umes were in process of printing at the close of the year. Two of the 8 had been printed but not bound, 1 was partly printed, and 5 were ready for the press. The Abstract of the Fifteenth Census, con taining 976 pages and presenting in convenient form the most sig nificant data on each of the subjects covered by the census, was pub lished in May 1933. Owing to the increasing demand for graphic presentation of statistics, approximately 500 charts and maps were included in the reports of the Fifteenth Census. The principal data had been published in the form of bulletins, one for each State, as rapidly as the results for the State were ready, followed by a summary for the United States. Sixteen series of such bulletins were issued. About two-thirds of these bulletins had been issued prior to July 1, 1932, and copy for the remaining third had been sent to the printer by that date. The remainder of the bulletins were published during the past year. These bulletins were bound together to form a number of the 32 volumes of the final report and parts of other volumes. The general report on each of the main subjects covered by the census is composed of a number of chapters, each covering a subject 17 18 REPORT OF THE SECEETAEY OF COMMEECE or group of subjects, and containing historical and analytical tables. Previously the chapters had been reprinted separately for conven ience after the publication of the volume, but at the Fifteenth Census the chapters for population and agriculture were published in ad vance, as rapidly as they were completed. While copy for a con siderable number of chapters had been sent to the printer, and a few published, prior to July 1,1932, the majority of them were published during the past year. A list of the volumes and special reports follows. FINAL REPOKTS Population: Yol. I, Number and Distribution of Inhabitants Vol. II, General Report—Statistics by Subjects Vol. Ill, Reports by States—Composition and Characteristics of the Popu lation for Counties, Cities, and Townships: Part 1, Alabama-Missouri Part 2, Montana-Wyoming Vol. IY, Occupations—Reports by States Vol. V, Occupations—General Report Vol. VI, Families—Reports by States Metropolitan Districts Unemployment: Vol. I, Unemployment—Returns by Classes Vol. II, Unemployment—General Report Agriculture: Vol. I, Farms by Minor Civil Divisions Vol. II, Reports by States—Statistics for Counties: Part 1, Northern States Part 2, Southern States Part 3, Western States Vol. Ill, Type of Farm—Reports by States with Statistics for Counties: Part 1, Northern States Part 2, Southern States Part 3, Western States Vol. IV, General Report—Statistics by Subjects Horticulture Irrigation Drainage Manufactures: Vol. I, General Report—Statistics by Subjects Vol. II, Reports by Industries Vol. Ill, Reports by States—Statistics for. Industrial Areas, Counties, and Cities Mines and quarries Distribution: Vol. I, Retail Distribution: Part 1, Summary by States, Counties, and Incorporated Places Part 2, Reports by States, Alabama-Montana Part 3, Reports by States, Nevada-Wyoming Vol. II, Wholesale Distribution—Reports by States—Statistics for Counties and Cities Construction—Reports by States—Statistics for Counties and Cities Outlying Territories and Possessions—Population, Occupations, Unemployment, and Agriculture Abstract of the Fifteenth Census SPECIAL REPORTS Chickens and Chicken Eggs, and Turkeys, Ducks, and Geese Raised on Farms Distribution of Sales of Manufacturing Plants Foreign-born White Families by Country of Birth of Head Hotels Products of Manufacturing Industries Retail Chains BUREAU OF THE CENSUS 19 SPECIAL STUDIES A number of special studies were made, based on the results of the Fifteenth Decennial Census. These also include detail not con tained in the regular reports, and in some cases the results of special tabulations for limited areas. In addition, many of the studies involved considerable research. These studies covered the main subjects of the census as follows: Population________________________________________________ 2 Agriculture---------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Manufactures----- -------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Wholesale distribution------------------------------------------------------ 7 Retail distribution------------------------------------------------------------ 6 Distribution of agricultural commodities and rural trade____ 7 FINANCIAL STATISTICS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS The Bureau was engaged during the year in collecting statistics of revenues, expenditures, indebtedness, assessed valuation, and tax rates and levies for 1932 for States, counties, cities, towns, and all other civil divisions having power to levy taxes and incur debt. These statistics are collected once every 10 years, and have heretofore been published under the title of “ Wealth, Public Debt, and Taxation.” Upon investigation it was found that in 46 of the 48 States either a part or all of the information required for the various taxing units of the States could be obtained from records on file at the State capitals. Accordingly, with the cooperation of the State officials, 123 local agents were appointed at the State capitals to prepare census schedules presenting all of the required data available there. The data not available at the capital were secured by mail from the county or other local officials. The canvass was practically com pleted by June 30, 1933, and preliminary press announcements for 26 States have been issued. The final reports for 26 States were prepared, and 3 of them have been published. Through the cooperation of State and local officials, and the appointment of local agents wherever possible, the field work for this census was done more promptly and economically than at pre ceding censuses. One valuable feature of this census is the digest of State laws relating to taxation and revenue. Digests have been pub lished for 3 States and completed for 22 other States. The estimated national wealth has been included in the Census of Wealth, Public Debt, and Taxation since 1850. Upon the recom mendation of the Census Advisory Committee, however, no attempt is being made to estimate the national wealth at this census. FINANCIAL STATISTICS OF STATES AND CITIES The annual reports covering Financial Statistics of States and Cities (detailed statistics not included in the decennial census men tioned above) provide information relative to receipts and payments, indebtedness, assessed valuation, and tax levies of the States and of the cities having a population of over 30,000. During the fiscal year just ended, the final report on Financial Statistics of Cities, 1930, and the preliminary bulletins on Financial 20 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE Statistics of States and Cities, 1931, were published. The final re ports for 1931 were completed and the report for States was sent to the printer, but the report for cities will not be published at this time because of lack of printing funds. By Executive order of June 10, 1933, the compilation of financial statistics of cities is limited to cities of 100,000 or more population for the period ending June 30, 1935. This limitation begins with the report for 1932. QUINQUENNIAL CENSUS OE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES Preliminary work on the Census of Electrical Industries for the year 1932 was started immediately after the beginning of the fiscal year. In accordance with the provision of law, this census covers street railways, electric light and power, telephone, and telegraph business. Motor-bus operations by street railway companies and by companies succeeding to the operation of former street railway com panies are also included in the report on electric railways. For the first time the canvass was made entirely by mail, no funds being available for field work. Approximately 99 percent of the schedules have been received and they are now being edited and tabu lated. Press announcements giving preliminary figures on central electric light and power stations have been issued for all States and the United States ; also preliminary summaries on electric railways and telegraphs in the United States. BIENNIAL CENSUS OE MANUFACTURES The Census of Manufactures, which is taken in connection with the decennial census, is considerably more comprehensive than those taken between decennial censuses. The schedules for 1931 were re duced so far as general inquiries were concerned, no inquiry having been made for number and compensation of proprietors, officials, and salaried employees, for power equipment, or for coal consumed. No curtailment was made, however, in the detailed production inquiries. The production inquiries have been formulated and revised from census to census in accordance with recommendations made by manu facturers’ associations and representative manufacturers. By no means can all the suggestions made by these associations and indi viduals be adopted, and the inquiries represent only the information which is in general demand by the industries. The preliminary reports were all issued within the year in which the canvass was made (1932) and the final reports, covering 310 industries, were completed and sent to the printer before June 30, 1933, which is relatively earlier than at any previous census. Thirty of the reports, covering 78 industries, have been published. BUBEAU OF THE CENSUS 21 In addition to the Biennial Census of Manufactures, the Bureau collects and compiles statistics for the years intervening between the biennial censuses of manufactures for the following industries. Clay products ; Paper and paperboard and paper-making machines in use; Pulpwood consumption and wood-pulp production; Lumber, lath, shingles. of a card index for use at, the ,, 1933 census „„„ Theand preparation was begun. This index will carry the figures for a few important items, and its use will facilitate the preparation of the preliminary reports. VITAL STATISTICS For the first time the birth and death registration areas of the* United States are complete. This is an accomplishment for which the Bureau has been working for many years. The last State, lexas, was recently admitted to the area, the tests made by the Bureau showing that the birth and death registration meets the Bureaus requirement for admission to the registration area. Hawaii and the Virgin Islands furnish transcripts of birth and death certificates, and Puerto Eico furnishes transcripts of death certificates, the statistics being shown separately in the Bureau’s reports. Cony for the 1930 reports on Birth and Mortality Statistics was sent to the printer before July 1, 1932. The preparation of the reports for 1931 is well advanced. ,, Preliminary announcements have been made of the birth and death rates for 1932 in the birth- and death-registration areas (except Utah, for which transcripts of certificates have not yet been received). These were the lowest recorded by the Bureau, the birth rate being 17.4 and the death rate 10.9 per 1,000 population. The Weekly Health Index, showing total and infant deaths and death rates, and the Four-Week Summaries of Deaths from Automo bile Accidents were published regularly during the year. The Manual of Joint Causes of Death was published during the vear. This is a companion volume to the Manual of International List of Causes of Death, published in 1931, and it will be of material assistance in establishing a uniform method of classifying certificates on which two or more causes of death are given. A special study entitled “ Introduction to the Vital Statistics ol the United States, 1900 to 1930 ” was published. Owing to the reduction in the Bureau’s appropriation, it was neces sary to reduce the rate of pay for transcripts of birth and death cer tificates furnished by State officials from 3 cents to 2 cents each This reduction has been accepted bv all of the States in view of the cir cumstances, but as the States find it difficult to do the work at th price the Bureau authorized the transcribers to discontinue for the time being the copying of the date relating to birthplace and occupa tion on the death certificates and the data relating to occupation of parents on the birth certificates. 19865— 33------ 4 22 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE INSTITUTIONAL POPULATION ANNUAL REPORTS Reports on prisoners in State and Federal prisons and mental patients in State hospitals for the years 1929 and 1930 were pub lished during the year. Similar reports for 1931, also reports on mental defectives and epileptics in State institutions for 1929 and 1930 and for 1931, were prepared but have not been published because of lack of printing funds. Schedules for 1932 are now being collected from these institutions. Plans were worked out for including judicial criminal statistics in the annual census. Returns for 1932 have been received from 3 States, 14 States are collecting the data, and 1 State is being urged to collect such data. Information for 1932 will not be collected from the 31 remaining States, but the data collected will be compiled for use in determining the value of the statistics. DECENNIAL REPORTS The decennial inquiries relating to county and municipal penal institutions and institutions for juvenile delinquents are under way. As an economy measure, it was decided to limit the statistics for county and municipal penal institutions to the first six months of the year. The Bureau has under consideration the inclusion in the decennial census of institutions of four other classes, namely, institutions for dependent children, child-placing organizations, almshouses, and other institutions for adults. MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE Statistics on marriage and divorce have been collected and pub lished annually by the Bureau since 1922 and for various periods prior to that year. A preliminary press announcement for 1932 has been issued, showing a decrease of 7.5 percent in marriages and a decrease of 12.7 percent in divorces as compared with 1931. The final report has been nearly completed. REPORT ON NEGROES IN THE UNITED STATES There has been considerable demand for a volume bringing to gether all of the Fifteenth Census data relating to Negroes, similar to the compilation made after the census of 1910. The work has been year. begun and it is expected that the report will be ready■’ sometime next COTTON AND COTTONSEED lv a°c°r^an.ce the provisions of law, there were collected and published during the year 12 reports of Cotton Ginned to Specified M T ? 7 reports of Cotton Consumed and Held by Consummg Establishments; monthly reports of Cotton Spindles, of Cotton d P q°rr[preSSeS’ Warehouses>etc., and of Cottonseed and Cotton- BUREAU OF THE CENSUS 23 In addition, two bulletins were published, one at the close of the «•inning season, showing the quantity of cotton ginned from the crop SflSi, by States and by counties,and the other giving statistics of cotton production and distribution for the season of 1931 32. The statistics are collected from individual ginneries and from con suming and storage establishments, by a force of 776 agents employed on a part-time basis. MONTHLY AND QUARTERLY INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS The Bureau collects and publishes current statistics for 57 indus tries or commodities (in addition to cotton and cottonseed), oO on a monthly basis and 7 on a quarterly basis This represents a reduc tion of 13 reports as compared with the previous year. I he 8 monthly reports on hides, skins, and leather were discontinued be cause of the repeal of the act authorizing these statistics. 1 om other monthly inquiries and one weekly inquiry were discontinued durino- the year, having been taken over by the trade associations. Requests have been made for the resumption of the statistics for two of these industries and for the collection of current statistics tor other industries, but on account of the reduction m its appropria tions the Bureau has not thus far found it practicable to take up the additional inquiries. The statistics for the monthly and quarterlv renorts issued during the year for these 57 industries or com modities were compiled from returns from 12,026 manufacturers and other concerns. The Bureau is now publishing current statistics for the following: MONTHLY Air-conditioning equipment Automobiles Automobile financing Babbitt metal Bathroom accessories Boots, shoes, and slippers Boxboard Cellulose plastic products Commercial steel castings Convection-type radiators Distillate oil burners Domestic pumps and water systems Domestic water-softening apparatus Electric industrial trucks and tractors Fabricated steel plate Fire-extinguishing equipment Floor and wall tile Hosiery Knit underwear and cut and sewn un derwear Leather gloves and mittens cut Malleable castings Measuring and dispensing pumps (gas oline and other pumps) Mechanical stokers Men’s and boys’ clothing cut _ Methanol and acetate of lime (wood chemicals) QUA] Animal and vegetable fats and oils Edible gelatin Electric (mining and industrial) loco motives Oil burners Paints, varnish, and lacquer products Plastic, cold-water paints, calcimines Plumbing brass Plumbers’ woodwork Porcelain enameled flat ware Porcelain plumbing fixtures Prepared roofing Public-merchandise warehousing Pulverizers Pyroxylin-coated textiles Railroad locomotives Range boilers Steel barrels Steel boilers Steel furniture and fireproof safes Structural-clay products Sulphuric acid Superphosphates Terra cotta plumbing fixtures_ Vitreous-china Wheat ground and wheat-milling products Wool consumption Wool manufactures, activity of ma chinery Work clothing Electrical goods (orders) Lacquers (sales) Glues of animal origin Wheat and wheat-flour stocks 24 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE ESTIMATES OF POPULATION Estimates of the population between decennial censuses have been made for many years. The estimates for the United States and the btates are based on births, deaths, immigration, and emigration. As this method is- not applicable to counties and cities, the Bureau has been experimenting during the past year with various other methods m tiesanandendeavor cities. to make more nearly accurate estimates for the coun The estimates are used in vital statistics and public-health work throughout the country, and by various branches of the Government by industrial and commercial concerns, and many others The ac curacy, and consequently the value, of the estimates decline in pro portion to the time which has elapsed since the decennial census ihis is one reason why a census of population should be taken every 5 years instead of once every 10 years. SEARCHING- OLD POPULATION RECORDS One branch of permanent census work which brings a verv direct and practical benefit to the people is the furnishing of individual records of age, nationality, etc., from the census returns. This work is constantly increasing as a result of the enactment of old-aee penson laws in more and more States, and of the increasing require ments to establish age for annuities, citizenship, pensions, passports sWe S w g ePfPf ’ aS the aSyear f°r 17,163 l o g i csearches a l purposes* and for setthng estates.S> ' nDuring of population schedules were made, and in addition 5,109 persons consulted the t T r S u dS^The T later r f°r returns tlfCcensuses ol';1790 to and 1880can being available to confidential be examined examined onlythebypublic. sworn employees of the are Bureau. 7'h<? early census, schedules are deteriorating rapidly and it will hTn>!r+neCeSSari s,tePs to preserve these original records. econditiomng of the take records would be but temporary and they will eventually have to be printed or reproduced in some manner if the information is to be available for all time. OFFICIAL REGISTER th f nffl?eCiUtD e °ri der was °f June 1°’ 1933>tothethefunction of preparing missh ^ TV,Register transferred Civil Service Coni annually I n S l £ COmpil<icl b* the C«ns”s Bureau MACHINE TABULATION , The regular inquiries of the Bureau, together with the snecial tabulations made for other agencies, required the punching of 8 139 640 cards and the sorting and tabulating of the cards which’ was equivalent to the passing of 326,921,485"cards through a machTne °f t!lea Secretary of Commerce, has been established in• the0r5er Bureau central tabulation unit there to handle^tL “ ne BUREAU OP THE CENSUS 25 tabulation work for all bureaus of the Department. This unit has been placed in the Machine Tabulation Division of the Bureau, and the tabulating equipment turned over by other bureaus has been consolidated with the Bureau’s equipment. WORK DONE POR OTHER FEDERAL OFFICES AND OUTSIDE AGENCIES The demand for detailed census data not shown in the regular tabulations continued during the year. Special tabulations on va rious subjects were made for other branches of the Federal Govern ment, for States, and for outside organizations and individuals. A charge is made to cover the cost of the work, total payments of $12,566.61 having been received during the year. A considerable number of special tabulations were made tor the National Reco.very Administration, for the Department- of Agricul ture for use in carrying out the provisions of the Agricultural Ad justment Act, and for industrial organizations for use in formulating codes under the National Industrial Recovery Act. The Bureau has collaborated with the National Recovery Admin istration in the preparation of - schedules for canvassing business concerns to secure information for the formulation of codes and tor checking on employment and pay-roll results of the recovery program. The tabulations of these returns are being made by the Census Bu reau, the cost of the work to be paid, of course by the National Recovery Administration. A test canvass was made by the Bureau, following two different methods—one by mail m Philadelphia and the other by personal visit of agents in Baltimore. The provision carried in the Legislative Appropriation Act of 1933, approved June 30, 1932, whereby one Government bureau or office can place orders for work with another bureau or office and can pay by check either in advance or upon completion of the work, has greatly facilitated the work for other Federal agencies. PERSONNEL OFFICE FORCE On January 1, 1933, following the close of the decennial census period, the force was reduced to the permanent personnel, numbering 721 and by June 30, it had been further reduced to 673. 1 his is considerably below the permanent force regularly maintained by the Bureau, 72 positions with annual salaries totaling $132,320 having been temporarily abolished because of reduction in the Bureau s ap propriations. These positions were made vacant by resignation, transfer, and retirement. FIELD FORCE On June 30, 1933, the field force, practically all local agents, numbered 991. This included 746 special agents collecting cotton 26 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE statistics, 48 agents on vital statistics work, 54 enumerators on iinancial statistics of State and local governments, 6 consulting experts, 119 special agents without compensation who were employees of the Forest Service, and 18 others on various kinds of work. By Executive order of May 23,1933, the positions to collect cotton statistics were placed in the competitive classified service. A_s a result of examinations held in the cotton belt by the Civil Service Commission, lists of eligibles were furnished the Bureau and prac tically all of the 776 appointments have now been made. APPROPRIATIONS The Burea,u operated during the first half of the fiscal year under the appropriation for the Fifteenth Decennial Census, which was limited to December 31, 1932, and during the second half of the year under an appropriation of $862,125, together with the unex pended balance of the Fifteenth Census appropriation which was made available by law. The expenditures from the two appropria tions amounted to $2,459,685 during the year. The total expenditure from the appropriation for the Fifteenth Decennial Census was $39,447,922. LEGISLATION The Bureau contemplates recommending at the appropriate time the enactment of legislation to provide for the following: ( 1 ) Complete census of manufactures to be taken every fifth year and a limited census to be taken annually, with certain quarterlv" and monthly statistics. in May 1.933, the Federal Statistical Board of the Federal Coor dinating Service adopted resolutions recommending substantially the above changes in the census of manufactures. (2) Mid-decennial census of population, to be taken in 1935 (or late in 1934), in connection with the census of agriculture which is provided for by the act of July 18, 1929. The Bureau has received numerous letters advocating such a popu lation census for reasons which may be briefly summarized as fol(®) That such a census is needed to reveal and measure the unusuai population shifts and changes that are now taking place. (o) 1 hat such a census is needed as a basis for intelligent action and planning m business and public affairs. (c) That such a census is needed to make possible reliable popu lation estimates which are necessary for computing death rates, birth rates, and per capita figures, and for other purposes in the years intervening between censuses. ihe American Statistical Association and the American Sociologi cal Society at their annual meetings in December 1932, adopted reso ld 1??8 that a mid-decennial census of population should be taken. In March 1933, the Census Advisory Committee adopted a resolution that such a census be taken late in 1934 or early in 1935 and that it be limited to a few basic items. BUREAU OE THE CENSUS 27 The law authorizing a census of agriculture m 1935 provides that it shall be taken as of January 1. This is not a satisfactory date tor a census of population, and, if a census of population is to be taken, the Bureau may recommend that the date be changed to November 15 1934 which is also believed to be a more satisfactory date tor agriculture. The cost of enumeration would, of course, be con siderably less for the two censuses if taken together. Additional funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1935, would be required. BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE The past fiscal year has been a momentous one in the economic history of the United States, and indeed of the entire world. I he summer of 1932 marked the apparent turning point m many lands of one of the severest depressions the world has ever known. Im provement has been slow, however, especially in the United States, where recovery was retarded first by the political uncertainty engen dered by a national election and later by the collapse of our credit structure. Faced with the necessity for drastic action, a new admin istration declared a banking holiday at the outset. Congress was called into special session, and, in quick succession, powerful emer gency measures were passed. As the fiscal year comes to a close, these new laws are being put to the test. Their success or failure will be written in the annals of succeeding years. , Throughout this interesting but difficult period, the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce has been functioning m its capacity as the service arm of the Federal Government for American busi ness. The trend in modern thinking is unmistakably toward a more scientific approach to business and economic problems. The scien tific approach is a factual approach and requires abundant, depend able data. The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce has Iona- since anticipated this trend and has gradually developed as the agency of the Federal Government for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of commercial facts, both domestic and foreign, lhe past year has seen a continuation of this fact-finding function. Ihe necessary curtailment of funds resulting from the economy act has necessitated a careful reexamination and valuation of the functions of the Bureau, and a constructive reorganization. The Bureau now looks forward to an even larger sphere of usefulness m the years ahead. THE YEAR IN FOREIGN COMMERCE THE FURTHER ERECTION OF TRADE BARRIERS The decline in commodity prices, the complete cessation of inter national capital investment and the timidity and caution surround ing short-term loans, the necessity of meeting interest or amortiza tion by many countries on a heavy volume of indebtedness, and the absence of any international monetary standard for most of the world, all contributed to complicate international economic rela tions. The continued recession in general business activity through out the world during the first half of the fiscal year was directly reflected in a reduced volume of exports and imports. But national policies, endeavoring to defend financial stability, to preserve em ployment, or to exert pressure for political purposes, led to the 29 30 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE erection of increasingly complex and baffling restrictions, barriers, and regulations, calculated to impede the flow of merchandise across frontiers. I his tangle has resulted in intensified perplexity—and often stark frustration—on the part of the export community in most of the major countries. Tariff measures have exerted an exceedingly potent influence. Other elements have proved obstructive or disturbing. The world has witnessed an increased chafing under the obligations of the strict most-favored-nation principle, and a general impulse to evade it. Surtaxes have been imposed on imports originating in countries with depreciated currencies. The system of quantitative limitation of imports by “ quotas ” spread rapidly during the fiscal year, and import-license requirements were established in many cases. The inauguration or development of foreign-exchange controls is a device that has proved particularly disconcerting and hampering to export and import interests everywhere. In numerous instances such con trols have been operated in a preferential, and essentially prejudicial, manner. In fairness it should be noted, however, that the rigors of this condition have been mitigated, in a number of cases, by ex change-clearing and trade-compensation agreements between nations. In the broad matter of commercial treaties and international agreements, the outstanding developments have included England’s abandonment of its traditional position and its adoption of a general tariff; the subsequent Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa, which resulted in considerable extension of the system of tariff and other trade preferences among the areas constituting the British Empire; and the various efforts or projects for regional tariff arrangements or multilateral agreements, particularly in Europe but also in Latin America. RECORD OF AMERICAN TRADE The international economic relations of the United States are extremely complex. The estimate of American balance of payments prepared by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce each year makes a bulletin of considerable thickness and weight. The last decade has seen marked changes in the character of this balance. In 1922, 1928, and 1924 the excess of exports in merchan dise was financed through net gold imports. During the period 1925-29 the export balance continued, being offset by net long-term capital exports. With the collapse of the capital market, the “ fa vorable ’ balance in the depression years was financed, up until recently, through the net reduction in foreign-owned dollar balances in the United States. The year under consideration has seen a still further variation in the increase in American short-term accounts abroad. Although there are no statistics available showing the extent of the “ flight of capital,” there is no doubt that fear of dollar inflation materially increased the country’s creditor position on short-termhasaccount. % Bir the largest item in the balance of payments is the movement of merchandise. United States foreign trade during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1933, moved steadily downward until, at the end of the third quarter, it reached the lowest level in three decades. A relatively marked expansion occurred during the final quarter and BUREAU OE FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE 31 by June the export and import indexes, adjusted for normal seasonal variation, reached the highest level in the year. For the first time since 1929 the value of shipments in both directions during June was greater than in the corresponding period of the preceding year. This upward trend is continuing into the new fiscal year. I he expansion since the third quarter has been especially marked in crude materials and semimanufactures, although many classes of both export and import commodities have shown increases. Exports in the fiscal year 1932-38 amounted to $1,440,000,000, a decline of 26 percent from the preceding year. Although the reduc tion in the price level during the first three quarters of the year was responsible for a part of the drop in value, the decline in physical volume was about 17 percent, or relatively as great as m the year immediately preceding. Crude materials constituted 34 percent of the total exports, in comparison with 28 percent in 1931-32 and 22 percent in 1929-30. Foodstuff exports dropped from 17 percent of the total in 1931-32 to 14 percent, while finished manufactures tell from 42 percent to 39 percent. The decline in value of imports, which totaled $1,168,000,000 during the fiscal year, was 33 percent, but, owing to a relatively greater drop in the level of import prices, the decrease in quantity was only 17 percent, about the same as for exports. Foodstuffs ag gregated 33 percent of the total imports, in comparison with 27 percent in 1931-32, and semimanufactures approximately the same proportion as in the preceding year. Crude material imports fell off from 29 percent of the 1931—32 total to 26 percent in 1932—33, while finished manufactures dropped from 27 to 24 percent. A detailed analysis of the record for 1932 is given m a recent pub lication of the Bureau, “ Foreign Trade of the United States.' The excess of merchandise exports over merchandise imports ^in creased $54,000,000 over the favorable balance in 1931-32 to $2 <2,000,000 in 1932-33. Gold imports aggregated $399,000,000 in com parison with $520,000,000, while gold exports dropped from $1,234,000,000 in the preceding year to $135,000,000. BUREAU’S SERVICES RELATED TO CHANGING WORLD CONDITIONS Although the volume of foreign trade declined, the services of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce were in constant demand. Through its foreign offices, in cooperation with the Con sular Service, and through its facilities in Washington and in the district offices, the Bureau continued its assistance to those engaged m foreign trade. Our foreign observers reported fully the kaleido scopic changes in policy born of the trend toward economic national ism. These reports from the field were analyzed in the Washington offices and distributed to interested business men and students of world affairs through the channels of correspondence, special and regular publications, and the district offices. Frequent changes in foreign-exchange control presented the Bureau with ample oppor tunity to serve American business. Numerous calls for the latest facts about exchange procedure were handled by the Bureau. Re strictions by foreign governments on the transfer of funds brought additional requests for advice and assistance. 32 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE The currency situation came in for an unusual amount of attention with the revival of bimetallism as a practical world political and economic problem. The Bureau prepared two monographs on the silver question, The Silver Market and The Monetary Use of Silver in 1933. A study of the use of silver in war-debtor countries was prepared at the request of a member of the Senate. Data were also collected on the effect of depreciated currency on imports of a number of specific commodities. SIG N IFIC A N T SERVICES RENDERED IN FOREIGN TARIFF MATTERS The unprecedented number of changes in foreign tariffs and tariff policies and the wide-spread extensison of other types of trade con trol measures, was noted above. The Bureau’s Division of Foreign Tariffs is the only organization in the United States equipped to fur nish information and advice on the tariffs, trade controls, and com mercial policy of all foreign countries. The work of this Division was correspondingly increased and to a certain degree altered to cope with these changing conditions. More than ever has constant vigilance been necessary to anticipate, analyze, and interpret, for the benefit of American trade, the increasingly frequent and often sud den developments abroad in the field of trade controls and restric tions. An outstanding service of the Bureau in this direction has been its steady effort, in cooperation with the Department of State and the Foreign Service of both Departments, to prevent, by every available legitimate means, the establishment of discriminations against American trade and to assure for American exporters an equitable share in markets subject to any form of restriction. A new phase of the Bureau’s activities, particularly in the latter part of the year, was the beginning of a series of preliminary studies of United States trade with a number of individual foreign coun tries, at the request of the Department of State, in connection with the anticipated negotiation of reciprocal trade agreements. Prepar atory work for these proposed agreements was begun and consid erable progress was made with the preliminary studies. Regional trade agreements and compensatory trade agreements between individual countries were an important development of the year An outstanding event in this field was the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa. A further extension of the system of pref erences within the British Empire, inaugurated by the conference, together with the change in the general tariff policy of Great Britain which had been put into effect during the period immediately preceding the conference, made necessary a close study of the bearing of thisAmerican importanttrade. event, as well as of similar developments elsewhere upon The Bureau has always cooperated closely with the Department of fetate and other, departments and establishments of the Government concerned with foreign tariffs and trade controls, but during the past year this cooperation was on an even broader scale because of the character and extent of the changes in foreign tariffs. In addition to the cooperation with the Department of State which has already been indicated, the Bureau worked closely with and fur nished a considerable amount of material to the Department of Agri- BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMEBCE 33 culture in connection with its comprehensive study of foreign restric tions on international trade in farm products in response to a Sen ate resolution. Assistance was also rendered _to the I anti hommission advisory committee on import valuations and the .Bureau has worked with the Commission on other matters from time to time. Similar association has been maintained with the Treasury Depaitment and other Government organizations. . Cooperation with various trade organizations has also been in creasingly close during the past year in this general field, in con nection with the imposition of foreign quotas on American products, the Bureau assists the Department of State to obtain equitable alloca tions for American trade. Further allocations to individual shippers are left to the trade itself through the appropriate associations where such exist. The changes and possible future of American foreign trade generally have engaged the serious attention of both general and individual trade organizations and increasingly frequent calls have been made upon the Bureau by such organizations for informa tion and advice in formulating their own policies and activities . A number of special studies were made and publications issued in addition to the ordinary current publication of tariff changes through the usual channels. The special publication covering the bhipment of Samples and Advertising Matter Abroad was republished m re vised form. This covers in detail the making of such shipments to over 150 foreign countries or colonies. The pamphlet on .Preparing Shipments to Canada was also completed and published, the demand for it being so great that two reprints were necessary within a period of a few months. The timely publication reviewing Foreign tariffs and Commercial Policies During 1932 was also in such demand as to necessitate a reprint. VITAL FACTS PROVIDED FOR LONDON ECONOMIC CONFERENCE The usefulness of the expert staff of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce was well illustrated by the service it was ab e to provide to the American delegation to the World Economic Con ference in London. Much of the basic data used by the American representation was compiled by the Bureau. In addition to the out standing contributions made by the Foreign Tariffs Division the services of the Economic Research Division were also utilized. Aidino- the American delegation in still another way, the Bureau supplied a summary of the maritime.policies of all the major countries of the world, together with other basic shipping data. And, finally, the Chief of the Bureau’s Foreign Tariff Division served as a techni cal adviser on the staff of the American delegation. FOREIGN COMMERCIAL LAW S AND P U B L IC -FIN A N C E M EASURES STUDIED The Bureau continued to gather, compile, and disseminate infor mation on foreign commercial laws restricting or otherwise affecting American business interests. In this field, special assistance was ren dered to American governmental agencies—particularly on the sub ject of taxation abroad. Life-insurance developments throughout the world were studied by the Bureau, in conjunction with various private organizations. Vigorous efforts have been made to minimize 34 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE and offset the foreign misappropriation and misuse of Americanowned trade marks. A new service has been instituted by which the Bureau furnishes notification of foreign legislative changes to interested persons. The Bureau handled a rapidly mounting number of requests for information on European public finance, with reference to exchange movements, credits, foreign investments, debt payments, etc. The abandonment of the gold standard accentuated the demand for data of this character. The Bureau kept closely in touch with the meas ures adopted abroad in such fields as unemployment relief, aid to agriculture, debt moratoria, social insurance, and internal and ex ternal loans for public-works construction. The information thus obtained has proved useful, on numerous occasions, to American Government United States.bodies concerned with comparable measures for the At the request of the State Department, the Bureau analyzed the trade of 16 foreign countries, to facilitate future commercial agree ments. In connection with debt negotiations, analyses of foreign countries’ “ capacity to pay ” were carried out. An elaborate report was prepared on the subject of American branch factories abroad, and intensive study was given to the international cartel movement! T H E FOREIGN COMMERCE SERVICE During the fiscal year just ended there was a reduction of only about 15 percent m the number of requests for assistance made by American manufacturers and exporters upon the Foreign Commerce Service of this Bureau—a service which comprises commercial at taches, trade commissioners, and assistants in the major foreign cen ters Throughout the year these foreign representatives of the De partment mailed or cabled to Washington thousands of reports deal ing with every phase of economic conditions abroad; and the per tinent data in these reports were disseminated quickly to interested persons. The commercial attaches have been called upon to render increased assistance, in economic and commercial matters, to the diplomatic missions to which they were attached. But in addition to these vital functions the members of the Foreign Service were able to send ,191 letters of information and advice to American firms (prac tically all of them m answer to specific requests from those firms! during the 12 months under review. FOREIGN-TRADE ACTIVITIES OF COMMODITY DIVISIONS The Bureau’s commodity divisions at Washington have continued their activity during the past year (often m direct cooperation with the Foreign Service representatives) in furthering the export interir116!1’ industries. number will suffice to respective illustrate the character Aof this work.of selected examples ” Because of prevailing conditions, various American automobile companies were forced to withdraw from the foreign field many di rect factory representatives, and therefore leaned more heavily upon the Bureau s Automotive Division, which has advised very frequently I TiTTTi.-p.ATT OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE 35 with exporters developing programs for oversea sales. The Division has endeavored to interpret international developments and major trends in its field; one of the striking trends to which it has recently called attention is the increasing manufacture and use of Dieselengined commercial vehicles abroad. In chemicals the foreign situation has been particularly acute, and uneasiness was manifest in all branches of the American chemical industry relative to production developments, the maintenance of exports, and the menace of unfair competition from imports. The Chemical Division pictured the situation in a trade-information bulletin on the European chemical industry. Facts bearing upon the problem of Japanese and Dutch competition were made available to the industry. The Bureau’s cooperation resulted in equitable treatment for American chemicals under certain of the embargo and quota systems abroad. Periodic reports on cartel developments proved of particular value to our synthetic organic chemical indus try. A statistical study was made of American chemical imports from countries with depreciated currencies. Bimonthly reviews of world trade in medicinal and toilet preparations were instituted. There has been a special effort to develop basic and current com mercial data on “ exotic ” raw materials—botanicals, gums, resins, waxes, balsams, and essential oils. Foreign industrial consumption of chemicals has been studied more intensively. Last December the Electrical Equipment Division inaugurated a service that had long been planned—issuing a circular a week, one country at a time, covering the foreign radio markets. This serv ice has been accorded high praise by the industry. The manuscript of an exhaustive study on world power development from an eco nomic standpoint is now nearing completion. The Bureau’s Hide and Leather Division took an active part in formulating the plans and procedure whereby the Tanners’ Council of America, with the authority of the French Government and the American State Department, was designated to control the alloca tion of import permits for patent leather under the French import quota. The Division acted as an intermediary between the Chinese goatskin importers and the Chinese Hide and Skin Inspection Bureau whereby modifications of the regulations as to grading and trim of Chinese goatskins (of great importance to American tanners of these skins) were secured. The Minerals Division prepared and published for general dis tribution Charts of World Production, Imports, and Exports of Major Minerals of Industry. At the request of an association repre senting the entire domestic copper industry, the Bureau, through its foreign and domestic agencies, prepared complete lists of foreign copper and brass manufacturers and dealers; these were published by the association. Statistical research and compilation of world wide international trade figures covering petroleum and its products were continued as in past years; similar research covering copper, lead, zinc, and coal was also conducted at the specific request of trade organizations. The Motion-Picture Division has been cooperating very closely with the trade on problems of foreign business. American distrib utors of motion pictures have intensified their efforts in foreign 36 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE fields in view of the increased competition of foreign producers, new quota and contingent laws abroad, language barriers, and exchange controls; Despite these obstacles, American distributors still control the bulk of film distribution abroad, and they have depended largely on the Bureau for accurate data on foreign condi tions. New Government restrictions, or old ones made more drastic, were instituted in France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Jugoslavia, necessitating important services to the trade by the Bureau. American distributors were forced to withdraw from the Czechoslovakian market for nearly 8 months. At the expense of the trade, our special motion-picture trade commissioner made numerous trips to Czechoslovakia, and played an important part in negotiating the return of American distributors to that central European market. The trend of exports of rubber products from each important exporting country was discussed in a series of special circulars by the Bureau’s Rubber Division. In order that the iarge American office-equipment industry might have a dependable measure of current trends in foreign trade, the Bureau’s Specialties Division obtained official statistics from a score of foreign countries for a 6 -month period in 1932, showing the flow, by countries of origin and destination, of this class of goods. More than half of the typewriters produced in this country in recent years have been shipped abroad, but the gains made by our competitors in the world’s trade in typewriters and other office machines during the past year are significant. The Textile Division supplied data and held conferences on sub jects relating to Russian purchases of raw cotton and cotton goods, as well as Chinese purchases of raw cotton. The Transportation Division published, in convenient form, a manual containing information on all foreign railroads, for the purpose of assisting in the extension of sales of specialized railway equipment abroad. DATA ON INDIVIDUAL DISTRIBUTORS OF MERCHANDISE ABROAD Despite the decrease in export business, there has been no abate ment in the demands of American foreign traders upon this Bureau for up-to-date and accurate information respecting distributors of merchandise in all foreign markets. The Commercial Intelligence Division supplied, during the year, 29,000 reports in detail on indi vidual foreign business organizations, and added 88,000 new and revised reports to its master file, which now contains reports on ap proximately 600,000 business organizations abroad. The Division satisfied requests for 82,000 “ lists of foreign buyers.” These two services are on a fee basis, payment being required on the part of all users other than Government departments. During the fiscal year the Commercial Intelligence Division handled 6,086 trade oppor tunities submitted by the foreign field officers of the Departments of Commerce and State, checking each prior to publication and dis tribution to American traders. This Division made available, to credit associations in this country, much research material useful in following foreign credit and collection conditions, and it coor BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE 37 dinated its activities with credit groups in order to analyze trends. In cooperation with the Finance Division, it aided in estimating frozen credits abroad, with respect to shipments of merchandise, and the effect on credit terms of foreign-exchange conditions. Much study was also given to the subject of credit insurance. BUREAU ACTIVITIES IN PROMOTION OF DOMESTIC TRADE In the field of domestic commerce the Bureau rendered very substantial assistance to the N.R.A. and the other governmental bodies concerned with recovery activities. The achievements in this phase of the work will be considered in a subsequent section of this report. Other services by the domestic-commerce divisions were of varied character. IM PORTANT STUDIES I N FIELD OF M ERCH ANDISING RESEARCH During the past fiscal year the Merchandising Research Division completed the field work and most of the subsequent statistical work on the national drug-store survey. Three publications on various phases of the study appeared, bringing the total number of reports from this survey to six. Work proceeded on other studies of operat ing costs and of production capacity, and reports were published on the drop-forging industry, the blueprint industry, the markingdevices industry, and the wholesale jewelry trade. Studies were also under way on confectionery jobbing, manufacture of women’s gar ments, and die casting. “ Retail-management practices ” and “ Retail delivery ” were the subjects of special analyses and reports. An unusual approach to a combined research and educational effort was presented by work on the problem of returned goods, data for which were gathered through the Federation of Women’s Clubs. After study of the material obtained, the cooperating organiza tions took definite steps in their respective communities to eliminate the returned-goods evil. A new departure in the analysis of the retail market was initiated by the publication of a study entitled “ The Location Structure of Retail Trade in Baltimore.” This study presented for the first time the organized character of retail trade in a metropolitan city, portraying the respective functions of the central shopping district, the subcenter, the string-street, and the neighborhood business development. The idea was considered to be one of fundamental importance, particularly in the marketing field, and this lead has been followed by various agencies in pre paring similar break-downs of the retail-marketing structure in other Thecities. industrial-marketing section issued a bibliography .of all sources of information of direct use to industrial-marketing special ists, and several reports on detailed phases of the industrial-market ing problem. The periodic credit surveys and the special bankruptcy studies were continued, several reports being published during the year. “ DISCUSSION A N D ACTION ” PROGRAMS— BUSIN ESS-IN FO R M A TIO N SERVICE In the Marketing Service Division, the trade-association section gave an increased volume of service to all persons interested in the ------5 19865— 33 38 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE activities and organization of trade associations. The group discus sion and action programs were continued at the request of organiza tions desiring a carefully planned procedure in overcoming the merchandising problems of their particular trades and industries. Through scheduled meetings arranged for these discussion purposes, trades or functional groups of manufacturers, wholesalers, or re tailers were acquainted with the tested experience of business throughout the United States. One hundred and twenty-six pro grams of this kind were requested by 41 cities in 23 States. The business-information section continued its work of replying to inquiries from individuals and organizations on practically all phases of business not immediately under the jurisdiction of com modity or technical divisions. The merchandising-information serv ice was expanded, and is now being received regularly by more than 300 chambers of commerce and trade associations. An evidence of the keen national interest in business research was the continued popularity of the Bureau’s processed publication, Do mestic Commerce, issued three times a month—-for which 3,500 firms, in a wide range of activities, paid $1 a year. ALTERED EM PH A SIS IN DOMESTIC REGIONAL WORK As regards the Domestic Regional Division, the fiscal year just closed was a period of transition caused by the necessity for economy and by basic changes in Bureau policy relating to research work. The purpose originally proposed for this Division in 1927—the main tenance of information on regional economic conditions—had been thrust aside by the pressure for studies of immediate and specific application to the problems of individual trades. This phase of the Division’s work was closed during the year with parallel publication of three regional studies of furniture distribution—covering, respec tively, the West-Mid-Continent, the Mid-West, and the Gulf South west, in order of issue. One study prepared during the year involved a new venture by the Bureau in active cooperation with 10 universities in the WestMid-Continent in a general marketing and economic background study. It involved a study of business activities, sources of income, and economic trends by “ commercial districts ” (a phrase used to describe groups of counties homogeneous in their character of business activities). The experience was so favorable, and the interest in the general plan so wide, that considerable hope is held for expansion of the Bureau’s cooperative activities in this field. The Bureau issued a series of Aids to Analyzing Markets, which might be described as a conversion of the obsolete dollar totals of 1929 retail trade into percentage ratios by States, counties, and cities—of long-range value to marketing organizations. At the suggestion of the advisory committee on marketing, an experiment was made in cross-sectioning census figures for specific commodity lines. Furniture was selected because of the intimate knowledge of the trade acquired through the regional studies. The manuscript, completed July 1, drew together all census material relating to the manufacture and distribution of furniture, and BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE 39 pointed out the possibilities and dangers of interrelating the available data. A study of carload rail commodity movements was practically complete at the end of the year, in such form as available data permitted. The apparent and growing need for better current knowledge of regional conditions led the Bureau to begin a tally and appraisal of city and regional business indexes. Parallel to this, a breakdown of the gainfully employed population of the larger cities in percentage terms was made as a basis for appraising the representative character of employment and other index samples. This material was found to be of considerable interest to the N.R.A., and plans were made for continuing it into the new year, in such a way as to lead to greater completeness and coordination of local business indexes. DOMESTIC B U SIN E SS FURTHERED BY COMMODITY DIVISIONS A great variety of valuable services calculated to promote busi ness within the United States have been performed by the several commodity divisions of the Bureau. For example, the Industrial Machinery Division endeavored to analyze markets with particular regard to'the technique covering the sale of machinery. More than half of the service of the Chemical Division was concerned with do mestic trade problems. Producers of equipment and other capital goods sought data as to the requirements of branches of the chemical industry. ° Investors desired a perspective of creative chemistry. Prospective as well as established producers requested territorial in formation as to supply, location, distribution, and consumption. Governmental bodies required counsel on chemical matters. _ The Hide and Leather Division gave very substantial assistance to the Bureau of Agricultural Economics in their establishment of do mestic grades for calfskins and country hides. Shoe-repair dealers , requested the Bureau’s assistance in organizing a national body, and were supplied with the names and addresses of officers of local organ izations in various sections of the country. Saddlery and harness producers “ contacted ” the Bureau frequently for data as to the growing popularity of horseback riding in the United States and the increased market for their products resulting therefrom. The Rubber Division’s semiannual surveys of dealers’ stocks of automobile tires and inner tubes were broadened to include stocks held by mail-order houses, and chain stores operated by tire manufac turers and by automotive supply companies. This enabled the in dustry to measure accurately the retail movement of tires through distributors. This was particularly helpful because of an unusual wholesale distribution during midsummer, in advance of the applica tion of the tire-production tax. The Bureau’s Transportation Division completed a study on the Calumet River project (Chicago), which was submitted to the Board of Rivers and Harbors, War Department. Two important additional studies of proposed waterways—namely, a study of the Trinity River area in Texas and the proposed trans-Florida Ship Canal—were undertaken for the Rivers and Harbors Board; these reports will be submitted during the coming fiscal year. 40 BEPOBT OP THE SECBETABY OP COMMEBCE ECONOMIC RESEARCH The Division of Economic Research carried forward during the year its continuing research into developments affecting the economic welfare of the country, expanded and improved its statistical serv ices, cooperated with other bureaus and independent organizations in a study of many of the more pressing current economic prob lems, and inaugurated several special research projects, the most important of which was a comprehensive survey of the national income. The study of the national income for the period 1929 to 1932, in clusive, was undertaken in response to Senate Resolution No. 220 of the Seventy-second Congress, which directed the Bureau to make total income estimates for these years, including income originating from agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and other gainful occupations, as well as the distribution of the income in the form of wages, rents, royalties, profits, etc. This study is being made with the assistance of the National Bureau of Economic Re search, and will be completed in December 1933. Minor research projects completed during the year included a comprehensive statistical report on conditions in the United States as of March 1933; a study of industrial overcapacity; a study of the trend of the major statistical indicators 1929-32; and a review of the economic importance of the alcohol beverage industry. A series of charts showing production and wholesale prices in the leading foreign countries, world stock of raw materials, and United States exports, by countries, economic classes, and commodi ties was also prepared. Depreciated foreign exchanges and their effect on our foreign trade was one of the problems of major interest during the year to which the Bureau devoted considerable study. Statistics and testimony on this subject were submitted, by request, to a subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives. An analysis of United States foreign trade statistics, with particular reference to the effects of exchange movements, was made for the Tariff Commission for use in their report in response to the Costigan resolution. The Bureau also prepared for this same purpose an estimate of the employment afforded by export trade and the extent of unemployment resulting from the drop in exports from 1929 to 1932. An outstanding contribution to our foreign trade records was the completion of the indexes of export volume, by economic classes, for the period of 1913 to date; also, the completion of quarterly in dexes, by economic classes, for 1932 and 1933, and the initiation of a similar compilation for imports. A comprehensive review of our foreign trade was published in bulletin form. The publication of the Survey of Current Business was speeded up so that both weekly and monthly issues went forward more promptly to subscribers. The presentation of the material was im proved, including the revamping of the weekly supplement to include a weekly summary of business trends. Improvement was made in the statistical data, both from the standpoint of coverage and refine ment of existing material. New indexes were presented on the trend of world stocks and prices of raw materials, and a revision of the indexes of agricultural marketings was completed. BUREAU 03? FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE 41 PUBLICATIONS OE THE BUREAU The output of the Editorial Division during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1933, was considerably curtailed by reason of a decrease of over 50 percent in the allotment for printing. _ For reasons of economy, the size of some of the periodical publications was also reduced, especially that of the weekly Commerce Beports. In addi tion to the periodical publications prepared for the printer, con siderable time was given to special reports in the domestic commerce field, such as a series of reports on analyzing markets in various States, another on furniture distribution, an analysis of the causes of commercial bankruptcies, and a drug-store survey. Among other publications handled in the Division during the year were Ihe Silver Market, Monetary Uses of Silver in 1933, Company Law and Busi ness Taxes in Great Britain, and Shipment of Samples and Adver tising Matter Abroad. ASSISTANCE RENDERED TO DOMESTIC RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS SUBSTANTIAL H ELP ACCORDED TO T H E N .R .A . The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, with its dis tinctive facilities and contacts and its readiness to offer assistance in any program affecting trade and industry, was offered a further opportunity by the enactment of the National Industrial Becovery Act. Its chief service during the fiscal year was to support the Becovery Administration in visualizing to the entire population ot the country the scope, purposes, and benefits of the Is ational Indus trial Becovery Act. _ Appreciating immediately the importance pi this measure, this Bureau in the very beginning set up a coordinating unit and sent representatives to ’ attend hearings before the congressional com mittee. These representatives followed closely the passage of the act through Congress, and by special bulletin kept the Bureau s district offices advised as to the progress of this legislation. With additional observations by the district office managers taking account of local conditions, the business community was thus apprised from the first (through periodic district office news letters and other channels) of the character and significance of the new measures. In anticipation of the formulation of codes, a number of surveys were made and conferences held, so that this organization would be fully prepared to cooperate, if and when needed. As an example of this preparatory work, the Textile Division of the Bureau, through its advisory council, had done much preliminary work on a code for the the textile . began to function „ ,. After Nationalindustry. Becovery Administration actively, it called on the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce for a variety of services. The contacts of the commodity divisions were often utilized. A few of the more striking instances of this cooperation will be cited. During the last quarter of the fiscal year the Minerals Division of the Bureau cooperated with no fewer than 55 trade associations or groups in furnishing essential data for the preparation of codes under the N.B.A. _ The Bureau assisted the National Lumber Manufacturers Association and the American 42 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE Paper and Pulp Association by providing statistical data on produc tion, imports, and exports of forest products, mill labor values, unit production man-hours, etc., so as to develop basic facts for N.R.A. codes. The Bureau furnished to the N.R.A., also, much information regarding the set-up of the tanning industry, the leadership in the industry, and the functions of the tanners’ council, and assistance was rendered in bringing the industry into touch with N.It.A. at an early date. Bureau files of material relating to the iron and steel industries were compiled, and were undoubtedly useful during the formative period of the N.R.A. policies. Again, the Bureau furnished to the N.R.A. charts showing the structure of the automotive industry, and Bureau officials held many conferences with leaders of that industry on N.R.A. matters. A presentation was made as to the existing and the logical organization of the chemical industry. Comparable serv ices have been rendered by all the other commodity divisions of the Bureau. b u r e a u ’s f a c t u a l m a t e r ia l e x t e n s iv e l y u t il iz e d BY N.R.A. The close of the fiscal year found the Bureau’s Marketing Service Division performing varied services in connection with the recovery act—disseminating bulletins on N.R.A. matters to a list of about 1,000 national trade associations; handling thousands of letters di rected to the N.R.A. requesting information, documents, and mail ing-list services ; providing the N.R.A. daily with detailed informa tion as to trade and commercial groups from the Division’s Index of Commercial and Industrial Organizations; advising representatives of trade associations in personal conference and by correspondence as to N.R.A. requirements and procedure; providing speakers (on N.R.A.) for radio addresses and before local groups. Much of the factual material that had been gathered by the Bureau’s Merchandising Research Division was placed at the disposal of the N.R.A. as soon as it began to operate. Special tabulations and charts were prepared—usually based on this material and on the Bureau’s contacts—on such subjects as the organization structure of basic trades, the extent to which uniform cost accounting has been adopted in industry, estimates of retail costs and volume in the years following the retail census of distribution, and operating data' con cerning various trades under examination. Several of the Bureau’s cost specialists were drawn upon, both by the N.R.A. and trades and industries engaged in drafting codes, for special consultation. DISTRICT OFFICES BECOME NUCLEI FOR NATION-WIDE CAMPAIGN The foregoing were the principal measures of collaboration with the N.R.A. adopted by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com merce at its Washington headquarters. In the Bureau’s field service throughout the United States, the participation was equally vital, and productive of even more tangible results. In establishing an organization to administer the recovery act, due recognition was given to the high importance of commanding immediately and inexpen sively a nation-wide organization, through which a vigorous, in BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE 43 structive campaign for enlistment of membership in the N.R.A. could be launched. The district offices of the Bureau, holding the respect of the business community, provided such a set-up. Heavy demands have been made on all the Bureau’s district managers to address trade groups and large assemblages and to make radio talks. It is the confident expectation of Bureau officials that this or ganization will continue to be, in the future, a highly important factor in the carrying on of the activities undertaken by the N.R.A. The Bureau’s many facilities and advantages for such work are ob vious, being the result of long experience, cordial and helpful con tacts, and an exceptional accumulation of data. AID AFFORDED TO OTHER GOVERN .MENTAL RECOVERY BODIES The cooperation of this Bureau has by no means been confined to the National Recovery Administration. The Bureau has been gener ally recognized as a repository of pertinent, comprehensive, and timety data on virtually every aspect of world industry, trade, and finance. It is only natural, therefore, that applications for the Bureau’s aid should have come from a variety of governmental bodies concerned with the diverse measures designed to stimulate business and conserve commercial interests. The Bureau has been useful, also, to relief agencies. The Bureau supplied to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation essential data in connection with that agency’s study on forestryincluding prices of sulphite pulp over a period of years, the operat ing capacity of sulphite wood-pulp and writing-paper mills, and the possibility of enlarged production of pulp in the South. The Bureau’s specialists on petroleum and metals served as mem bers of a committee appointed by the Secretaries of Interior and of War in matters pertaining to the forecasting of domestic consump tion and the rationalization of world production and exports. The Bureau’s Textile Division cooperated most usefully with the American Red Cross. Congress appropriated 844,000 bales of raw cotton to be distributed by the Red Cross in the form of cotton cloth and clothing. The Bureau helped substantially in the organization of this project. The raw cotton had to be exchanged for appropriate consumer textile commodities, and the Bureau assisted in setting up exchange and buying methods. In consequence of the cooperative effort, the Red Cross was enabled to distribute through out the country more than 100,000,000 yards of cloth, 2,600,000 blankets and comforts, and 66,000,000 garments of all sorts. CONCLUSION As the year closes, the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce finds itself facing a critical point in its history. The budget for the pext fiscal year represents a reduction of 62.3 percent from the high reached in 1932, and of 49.5 percent from the funds available in the year covered by this report, Inasmuch as the Bureau’s ex penditures consist primarily of pay-roll disbursements, it is inevitable that this reduction should result in a drastic curtailment of staff. 44 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE At the same time, the policy and functions of the Bureau are in process of revaluation, to the end that its activities shall repre sent the highest form of service to the business community and to the other branches of the Government. That it will play an impor tant part in the economic developments of the next year cannot be questioned. It must provide a factual basis for the wise determina tion of economic policy looking toward the return of stability and security to our economic system. BUREAU OE STANDARDS GENERAL ACTIVITIES Finances—The congressional appropriation for the Bureau for the fiscal year just closed amounted to $2,137,280. Ihis represented a reduction of $612,290 below the appropriation for 1932, exclusive of nonrecurring items. The appropriation was later supplemented by an allotment of $120,000 from other sources. The reduction was met by means of drastic economies in operation and an 8-day furlough for all employees; without resorting to a forced reduc tion of the staff. Funds received from other governmental agencies for supporting work of special importance to these agencies amounted to $444,563. A general statement of the Bureau’s finances will be found in table 2, on page 70, of this report. Personnel—The regular staff at the close of the fiscal year num bered 946 employees. With miscellaneous assignments the grand total was 1,033 persons, a- decrease of 76 as compared with last year. The turnover was 1.8 percent as compared with 2.7 percent for 1932. There were 49 research associates stationed at the Bureau on June 30, engaged in technical problems of mutual interest to the Govern ment and to industry and supported by 20 national engineering societies and trade associations. The number of research associates for the previous year was 66. Testing—The testing of supplies for the Federal and State Gov ernments and the calibration of apparatus in terms of the national standards constitute the largest activity of the Bureau of Standards. The policy of the Government to purchase supplies on the basis of Federal specifications, while resulting in great economies, at the same time imposes a steadily increasing burden on the Bureau in carrying out the necessary' tests. A summary of the Bureau’s testing work during the past year is given in table 1 on page 68. The total number of tests completed was 263,679, and the fee value commensurate with the cost of the work had it been carried out in commercial testing laboratories was $959,719.04. The corresponding figures for 1932 are 253,823 and $944,302.83. Visiting committee.-—The present members of this committee are: Gano Dunn, chairman; Charles F. Kettering; Dr. Charles L._ Reese; Morris E. Leeds; and Dr. Karl T. Compton. Their advice and counsel have been most helpful. International relations.—The advisory committee on electricity and photometry, established by the International Committee on Weights and Measures, held its third biennial meeting at Paris, January 31 to February 3, 1933. This advisory committee consists of repre sentatives of France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, the United States, and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics. The 45 46 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE committee recommended that the general conference approve the principle of establishing values for the electrical units based upon absolute measurements, and that it empower the International Com mittee on Weights and Measures to carry out the detailed work necessary for putting the plan into effect. This would include fixing the ratios of the new units to the present international units and the date for general adoption of the units. The advisory committee also recommended that the general con ference give to the international committee power to fix specifica tions for a black-body standard of light and to adopt a standard value for the brightness of the black-body radiator operated at the freezing point of platinum. These proposals were based in part on experimental work done at the Bureau of Standards. The adoption of certain factors of visibility for calculating the photometric values of lights of different colors were also recom mended. These factors were determined largely by measurements made at the Bureau of Standards. Conference of State utility commission engineers.—The eleventh annual conference of State utility commission engineers was held at the Bureau in June. Committee reports and papers were presented on grounding of electrical circuits, limitations of voltage in joint use of poles, lighting of airways and airports, grade-crossing protection, billing demand, promotional rates, rules and regulations for bus transportation, truck regulations, taxicab regulations, line extension policies, underground corrosion, and on commission engineering activities. Federal fire council.—A fire protection manual was prepared at the request of Government agencies charged with the design, con struction, equipment, or management of buildings. American Standards Association.—Under the procedure of this association, the Bureau is sponsor for 15 standardization projects and is represented on 80 sectional and special committees. National Screw Thread Commission.—The 1928 report was re vised and will soon be published. The commission was abolished by Executive order signed by the President on June 10, 1933. American gage design committee.—The original report of this committee is being revised and extended to include plain and thread plug and ring gage blanks up to about 12 inches. Several other types of gage blanks have been added. Federal Specifications Board—This board, of which the Director of the Bureau of Standards is ex-officio chairman, has promulgated 826 standard purchase specifications, the use of which is mandatory upon all Federal departments, establishments, bureaus, offices, and agencies. ELECTRICITY New. basis for electrical units.—Determinations of values for the ampere and the ohm by absolute measurements were continued. In the case of the ampere, the average value from results to date is 1 B.S. international ampere=0.999941 absolute ampere. Values for the ohm are derived from calculated inductances of carefully constructed coils, several of which have been built at the BUREAU OF STANDARDS 47 Bureau in recent years. The value (subject to slight corrections) of 1 B.S. international ohm as determined by various coils is: From the porcelain coil: 1.000463 absolute ohms. From the Quartz coil: 1.000442 absolute ohms. From the pyrex glass coil: 1.000455 absolute ohms. Standards of electrical resistance.—Eighteen 1-ohm resistance standards of the type recently developed at the Bureau were con structed, and appear to be of exceptional quality. They will prob ably be used in future international comparisons, as well as in the maintenance of the unit in this country. Standan-ds of electromotive force.—Improvements in the con stancy of the Weston normal cell as a standard of electromotive force have been made possible by the use of materials for the con tainers which are more inert chemically than those previously em ployed. A new high precision potentiometer for the comparison of standard cells was constructed and placed in service. Comparisons were made of the Bureau’s standards of electromotive force with those of England, France, and Germany. Large absolute electrometer and equipment for testing of current transformers.-—A number of mechanical improvements have been in corporated in the Bureau’s absolute electrometer, and results are now attainable with a precision of a few hundredths of 1 percent. The equipment for testing current transformers has been put into com mission and has been found satisfactory for tests up to 12,000 amperes. Magnetic testing and research.—An apparatus for magnetic test ing at high magnetizing forces was developed and has been added to the list of approved methods of the American Society for Test ing Materials. A magnetic balance was developed for the inspection of" austenitic steel. Apparatus was constructed for the application of the “ Magnaflux ” method to the inspection of hollow steel airplane propellers and proved very effective in the location of hidden defects. International standards of candlepower for commercial types of electric lamps.—The national laboratories of France, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States have now agreed to bring their standards of light for the commercial types of lamps into ac cord through the use of visibility factors established by measure ments at the Bureau and accepted by the International Commission on Illumination. Values of the colored filters to serve this purpose have been adopted and each participating laboratory has received one of the filters. Primary radio-frequency standard.—The Bureau’s primary stand ard of raclio frequency was improved and is now1automatically pro tected against power failures. Secondary standards of radio frequency.—A semiportable piezo electric standard was developed to maintain a frequency constant within 1 part in 10,000,000 for several hours without adjustment. A new type of toroidal quartz plate was developed with marked, ad vantages in respect to temperature coefficient and constancy. Dissemination of standard radio frequency.—The accuracy of the 5,000-kilocycle radio transmissions Avas increased to 1 part in 10,000,000. Greater reliability was brought about by a change from 1 to 30 kilowatts in the power of the transmitter and by the develop- 48 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE ment of highly accurate automatic monitoring procedure. The standard frequency signals were made available to the public over wire line connections. Measurements of radio %veuve variations.—Equipment for the au tomatic recording of received wave intensities was installed and applied to a study of the relative values of different frequencies for broadcasting. The data aided directly the work of, two international radio conferences (Madrid, 1932, and Mexico City, 1933). Eadio transmissions at the lower and the higher frequencies were corre lated with solar data and terrestrial magnetic changes. Equip ment ^was developed for a fundamental study of direction and polarization phenomena. Height of ionized layers.-—Automatic recorders were developed and used for determining the varying heights and ionization of the layers in the ^upper atmosphere which make possible long-distance radio transmission. Part of this work was in connection with the world-wide Polar Year program of scientific measurements. Storage batteries.-—It was found that gradual corrosion of the positive grids of storage batteries under ordinary conditions may lib erate enough antimony to increase materially the rate of sulphation of the negative plates. Determinations have been made of viscosity and resistivity of sulphuric acid solutions at low temperatures, which will aid in predicting the operating characteristics of storage batter ies under severe climatic conditions. Mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties of storage-battery separators have been measured for the Navy Department, to determine the suitability of different kinds of wood, both treated and untreated, and the variation of these properties in commercial practice. Insulating properties of rubier.—A complete study of the dielec tric constant, power factor, and resistivity of rubber-sulphur com pounds at temperatures from -15° to +150° C., and under various pressures, has been completed. Telephone engineering service.—Three Government departments and other establishments were advised as to the most economical and efficient methods for supplying telephone and related services in their buildings. Electrical and other safety codes.—Bureau representatives have assisted in revision of the National Electrical Code. Handbook no. 17, containing a revision of the code for protection against lightning, was issued, and a model ordinance for electrical inspection was pre pared. Two documents on construction of power lines were prepared for the International Electrotechnical Commission. Members of the staff participated in the Annual Safety Congress and in the work of the safety code correlating committee, and assisted State officials and various committees formulating and revising safety codes. Prevention of underground corrosion.—The successful use of bitu minous coatings on pipe lines requires the setting up of recognized methods for identifying the materials used, and for determining their properties and performance. Two methods for determining the condition of bituminous coatings after service have been developed in cooperation with the American Gas Association and American Petroleum Institute. A laboratory method for determining the re sistance of coatings to soil stress, the principal cause of coating fail ures, is being developed. BUREAU OE STANDARDS 49 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Invm' tapes.—Studies of invar as used in Coast and Geodetic Sur vey tapes, have shown that the newer melts of invar are not as stable as the old ones. An endeavor should be made to reproduce the older compositions and heat treatments. Ethyl alcohol tables.—The Bureau cooperated with the Bureau of Industrial Alcohol of the Treasury Department in the prepara tion of tables to be published in the new edition of the United States Gauging Manual. A complete alcoholometric table was pre pared for publication in the United States Pharmacopoeia. Cooperative orifice meter tests.—The Bureau has assisted the joint orifice-coefficient committee of the American Gas Association and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers by advising on the tests to be made and by analyzing the results. The object of the work is to set up a table of coefficients which may be used in the commercial metering of such fluids as water, steam, and fuel gases. Precision circles.—In order to determine the factors which cause instability in theodolite circles, a series of circles made of various metals has been cast, machined, and heat treated. Three circles, made and graduated in Europe,, showed very definite evidence of nonuniform dimensional changes. Testing of timepieces.—The year’s record shows the largest num ber of tested pieces since 1923-24 and the largest fee value for over 10 years. Material tested included chronometers, pocket watches, bracelet watches, stop watches, stop clocks, time switches, electric clocks, and fire-alarm boxes. Nickel-chromium alloys fo r, vieights.—Studies of the effect of hydrochloric acid fumes on sample weights constructed of an 80 percent nickel, 20 percent chromium alloy, finally caused the rejec tion of this material for standards of extreme precision. For stand ards such as analytical weights or commercial test weights, the material is approved. Scales.—Each of the 19 master track scales owned by the railroads or State governments was calibrated. Adjustments were necessary on 11 of these. Eight maintained their accuracy within the required limit (approximately 0.01 percent). A total of 864 railway track scales was tested on 87 railways in 39 States, involving 23,000 miles of testing equipment travel. Of these 80.6 percent were correct within the prescribed tolerance of 0.20 percent. The5average error was 0.17 percent. Corrective adjust ments were made on 54 scales. Fifty-eight track scales used for weighing grain, subject to the special tolerance of 0.10 percent fixed by the Interstate Commerce Commission, were tested. For the group 58.6 percent were within the prescribed tolerance and the average error was 0.13 percent. Forty-three test-weight car calibrations were made at the Bu reau’s master scale depot at Clearing, 111., of which two were for regular use on Canadian railways. Thirty-three cars, to which stand ardization service is not otherwise practically obtainable, were cali brated in the field. The mine scale testing equipment made 163 tests at coal mines in Maryland, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Of these 57.1 percent were 50 REPORT OP THE SECBETABY OP COMMERCE not correct within the prescribed tolerance of 8 pounds per ton. In adequate equipment and faulty installation and maintenance methods were the general causes of discrepancy. Dental materials.—In cooperation with the American Dental Asso ciation standards and specifications have been established for amal gam alloys, dental mercury, dental investments, four types of dental golds and technics, and for the most efficient use of these materials. The Bureau has developed a method for the analysis of cements and cement liquids, which makes possible an accurate analysis of com binations of zinc, aluminum, and phosphoric acid. Certification of gages.—The usual number of plain gages were measured and there was an increase in the number of micrometers, penetration needles, and miscellaneous articles submitted. There was a decrease of about 35 percent over the previous year in the number of thread gages and precision blocks certified. This decrease is partly the result of the waiving for one year of the American Petro leum Institute’s requirement for annual inspection of manufacturers’ master cable and rotary tool joint gages. Screw-thread survey.—The screw-thread survey, in cooperation with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, was completed. Some of the conclusions are: (1) About 60 percent of threaded product is made to American National specifications; (2) a little less than one half of the product is within the specifications of the class of fit intended; (3) about 55 percent of screws and bolts are smaller at the minor diameter than the minimum %-inch flat, thus causing an unnecessary reduction in tensile strength; and (4) about 75 per cent of nuts have a half-angle of the thread larger than that which will consume one half of the pitch diameter tolerance. Gaging mesh size of gill nets.—At the request of the Bureau of Fisheries an investigation was made of methods of gaging or measur ing the mesh size of gill nets. The problem has a direct bearing on the conservation of fish, particularly in the Great Lakes where fishing is controlled by the States bordering on the Lakes and by the Domin ion of Canada. A flexible steel gage was recommended for field use because of its convenience and simplicity, and when properly standardized was found to give the accuracy required. Precision dividing engine.-—-The engine has been completed, and gratings ruled which were exceptionally free from periodic errors. The most serious difficulty at this time is securing satisfactory dia mond points. The chipped or natural cleavage diamond points first used sometimes give excellent results for several thousand lines, but often fail before a ruling is completed. A lapping machine is being designed and built which it is hoped will produce satisfactory points. Thermal expansion.—Information regarding the Bureau’s fusedquartz thermal-expapsion apparatus has been supplied to a number of commercial laboratories. Samples of known expansion have been sent to eight laboratories for use in calibrating thermal-expansion apparatus, and comparisons have been made with the Bureau’s data. Identification of questioned documents and other objects.—The 77 tests on identification included work for practically all departments of the Government. On 58 of these, definite reports were given which enabled the Government to proceed with or discontinue the BUREAU OP STANDARDS 51 investigation. On the others definite decisions by the Bureau were impossible because of insufficient material or difficulty in discovering satisfactory characteristics. HEAT AND POWER Establishment of a color-temperature scale.—An absolute scale of color temperatures, based on the freezing points of platinum, rhodium, and iridium, is being established. The work at the plat inum point has been completed, and a group of three electric lamps, to be used as working standards, have been calibrated at this point. Thermal conductivity of metals.—Measurements on some 30 alloys, chiefly alloy steels, at temperatures from 100° to 500° C. were com pleted. The test method has been standardized. . Viscosity of liquids.—A new means of computing changes of vis cosity produced by changes of temperature, pressure or composition, has been developed which greatly simplifies the analytical treatment and permits accurate practical viscosity calculations. _ Properties of steam.-—Experimental work in cooperation with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, on saturated steam m the range of temperatures between 100° and 374° _C. (1 to 218 atmospheres) has been continued and the results published. Phenomena of combustion.—A study of the effect of water vapor on the reaction of carbon monoxide and oxygen at constant volume shows a marked effect of water-vapor concentration on flame speed and luminous intensity, which increases with pressure. Heats of combustion of pure compounds.—Measurements were made of the heats of combustion of the normal paraffin hydrocarbons from heptane to dodecane. When the mean values of these heats ox combustion are plotted against the number of carbon atoms in the molecule of the compound the points lie on a smooth curve within about 0.01 percent. , Combustion in an engine cyiindev.—Measurements .have ,been niacie of the radiant energy emitted from different regions in the combus tion chamber of an engine, during normal explosions and when fuelknock occurs. Absorption in the ultraviolet, as a means of detecting preflame oxidation, is being studied. , Blended fuels.—In view of current proposals for the blending of alcohol with motor gasoline, comparative road tests have been made, usm0, the same gasolines with and without the addition of absolute alcohol. The influence of water on the miscibility of alcohol and gasoline, with and without the use of blending agents, and the effect of added alcohol on the knock rating of gasolines have been deter mined. . of vapor lock m. 55 Vapor lock investigation.—An investigation representative cars, operated under various conditions, shows that cars differ considerably in their capacity for handling vapor in the fuel system. The results indicate the permissible gasoline vapor pressures for freedom from vapor lock in the majority of cars on theExtreme road. pressure lubricants.-—In cooperation . with the automotive and petroleum industries, the properties of lubricants necessary for lubricating gears under heavy load are being determined. The ma 52 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE chine developed for testing the load-carrying capacity of lubricants has been found to give results in accord with service performance. Fire tests of welded-steel floors.—This series of tests,. conducted in cooperation with the American Institute of Steel Construction, included 5 fire tests and 1 loading test. The work resulted in a number of improvements in design and details of construction, which are applicable to other similar types of floors, as well as to the one tested. Domestic heating installations.—The fire hazard of typical domes tic heating installations has been determined, so that information is now available on which building-code requirements can be based. OPTICS Standardization of railway signal and other colored glasses—In cooperation with the American Railway Association, the Bureau is standardizing the colors of United States railway signal glasses. Thirty-four of the official A.R.A. standard glasses have been per manently deposited with the Bureau. Over 2,000 Lovibond glasses, used in the color grading of vegetable oils and other commodities, have now been standardized. To check the reliability of spectrophotometric equipment in industrial and college laboratories, colored glass filters have been prepared and their transmission determined throughout the visible spectrum. Several of these filters have now been issued to various laboratories. Photographic emulsion investigations.—Investigations of the mechanism of photographic hypersensitizing and of reversal by desensitizers have been completed and the results published. Special “ grainless ” emulsions of minimum gelatin content were prepared for practical use in other problems. Lens design and production.—A new and more convenient form for third order equations has been derived for application to lens systems where the thickness may not be neglected, and has been utilized in the study of a telephoto optical system, for astronomical purposes. A method of producing a polished aspherical surface has been developed. A new type of polishing tool permits work to be done on any desired zone of a lens and facilitates the figuring of a surface for the elimination of spherical aberrations. The method has been applied successfully in the production of a 12-inch single component lens with a focal length of 84 inches. Refractometry method.:.—In making refractive index measure ments with a spectrometer it has been found possible to liberalize the tolerance for permissible curvature of prism surfaces and to elimi nate customary and troublesome collimation adjustments. The pro cedure is applicable even when all wave lengths of the visible spec trum are employed and the spectrometer objectives are corrected for only two colors. Tiltmeters —Interference tiltmeters were perfected and built to measure the tilting of any surface upon which they are supported, with an accuracy of 0.1 second of angle. Several instruments have been installed and are now being operated at locations in California, Evaluation of sources of ultraviolet radiation.—In cooperation with the Council on Physical Therapy of the American Medical As sociation, specifications were prepared on the minimum intensities of BUREAU OE STANDARDS 53 typical sources of ultraviolet radiation which will insure effective therapeutic results. The interlaboratory comparison of standard sources of ultraviolet radiation was successfully completed. Standards of thermal radiation.—Intercomparison of the Bureau’s standards of thermal radiation, maintained for calibrating radiom eters in absolute units, showed them to be in good agreement with the original standards. Life tests showed but little depreciation after 300 hours’ use. The stability of levulose.—Measurements have been made of the velocity constants of the decomposition of levulose in aqueous solu tions of various acidities and temperatures. Regardless of tempera ture, levulose showed a maximum stability at pH 3.3. Date were tabulated showing the time required for 1 percent decomposition at integral pH’s and 10° temperature intervals. Semifactory production of levulose.—New and improved equip ment was installed in the Bureau’s semicommercial plant, and about 50 short tons of Jerusalem artichoke tubers were worked in the new diffusion battery. Several hundred pounds of thick sirup of varying degrees of purity were produced. Pwity of levulose sirups.—An improved process has resulted in sirups of 99 percent purity, and it is possible to recover by crystalli zation more than 75 percent of the sugar before reducing the purity of the sirup to what was heretofore the starting point. Lactones of the monobasic sugar acids.—Improvements in the methods for the preparation of the lactones of the sugar acids were developed. The lactones of the principal sugar acids were prepared, purified, and their optical rotations determined. Oxidation of sugars—Crystalline magnesium xylonate, a new sub stance, was prepared by electrolytic oxidation of xylose in the pres ence of magnesium carbonate. Crystalline calcium lactobionate was prepared by electrolytic oxidation of lactose. Gluconic acid solu tions were prepared by electrolytic oxidation of dextrose in the pres ence of a bromide, the bromide being removed by replacement with chlorine. This affords a cheap means for preparing crude gluconic acid solutions. /Crystalline gluconic acid was separated in good yield from aqueous solutions containing about 65 percent total solids. This affords a means for preparing gluconic acid in any desired quantity. International sugar scale.—The eighth session of the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis at Amsterdam in September 1932 officially adopted the Bureau’s proposed scale for the buying ai d selling of sugar throughout the world. Standard wave lengths.—Intercomparisons of the wave lengths of all strong lines of neon, argon, krypton, and xenon have been made and defined on the cadmium scale with an average accuracy of about 1 part in 50 millions. Descriptions of these spectra were extended into the infrared, and wave length values calculated from preciselyestablished spectral terms have been recommended as additional standards. Spectral analysis.—The arc spectra of pure metals, to which graded amounts of impurities have been added, were examined to determine the sensitivity of the spectral method and to find a physical basis for methods of chemical analysis by means of partial spectra. To make such chemical' analyses, the program of standardizing the emis sion spectra of the elements was carried forward by the measure19865— 33------ 6 54 EEPOBT OE THE SECBETABY OE COMMEBCE ment and classification of the first spectrum of xenon, second spec trum of krypton, the first 2 spectra of chlorine, and the first 3 spectra of lanthanum. Analyses of the first spectra of vanadium and chromium and of the second spectrum of hafnium were ex tended, and standardization of columbium, tantalum, and silicon spectra was improved. Interaction constants.—Measurements have been made on the brightness of the green continuous spectrum of a cesium discharge as a function of the number of electrons and ions per cubic centi meter. _Results are expressed in terms of the collision area for recombination which at low vapor pressure was found to have a value, independent of pressure, of 1.7 X10“21 cm3. Above 5 microns pressure, the area increased rapidly to about 50 times this value at 300 microns. X-rays.—Studies of commercial X-ray machines have revealed that the effective^ voltage applied to an X-ray tube and the effective current through it are far better indicators of the quality and quan tity of the X-rays emitted than are the peak voltage and average current commonly specified. New equipment has been developed and a service established for the standardization of X-rays used in treat ing skin diseases. Under the Bureau’s direction, three secondary X-ray standard ionization chambers have been set up outside of Washington. In cooperation with the representatives of the radi ologists, _X-ray protection recommendations have been promulgated, these will promote greater safety to hospital1workers and probably lead in turn to lower insurance rates. Radium and radioactive materials.—The number of preparations tested was 1,550, with radium content of nearly 8 grams and a market value of about «¡5550,000. .Twenty samples of luminous materials were tested. A more rapid method of measuring radioactive samples, without sacrifice of accuracy, has been developed. CHEMISTKY Iso'topic fractionation of water.—By fractional electrolysis, water of less density and water of greater density than normal water have been prepared. The heavier water has a higher freezing point a higher boiling point, and a lower refractive index than normal water. The heaviest water thus far prepared has a specific gravity of 1.015." Isotopic fractionation has also been produced by distillation and by adsorption. The preparation of heavy hydrogen in a pure state opens up a new field of chemistry. Hydrocarbons from petroleum.—A new type of packed-column still of high efficiency was developed. Five additional hydrocarbons have been isolated from petroleum and their properties determined. Standard states for bomb calorimetry.—As a result of a thermo dynamic analysis of the process taking place in the combustion bomb, corrections have been computed which make it possible to reduce all bomb-calorimetry results to a uniform basis, thus leading to greater accuracy and reliability. 6 Heat of formation of hydro chloric acid.—By direct union of hydrogen and chlorine in a flame calorimeter an accurate value for the of formation of hydrochloric acid from its elements has beenheat obtained. BUREAU OF STANDARDS 55 Heat content of phosphorus pentoxide.—The heat capacity, heat of sublimation, and heat of solution of phosphorus pentoxide between room temperatures and 1,100° C. has been determined. These data are of importance in connection with the production of fertilizers from phosphate rock. Analytical reagent chemicals.—The critical study or methods for the examination of reagent chemicals, in cooperation with the American Chemical Society, resulted in the completion of 11 new specifications, and progress on a number of others. Methods of analysis.—New or improved methods have been de veloped for the determination of aluminum in nitriding steels and magnesium in cements and similar materials. Experimental work has shown that palladium, rhodium, and iridium may be sepa rated, individually or collectively, from platinum by hydrolytic precipitation. Several series of standards were prepared as a groundwork for quantitative spectrochemical analysis in this group of metals. Methods for the purification of rhodium and iridium, particularly methods for the rapid preliminary separation of these two metals from each other, were studied. _Improvements have been made in existing methods for the analysis of alkaline tin-plating solutions. These will be useful in the control of commercial plating solutions. The minor products of decomposition of cyanide solu tions such as formate, cyanide, and urea have been investigated and methods for detecting them in such solutions have been developed. Standard samples.—There are now available 97 different standard samples, used by commercial testing laboratories in checking the accuracy of their analytical methods. During the past year 3,904 standard samples were distributed. The fees received offset the cost of preparing and distributing these samples. Chromium plating.—A study, in cooperation with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, of the possibility of depositing chromium from solutions of the trivalent or divalent chromium salts showed that it is not possible to obtain as satisfactory deposits or as good efficiencies as from the chromic acid solutions now used. Protective value of electroplated coatings.—Last year exposure tests of electroplated steel specimens were started in six locations in cooperation with the American Electroplaters’ Society and the American Society for Testing Materials. Inspections at regular intervals have shown that the thickness of the coatings is the most important factor in their protective value.^ Accelerated tests were found useful for roughly predicting the behavior of coatings under severe conditions of exposure, but they did not detect minor differences. Gas analysis.—The limit of accuracy of general gas analysis has been extended by the design and construction of two sets of appa ratus for gas-volumetric measurement of unusual precision, one for very small and one for large samples of gas. Gas service and standards.—A review of the literature relating to the heating values of gases has been made and a table of the probable “ best values ” has been prepared. The Bureau’s circular on stand ards for gas service has been rewritten. The circular discusses fully the heating value, composition, and pressure of gas supplied by gas 56 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE companies; meters; the extension of mains; and the relationships of company and customers. It includes summaries of existing regula tions, existing company practices, and methods for producing gases. A number of attachments for general installation on gas appli ances, usually by house-to-house salesmen, have been tested. None of them has been found to have merit, and some introduce serious hazard into the household. The effects of barometric pressure on the operation of gas appliances were determined. Differences in design or adjustment necessary to make the appliances safe and satisfactory at different altitudes were worked out. Difficulty lias been experienced m the use of the burners commercially available by laboratories and glass-blowing shops supplied with natural gas, propane, butane or other slow-burning gases. To meet this need burners of three types were designed and constructed at the Bureau. Tests with several gases at the Bureau and elsewhere show them to be superior to burners now on the market. 1 MECHANICS AND SOUND Absolute determination of gravity at WasMngton.—Final results of this investigation are now being obtained. A precise determina tion of this basic constant is of importance in the work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and in making absolute force measurements at the Bureau of Standards. Temperature coefficient of elasticity.—The temperature coefficient of the modulus of rigidity and Young’s modulus of elasticity of 34 samples of various metals and alloys, useful as elastic elements tor instruments, was determined in cooperation with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Fatigue Asís.—High-frequency fatigue testing 0f a number of lght aluminum and magnesium alloys has been completed and a report describing the results of the work, is being prepared Calibrating of proving rings.—A study of 17 proving rings com mercially built according to the designs developed at the Bureau and meeting its specifications, showed them to possess satisfactory constancy. Testing of engineering instruments and appliances.—Dxirin»- the I’0?0onengineering instruments were calibrate.!. Work haseXu6SS been °!started a more complete standardization of the water current-meter equipment largely employed by the engineering branches cf the Government. Type tests have been made of addu tional elevator safety interlocking devices for compliance with Sbaia ftye r &,leT.±01 S Elevators. í S f rdS ÍT¿uded <in American T ,„ mailIn i The performance of automatic metering devices, submitted for the approval of the postal authorities has been investigated. The increasing use of automatic devices of this nature has made this work of considerable importance. Tve extinguishing appliances and equipment.—A W e number iancl d *tested S L C%foro rthe^ CGovernment glUShing departments, haveprincipally been in istîg îed f o r th e and Steamboat their suitability ?foraVlg' useat,0ri on vessels under theInspectai, jurisdictionto ofdetermine that Bureau Acoustic properties of building materials.—Public interest i n t h e reduction of no,so continues. Over Ù0 different sarnies ofsound! BUREAU OP STANDARDS 57 absorbing materials have been submitted by the public for measure ment, and numerous samples of material for use in Government buildings have been tested for the Supervising Architect of the Treasury. Apparatus has been constructed for the study and meas urement of transmitted vibrations arising from machinery. Wind pressure on structures.—The results of wind tunnel measure ments on a model of the Empire State Building were published. The facilities of the Bureau were placed at the disposal of Prof. G. L. Harris, of Pennsylvania State College, for a study of the influence of neighboring structures on the wind pressure on tall buildings. ' ' Robinson cup anemometers.—An investigation lias_ been made of the rate of rotation of the standard 3- and 4-cup Robinson anemom eters, as a function of wind speed, fine-grained turbulence of the wind, and roughness of the surface of the cups. Anemometers with ■ conical cups have also been studied. Tests have been made on a whirling arm as well as in wind tunnels. Gast-iron pipe.-—As the available data on cast-iron water pipe cast horizontally by the multiple-gate process were insufficient, the Fed eral Specifications Board requested the Bureau to test a series of these pipes. Chemical and metall ograpbic examinations, and me chanical tests were made on pipes 4, 6, 8, and 12 inches in diameter. The results indicated that satisfactory cast-iron pipe is made by the multiple-gate process. Specification for wire rope.—The Bureau has cooperated with the manufacturers in a proposed revision of Federal Specification no. 297 for wire rope. The number of types of rope covered has been increased from 19 to 44, and the specification is now believed to include practically all types needed. _ Strength of welded joints in tubular members for aircraft—Con tinuing the work with the National Advisory Committee for Aero nautics, this investigation has been extended to cover tests_ on heattreated welds and on welds of thin-walled tubing. Special atten tion is being paid to methods of preventing heat cracks, including a study of welds made by a new process, using a carbonizing flame and a special low melting point rod. Tests so far have indicated that this new process gives somewhat stronger welds. End fixation of struts.—An investigation for the Navy Department on round tubular struts with elastically restrained ends showed that their strength could be predicted by calculation from tests on round end struts of the same material and shape, by the use of a theoretical factor to take account of the restraint. Methods have been worked out for determining, in certain types of trusses, a safe upper limit to Airplane this factor.wing beams—A. number of experimental designs of metal wing beams built for the Navy have been tested under different load ing Conditions, thus supplying data upon which to base the design of improved types of military aircraft. Wire loops.—At the request of the Navy Department, the Bureau has investigated failures of terminal wire loops in aircraft. They were all found to be fatigue failures caused by relatively high bendino- stresses where the loop passes through the terminal fitting. Careful preforming of the loops to fit the terminal greatly lessens but does not completely eliminate the trouble. 58 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE Vibrations of aircraft propellers.—In cooperation with the Aero nautics Branch of the Department of Commerce, an investigation is in progress on the stress distribution in vibrating propellers. A simple method of exciting resonant vibrations in nonrotating pro pellers, of sufficient intensity to cause fatigue failures, has been devised. _The stress distribution has been measured with a Tuckerman optical strain gage. Aircraft instrument developments.—A resistance type superheat meter for metal clad airships, three air-speed recorders for flight test use and one for the airship Akron, a strut type commutatorcondenser air-speed meter, a suspended head pitot-static tube, a sensi tive benzol manometer, and a pressure plate anemometer were designed and constructed for the Bureau of Aeronautics of the INavy Department. Experimental developments included electrically heated goggles, a venturi fuel flow meter with a new method of distant indicating, an improved carbon monoxide alarm, and a navigational computer. Test data on magnetic compasses are being obtained as part of a program to secure further improvement in performance. A monograph on aircraft power-plant instruments was completed for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. National Hydraulic Laboratory.—In addition to the equipment listed m last year’s report, two 9-ton weighing tanks, several bulk heads, a supply main, and various safety screens and motor panels have been installed. Four research projects are now under way 3 of them for other Government bureaus and 1 as general research.’ lhese are: Flow in the plumbing systems of high buildings; a study of deep-well current meters, for United States Geological Survey; loss of head at pipe bends, for Bureau of Reclamation; and ettect of silt-laden water in scouring a sandy river bed, for Bureau of Reclamation. ORGANIC AND FIBROUS MATERIALS Properties of floor coverings.—The work of the research associate of the Asphalt and Mastic Tile Association has resulted in a speci fication for asphalt tile which has been adopted by the association, and will also form the basis of a forthcoming Federal specification, bpecincations for wood-block flooring have been prepared in co operation with the Supervising Architect’s Office and the Post Office Department. Also, a specification has been developed for asphalt cement for use in laying flooring. . Themodynamics of rubber.—The heat capacity-temperature re lation of rubber has been found to follow a smooth curve from 14° to 195° K., but shows an anomaly between 195° and 202° K. which is probably associated with the hardening of rubber on coolino- The heat ot combustion of rubber hydrocarbon in the “ sol ” modification was found to be 45,231 ±14 joules per gram at 25° C. Photo-elastic properties of rubber.—The double-refraction of rubber under stress has been studied in relation to composition 1 he stress-optical properties of rubber, vulcanized with sulphur alone, differ markedly from those of rubber vulcanized with sulphur and organic accelerators. Photo-elastic methods have been applied to the study of stress distribution around inclusions in transparent BUREAU OE STANDARDS 59 rubber sheets under tension, and have yielded results in agreement with theory. A new type of gage was developed in order to make dimensional measurements with an accuracy comparable to that of the optical observations. Test methods for textiles—Improved methods for analyzing cotton-wool mixtures have been developed and incorporated in the Federal specifications for these materials and in the American So ciety for Testing Materials methods of test for textiles. A method for the analysis of weighted silk was also developed, and a key to the identification of textile fibers, including those used in brushes and cordage, was prepared for the American Society for Testing Mate rials. The general methods used for testing Government purchases of textiles were completely revised and the revision approved for promulgation by the Federal Specifications Board. Cotton textiles.—To aid in the selection of the best construction of cotton yarn or fabric to meet specified requirements, special yarns were spun and cloths woven from them, after which the rela tion between construction and properties of the fabrics was deter mined. The results are being summarized and collated. “ Handle ” and “ feel ” of textiles.—Two new instruments for evaluating the “ handle ” and “ feel ” of textiles have been developed by the Bureau. The first, known as the flexometer, measures the flexural attributes of cloth, including flexural work, flexural resil ience, and flexural hysteresis; quantities related to the stiffness and creasability of the fabric. The second, the compressometer, measures the compressional attributes, including thickness under different known pressures, compressibility, and compressional resilience, attri butes related to softness or hardness and springiness as appreciated by squeezing the cloth between the fingers. Accelerated aging test for waterproofed fabrics.—An accelerated aging test, designed to produce changes in the waterproofness of cloth similar to those which may occur in service, has been developed. The results obtained are comparable to those on fabrics exposed out of doors. Dope for airplane, wing fabric.—In cooperation with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, a study was made of synthetic resins and cellulose derivatives in dopes. Cellulose acetate dopes were most satisfactory as regards tautness and fire resistance; the addition of boric acid-borax mixture to the under side of wing fabric markedly increased the fire resistance of the doped fabric. _ Isoelectric point of silk.—In cooperation with the American Asso ciation of Textile Chemists and Colorists, the isoelectric point of silk, a fundamental characteristic of practical importance in all wet treatments including degumming, dyeing, and laundering has been definitely located at pH 2.5. Manila rope.—The quantitative method tor evaluating the color of rope fiber has been successfully applied by the manufacturers and has been incorporated in the revision of the Federal specification for manila rope. Spectral reflection measurements of the latest Philip pine Island Government standards for abaca were made as a basis for the quantitative evaluation of the fiber. Currency paper.—Cooperative work with the Bureau of Engrav ing and Printing and the Bureau of Efficiency on economies and 60 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE improvements in the paper currency indicate that the linen fibers used at present may be replaced with less expensive cotton fibers. Service trials of such paper are in progress. Properties of lithographic papers.—Experimental printings of off set lithographic papers have shown that considerable waste results from dimension changes of the papers caused by variations in at mospheric humidity. In cooperation with the Lithographic Techni cal Foundation, precise laboratory measurements were made of these changes and other reactions. Preservation of records—-Conclusive evidence was obtained that acid fumes in the air of cities is a deteriorant of books and other records stored in libraries. The feasibility of cleansing library air of acidic gases by an alkaline wash has been demonstrated. Further evidence was obtained that the stability of record papers is closely related to the purity of their fibers and the care exercised in the paper-making operations. Domestic caseins.-—Paper-coating tests of representative caseins, in cooperation with the Bureau of Dairy Industry, have shown that the domestic coating caseins compare favorably with foreign products. The foaming, which occasionally occurs with certain caseins, can be overcome by blending with nonfoaming products. Paper standards.—Quality standards for specification purposes were developed for binders board in cooperation with the Binders Board Manufacturers Association, for Braille paper to be used by the Library of Congress in books for the blind, and for paper towel's and mimeograph papers in cooperation with Government specifica tion committees. Assistance to the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry and the American Society for Testing Materials included development of testing procedures for air and water permeability and folding endurance. A-dd in leather.—Research on 13 different leathers developed a more reliable method for determining the harmful acidity present m leather. Determinations of pH were made on leathers containing various amounts of sulphuric acid, and these were correlated with, the deterioration or loss in strength of the leather after aging for 2 years. It appears that the deterioration of leather by acid is fundamentally due to the breaking down of the protein or hide sub stance when the activity of the acid in the leather is that indicated by a pH of near 3. Sole leather.—Service tests of chrome-retanned sole leather and flexible vegetable-tanned leather showed that the retanned leathers wore from 5 to 70 percent longer than the vegetable leathers. The longer wear was, m most cases, related to the degree of vegetable tanning. _Leathers having the greatest degree of retannage showed the least increased wear. In general, the flexible vegetable leathers showed leathers. no greater wear than the ordinary vegetable-tanned sole Structure of collagen.—New information has been obtained on the nitrogen content of collagen, the basic raw material of leather. This work has shown that there are 38, or a multiple of 38. nitrogen groups m a unit of collagen structure; and that -fc of the total nitrogen is present as free amino nitrogen. BUREAU OE STANDARDS 61 Rigli-grade cellulose from farm wastes.—Cellulose of 95-98 per cent alpha content has been obtained in 35 percent yields from corn stalks, oat hulls, and straw by a new process which also permits the separation of the gums, pentoses, and lignins, with a total recovery of over 80 percent of the farm waste. Commercial uses for all these products are being sought. Xylose from cottonseed hull bran and cornstalks.—Reports from hospitals indicate that xylose sugar can be used in comparatively large quantities by humans, and is valuable as a kidney diagnostic. A large demand has developed for samples of pure xylose which are being furnished as rapidly as possible. Textile sizing from sw[eetpotato starch.—The viscosity of starch sizing for textiles unfortunately decreases rapidly with prolonged cooking in the mill. It has been found that the addition of small amounts of lecithin and lanum (commercial cholesterol) materially increases the stability of sweetpotato starch size. Paper from cornstalks and straw.—The optimum cooking condi tions for the production of kraft pulp from cereal straws have been determined. Large-scale experiments in the application of this and other pulping processes have been started, and a practical paper making test has been run on a kraft pulp from cornstalks for a wrapping paper. Development of machinery for making' pressed boards frorn^ corn stalks.—It was found last year that by making cornstalks into a mat and pressing them a board having very high strength could be produced. In cooperation with the Iowa State College, machinery has been developed for the production of this board on a semicom mercial scale. An automatic press has been designed to produce several boards simultaneously. METALLURGY Solubility of gases in metals.—Confirmation has been obtained of the tentative value of 0.0025 for the product of the concentrations of carbon and oxygen coexisting in liquid iron at 1,600° C. and in equilibrium with carbon oxides at 1 atmosphere pressure, a basic reaction in steel manufacture. Crystal structure of metals.—The presence of a small amount of magnesium has been found to be advantageous in alloys of the zincaluminum system which form the basic zinc-base die-casting alloy. ■ This confirms the results obtained in industry. Machmability of metals.—A report was published on the workhardening of the machined surface of steel forgings which results from cutting with lathe tools. The effects of size, form, and com position of tools; speed, feed, and depth of cut; and composition and heat treatment of the steels being cut were studied. Wear resistance of metals.—The rate of metal-to-metal wear of eutectoid carbon steel, hardened and tempered at a relatively low temperature, was found to be slightly lower in an atmosphere of hydrogen or of nitrogen than in air. If the same steel was tempered at a somewhat higher temperature, the rate of wear in hydrogen or nitrogen was relatively enormous as compared with the rate of 62 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE wear in air. Under these latter conditions, oxide films on the wearing surfaces of the specimens markedly reduced the rate of wear. Mechanism of creep in metals.—The phenomenon of creep in metals at elevated temperatures has been studied by using single-crystal specimens of extremely pure silver. Pure metal single-crystal speci mens have been employed in order to determine creep rates for material in which grain size, grain boundaries, and precipitated phases play no part. Heat-resistant alloys.—A report was published on the resistance to creep and the structural stability of iron-nickel-chromium alloys at 871° C. The strongest alloys were those containing approxi mately equal parts of nickel and chromium and not more than 30 to 40 percent iron. A condition of structural stability was approached more rapidly in alloys subjected to elevated temperature and stress combined than in alloys exposed to elevated temperature alone. Stability of sheet aluminum alloys exposed, to the weather—Ex posure tests of these materials extending over a period of 5 years, in cooperation with the National Advisory Committee for Aero nautics, the Army Air Corps, and the Bureau of Aeronautics have been completed, and are of decided value in establishing the reliability of these materials for structural purposes. _Protection of akminum alloys by anodic oxidation.—In coopera tion with the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, the factors which determine the useful life of the electrolytic baths used in the anodic oxidation process have been studied. Several new methods have been developed which are being tried on a commercial scale by the Navy. Atmospheric corrosion of nonferrous metals.—This is a cooperative project with a committee of the American Society for Testing Ma terials. Specimens exposed to the weather for a year at nine widely separated locations were assembled at the Bureau for detailed in spection and determination of changes by corrosion, and then re installed in the corrosion racks. Observations have been continued on soldered joints in sheet roofing copper and on screen wire cloth representative of seven nonferrous materials exposed to the weather. Bridge wire.—Although numerous mechanical tests of various types have shown that a heat-treated galvanized bridge wire is some what more sensitive to certain kinds of stresses than a cold-drawn galvanized wire, the results of this study have also indicated that the failure of the bridge cables composed of the heat-treated wire was the result of combined stresses rather than simple tensile stresses.. A method was developed for testing wire under pulsating tensile stresses, and tests were conducted with the mean stress between 50,000 and 156,000 pounds per square inch. Rail steel.—Tensile tests at elevated temperatures, with the load applied very slowly, show that, for medium manganese rail steel, the temperature at which “ secondary brittleness” occurs is somewhat lower than when the load is applied more rapidly. Quenching of steels.—The decomposition of austenite during the hardening of a steel has been studied by measuring the changes in electric resistance that take place during the rapid cooling. Quench ing rates at the temperatures of the transformations have been deter mined and a temperature—quenching rate—constitution diagram has BUREAU OF STANDARDS 63 been constructed representing the behavior of the steel during unin terrupted quenching. An automatic thermal analysis apparatus was developed for use in this work. . High-strength cast iron—A report was issued showing the degree of improvement which can be made in cast iron by carefully lated preheating prior to casting in the ordinary manner. I his varies with the composition; a common iron can easily be increased 25 percent in strength in transverse bending, hardness, and density by preheating to 1,650 to 1,700° C. (approximately). Effect of phosphorus and sulphur on steel.—Data have been ob tained on two materials; a medium carbon forging steel with sul phur varying from 0.02 to 0.10 percent in forged rounds 1, 2, and 8 inches diameter, and a low-carbon steel suitable for pipe manu facture with phosphorus varying from 0.007 to 0.08 percent. iSo marked detrimental effects of sulphur or phosphorus were noted in Utility of spark test for steels.—The general usefulness and limi tation of the spark test for carbon and alloy steels was studied by applying the test to 280 materials differing in composition. For sorting mixtures of steels of known composition, it is unexcelled. Casting of alu/minu/m, alloys.—A study of the casting of aluminumcopper alloys has shown that preheating above 750° C. (approxi' mately) before casting is detrimental in many respects. Treatment with zinc chloride does not remedy this condition which holds for casting of high-grade aluminum as well as commercial grade. Information circular on molding sands.—Information on the prop erties of foundry molding sands and the methods by which such properties can be determined has been compiled, summarizing much of the Bureau’s research work in cooperation with the American Foundrymen’s Association. CLAY AND SILICATE PRODUCTS Effects of particle size in ceramic whiteware—A feldspar and a potter’s flint, separated into small fractions by air elutriation, were used in preparing specimens of ceramic whiteware comparable to commercial products. Shrinkage and porosity of specimens heated at the same temperature could be changed as much as 5 and 18 per cent, respectively, by using the initial material and the finest fractions Measurement of moisture expansion.—Measurements of moisture expansion of ceramic whiteware were made directly with a com parator and indirectly with an interferometer. The latter method was found sufficiently accurate for the purpose. . . Composition and physical properties of glass.—Using as a basis linear relations previously determined, it has been found that the refractivity of commercially stable glasses, made by substituting for part of the soda certain glass-forming oxides, is the sum of the products obtained by multiplying the percentage of silica, soda, lime, alumina, magnesia, and potash by 0.004 <4, 0.00566, 0.00767, 0.0064, and 0.0055, respectively. The relations between the refractivity for any frequency in the visible spectrum and the specific volume of each type of these glasses is strictly linear in the range studied, and 64 EEPOBT OP THE SEOEETAEY OP COMMEKCE consequently the dispersion of the glasses of any of the types con sidered is directly proportional to the specific volume of the glasses. Production of optical glass.—1Thirty-three pots of optical glass, embracing five different kinds, were melted. From a part of these melts 25,750 molded and annealed blanks for optical elements weigh ing 3,525 pounds were made for the Navy Department. The sub stitution of powdered flint for glass sand in the batches for light barium crown and medium flint glasses makes it possible to reduce the time required for melting from about 36 to 24 hours (33 percent) and, at the same time, to improve the quality of the glass. Cement.—Studies of_the fundamental properties of the cement systems have been continued. The effect of calcium chloride on the strength and other properties of cements is being determined. Iso thermal calorimeters for the determination of the heat of solution of anhydrous and hydrated cement have been constructed for use in testing cement for Boulder Dam and for general research work in the hydration of cement. Length change in alternate wetted (70° F.) and dried (150° F.) mortar specimens of masonry cements so weakens the specimens hav ing the highest volume change that they break of their own weight. A duplicate set of specimens has been made and is undergoing 1 year’s damp closet storage at 70° F. In this set, specimens that showed large length change in the alternate wet and dry storage are exhib iting a rapid increase in length. A study of the causes of staining of limestone by masonry cements has been started. Compressive strength tests of concrete at the age of 1 year have been completed on 12 high early-strength cements ; 6 by 12-inch cylin ders were but slightly affected by 300 cycles of freezing and thawing; 3- by 6-inch cylinders subjected to alternate freezing, thawing, and drying gave strengths considerably below normally-cured specimens, with spalling taking place in some cements after about 30 cycles of drying and freezing. The investigations of the Portland Cement Association Fellow ship have been continued along two fundamental lines: (1) the estab lishment of the constitution of cement clinker and the effect of con stitution on cement properties, and (2) the control of the reactions of cement during setting and hardening. These studies provide in formation upon which may be based the design of concrete, either to meet special requirements or to meet more rigid criteria for durabil ity or architectural versatility. A branch laboratory has been established at Riverside, Calif., to test cement for the Boulder Dam. This laboratory, with the branch laboratories in Northampton, Pa., Denver, and San Francisco, to gether with the cement-testing laboratory in Washington, have tested 3,401,566 barrels of cement for the Government, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year. I he Cement Reference Laboratory, a cooperative project of the Bureau of Standards and the American Society for Testing Mate rials, began and largely completed a third tour of inspection among the cement laboratories throughout the country. A ruling of the Bureau of Public Roads requires reference laboratory inspection at all laboratories which make acceptance tests of cement for Federalaid projects. A turbidimeter has been developed for making rapid and economical determinations of subsieve fineness of 1port! and cement. BTJEEAU OB STANDARDS 65 An investigation of the durability of elastic calking cements is in progress. Tests of 382 samples for use in Government buildings show a marked improvement in the quality of the product. The bureau’s test procedure is being used by some manufacturers. Vibrated concrete.—A machine has been designed and built for making a study of vibrated concrete specimens. By vibration, con crete with a selected low-water content has twice the strength and a greater density than hand-placed concrete using approximately the same quantities of material. Physical properties of common brick.—A. survey has been com pleted listing the compressive strength, modulus of rupture, water absorption, and other properties, in connection with the geographical distribution of brick samples from 255 plants distributed throughout the United States. Brick masonry.—The bond between brick and mortar was found to be dependent upon the absorptive properties of the brick and the water retaining capacity of the mortar. Mortars having a rela tively high compressive strength stand up best under repeated freez ing and thawing. Problems relating to the design of hollow tile and brick extrusion machines.—Tests to determine the effect, on power consumption and output, of changes in taper of hollow-ware dies, showed that a die of 3° taper was productive of the highest extrusion rate per unit of power consumed by the assembly. Study of refractories.—The quantity of silica which may be pres ent as tridymite, cristobalite, or quartz, greatly affects the percentage increase in modulus of elasticity in flexure between 20° and 600° C. Ten brands of brick, ranging from 0 to 55 percent in uncombmed quartz, show increases in modulus of elasticity ranging from 5 to 75 percent, respectively. Two pieces of equipment were constructed for measuring the elastic, plastic, and creep properties of refractories in tension or compression at temperatures ranging to over 1,000° C. A study of the properties of Olivine from six different sources indicates that some of them have potentialities as basic refractories. Vitreous enamels.—The stresses developed in enamel coatings, as they cool subsequent to fusion upon the metal base, are being studied. Tests of 800 specimens of 11 typical first-coat enamels indicate that the tensile strength varies by about 25 percent, while the modu lus of elasticity varies by about 5 percent. The computed maximum elongation before tensile failure is slightly over 0.25 percent. Lime.-—Electrometric measurements have been made of the activ ity coefficients of hydroxyl ion in solutions of calcium hydroxide. Comparison of a sedimentation method with microscopic methods for determining particle size indicated that the diameters of particles ranging between 1 and 10 microns could be determined by sedimen tation to within a half micron. The product of the reactions be tween lime, silica, and water at elevated temperatures and pressures has been determined. Gypsum.—From the measurements of the heat of solution of stable and unstable forms of calcium sulphate and its hydrates the energy changes involved in passing from one form to another have been determined. The use of ammonium acetate as a solvent has now 66 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE been extended to determine the purity of gypsum, calcined gypsum,, and gypsum plasters, and the sand content of set gypsum plaster. Building stone.—Ninety-four samples of stone, including granite, marble, limestone, sandstone, and slate, have been tested for Govern ment construction projects. Seventy samples have been tested for the public in connection with the Bureau’s research programs. One of the major research projects, the study of granite, has included tests on 36 samples from various States, and 29 new samples have been collected during the year. Slate.—Data on the physical properties and weathering charac teristics of slate have been published, and tests for the permanence of the color of slate are being developed. SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE Simplified Practice Recommendations.—Eight new Simplified Practice Recommendations were developed, increasing the total to 169. Of these, 150 have been formally approved and 143 have been issued in printed form. Twenty-one proposals for new Simplified Practice Recommendations were brought before the Bureau during the year. Revision and reaffirmation conferences.—Twenty-three existing Simplified Practice Recommendations were reviewed by their re spective standing committees. Of these, 19 were reaffirmed without change and 4 were revised. Identification of simplified lines in trade literature.—In response to the urgent request of organized consumer groups, a very consider able number of manufacturers are now identifying the Simplified Practice Recommendations, by number and title, in their handbooks,, catalogs, and other trade literature. One recommendation (R36, Milling Cutters) is being reproduced, serially, in the American Machinist magazine as Reference Book Sheets. A number of indus tries have made it known that they propose to identify—and in some cases actually reproduce—their own particular simplified practice recommendations in their codes of fair competition under the National Industrial Recovery Act. BUILDING AND HOUSING Building and plumbing codes.—A new edition of Recommended Minimum Requirements for Small Dwelling Construction was printed. _ Contacts with local committees and officials engaged in code revisions were maintained, and showed further local use of the building code committee’s recommendations throughout the country. Mechanics' lien act.—The standard State mechanics’ lien act pre pared by the Department of Commerce committee, in cooperation with the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, was approved and published. Home financing.—Data were prepared to aid the Federal Home Loan Bank Board in commencing its activities. A statement desciibing methods of reducing foreclosures on homes brought this pioblem to the attention of responsible groups in many cities. City planning and zoning.—>The advisory committee started work on the pioblem of replanning of blighted areas and the assembly of BUREAU OF STANDARDS 67 large plots for rehabilitation. Periodical reports on city and regional planning and zoning progress were continued. . Cooperation on building and housing problems.—Assistance was rendered to the National Conference on Construction held in October 1932, especially in preparing reports on real estate appraisal prac tices, a directory of sources of construction statistics, and construc tion inventories. A staff member aided in a demonstration real property inventory in Cleveland, Ohio. Further assistance was ren dered the President’s Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership in preparing reports for final publication. Studies in cluded a cyclical analysis of building activities and the accumulating housing shortage. The staff assisted the Department of Commerce Advisory Committee on Reconditioning, Remodeling, and Modern ization, which encouraged local campaigns held in more than 60 cities. SPECIFICATIONS Encyclopedia of specification.—The third volume of the encyclo pedia series, Standards and Specifications for Metals and Metal Products, was issued in June. Manuscripts for two additional volumes are in preparation. Surveys of standardization activities.-—Surveys were made of com modity standardization activities of American technical societies, trade associations, State, county, and municipal purchasing agencies, and other consumer groups. The results have been published. Facilitating the use of specifications.—Lists of sources of supply of commodities guaranteed to comply with the requirements of 398 Federal specifications and 32 commercial standards were compiled for the purpose of distributing them to agencies making purchases out of tax moneys—Federal, State, county, and municipal. These lists represent 18,621 requests from 8.340 firms. At the request of the New York City Committee on Purchasing more than 1,800 commodity specifications used by the city of New York were compared with those of the Federal Specifications Board and the other national agencies. Similar, but less detailed surveys have been made for the board of education of the city of Phila delphia and the New York Advisory Committee on Prison Industries. TRADE STANDARDS Commercial standards.—At the close of the year there were 86 active projects for the establishment of commercial standards. Co operation with the respective industries at their request resulted in the acceptance of commercial standards for sulphonated oils, fiber insulating board, Douglas fir plywood, apple wraps, builders’ tem plate hardware, fuel oils, Fourdrinier wire cloth, and hosiery lengths. Thirteen preliminary and two general conferences were held to pave the way for the establishment of standards of quality for curled hair, binders’ board, pressed felt, gold-covered articles, rug cleaning, sweat ers, bathing suits, hospital and institutional mattresses, domestic stokers for Pennsylvania anthracite, Douglas fir plywood, and walnut veneers. Eleven printed editions of established commercial standards were made available. T a b l e 1.-— Number of test items, determinations, and fee value for tests completed during the fiscal year ended June SO, 1988 Public Kind of instrument, class of test, nature of service Total Number Number Fee value Number Fee value Number Number of Fee receipts of test Fee receipts of test (no test (no charge) of test determina and fee charge) ofitems items items items tions value 412 265 594 212 851 205 64 94 5, 996 262 2 1,163 20,902 163 77 26 87 325 15 1,453 114 23 5 1 15 2 1 2 ________ 1 $4,232.65 809.00 974. 00 608. 50 982. 55 848.85 358. 50 233. 50 3,830.80 548.95 2. 50 3,169. 70 2,165.80 1,420. 04 801. 00 330.00 988. 75 2, 565. 20 226. 00 4,057.47 4,035. 00 405. 95 64. 50 100. 00 288. 50 67. 50 8. 00 2. 00 623 4,747 183 1,117 405 5,969 1,071 385 7, 018 645 4 850 120,383 53 19 67 1,316 58 5 171 2,575 144 978 1,050 8 4,599 14 23 293 500 298 18 $5,876. 50 1 39,081.00 2,007. 00 1, 542. 60 3,437.90 3, 296. 35 . 51, 749. 00 1,732. 00 6,126. 50 1,008. 70 6.00 2,912.85 17,964.15 1,082. 50 305. 00 2,835.00 17,841.34 6,115. 00 7 100.00 1 183.50 6,858. 50 495. 00 23,921. 00 10, 201. 00 170. 00 21,199. 50 295.00 1,140. 00 5, 274. 00 5,887. 50 10,134. 00 24. 00 , , 313 262 20 99 70 1, 654 1 42 165 2 98 336 76 5 5 224 231 18 39 9 184 68 593 195 $2,201.00 1,357.00 476. 50 228. 00 2, 772. 50 1, 529. 55 5.00 125. 00 56.85 3. 00 306. 50 845. 20 937. 00 100. 00 110. 00 2, 212. 25 1,348 5,274 797 1,428 1,326 7,828 1,136 521 13,179 909 104 2, 349 141, 285 292 101 98 1,627 58 5 3,488.00 727 2, 590 20. 0Ö 1,615 559.00 1,131 1,082 141. 50 13 1,051.00 4,784 29 955. 00 93 1,175.80 1,094 1,418. 25. 495 18 1,750 5,359 1,323 7, 425 15,835 16,407 31,241 5,891 25,356 24,075 185 9,314 6]8,860 3 ,203 106 91 7, 565 240 26 3,512 3,647 '744 1,354 4,450 120 8, 501 22 382 3,389 1,194 78 $12,310.15 i 41,247.00 3,457. 50 2,378. 65 7,192.95 5,674. 75 52,112. 50 2,090. 50 10,014.15 1, 560. 65 315.00 6,927. 75 20,129. 95 3' 439. 54 1, 206. 00 3,275. 00 21,042. 34 7,236. 70 7,084. 50 4 572 .47 28,515. 00 10, 748. 70 234. 50 22,350.50 583. 50 2,162. 50 7,071. 30 11, 554. 25 240. 00 , a ow H3 W OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE Electrical standards, instruments and materials.. Electric batteries_____________________________ Electric lamps and lighting equipment_________ Length measuring devices________________ ____ Gage and gage steels______________ ___________ Haemacytometers, sieves, thermal expansion, etc. Weights and balances______ __________________ Scales..._________ ____________ _______________ Timepieces__________________________________ Volumetric apparatus____ ____________________ Hydrometers................................................................. Denisity determinations_______________________ Laboratory thermometers_________ ____ ______ Clinical thermometers._____ __________________ Pyrometers, calorimeters, etc__________________ Insulating materials............................ ......................... Fire-resisting materials___ _____ _______________ Fuels and lubricants.................................................... Automotive equipment, etc___ ___ ____ ________ Airplane engines_____________________ ________ Optical instruments and materials..____________ Carbohydrates— ________ ____________________ Radioactive materials_______ _____ ____________ Engineering instruments and appliances________ Aeronautic instruments_______________________ Aerodynamic tests of models___________________ Physical properties of engineering materials_____ Sound producing and measuring instruments____ Making of special castings.......................................... Fusible boiler plugs...________________________ Metallographie examinations__________________ Miscellaneous metallurgical tests_______________ Pottery and chinaware________________________ Government depart ments and State in Bureau of Standards stitutions a> oo « 19865 — 33Distribution of standard samples---------- --------------------- -.......... T rita i ......................................................................... 65 1 12 5 7 1 2 59 2 1 4 3,546 37,036 97.00 7 371.00 16,225. 50 2,671 15.00 50.00 27,032 2311,444. 50 1,747. 00 71 54. 00 39,270. 60 8,416 40.00 44, 780.00 2,149 25. 00 6,742 33,267.00 25. 00 19,901.00 2,353 204. 50 3,215. 00 689 99,620.50 17. ÖÖ 4,902 6,043.00 373 15. 00 21,588.00 85.00 1,410 1,291.50 283 7,568.19 42,594.45 215,177 872,153.49 21 5 23 66 5,751 203 126 34 37 425 50 10 11,466 34.00 68.00 374.00 2, 387.00 8,309.95 2, 111. 50 1, 267.00 224. 50 570.00 6, 521.00 840.00 173.00 3 44,971.10 93 2,677 27,067 142 14,174 2, 353 6,870 2,446 689 4,941 799 1,464 3,839 263, 679 53 5,961 116, 572 467 30,852 13,006 16,942 7,977 2,496 35,255 4,928 135 « 1,023,582 502.00 16,308. 50 2 311,868. 50 4,188. 00 47,620. 55 46,916. 50 dì, ooy. uu 20,330. 00 3, 215.00 100,207.50 12.579.00 22.513.00 9,032.69 959,719. 04 BUREAU OF STANDARDS 1 Includes tee value of $4,424.34 for inspecting 2,070,700 incandescent lamps at various factories for other branches of the Government »Includes fee value of $52,800 for sampling 1,836,124 barrels Portland and 17,100 barrels masonry cement and 24,000 barrels of low-heat cement, testing 3,315,946 bariels Portland and 85,620 barrels masonry cement; and shipping 1,474,576 barrels Portland and 10,235 barrels masonry cement. , 3 Tests necessary in connection with the Bureau’s own work on research and standardization are not included in these totals. 4 Determinations for the public 177,670; for Government departments and State institutions 820,060; for the Bureau 25,852. 70 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE GENERAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT During the fiscal year 1933 the Bureau expended and accounted for funds aggregating $2,701,843.14, including $444,563.14 received by transfer and reim bursement from other departments for special researches. The amounts and objects of each appropriation for the past fiscal year, together with disburse ments, liabilities, and balance for each appropriation, are shown in the follow ing table:i*3 T a b l e 2.— Disbursem ents ,, liabilities, etc., 1933, 1932, and 1931 appropriations Appropriation Salaries____________________________ ____ ____ Equipment----------------- ---------------------------------General expenses__________________________ Improvement and care of grounds.------------------Testing .structural materials................................. . Testing machines---------------- --------------------------Metallurgical research-------------------- ---------------Investigation of optical glass................... .................. Standard materials---------------------- -----------------Investigation of textiles--------- -------------------------Sugar standardization................................................ Gauge standardization................................... ............ High temperature investigation----------------- ------Testing railroad-track, mine, and other scales___ Investigation of fire-resisting properties_________ Testing miscellaneous materials.----------------------Investigation of public-utility standards------------Radio research------------ ---------------- --------- ... Industrial research----------- -----------------------------Sound investigation........... ......................................... Investigation of clay products-------------------------Color standardization------- -----------------------------Investigation of radioactive substances and X rays. Standardizing mechanical appliances__________ Standardization of equipment-------------- -------— Investigation of automotive engines___________ Utilization of waste products from the land.......... Investigation of dental materials----------------------Hydraulic laboratory research------ ------------------Appropriations transferred from other depart ments which are available for the current year: Aircraft in commerce_________ ___________ Air navigation facilities___________________ Incidental expenses of Army____ __________ National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Salaries and expenses, Bureau of Engraving and Printing___________________________ Aviation, Navy_______ ____ ___ ... ----------Chicago World Fair Centennial Celebration, 1933-34.________________________________ Total appro priation 1 $685,000.00 80, 000. 00 2 60,972. 21 12, 900. 00 3 317,110. 53 4 46, 276. 86 5 51,941. 80 22,980. 00 9, 200. 00 53,100.00 6 81,820. 00 43, 000. 00 6, 900. 00 52,980. 00 28, 030.00 42, 620. 00 » 97,313, 69 76,800.00 8115, 211.05 9, 200. 00 42, 240. 00 13, 630. 00 23,000.00 43,830. 00 0 160,045. 00 42,850. 00 43, 080. 00 5, 750. 00 44, 270. 00 50,000. 00 95, 000. 00 10, 000.00 42,400. 00 12,000. 00 88,300.00 12,350.00 85. 56 79.44 Disburse ments Liabilities $591,440. 90 $16,326. 04 73, 881. 48 5,322. 55 52,960. 71 1,867.86 11,195. 01 352. 02 270,671. 29 12,820. 61 38, 736. 62 2, 001. 24 45, 281. 77 633. 23 19,946. 01 594. 49 7, 943. 68 236. 66 46, 465. 59 537. 97 70,740.15 2,052.90 37,025.35 1,095.03 5, 650.38 262. 08 46,663. 43 1,431.60 24,155. 70 815. 94 36, 526. 25 1, 260. 75 83, 648. 79 3,184. 86 66,451.86 2, 780. 82 96, 085. 25 3,950.19 7,474. 36 510. 71 35,618.99 1, 282. 27 10, 878. 06 1, 247. 54 19,334.84 1,020.93 37,188. 58 1, 516. 66 136,591. 25 4, 761.45 36,975.05 784. 07 37,047. 68 916.93 4, 488. 75 246.19 38,379.12 2,421. 20 42, 008.11 82, 278.00 8, 634. 31 34,918.32 10, 755.82 74, 527.75 4,228. 23 72.71 67. 52 Appropriations transferred from other departments under the provisions of the legislative act approved June 30, 1932: Working fund___ 79, 577.00 60, 767.49 Total, 1933................. ....................................... io 2,701,843.14 2,307,705.16 Total, 1932................................................................... 3, 298, 522.83 3,123, 379. 31 Total, 1931___________________________________ 4,123,487. 39 4,005, 601.90 2, 546. 04 3,981.92 684.48 2,209. 66 394. 53 3,376. 25 3, 222.30 Balance $77, 233. 06 795. 97 6,143. 64 1,352.97 33,618. 63 5, 539. 00 6,026.80 2,439. 50 1,019.66 6,096.44 9, 026.95 4,879. 62 987. 54 4, 884. 97 3, 058. 36 4,833.00 10,480. 04 7, 567.32 15,175. 61 1,214.93 5, 338. 74 1,504.40 2, 644. 23 5,124. 76 18, 692.30 5, 090. 88 5,115.39 1,015. 06 3,469. 68 5,445. 85 8, 740. 08 681.21 5,272.02 849. 65 10,396. 00 4,899.47 12.85 11.92 9,843.97 8,965. 54 98,493.94 il 295,644.04 1,457.97 173,685. 55 117,885.49 i Includes reimbursements and transfers received from other departments as shown under the followingfootnotes: 3 $972.21. *$229.86. «$5,000.00. «$211.05. 3 $47,110.53. «$191.80. »$1,013.69. »$45.00. 10 Includes, in addition to reimbursements, $120,000 transferred to the Bureau from the Department under authority contained in sec. 317, legislative act, 1933. 11 Includes, in addition to unobligated balances, impounded amounts. BUREAU OF FISHERIES The fishing industry in all its branches has suffered severely in common with other producers of foodstuffs. The extensive decline in prices, especially of those products with which fish normally compete in the retail markets, has faced the industry with actual disaster. The complexity of the system of fish distribution, seasonal character of supply, remoteness of centers of production from popu lation centers, and the limitation of the consumption of fish combine to make it most difficult for fishery operators to compete at present price levels. The temporary scarcity of some staples has tended to keep up the cost of production and added to the difficulties of the producers. On the other hand, advances in quick freezing, the pack aging of fresh and frozen fish, and the value of marine products in the diet in combating faulty nutrition are tending to popularize fishery products with the consuming public. With the development of improvements in fish manufacture and merchandising, especially with respect to adequate display and refrigerating equipment suit able for handling quick-frozen foods satisfactorily and their more general installation in retail stores, and the education of the public to a realization that frozen foods can be fully as sound, palatable, and nutritious as the fresh products, we may expect this branch of the fishery trade to become more stabilized. Commercial fishing by United States craft is far-reaching in its scope, being prosecuted on the high seas and in the territorial waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as in the Great Lakes and in interior waters. These fisheries during the calendar year 1931 furnished employment to about 123,000 persons as fishermen ; and there were 82,000 persons engaged in trans porting, manufacturing, and the wholesale trade—making a total of about 200,000 persons, who depended directly upon the fisheries for a livelihood. This was about 4,000 less than were employed dur ing the previous year. The catch in 1931 amounted to 2,657,317,000 pounds, valued at $77,344,000, a decrease of 19 percent in quantity and 29 percent in value as compared with the previous year. The fisheries in 1931 were marked by decreases in the production of all the major groups of products; thus, the output of canned fishery products which amounted to 506,702,000 pounds, valued at $62,940,000, represented a decrease of 12 percent in quantity and 24 percent in value as compared with the previous year; byproducts, valued at $18,538,000, decreased sharply ; packaged products amount ing to 139,283,000 pounds, valued at $23,076,000, decreased about 11 percent in quantity and 20 percent in value; cured fishery products amounting to 98.969,000 pounds, valued at $12,364,000, decreased about 21 percent in quantity and 27 percent in value; frozen prod71 72 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE ucts amounting to 112,257,000 pounds, with an estimated value of $11,000,000, decreased 19 percent in quantity and about 33 percent in value; and fresh products (not packaged) estimated at 600,000,000 pounds, valued at $47,000,000, decreased about 25 percent in quantity and 41 percent in value. Imports of fishery products for consumption in 1931 were valued at $43,033,000, which is 15 percent less than in the previous year, while exports of domestic fishery products were valued at $11,574,000, which is 33 percent less than in the previous year. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN TERNA TIO NAL PASSAMAQUODDY FISH ERIES COM MISSION The International Passamaquoddy Fisheries Commission, ap pointed by the joint resolution of Congress approved June 9, 1930, completed its investigation of the probable damage to the food fishes of the region which would result from the proposed construction of power dams at the mouths of the Passamaquoddy and Cobscook Bays. The investigators employed by the Commission, with the counsel of the advisory board, reported that they anticipated that the construc tion of the proposed dams would reduce the herring fishery inside the bays to negligible proportions, that the fishery in the adjacent area outside the bays would be affected to an unknown degree, and that there appears little probability of the dams affecting the fishery along the coast of Maine or even seriously of Grand Manan. Owing primarily to the limitation of time, which would not permit completion of two full seasons of fieldwork, the investigations do not explain the unusual richness of the sardine herring fishery both inside and outside the proposed dams; and without an elucidation of the unique character of the area, the Commission was unable to state categorically that the projected dams might not so alter the environ ment as to affect seriously the results of the fishery. The investiga tion contributed results that greatly increase our understanding of the present water circulation, the production of plankton and the nature of the herring concentration in the region. The investigation of forces beyond these, that determine the existence of the fishery, requiring the development of new methods, has not been possible within the limits of the Commission’s work. The administrative report of the commission has been prepared and the technical reports of the investigators will be submitted dur ing the coming year. NORTH AM ERICAN COUNCIL ON FISH ER Y INVESTIGATIONS The nineteenth meeting of the council was held at Washington, D.C., on October 20 and 21, 1932, with representatives from Canada, Newfoundland, and the United States present. Views were ex changed and the progress of investigations conducted by the various countries on important North Atlantic fishing banks, including fishery statistics, bait investigations, hydrographical investigations, includ ing a study of currents by means of drift bottles, plankton, mackerel, herring, cod, and haddock investigations, was presented for con sideration and criticism. \ BUREAU OF FISHERIES 73 Much attention was given to the success of biological research in predicting the abundance of the various species of fish many months in advance of the season, thus tending to remove the element of “ fisherman’s luck ” and increasing the value of the catch by reducing unnecessary expense. One of the most important undertakings of the council is that of coordinating the collection and dissemination of fishery statistics regarding the locality of capture and the quantities taken of the important species of fish in the North Atlantic in which the nationals of each country are interested. Revised charts were adopted by the council defining statistical areas of the North Atlantic region, to be used as a basis of a uniform statistical system among the several countries. The council approved the following resolution : Whereas much of the value of fishery investigations depends upon continuity of records over a period of years ; and . . . . , . , Whereas the present program of fishery investigations is proving to be invalu able in determining governmental policies with respect to our highly important sea fisheries : Therefore be it R esolved, That the council extend a vote of appreciation to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for loaning the use of its vessel to the United States Bureau of Fisheries for continuing high-sea investigations for the current year, and that it urge the importance of provisions being made by the United States Congress to supply the funds necessary for the continuance of _that work during the next fiscal year by the United States Bureau of E ishenes. CONSERVATION OF W HALES The Multilateral Convention for the Regulation of Whaling agreed to by the economic committee of the council of the League of Nations on September 24,1931, has now been ratified by the following nations : United States, July 7, 1932; Norway, July 18, 1932; Union of South Africa, January 11, 1933 ; Switzerland, February 16, 1933 ; and Mex ico, March 13, 1933. In addition to these ratifications the following have signified adherence to the convention : Nicaragua on April BO, 1932; Sudan, April 13, 1932; Monaco, June 17, 1932; Brazil, Novem ber 21, 1932; and Egypt, January 25, 1933. There remains only the signature of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Noithern Ireland to make the convention effective. The more recent intensive prosecution of the whale fishery and consequent need of adequate regulation is indicated by a world catch of 42,874 whales in 1930-31 as compared with 11,369 in 1920 ; and a total production of whale oil in 1931 amounting to 184,348,800 gal lons as compared with 20,366,350 gallons in 1920. H A LIBU T INVESTIGATIONS The investigations of the International Fisheries Commission pro vided for under the convention between the United States and Great Britain concluded May 9, 1930, have been continued in accord with the duties prescribed by articles I and III of the treaty. A practical demonstration has been successfully concluded during the past year as to the feasibility and effectiveness of international regulation of a deep-sea fishery when based upon adequate biological and statistical knowledge. Regulations of the commission in con- 74 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE junction with certain economic conditions have already had a most salutary effect on the stock of halibut. The long continued decline in abundance to the low level of 1930 has been halted, and on the more severely depleted southern grounds the recovery in 1933 has been to 50 percent above that of 1930. It is essential that the ground gained so far be maintained and the spawning reserve rehabilitated to the end that the fishery may become a stable resource with permanent yield. Collection of comprehensive statistical and biological data by the commission for the past 8 years has been continued, and its analysis has revealed certain fundamental short-time reactions of the supply to the demands put upon it by the fishery. These reactions appear adequate to explain what has happened during the last 8 years. Hence it may now be possible to predict with a degree of accuracy what the immediate effect of regulation may be upon the stock. The biological work has consisted chiefly in the analysis of data previously collected, as field work was of necessity curtailed on ac count of reduced appropriations. The preparation of reports upon studies of the rate of growth, maturity, fecundity, migrations, and biological statistics has engaged the scientific staff'’ The limited field work conducted resulted in definite progress being made in the development of methods of determining the suc cess of spawning by means of quantitative net hauls during 2y2 months of charter of the United States halibut vessel Eagle in the Gulf of Alaska. The study of the migration and rate of decimation by the fishery of the few remaining spawning schools on the southern grounds was begun by conducting a tagging experiment off Cape St. James on the chartered Canadian halibut boat Capella I for 3 weeks, along the lines of the experiments of 1925 and 1926, already reported upon. A system of market measurements has been inaugurated to supplement size composition data secured from trade sizes. .The practicability of the commission’s regulations involving di vision of the convention waters into areas, limiting the catch from each area, licensing of vessels for the halibut fishery, collection of sta tistics of abundance and locality of capture, modification of the closed season, and closing of nursery grounds has been satisfactorily proved during the past year. After public hearings during Novem ber 1932 several changes resulting from suggestions by the industry and findings of the scientific staff were made for the 1933 season including changes in the dates of the closed season and in the bound ary lines between regulatory areas. The well-known spawning grounds off Yakutat Bay were closed to fishing from November 1 to the end of February and provision was made for the prohibition of the use of dory gear in southern areas. The catches in the two prin cipal areas were fixed at the same amounts as in the previous year, taking into consideration the change in boundary lines. These reg ulations were approved by the President of the United States and the Governor General of Canada and became effective on JanuarvJ 9, 1933. JAPAN ESE VESSELS IN BERING SEA The canning of spider crabs in Bering Sea was carried on in 1932 by Japanese interests as in the preceding 2 years. The floating BUREAU OF FISHERIES 75 cannery Nagato Maru operated in the region between Amak Island and Port Moller, well outside the territorial waters of Alaska, tor a period of about 4 months, during which a reported total pack ot 33,000 standard cases of canned crab meat was prepared. I wo auxiliary motor vessels, the Kasuga Maru and the Ise Maru, accompanied the cannerv ship, and fishing was carried on from 10 small boats. 1 he Nagato iiaru carried a crew of about 45 men, and approximately 400 persons were employed in fishing and canning operations, lhe supply ship Seiten Maru, visited the vessel once during the season to deliver supplies and take aboard a cargo of canned crab tor trans portation ., 7 Early intotheJapan. spring of 1933 the Japanese cannery vessels Taitioku Maru and Shoheo Maru arrived in Bering Sea t engage m crab fishing in offshore waters. A third cannery ship, the Kasada Maru, arrived later and was reported to be engaged in crab canning near the other vessels. DOMESTIC RELATIONS COOPERATION W IT H STATES A N D OTHER AGENCIES Dwindling revenues for fisheries work in the States, together with curtailment of the Bureau’s appropriation, rendered even more valu able and essential a broad program of cooperation and mutual aid between agencies concerned with the same activities. In connection with the propagation and distribution of hsh, mu tually reciprocal relations have been established with 21 different States, enabling the State waters to be stocked more effectively and economically. These measures of cooperation have extended into practically all fields of fish-cultural work, including the exchange of eirtrs -joint use of hatchery facilities, distribution by the States of fish produced in Federal hatcheries, loan of experienced personnel to help the States, financial assistance on the part of the States m some instances, and loan of equipment. In addition the Bureau has directly aided 6 other States by supplying eggs, fish, or other services. Uniformly helpful contact has existed with other Federal agencies concerned with the perpetuation of fish life, principally with the Forest Service, Bureau of Biological Survey, and the JNationai FaiK Service. . cooperation „ with sportsmen , ,s orgamThe maintenance of active zations for the purpose of operating rearing pools and nursery ponds was on a more restricted scale. Approximately 100 organizations received fish for rearing from the Bureau’s hatcheries m comparison with 116 last year. Consequently the fish allotted dropped consider ably below the 4 million mark which was exceeded during the previous year. The State of Pennsylvania assisted materially by furnishin<>■ 475,000 brook trout for the nurseries within that State. The Bureau has endeavored to assist sportsmen’s groups otherwise by rendering advice on fish-cultural problems, making inspections where practicable, and any other feasible means. In the collection of fishery statistics unusual cooperation has been accorded the Bureau by the Pacific Coast and Great Lakes States, and also Maryland and Virginia. In addition, various other States have supplied statistics on one or more of the fisheries conducted within their borders. ' In this work the Bureau represents the cor 76 BEPOBT OP THE SEOEETABY OP COMMEBCE relating agency, performing necessary service beyond the scope of any one individual State. The technological work of the Bureau has been aided materially by cooperation with other agencies. At the South Carolina Food Research Commission one of the Bureau’s technologists studied the nutritive value of fishery products, with special attention being given to oysters from all sections of the country. In the feeding of fishery products to farm animals, the Bureau also cooperated with the Ohio State Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster, Ohio; the North Carolina State Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, N.C.; and the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell Uni versity, Ithaca, N.Y. The nutritive value of kelp meal was studied in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture and producers of kelp meal. The preservation of cordage was studied in cooperation with the Navy Department at Boston, A portion of the Bureau’s study of the preservation of textile fishing gear and twine was conducted in cooperation with the Weather Bureau, the Bureau of Standards, and various individual fishermen at various fishing centers. A study on the measurement of the size of mesh used in gill nets in the Great Lakes was aided by the Bureau of Standards and various States and certain Provinces of Canada bordering the Great Lakes. A study of the manufacture of salmon oil was begun in the vicinity of Seattle, with assistance from the salmon branch of the National Canners Association in Seattle. At Gloucester, Mass., the local fishing industry is making material con tributions to the maintenance of the Bureau’s technological laboratory located m that city by providing the building for the laboratory without cost to the Government. Members of the staff of the Massa chusetts Agricultural College, Amherst, Mass., have aided the Bureau m developing programs for bacteriological studies of fishery prod ucts, and for the home canning of fishery products. A market study was made of the fishing industry in Florida in cooperation with the State Marketing Bureau, and various indi viduals and companies in the State. In its marketing work the Bureau also cooperated with the State of Virginia, establishing marketing grades for certain fishery products in that State. The biological investigations of the Bureau were aided by the cooperation of several States that provided funds, personnel, and equipment for projects in their territory. The State of New York continued the joint nutrition studies on trout at Cortland in cooper ation with the College of Agriculture, Cornell University, and the enlarged program of pond-culture work at Rochester. Michigan and Wisconsin cooperated financially in the study of conservation of food fishes through the use of improved fishing gear. Georgia Louisiana, and Texas continued their assistance with personnei and other contributions to the shrimp investigations. The oyster cultural research program in the South Atlantic and Gulf States has been aided by the help of North and South Carolina, Georgia, and I lorida._ California provided all the field expenses of the trout and oyster investigations. Mississippi assumed the expense of a survey of the fisheries in that State. The Bureau is continuing its oyster research in Connecticut with the laboratory and vessel put at its disposal by the State, and similar facilties are available in Puget BUREAU OE FISHERIES 77 Sound through the cooperation of the State of Washington. The hydrographic program of the Bureau’s North Atlantic investiga tion was enabled to be continued through the generous cooperation of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in assigning its vessel Atlantis to continue the work threatened with disruption when the Bureau’s vessel Albatross II was laid up for lack of funds. CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM No appropriation was made during 1933 to carry on the construc tion authorized by the act of May 21,1930 (46 Stat. 371). However, the unexpended balances for certain projects carried in an appropri ation of $448,500 for the previous year were continued. This per mitted the completion to the limits of authorization of new hatcheries already started at Lake Mills, Wis.; Ennis, Mont.; Hagerman, Idaho; Crystal Lake, Colo.; Flintville, Tenn.; and Butte Falls, Oreg. The first three of these did not enter into production during 1933, how ever. In addition considerable preliminary development was accom plished at Marion, Ala., where a large and desirable site was acquired. Two hatcheries, previously operated under lease, at Mill Creek, Calif., and Cortland, N.Y., were acquired by purchase and improvements were effected. A reduction of 10 percent in the amount of all build ing authorizations imposed by Congress as an economy measure rendered it impossible to complete several of the new stations. The Government now holds title to sites in Indiana and Pennsyl vania, which will be developed through funds obtained from the Emergency Public Works program. Under authority of the Bureau’s 5-year program a site was acquired gratis at Bear Lake, Utah, and developed as a trout-rearing unit. The new hatchery at Mount Rainier National Park, mentioned in last year’s report, was completed and placed in operation. A trout-rearing establishment was also developed in Jackson Hole, Wyo., adjacent to Yellowstone Park. This is intended to serve the new Teton National Park. PROPAGATION" AND DISTRIBUTION OP POOD AND GAME PISHES The Federal fish-hatchery system operated by the Division of Fish Culture was successful in increasing its output of fish and eggs for the fiscal year to a total of over 7,202,155,000. This is an increase in production of 2 percent over the previous year. Fewer species were handled than in the previous year, but 18 out of more than 40 species propagated were produced in increased numbers. Five new hatch eries, located at Crystal Lake, Colo., Flintville, Tenn., Marion, Ala., Lake Mills, Wis., and Butte Falls, Oreg., entered into production for the first time. The size of the fish distributed, as well as their num bers, has an important bearing on the value of the work, since the survival of the planted stock is correlated with the size and age at planting. The larger fish, many of legal size, particularly among the game varieties, are termed fingerlings, and a distribution of over 182,338,000 in this category represents an increase of 22.7 percent over the previous year. Included in the figures for hatchery^ output are the figures covering the rescuing and salvaging of fishes in the over flowed area of the upper Mississippi River. 78 REPOBT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE While the methods of operation largely followed those of past years, all worth-while developments and improvements in the way of fish-cultural technique, apparatus, equipment, etc., were given a trial and adopted where proved practical. Over 80 stations, substations, and egg-collecting units, practically the same number as in the previous year, were operated. There were several changes, however, owing to the closure of operations at several points and the opening of new stations at other locations. propagation of commercial species Marine species, Atlantic coast.—Inasmuch as the eggs of the cod, haddock, and flounder are easily secured in tremendous numbers, this group accounts for 86.7 percent of the total output of the com mercial group. They are propagated at only three stations, all lo cated in New England. Both the cod and the flounder show a marked increase in output; but smaller numbers of haddock, pollock, and mackerel were released in comparison with the output of the previous year. Pacific salmons.-—The only increase registered in this group was for the chum and sockeye salmon, the species of least and highest value. The Yes Bay (Alaska) station succeeded in raising approxi mately 15 million sockeyes to the large fingerling size, in contrast with the usual practice of releasing them at an early stage. Anadromous species, Atlantic coast.—These include the species other than Pacific salmon which migrate from salt water to fresh water for spawning. The shad and glut herring comprise the greater proportion under this category and were produced in some what lesser quantities, because of weather conditions affecting the spawning runs. There was a slight decline in the output of Atlantic salmon, partially offset by an increase in the size of the fish planted. No striped bass were propagated in 1933. Commercial species, interior waters.—A number of hatcheries on the Great Lakes and elsewhere propagated whitefish, lake trout, lake herring (ciscoes), and pike perch. They also handled carp, yellow perch, etc., during the off season for the other species. The only variety propagated in larger numbers during 1933 was the whitefish. A practically complete failure of the egg supply at the Cape Vincent (N.Y.) station, together with the closure of certain commercial fishing grounds in Lake Superior, limited the collection of lake-trout eggs. Keduced egg collections and the failure to operate a hatchery on Lake Champlain accounted for a reduction in the number of pike perch handled. No special effort was made to obtain a large output of carp and buffalofish. Suckers, formerly hatched in cooperation with the State of Pennsylvania, were not handled. propagation of game fishes Game fishes, while commonly considered as a recreational asset, are a distinctive economic resource as well, since they are the basis of livelihood for a large number of individuals who in one way or another cater to the angler. Consequently, the enlargement of fishcultural facilities, both Federal and State, has been mainly for the BUREAU OF FISHERIES 79 purpose of increasing the output of game fish. The Bureau’s efforts in this direction in 1933 resulted in an increased output for three species of trout, for grayling, and for practically all forms of the pond fish or pan fish. It is particularly gratifying to report an output of almost 5% million largemouth and smallmouth black bass. The pop ularity of this fish is responsible for a heavy demand. In fact the demand for all species of game fish, as shown by the number of applications, has undergone no abatement. In addition, special effort has been made to increase the planting of fish in the public domain, particularly national forests and national parks. The supply of trout eggs obtained from wild fish or from station brood stock was adequate for all requirements, no eggs being acquired by direct pur chase. The practice of distributing fish by truck was expanded, although the increased output required the full use of four distribu tion cars. It is desirable to emphasize that many of the species listed as commercial varieties—for example, the lake trout, pike perch, steelhead salmon, etc.—are eagerly sought by the sportsmen, and the actual replenishment of sport fishing is greater than is indicated in the relatively small percentage listed as the output of strictly game fishes. RESCUE OPERATIONS Rescue or salvage operations on the upper Mississippi River, chiefly within the confines of the Upper Mississippi Wild Life and Fish Refuge, covered the handling of over 72,180,000 fish, an increase of 20,569,000 over last year. In addition a considerable production of bass and other species was obtained from seminatural controlled ponds, operated as auxiliary hatching ponds within the refuge. As usual approximately 1 percent of the rescued fish were distributed to other than parental waters. AQUARIUM The aquarium, maintained in the basement of the Department of Commerce Building, was a focus of increasing public interest. Ap proxim ately 1,000 specim ens of 57 different species of native and tropical fish were on display during the year, together with 10 species of aquatic reptiles, Crustacea, etc. H atching apparatus was installed to demonstrate the incubation of eggs of trout, salmon, shad, whitefish, pike perch, and yellow perch. A model fish ladder was also shown. Several rare and unusual forms, such as the Alaska blackfish and Eastern golden trout, were added to the collection. STATISTICAL INVESTIGATIONS FISH ERIES OF TH E UN ITED STATES, 19 31 New England States.—During 1931 the fisheries of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, employed 17,900 fishermen, or an increase of 5 percent over 1930. The catch amounted to 540,298,000 pounds, valued at $20,141,000—a decrease of 23 percent in the catch and 27 percent in the value as compared with 1930. Landings of fish by American fishing vessels at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Maine, amounted to 263,685,000 80 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE pounds as landed, valued at $9,249,000—a decrease of 25 percent in quantity and 28 percent in value from 1930. Middle Atlantic States.—The fisheries of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware in 1931 employed 9,600 fishermen or 5 percent less than in 1930. The catch amounted to 164,899,000 pounds, valued at $9,211,000—a decrease of 15 percent in the catch and 29 percent in its value under 1930. Landings of fish at New York City and Groton, Conn., amounted to 51,854,000 pounds or 9 percent less than in 1930. On the Hudson River the shad fishery was carried on by 250 fishermen who caught 414,000 pounds of shad, valued at $49,800—a large increase over 1930. Chesapeake Bay States.—In the calendar year 1931 the fisheries of Maryland and Virginia employed 20,700 fishermen or 7 percent more than in 1930. The catch amounted to 293,271,000 pounds, valued at $7,428,000—a decrease of 7 percent in the catch and 35 percent in its value as compared with the previous year. The shad and alewife fisheries of the Potomac River were prosecuted by 680 fisher men who caught 2,061,000 pounds of shad, valued at $193,000, and 7,352,000 pounds of alewives, valued at $55,500—a large increase over the previous year. South Atlantic and Gulf States.—During 1931 the fisheries of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missis sippi, Louisiana, and Texas, employed 23,700 fishermen or 1 percent more than in 1930. The catch amounted to 289,309,000 pounds, valued at $8,082,000—a decrease of 31 percent in the catch and 27 percent in its value as compared with the previous year. Pacific Coast States— The fisheries of Washington, Oregon, and California in 1931 employed 19,200 fishermen or 2 percent less than in 1930. The catch amounted to 597,306,000 pounds, valued at $13,512,000, a decrease of 28 percent in the catch and 41 percent in its value as compared with 1930. The total catch of halibut by United States and Canadian vessels amounted to 42,845,000 pounds, valued at $2,842,000, a decrease of 13 percent in quantity and 43 per cent in value as compared with 1930. Lake States.—During the calendar year 1931 the Lake fisheries (Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, Superior, Namakan, and Rainy Lakes, and Lake of the Woods of the United States and Canada) produced 120,832,000 pounds of fish and shellfish. Of the total the United States accounted for 91,927,000 pounds, valued at $6,029,000, a decrease of 3 percent in quantity and less than one half of 1 percent in the value of the United States catch as compared with the previous year. Mississippi, River and tributaries.—During 1931 the fisheries of the Mississippi River and tributaries employed 15,900 fishermen, or 29 percent more than in 1922, when the first previous survey was made. The catch amounted to 82,382,000 pounds, valued at $2,897,000, a decrease of 22 percent in the catch and 36 percent in its value as compared with the previous survey. M ANUFACTURED PRODUCTS IN T H E U N IT E D STATES AN D ALASKA, 1 9 3 1 The total value of manufactured fishery products of the United States and Alaska in 1931 amounted to about $128,000,000. Fresh and frozen packaged products.—-The production of fresh and frozen packaged fish and shellfish in 1931 amounted to 139,283,00Q BUREAU OF FISHERIES 81 pounds, valued at $23,076,000, a decrease of 11 percent in quantity and 20 percent in value as compared with 1930. Important items in this group were fresh-shucked oysters, amounting to 5,438,000 gallons, valued at $8,372,000, and fresh and frozen haddock fillets, 42.014.000 pounds, valued at $6,109,000. Frozen products.—The pack of frozen fishery products in 1931 amounted to 112,257,000 pounds which had an estimated value of $11,000,000. The volume of the pack was 19 percent less than m 1930. The more important products with respect_ to volume were halibut, salmon, haddock fillets, mackerel, and whiting. Cured products.—During 1931 the output of cured fishery prod ucts (salted, spiced, smoked, and dried) amounted to_ 98,969,000 pounds, valued at $12,364,000—a decrease of 21 percent in quantity and 27 percent in value as compared with 1930. Important^ prod ucts were mild-cured salmon, 10,160,000 pounds, valued at $1,550,000; smoked salmon (produced from mild-cured salmon), 7,788,000 pounds, valued at $2,270,000; and boneless cod, 12,205,000 pounds, valued at $1,047,000. Canned products.—Canned fishery products produced m 1931 amounted to 506,702,000 pounds, valued at $62,940,000—a decrease of 12 percent in quantity and 24 percent in value as compared with 1930. Canned salmon, amounting to 6,740,000 standard cases (323,522.000 pounds), valued at $38,083,000, was most important. Other important products were sardines, tuna and tunal'ike fishes, shrimp, clam products, and oysters. . of fishery byproducts Byproducts.—During 1931 the production amounted to $18,538,000, which was a considerable decrease from 1930. Important products in this group were marine-animal meals and scrap, aquatic shell products, and marine-animal oils. M ARKET INVESTIGATIONS Aquatic shell products—A. survey of the oyster, marine clam, fresh-water mussel, and marine pearl shell industries, which in 1932 produced products valued at nearly $8,000,000, revealed the sources of raw material and methods for its production and manufacture into useful commodities, as well as practices followed in distributing theFishery finishedbyproducts product. industries of Maine.—A _ , . survey of the technical manufacture and marketing of fishery byproducts in Maine showed that present factories have ample facilities for the greater utilization of existing waste; that fish meals produced in Maine are not reaching markets that their good quality justifies; and that methods for pro ducing fish oils could be improved. Establishing marketing grades for fish.—Considerable confusion and disorder exist in the marketing of some fish because of the lack of uniform grades. Believing that this could be overcome in Vir ginia, authorities of this State requested the Bureau’s assistance in establishing marketing grades for fish in their State. This invitation was accepted and after conferences by representatives of the Bureau and the Division of Markets of the Virginia State Department of Agriculture with fishermen, wholesalers, retailers, and others, a sys tem was developed and established for grading various fish and fishery 82 BEPOBT OP THE SECBETABY OE COMMERCE products. The system was put into effect immediately in the State and has proved satisfactory in the more orderly marketing of these products with benefit to both sellers and buyers. The red-snapper -fishery and industry.-—During 1932 a study of the red-snapper fishery and industry revealed that costs of producing red snapper might be lowered by the use of a fish pot which was shown to be very efficient for catching this fish. Also it was found that marketing conditions might be improved by more careful han dling of the catch aboard vessel to retard deterioration, and by diver sifying the type of red-snapper product offered for sale. In the latter connection, experiments showed that red snapper lends itself to smoking in the “ finnan haddie ” style. TECHNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS Nutritive value of marine products.—In cooperation with and in the laboratories of the South Carolina Food Research Commission, Charleston, S.C., the Bureau’s technologist completed an investiga tion in which oysters from different localities were analyzed for their iron, copper, and manganese content, and the dried oysters fed to anemic rats. All samples, regardless of locality from which they were obtained, induced regeneration of hemoglobin, thus giving evi dence of the importance of oysters as a source of iron in addition to their other food factors. Studies on the vitamin potency of salmon-liver oils have revealed that they are from 10 to 12 times as potent in vitamin A as salmon oil from general cannery trimmings. However, since the yield of oil from salmon livers is low and since it requires solvent extraction to obtain the oil from the livers, it is expected that adjustments will need to be effected before placing the manufacture of salmon-liver oil on a commercial basis. Further work in cooperation with a producer of kelp meal has shown that kelp meal is a valuable supplement to rations composed of vegetable feedstuffs in which the protein is supplied by plant protein concentrates. Preservation of fishei'y products for food.—Studies on the chemical and physical changes of fresh fish and frozen fish held in cold storage have shown that with improved methods the producers can offer to the public a product superior to those handled by the ordinary commercial procedure. These studies have dealt in detail with the rate of freezing, the temperature of cold storage at which the least change takes place in texture of the flesh, and the rate of change to be expected from fresh fish packed by the usual method in ice. An electrometric method for the determination of the rela tive freshness of fish flesh also has been developed, which may be of great value in grading fish for quality. Practical experiments in the home preservation of fish by salting' and smoking were made before county agents, home economics experts, fishermen, and house wives, at various points along the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. This work has shown that the outlets for fish can be expanded when consumers are acquainted with methods for preserving fish in rather large quantities for family use. Bacteriology of fish preservation.—In a study of the bactericidal effect of smoke and salt brining on fish, it lias been found that BUREAU OP FISHERIES 83 contrary to the general belief neither smoke nor salt brine has a preservative effect on fish so preserved in ordinary commercial prac tice. In this work the technologists have been able to produce a smoked haddock containing a higher percentage of water than is ordinarily found in this product, which has retarded losses m this process; but to date a successful method has not been found for preserving smoked fish for a greater length of time at the usual room temperatures. Studies have been made of the bacterial spoilage of frozen fish and of fish packed in ice, and considerable progress has been made in developing methods for retarding or overcoming this spoilage which are an improvement over usual practice. Preservation of fishenj byproducts.—Researches in this field have shown where economies can be effected in the manufacture of fish meal to produce a more nutritious product, and have given fundamental information concerning the effect of manufacturing methods on the factors controlling the nutritive value of the'product. Studies of the manufacture of fish flour are still in the development stage, being concerned mainly with the study of methods for atomiz ing macerated fish waste in a heating medium in order to effect extremely rapid drying. Research in the chemical and physical constants ot haddock-liver oil have shown that while crude haddock-liver oil may be expected to come within the United States Pharmacopoeia limits, the cold pressed oil may be expected to exceed the limit occasionally._ Ihe significance of this is confused somewhat by the lower vitamin potency of the oil. This research also has shown that the col orimetric method for determining vitamin A offers oil manufacturers a rapid and inexpensive estimation of the quality of the various lots ofNet oil prepared. , . ^Bureau has been encleav. preservation.—For several years this orino- to reduce depreciation and consequent cost of maintaining fish nets^by developing net preservatives and encouraging improved handling of the nets. In 1932 the efficacy of covering dyed heavy webbing with a specification tar as previously recommended was con firmed. Chemicals also have been found which retard weed growth on fishing nets, and others which are efficacious antioxidants. Tests also confirmed previous recommendation of the Bureau for cleaning the net and drying in the shade to reduce deterioration. In this con nection it has been found that washing nets with lime water appears to treble their life. Some preservative principles developed m this research may have application to the preservation of other textile materials, such as sails, awnings, and rope. BIOLOGICAL FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS All of the most essential major projects of research comprising the investigative program of the Division of Scientific Inquiry, de veloped through many years of careful planning and organization, have been continued during the past year with only moderate curtail ment because of reduced appropriations. Investigations of the commercial fisheries are concerned with the changes in abundance of the food fishes of the North and Middle Atlantic areas and with the correction of abuses in the commercial 84 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE fisheries of the Great Lakes. The shrimp fishery of the South At lantic and Gulf has also been studied with the aim of discovering and preventing depletion of the supply; and the salmon and herringfisheries of Alaska are undergoing scientific analysis as a basis for their regulation. Aquicultural investigations include studies on the improvement of hatchery technique for both cold- and warm-water fishes and the planning of rational stocking policies in interior waters. Shellfishery investigations have been directed toward improving the quality of the oysters in the North and Middle Atlantic section and toward increasing the production by cultural methods in the South and on the Pacific coast. Even with reduced appropriations for field operations the Bureau’s technical staff has made valuable contribu tions to science, all of which have practical application to the welfare of the fishery industries, to the angler, and to the water farmer, assuring continued productiveness of the natural supply and in creased production and improved quality of cultivated aquatic products. FISH ER Y INVESTIGATIONS OP TH E ATLANTIC A N D GULF COASTS Fishery investigations have been concerned with the haddock and mackerel in the New England section; with the squeteague or weakfish, the butterfish, scup, and flounders in the Middle Atlantic sec tion ; and with the great shrimp fishery in the South Atlantic area. Investigations on shellfish in these areas will be considered later. The haddock fishery, which is the most important on the Atlantic coast, reached a maximum production in 1927 and has fallen off sharply in succeeding years until a minimum was reached in 1931 of less than 183 million pounds. The maximum yields around 1927 were the result of unusually successful spawning during the years 1920 and 1922. A study of the statistics of the yield per unit of effort, combined with a study of the biology of the haddock stock, particularly size and age composition, growth rate and distribution, indicate that since these years no abundant year broods were pro duced until 1930. It was anticipated that when this abundant year class reached marketable size there would lie an increase in landings. During the spring of 1933 catches by the trawling fleet have been extremely good, but prices have declined in the mean time so that only moderate production in the fishery has resulted. Reduced funds have prevented the conduct of studies on the abun dance of year classes below commercial size. Tagging experiments to trace the migrations of the haddock have also been reduced, but determination of migrations is essential to an accurate prediction of the trend of the fishery on Georges Bank, and this study will be resumed at the earliest opportunity. The regular spring prediction of the mackerel fishery for 1933 was issued by the Bureau near the beginning of the season. At that time it appeared that a catch of about 44 million pounds was in prospect. Economic conditions, however, will prevent the fleet from realizing this yield, although the catches during the early part of the season indicate an abundance somewhat in excess of that of the previous year. Difficulties in compiling 1933 estimates of the mackerel fishery emphasize the need for a more thorough BUREAU OP FISHERIES 85 understanding of the causes of rapid declines in the apparent abundance of certain year classes contrasted with the gradual de clines in others. The situation urgently calls for tagging experi ments to determine the commercial drain on the yearling mackerel. Such determination of the strain on the stock would not only render a prediction more certain but would also yield important evidence as to whether beneficial effects would attend a restriction of fishingon these younger mackerel. When investigations of the shore fisheries of the Middle Atlantic States were begun in 192T, statistics of the yield presented the gloomy picture of declining yields of several important food and game fishes amounting in comparison with 1921 to 72 percent for bluefish, 21 percent for croakers, 37 percent for scup, and 36 percent for squeteague. Studies have been pursued to discover the causes of these observed declines and to formulate recommendations for the restoration and preservation of the resource. Most recent canvasses show a substantial recovery from the low yield of squeteague of 1926, particularly in New Jersey. Investigations have shown that this recovery was brought about by the appearance of large num bers of fish of the 1926 and 1927 year classes. The yield of butterfish has recovered to near record levels during the course of the investigations. In view of the fact that a complete natural recovery has occurred and that there is no prospect of a material increase in the fishing intensity .of the future, regulation or restriction of this fishery is not recommended. The yield of scup has likewise recovered naturally to very high levels. The development of a year-round trawl fishery during the past three years has increased the strain on this stock, however, and particular attention is being paid to a study of this fishery which is prosecuted off the Virginia capes during the winter seasons. During the past spring a preliminary report on the life history of the most important commercial species of shrimp in the South Atlantic and Gulf areas was approved for publication by the Bureau. Field investigations in cooperation with the States of Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas have been conducted throughout the year and recently operations on the Atlantic coast have been extended from Georgia waters to include the shrimping areas of South Carolina and Florida. A study of the life history_ and migrations of the commercial shrimp has revealed the surprising and significant facts that this species spawns principally in the open ocean and Gulf, grows rapidly in the inshore waters of bays and estuaries, migrates seaward again where the life cycle is completed within a year by spawning and subsequent death. Hence, conservation measures must be applied promptly as soon as depletion is indicated in order to avoid serious consequences. Ichthyological studies in the South Atlantic and Gulf areas have been concerned with an examination of the fish fauna of the Gulf coast, which have resulted in extensive revision in the taxonomy of such species as the various flounders, gobies, and others, and a study of the fishery resources in streams and lakes in the State of Missis sippi. This latter survey, conducted in cooperation with the State authorities, is an effort of the newly formed fish and game commission to assess the fishery possibilities of the State as a basis for more effective conservation laws. 19865— 33-------8 86 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE FISH ER Y INVESTIGATIONS IN INTERIOR WATERS Investigations have been conducted on Lakes Michigan and Huron in the interest of overcoming wasteful and destructive practices of the commercial fisheries, which are responsible to a large degree for the depletion of the more valuable food fishes. An investigation conducted from a number of Michigan ports on the effects of deep trap nets was completed early in the fiscal year, indicating a con siderable increase in the use of these nets for catching whitefish, and a wholesale transfer of these nets from certain fishing grounds long famous for their whitefish production to new grounds on account of the depletion of the supply on the former grounds. Illegal-sized fish are most numerous in deep water, hence recommendations have been offered limiting these nets to waters less than 80 feet deep and requiring an increase in the meshes of the lifting pots to permit the escape of undersized fish. In Lake Michigan special attention has been given to the effect of chub nets fished on grounds where small lake trout are numerous. It was found that chubs and trout were more abundant in Michi gan waters where gill nets with larger meshes are employed than in Wisconsin waters. Recommendations were proposed therefore for legislation to prohibit or curb the sale of immature lake trout and to provide for an increase in the mesh of nets to protect undersized chubs from unnecessary destruction. The Bureau also cooperated with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey in a series of limnological and fishery studies in the smaller lakes of northeastern Wisconsin. At the close of the fiscal year a manuscript was completed on limnological investigations in western Lake Erie, which were con ducted during the years 1926 to 1930 in cooperation with various State conservation departments and scientific institutions. This re port correlates the technical studies of a number of collaborators and presents for the first time in assembled form a great mass of bio logical and physical data of fundamental importance to the con servation of the fisheries of the lake. It concludes that pollution, long suspected of adversely affecting the fisheries, is not responsible for the continued decline of the more important species. FISH E R Y INVESTIGATIONS OF TH E PACIFIC COAST AN D ALASKA The Bureau s investigators continued biological observations on Bie runs of red salmon in Bristol1Bay and the Karluk, Copper, and Chigmk Rivers in Alaska, in order to safeguard properly the salmon fishery resources of the Territory and to comply with the White Act of 1924. In adclition, a study of the age composition of the runs and an enumeration of the spawning fish passing weirs on their way t° head-water streams for propagation was made. The final section covering southeastern Alaska of the analysis of statistics of the salmon fisheries has been submitted for publication. Heretofore little information has been available regarding the biology of the important runs of pink salmon in Alaska An in vestigation has revealed that this species possesses a distinct homing BUREAU OF FISHERIES 87 instinct similar to that of the red salmon returning for spawning with few exceptions to the streams in which the fish were hatched. The life cycle has definitely been establised as 2 years and further investigations regarding the biological factors responsible for fluctua tions in time of appearance and abundance of the runs have pro gressed sufficiently to have practical application in devising regula tions for the upbuilding and maintenance of the supply. As a means of ascertaining more effectively the segregation of independent races of herring in Alaska, each of which is subject to overfishing without affecting neighboring supplies, a new method of tagging has been perfected for a study of their migrations. The method is unique in fisheries science inasmuch as electromagnets are utilized to recover metal tags in the factories in the process of manu facturing fish meal. Further studies of fluctuations in abundance from year to year demonstrate the effect of year class dominance^ as a cause of changing yields and indicate the necessity for regulation of the fishery in times of reduced supplies. A study of the sockeye-salmon fishery in Puget Sound, _under taken during 1931, has shown that severe overfishing virtually destroys the big runs of salmon that occur every 4 years in the Frazier River system. Since* this river supports the most valuable salmon fisheries in the State of Washington, efforts will be made to regulate the fishery so as to restore it to its former abundance. F ISH SCREEN AN D LADDER INVESTIGATIONS Investigations of methods of conserving the runs of anadromous fish on the Pacific coast by means of screens and ladders have been completed. Revolving mechanical screens have been found to be most effective and under certain circumstances electric screens hai^e also proved their efficiency. Recommendations and perfected designs have been made for a large number of irrigation works in Washing ton, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada, and recommendations for fish protective works at hydroelectric developments have been made to the Federal Power Commission. AQUICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS Practical results of the Bureau’s investigations in the interest of improved fish-cultural practices have been evidenced by a sustained output of large and vigorous fish from the Bureau’s many hatcheries in the face of reduced appropriations. Studies^ conducted at the three experimental hatcheries have shown the feasibility of extensive utilization of cheaper ingredients in the diet of trout and. the utility of fertilizers and forage fish in the economical production of bass and other warm-water fish. Trout breeding experiments have like wise demonstrated the superiority of selected strains of brood fish over wild stock in increased egg production, in more rapid growth, and in resistance to disease. It lias been shown that hatchery pro duction can be increased four times by doubling the rate of growth and the number of progeny from a single pair through selection of the brood stock. Progress has been made in solving the problems 88 REPORT OP THE SECBETABY OP COMMEECE of sanitation and prophylaxis against disease in hatcheries and in disseminating such information for practical application in fish hatcheries. Cooperative investigations of the nutritional requirements of trout carried on jointly by the New York Conservation Department, Cornell University, and the Bureau of Fisheries at Cortland, N.Y., have progressed satisfactorily where synthetic diets have been em ployed in testing the vitamin requirements of trout and their ability to digest the various food materials. Cooperative trout investigations in the State of California, be cause of the liberal support afforded by that State, have been continued without curtailment. Ecological studies of the coastal streams and of those in the high Sierras have been undertaken on a large scale to determine the capacity of various waters in sus taining fish life in relation to the food supply, the physical charac teristics of the streams, and the drain upon the supply by the fishery as a basis for adequate stocking. FISH ER Y STUDIES IN NA TIO NAL PARKS AND FORESTS As a means of more fully discharging the responsibility of the Fed eral Government in maintaining the fish supply in the public domain, a survey of streams and lakes in Glacier National Park was com pleted during the year for the purpose of formulating a stockingpolicy to be followed in the future. Extensive collections and obser vations were made and analyzed for the purpose of determining the fish population and the available natural food present as factors in the carrying capacities of various streams. Assistance has been ren dered various State fish and game departments in the inter-mountain region in solving particular problems regarding the stocking of fish in State waters. SIIELLFISH ERY INVESTIGATIONS Investigations on the various problems of the oyster industry were carried out in the North Atlantic and South Atlantic States and on the Pacific coast. In the Northeastern States where previous work of the Bureau has materially aided in increasing the propagation of seed oysters, main effort was directed toward a study of methods of growing and fattening oysters for market and in improving the nutritive quality of the product. Detailed analyses of the glycogen content throughout the year have been made on oysters from the cooperative experimental farms maintained with the State of Connecticut at Milford. In the laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass., and in Washington .studies on the growth of natural oyster food give promise of solving the problem of increasing the food value of oysters and standardizing their nutritive qualities. In the South Atlantic, where the depleted state of the natural oyster reefs is most apparent, principal attention was given to methods of restocking and maintaining the productivity of natural and cultivated bottoms. Experimental oyster farms have been maintained in each of the South Atlantic States and extensive surveys in the State of Florida have revealed new areas suitable for oyster culture. On the Pacific coast studies of spawning and improved methods of seed collection bureau of fish e r ie s 89 are proving of practical value in the cultivation of the native Olym1 Experiments on the artificial cultivation of fresh water mussels, which provide the raw material for the American pearl-button in dustry, have been prosecuted with success. Large quantities of the valuable species have been grown.in artificial raceways at the bu reau’s station at Fort Worth, Tex., and methods for feeding mussels have been devised, which materially accelerate their normal growth. POLLUTION s t u d ie s Efforts during the past several years to stock depleted streams of the Mississippi drainage with fresh water mussels, produced by artificial propagation, have failed because of the increased pollu tion in these waters from industrial and domestic wastes and si t eroded from the surface of the land. The presence of great quan tities of silt, which is rapidly increasing, moreover, jeopardizes the continued existence of all of the more valuable forms of aquatic life throughout the drainage. This problem has been given much studv from the point of view of determining definitely the menace of silt pollution and the extent of polluted waters in the hope of finding areas suitable for restocking with the valuable mussel &PA1careful investigation of the physiological effects of toxic sub stances found as pollutants in rivers of the Middle West has been continued in cooperation with the University of Missouri. Studie^ on the effects of arsenic, cyanide, and various heavy metals and acid mine wastes have demonstrated the disastrous effects upon aquatic life of these substances in the streams. During the fall a detailed investigation in the field, supported by laboratory studies, on the effects of mine pollution in the Coeur d Alene district of Idaho, demonstrated the serious effects upon fish and_ invertebrate aquatic life of washings from stamp mills and from mine drainage and recommendations were offered to the State outlining means ox overcoming this menace to an important natural resource. ALASKA FISHERIES SERVICE ADM INISTRATION OF FISH ER Y LAWS AND REGULATIONS The general abundance of the fisheries of Alaska in 1932 may be attributed primarily to the conservation program that has been cairied on since the law of June 6, 1924, gave the Secretary of Com merce broad powers to control commercial fishing. Careful surveys of the fisheries were made throughout the season, and the regulations were modified to meet changing conditions. The Commissioner of Fisheries spent several weeks in Alaska for personal observation of the salmon fisheries, which constitute the Territory’s most important . , on „December , on .economic Revisedresource. fishery regulations were issued 20, 1Qo0 1932, ana became effective January 1,1933. The restrictions m several regions were relaxed by extending the fishing season or bv opening closed waters to limited operations. Trap fishing was further curtailed 90 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE m places where such action was deemed necessary to secure the escapement required by law of not less than 50 percent of the salmon runs, and additional restrictions were placed on the taking of razor clams in order to prevent depletion of the beds. A patrol of the fishing grounds was maintained to enforce the laws and regulations for the protection of the fisheries. Twelve statutory employees and 206 temporary stream guards and special workmen were identified with this work in 1932, in addition to the crews of 15 Bureau vessels and 8 chartered boats. Attention was given to the improvement of salmon streams bv removing obstructions that prevented the ascent of salmon to the spawning grounds, and by destroying predatory enemies of salmon. Ihe latter work was carried on chiefly in connection with the operation of salmon-counting weirs in parts of central and western Alaska. At its 1933 session the Territorial Legislature again made an appropnation for this purpose, and it is planned that a considerable part the Bristol amount Bay available inox the region.will be spent for bounty on predatoryJ trout ALASKA SALMON HATCHERIES r H,<L ^ r nmCnt hatcheries at Afognak and on McDonald An’ -’?°° fed-salmon eggs were collected in 1932, as well as 3,082 oOO pmk-sahnon eggs. Shipments of 3,011,000 red-salmon eggs f1 a ^>^08,000 pink-salmon eggs in the eyed stage were forwarded to beattle in the fall. At the privately owned hatchery, operated aaa pr,0V1f ons of the Alaska fisheries act of June 26, 1906, 25,895,000 red-salmon eggs were collected. PRODUCTS OP TH E FISHERIES Notwithstanding the marked curtailment of fishing effort in the Alaska salmon industry in 1932, the total output of fishery products exceeded that of the previous year because of a substantial increase n!. we ,rr™8' production and the resumption of operations by one of the whaling stations. Although there was an increase of 1 per cent in Inc total yield of fishery products, as compared with that tor 1931, the total value decreased about 25 percent. Salmon products comprised about 77 percent in quantity and 90 percent m value of the total output of the Alaska fisheries in 1932. -Ninety-tour percent of the salmon production consisted of canned salmon, Re pack amounting to 5,254,000 cases, or 252.215,000 pounds, valued at $21,716,000. As compared with the pack of the preceding year, the output of canned salmon in 1932 showed a decrease of 3 percent m quantity and 25 percent in value. The number of can neries operated dropped from 116 in 1931 to 87 in 1932. The total output of Alaska fishery products in 1932 was 349,635,2«? rP0AUnnnS’ Valu?d at, $25,029 000, as compared with an average of f 3,000 pounds, vaiued at $43,356,000, for the 5-year period from 1927 to 1931, inclusive. Ihe value of the 1932 catch to the fishermen, was approximately $6,971,000, or about $3,072,000 less than in the preceding year. There were 20,000 persons employed in the various branches of the industry, as against 22,500 in 1931. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 91 ALASKA FUR-SEAL SERVICE GENERAL ACTIVITIES Fur-seal operations at the Pribilof Islands were handled by the staff of regular employees aided by the resident native population a-nd approximately 50 natives imported from the Aleutian Islands region for work during the active sealing season. As far as possible, killings of seals were confined to surplus 3-yearold males, although limited numbers of other age groups were taken. Of the season’s take of skins, about 65 percent were blubbered at the islands before being cured. A computation of the number of animals in the herd was made at the close of the sealing season. Construction activities were curtailed considerably because of the lack of funds, but there was some extension of improved roads and continuation of work on buildings that had been begun during the previous year. The East Landing wharf at St. Paul Island was completed and the construction of boatways alongside was begun. The annual supplies for the Pribilof Islands were forwarded from Seattle on the U.S.S. Sirius, and the sealskins secured during the season were transported on the return voyage. Valuable assist ance in maintaining a patrol for the protection of the fur seals and in performing other services was rendered by the United States Coast Guard. SEAL HERD The computed number of animals in the Pribilof Islands fur-seal herd on August 10, 1932, was 1,219,961, an increase of 92,879, or 8.24 percent, over the corresponding figure for 1931. TAK E OF SEA LSK IN S In the calendar year 1932 there were taken on the Pribilof Islands 49,336 fur-seal skins, of which 39,490 were from St. Paul Island and 9,846 from St. George Island. This was a decrease of 188 from the number taken in 1931. M ARK IN G RESERVED SEALS Twelve hundred 3-year-old male seals on St. Paul Island and 1,809 on St. George Island, a total of 3,009, were marked and re served for future breeding stock. The reserve includes also a large number of seals of this age class that were not taken in the drives. SALE OF SEA LSK IN S Two public auction sales of fur-seal skins taken on the Pribilof Islands were held at St. Louis in the fiscal year 1933. On September 26, 1932, there were sold 15,521 black-dyed, 10,157 logwood browndyed, and 801 miscellaneous unhaired and raw-salted skins for a gross sum of $296,604.75. In addition, 31 confiscated sealskins, raw, yielded $15.50. 92 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OE COMMEBCE At the second sale, held on May 15, 1933, 20,621 black-dyed and o,000 logwood brown-dyed skins were sold for $394,303.80. At the same time 282 black-dyed, 229 raw, and 1 unhaired Japanese fur-seal skins sold for $1,755.75. These 512 skins were the United States Governments share of sealskins taken by the Japanese Government at Eobben Island in the years 1930 to 1932, inclusive. There was sold also 1 confiscated fur-seal skin, dyed logwood-brown, for $23. Special sales of Pribilof Islands sealskins authorized by the Sec^etajy of Commerce in the fiscal year 1933 consisted of 184 black W of2261dogwood total $7,566.02. brown-dyed, 10 raw, and 9 exhibition skins, at a FOXES ,^ ue'tox herds on St. Paul and St. George Islands are a profitable adjunct to the fur-seal industry, and provide employment during the inactive period of sealing operations. ^ *he fiscal year 1933 there were sold at public auction 1,401 blue and 25 white fox skins that had been taken in the 1931-32 season. The ox tpo^jXoo. Pelts brought $32,151.50, and the white pelts $336.50, a total oJ°mblue ing and 22 white lfox he season 1932-33 in a871 takeblue of 249 skins onof St. Paul resulted Island and and 1 white on St. George Island, a total of 1,143 skins. Thirty-two foxes trapped on St. Paul Island and 408 on St. George Island were marked and released for breeding purposes. FUK -SEAL SK IN S TA K E N B Y NATIVES Exercising the privilege granted them under the provisions of the North Pacific Sealing Convention of July 7, 1911, Indians of the United States and^ Canada took 1,938 fur-seal skins in 1932, which were duly authenticated by officials of the respective Governments. , these skins, 78 were taken by natives of southeast Alaska, 73 by natives of Washington, and 1,787 by natives of British Columbia. FTJR-SEAL PATROL A patrol for the protection of the fur-seal herd was maintained by vessels of the United States Coast Guard, supplemented in the spring by two of the Bureau’s fishery patrol vessels. PROTECTION OF SEA OTTERS, W ALRUSES, AN D SEA LIONS No changes were made in the regulations for the protection of sea otters, walruses, and sea lions. The taking of sea otters is prohibited at all times, and the killing of walruses and sea lions is authorized only under specified conditions. LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION The appropriation for enforcing the law regulating interstate tand? 1 ederal °Jfcatanonauthorities b.la.ck in,basA an(i. forand cooperation local, State, protecting increasingwith largemouth and smallmouth black bass was reduced 25 percent from last year’s ap BUREAU OE FISHERIES 93 propriation; however, the Bureau has been able to continue and in some respects enlarge the work, securing a fair enforcement of the law in cooperation with the States east of the Rocky Mountains. This has been accomplished with 3 officers in the field, and 1 office assistant, a total of 4 employees, to carry out the intents and pur poses of the law in 48 States. During the year the number of regularly employed State fish and game protectors authorized by the Secretary to enforce the law was increased to 80, located principally in the Eastern and Central States where black bass are most plentiful. These trained State officers received no salary from the Federal Government, and frequently supplied the regularly employed Federal black bass law inspectors transportation and assistance without charge. This cooperation is supplied by the State principally for the reason that a violation of the Federal black bass law is predicated on an infraction of an exist ing State law followed by a transportation outside of the State. Every effort has again been made this year to advertise the _pro visions and purposes of the law. This highly important educational work has been carried on through the daily press, sporting magazines, and radio, and through personal contact between the commercial fishermen and dealers. In addition, the three regularly employed field officers, in their travels from State to State in making market inspections and investigations of alleged illegal shipments of black bass, attended and addressed gatherings of sportsmen, anglers, and State authorities. In sections where this ha,s been done those af fected display an intense interest in the work and a sincere disposition to obey the law and cooperate. It is essential that those who are enforcing the Federal black bass law, and the State officials and others, should be thoroughly familiar with the latest State laws protecting black bass. As the legislatures of 43 States met during the last half of this fiscal year, making many changes, a careful revision of the game-fish laws as formerly pub lished in Fishery Circular No. 9 was made and will be available to those interested. A large number of reports of violations of the Federal law were received and an investigation was made in every instance. The al leged illegal shipments came principally from the southeastern States, and were consigned to Maryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, West Virginia, and other States. In some cases evidence of violation of State law was obtained and turned over to State authorities for action. In other cases, such as an alleged illegal shipment of black bass from Florida to Kansas, it was impossible owing to great distance between point of shipment and consignment for the Bureau officials to make personal investigation due to lack of funds; however, such cases were handled by one or more of the State deputies. The Federal black bass law inspectors, along with their regular duties, have by request assisted State officers in enforcing the State laws protecting fish whenever possible, and aided in various matters pertaining to the welfare and increase of game fish. They have assisted and advised the States relative to perfecting their black bass laws, and a considerable amount of beneficial game-fish legislation advocated by the Bureau was adopted this year. Five States passed laws prohibiting the sale of black bass regardless of where taken; 94 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE 2 States adopted State-wide measures for game-fish protection; 5 improved their daily limits, and 1 provided a closed season on black bass during the spawning period; 10 States adopted part-time non resident angler’s licenses at a cost considerably less than the fee for an annual license. This division is charged with the issuance of permits for taking bait fish in the District of Columbia, and has issued, or renewed, a total of 29 permits during the fiscal year. VESSELS The Bureau’s motor vessel Fulmar stationed at Charlevoix, Mich., and assigned to investigative duty with the Great Lakes scientific staff, was engaged from June 1 to September 13 in upper Lake Mich igan north of Frankfort and Sturgeon Bay, Wis., in experimental fishing operations in connection with a study of the destruction oc casioned by chub nets to small trout and immature chubs in the region. Owing to the lack of funds this work was discontinued and the vessel placed out of commission for the remainder of the year. Sixteen vessels of the Alaska service cruised about 133,000 nautical miles in the fiscal year 1933, as compared with 148,500 nautical miles in the previous year. The Penguin covered approximately 28,200 miles; the Teal, 12,400 miles; the Brant, 11,800 miles; and the Crane, 10,900 miles. The Penguin continued as tender for the Pribilof Islands with base at Unalaska. Five round trips were made to Seattle during the fiscal year for transporting personnel and emergency supplied Of the vessels that engaged in fishery protective 'work, the Widgeon, Murre, Auklet, and Petrel were employed in southeast Alaska throughout the season; the Teal was on duty at Cook Inlet until the middle of August and later assisted with the patrol and stream inspection ^in southeast Alaska; the Kittiwake was in the Seward-Katalla district; the Crane in the Alaska Peninsula area; the Eider in the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak-Afognak areas; the Blue Wing and Red Wing in the Kodiak-Afognak area; the Ibis at Chigmk; the Footer on Bristol Bay; and the Coot on the Yukon Biver. The Puffin, which had been replaced by the Merganser as tender for the Yes Bay hatchery, participated in the fisheries patrol in the vicinity of Ketchikan. I he Brant was used in general supervisory work in southeast Alaska and Prince TVIlliam Sound. It was engaged also for several weeks in patrolling waters off Neah Bay, Wash., to protect the fur-seal herd during its northward migration. The Widgeon per formed similar duty in southeast Alaska. After the close of fishery activities in the fall, the Brant, Crane, Wider, Kittiwake, Murre, Scoter, and Teal sailed for Seattle, where they were moored for a number of months. Before returning to Alaska in the spring they were given a general overhauling. The Penguin was overhauled at Seattle in November. Other vessels of the Alaska service were tied up for the winter at Alaska ports. I he Albatross II, owing to lack of funds, remained out of com mission at our Woods Hole (Mass.) station during the entire past fiscal year. A caretaker is employed to look after the vessel. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 95 The steamer Phalarope, which was also placed out of commission June 30, 1932, owing to our reduced vessel appropriation, was con demned and sold to the highest bidder. The Pelican was detailed to the International Passamaquoddy Fisheries Commission to assist in special investigations for the com mission until October 17, 1932, when the vessel was returned to the Boothbay Harbor (Maine) station to resume its usual fish-cultural activities. The steamer Shearwater was engaged in the usual fish-cultural work at the Put-in-Bay (Ohio) station during the fall and winter months. APPROPRIATIONS Appropriations for the Bureau for the fiscal year aggregated $1,976,020, as follows: $175, 000 Salaries--'________________________________________ Miscellaneous expenses : Administration —---------------------------------------------------------------3’ 500 Propagation of food fishes---------------------------888, 730 Maintenance of vessels------------------------------------------------------- 200, 000 Inquiry respecting food fishes---------------------------------------------- 200, 000 Fishery industries--------------------------------------------------------------- 95, 790 Protecting sponge fisheries--------------------------------------------------3, 000 Protecting seal and salmon fisheries of Alaska----------------------------- 390, 000 Upper Mississippi Wild Life and Fish Refuge-------------------------------7, 000 Enforcement of black bass law--------------------------------------------------- 15, 0001 1, 976, 020 Total. LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE During the fiscal year important economies were introduced in the operation of the Lighthouse Service, especially through the dis continuance of various primary aids to navigation, such as some of the lightships and lighthouses, and the installation of automatic apparatus at a number of stations heretofore attended, and by other means. For the most part the personnel affected by these changes have been transferred to vacancies occurring, but the acceleration of the program this year has necessitated some furloughs ^ such furloughed employees are being given consideration for vacancies as they occur. The changes have been made after consultation with the marine interests concerned; these have been very cooperative in aid of the Government economy program. In the few cases where opposition has developed, very careful additional investigation has been made before final decision has been reached. Most of the aids affected were established when navigational requirements were different from those of the present time, and the original needs have passed, or materially changed. In a considerable proportion of the cases of discontinu ances, other and less expensive aids have been substituted, resulting often in arrangements more helpful to navigation. On June 30, 1933, there were 22,495 marine aids to navigation maintained by the Service, a net increase over the previous year of 921; this increase was mostly in the smaller and less expensive aids marking improved waterways. During the year various improve ments were made in the aids; 103 lights were changed from fixed to flashing or occulting and the illuminant of lights was changed as follows: 153 to electric and 69 to acetylene. Four radiobeacons were established, increasing the total number^ to 104; radio and sound signals were synchronized for distance finding at 4 stations. The number of aids discontinued was 1,718. Important projects in progress or completed during the year are set forth in detail under the heading “ Progress of special works under construction or completed.” The aids to navigation in the outlying territory of Guantanamo Bay, the American Samoan Islands, and the island of Guam have been maintained, as heretofore, with the cooperation of the naval commandants. ... , The airways division, which had been conducted as a division ot the Lighthouse Service, but under the administrative supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Aeronautics, was separated from this Service at the close of June 30, 1933. 97 98 REPOET OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT The use of electricity, especially in connection with automatic lights, has been extended. A 36-inch flashing unit, using a 1,000-watt electric lamp, has been developed for unwatched lights requiring high candlepower. A photo-electric-controlled alarm system was de veloped for checking the operation of an unwatched electric light. A new type of flashing light, using 18-inch and 10-inch pressed glass doublets and spherical mirror, and mounted in pairs on 2 drums and oriented for any desired group combination of flashes, was developed. Electric lamps better adapted for use with the various types of light house lenses than are the commercial type of electric lamps, were de veloped. Reliable and efficient electric minor lights using duplex lanterns, lamp changers, primary cells, and single-unit photronic cells for control were developed. Battery relays for switching to standby battery, when the service battery becomes exhausted, have been in troduced. Range lanterns using compound lenses and 4-volt minia ture lamps developing 11,000 candlepower and operated on primary cells with photronic cell control have been placed in service. A plan was developed for distinctive flashing light characteristics to distinguish between buoys at night, according to their purpose, and a service test of this system was commenced; by this means, for the first time, a buoy will show by its flash whether it marks the side of a channel, a danger or middle ground, a fairway, or a wreck, and the use of color of lights will be reserved to show the side on which to pass. A new flash characteristic, the interrupted quick flash, was made use of in this system. The improvement of lighted buoys by the conversion of the Pintsch gas type to acetylene has been continued. Spar buoys continue to be replaced by steel nun and can buoys. The improvement of fog signals was extended by the installation of Diesel and electric-driven compressors and air diaphones, typhons and other types of modern signals. The conversion of steam io<rsignal plants to modern air and electric fog signals was extended Electric-control apparatus for fog signals has been further perfected.’ Improved types of fog-signal apparatus operating air horns consist ing of self-contained units with electric motors direct connected to rotary-type compressors operating the signal on low pressure and with a minimum of air consumption and having semiautomatic con trol, have been introduced. With this type of apparatus the necessity for providing air receivers, extensive air-line systems, numerous valves, etc., for controlling the characteristic of the signal is elimi nated, and it provides an efficient signal unit at a lower cost for installation and for annual maintenance and operation. An extended test and demonstration was made on Lake Michigan of mobile radiobeacons for the avoidance of collisions, with favorable results. A new radiotelephone transmitter was constructed and in stalled at the Detroit Lighthouse Depot for direct communication with Detroit River light station, or with vessels equipped for service. ADMINISTRATION Appropriations for the maintenance of the Lighthouse Service totaled $9,799,280 for the fiscal year 1933, and for special works $3,860,000; the larger part of this latter amount was, however, later BUREAU OF LIGHTHOUSES 99 withdrawn ; there were also allotted from Department appropriations for printing and binding,. $23,000, and for contingent expenses, $5,825. There was received and deposited in the Treasury the fol lowing : From sale of Government property, $16,344.85, rent of build ings, etc., $4,391.93 ; forfeitures by contractors, $8.83 ; reimbursement for property destroyed or damaged, $3,062.84; work done for private interests, $1,198.09 ; commissions received on telephones, $22.93 ; total, $25,029.47. In the interest of economy and efficiency in administration, the thirteenth and fourteenth lighthouse districts were consolidated with the fifteenth district on March 1, 1933, and the aids to navigation on the entire Mississippi River system were placed in charge of a civilian lighthouse engineer as superintendent, relieving the Army engineers heretofore detailed for that duty. The offices at Rock Island, 111., and Cincinnati, Ohio, were discontinued, and all the river work placed under a single office at St. Louis, Mo. Narragansett Bay was transferred from the third to the second district on July 1, 1933. PERSONNEL The total number of persons employed in the marine work of the Lighthouse Service on June 30, 1933, was 5,446. This is a net de crease of 151 from the previous year. There was a net decrease of 99 in lightkeepers, light attendants and lamplighters, and a decrease of 76 in officers and crews of lighthouse vessels. The United States Employees’ Compensation Commission gives the number of reported cases of injury subject to compensation for the calendar year 1931, of employees in the Lighthouse Service, as follows: Cases resulting in death, 1; cases resulting in permanent total or partial disability, 8 ; cases of temporary total disability, 166. In addition to their regular duties, a number of employees of the Lighthouse Service rendered aid to those in distress. During the fiscal year about 93 instances of saving life and property or rendering valuable aid were reported. Many of these acts were performed at great risk to the employees, and some cases were especially meri torious, and the employees were commended by the Secretary of Commerce. LIGHTHOUSE DEPOTS Improvements were completed or were in active progress at sev eral depots during the year. At Portland, Maine, a shop building is under construction, and the new depot is being completed. At Cheslsea, Mass., a steel sheet pile bulkhead has been constructed across the face of the property recently acquired, and on the sides and across the inner end of the west slip ; the new property has been cleared of old buildings, and considerable dredging has been done. The outer end of the channel leading to the Woods Hole Depot, Mass., has been dredged. At Bristol, R.I., a retaining wall along the southerly side of the property was constructed and a brick storehouse provided. Three fabricated steel buildings have been erected at Charleston, S.C., and a considerable amount of grading has been done to make additional space in the depot available for use; concreted areas for storage space and new roadways connect 100 KEPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE ing buildings were laid. At the Mobile, Ala., depot the area en closed by the new bulkhead has been filled and surfaced temporarily with cinders. A combined office building and storehouse of rein forced concrete is under construction at the San Juan, P.R., depot, and improved storage facilities have been provided in the basement of the officers’ quarters. At Buffalo, N.Y., work on a concrete retaining wall which will enlarge the serviceable area is substan tially completed; a timber crib wall with concrete superstructure to form a slip for berthing the tenders is under construction. Improve ments have been made at Detroit, Mich., depot, and at Ketchikan, Alaska, depot. LIGHTHOUSE TENDERS Four new tenders were completed and placed in commission, as follows: The Myrtle, an additional tender for the eighth district; the Hickory, replacing the Pansy in the third district; the Wistaria, for the fifth district; and the Arbutus, replacing the Azalea in the second district; and the tender Lilac to replace the Iris in the fourth district. Two new tenders are being constructed under contract, the Dahlia and Hemlock; they are to replace the tenders Thistle and Fern. Plans have been completed for the construction of two addi tional tenders, the Tamarack, to replace the Glover in the eleventh district, and the Hollyhock, to replace the Sumac in the twelfth district. Plans are being prepared for the Jasmine to replace the Cosmos in the eighth distract. The tenders Tulip and Cypress have been converted to oil burning. New coal-burning, water-tube boilers were installed on the tender Anemone. At the end of the year 55 tenders were in commission. Twentyseven of the tenders in commission are fitted with radiocompasses and 30 have radio communication. The following tenders have been extensively overhauled during the year: Magnolia, Tulip, Hyacinth, Crocus, Sequoia, Cypress, Anemone, and Sunflower. The following were the number of tenders on June 30 of the years specified, omitting vessels not having regular crews: 1910, 51; 1920, 55; 1930, 55; 1933, 55. There are in addition 12 small depot tenders without regular crews. The tender Juniper was sold on November 1, 1932, and the Pansy on January 29, 1933. Five additional tenders were laid up awaiting sale. LIGHTSHIPS At the close of the year lightships were maintained on 37 stations, and 47 lightships were in commission, of which 10 were regular relief ships. In addition there were 3 lightships, No. 86, No. 87, and No. 78, laid up awaiting extensive reconditioning, and 2 light ships, No. 4.1 and No. 13, awaiting survey with a view to their being sold. When the above 3 lightships are reconditioned, it is expected that lightships No. 1$, No. 69, No. 74, No. 47, and No. 16 will be sold. Two lightships, No. 89 and No. 95, are held in reserve for the Great Lakes. Seven lightship stations were permanently discontinued dur ing the year as follows: Great Round Shoal, Mass.; Hedge Fence, BUREAU OF LIGHTHOUSES 101 Mass.; Bartlett Eeef, Conn.; Northeast End, N.J.; Fenwick Island, Del.; Charleston, S.C.; and Milwaukee, Wis. The following was the total number of lightships on June 30 of the years mentioned: 1910, 68; 1920, 62; 1930, 51; 1933, 56. Light ship stations: 1910, 51; 1920, 49; 1930, 44; 1933, 31. Of the present lightships in commission 38 have propelling power, 8 are provided with sail only, and 1 has no means of propulsion. The lightship stations may be classified as outside 24, inside 1 (all in the second and third districts), and Lake 6. Lightship No. o% was sold on December 22, 1932, and No. 68 on January 18, 1933. These vessels were beyond economical repair. 19865— 33------ 9 OPERATION AND CONSTRUCTION, LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE, FISCAL YEAR 1933 PROGRESS OE VESSELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION T en der “ L ila c ”.—This tender, for service on the Delaware River and Bay to replace the tender Iris, is being built under contract of August 16, 1932, by the Pusey & Jones Corporation, Wilmington, Del., at a cost of $214,500. This tender is twin-screw, steam-propelled, with two water-tube, oil-burning boilers On June 30 the vessel was 93 percent completed. T e n d e r “ D ah lia ’’.—This small tender, to replace the T h istle for service on the Detroit River, is being built under contract of February 25, 1933, by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, River Rouge, Mich., the cost to be $66,568. This tender a single-screw Diesel-engine-propelled vessel. On June 30 it was 22 percentiscompleted. T en der “ H em lock ’’.—This tender, to replace the F ern for service in the waters of southeastern Alaska, is being built under contract by the Berg Ship building Co., Seattle, Wash., for $228,480.60. This tender is a twin-screw, steampropelled vessel with two water-tube, oil-burning boilers. On June 30 it was 27 percent completed. PROGRESS OE SPECIAL WORKS UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR COMPLETED P o rtla n d L ighth ouse D epot, M aine. —See annual report, 1932, page 18 and pre vious reports. Fresh water and sewer lines have been installed on wharf. Excavatmg for site of service and shop buildings, grading wharf, and placing crushed stone over mam wharf and pier is approximately 75 percent completed. A 2-story and basement shop building is under construction. Total allotm Project to date, $275,578. Total cost to June 30, 1933, $256,992. W h iteh ead L ig h t S ta tio n , M aine. —Replacing steam fog signal with an air tyton. Project practically completed. Cost to June 30, 1933, $11136 R a rita n B a y and A rth u r K ill, N .J .—Establishing lighted buoys in’Raritan Bav cost^ljGS! 327 nnel and Allbur Kil1 DredSed Channel. Project completed. Total G reat S a lt P on d L ig h t S tation , R .I. —See annual report, 1932 page 19 and $17 431S reP°rtS- Pro;iect substantially completed. Cost to June 30, 1933, i u ° l6 -R«.s,s.—Dredging outer end of channel leading to the depot10,000 cubic yards of material, including some rock and boulders, were removed Bl,d s„hafve been Cost issuedto for of further project satisfactorily. Juneremoval 30, 1933, $3,954. material to complete the project L yn n H arbor, M ass.— Placing rirap around dolphin lights in Lynn Harbor and n6W t0Wers on riprap foundation. Project completed. Total cost, . lsea L l9M n°u se D epot, M ass.— Construction of steel-sheet piling bulkhead ^ 've®ter1y slip and across face of property recently acquired. The site was fint1 Af th °ld bullding* and a steel-sheet piling bulkhead constructed across the n-6W propf rty aa(1.on b°th sides and across the inner end of the west $42 827)re<3ginS f°r baCk flU 1S substantially completed. Cost to June 30, 1933, B risto l L ighth ouse D epot, R .I. —See annual report, 1932, page 19. A buov eo^fr 834°^oriS1Ai* ar <r°“crete creosoted pilessidewasof constructed. cost, $34,830. A S,letaimng walldeck alongon the southerly the depot wasTotal conof1$5465at a t0tal C°St °f §17’396’ and a brick storehouse built at a total cost 102 BUREAU OF LIGHTHOUSES 105 B lack R ock H a rb o r L igh ts, C o n n — Discontinuing Black Rock Light and estab lishing Black Rock Harbor Lights Nos. 1 and 3, on riprap foundations. Project completed. Total cost, $17,755. G angw ay R ock, N .Y.— -An acetylene light on riprap foundation established. Project completed. Total cost, $7,780. B ran dyw in e Shoal, D el. —Replacing worn-out fog signal and electrifying star tion. Work under way. Cost to June 30, 1033, $3,118. S ch u ylkill R iver, Pa.— An electrically operated fog bell was installed at the' entrance to the river and five minor lights established. Project completed. Total cost, $5,130. Cape H a ttera s, N.C.— A steel sheet pile groin to protect light station was built. Project completed. Total cost, $6,692. T an gier Sound and O ld P la n ta tio n F la ts L ig h t S tation s, Va. —Riprap placed around these stations. Project completed. Total cost, $7,061. P o in t L ookou t D epot, M d.— Protecting beach against erosion of seas and for repairs to wharf damaged by storm of March 1932. About 200 linear feet of interlocking steel sheet piles were straightened up and anchored, 3,200 square feet of inshore wharf was rebuilt, two additional buoy skids 72 feet long each were built, and 350 tons of riprap placed on beach. Project completed. Total cost, $6,495. P ortsm ou th L ighth ouse D epot, F».—Renewing roof on Storehouse No. 2, etc. Project substantially completed. Cost to June 30,1933, $15,436. B uoys, fifth ligh thou se d is tr ic t— Buoys in lieu of lightship, and to replace White Shoal Light Station, Va. Order for buoys has been placed. Cost to June 30, 1933, $18,198. Lighted buoys have been purchased for selected loca tions where unlighted buoys now serve. Cost to June 30, 1933, $58,188. C h arleston L igh th ou se D epot, S.C.— Purchase and install two fabricated steel buildings. Project completed. Total cost, $8,383. Additional improvements cosisting of 8,000 cubic yards of dry fill, 2,034 square yards of 6-inch concrete surface for storage of buoys, and 4,812 square yards of concrete roadway was accomplished. An additional fabricated steel building was later erected and a concrete bulkhead constructed along the northwest edge of the filled area. All electric wiring, water, gas, and air lines were laid underground. Project completed. Total cost, $29,593. C h arleston H arbor and C ooper R iv e r L igh ts, S.C.—Replacing all oil lights in these waters. Twenty-six 150-mm flashing electric lanterns and four range lanterns, together with necessary primary cells have been purchased. Battery boxes have been completed. Cost to June 30, 1933, $10,949. L ig h ted buoys, six th lighthouse d istrict. —Purchase of apparatus to take the place of attended stations. Cost to June 30, 1933, $15,851. In tra co a sta l W a terw a y, F lorida, buoys.— Purchase of 400 special type can and nun buoys to mark improved channel between St. Johns River and Miami. Cost to June 30, 1933, $10,764. S t. Johns R iver, Fla. —Change oil post lights above Jacksonville to battery operated electric lights. Cost to June 30, 1933, $18,915. S m ith Shoal, F la — See annual report, 1932, page 19. Foundation completed. Cost to June 30, 1933, $16,989. P u n ta R a sa R an ge L ights, Fla.—Replacing two old structures in San Carlos Bay with iron structures. Metalwork fabricated and all material and illumi nating apparatus on hand. Cost to June 30, 1933, $7,748. T ennessee R eef L igh t, F la.— A fixed iron skeleton structure to replace a lighted buoy. Structure fabricated, and all other material on hand. Cost to June 30. 1933 $12,213. T am pa B ay, Fla..—Establishing 2 range lights on Mullet Key Shoal. Metal work fabricated and all other material on hand. Cost to June 30, 1933, $7,248. M obile L ighth ouse D epot, A la. —See annual report, 1932, page 20. Filling within the bulkheaded area and surfacing temporarily with cinders has been completed. Covering of the old piles with a creosoted apron wharf 16 feet by 82 feet has been accomplished. Cost to June 30, 1933, $39,593. Corpus C h risti Channel L igh ts, T ex. —Establishment of 21 primary cell lights to mark the dredged channel from Port Aransas to Corpus Christi, Tex. Project completed. Total cost, $24,403. R esto rin g and im proving aids, n in th lighthouse d istrict. —Restoration of damage caused by the hurricane of September 1932. Work practically com pleted. Cost to June 30, 1933, $14,005. San Juan L ighth ouse D epot, P .R . —Office and storehouse. Constructing a reinforced concrete service and office building. This contract is practically com 104 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE pleted, Cost to June 30, 1933, $14,631. Repairs to storage space under tlxe tender officers’ quarters also were completed at a total cost of $7,717. M odern fog-signal app a ra tu s .—Purchase of modern fog-signal apparatus for the Service at large; 38 sets of apparatus were purchased. Work under contract was completed April 27, 1933. Total cost, $46,475. B uffalo L ighth ouse D epot, N .Y .—See annual report, 1932, page 20, and previ ous reports. Completing the project for improving the lighthouse depot, pro viding a new slip, retaining wall, and fill, 4,500 yards of slag was placed. Battery piles were driven. Concrete retaining wall on south side of depot yard substantially completed. Construction of timber crib (stone filled), wall, and concrete superstructure to form boat slip is under way. Cost to June 30, 1933, $139,385. Oswego, N .Y .—Completing the rearrangement of aids in Oswego Harbor, N.Y., made necessary by improvements to the harbor carried out by the United States Engineers. This project consists of the construction of a lighthouse with fog signal and radiobeacon at the end of the west breakwater, a keepers’ dwelling, boathouse on shore, also a light on the east breakwater. Site for keepers’ quarters purchased. Contract for building up concrete base for main structure completed. Steel for superstructure 80 percent complete. Fog signal equipment delivered. Cost to June 30, 1933, $25,688. R eplacem en t of steam fog signals, eleven th d istric t .—Changing the steam fog signal at Raspberry Island Light Station to a diaphone. Installation includes all necessary facilities for the storing of distillate oil. Project completed. Total cost, $9,238. Under an allotment of $20,000, steam fog signal plants at Crisp Point, Port Austin Reef, and Fort Gratiot Light Stations, Mich., to be replaced by modern equipment. Cost to June 30, 1933, $8,673. C onversion of P in tscli gas buoys to acetylen e .-—Allotment of $37,595 was made for completing this work. More than 30 buoys were converted. Project com pleted. Total cost, $33,574. F o rt G ratiot L igh t S ta tio n keeper's dw ellin g .—Provide an additional dwelling. Project completed. Total cost, $5,738. St. M arys R iver, M ich .— See annual report, 1932, page 20, and previous reports. During the year the Pilot Island Range Light structures have been rebuilt. Lights 3 and 4 in the West Neebish Channel have been completed, Brush Point Range has been moved to the exact channel axis, and the front light structure entirely rebuilt. The installation of an automatic fog bell on Light no. 17, Lake Nicolet, is under way, as is also the electrification of Frenchette Point Range and Six Mile Point Range. Cost to June 30, 1933, $126,140. P oin t Iroquois L igh t Station , M ich .—Modernizing the station. The work includes the removal of the present fog-signal apparatus, installing electrically operated air compressors, electric generators, storage battery, type “ B ” air diaphone, electricity for the main light and dwelling, remodeling dwellings, providing new boat, and extending dock at boat harbor. Cost to June 30, 1933, $7,613. W yan dotte L igh t S tation , M ich .—Consolidation of Grassy Island North Chan nel Range and Grosse Isle Light Stations. The site in Wyandotte has been purchased, plans for the dwelling, boathouse, etc., are complete, and lighting equipment for Grassy Island Range has been purchased, also a. steel tower has been fabricated and the necessary dredging done. Cost to June 30, 1933, $8,834. D e tro it L ighth ouse D epot, M ich., im provem en ts .—An electrically operated freight elevator has been installed in the main storehouse building, a new com bined punch and shear was provided for the structural shop, a portable yard crane of the gasoline engine driven type, with a trailer for hauling equipment, was purchased and placed in service; in addition an electrically operated hoister was purchased for use with the fixed yard crane for hauling heavy equipment. Cost to June 30, 1933, $13,771. F ran kfort, M ich .—See annual report, 1932, page 21, and previous reports. Total allotments, $46,830. Skeleton steel tower and electric light placed on north pier. Old wooden structure on north pierhead closed up. A daymark was established on the south pier and floodlight installed on the north pier to illuminate the daymark. The tower on the north pier moved to the north breakwater and installation of equipment completed. The power house and garage on shore have been completed. The dwelling formerly at Chicago Light Station was reconditioned. This project completed. Total cost, $40,202. R eplacin g 10 obsolete fog-signal plan ts, tw e lfth d istric t .—Allotments of $22,500 and $20,000 were made to replace steam fog signals at 10 light stations. All machinery practically completed. Cost to June 30, 1933, $41,037. BUREAU OF LIGHTHOUSES 105 R acin e R eef L ig h t S tation , W is .—Consolidation of this station with Racine Pierhead; 18,000 feet of telephone and control cable was laid by tender H yacinth, connecting the two stations. Placing of conduits and cable along shore from inner end of North Breakwater to dwelling at North Pierhead is in progress; 2 600 tons of stone were deposited around the Racine Reef structure. Cost to June 30, 1933, $6,716. U pper M ississippi R iv er a id s .—One hundred and forty-five can-type metal buoys, 145 nun-type metal buoys, and 50 metal buoys for carrying hand lanterns were purchased. There were also purchased 200 concrete anchors for the buoys and 4 automatic marine beacon lanterns with necessary primary-cell power equipment. Project completed. Total cost, $5,720. Illin o is R iv e r w a terw a y, O tta w a to L ockport — Allotments totaling $13,900 were made for aids to navigation to mark new waterway to Chicago; 58 auto matic marine beacon lanterns with lamp-changer equipment with necessary primary-cell power equipment were purchased; 300 can- and nun-type metal buoys were also purchased. Project completed. Total cost, $13,867. M issou ri R iv e r and L o w er M ississip p i R iv er a id s .—One hundred and thirteen Mississippi River minor light type structures were erected on the Missouri River. There was also purchased for the Lower Mississippi River 34 automatic marine beacon 150-mm. lanterns with lamp changers and necessary primary cell power equipment. Project completed. Total cost, $12,327. K etch ik a n L ighth ouse D epot, A la sk a .—Constructing a traveling crane and buoy shed at the depot. Project completed. Total cost, $14,255. Under sepa rate allotments totaling $5,730 the fender piles around the wharf were replaced with creosoted fir jales at a total cost of $5,100. Additional wharf repairs were also carried out at a total cost of $5,707. A id s to n avigation, A la sk a .—One automatic light and two unlighted beacons were established during the fiscal year from an allotment of $12,000 and relief equipment was purchased during the year for unwatched acetylene lights at sites difficult of access. Cost to June 30, 1933, $10,800. Cape H m chin brook L ig h t S tation , A la sk a .—See annual report, 1932, page 21, and previous reports. Additional allotments totaling $65,000 were made to complete this project. Materials were landed during May 1933 and construc tion resumed on light and fog signal building. Work of installing forms for basement wall and main floor of building was under way. Cost to June 30, 1933, $39,150. , , C olum bia R iver, Oreg., im provin g a id s .— See annual report, l9o2, page 21, and previous reports. Project completed. Total cost, $99,9_67. G rays H arbor L igh t S tation , W ash .—Allotments of $8,3o0 and $1,200 were made for steel piling bulkhead protection at this station. The enclosed area thus provided was brought to grade with sand back fill, decked over with a reinforced concrete slab. To further protect the sand spit and the road ap proach wood-pile groins and bulkheads were constructed. Project completed. Total cost, $9,527. . , Cape F la tte ry L ig h t S tation , W a sh .—See annual report, 1932, page 21, and previous reports. The dwelling was wired and provided with electrical service, and a 25,000-gallon wood-stave water tank purchased to provide an adequate fresh-water supply. Project completed. Total cost, $9,050 B u sh P oin t L igh t S ta tio n , W ash.— See annual report. 1932, page 21, and previous reports. A pyramidal reinforced concrete tower 20 feet high, con structed Commercial electric power operates the light and fog signal, which is semiautomatically controlled from the residence of the caretaker. Project completed. Total cost, $6,197. _ . ., N ew D ungeness Light, Station , W a sh — Electrify station, including turmshing and laying 12,500 feet of submarine cable. All equipment lias been pur chased and submarine cable laid. Cost to June 30, 1933, $7,106. D esdem ona San ds L ig h t S ta tio n , O reg —Electrify station, including semi automatic control, requiring 8,000 feet of submarine cable, also the modernizing of lighting and fog signal equipment. Fog signal and lighting equipment and submarine cable purchased. Cost to June 30, 1933, $3,568. B row n s P oin t L ig h t Station , W ash .—Reinforced concrete tower replacing old wood frame light and fog signal building was constructed, lighting and fog signal equipment modernized. Cost to June 30, 1933, $4,285. Pc^'t ridge Banh, W ash .—Lighted bell buoy. Buoy and all equipment pur chased. Project substantially completed. Total cost, $11,800. L ig h ted buoys, seven teen th d istric t .—Under an allotment of $24,900 buoys were purchased for Tillamook Bay, Willapa Bay, Umpqua River, and Coos Bay. Project substantially completed. Total cost, $24,900. 106 BEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE A u to m a tic apparatus, C olum bia R iv e r and P u g et S o u n d —Allotments total ing $10,924 were made to change 55 post lights (oil) to automatic electric and acetylene gas lights. All equipment has been purchased. Project substan tially completed. Total cost, $10,924. Changing stea m fog signal, eigh teen th d istric t .—-Lime Rock steam whistle was changed to air whistle and motor-driven air compressor installed with gas-engine driven compressor for stand-by. Light electrified; station buildings wired for electric lights. Project completed. Total cost, $7,596. San Joaquin R iv e r (S to ck ton C hannel) aids, C alif .—An allotment of $29,770 was made for marking the 26-foot dredged channel in the San Joaquin River; 50 channel marking lights and 14 range lights were established. All are primary cell outfits. AH channel marking lights and seven range lights are on timber towers or pile beacons. Project completed. Total cost, $30,746. H u m boldt B a y Fog S ignal S ta tio n , C alif .—Construction of a rock jetty along shore line to prevent further erosion. Work partly completed. Cost to June N d w ilh m li H arbor L ig h t S tation , H a w a ii .—See annual report, 1932, page 21. A 5-room frame dwelling, 500 feet of asphalt macadam roadway and a concrete pit with corrugated asbestos shed for gasoline storage tank were constructed. The grounds were also improved. Project completed. Total cost, $20,839. K au h o la P oin t L ig h t S tation , H aw aii.— See annual report, 1932, page 21. A duplicate of the reinforced concrete tower erected at Nawiliwili Harbor Light Station, with a similar installation of two 36-inch airways beacons, etc was constructed. Project completed. Total cost, $17,495. Cape K u m u k a h i L ig h t S tation , H a w a ii .—Improving the station. An asphalt macadam road was built from the paved highway to the station at a cost of $10,797. A reinforced concrete tower foundation, two 5-room dwellings, water tanks, outbuildings, sidewalks, etc., were constructed. Two 36-incli beacons three 2-kilowatt engine-generator units and a 110-foot galvanized structuralsteel tower were purchased. Plans and specifications for completing this project are prepared. Cost to June 30, 1933, $29,751. K a u la R ock L igh t, H a w a ii .—See annual report, 1930, page 42. Allotments totaling $8,800 have been made for establishing an automatic dual acetylene light on this rock. Project completed. Total cost, $7,980. M akapuu P oin t L igh t S ta tio n , H a w a ii .—Constructing a paved road to the station. This project completed. Total cost, $8,161. B a rb ers P o in t L ig h t S tation , H aw aii.— A n allotment of $20,000 was made for the construction of a reinforced concrete tower, sidewalks, etc., at this station. The work is in progress. Cost to June 30, 1933, $9,469. SUMMARY OP APPROPRIATIONS, LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE FISCAL YEARS 1929-1934 Item Appropriations 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 $110,000 4, 200,000 2,105, 280 2,370,000 600,000 414,000 $100,000 4,009,000 1, 783, 500 2, 221,800 589,000 411, 300 MAINTENANCE Salaries, Bureau of Lighthouses........... General expenses, Lighthouse Service... Salaries of keepers of lighthouses___ Salaries, lighthouse vessels................... Salaries, Lighthouse Service_______ _____ Retired pay, Lighthouse Service... Repairs due to storm damages______ Total for maintenance___________ Unexpended balances (obligations esti mated)...................................... $103,070 4, 298,500 2,074,750 2, 346, 360 617,340 245,000 129, 934 9,814,954 34, 595 $110,000 $112,115 $121,790 4, 298, 500 4, 500,000 4, 550, 000 2, 062, 780 2,100, 280 2,105, 280 2, 346,360 2, 398, 360 2,402, 260 617,340 647, 320 653, 080 285.000 332,000 380,000 220.000 9,939,980 10,090,075 10,212,410 26,719 39,880 9,799,280 9,114,600 120,549 761, 804 PUBLIC WORKS Vessels for Lighthouse Service........... Other works______ ______ Total for public works................ Total maintenance and public works .. 1,100,000 1,155,000 550.000 950.000 950,000 622,000 675,000 874.000 920.000 2,910,000 1,722,000 1,830,000 1,424,000 1,870,000 3,860,000 11,536,954 11,769,980 11, 514, 075 12,082,410 13,659, 280 9,114,600 BUREAU OE LIGHTHOUSES 107 SUMMARY OF COSTS, LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE, FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1933 [Amounts are stated to nearest even dollar, causing occasional minor discrepancies in totals] TOTAL COSTS OF PRINCIPAL FEATURES Maintenance expenses Betterment expenses Miscel laneous Total Repairs New and Salaries mainte mainte improve nance nance ments works expenses Feature $581,330 $91,846 1,698,916 950,287 Aids to navigation *..............— 2,923,444 970,530 5,203,690 2,012,663 Total Grand totals $673,176 $4,662 $39,155 $43,817 $716,993 2,649,203 464,595 1,368,887 1,833,482 4,482,685 3,893,974 1,163,434 902,842 2,066,276 5,96Q, 250 7,216,353 1,632,691 2,310,884 3,943,575 11,159,928 TOTAL COSTS OF DETAILED FEATURES Offices.......................................... Depots......................................... Tenders.................-................... Lightships------------------------Light stations, attended----Other fixed aids......................... Buoys........................................Total________________ $4, 662 $581,330 $108,654 $689,984 160,842 253,982 173,218 427, 200 303.753 1,444,934 760,261 2, 205,195 749, 923 251,352 1,001, 275 148, 535 1,660, 211 325,404 1,985,615 462.754 455, 538 162,001 617, 539 263, 200 57,772 231,773 289,545 288,945 5, 203,690 2,012,663 7, 216,353 1,632,691 $39,155 $43,817 $733,801 927,455 339,413 500,255 1,029,474 1,333,227 3,538,422 1,230, 521 80,711 229,246 2,812,926 364, 557 827,311 241, 270 360, 531 623, 731 1, 675,533 97,043 385,988 2,310,884 3,943,575 11,159,928 i Includes offices except expense of publications. >Includes depots and tenders; also item excepted in footnote 1. a Includes lightships, fixed aids, and buoys. SUMMARY OF PUBLIC WORKS APPROPRIATIONS (6x441) Aids to navigation, Lighthouse Service: Unallotted balance June 30, 1932-------------------------------------- $6o. 137. ob Withdrawals from previous allotments----------------------------- 134, 414.39 199, 552. 25 Total amount available for allotment. 101, 823.70 Allotments___________________________ 97, 728. 55 Unallotted balance June 30, 1933 (6x442) Aids to navigation, Lighthouse Service: 2, 860, 000. 00 Emergency construction, act of July 21, 1922. 0.00 Withdrawals from allotment---------------------2, 860, 000. 00 Total amount available for allotment. 1, 360, 476. 99 Allotments---------------------------------------1, 499, 523. 01 Unallotted balance June 30, 1933. (6x433) Vessels for Lighthouse Service: 51, 888. 04 Balance unallotted June 30, 1932--------478,170. 01 Withdrawals from previous allotments. 530, 058. 05 Total amount available for allotment. 154, 853.91 Allotments--------------------------- ------------375, 204.14 Unallotted balance June 30, 1933. (6x435) Vessels for Lighthouse Service: 950, 000. 00 Emergency construction, act of July 21, 1932. 260, 000. 00 Allotment-----------------------------------------------690, 000. 00 Unallotted balance June 30, 1933. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES The past year has been a difficult one for the Coast and Geodetic The background for an understanding of the history of 1933 is the appropriation for 1932. That appropriation was $3,075,933. That amount was fixed after a careful study, and represented the mini mum sum necessary to place the Survey on an efficiently functioning basis with respect to the projects upon which it was then actually engaged. No new projects were included, and the rate of progress contemplated for existing projects was a moderate one, designed to spread the work over reasonable periods of years. One important new project was reluctantly deferred. The Bureau repeatedly has stressed the growing obsolescence of its charts of the Atlantic and Gulf intracoastal waterways. The importance of these waters is partly indicated by the facts that for the section from Norfolk to Florida, by 1929 the Federal Government had spent or authorized some $62,540,354 for improvements and that its freight traffic in that year amounted to 52,517,693 tons, exclusive of the ocean freight to and from the larger ports of Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, and Miami. The bureau proposed a 16-year program for modernizing its charts of these Atlantic and Gulf waters, but owing to the economic situa tion the proposal was not adopted. The 1932 appropriation, there fore, represented less than the minimum amount which under normal conditions would have been required to carry on urgently needed The regular appropriation for 1933 was $2,399,813. This involved a large reduction in field work. Plans for this reduction were made, but before it became necessary to execute them the situation was relieved by the inclusion of an item of $1,250,000 for work in the Emergency Relief and Construction Act. The primary purpose of this special appropriation was to provide work of public value as an aid in relieving unemployment. Every effort was made by the Bureau to conform to that purpose. A large fleet of condemned post-office motor trucks was overhauled by that Department to put them in shape for another year’s service and turned over to this Bureau without charge. Many colleges and engineering schools loaned surveying instruments. Free office space was furnished in various places, a conspicuous example being in New York, where, through the cooperation of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. furnished valuable space rent free for a period of about 9 months. 109 110 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE By these and other means the abnormal overhead expenses usually incident to a suddenly expanded engineering program were kept to a very small total. About 71 percent of the money spent was paid out directly as wages. These wages were paid to 1,652 men employed for various periods. Cooperation was solicited from relief agencies in every State, and from the resulting deluge of applications preference was given to men having dependents, who were most urgently in need of work, and who could give full value in service for the money paid them. About half of the emergency money was devoted to surveys of the intracoastal waters and to similar work on the Pacific coast. Sur veys were made in a number of regions where the need was par ticularly urgent. There remains the task of applying the resulting data to the charts. When this has been accomplished, during the present fiscal year if possible, the results will be a notable improve ment in this service to mariners. The other half of the money was used chiefly for control surveys in the interior. Control surveys consist of triangulation and levels which give accurate distances and directions between, and accurate elevations of, permanently marked points. This information is essential to map making, highway construction, irrigation and recla mation, flood control, maintenance and building of railroads, power and pipe-line extensions, and various other engineering operations Avhich require exact knowledge of the surface of an extensive region. There is scarcely an extensive engineering enterprise throughout the United States to which this work is not an important prerequisite. The work, while technical in character, is of such importance that in spite of the recent depression three States—North Carolina, Cali fornia, and New Jersey—have voluntarily contributed State funds in order that the work within their boundaries might be completed more promptly than would otherwise be possible. The regular _appropriation made for the fiscal year 1934 is $2,205,090. This involved an even greater reduction of operations than the one deferred a year previously. However, an additional allotmenttoofbe $2,600,000 expected made. of national industrial recovery funds is These large fluctuations in the funds provided are an inevitable consequence of the abnormal national situation. They are recognized as unavoidable. However, they emphasize the need for the earliest possible adoption of long-range programs of work, which consider the projects in their entirety, so that the planning and execution of the parts contemplated for any one year can be based on reasonable certainties as to what can be undertaken in succeeding years. Such planning is one of the important essentials to the most efficient and economical execution of Survey work. The Survey is saddened by the loss of its Assistant Director, Capt. Kobert Lee Fans, who died .suddenly on October 5, 1932. His pro found technical knowledge is sorely missed. His attitude and example contributed largely to the maintenance of a high service morale. With him the work always ranked first. Every other con sideration was subordinated to his desire for its efficient and economi cal performance. Yet in his daily applications of that desire his COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 111 obvious integrity of purpose, his sense of justice, and his kindly consideration for the personnel won him a lasting place in the affections of his associates. He was a man to whom the Federal service can point with pride. FIELD OPERATIONS HYDROGRAPHIC A N D TOPOGRAPHIC WORK Topographic and hydrographic surveys, including the necessary triangulation, were made on the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts, in Alaska, and in the Philippine Islands. No work was done in the Hawaiian Islands, the curtailment of regular appropriations having necessitated the withdrawal of the Pioneer. Emergency relief and construction act funds permitted the employment of additional shore parties along the coasts of the United States. Atlantic and Gulf coasts.—The survey of Georges Bank, begun in 1930, Avas completed in October of 1932 by the Hydrographer, Ocean ographer, Lydonia, and Gilbert. These vessels thereupon proceeded to Norfolk for annual overhaul and reduction of field records before starting other work. Early in 1933, the Lydonia took up the project of supplementing the first-order Atlantic coast arc of triangulation Avith second-order work and coordinating all existing schemes between Charleston and Edisto Island, S.C. A current survey was made of Charleston Har bor during the course of this work. Hydrographic work off the coasts of Maryland and Delaware was started in April, where the Lydonia Avas joined by the Oceanographer and Gilbert in May. This undertaking Avas in progress at the end of the fiscal year. During the first part of January the Hydrographer took up hydrographic Avork in the Gulf of Mexico eastward from Calcasieu Pass, La. This project was in progress at the end of the year. The Ocean ographer cooperated with the Hydrographer for several months before taking up the work off the Maryland-DelaAvare coast Avith the Lydonia. En route to and from the Gulf working grounds the Oceanographer ran offshore sounding lines along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Before joining the Lydonia and Oceanographer the Gilbert revised the triangulation along the inland waterway on the North Carolina coast and established control for the reduction of aerial photographs. A hydrographic and topographic survey of Wicomico River, Md., started at the close of the preceding fiscal year by the Mikawe, was completed in August of 1932 and was followed by resurveys in the vicinity of Kent Island, Md. The party then proceeded to North Carolina and took up work similar to that of the Gilbert. In the spring of 1933 the party started resurveys of the South, West, and Rhode Rivers, Md., on which it was engaged at the end of the fiscal year. The Natoma made complete new surveys of the Hudson River, from Tarrytown to West Point, necessary to meet the needs of the deeper-draft vessels accommodated by the increased depths now being maintained to Albany. This was interrupted during the winter months, Avhile this party extended triangulation northward from 112 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE Beaufort, S.C., connecting with the same class of work extended southward from Charleston by the Lydonia. In November of 1932 three shore parties began coastal triangula tion operations coordinating all existing triangulation and estab lishing control for the reduction of aerial photographs. One party operated in Pamlico, Albemarle, and Roanoke Sounds, N.C. ; another between Savannah, Ga., and Jacksonville, Fla.; and a third from Lake Charles, La., to the Gulf of Mexico at Calcasieu Pass and thence westward along the coast to Atchafalaya Bay. The triangu lation last named controls the surveys of the Hydrographer. The third party also took up similar work between Orange and Sabine Pass, Tex. Revised surveys in the vicinity of Sandy Hook, N.Y., to correct charts for extensive changes, were executed by a small party in the fall of 1932. A shore party was engaged on a hydrographic and topographic survey of New River, N.C., between November and March and then began operations on a resurvey of Shinnecock and Moriches Bays, Long Island, to obtain data for the reconstruction of charts based on surveys of some 50 years ago. A party operated near the western end of Long Island Sound until November to obtain data for modernizing three charts of that area. Work was again taken up on this project in March and was in progress at the close of the year. Surveys were started early in March in Great South and Peconic Bays, Long Island, to correct charts based on surveys made between 1870 and 1890. From December 1 of 1932 to July 1 of 1933, a party in NeAv York City Avas engaged on the compilation of air photographs of the San Joaquin and Sacramento River Delta, Calif., for the construction of new charts of that region. During the first half of the fiscal year, a small field party was engaged in locating landmarks and coordinating triangulation in the vicinity of Bridgeport and New Haven Harbors, Conn. Prior to the beginning of work by the three vessels operating off the Maryland-Delaware coast, a shore party established the necessary control, and at the end of the fiscal year was engaged in revising and coordinating all previous triangulation along this section of the coast. The triangulation party Avhich was engaged on the control net in the vicinity of NeAv York City, started in 1930, completed this entire project in April. This furnishes a comprehensive control scheme for the entire NeAv York district, essential in coordinating the exten sive surveying and mapping operations conducted by Federal, State, municipal, and private agencies in this important area. During March a hydrographic and topographic survey was made of Shark River Inlet, N.J., to correct the chart of that locality. Two small shore parties operated in the Massachusetts Bay area during the latter part of the fiscal year, under the general supervision of the inspector of the Boston field station. One was engaged in recovering and revising descriptions of triangulation stations in the vicinity of Boston, and the other on hydrographic and topo COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 113 graphic surveys in the vicinity of Cape Cod, for the purpose of constructing a new chart to replace the charts of Wellfleet and Provincetown Harbors. From the middle of November to the end of the fiscal year a party was engaged on a hydrographic and topographic survey of Galveston Bay and approaches, for the reconstruction of the chart for that area. From April to the close of the year, a party was engaged in field work covering a topographic survey along the new ship channel leading from the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Charles, La. Pacific coast.—The Guide extended complete new surveys along the California coast, from Pigeon Point southward to Point Sur. This work extends 60 miles offshore and furnishes final data for modern izing the chart from Point Sur to San Francisco. During the last 3 months of the fiscal year, visual ship hydrography was carried southward from Point Sur to Point Piedras Blancas, and prepara tions made for offshore radio acoustic ranging work, to revise the chart from Point Conception to Point Sur. The party on the Guide discovered and surveyed thoroughly several submarine features of value to the mariner for position deter mination. One consists of a plateau 6~y2 miles long about 20 miles west from Point Sur, covered by 450 fathoms of water and sloping rapidly to 600 fathoms. A second feature is a narrow gorge indent ing the continental shelf a distance of over 3 miles. As all coastwise steamer tracks along this stretch of coast pass over or close to this gorge, its charting furnishes an excellent submarine landmark in thick weather. A third feature is a large submarine mountain about 45 miles off the Farallon Islands, the summit of which is covered to a depth of about 900 fathoms. It is surrounded by depths greater than 1,400 fathoms and on the seaward side slopes steeply to 1,800 fathoms. At the beginning of the year, the Pioneer was laid up because of the shortage of funds, but in December work was started in the vicin ity of San Nicholas Island, Calif., and extended westward to the 2,000-fathom curve, to modernize the chart of that region. A .sub marine mountain was discovered and surveyed, rising from depths of 10,000 feet to a ridge 6% miles long and 1,800 feet deep. This feature is 15 miles westward of the general 2,000-fathom curve and 75 miles offshore from San Nicholas Island. A shore party was engaged throughout the fiscal year on a hydrographic and topographic survey of Santa Barbara and San Nicholas Islands, Calif., obtaining the data necessary for the con struction of large-scale charts desired by the Navy. This party established triangulation control for and made photographic com pilations of the coast from San Pedro Harbor to Newport Bay, Calif. Two triangulation parties were engaged the entire year in estab lishing coastal control along the California coast. One shore party made hydrographic and topographic surveys in November of 1932 along the California coast in the vicinity of Ventura, for a new large-scale chart of that area, and then extended work eastward toward Point Conception. 114 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE A shore party was engaged for the entire year on the field inspec tion and control for the reduction of air photographs of the San Joaquin and Sacramento River Delta in connection with the data necessary for the construction of new charts. Alaska.—At the beginning and close of the year, the Explorer, Discoverer, and Surveyer, were operating in Alaska. They returned to Seattle in the late fall for overhaul and completion of field records. The Explorer carried on surveys in the vicinity of Revillagegido Channel and Dixon Entrance. The Survey&r and Discoverer were engaged on the east coasts of Kodiak and Afognak Islands during the 1932 season. In the spring of 1933, the Discoverer returned to that region while the Surveyor was assigned to unsurveyed areas in Prince William Sound and approaches. Philippine Islands.-—Two vessels, the Pathfinder and Fathomer, continued operations throughout the fiscal year. The Pathfinder made surveys on the northwest and north coasts of Luzon and on the west coast of Palawan. The Fathomer surveyed the entrance to San Bernandina Strait, in Albay Gulf, and on the west coast of Palawan. . At the beginning of the year, the Marinduque engaged in surveys in the vicinity of Sibutu Island, Sulu Archipelago. Field work was closed August 31,1932, and the vessel returned to Manila, investigat ing en route a reported shoal in the Visayan Sea. On September 20 the vessel was decommissioned because of age and sold by the Philippine Government. On account of the curtailment of the regular appropriations for the 1934 fiscal year, the Pathfinder was laid up at Manila for an indefinite period, with a sufficient crew retained to protect the vessel. . The survey of the more important areas of the Philippine Islands is now between 85 and 90 percent completed. The hydrography yet to be done consists of a comparatively small area along the northeast coast of Luzon and about 85 percent of the west coast of Palawan. About 10,000 square miles remain to be surveyed off the north coast of Borneo between the International Boundary and completed work in the southern part of the Sulu Sea. United States Goast Pilots.—A field examination was made by one party for a new edition of the Coast Pilot series covering the Atlantic coast from the St. Croix River to Cape Cod, to replace the 1927 edition. Another party made a field examination from Cape Cod to Sandy Book a new edition of the publication for that area, previouslyJ issued mfor1926. Manuscripts for these two United States Coast Pilots, toother with the manuscript for the United States Coast Pilot the Hawaiian Islands, field data for which were secured the previous fiscal year were sent to the Government Printing Office. ’ After plotting the records of the 1932 Alaskan season in Seattle and prior to sailing north with the Discoverer this spring the Westdahl made a field examination of Puget Sound to obtain data for use m a new edition of the Pacific Coast Pilot, covering California, Oregon, and Washington, previously issued in 1926. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 115 Hydrography, topography, and triangulation accomplished Topography Hydrography Locality Provincetown, Mass.......................... Georges Bank, Mass...... .............— Nantucket to Bridgeport, Mass. and Conn................................... — Long Island Sound, Conn, and and N .Y ..........- .............................. Hudson River, N .Y ........................... Long Island, N.Y.......................----New York Harbor, N.Y. and N.J.. Sandy Hook, N.J...............................Delaware River, N.J.........................Shark River, N .J............................... South River and Kent Island Nar rows, M d.......................................... Wicomico River, M d----------------- Fenwick Island Light to Cape Charles, Md. and V a .................... Yorktown, Va.............-..................... . Albemarle Sound to Cape Fear River, N.C.........................-.......... . Charleston to Port Royal Sound, S.C............................ -..................... . Savannah, Ga., to Jacksonville, Fla. Atchafalaya Bay to Port Arthur, La. and Tex................................— Vicinity of Calcasieu Pass, La....... Lake Charles to Calcasieu Lake, La. Galveston, Tex.................................... Oceanside to Point Sur, Calif-------Newport Bay to Naples, Calif......... Santa Barbara Islands, Calif--------Point Piedras Blancas to Point Ano Nuevo, Calif............... ---r.......... San Francisco Bay, Calif, (air photo reduction)......................... San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta (air photo reduction and control)........ Seattle to Eagle Harbor, Wash-----Revillagigedo Channel, Alaska........ Prince William Sound, Alaska-----Afognak Island, Alaska..................... Kodiak Island, Alaska................— Oahu Island, Hawaii......................... North, and northwest coasts, Luzon Island, P.I-..................................... Manila Harbor, Luzon Island, P.I North coast, Samar Island, P.I----West coast, Palawan Island, P .I-. Sibutu Islands, P.I........................... Total. Sound ing lines Area Geo Length Length Sound of Area graphic of posi ings shore Area scheme tions line M iles Sq. m i. N u m b er M iles Sq. m i. M iles Sq. m i. N u m b er ..... 75 31 399 26 12, 659 16, 630 9,599 83,470 i 25 41 39 i 187 23,244 31,142 139,415 1,902 7,459 2, 581 26,939 16,803 27,402 169 158 401 23 13,803 320 i 100 608 927 2,949 49 273 34 108 175 3,455 1 201 22 Coastal triangulation 50 26 122 103 12 310 370 300 178 4 2,000 421 49 305 320 4 2,447 534 989 1,639 102 36 210 214 6,332 3,824 3,752 6,415 11,785 3,023 2,046 7,166 10,956 6,788 95 4,575 12, 020 1,842 103,344 382 9,448 8,033 94,451 58,498 33,511 77 107 204 310 105 89 877 2 311 170 262 222 36 97 371 55,542 8,842 906 2,308 81,466 4, 777 105, 703 25 44,954 3,708 92,717 2 5,525 122 796 53,632 68 8,596 202,314 7 215 32,323 76,656 1,387,027 4,407 208 10 109 296 76 4 716 926 520 3 15 115 5 75 7 44 38 900 30 274 510 110 165 3 154 203 74 20 160 143 415 509 23 56 82 60 586 441 544 258 174 549 139 2 72 246 138 171 142 3 110 2,536 110 2,476 13,858 163 101 55 145 26 44 ”7 5.066 1 Wire-drag. GEODETIC WORK More geodetic work was done during the fiscal year 1933 than in any other year in the history of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. As a result of these geodetic activities, 3,625 miles of first-order triangulation, and 11,324 miles of first-order and 2,940 miles of second-order leveling were added to the control nets of the country. In addition, 29 first-order base lines, with a total length of 196 miles, were measured; 147 gravity stations were occupied; and astronomi cal observations were made at 129 stations. This work was done by 5 triangulation parties, 11 leveling parties, and 1 party each on gravity, astronomy, and base measurements. 116 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE The arc of first-order triangulation being extended along the Atlantic coast was continued southward from the vicinity of New York City to Norfolk, Va., and thence along the James River to a connection with the eastern oblique arc triangulation near Charlottes ville, Va. Connections with the eastern oblique arc were made also in central New Jersey and Delaware Bay. . The eastern shore of Lake Michigan arc of first-order triangula tion, in progress at the beginning of the fiscal year, was completed, and an arc extended southward from Traverse City to Hillsdale, Mich., to a connection with the triangulation of the Lake Survey. Spur lines were run east and west at latitude 43°30' and eastward to Detroit, where connection was made with the Lake Survey triangula tion along the Detroit River. During the course of this work, addi tional triangulation stations were established in Detroit for the use of the city engineer. First-order triangulation work was done from the vicinity of Augusta, Ga., to a connection with the Atlantic coast arc at Beaufort, S.C. ; from a point south of Brunswick, Ga., continuing the Atlantic coast arc to Jacksonville, Fla.; westward to Tallahassee and thence northward to a connection with existing triangulation in the vicinity of Columbus, Ga.; and southward and eastward from Jacksonville, Fla., through St. Augustine, Palatka, Coala, and Dunnellon, follow ing the route of a proposed cross-State canal and thence up the Florida west coast to a connection in the vicinity of Tallahassee. Other arcs of first-order triangulation were extended from the eastern oblique arc, in the vicinity of Mount Airy, N.C., southeast ward across that State to Jacksonville, N.C. ; from Kinston southwestward to Dillon, S.C. ; from Little River, N.C., along the North Carolina-South Carolina boundary to Statesville,- N.C., thence via Charlotte to a connection with the eastern oblique arc in the vicinity of Morganton; and from Clarkesville, Va., toward Richmond, Va. In the west, first-order triangulation was extended from Redondo via Antelope Valley, to the vicinity of Bakersfield, Calif. This work was supplemented by second-order triangulation for use in earth quake studies. An arc was extended from Pendleton, Oreg., southwestward across that State through the mountains southwest of Bend where the work was abandoned because of heavy snows and other unfavorable weather conditions. A scheme of first- and second-order triangulation was extended a r.r ait’ f?r the purpose of investigating earth movements. Additional observations at triangulation stations where the previous observations were incomplete were also made in the vicinity of San Francisco. At the end of the year, an arc of first-order triangulation was in progress from Loop City, Nebr., westward to Pocatello, Idaho. Lines of first- and second-order leveling were run in 35 States including the District of Columbia. They were Alabama, Arizona’ Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida’ Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota’ Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma! Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 117 In cooperation with the. North Carolina State Highway Com mission, in pursuance with an agreement which contemplates the completion of control work in that State within the 50-mile spacing, triangulation and leveling work were carried on in North Carolina through most of the year. At the request of the State of New Jersey, 44 triangulation sta tions were established on the ocean side of the intracoastal water way at intervals of about 2% miles, between Bay Head and Cape May, in connection with the Atlantic coast arc. The cost of the additional observations was assumed by that State. The Survey cooperated with the State of California, which con tributed toward the cost of the work, in extending a number of first-order level lines. The Jacksonville, Fla., Office of the Corps of Engineers, United States Army, cooperated with this Bureau by advancing $11,600 for the extension of triangulation along the route of the proposed crossState canal, to coordinate other surveys preliminary to the selection of the final route. G eodetic w o rk accom plished Length of Area scheme covered Locality BASE LINES, FIRST ORDER—COn. TRIANGULATION, FIRST ORDER Durham, N .C .............................. 1,150 New Bern, N .C .......................— Southport, N .C .......................... South River, N .C ...... ................ 3,900 Dillon, N.C. and S.C................. Charleston, S.C------------- -----1,550 Augusta, S.C...................... ......... Ogeechee, Ga............................... 4,700 Duval, Fla--------------------------Live Oak, Fla.............................. 1,250 Colquitt, Ga................... -.......... Dunnellon, Fla--------------------550 Titusville, Fla............................. 1,350 Delray, Fla................................... Tamiami, Fla---------------------1,500 Estero, Fla..........-....................... Santa Ana, Calif, (remeasure 1,700 ment).......... .............................. 2,750 St. Petersburg, Fla.................... 65 Okeechobee, Fla......... ................ 250 Salem, Fla................................... McIntyre, Fla...........-................ 2,300 Point Washington, F la ........... Union City, Ohio........................ 1,150 Smiths Grove, Ky...................... Total.. 1,500 1,100 BASE LIN E, SECOND ORDER 5,100 3,800 Taft, Calif— FIRST ORDER 2,950 RECONNAISSANCE, TRIANGULATION 3,350 to Kinston, N.C—....... 1,450 Roxboro Goldboro to Little River, N.C. 1,300 and S.C...................................... Marietta to Lincolnton, N.C. 44, 715 and S.C---------------------------Mt. Airy to Murphy, N .C ........ Washington to Pamlico Sound, N.C.................-................-........ Newport to Core Sound, N.C_. 7.4 San Fernando to Bakersfield, 6. 2 Calif__________ _____ _____ 6. 6 Grand Traverse Bay to Hills 44 dale, Mich................................. 9.5 East shore Lake Michigan, M iles 95 Mich.................................-........ New York City to Norfolk, N.Y., N.J., Md., Del., and 300 Va............................................... San Fernando to Bakersfield, 110 Calif......................... .......... ... Grand Traverse Bay to Hills 470 dale, Mich_______ ____ _____ Augusta to Beaufort, Ga. and 120 S.C...............................r-.......... . Brunswick to Jacksonville, Ga. 70 and Fla___________________ Jacksonville to Tallahassee, Fla. 170 Tallahassee to Columbus, Fla. 150 and Ga------- ----------------------Norfolk to Gordonsville (James River), Va.................................. 170 125 Arlington to Bend, Oreg---------15 Vicinity of Taft, Calif................. 60 Vicinity of Big Sur, Calif........... Oblique arc to Jacksonville, 230 N.C. and Va.......................... Goldsboro to Little River, N.C. 130 and S.C....................................... Marietta to Lincolnton, N.C. 140 and S.C...................................... 140 Jacksonville to Port Inglis, Fla. Loup City to Laramie, Nebr. and Wyo..................................... 330 210 M t. Airy to Murphy, N.C-----Pasco to Orofino, Wash, and 165 Idaho................... ...................... Colfax to International Bound 135 ary, Wash.................................. 160 Dunnellon to Tallahassee, Fla.. Roxboro to Weldon to Rich 130 mond, N.C. and Va............... . 3, 625 Total.. BASE LINES, FIRST ORDER Howard, M ich......... Pittsville, M d........... Norfolk, Va................ Richmond, Va........... Rocky Mount, N .C . 19865- 33- -10 Locality Sq. m i. Length of Area scheme covered M iles 4.6 6.0 6.3 10.0 7.9 5.9 5.5 5.1 5.5 4.9 10.9 5.8 6.7 6.4 9.1 S q . m i. 1.0 8.2 7.6 7.2 6.0 10.4 8.4 5.6 196.0 0.7 140 130 140 290 85 25 60 470 1,350 1,150 1, 500 5, 600 880 215 850 4,700 118 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE Geodetic work accomplished Locality Length oí Area scheme covered t r i a n g u l a t io n — c o n t i n u e d Charleston to Bristol, W.Va. M ile s Va., and N .C .........................J 75 Pocatello to Loup City, Idaho: Wyo., and Nebr....................’ 485 Lewiston revision, Idaho.......... 110 Arlington to Klamath Falls, Oreg.................................... 250 Jacksonville to Miami, Fla 360 100 Estero to Port Inglis, Fla. 205 St. Augustine to Port Inglis, Fla.................................. 110 160 Sarasota to Fort Pierce, Fla___ 140 One hundred and seventeenth meridian, Oreg., Idaho, and N ev............. ..................... ........ 30 Ogallala to Perry ton, Nebr., Kans., and Okla...................... 305 Vicinity of Taft, Calif............ j _ 15 Delaware River, N.J., Pa., and D e l....................................... 100 170 Colfax to International Bound ary, W ash.............................. 135 Pittsburgh westward, Pa., and Ohio........................................ . 125 Richmond to Washington, Va., Md., and D.C.......................... 110 Lander to Pocatello, Wyo.......... 95 Lynchburg to Christianburg, Va............................................... 40 Total.. 4,350 LEVELING, FIRST ORDER Ithaca to Elmira, N.Y. (part). Salida to Bishop, Calif, (part). Redding to Alturas, Calif____ Cape Girardeau to Hoxie, Mo., and Ark.................................... Sacramento to Oakland, Calif.. Hopland to Albion, Calif.......... Knoxville to Dillsboro, Tenn. and N.C.................................... . Spartanburg to Lynchburg, S.C. and Va............................... Atlanta to Dillsboro, Ga., and N .C ............................................. Cedar Keys to St. Augustine, Fla. (releveling)----------------El Paso to Vaughn, Tex. and N.M ex........................................ Junction to Fort Stockton to Monahans, Tex____________ Robstown to Laredo, Tex......... Bristol to Hickory, Va. and N .C ........................................ Port Jervis to Reading, N.Y. and P a ..................................... Chillicothe to Jericho, Tex_____ Cornelia to Spartanburg, Ga. and S.C___________________ Desert Center to Salome, Calif. and Ariz.................................... Dumbarton Bridge to Skyline Boulevard, via Palo Alto, Calif........................................... Fort Pierce to Punto Gorda, F la............................................... Fort Stockton to Sanderson, Tex............................... i ............ Hamlet to Chadbourn, N.C....... New Smyrna to Tampa, Fla___ 23 192 155 140 154 60 124 327 157 143 238 262 147 150 165 124 132 117 31 132 68 94 157 Sq. m i. 1,350 11,000 2,100 6,100 2,800 1,600 850 1,450 1,350 750 3,800 65 1,200 5, 000 3,350 1,500 900 3,370 900 64,585 —Continued Locality LEVELING, FIRST ORDER—COn. Palatka to Dunnellon and Port Inglis, and Dunnellon to Archer, Fla................................ Sweetwater to Bowie, Tex......... Whitelandto Big Spring, Tex_. Yuma to Needles, Ariz. and Calif_____________________ Anderson to Denmark, S.C____ Washington to Baltimore and Annapolis, D.C. and M d___ Ludlow to Beatty, Calif, and N ev______________________ Mayport to Dunnellon, Fla___ Reedsport to Newport, Oreg___ Columbus to Selma, Ga. and Ala_______________________ Roswell to Tularosa, N.M ex___ Jacksonville to Crowder, Tex. and Okla............................... Chadbourn to Savannah, N.C. and Ga_._________________ Fort Smith to El Reno, Ark. and Okla__________________ Beatty to Olanoha, Nev. and Calif......................................... Wood River to Julesburg, Nebr. and Colo.......... .......... .............. Bowie to Clemenceau, Ariz....... San Jose to Santa Margarita, Calif, (releveling)................... Forrest City to Hazen, Ark. (releveling)........... .................. Van Buren to Russellville, Ark. (releveling)............... ................ Seligman to Fort Smith, Mo. and Ark. (releveling)........... Vicinity of San Antonio, Tex. (releveling)________________ Vicinity of Houston, Tex. (releveling)................................. Santa Ana to San Diego and Fall Brook, Calif, (relevel ing)......................................... . San Francisco to San Jose to Oakland, Calif, (releveling).. Vicinity of Elmira, N .Y ............. Vicinity of Watertown, N .Y __ Aberdeen to Twin Rivers, Wash______ _______________ Sterling to Crawford, Colo, and N ebr.......................................... Ithaca to Cayuga, N .Y _______ Oakland to Hamburg, 111. and Iowa............................................ Albuquerque to Mears Junc tion, N.Mex. and Colo. (part). Duluth to International Falls, Minn. (part).._____________ West Point to Clarksdale, Miss. Bridgeport to Riverton, Ala___ Green River to Laurel, Wyo. and Mont. (part).................... Perth Amboy to Port Jervis, N.J. and N .Y ..................... . Bemidji to Cass Lake, Minn. (releveling)............. .............. Pipestone to St. Cloud, M inn.. Springfield to Troy, Mass, and N.Y_________________ _____ Bonners Ferry to Shelby, Idaho and Mont, (part)___________ Omak to Springdale, Wash........ Table Rock to Wolcott, Wyo. and Colo__________________ Puntenney to Flagstaff, A riz... Length of Area scheme covered M iles 154 266 162 176 170 834 96 151 107 276 283 258 134 206 286 204 63 86 106 63 73 101 26 35 154 183 40 525 263 35 211 261 321 118 33 172 114 96 137 237 121 Sq. m i. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY Geodetic work accomplished LocalityLEVELIN G, FIRST ORDER— COn. Length of Area scheme covered M iles Mack to Green River, Colo. and Wyo. (part)....................... 73 W hite River Junction to Dover, 53 Vt. and N.H. (part)------------Hamburg to Hastings, Iowa 65 and Nebr. (part)...................... Mina to Battle Mountain, Nev. 125 (part).......................................... Total.................................... 11,324 LEVELIN G, SECOND ORDER X/ines on Long Island, N .Y ........ 'Truckee to Sacramento, Calif—_ Westwood to Keddie, Calif-----Red Bluff to Flanigan, Calif. and Nev...................................... D oyle to Reno, Calif, and Nev_ _ Reno Junction to Rich vale, C a lif...................................— Dillsboro to Spartanburg, N.C. and S.C..................................... Beeville to Gardendale, Tex___ ■ Gilroy to Chowchilla, Calif-----Granbury to Goldthwaite, Tex. .Hebbronville to Rio Grande, Tex.......................... .................. Dampasas to Mason, Tex........... Salisbury to Chester, N.C. and S.C............................................... 221 170 39 173 53 155 127 . 116 84 158 79 100 167 Sq. m i. 119 —Continued Locality LEVELIN G, SECOND ORDER— COn. San Lucas to Goshen, Calif____ Statesville to Max Meadows, N.C. and Va___________ _ Wadesboro to Hamlet, N .C ___ West Point to Placedo Junc tion and Kenedy, Tex.............. Atlanta to Bushnell, Ga. and N .C ............................................. Mammoth Springs to Shirley, Newport to Forrest City, Ark. Wheatley to Helena, Ark. (re- Length of Area scheme covered M iles 120 130 24 162 180 101 72 98 114 118 Matthie to Prescott, Ariz........... 80 Roosevelt to Maricopa, Ariz___ 99 T ota l................................. 2,940 Sq. m i. SUMMARY First-order triangulation............. 3, 625 196.0 Second-order base line................. .7 First-order triangulation, re4, 350 11,324 2,940 44, 715 64,585 TIDE AN D CURRENT WORK The work of this division included the operation and inspection of primary tide stations, furnishing tidal control for the various regions, and the operation for short periods of numerous secondary tide stations and miscellaneous current observations, for use in hydrographic surveys. Tide and current surveys.—The tide and current survey of New York Harbor, begun in 1932 in cooperation with United States Army Engineers, was completed. Tide gages were established at 18 sta tions, 3 of which were maintained the entire season. The engineer office established 139 gages, mostly staff. Pole and meter current observations were obtained at 85 stations for 50-hour periods, at ■ which density and temperature observations were also secured. The United States Engineers secured observations at 29 stations for ap proximately 10-day periods. In connection with this survey, 31 new standard disk bench marks were established, and 28 bench marks recovered. A tidal survey of the coast of Oregon was started during the year. Standard gages, to be operated 12 months, have been established at Newport, Walport, Florence, Gardiner, Brighton, Coos Bay Jetty, Ban don. Brookings, Port Orford, Garibaldi, and Taft, in Oregon, and at Crescent City, Calif. Portable gages were installed at Nehalem and Bar View. Another will be established at Tillamook Bay at the request of the Tillamook County Chamber of Commerce, for 120 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE use in establishing property boundaries. In connection with the proposed ship canal between the Columbia River and Puget Sound, Wash., portable gages were established in Bakers and Willapa Bays. These data are required in slope studies, for determining the neces sity for a lock or sea level canal between these two places. A tidal survey of the west coast of Florida was also commenced. Standard gages were established at St, Marks, Aripeka, Anna Maria, South Boca Grande, Punta Rasa, and Naples, and will be main tained for approximately 1 year. A portable gage was installed at Apalachicola. These surveys, giving complete and up-to-date information rela tive to the more important harbors of the country, are made as funds become available, to meet the urgent and constantly growing demand from navigators, engineers, scientists, and the public generally, for they supply needed datum planes and are used in computing predictions. Tide stations.—Of the 32 primary tide stations in operation at the close of the year, 19 were located on the Atlantic coast, 4 on the Gulf of Mexico coast, 6 on the Pacific coast, 2 in Alaska, and 1 in the Hawaiian Islands. Their locations are shown in the following table, in which stations maintained in cooperation with other agencies are indicated by an asterisk (*) : Eastport, Maine Portland, Maine Portsmouth, N.H.* Boston, Mass. Woods Hole, Mass.* Newport, R.I.* Bridgeport, Conn. New York, N.Y. Atlantic City, N.J. Philadelphia, Pa. Baltimore, Md. Annapolis, Md.* Washington, D.C. Hampton Roads, Va.* Southport, N.C.* Charleston, S.C. Mayport, Fla.* Jacksonville, Fla.* Miami Beach, Fla.* Key West, Fla. Pensacola, Fla. Mobile, Ala.* Galveston, Tex. San Diego, Calif.* La Jolla, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif.* San Francisco, Calif. Astoria, Oreg. Seattle, Wash. Ketchikan, Alaska. Seward, Alaska. Honolulu, Hawaii.* Rockland, Maine Eastport, Maine Portland, Maine Portsmouth, N.H. Boston, Mass. Woods Hole, Mass. Newport, R.I. Bridgeport, Conn. New Bedford, Conn. New York, N.Y. Oyster Bay, N.Y. Willets Point, N.Y. Atlantic City, N.J. Philadelphia, Pa. Southport, N.C. Charleston, S.C. Mayport, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Miami Beach, Fla. Key West, Fla. Three of these stations were established during the year on a coop erative basis: One at Woods Hole, Mass., with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and the others at Mobile, Ala., and Southport, N.C., in conjunction with local United States Engineers. The data secured from observations are essential for the deter mination of accurate datum planes, for the reduction of the results of short series of observations to mean values, for the determination of secular changes in relation of land to sea, and for hydrographic control. Inspections were made of the following stations, where levels were run between the tide staff and adjacent bench marks: A total of some 281 secondary tide stations were also in operation for short periods in connection with hydrographic and tide and cur rent surveys on both coasts of the United States, in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Philippines. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 121 The Survey is appreciative of the cooperation of other organiza tions engaged in carrying on tide and current work. The value or such assistance was emphasized in connection with the curtailed appropriations. A number of tide stations are operated on this basis, whereby the tide station and observer are furnished by another agency and the instructions and supervision furnished by this Survey. These stations are subject to the usual inspection and the records given this Bureau for its archives. Similar data are also exchanged with individuals and organizations of other countries. Cooperation with the United States Engineers has been helpful to both organizations, especially in connection with the tide and cur rent survey of New York Harbor. Tide stations were maintained at Southport, N.C., Miami Beach, Fla., Jacksonville, Fla., and Mobile, The Navy Department has likewise rendered valuable assistance, maintaining tide stations at Newport, E.I., Annapolis, M-d., Hampton Roads, Va., San Diego, Calif., Portsmouth, N.H., and Bellevue, Interested research institutions and universities have assisted by maintaining cooperative stations at Woods Hole, Mass. (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute); Friday Harbor (Oceanographic Labora tory of the University of Washington); and St. Georges, Bermuda (Biological Research’Bureau). Gages have been loaned the Amer ican Geographical Society for tide observations along the east coast of Greenland, where such information is very meager. Other stations are at this time maintained at Mission Bay, Calif., by the State park commission, to secure accurate datums in an area of increasing land values; Berkeley and Richmond, Calif., by the Berkeley Waterfront Co.; Bladensburg, Md., by the Washington Suburban Sanitary District, for the study of sewage disposal in the metropolitan area of Washington; Santa Monica, Calif., by State authorities, for datum studies in connection with State road building close to the ocean beach; Nassau, Bahamas, by the public works department; Santa Ana and Los Patos, Calif., by the Orange County authorities; Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Harbor Department; and Honolulu, Hawaii, by the surveyor of that Territory. Miscellaneous current observations— Short senes of current observations were made in connection with hydrographic surveys in Long Island Sound; Georges Bank; Behm Canal and Revillagigedo Chan nel, Alaska; Wicomico River, Md.; and Charleston Harbor. Density and temperature observations—Water density and tem perature observations were taken daily at 19 primary tide stations. Observations were also taken at each of the current stations in con nection with the tide and current survey of New York Harbor. M AGNETIC AN D SEISMOLOGICAL WOKIv Magnetic work.—The magnetic survey of the United States can never be finished. Although observations have been made at some 6,000 places in the United States, including nearly every county seat, the observations are not final because at each of these places the direc tion of the magnetic needle and the forces acting on it are changing constantly. 122 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE That is the reason why continuous photographic records are beingmade at 5 magnetic observatories and also, since these are so limited m number, why “ repeat observations ” are made at many places at regular 5-year intervals. The primary object of these data is to keep the magnetic information on charts and airway maps revised, that they may show authoritatively the conditions at the date of issue and changes that occur from year to year. . Largely as a result of the use of relief money, many triangulation stations are being added to the control net'in all parts of the United States, at many of which azimuth marks are established from which it is easy to obtain the direction of true north, a factor necessary in magnetic observations. Earlier magnetic stations were placed in towns, convenient to county surveyors in checkino- their compasses and transits. The development of power plants, improve ments m sewage systems, new roads, and the automobile, however have brought influences disturbing magnetic conditions near town stations, and various developments have destroyed magnetic station marks and the prominent objects whose true bearings are determined.. triangulation stations in the country, usually free from these objections, are used to good advantage as magnetic stations. This means however that for repeat station purposes a selected triangula tion station and a former magnetic station in the same general regionbemust be occupied simultaneously, that the records of cham-e may continuous. ° Observations at repeat stations, placed about 200 miles apart give the direction of measurements and forces acting on the magnetic needle. Decimation stations are established at some 50-mile intervalsaong the route followed, for the ready access of county surveyors.. Observations at the latter, which give only the direction of the magnetic needle with regard to true north, afford widely scattered values for the use of the mariner, the aviator, and the local sur veyor. A special effort is also made to replace needed stationsrequested. This work was carried into the States listed below: Alabama Alaska 1 ___ Arizona___ Arkansas California _ Georgia _ Illinois _ Indiana Kentucky _ Louisiana _ _ Maryland- _ Michigan Mississippi Missouri______________________ g New Mexico____________H I I 12 Oklahoma_____________________ 3, Philippine Islands______________ lg. Puerto Rico__________________ I_ 3 Tennessee____________________ I 4 Texas___________________________ 43Virginia__________________ I H 5 Washington___________________ 3 Wisconsin________________________ 5. Total-------------------------------- 20a At the five observatories, the photographic recording of the mag netic elements is unending. At the Cheltenham, Md.j observatory designated by international organizations as the standard observa tory o± the United States, field instruments are standardized and new and improved instruments and methods are developed and tested. At the San Juan, Tucson, Sitka, and Honolulu stations the contmuous recording is the chief work, although at Tucson atmospheric AlafkPa!ClaI examinati011 was also made of an area of local attraction in southeastern COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 123 electric and earth current observations, closely related not only to magnetism but to disturbances in cable, telegraph, and telephone transmission, are made in cooperation with the Carnegie Institution of Washington and the Mountain States Telegraph & Telephone Co., a subsidiary of the Bell Telephone System. The specialized observatory buildings were erected by this Bureau. They contain no magnetic material whatsoever. Through the use of emergency relief funds, disasters which might have resulted in the suspension of operations and the loss of instruments, were averted both at Cheltenham and San Juan. One of the Cheltenham buildings, seriously damaged by termites, was so reconstructed as to make the structure more secure for future work. The San Juan buildings, damaged by the hurricanes of 1928 and 1932, were incased in concrete reinforced by the novel use of nonmagnetic trolley wire brought down by the hurricanes. This use of copper reinforcing is practical only in the Tropics, where the temperature remains uni form, since copper does not change with temperature at the same rate with concrete. The second polar year program.—The “ polar year” for 1932-33 was the natural outgrowth of the first polar year of 1882-83, in which the United States took active part at Point Barrow, and also in Greenland by the ill-fated Greely_expedition. The present polar year, participated in by 33 nations occupying 98 stations, in polar regions and other parts of the earth, was or ganized by the International Polar Year Commission, of which the chief of this division is a member. The active participation is through the establishment of a polar-year station at College, near Fairbanks, Alaska, which in cooperation with Government and other organizations, is one of the most complete of all the stations. Through the cooperation of the Naval Research Laboratory, Sig nal Corps, Bureau of Standards, Rockefeller Foundation, Carnegie Institution of Washington, and Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, the very complete program includes observations of the earth’s magnetism by four different types of instruments, neivly developed for this work; of atmospheric electricity; earth cur rents; the measurement of the height of the Kennelly-Heaviside layer; and other allied matters that affect radio transmission. This is all in addition to the extensive program of the United States Weather Bureau. The important point is that all these phenomena, many of which are interrelated, have never heretofore been measured at the same places at the same time, at points widely scattered throughout the earth. The construction of the necessary buildings was carried on ex peditiously although presenting unusually difficult problems, caused by Arctic conditions and perpetual ground frost. The numerous piers supporting the instruments had to be carried to a depth of 13 feet below the surface, 70 tons of earth had to be removed, 50 tons replaced, and 20 tons of concrete laid. .. Seismological work.—The seismological program naturally divides into several parts: The collection and compilation of reports from witnesses of earthquakes, the location and .study of earthquakes 124 REPORT OP T H E SECRETARY OP COMMERCE distant from recording instruments, and the recording of strong earth motions that can damage buildings and other structures. Reports are collected from some of the 25,000 cooperative observers whenever a quake occurs. Many of these are employees of large corporations, public service, railroad, and others. For the western United States they are collected at the San Francisco field station, while for the balance of the country, including Alaska, they come to the Washington office. Most valuable information is immediately available through these reports. As a result of the operation of seismograph stations, directlv operated by the survey at San Juan, Tucson, Ukiah, and Sitka; through cooperative arrangements at Columbia, S.C., Chicago, 111.' Bozeman, Mont., and Honolulu, Hawaii, and through reports from six other stations, all earthquakes occurring in or near the United States, as well as the more important disturbances in other parts of the earth, are accurately located and facts about them made avail able for study. During the year 42 instruments for recording strong earth motions were installed in 20 cities in California and 1 in the Panama Canal. These are well distributed, principally with regard to cities in regions where history .shows destructive earthquakes occur. This is a new field of study, not heretofore investigated except in Japan. Japanese results, however, cannot well be applied in this country, because of the differences in types of buildings and geological ground structure. In cooperation with the Bureau of Standards, Massachusetts In stitute of Technology, and the University of Virginia, automatic, self-contained, instruments were developed and installed. The elec trical operation is independent of any local electrical disturbance that might be cut off. They are inert until stimulated into action by a strong earth motion, when they write a record far more compiehensive than can possibly be obtained from the impressions of observers. In fact, they give the only absolutely accurate measures of the earthquake intensity. The installation program in California was made possible through the help of many persons and organizations. Sites were tendered in suitable buildings and the plans aided in many other ways. Three of these instruments were in the vicinity of the Long Beach earth quake of March 10, 1933; two in the midst of the destruction. There were no failures in operation. Engineers have offered the opinion that the records of these instruments, the installation and maintenance of which is comparatively small, provided the only absolutely accurate information resulting from the total loss of over $40,000,000. Interesting effects of a distant earthquake were recorded in the San Francisco Bay region on the occurrence of the Nevada earth quake of June 25, 1933, over 200 miles away, to which 8 of the Cali fornia instruments responded. Records of this type are necessary in the establishment of proper building codes and have been used and are essential to the proper design of such structures as the control towers of Boulder Dam. the Oakland Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge in the San Fran cisco Bay region. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 125 Tilt meters, developed in cooperation with the Bureau of Stand ards, which measure the tilting of the ground as a possible and a very probable means, according to Japanese experience, of predict ing earthquakes a few days or hours in advance, have been installed at the University of California, along the Hayward fault. WASHINGTON OFFICE The number of persons in the service at the close of the year is shown in the following table: Civilian Commis sioned Classi fied Staffs Field service__________ __________ _____ Total------------ ------------------------------ 14 157 171 Total Unclassified Laborers Seamen 245 71 316 4 4 567 567 Hands 824 824 263 1,619 i 1,882 1 Does not include 40 civilian employees of the Manila field station, nor 102 members of crews of the F athom er and M arinduque. While paid by the insular government, they are under the j urisdiction oi officers of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. There is, therefore, a total of 2,024 actually serving with the Survey. There were received in the library and archives 102 hydrographic and 82 topographic sheets, representing new surveys accomplished by the Survey. Other additions included 2,459 charts; 1,280 maps; l ‘017 blueprints (mostly of surveys by engineers of the United States Army); 8,133 field, office, and observatory records; 152 photo graphs and negatives; 341 prints; 69 lantern slides; 837 books; and 4,280 periodicals. DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS The regular annual appropriations for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1933, totaling $2,413,013, were supplemented by $1,377,850, covered by the follow ing special appropriations and transfers from other departments: Party expenses, 1933, emergency construction-----------------------------$1,250,000 Air navigation facilities, 1933------------------------------------------------65, 000 Second polar-year program (State transfer to Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey), 1932-34----------------------------------------------30,,000 Working fund, Department of Commerce----------------------------------15, 350 Topographic survey of United States, contributions--------------------11, 500 These additional funds aggregate $3,790,863. By reason of trans fers of appropriations, however, this sum was reduced by $62,753.36, leaving a net amount of $3,728,109.64 available. Actual disbursements during the period of the fiscal year, totaling $3,422,263.95, were distributed among the various appropriations, as follows: Party expenses, 1931-----------------General expenses, 1931__________ Pay, officers and men, vessels, 1931 Repairs of vessels, 1931-32------.— Party expenses, 1932------------------ $12. 50 27.33 i,oo4:l 152, 435. 98 126 REPORT OP T H E SECRETARY OP COMMERCE General expenses, 1932_______________________________________ $44, 454 44 Pay and allowances, commissioned officers, 1932________________ 66,’ 991. 75 Pay, officers and men, vessels, 1932____________________________ 115 , 079! 13 Repairs of vessels, 1932_______________________________________ 1(4 3gg[ 28 Air navigation facilities, 1932___________________________ZZZZ_Z 27, 389. 66 Salaries, 1933________________________________________________ 487’ 053.94 Party expenses, 1933__________________________________~ _ 454’ 503’ 45 General expenses, 1933__________________________________ ZIZZI 42! 30l! 88 Party expenses, 1933, emergency construction___________________ 373’ 252.10 Pay and allowances, commissioned officers, 1933__________ _____ 557, 969! 33 Pay, officers and men, vessels, 1933___________________________ 450 89o' 19 Repairs of vessels, 1933________________________________ZZ__ Z 51 694 07 Air navigation facilities, 1933_______ ■___________________ Z____Z 57, 258. 25 War transfer to Commerce Department_______________________ 9! 159! 38 Topographic survey of United States, contributions_____________ 44,’ 376 33 Second polar year program (State transfer to Commerce Depart ment ), 1932—34--------------------------------------------------------- _ 21 225 83 Working fund, Department of Commerce_______________________ 13! 823! 76 Chicago World’s Fair Centennial Celebration__________________ ’ 93s! 03 Total---------------------------------------------------------------------------3, 422| 263. 95 Receipts from the sale of nautical charts, publications, and from all other sources, deposited in the Treasury Department to the account of miscellaneous receipts, totaled $51,269.48. INSTRUMENT DIVISION The functions of the instrument division are peculiarly vital to all activities of the Survey, for it provides all the instrumental equip ment and much of the general property ; designs new instruments ; and purchases, services, and issues these materials as needed by field parties and the Washington office. Some of the most notable accomplishments of the division during the past year are : A new and extremely rigid tripod designed for precision instru ment use. The instrument is attached to this tripod by means of a flat leaf spring, in such a manner that no stress is introduced into the instrument itself to disturb the accuracy. The metal parts are made principally of a light, strong, aluminum alloy to reduce the weight, and the tripod has been designed in such a' manner that it may now be used for three different types of instruments, thus avoid ing duplication and lessening the quantity to be stocked. It is planned to adapt other instruments to this design of tripod. Progress has been made in standardizing level vials, so that fewer sizes need be carried. A number of the newer instruments now use interchangeable level assemblies. A new magnetograph recorder cylinder was developed, in con junction with the division of terrestrial magnetism and seismology, making use of the same general design as is used in the portable tide gage. A pendulum starting accelerometer was devised for use with strong motion earthquake-recording apparatus. A number of these have been installed and the device was instrumental in successfully recording the initial waves of the Long Beach earthquake, this being the first time such a record has been obtained. Improvements were made in the method of constructing and grad uating level rods. The time required to make rods was very mate rially reduced. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 127 DIVISION OF HYDROGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY This division has charge of the hydrographic and topographic sur veys of the Bureau and for administrative purposes is composed of the sections of field work, vessels and equipment, and coast pilot. The training section was discontinued, since the present law prevents mew appointments. Extensive studies were made in the section of field work for a systematic planning of field operations. Detailed instructions were issued the various field parties for hydrographic, topographic, and control work. . An officer continued the planning and supervision of air phototopographic projects, and the reduction of photographs to the fin ished maps. Considerable time was allotted to improvement of methods and instruments in this comparatively new field. Photo graphs of the coast of southern California and of several sections of the Atlantic coast were being compiled at the close of the year. Two electrical engineers were responsible for the upkeep and im provement of the echo-sounding apparatus and other electrical de vices used on surveying ships. Satisfactory work was accomplished in connection with the construction of a shoal water fathometer for use on launches as well as ships. This, if successful, will provide another means of expediting inshore hydrography, with a further ■ decrease in unit costs. . . Research was done to improve the radio acoustic sound ranging used in offshore hydrographic surveying. This system has been de veloped to a high state of efficiency and is largely responsible for the large amount of hydrography accomplished during the year. The section of vessels and equipment has general supervision over the construction and repair of vessels, including boats and launches and special equipment such as sounding machines. The pilot houses and chart rooms of the Oceanographer and Lydonia were rebuilt and enlarged from plans drawn in the section. Plans for the 30-foot launches were revised to provide a canopy of stainless steel instead ■ of wood. Six launch sounding machines purchased were constructed irom plans prepared in this section. A large quantity of other equip ment was also purchased or transferred from other Government services. DIVISION OF GEODESY This division plans the geodetic field work, makes computations and adjustments of field observations, and prepares information for the use of the public. It also assists engineers, scientists, and others, to interpret the vast quantity of results for scientific studies. The program that is being followed, after conference with officers of the United States Geological Survey, is to cover the country with a comprehensive network of geodetic control, well broken up into comparatively small areas, so that triangulation and leveling data may be secured on short notice wherever topographic mapping is undertaken. The country is now so well covered with trunk lines of triangulation and leveling that intermediate shorter arcs and lines are readily fitted in without distorting any of the old work. 128 REPORT OF TH E SECRETARY OF COMMERCE These data had accumulated faster than they could be prepared for public use, due to the lack of technical and clerical personnel. As a result of the employment of a number of computers in New York City from relief funds, however, the division is more nearly current than it would be otherwise, in spite of the mass of records received from field operations. Perhaps three times as much office computation and adjustment of geodetic observations were made as during any previous year in the history of the Survey. DIVISION OF CHARTS The increased activity in the field divisions was not immediately reflected in the chart division, as field results are just beginning to flow into the Washington office. They will continue for months to furnish material from which existing charts are modernized and improved and new charts constructed. Heavy demands for new harbor charts, occasioned by local needs for stimulating business, resulted in a series of three new charts of the Houston Ship Channel from Houston to the sea. With the completion of a ship channel and harbor at Stockton, Calif., a pre liminary chart was issued of the main channel following the San Joaquin River in advance of a comprehensive chart of that river and the network of navigable sloughs on either side. A new chart was issued, especially designed for the use of fisher men, embracing the eastern end of Georges Bank, 150 miles from the New England mainland but nevertheless in such detail that commercial fishermen can determine therefrom with their fathomer' equipment whether the bottom is suitable for trawling operations. With the issuance of a companion chart to the westward, now in process, this important fishing ground will be adequately covered. Because they show only a relatively small area far from land, a radio location plotted on each chart indicates the course to steer to port. Several phototopographic sheets were printed from aerial photo graphs, making it possible at nominal cost to furnish exact copies of the original data to scale and on durable paper instead of photo graphic copies at five times the cost. The value of these maps to engineers and contractors for development projects is fully attested by the increasing calls. There has been a decided advancement in the office practice of directing chiefs of parties relative to their field work. Instead of forwarding copies of former surveys as a basis for their work, the interpretation is made at the Washington office, conforming to one standard for all in the field. Party chiefs are supplied a projection of the_ region, laid down to the scale called for in the instructions, on which are plotted the triangulation and shore line; the channels, soundings, shoals, and obstructions to be investigated; the areas to receive the additional development required in modern marine surveys; and any other points revealed by the critical examination of all previous surveys on file. While this exacts additional time of the office personnel in preparation, the resulting field sheets require less research and are of a quality warranting classification as basic surveys behind which it should be unnecessary to go for charting data. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 129 Sectional airway maps now adequately cover continuous passage by many of the more heavily traveled routes. The sales of these maps and comments on their value by airmen have been most gratifying. The number of new maps published was greater than in any previous year. The many changes in aids, requiring fre quent new editions, necessitated an increasing proportion of time spent on maintenance. C on struction and m aintenance Items Nautical charts Airway maps 21 152 277 12 12 Nautical charts Items 67 7 1 1, 668,148 Airway maps 237,967 i Does not include Manila field station. C harting m a teria l received Items 1933 1932 82 99 1,223 816 62 102 1,271 894 1931 1930 75 102 701 651 1929 176 134 724 722 80 146 645 668 N au tical ch arts an d hooks an d a irw a y m aps issu ed hy W ashington office Items 1933 1932 1931 1930 intracoastal Pilots............................................... .............. 216,936 4,116 1,399 31,609 958 29,369 249,311 5,825 2,255 49,014 635 19,402 259,862 258,286 6,480 7,651 1,909 2,208 50,306 42, 737 1,784 326 17, 468 212,004 1929 231,741 6,288 1,756 37,378 1 1,453 > First issued in 1929. Good for any year. > Previously distributed by Aeronautics Branch. DIVISION OF TIDES AND CURRENTS The past year has shown a steady increase in the demand for accurate tidal and current information. Owing to the importance of New York Harbor and its everchanging waterways, a comprehensive tide and current survey of this region was undertaken in cooperation with the United States Engineers, the results of which are being reduced and correlated for publication when funds are available. Owing to the curtailment of printing appropriations, no new bench mark or tide and current survey publications were printed, although the work of reducing and correlating the records on hand and bringing them up to date from new surveys has been continued. The establishment of additional primary and secondary tide sta tions has increased the amount of records to be reduced and tabu lated. Records from the United States Engineers and the State 130 REPORT OP T H E SECRETARY OP COMMERCE Engineers of California covering observations in San Francisco Bay were worked up in connection with a study of the salt-water barrier. Datum planes were determined at 90 places, and the elevations and descriptions of 135 bench marks established along our coasts compiled. The annual tide and current tables were issued. The consolida tion of the three volumes of tide tables into two under the titles; Tide Tables, Atlantic Ocean, and Tide Tables, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean, has simplified the preparation of the manuscript, expedited printing, and resulted in an annual saving of approxi mately $1,000. The pamphlet Tide Tables, United States and Foreign Ports is, therefore, no longer issued. The tide tables for 1934 include daily predictions for 96 refer ence stations, and differences and constants for 3,900 stations. Dailypredictions for Los Angeles, Calif., and Zanzibar. Africa, are given for the first time. In addition to cooperation with Federal, State,, and municipal agencies, predictions for these tables are exchanged with the following foreign organizations: British Admiralty, 21 stations; Canadian Hydrographic Service, 4 stations; Deutsche Seewarte, 6 stations; Service Hydrographique, France, 4 stations; and Geodetic Branch, Survey of India, 5 stations. The 1934 current tables contain daily predictions for 24 reference stations, and differences and constants for approximately 1,200 other places. A new table for obtaining the velocity of the current at any time and a revised current diagram for Puget Sound are included. A new edition of Tidal Current Charts, New York Harbor, was published from revised material. Records received Automatic tide gage...................................................................................... Current................................................................ ..................... Density and temperature....................................................................... Stations 313 202 146 108 Months 2,050 235 Days 65S 24© DIVISION OF TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM AND SEISMOLOGY Terrestrial magnetism.—Magnetic data were furnished for 154 nautical charts and 28 airway maps. Requests from a large number of local surveyors were met for information needed in relocating old surveys. While the publication of needed information from the observa tory and field results was discontinued because of lack of funds, certain urgently needed data were furnished in mimeograph form. This, of course, is only a makeshift, as many important investi gations are handicapped by the delay in publishing these data. The observatory records are in immediate and constant demand by those studying geology by geophysical methods, especially in connection with the search for oil and minerals. Activities in the entire Southwest are aided and controlled by observations at Tucson. Records of all the observatories are regularly furnished radio broadcasting and commercial-communications organizations. It is COAST AND GEODETIC SUKVEY 131 interesting to note that international broadcasts of special impor tance are now scheduled in advance with regard to the probability of favorable conditions as based on the study of Survey magnetic observatory records. At the request of the International Scientific Radio Union, the daily conditions of the magnetism as observed at Tucson, Ariz., are telegraphed to Washington where they are included in the daily naval radio broadcast in regard to solar and other conditions that affect radio transmission. Seismology.—-The publication, United States Earthquakes, 1931, was issued, and work on the 1932 edition well advanced. Mimeo graphed instrumental reports were prepared and distributed to cooperating organizations. Reports of witnesses of earthquakes are not only studied at the Washington office, but copies are furnished the University of Cali fornia and the Seismological Research Laboratory at Pasadena, where important local investigations on nearby earthquakes are centered. While the Survey has previously published an earthquake history of the United States, the Pacific coast area was excluded. The earthquake of March 10, 1933, aroused so much interest and demand for authoritative information, however, that a list of destructive and near-destructive earthquakes, from the earliest known records to the present time, was compiled and issued in mimeograph form to those interested in serious studies. Earthquakes are located from the records of the various seismo logical stations. In the case of the more important quakes this is done immediately from telegraphic reports, through the coopera tion of news and scientific agencies, and the epicenters are broad cast by naval radio. With reports received through a large area extending eastward to Europe and westward to China, earthquakes in remote regions, from which no news can arrive in several months, are located in a few hours. The records of strong earth motion, which in their original form are somewhat complex, are analyzed and the information summa rized for use by engineers and architects interested in the designs of buildings and other structures. Such information is promulgated by press releases and the publication of articles of interest to magazine readers. Considerable information was compiled for the American Red Cross, representatives of which organization visited the Washing ton office for several months to obtain data vital to their studies. BUREAU OE NAVIGATION AND STEAMBOAT INSPECTION AMERICAN SHIPPING ON JUNE 30, 1933 On June 30, 1933, the merchant marine of the United States, in cluding all kinds of documented craft, comprised 24,868 vessels of 15,060,157 gross tons, as compared with 25,156 vessels of 15,838,655 gross tons on June 30, 1932. On the latter date 1,816 seagoing vessels of 9,181,936 gross tons were of 1,000 tons or over, as compared with 1,967 vessels of 9,937,717 gross tons on June 30, 1932. Follow ing is an analysis of the ownership of seagoing tonnage compared with one year ago: Ownership and date Private ownership (500 gross tons and over): N u m b er July 1, 1932_______ __________________ 1,490 July 1, 1933___ ______________________ 1,530 U.S. Shipping Board (1,000 gross tons and over): July 1,1932................................................... 362 196 Total, 1932______________________ 1,852 Total, 1933.................. ............................. .......... 1,726 Steel Wood Total Gross tons N um ber Gross tons N u m b er Gross tons 7,593,370 7,819,951 2, 088,864 1,152,217 9,682, 234 8,972,168 365 271 365 271 451,388 371,722 1,855 1,801 8,044,758 8,191,673 451,388 371,722 362 196 2,217 1,997 2,088,864 1,152, 217 10,133,622 9,343,890 Of these totals 747 vessels of 3,923,165 gross tons were engaged in the foreign trade and 1,250 vessels of 5,420,725 gross tons in the coast ing trade. Since June 1, 1921, when our foreign trade reached its greatest volume, 10,699,596 gross tons, there has been a gradual decline, until June 30,1933, it amounted to only 3,923,165 gross tons, a falling off of 6,776,431 gross tons. The decrease in the foreign trade is due principally to the scrapping of large vessels which belonged to the Shipping Board and to changes from foreign to coasting trade be cause of greater opportunities in that service. Since June 1, 1921, the coasting trade, exclusive of the trade on the Great Lakes, has increased 2,976,279 gross tons. During the same 12 years the total seagoing tonnage has decreased 3,800,152 gross tons. During the year 642 vessels of 190,803 gross tons were built and documented, and on July 1,1933, there were building or under con tract to build in our shipyards for private shipowners 60 vessels of 34,846 gross tons. The corresponding figures for 1932 were 722 ves sels of 212,892 gross tons built and 96 vessels of 179,911 gross tons under contract to build. The new tonnage includes 11 steel passenger steamers of 135,821 gross tons, 2 steel steam cargo vessels of 16,122 gross tons, and 1 steel 1 9 8 6 5 — 3 3- ■ 11 133 134 REPOBT OP T H E SECBETAEY OP COMMEECE cargo motor ship of 1,169 gross tons, aggregating 151,943 gross tons. These figures include only steel steam and motor vessels of 1,000 gross tons and over, all of which are seagoing. The total horsepower of these new vessels is 184,300 compared with 182,900 for the same class of vessels built during the year ended June 30, 1932. On June 30, 1933, the laid-up seagoing tonnage of the United States aggregated 667 vessels of 2,497,639 gross tons, as against 831 vessels of 3,603,426 gross tons on June 30, 1932. Details of the world’s laid-up tonnage, classification of American vessels by size, service, and power, and of vessels launched and under construction may be found in Merchant Marine Statistics for 1933, a publication prepared by this office. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA This convention signed in London on May 31, 1929, by 18 of the principal maritime nations, is before the United States Senate await ing ratification. It is recognized by marine experts, government departments, tech nical societies, owners, operators and builders of ships, both in this eountry and abroad, as a marked advance in reducing the hazard to w jShips, passengers, and crew are exposed. It already has been ratified by the other principal maritime nations of the world and the interest of safety for our people, our ships and their crews emphasizes the importance of its ratification by this country bhouid the convention not be ratified it is not improbable that very considerable delay and obstruction to commerce may result in the case of our vessels doing business out of foreign ports. INSPECTION OF MOTOR SHIPS I possibly engaged in ocean or Great Lakes trade. BUREAU OE NAVIGATION 135 EXAMINATION OE MOTOR BOAT OPERATORS The act of June 9, 1910, commonly known as the Motor Boat Act, provides “ That the words ‘ motor boat ’ where used in this Act shall include every vessel propelled by machinery and not more than 65 feet in length except tugboats and towboats propelled by steam.” _The Act also provides that “ * * * no such boat while so carrying passengers for hire shall be operated or navigated except in charge of a person duly licensed for such service by the local board of inspectors. No examination shall be required as the condition of obtaining such a license, * * This law should be so amended as to permit the local inspectors having jurisdiction to require that applicants for operator’s license shall be examined as to visual acuity, color sense, and a knowledge of the rules of the road. REVISION OP GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS OE THE BOARD OE SUPERVISING INSPECTORS For some time slow but steady constructive progress has been made in the work of revising the rules and regulations, not only with a view to improving the form of expression but also of making these regulations modern and in keeping with the development of shipping. The act of June 13, 1933, amending sections 4399, 4418, 4428, 4429', 4430, 4431, 4432, 4433, and 4434, Revised Statutes, as amended, relat ing to the construction and inspection of boilers, unfired pressure vessels, and the appurtenances thereof, is very necessary legislation which now makes it possible for the Board of Supervising Inspectors to prescribe rules and regulations covering these subjects that are thoroughly modern in every respect. It gives the Board of Super vising Inspectors a discretion that heretofore it did not possess, and it gives it an express authority to do many things that have not heretofore been undertaken. Before the end of the present calendar year the Bureau will be able to put into effect a new boiler code that will be a great step forward in the direction of safety and which will have the support of the entire industry. The necessity for an electrical code has been felt and consistent with the general revision now being undertaken, it is hoped that within the next year the Board of Supervising Inspectors will be in a position to present such a code for the consideration of the industry and which will result in making safer conditions. The first development of power engineering revolved entirely around steam as the means of propulsion, but during recent years, as is well known, the internal-combustion engine has come into its own and vessels are now equipped with Diesel engines. It is neces sary that a code be developed covering this feature, and it is antici pated that such a code will be ready during the coming year. Work has been going on for the last several years looking to the revision of those rules and regulations that relate to life-saving appliances, such as lifeboats, life rafts, life preservers, etc., the licens” mg of officers, fire protection, and construction and subdivision of hulls. 136 BEPORT OF T H E SECBETAKY OF COMMERCE If the convention that was adopted at the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea in London in 1929 is ratified by the Senate, it will be necessary to so amend the rules and regulations prescribed by the Board of Supervising Inspectors as to make them consistent with that convention, and even if the convention is not ratified, it will be desirable to make such changes in the rules and regulations as may be necessary to make them conform in standard with that of the convention. COASTING TRADE The importance of the coasting trade of the United States, with its great Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf seaboards and the Great Lakes, has been recognized since the earliest days of our Government, and progressive effort has been made by Congress to preserve that trade to vessels documented under the laws of the United States. Con gress has succeeded in throwing around the transportation of mer chandise in that trade a fair degree of protection, but there is a constant invasion of our domestic trade by foreign vessels in the transportation of passengers. The only law we have on this subject is section 2 of the act of February 17, 1898, which reads as follows : No foreign vessel shall transport passengers between ports or places in the United States either directly or by way of a foreign port, under penalty of $200 for each passenger so transported and landed. Under this law foreign vessels may take on passengers at an American port, for instance, and land them at a foreign port, where they are taken on by another vessel of the same line and landed at another American port, even though their destination when they left the first American port was the second American port. Passengers may be taken out of one port for a sightseeing voyage, perhaps, at many other United States ports and return to the port of departure. It would seem that the same effort should be made to confine to our vessels the transportation of passengers in the coastwise trade that Congress has deemed proper to extend in the case of merchandise. It is difficult for American vessels to compete successfully with foreign vessels in the domestic trade because of the difference of our laws and the conditions governing foreign vessels on the high seas. ADMINISTRATION The general work of the superintendence of the commercial marine and merchant seamen vested in this Bureau by its organic act has proceeded along regularly established lines. The construction and administration of the navigation and steamboat inspection laws covering documentation, inspection of hulls, boilers, and equipment, examination and licensing of officers, certification of able seamen and lifeboat men, ship mortgage act, entry and clearance of vessels, movement of vessels, welfare of seamen, admeasurement, load line, adjudication of fines, collection of fees, tonnage tax, etc., and the compilation of Federal statistics of the merchant marine have been carried forward. In the enforcement of the rules and regulations governing the movement of vessels in the St. Mary’s River, patrol of courses BUREAU’ OE NAVIGATION 137 2 12 43 14 9 179 411 99 122 18 11 77 49 90 3 36 2 5 91 38 9 20 108 425 2,079 224 4 293 1 52 27 47 11 27 17 51 7 59 74 805 14 5,406 4 1 6 6 1 4 27 8 1 5 15 7 3 2 1 19 1 5 2 3 4 4 1 1 1 1 15 7 11 2 5 57 116 6 18 3 2 4 14 1 4 35 36 32 12 13 23 1 25 148 113 335 2 6 5 9 1 1 1 9 1 4 9 2 4 2 1 3 4 4 6 1 49 18 5 1 5 32 19 3 21 1 3 20 2 10 10 41 6 la 234 168 33 2 87 1 6 3 46 7 2 1 17 4 11 4 1 3 5 23 3 4 47 1 2 1 18 6 105 68 5 2 723 39 16 144 1,730 1 Miscellaneous Numbering act Load line act Unlading 9 Change of master 1 16 8 Name on vessel Seamen’s act Anchorage and St. Marys River rules Passenger act Surrendered license 12 47 1 17 265 6 3 37 2 5 1 21 33 11 15 41 15 159 29 3 84 5 8 11 14 3 1 4 2 3 17 7 3 2 53 1 55 11 1 761 13 Entry and clearance 11 14 3 2 3 2 2 2 1 4 10 1 2 6 15 11 1 1 5 2 1 Enrollment and license 485 250 165 21 45 123 83 174 3 15 68 2 52 278 49 87 28 171 755 2,598 335 9 498 13 120 Portland, Maine... 50 Portland, Oreg----- 87 16 34 1 4 46 9 San Francisco------ 202 17 84 450 1,688 Wilmington............ 37 9,152 Motorboat laws Total Headquarters port Steamboat laws during regattas and marine parades, the Bureau is indebted to the Coast Guard service, which operated in its usual efficient manner under rules and regulations of this Department. During the year, 9,152 violations of the navigation laws were considered in connection with the mitigation or remission of the penalties incurred. This is an increase of 1,100 over the fiscal year 1932. The following table shows the enforcement of such laws by customs districts and the laws violated: 23 1 1 1 7 81 1 1 9 37 19 5 1 2 22 2 11 12 1 237 138 EEPOET OE THE SECBETABY OP COMMERCE The following table shows the number of violations of law re ported to the Department by the various branches of the Federal service engaged in the enforcement of the navigation laws: Headquarters port Local Cus Se K il Tarra E ala Coast inspec Total quoia Siw ash P syche Guard ken ny gon tors toms Baltimore.............. 485 432 Boston................. 250 Bridgeport.........__ 165 Buffalo............... . 21 Charleston............ 45 Chicago________ 123 Cleveland_______ 83 Detroit.............. . 174 Duluth_________ 3 Galveston_______ 15 Honolulu............... 68 Indianapolis......... 2 Juneau_________ 52 Los Angeles_____ 278 Louisville............ 49 Memphis............... 87 Milwaukee______ 28 Mobile...... ............ 171 New Orleans......... 755 New York............. 2,598 Norfolk___ _____ 335 231 Ogdensburg.......... 9 Philadelphia......... 498 6 Pittsburgh______ 13 Port Arthur_____ 120 Portland, Maine.. 50 Portland, Oreg__ 87 Providence.......... 16 Rochester_______ 34 St. Albans............. 1 St. Louis............... 4 San Antonio......... 46 San Diego. ______ 9 San Francisco___ 202 San Juan............. 17 Savannah.......... 84 Seattle_________ 450 Tampa_________ 1,688 Wilmington.. ... 37 Total........... 9,152 669 25 4 1 126 73 18 91 26 120 674 2,349 264 78 25 2,741 10 3 2 3 5 3 7 7 18 3 2 1 2 5 11 61 796 872 9 24 5 2 6 42 46 38 73 20 1 861 4 47 13 8 12 25 3 11 2 208 90 2 86 23 25 632 2 6 2 76 13 200 26 11 29 7 23 69 3 13 68 43 154 8 87 45 32 185 61 9 153 12 42 27 31 5 1 4 46 7 106 17 21 347 869 10 2,784 Navi gation inspec tors 15 34 2 93 36 2 I 56 10 18 17 284 HULLS AND EQUIPMENT STATISTICS VESSELS INSPECTED AND CERTIFICATES OF INSPECTION ISSUED TO STEAM AND MOTOR VESSELS AND TO BARGES Certificates of I nspection I ssued by D istricts Foreign passenger steam and motor vessels Domestic vessels Supervising district Local district Steam vessels Motor vessels Passenger Seagoing barges barges Total First. Second. ThirdFourth. F ifth ... Sixth___ Seventh. 291 1,139,238 8 11,183 266,411 64 45 101,463 1,044 1,956; 553 31,984 77 5,248 26 465,459 202 267,520 Norfolk, V a ...................... ......... 154 546,463 216 20,423 17 54,548 24 70,386 25 17,348 66 4,714 32 396; 239 139 6,973 5 11,383 15 3, 549 25 94,553 40 3,465 15 7,217 18 10,019 44 4,743 20,213 65 6', 587 2,607 19 Point Pleasant, W.Va............ 107 59,871 935 8 24 32,143 2,111 18 188 199,864 22 10,360 32 1,455 63 123,892 123 18,684 111 25,373 1,897 43 80 5,176 466 10 21 797 1,188 26 15 3', 510 21 643 960 15 18 1,436 3,328 7 927 7 522 9 424 8 3 149 14 919 4 168 6 131 1 44 1 2 538 1,822 3 667 i 2 2 81 2, 964 4, 646 85, 264 44 61 9 1 9 37, 044 81, 417 6, 250 816 7, 024 15 2 1 13 1 14,956 2, 834 1, 583 13, 689 1, 253 109 1_____ Num Gross ton Num Gross ton ber nage ber nage 248, 688 401 1, 202,117 32 238,302 16 12,118 16 110, 208 90 303,200 15 2 19,491 64 104,112 1,315 2, 243, 503 133 2,467,403 94 1 99 42,344 58 6,703 309 626,395 341 368,288 578,086 336 61 23,136 1,498 1 113 66,748 35 70,852 87 18,145 5,902 58 111, 082 169 414, 705 Ï5 2 1,106 28 10,450 31 13,926 56 18,674 48 99,134 22 4,392 27 7,739 52 10,443 4,892 33 21,132 79 31 6,755 2,847 26 433 32 105 66 1,448 100 58 309 341 336 61 114 35 87 58 184 30 31 56 48 22 27 52 33 79 31 26 1,450,805 250,420 413,408 123,603 4,710,906 42,438 6,703 626,395 368,288 578,086 23,136 68,246 70,852 18,145 5,902 525,787 11,556 13,926 18,674 99,134 4,392 7,739 10,443 4,892 21,132 6,755 2,847 BUREAU OP NAVIGATION Gross ton Num Gross ton Num Gross Num Gross Num Gross Num nage ber tonnage ber tonnage ber tonnage ber ber nage Total CO CO VESSELS INSPECTED AND CERTIFICATES OF INSPECTION ISSUED TO STEAM AND MOTOR VESSELS AND TO BARGES---COIltd. C ertificates of I nspection I ssued by D istricts Foreign passenger steam and motor vessels Domestic vessels Local district Steam vessels Motor vessels Passenger barges Seagoing barges Total Num Gross ton Num Gross Num Gross Num Gross Num Gross ton ber ber nage ber tonnage ber tonnage ber tonnage ber nage Eighth............... Chicago, H I - .- ______ __________ Duluth, Minn_________ Grand Haven, Mich........ ...... Marquette, Mich_____ _____ Milwaukee, Wis................. Port Huron, Mich ...... ........... Ninth....... .. B u ffa lo , N.Y_ _ Oswego,Ohio N.Y...................... ..................................... Tenth....... .. Toledo, Galveston, Tex......... .............. San Juan,Fla. P.R........................ ................................... Tampa, : ............. Eleventh Hoquiam, Wash ............................... Juneau, Alaska______ _____ St. Michael, Alaska................. 1933_______ _____ Total,Total, 1932_______ _____ _____ Increase (+) or decrease (—)__ 61 137,752 9 21,376 66 175,843 6 7,936 29 88,654 23 43,908 8 433 22 16,988 1 60 54 154,861 10 1,672 23 29,268 8 241 79 302,955 1 858 167 589,287 6 5,376 18 11,985 18 2,127 56 191,738 5 295 179 408,473 36 6,263 112 426,538 10 19,932 92 370,214 19 14,431 11 29,346 6 400 16 45, 721 15 717 142 392, 786 66 18,785 9 8,851 1 22 5 437 29 4,298 6 2, 520 7 285 3,903 8, 954,614 1,264 602,836 4,086 8, 679, 637 1,214 620,090 -183 +274,977 +50 -17,254 2 233 5 1 5,961 945 2 21 7 1 2 2 7,394 27,576 10,151 2,117 3,238 2,179 16 10, 319 276 16 10, 281 286 +38 -10 312,395 311,319 +1,076 O Total Gross ton Num Gross ton nage ber nage 70 2,622 72 183,779 72 29 31 44,341 23 1 198 64 156, 533 64 31 15,523 80 303,813 80 175 36 61 222 428,091 15 237 87,486 51ö! 577 144 474, 991 2 146 20,945 495,936 118 394,796 118 17 29* 746 15 102,272 32 48,555 32 210 414,809 23 161,080 233 575,889 10 8,873 36 6,914 36 13 2 ,805 3 2, 750 16 5, 555 5,459 9,880,164 296 3, 609,218 5,755 13,489,382 5,602 9,621,327 317 3,877,629 5,919 13,498, 956 -143 +258,837 -21 -268,411 -164 -9 , 574 BEPOBT OP THE SECEETAEY OP COMMEBCE Supervising district £ V essels I nspected , ' 570 1,922,889 Pacific coast________________________ . _____ Atlantic coast.______________ ____________ 2,020 3,960, 627 316 76,913 598 1, 743, 239 Gulf coast__________ ____ _________ ________ 399 1, 250,946 Total, 1933...................... ........... .................. 3,903 8,954, 614 260 754 98 72 80 1,264 118,450 397,444 5,225 40,374 41,343 602,836 by G eographic D ivisions 2 582 8 5 2,489 237 1 109 2 233 6 6,906 31 16 10, 319 276 13,027 252,130 47,238 312,395 840 3,016 415 672 516 5,459 2,054,948 4,612,690 82, 247 1, 783,846 1,346,433 9,880,164 91 167 21 17 296 780,519 2,683,455 36,813 108,431 3,609, 218 931 3,183 415 693 533 5,755 2,835,467 7,296,145 82, 247 1,820,659 1,454,864 13,489,382 BTJBEAU OP NAVIGATION 142 BEPOBT OE T H E SECEETÄEY OE COMMEBCE MISCELLANEOUS INSPECTIONS Statement of steam vessels granted letters of approval of designs of boilers, engines, and other operating machinery inspected under an act of Congress approved June 9, 1910, which vessels are not inspected annually, only one inspection being made for letter of approval; hulls of United States Government vessels inspected; and boilers in or for United States Government steamers and build ings, and for other United States governmental purposes. Steam ves sels granted Gov ern letters of ment Local inspection district approval ves (port) sels in Num Gross spect ton ed ber nage New York, N .Y ............... Albany, N .Y — ............... 6 Norfolk, Va___________ Charleston, S.C________ Jacksonville, Fla_______ St. Louis, M o................. . Dubuque, Iowa________ New London, Conn____ Providence, R.I_______ 1 4 5 2 Memphis, Tenn_______ Steam ves sels granted letters of approval Gov ern ment boil Local inspection district ers (port) in spect ed Gov Gov ern ern ment ment ves boil sels ers in in Num Gross spect ton ed spect ber nage ed 55 31 38 32 138 14 7 68 64 197 43 16 42 181 117 46 10 16 2 42 49 75 Total, 1932...................... 67 117 52 7 4 13 35 9 42 7 140 1 15 1 11 2 8 1 222 4 72 2 , 225 -109 +19 -6 4 EEINSPEOTIONS Local inspection district (port) San Francisco, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif.... Portland, Oreg.......... New York, N .Y ____ Albany, N .Y ........... New Haven, Conn.. Philadelphia, Pa___ Norfolk, V a .............. Baltimore, M d_____ Charleston, S.C____ Jacksonville, Fla___ Savannah, Ga............ St. Louis, M o............ Dubuque, Iowa____ Boston, Mass______ Bangor, Maine_____ New London, Cornu Portland, Maine___ Louisville, Ky_____ Memphis, Tenn____ Pittsburgh, Pa_____ Cincinnati, Ohio___ Ft. Pleasant, W .V a. Steam Motor Barges, ves ves etc. Total sels sels 262 20 14 907 48 13 184 65 58 23 27 7 13 125 19 12 111 38 2 4 1 7 31 10 134 11 9 274 26 48 27 8 5 2 81 18 1 4 21 9 6 396 31 23 5 1,186 74 61 211 74 1 63 2 104 45 8 13 125 4 27 33 120 44 2 41 7 31 10 Local inspection district (port) Detroit, Mich............ Chicago, 111................ Grand Haven, Mich. Buffalo, N .Y .. Steam Motor Barges, ves ves etc. Total sels sels 76 37 15 47 22 50 8 9 38 18 13 15 5 3 50 9 21 10 Tampa, Fia................ 3 9 106 3 77 183 3’ 030 927 25 3,982 -442 12 10 -445 BUREAU OF NAVIGATION 143 certificates withdrawn or refused Vessels from which, certificates of inspection were withdrawn____________ Vessels refused certificates of inspection : Domestic steam vessels____________________________________________ Domestic vessels propelled by gas, fluid, naphtha, or electric motor___ Domestic seagoing barges of 100 gross tons or over_________________ Foreign steam vessels_____________________________________________ Total__________________________________________________________ 10 62 13 1 4 90 CARGO VESSELS EXAMINED TO CARRY PERSONS IN ADDITION TO CREW During the year ended June 30, 1933, 1,608 cargo vessels were examined to carry persons in addition to crew, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved June 5, 1920. NEW LIFE PRESERVERS INSPECTED Kind Block cork.................................. .............................................................. Total, 1933............................................................................................ Total, 1932................................................................. Inspected 92,308 5,635 3,978 101,921 117,416 15,495 Passed 91,998 5,619 3,962 101,579 116,019 14,440 Rejected 310 16 16 342 1,397 1,055 LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS INSPECTED AT FACTORIES Kind New cork-ring life buoys.............................................................................. Inspected 3,868 97 229 102 37 Passed 3,861 87 229 102 37 Rejected 7 10 WORK PERFORMED BY INSPECTORS IN CENTRAL OFFICE Vessels inclined____________________________________________________ 114 Reinspections of vessels____________________________________________ 164 BOILERS Boilers inspected: Steel (riveted plates)__________________________________________ 7,252 Iron (riveted plates)___________________________________________ 33 Pipe______________________________________„___________________ 1, 836 Total________________________________________________________ 9,121 Boilers found defective: Gave way under hydrostatic pressure: Steel (riveted plates)______________________________________ 162 Iron (riveted plates)_______________________________________ 2 Pipe______________________________________________________ 3 Total___________________________________________________ 167 144 BEPOKT OE T H E SEOBETABY OP COMMEBOE BOILERS—Continued Boilers found defective—Continued. Defective from other causes: Steel (riveted plates)______________________________________ 1,234 Iron (riveted plates)_______________________________________ 13 Pipe---------------------------------------------------------------------------------68 Total________________________ ___________________________ 1, 315 Boilers condemned from further use_________________________________ 14 Defects in boilers and attachments : Sheets_________________________________________________________ 752 Heads_________________________________________________________ 252 Steam andmud drums_______________ 129 Flues and tubes________________________________________________ 44, 731 Steam pipes___________________________________________________ 168 Stay bolts______________________________________________________ 15, 497 Braces---------------------------------------------------------------------------,-------- 668 Other parts----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8, 940 Total________________________________________________________71,137 MARINE BOILER PLATES TESTED Plates rejected because of— Total Inspected by assist ant inspector at— Tensile Surface Light Heavy Lami Elon Re In Ac strength defect gage gage Lost nation gation jected spected cepted 1 2 Total, 1933_ Total, 1932............... Increase (+) or decrease ( - ) .............. 3 2 5 2 7 7 +i 1 6 1 2 3 1 18 1 1 3 1 12 32 218 45 28 24 44 359 609 -1 -18 -1 -2 +i -20 -250 1 212 44 26 21 44 347 577 -230 STEEL BARS AND FORGINGS TESTED Samples of bars Tested by assistant inspector at— Buffalo, N .Y ....... ............ ...................... Total, 1 9 3 3 .______ _________ Samples of forgings Bars Forgings Re Tested Re Ac Re Ac Re Tested jected jected cepted jected cepted jected 8 8 2 4 22 8 8 4 134 182 3 323 4 4 BUREAU OE NAVIGATION 145 STATISTICS CONCERNING SHIPS’ PERSONNEL Steam vessels Steam and motor vessels ■COois TJP OT U <o PiCO c o S B© 3'S 2 a "Si a ’S *8 © CpiÔ & S§ 5°4 â 'flt-l fr m© w O Mates Local district © gJ a u pG3 © OO San Francisco, Calif------- 435 186 40 7 11 11 Los Angeles, Calif______ 122 69 2 1 72 14 12 2 New York, N .Y ................. 1,117 374 36 96 Albany, N.Y__ ------------- 63 1 12 29 New Haven, Conn........... 33 6 2 11 Philadelphia, Pa___......... 206 117 8 18 Norfolk, Va......................... 127 16 2 28 165 78 10 22 2 5 25 71 49 5 12 23 15 5 6 3 24 29 36 4 12 16 176 129 8 14 4 3 23 New London, Conn------- 30 7 2 4 40 23 1 3 60 12 1 7 5 10 8 7 4 13 7 9 16 8 15 11 19 3 61 11 10 25 6 11 Point Pleasant, W.Va----- 16 2 62 25 8 1 18 49 13 18 11 23 1 M arquette, Mich.............. 19 9 2 16 46 14 48 Cleveland, Ohio................. 70 3 45 2 Buffalo, N .Y ___________ 59 36 24 17 3 23 20 New Orleans, La............... 217 76 24 35 113 44 10 77 17 3 13 2 10 Tampa, Fla........................ 26 11 2 4 185 73 42 4 6 7 4 4 18 3 1 8 Total, 1933.............. 4,103 1,368 325 655 Total, 1932.......................... 4,082 1,438 339 686 Increase (+) or decrease (—) ............. +21 -70 -14 -31 5 5 2 7 7 2 9 18 14 6 4 7 2 2 5 6 1 1 2 1 3 4 7 3 1 2 7 6 34 5 6 2 5 7 1 10 1 210 217 Motor vessels 'Sfl P«< *8 4*P 'bflh CO Ut © P ” 3S ‘50 co CO © P a ^ co fr s s CO o tâUl © a O 406 2 7 0 210 707 10 120 57 78 475 70 1,351 583 316 1,477 4 33 44 107 32 4 11 155 271 120 73 693 168 211 8 39 131 66 43 75 44 193 36 9 20 186 52 66 10 59 15 119 26 17 48 7 3 60 26 56 12 117 4 36 24 4 3 77 102 34 10 93 70 23 7 30 54 20 1 61 22 7 79 27 10 59 61 153 48 10 106 118 43 12 131 9 42 4 51 14 285 123 91 207 138 39 32 253 93 26 15 7 38 8 10 36 26 26 301 230 68 101 297 4 12 4 7 16 4 29 227 1 45 5 5,257 2,052 1,445 10,395 4,871 2,186 1,478 9,802 Sail ves sels of over 700 gross tons CO Ui -t©-» tS a 49 1 19 52 1 17 1c3 a © o 2 Masters of barges of over 100 gross tons OFFICERS LICENSED "03 O e 1 5,412 1 1 2 1 1 14 1 8 19 1 1 2 267 244 7 7 - 7 +386 -134 -33 +593 +23 1 1,108 445 313 64 4 26,088 3 25,353 + i +735 146 REPORT OF T H E SECRETARY OF COMMERCE RESULTS OF ACTION AG AINST LICENSES Page Licenses suspended___________ _________________________________ Licenses revoked_______________________________________________ Licenses refused_______________________________________________ Licenses canceled______________________________________________ Violations of the law: Cases investigated_________________________________________ Cases dismissed______________________ _____________________ Cases reported to district attorneys and chief officers of customs. Number of appeals from decisions of local boards_____________ Decisions of local boards reversed by supervising inspectors___ Decisions of local boards modified by supervising inspectors___ Decisions of local boards sustained by supervising inspectors___ . 182 . . 12 121 . 29 789 622 104 21 6 2 13 EX A M IN A TIO N S FOR COLOR BLIN DNESS During the year ended June 30, 1933, 6,814 applicants for original licenses and for renewals of licenses were examined for visual defects, 47 of whom were found color-blind, or had other visual defects, and were rejected, and 6,767 were passed. As compared with the previous year, these figures show a decrease of 243 in the number examined and of 236 in the number passed. CERTIFICATES OF SERVICE ISSUED TO ABLE SEAM EN AND TO LIFEBOAT M EN A blb S eam en Issued by— Ap plica tions re ceived INSPECTION DISTRICT New York, N.Y__..................... Norfolk, Va________________ Boston, M ass...... .......... ........... Detroit, M ich........................ . Grand Haven, M ich................. 411 51 150 56 935 7 257 117 346 10 122 48 2 261 11 15 37 73 80 60 26 24 Ap plica Cer tifi tions cates re jected issued .......... Issued by— INSPECTION DISTRICT—con. 373 48 138 45 901 Buffalo, N .Y ....... 7 241 109 303 10 110 46 2 256 11 15 2 35 1(T 63 Total, 1933 11 69 Total, 1932........... 24 2 4 20 38 3 12 11 34 16 8 43 12 2 5 Ap Ap plica plica Cer tifi tions tions cates re re issued ceived jected 7 27 99 76 4 42 211 108 91 54 207 2 29 6 5,058 933 1 7 8 6 2 2 4 10 6 20 40 2 391 4, 667 818 BUREAU OP NAVIGATION 147 L ifebo a t M e n Issued by— Local inspectors of vessels: New York, NTY Albany, N.Y Philadelphia, Pa_............ Buffalo, N .Y _______ ____ Ap plica tions re ceived Ap plica Cer tifi tions cates re issued jected 107 36 17 247 6 39 165 292 65 1 357 9 40 61 191 33 2 3 2 6 1 8 12 4 20 7 17 107 36 17 247 6 3 39 165 292 65 1 357 9 40 61 191 33 2 3 2 6 1 8 12 4 20 7 4 17 Issued by— Ap Ap plica plica Cer tifi tions tions cates re re issued jected ceived Local inspectors of vessels— 2,786 1,572 1,214 11 11 7 121 128 5 5 Total by local inspectors. 4,937 1, 580 3,357 Navy Department: Navy New York, N .Y ------------- 283 21 262 96 Portsmouth, Va-------------- 108 12 Receiving station, Phila6 139 delphia, Pa _________ 145 U.S. Coast Guard, Treasury 3,828 1,359 2,469 Coast and Geodetic Survey, 13 Department of Commerce... 13 Bureau of Lighthouses, Department of Commerce------- 637 120 517 Massachusetts nautical school 67 67 California nautical school ship 27 27 New York State Merchant 41 41 Total, 1933. ...................... 10,086 3,098 6,988 Total, 1932.'................................. 13,823 6, 297 7,526 Decrease............................ 3,737 3,199 538 Hoquiam, Wash.................. TRANSPORTATION AND LOSS OP LIFE PASSENGERS CARRIED During the fiscal year 238,750,264 passengers were carried on ves sels that are required by law to report the number of passengers carried. Dividing this number by 130, the total number of passen gers lost, shows that 1,836,540 passengers were carried for each one lost. LIVES SAVED During the year, 383 lives were directly saved by means of the life saving appliances required by law. 148 REPORT OF T H E SECRETARY OE COMMERCE LIVES LOST ON VESSELS SU BJECT TO IN SPEC TIO N , BY DISTRICTS Fire: Passenger steamers............................. Nonpassenger steamers...................... Collision: Nonpassenger steamers_____ Explosion, escape of steam, etc.: Passenger steamers____ _________ Nonpassenger steamers..................... Sinking: Nonpassenger steamers: Wreck: Nonpassenger steamers.,.......... Accidental drowning: Passenger steamers............................ Nonpassenger steamers______ ____ Suicide: Passenger steamers. ............................ Nonpassenger steamers___________ Miscellaneous: Passenger steamers............................ Nonpassenger steamers..................... Total: Passenger steamers...................... Nonpassenger steamers.............. Grand total....................................... Last year____ ____ ________________ Increase (+) or decrease (—)____ 68 34 1 10 4 1 5 7 14 7 £ <UtD O 1 1 3 1 4 2 3 1 3 3 6 Fourth Fifth Sixth 2 3 1 4 2 1 4 2 14 5 89 10 4 43 17 11 14 48 89 27 11 12 13 22 35 12 +2 +35 +67 - 8 - 2 - 1 S ¡2 Fire: Passenger steamers.................... . Nonpassenger steamers....... ........... Collision: Nonpassenger steamers.......... Explosion, escape of steam, etc.: Passenger steamers........................... Nonpassenger steamers.................. Sinking: Nonpassenger steamers............ Accidental drowning: Passenger steamers....................... 4 Nonpassenger steamers...................... Suicide: Passenger steamers............................. Nonpassenger steamers..................... Miscellaneous: Passenger steamers............................ 1 Nonpassenger steamers................... Total: Passenger steamers________ Nonpassenger steamers......... . _ 5 Grand total............................ 5 Last year_____ ____ ________ Increase (+) or decrease (—)......... +5 Eighth Ninth 3 — _. 6 10 2 -4 -1 +3 Tenth Eleventh +2 Total Crew Passen gers Crew Passen gers Crew Passen gers Crew Passen gers Crew Passen gers Crew Seventh Cause Third Passen gers Crew Passen gers Crew Passen gers Cause Second Passen gers Crew Passen gers Crew Passen gers Crew First 5 2 7 4 1 1 2 9 2 11 34 14 14 14 42 1 - - - - - 16 10 130 18 1 120 6 1 55 94 +9 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 4 +4 +2 + i +75 +26 The total number of lives lost from all causes, passengers and crew, was 250, an increase of 101 over the previous year. Of the lives lost, 125 were from suicide, accidental drowning, and other causes beyond the power of the service to prevent, leaving a loss of BUREAU OP NAVIGATION 149 125 fairly chargeable to accidents, collision, sinking, explosion, wreck, etc. ACCIDENTS RESULTING I N LOSS OF LIFE The total number of accidents resulting in loss of life during the past year was 11. The following disasters resulted in an unusual loss of life: On the morning of September 9, 1932, at about 8 a.m., the inland passenger steamer Observation, of 122 gross tons, left her dock in the vicinity of the foot of East One hundred and thirty-fifth Street, East River, New York City, bound for Rikers Island, N.Y. Very shortly after casting off lines an explosion occurred on board, which totally destroyed the vessel and resulted in the loss of 68 passengers and 3 members of the crew. At about 8 p.m. on September 27, 1932, the freight steamer Nevada, of 5,645 gross tons, while en route from Portland, Oreg., to the Orient, was wrecked on a rock off Amatignak Island, Aleutian Islands, claiming 34 lives, all hands with the exception of three members of the crew being lost. Estimated loss to vessel and cargo, $305,000. VESSELS LOST Steam vessels------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 97I Motor vessels-------------------------ir Sail vessels----------------------------------------------------------------------Barges, etc---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----Total____________________________________________________________ 48 PROPERTY LOST By explosion or accidental escape of steam. By wreck or founder-------------------------------By collision-------------------------------------------By lire-------------------------------------------------By snags-----------------------------------------------From miscellaneous causes----------------------Total. SHIPPING COMMISSIONERS $508, 800 1, 031, 623 1, 322, 204 22, 548, 826 96, 042 1, 480, 754 26, 988, 249 During the year 476,615 seamen were shipped, reshipped, and dis charged as compared with 515,051 the year before. The average cost to the Government per man was 26 cents. _ Collectors of customs acting at ports where shipping commis sioner offices have not been established, shipped and discharged dur ing the year 20,438 officers and men as compared with 20,196 during theOfprevious year.men shipped before shipping . commissioners, . . the 254,887 148,274 were native Americans and 50,795 were naturalized Americans— 199,069 in all, or 78.1 percent. . In addition to these numbers there are shipped m the foreign trade for the round voyage many seamen who do not appear before our shipping commissioners. These numbers are not included in the above figures. 1 9 8 6 5 — 3 3 ----------1 2 A REPORT OF T H E SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 150 The following table shows the aggregate work and salaries of the shipping service for the past 14 years : Year 1920. 1921. 1922. 1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. Seamen shipped, reship Salaries Average cost per ped, man and dis charged 628,980 650,840 541,952 538, 755 555,633 552,124 534,493 $89,949 99,646 92,318 94,476 94,476 123, 726 123,183 $0.13 .15 . 17 .17 . 17 .22 .23 Year 1927______________ 1928.......................... 1929______ ____ 1930_________ ____ 1931________ _____ 1932............... ............ 1933_____________ Seamen shipped, reship Salaries Average cost per ped, man and dis charged 561,061 $122,398 547, 732 123,961 627,392 139,454 650, 673 147,873 589,901 152,003 515,051 158, 616 476,615 124, 305 $0.22 .23 .23 .26 .31 .26 -.22 The shipping commissioner service furnishes the medium through which voluminous laws for the protection, welfare, and discipline of American seamen are effectuated. In order that no advantage may be taken of the seaman and also that he may understand his responsibilities^ his contract of employment is supervised by our shipping commissioners and where there are any unusual provisions because of the nature of the voyage or of the cargo carried, those provisions are explained to him in detail. Any disputes which may arise during the voyage may be arbi trated before the shipping commissioner without cost to the seaman and ^without delay. Under the law the shipping commissioner’s decision is final as to the facts. For the benefit of dependents the shipping commissioner issues allotment notes payable to such dependents from the seamen’s wages as earned. In case of death of the seaman his wages and effects are taken care of by the shipping commissioner. This is a beneficent service as it insures to the seamen the benefits of the laws which Congress has passed in their behalf. ADMEASUREMENT OF VESSELS The measurement of vessels through marine divisions of the cus tomhouses proceeded throughout the year with the usual activity. About 1,200 vessels aggregating 241,713 gross tons were admeasured for documentation. The plans and blueprints of the principal vessels were checked in the Washington office for the purpose of securing uniformity and the technically correct application of the law. This service is still handicapped through the performance of the work which is of a highly technical character, through the em ployees of another department, many of whom are not sufficiently trained in the methods of mathematical and geometric calculations necessary to the work. LOAD LINES The enforcement of the load line act of March 2, 1929, has been actively prosecuted through the marine divisions of the custom houses, with the result that there is now a reasonable compliance with the law by vessels of the United States and foreign vessels BUREAU OE NAVIGATION 151 leaving our ports in the foreign trade; 14,877 inspections were made at the time of clearance and but 144 violations of the law, technical or otherwise, were discovered. During the year 880 load-line certificates on the international form were issued to our vessels to conform with the international load-line convention. During the same period negotiations have been carried on with Canada with a view to the exemption of ves sels from the requirements of the load line while navigating sheltered waters on the northwest coast of North America, as authorized by Senate Resolution 265, second session, Seventy-first Congress. NAVIGATION PATROL SERVICE The Bureau’s patrol fleet of five vessels covering the larger por tion of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the Great Lakes has been actively engaged during the year not only in securing the enforce ment of the life-protection laws on small motor vessels, but also in inspecting larger vessels to see that their equipment and manning are in accord with their certificates of inspection. Supervision also has been exercised over the fleets of oyster and fishing vessels to gain assurance that the crews receive their wages, have proper quarters, food, and treatment to which they are entitled byThrough law. the imposition of fines, penalties, and forfeitures, this service is nearly self-supporting, and through cooperation with motor-boat owners, associations, yacht clubs, etc., a reasonable compliance with the law is maintained without the imposition of unnecessary hardships. Of the 9,152 violations reported, 5,375 were discovered by the various patrol boats, an increase of 1,642 cases. Record of the work of these vessels, however, is better shown by the fact that during the year they made 32,003 inspections. The following is a comparative statement of cases of violations of the navigation laws, 1919-33 : Port Omaha_________ 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 500 243 95 168 109 88 499 27 142 282 21 10 32 43 192 49 67 81 98 501 626 814 54 633 626 97 143 40 119 1,096 40 122 241 24 3 34 39 125 64 82 132 122 487 1,349 8 618 12 699 607 200 188 44 171 252 141 168 73 41 95 29 60 183 35 66 33 301 779 849 21 846 8 1 482 898 50 62 68 97 160 32 67 68 8 35 37 36 185 57 86 14 202 294 2,698 12 680 85 480 711 287 116 192 179 154 62 184 245 10 22 3 77 178 29 62 7S 334 467 1,475 682 85 419 161 566 767 131 206 262 90 136 105 165 139 303 187 48 11 311 80 79 44 167 78 3 16 45 2 4 130 106, 131 127 26 28 162 150 17 5 234 191 790 371 663 1,625 7 12 412 375 IS 112 300 361 551 517 800 833 513 534 131 310 231 199 24 34 257 103 82 110 82 57 76 97 30 68 97 84 168 144 3 83 184 182 2Ô2 42 38 33 46 ~57 26 31 14 1 10 12 18 14 7 4 8 78 51 45 55 171 261 281 405 54 35 18 44 154 120 49 81 7 104 1 25 96 263 42 186 411 186 285 226 2,454 1,185 1,170 1,233 1C 14 ? C 842 434 345 354 58 142 50 87 2 2 746 441 182 43 68 49 172 234 30 32 32 12 58 336 8 35 26 76 217 951 2 448 36 584 509 163 83 49 37 167 185 27 39 15 4 47 400 9 48 9 95; 187 828 228 28 471 485 693 250 63 165 24 21 52 45 24 123 180 83 191 174 20 3 6b 16 35 68 4 2 71 52 237 278 15 49 «2 87 28 269 171 937 755 589 2,598 5 214 335 21 9 REPORT OF T H E SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 152 Port 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 Pembina_______ Philadelphia......... 532 600 684 778 624 360 854 549 303 493 4661 5681 511 3401 498 Pittsburgh______ 9 28 16 22 41 35 16 53 43 23 9 21 13 Port Arthur_____ 203 256 112 21 14 17 216 84 52 15 39 61 29 24 26 13 120 Portland, Maine.. 53 55 320 346 440 295 393 684 159 645 337 315 370 50 Portland, Oreg__ 120 182 107 83 101 171 291 237 84 100 125 264 86 129 118 87 Providence______ 65 137 175 181 98 94 144 169 217 104 113 103 47 151 16 Rochester_______ 14 24 55 10 61 57 53 18 24 130 34 75 86 37 34 St. Albans______ 1 1 3 96 2 4 4 22 41 170 St. Louis_______ 291 396 182 173 179 127 89 100 64 57 46 9 6 4 41 St. P a u l.._____ 4 1 2 11 2 San Antonio____ 7 9 10 25 44 46 San Diego______ 1 22 34 32 23 28 15 8 9 34 16 72 22 30 9 San Francisco___ 223 765 466 213 291 288 284 281 238 277 227 327 232 252 San Juan........... 8 14 10 14 19 18 26 25 22 23 25 10 23 15 202 17 Savannah_______ 77 68 149 165 163 126 126 67 47 60 95 105 91 90 84 Seattle................. . 266 320 310 272 1,223 294 564 755 328 360 290 336 581 1,176 450 Tampa............... . 1,303 1,247 1, 770 2,300 1,386 1,398 1,690 1,609 1,075 977 928 1,037 Wilmington, N.C . 261 302 426 263 1,649 200 173 152 78 1,519 312 282 333 218 196 116 1,688 37 Total........... 8,173 10,667 10,706 11,396 11,251 8,867 9,544 10,778 8,306 8,643 7,887 7,417 7,187 8,062 9,152 PREVENTING OVERCROWDING OE PASSENGER VESSELS The service of preventing the overcrowding of passenger vessels at 22 of the principal ports of the country was effective. Owing to piesent conditions there was a material falling off in the number of excursionists, to 3,979,084 inthat 1933.number having dropped from 5,021,788 in 1932 The following shows the counts made by the navigation and customs services table by ports: Port Baltimore.................... Boston........................... Bridgeport__________ Buffalo....................... Chicago__________ Cleveland.. ........... . Detroit_____ ________ Duluth_________ Galveston_________ Indianapolis______ Louisville_______ Mobile________ New York________ Norfolk______ Philadelphia............. Portland, Maine____ Portland, Oreg.......... Providence___ . Rochester______ _ San Francisco__ Seattle______ _. Total, 1933_______ Navigation Customs Total Counts Passengers Counts Passengers Counts Passengers 1,762 35 329 70 6 4 81 130 497 8 97 35 443 5, 768 542,933 1 17,729 1,128 3,785 21,886 5,803 22,174 1,277 39, 350 6,114 1 217,596 20,465 22,919 1,829 3,181 25, 652 7,585 2,172,988 337 1,056 1,626 371 515 6 4 81 130 506 74 97 35 659 941 9,346 542,938 245,719 367 462,374 271, 357 335, 309 466, 729 1,284 1,128 3,785 21,886 5,803 1, 358,959 51,943 50, 777 22,174 39, 350 6,114 26, 524 45, 563 3, 979, 064 ■ There are few violations of the law in connection with the over crowding of passenger steamers for the reason that our inspectors prevent has beenadditional reached. passengers going on board when the limit of safety BUREAU OF NAVIGATION 153 On 381 occasions the inspectors prevented additional passengers from going on board, involving the safety of 170,021 such passengers. The following table shows in detail, by ports, these shut-offs : 4 4, 500 18 24,241 8 8, 625 5 16’ 537 ' 566 242 3 4,100 2 2,600 18 24' 334 2 5, 900 7 9', 872 4 12, 515 8 22,400 2 3, 200 2 2,080 2 1, 520 6 1,926 6 ' 158 Seattle--------------- ----------- 2 623 187 4,311 Total, 1933________ 52 63,377 238 87,458 1 225 3 3,425 2 567 1 3, 000 36 4,155 1 65 45 3,874 1 65 45 3,874 42 11,822 9 36 2 17 10 12 2 41 7 3 6 46 190 381 Passen gers q co®03 gbß P-K Total | Counts Counts Passen gers Counts Passen gers Counts Passen gers Counts Passen gers j Counts Passen gers J Counts September October February June 1933 July 1932 August 1933 1932 1932 1932 11,200 48, 575 5,900 19,064 32,052 26,166 2, 080 5,917 2,611 7, 200 158 3,939 5,159 170,021 PASSENGER ACT OE 1882 The enforcement of this law through the marine divisions of the customhouses has affected 1,062 voyages involving 182,662 steerage passengers. The purpose of the act is to provide for the welfare, health conditions, food, separation of the sexes, and care in case of sickness of future citizens of our country. APPROPRIATIONS The following is a statement of the appropriations to the Bureau for 1933, segregated by services: Salaries, departmental---------------------------------------------------------------- $ 1004,, 000 000 Admeasurement of vessels---------------------------- ,------------------------------ 100,000 Enforcement navigation laws------------------------------------------------------15, 000 Preventing overcrowding passenger vessels------------------------------------ 144,100 Shipping commissioner service------------------------------------------------------ 19, 440 Load lines on American vessels--------------------------------------------------- 833, 025 Steamboat inspectors-----------------------------------------------------------------000 Clerk hire, steamboat inspection--------------------------------------------------- 150, Contingent expenses--------------■---------------------------------------------------- _ 110, OOO 1, 476,165 Total. NAVIGATION RECEIPTS During the year the Bureau has collected through tonnage duties, navigation fees, and navigation fines $1,639,395.17. The following table shows these collections in detail: June 30— 1933. 1932. 1917. Tonnage duties $1,418, 774.87 1,601,226. 43 1,393,743.16 Navigation fees $169,121.32 188,975.96 159,808.03 Navigation fines $51,498.98 57,823.11 49,962.37 Total $1, 639,395.17 1,848,025. 50 1, 603, 513. 56 PATENT OFEICE The year 1929, notable for its unprecedented business and com mercial activity, witnessed the filing of a record-breaking number of patent applications. In the 12 months ended June 30, 1930, an ag gregate of 91,430 patent applications and the staggering total of 117,790 applications of all forms were filed. The succeeding years have been featured by a recession in business and industry and this has been accompanied by a corresponding decrease in patent and other applications, culminating in the year just closed in the filing of 59,408 patent applications and a total of 79,822 for all applications. The Patent Office has not witnessed such a low ebb in new business since 1908 when only 58,527 patent applications were filed. DOWNWARD TREND HALTED In spite of a marked decrease in the volume of new work pre sented to the office, the number of patents actually issued was com paratively large, namely, 50,766. This total is the highest in the history of the Patent Office with the single exception of that reached in the preceding year, when 52,572 patents were granted. The issued patents attained this high level as the result of the increase in personnel, examining and clerical, in 1932 which, owing to the decline in new work, could devote more time to winding up old cases. There is evidence that- the decline which began several years ago has ceased, the last 6 months of the fiscal year showing a slight up ward trend. It should be noted also that the issuance of patents and registration of trade marks have undergone little decrease compared with 1932, and none at all in comparison with 1929, the last year be fore the industrial recession. Patents on plants and designs were more numerous in 1933 than in 1932, In the case of design patents the increase was from 2,728 in 1932 to 2,934 in 1933. The decrease in the volume of business in 1932 did not find a com parative reflection in the annual receipts, which totaled $4,423,563.18, a decrease of approximately $141,000 from those of the fiscal year ended June 1931, which so far as receipts are concerned, was the banner year enjoyed by the Patent Office. The high total of re ceipts in 1932, notwithstanding a substantial recession in the volume of new business, may be attributed, first, to the increase in the filing fee and the final fee from $25 to $30, which rates were in force for a complete fiscal year for the first time, and secondly, to the large number of patents actually issued. On June 30, 49,050 patent applications were awaiting action as compared with 76,723 on the same date of the preceding year, a re duction of 27,673 (36 percent). The reduction in the number of ap plications awaiting official action has greatly reduced the time during 155 156 REPORT OP T H E SECRETARY OP COMMERCE which applicants must wait for official actions in the individual cases. As contrasted with conditions existing a year ago, there are now 4 rather than 2 examining divisions under 2 months, 20 rather than 8 under 3 months, and 40 rather than 28 under 4 months. Thirtyseven divisions then operating 5 months behind have now been brought within the 4-month period. This is an accomplishment which merits comment because it represents progress not wholly at tributable to the decrease in volume of business, for the gain has been made with a personnel greatly reduced from that of the preced ing year. Because of the restrictions placed upon the filling of vacancies resulting from resignations, retirements, and deaths, the office operated during the past year with an average of 29 vacancies in the examining corps, 30 vacancies in the clerical force, and one on the Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals continued to make progress in reducing the number of pending appeal cases. Appeals awaiting action at the end of the fiscal year numbered 1,283, as compared to 2,120 at the close of the previous year. An aggregate of 2,994 appeals were de cided by the Board during the year. The oldest ex parte appeal awaiting decision was filed on June 7, 1933, and the oldest interfer ence appeal was lodged on June 9, 1933. The divisions handling patents on designs, trade marks, labels, and prints have kept up-to-date in a gratifying manner, both the new and amended work being within a month, which is practically current. WORK IMPEDED BY VACANCIES lo satisfy the universal demand of inventors and industry for greater promptness in acting upon patent applications, the constant endeavor of the Patent Office should be to bring its work into such condition that patent applications, both amended and new, may be acted upon within 60 days. Unless this is accomplished during the period in which work is at a comparatively low ebb, as it is at present, the desired result may never be attained. While every effort will be put forth to increase the _efficiency and output of tlie personnel so that gains mag continue, it nevertheless would seem advisable to fill some of the existing vacancies in the force so that the patent work may be brought within the desired 60-day period before the expected revival of business again floods the office with new work. The closing year resulted in a deficit of approximately $165,000 as compared with a deficit of $827,000 for the preceding year. Econ omies have been effected which are calculated to extinguish this deficit during the present year and thus once more place the Patent Office on a self-supporting basis. When, and only if, this is accomplished, a reduction in fees will be favored, an objective which has many ardent supporters in the professional and industrial fields. SPECIAL COMMITTEE AT WORK During the summer a committee of representative lawyers selected from various sections of the country was appointed by the Depart ment to make a thorough study of conditions in the Patent Office and as a result of its investigation, to make appropriate recommenda- PATENT OFFICE 157 tions as to changes or modifications of the patent law, and respecting procedure and practices in the Patent Office, in order to increase efficiency of operation, to remedy certain abuses, and to remove causes of complaint and dissatisfaction. This committee is composed of Loyd H. Sutton, Esq., chairman, Washington, D.C.; George Ramsey, Esq., New York City; John A. Dienner, Esq., Chicago, 111.; August B. Stoughton, Esq., Philadelphia, Pa.; Justin W. Macklin, Esq., Cleveland, Ohio; John W. Townsend, Esq., Washington, D.C.; Capt. R. S. Patton, Director United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D.C.; and J. H. Lightfoot, supervisory examiner United States Patent Office. The committee has communicated with and invited suggestions from the patent law associations, individual members of the patent bar, and the leading manufacturing and engineering organizations interested in the Patent Office and the patent system. It is hoped and believed that the work which the committee has undertaken with admirable energy and conscientious application will eventuate in such needed reforms and revisions in the practice as will enable the Patent Office to perform its duties more expeditiously and capably than has been possible under the existing procedure, which in many instances was adopted years ago and has long since become obsolete. While the final report of the committee may not be expected for several months, because of the vastness of its task and the multitude of suggestions to be considered, it has already submitted, in the form of a preliminary report, three definite and worthy recom mendations. SPECIAL COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS The first of these recommendations was that the authority and duties of the supervisory examiners should be enlarged so as more effectively to coordinate and unify the procedure and action in the several examining divisions and to expedite the flow of cases through the office. The second recommendation contemplates the establishment and maintenance of an adequate classification division to carry out in spirit, as well as in letter, the act of June 10, 1898, and pursuant to the program of classification announced in 1912 by the President’s Committee on Economy and Efficiency. The cost of reclassification may be regarded as a permanent capi tal expenditure which will be productive of future efficiency and economy. The patent statutes expressly charge the Commissioner of Patents with the duty of revising and perfecting classification of patents and publications. Since the passage of the Classification Act, this work has been carried on with varied degrees of enthusiasm and intensity, except for the last decade, during which, because of the pressure of new business and the need for every available man in the examining divisions to handle the tremendous volume of work, it has considerably and detrimentally slackened. During the period from 1899 to 1903 an average of Í0y2 examiners were devoted to classification work; from 1904 to 1908 an average of 7% examiners; from 1909 to 1913 an average of 21 examiners; from 1914 to 1918 an 158 REPORT OP T H E SECRETARY OE COMMERCE average of 20% examiners; from 1919 to 1923 an average of 12% examiners; and from 1924 to 1932 the average dwindled to 4% examiners. INADEQUATE- CLASSIFICATION CAUSES DELAY The approximately 1,900,000 United States patents issued by the office since 1836 are divided into 300 classes, each of which is further divided into from 50 to 350 subclasses. Of the principal classes 48 have not been revised for many years, in some cases not for more than half a century. The present classification of patents has not kept pace with progress in the arts and necessarily the searches of the examiners have become increasingly difficult each year. In addi tion to the United States patents the number of foreign patents is ever growing and the same is true of publications, both of which should be searched if the examination is to be complete. For want of adequate and effective classification, the Patent Office is faced with two definite alternatives. The search of the individual examiners becomes year after year increasingly longer and more diffi cult by reason of the constant issue of new patents, domestic and foreign, and the appearance of new publications. Accordingly, in the absence of revised, accurate, and modern classification, the pro duction of the individual examiner must decrease, thereby requiring periodic increases in the personnel to handle the work presented to the office. Adoption of this alternative would mean, therefore, an ever increasing personnel until in the future the office will assume mammoth proportions. If, on the other hand, the personnel is not in creased to correspond, the work will accumulate and applicants will be forced to wait undesirably long periods for their patents, or else the work will be handled in such a hurried fashion after an unreli able search as will inevitably result in the issuance of a higher per centage of invalid patents than our patent system should permit. It is only through modern, scientific, and accurate classification of the patents and literature that the examiner’s work is lightened to the point where he can continue to handle the volume of new business in an efficient and expeditious manner without new additions to the personnel. CLASSIFICATION WOULD SAVE $174,000 The present situation may be likened to that of a manufacturer who, having spent his money and devoted his whole force of em ployees to the principal purpose of achieving and maintaining maxi mum production, at the sacrifice of replacements, repairs, and better ments in his plant and its equipment, at last finds it so obsolete and insufficient that output can be continued only by enlarging the per sonnel. Proper and adequate classification of the arts in the Patent Office probably would increase the efficiency of the examiners by not less than 10 percent. This increase in efficiency would, it is estimated, effect an ultimate annual saving of approximately $174,000 on the basis of salaries now paid to the examining corps. Examiners now assigned to examining divisions cannot be with drawn from their ordinary work to perform this task of classification as their number is already reduced to the extent of 45 by retire PATENT OFFICE 159 ments, resignations, and deaths. However, in view of the urgency of the situation and because of the fact that it would bq a capital investment destined to bring heavy returns over a period of years, it is believed that the Patent Office should be permitted to fill immedi ately at least 25 of the existing vacancies in the examining corps and assign an equivalent number of men (to the classification division) to begin the classification work. These 25 examiners and 20 addi tional clerks needed to assist in the classification work could be obtained at an annual expense of approximately $80,000. A third recommendation in the preliminary report of the com mittee was that an administrative assistant to the Commissioner of Patents should be appointed in order to relieve the Commissioner of detailed duties and to afford him time, not now available, to con sider matters of general importance relative to office management and particularly to increase the efficiency of the Patent Office. This recommendation has already received approval and an administrative assistant has been appointed. It is also desired to invite attention to the necessity for a higher standard in the requirements for registration to practice before this office. The present system of registration, based upon the submis sion of affidavits, is neither reliable nor satisfactory, and the result is that attorneys may have their names entered on the register who, in many instances, at least, are not qualified to render inventors the valuable advice and assistance which they are entitled to receive. It is suggested that there be established an examination system under which an applicant for registration as an attorney in this office shall be subjected to a thorough examination as to his moral, legal, and technical qualifications; that a committee known as the “ Enrollment and disbarment committee ” be appointed by the Commissioner of Patents, to be composed of 3 officials in the Patent Office and 2 patent attorneys of standing in the profession; that it shall prepare a written examination for applicants for registration, correct the examinations, and pass upon the fitness of candidates, and consider and decide complaints of violation of ethics and unscrupulous prac tices by registered attorneys, the work of such committee being under the direction of the Commissioner of Patents and its reports subject to his approval. AID GIVEN TO INDUSTRY The policy was continued through the year of giving special status to an application whenever the patent would result in the em ployment of men and investment of additional capital. Reports filed with the Commissioner indicate that the practice justified itself, as a substantial amount of capital was released and numerous positions were created for men who otherwise would have been unemployed. Following is an appendix giving the usual statistical information. APPENDIX STATISTICS A pplications received during th e fiscal ye a r ended Jun e SO, 1 9 3 3 1 With fees: Applications for patents for inventions___________________ 59, 408 Applications for patents for designs_______________________ 4,’ 395 Applications for reissues of patents______________________ 441 ---------- 64, 244 Applications for registration of trade marksa_____________ 12, 701 Applications for registration of labels and prints__________ 2, 524 ---------- 15, 225 Total, with fees______________________________________________ 79 409 Without fees: Applications for inventions (Act Mar. 3, 1883)_________ 353 Grand total. 79, 822 A pplication s for p a ten ts for in ven tion s w ith fees Year ended June 30— 1924 1925_ 1926 1927 1928 76, 024 77, 926 80, 682 — 84,511 88, 482 Year ended June 30— 1929 --------------------------1930 --------------------------1931 __________________ 1932 --------------------------1933 --------------------------- 87,039 91,430 84,097 73,465 59,408 A pplication s fo r p a ten ts, in clu ding reissues, designs, tra d e m arks, labels and p rin ts, iv ith fees Year ended 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 June 30— 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 June 30— ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ 99, 574 103, 591 110, 030 113, 783 116, 844 Year ended 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 June 30— ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ 114, 496 117, 569 106, 717 93, 859 79, 469 P a ten t applications a w a itin g action June 30— ----------------------60,334 1929--------------------------- 44,556 1930--------------------------- 43,765 1931--------------------------- 64^646 1932------------------------- 106,575 1933- 103, 236 119, 597 92, 203 76, 723 49, 050 P a ten ts w ith h eld and p a ten ts expired 1932 Letters patent withheld for nonpayment of final fees............... Applications allowed awaiting payment of final fees... Patents expired__________ Applications in which issue of patent has been deferred under section 4885, Re vised Statutes. ........... ....... Applications in process of issue____ 1 Including applications in which fees were refunded and transferred. 2 Includes 1,663 applications for renewal of trade-mark registrations. 160 13,000 23,928 248 3,931 1933 14,072 23,448 PATENT OFFICE 161 P a ten ts granted, an d tra d e m arks, label#, and p rin ts reg istered 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 43,617 3,201 329 14,391 1,774 933 64,245 49,599 2,598 374 13,897 1,610 723 68,801 44,317 3,089 400 12,437 1,787 678 62,708 52,572 17 2,728 392 10,901 1,492 483 68,585 50,766 52 2,934 375 8,909 1,458 479 64,973 Statement of receipts and earnings for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1933 Unearned balance at close of business June 30, 1932------------------ $181, 120. 30 Collections during fiscal year ended June 30, 1933--------------------- 4, 269, 781. 73 Total_________________________________________________ 4, 450, 902. 03 Refundments________________________________________________ 27, 338. 85 Net collections________________________________________ 4, 423, 563. 18 E arn ings Inventions, first fees— ----- --- - $1, 742, 260. 00 37, 336. 00 Extra claims_________ - _ 13, 230. 00 Reissues. _ ___________________ 46, 680. 00 Designs_______________________ 15, 660. 00 Design, extensions__ .. — 188, 715. 00 Trade marks_________ ________ 11, 622. 00 Labels and p rin ts----- ----- . $2, 055, 503. 00 Total ____ — Final fees---- ----- --- ---------- 1, 464, 630. 00 27, 401. 00 Extra claims. . . — . . 1, 492, 031. 00 Total__ . ----------------- ... 43, 365. 00 Appeals________ _____— ------6, 550. 00 Oppositions----------------------------1, 230. 00 Disclaimers-----------------------------5, 700. 00 Revivals______________________ 56, 845. 00 Total. __________ ______ 333, 820. 60 Printed copies, etc -----------------10, 648. 75 Photoprints__ _______________ 54, 472. 45 Photostats____. — — — 80, 838. 85 Manuscript ---------- ----------6, 224. 40 Certified printed copies, etc-----Recording articles of incorpora 488. 00 tion_______ . . .. Recording international trade marks_______________________ 955. 00 Registration of attorneys... . 487, 448. 05 Total__ _______ _____ 19, 041. 05 Drawings. _ _____ ________ ___ 135, 031. 22 Assignments----- ----------- — . Total earnings________________________________________ 4, 245, 899. 32 Unearned balance June 30, 1933--------------------------------------------- 177, 663. 86 4, 423, 563. 18 Net receipts. 162 BEPOET OE T H E SECBETABY OE COMMEBCE R eceipts and expen ditu res Receipts from all sources____________________________________ | 4( 423, 563.18 Expenditures------------------------------------------------------------- --------- 4, 088, 585.02 Deficit------------------------------------------------------------------------ 165, 021. 84 Receipts from sale of Official Gazette and other publications (Superintendent of Documents)____________________________ 65,119.04 Actual net deficit______________________________________ 99; 902. 80 C om parative sta tem en t June 30— Receipts 1924__............. ........................................................................ 1925............................................................................. 1926____ ____________ ________________ 1927................................ ........................................................ 1928 __________ ____ _____ _________ 1929 ................. ............................................. . 1930— .................................................................................. 1931______________ ______________________________ 1932____ ________________________________ 1933— ____________________________________ Expenditures $3,042, 276.22 i $3,273,341.37 3,271,253.89 3,775,476.97 3,457,774. 53 3,857,952.11 3,524,155.55 3,769,604.03 3, 705,338.31 3,839,771. 66 3, 783,481. 65 4,391,860.16 4,096,825.43 4,552, 685.41 4,565, 377.08 4,832, 277.96 2 4,487, 508.78 5, 314,851. 59 2 4,423, 563.18 4,588, 585. 02 Deficit $231,065.15 504, 223.08 400,177. 58 245,448.48 134,433.35 608,378. 51 455,859.98 266,900.88 2827,342.81 2 165,021.84 1 Including increase in compensation (bonus). 2 This does not include the amount received by the Superintendent of Documents for the Official Gazette. C om parative sta tem en t of exp en d itu res u n der sep a ra te appropriation s Appropriation Salaries__________ ____________________________ Public use of inventions, etc________ ___________ Photolithographing_________ ____________ Miscellaneous printing and binding................................. Furniture and filing cases_____________ _________ Contingent expenses, including library stock.................. Total.............................. ...................................... L itig a te d cases 1932 $3,460,181.18 379.40 302,334.14 1,368,408. 21 41,872. 71 108,572.43 33,103.52 5,314,851. 59 1933 $3, 032,802.58 5.00 233,377.13 1,239,909.85 45,156. 01 12,475. 70 24,858. 75 4, 588, 585.02 Patent: Interferences declared____________________________________________ o, 418 Interferences disposed of before final hearing______________________l ’ 882 Interferences disposed of after final hearing_____________________ 278 Interferences awaiting decision__________________________________ 60 Trade-mark: Interferences declared___________________________________________ 106 Oppositions instituted___________________________________________ 670 Cancelations instituted__________________________________________ 141 Interferences disposed of before final hearing_____________________ 663 Interferences disposed of after final hearing_____________________ 287 Interferences awaiting decision___________________________________ 36 Before the Board of Appeals: Appeals in ex parte cases__________________________________ 2, 338 Appeals in interference cases: Priorities_________________________________________ 166 Motions__________________________________________ 214 ------ 380 —----- 2, 718 Ex parte appeals disposed of_______________________________ 2, 615 PATENT OEEICE 163 L itig a te d cases —Continued Before the Board of Appeals—Continued Appeals in interference eases disposed of: Priorities_________________________________________ 187 Motions__________________________________________ 192 2, 994 Ex parte cases awaiting action--------------------------------------------1,122 Interference cases awaiting action_________________________ 151 1,273 Oldest ex parte case awaiting action, June 7, 1933. Oldest interference case awaiting action, June 9, 1933. To the Commissioner: Appeals in trade-mark interferences--------------------------4 Appeals in trade-mark oppositions------------------------------ 52 Appeals in trade-mark cancelations----------------------------- 11 Appeals in ex parte trade-mark cases-------------------------- 30 Interlocutory appeals________________________________ 11 --------- 108 Petitions to Commissioner : Ex parte_________________________________________ 7,869 Inter partes____________________________________ 144 —— 8, 013 8,121 Cases disposed of by Commissioner: Appeals in trade-mark interference----------------------------4 Appeals in trade-mark oppositions____________________ 50 Appeals in trade-mark cancelations----------------------------- 10 Appeals in ex parte trade marks------------27 Interlocutory appeals________________________________ 11 102 Petitions disposed o f: Ex parte_______________________________________ 7, 799 Inter partes____________________________________ 133 --------- 7, 932 8, 034 Notices of appeals to United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals: In ex parte cases (including 4 trade marks)_________________ 145 In inter partes cases_______________________________________ 72 In trade-mark oppositions-------------------------------------------------- 19 In trade-mark cancelations-------------------------------------------------6 In design applications_____________________________________ 8 250 To Supreme Court, District of Columbia, in equity (including 2 trade marks)___________________________________________________________ 90 OTHER DETAILS OP BUSINESS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR — --------------- As to the volume of business, the office received during the year 64,244 applications for patents, reissues, and designs; 11,038 trade mark applications and 1,663 applications for renewal of trade-mark registrations; and 2,624 label and print applications; 228,788 amend ments to patent applications, 5,744 amendments to design applica tions, and 14,892 amendments to trade-mark, label, and print applications. The number of letters constituting the miscellaneous correspond ence received and indexed was 411,219. In addition, 34,007 letters were returned with information. The number of printed copies of patents sold was 3,281,973; 1,450,979 copies of patents were shipped to foreign governments, 164 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE and 824,678 copies furnished public libraries. The total number of copies of patents furnished was 6,032,765, including those for office use and other departments. The office received for record 41,299 deeds of assignment. The drafting division made 591 drawings for inventors, and corrected 16,600 drawings on request of inventors; 110,379 sheets of drawings were inspected, and 18,228 letters answered. Typewritten copies of 3,308,800 words were furnished at 10 cents per hundred words. The office certified to 10,695 manuscript copies, and furnished 5,509 miscellaneous certified copies. The office also furnished 341,536 photostat copies of manuscript pages; 38,071 photographic copies, and 271,368 photostat copies of publications and foreign patents, for sale; 22,682 photostat-manuscript pages; 86 certified manuscript copies and 8,966 photostat copies for Govern ment Departments, without charge; 25,722 photostat and 13,276 photographic copies for use of the Patent Office; 15,270 photostat copies for sale through photo-print section, and 183 photostats for office use; also 70,413 photostats for assignments, grants, and dis claimers for official use; in all, 756,140 photostat and 51,347 photographic copies. BUREAU OF MINES FINANCES Total funds available to the Bureau of Mines for the fiscal year ended June 30,1933, were $2,398,947.38. Of this amount $1,908,010.96 was spent, leaving an unexpended balance of $490,936.42, mainly owing to uncompleted work in the helium program for the Army and Navy; which resulted in carrying over $234,590.79 of heliumplant funds as authorized expenditures for the fiscal year 1934, less a reduction of $50,000 as provided in the appropriation act for 1934. On the regular work of the Bureau $1,705,472.04 was expended directly; this figure is subject to slight corrections due to unpaid obligations. In addition, for the helium program, which is purely service work for the Army and Navy and has no part in the regular plans of the Bureau, $286,213.96 was appropriated directly to the Bureau and $184,000 was transferred from the Army and Navy for the purchase at cost of helium produced by the Bureau for this military-service branch. Table 1 presents classified and complete information re garding the financial history of the Bureau since its transfer to the Department of Commerce July 1, 1925. A statement of the distribution of congressional appropriations to branches and divisions within the Bureau and the expenditures of these funds in 1933 by the various divisions of the Bureau is given in table 2. T a b le 1.— B u reau of M ines appropriation s and expenditu res, 1926-33 trans Total funds Expendi Depart Funds ferred from available Fiscal Annual appro Total ex tures exclu Bu mental al other for Unexpended agen year— priations, balance penditures sive of serv reau of Mines lotments 1 cies 2 expenditure ice item s3 $1,875,010.00 __________ $81,220.00 $510,501.15 $2,466,731.15 $28,891.78 2,437,839.37 $1,841,150.80 1926 1.914.400.00 1927 __________ 94,443.39 325.000. 002,333,843.39 44,871. 29 2, 288,972.10 1,926,910.12 1928 3.025.150.00 __________ 113,266. 45 328.000. 00 3,466,416.45 4 736,235. 62 2,730,180.83 1,997, 270. 66 1929 2,__________ 725,118.00 103,000. 00 205, 500.00 43,753,094. 67 5 152,701.34 3,600,393.33 68 1930— . 2, 274,670. 00 123,300.00 166, 200. 00 52, 684,386. 38 o 135,714.93 2, 548, 671.45 2,280,960. 2,__________ 745,060. 00 120, 680.91 166, 500.00 8 3,134, 595.10 7 195, 534.37 2,939,060. 73 2,216,995.72 1931 2,304,121.45 1932 2.278.765.00 __________ 137,866.48 194, 500. 00 72,770, 712.18 8 344,340.92 2, 426,371. 26 2,197,055.86 1933 1.860.325.00 __________ 75,100.00 221,808.42 82,398,947.38 8 490,936.42 1,908,010.96 1,705,472.04 Total. 18, 698,498. 00 848,877. 23 2,118,009. 57 23,008, 726. 70 2,129, 226. 67 20,879,500.03 16,469,937.33 1934___ io 1,514,300.00 47,500. 00 124,000. 00 81,483,211.72 “1,206, 444.00 1 Includes printing and binding, stationery, and contingent funds. 2 Includes proceeds from sales of residue gas. 3 Service items include Government fuel yards, helium, and other investigations and services for other departments. 4 Includes $719,476.67 unexpended balance reappropriated. 3 Includes $120,216.38 unexpended balance reappropriated. 4 Includes $102,354.19 unexpended balance reappropriated. 7 Includes $159,580.70 unexpended balance reappropriated. 8 Includes $241,713.96 unexpended balance reappropriated. 8 Includes $184.590.79 unexpended balance reappropriated. Withdrawals from appropriations to Bureau limited by Department to $1,124,000.00. 11 Estimated. 1 9 8 6 5 -3 3 - 13 165 T a ble 2. — Bureau Branch or division , of Mines expenditures fiscal year 1933 Care, etc., buildings and grounds, Pittsburgh $7,130.11 1,320.96 8,451.07 $440. 00 70,745.42 63,316. 79 101, 584.71 232.26 156,609.48 7,389.02 132,714.95 112,688.89 156,841. 74 172,330.13 63,316.79 153.00 247,140.14 247,293.14 9,350.00 301,375. 00 155,000. 00 130,420. 00 183, 200.00 200,000. 00 8,419.98 273,826.86 139, 614. 24 118, 737. 79 164,759.47 180,781.20 930. 02 27,548.14 15,385. 76 11,682.21 18,440.53 19,218.80 70,000. 00 63,756. 79 6,243. 21 Mineral Oil and gas mining investiga investiga tions tions $12,199.59 8,556.25 Administrative branch: Office-administration division__________ _______________ Technologic branch: 12,425.82 34,095.35 46,521.17 $4,854. 77 13,762.83 18,617. 60 37,776.98 $6,497.07 12,647.63 19,144.70 $26.77 6,872.52 6,899. 29 $3,803.79 2,245.11 6,048.90 100,693. 46 52, 589. 51 47,818.82 24,239.89 7 , 150.47 43,176.95 2,069.84 $8,419.98 89,538. 00 76.32 47,161. 27 63,381.46 225,341. 68 8,419.98 238. 55 $5,606.06 2,311.67 7,917.73 440.00 Economics branch: Health and safety branch: 27,153. 87 53,374.31 17,059.09 97,587. 27 Total appropriations---------------- -------------------- --------- ---------------- 75,060. 00 421,190.00 67, 277.01 379,323. 53 Unexpended balance...................................................................... 7,782.99 41,866. 47 * REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE Expenses, miningexperiment stations Mining Operating General Investigat mine rescue Testing ing mine investiga tions in cars and fuel expenses accidents Alaska stations i * Branch or division Mainte nance and Helium Economics operation, investiga of mineral Helium Govern tions industries plants ment fuel yards i Helium Gas pro production duction Printing and binding Depart ment con tingent Total $12,199. 59 8,556. 25 Administrative branch: $2, 271. 56 $10,455.28 2,271. 56 10,455.28 $10,357.65 $22,517. 20 287.99 10,645.64 22,517. 20 570. 52 $5,639.36 5,639.26 Economics branch: (>) 38,130.99 $7,123.17 118,505.45 $25,368.49 38,130.99 7,123.17 118, 505.45 25,368. 49 55,737.89 26,244.32 74, 721.43 6,628.41 35,342.87 33,162.35 231,837.27 23,232.1Ï 734.87 23,966.98 Health and safety branch « Unexpended balance----- --------- --------- --------- ----------------*Revolving fund. 44,500. 00 270, 230. 00 241,713.96 184,000. 00 40,402. 55 242,292. 55 7,123.17 124,144. 71 4,097.45 27,937.45 234, 590. 79 59,855. 29 2, 532.84 494.97 1,099. 71 1,161. 62 1,985.37 7,274. 51 37,808.42 25,368. 49 12,439.93 3,254.95 566. 57 3, 386. 25 7,207. 77 52,000. 00 23,100.00 49,665. 42 22,517.20 582.80 2,334. 58 289,685.77 53,084. 48 189,12«. 10 146,952.83 148,745.98 89,253. 78 158,594.85 1,075,445.79 55,737.89 26,244. 32 97,953. 54 6,628. 41 35,342. 87 33,897. 22 255,804. 25 30,561. 82 53,940. 88 267,585. 48 352,088.18 2,398,947.38 1,908,010.96 490,936. 42 BUREAU OP MINES Technologic branch: 92,025. 34 73,544. 06 165,569.40 38,347.50 O 168 REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OE COMMERCE TECHNOLOGIC BRANCH MECHANICAL DIVISION Electricity in mines.—Service intended to promote the design of electrical machinery, for use in gassy mines, that will reduce hazards of ignition by shock and gas, has been continued throughout the year. The possible ignition of mine gas by static electricity has been studied and a manuscript embodying the results prepared. Use of coal.—Fundamental information on the process of combus tion in a fuel bed with underfeed firing, and on the effect of preheat ing the air supply, has been obtained from studies of coal utiliza tion. Both investigations will aid the rational design of coal-burn ing equipment and smokeless devices. Methods have been developed for measuring and comparing certain burning characteristics of various coals (which have hitherto been expressed in such general terms as free, medium, and slow burning) and the ability of a fresh fire to pick up the load. Fuel-economy service.—Eight departments of the Federal Gov ernment have applied the Bureau’s studies of the quality and efficient use of coal to their own needs. Nearly 200 plants have received the attention of the Bureau’s consulting fuel-economy service, and the recommendations made have saved some $300,000 in investment and over $15,000 in yearly expense. Fuel inspection.—Many Government organizations ask the Bu reau’s advice in selecting coal offered on specification, since its rec ords of the quality of coal delivered on contract grow more extensive each year. Fuel analyses.—About 9,000 coal analyses were added during the year to the 170,000 already on file. A publication on Montana coals was the eighteenth State report describing coal fields and deposits visited by Bureau engineers and containing analyses of coal samples collected for test at Bureau experiment stations. Constitution and carbonizing properties of North American coals.—The low- and high-temperature coking properties and the microstructure of typical North American coals have been deter mined by a new method developed in cooperation with The American Gas Association. The following coals have been discussed in Bureau technical papers: Pittsburgh bed, Pennsylvania; Davis bed, Mary land; Chilton and Taggart beds, West Virginia; Elkhorn bed, Ken tucky ; Mary Lee and Black Creek beds, Alabama; No. 6 bed, Illinois; and Michel mine, British Columbia. Seventeen different types of spores have been identified and described in the foregoing coal beds, thus supplying data for correlating beds in questionable geological horizons. The- effect of carbonizing temperature on the composition of tar and light oils has been established, and a commercially promising method of extracting tar, acids, and phenols from tar with ether has been developed. These compounds are useful for producing syn thetic resins of the “ bakelite ” type. Classification of coal.—Such physical properties of coal as friabil ity, tendency to disintegrate by weathering, agglutinating or caking index, and’ chlorine content have been ascertained by tests in cooper- BUREAU OP MINES 169 ation with the American Standards Association. A number of typi cal American coals have been so tested. Thermal chemistry of hydrocarbons.—Experimental and theo retical studies of reaction kinetics and equilibria of hydrocarbon compounds in coal gas and natural gas have resulted in (1) the devel opment of mathematical methods for computing thermodynamic functions from spectroscopic data and the application of this method to acetylene, ethylene, ethane, and methane; (2) the disclosure of the yields of acetylene and of ethylene obtainable by the pyrolosis of mixtures of methane and steam and of methane and carbon dioxide at various temperatures and pressures; and (3) the disclosure of con ditions affecting the catalytic polymerization of acetylene to ben zene and the polymerization of ethylene to lubricating oils. These basic studies indicate the possibility of commercially producing ethyl alcohol from higher hydrocarbons of waste natural gas at an esti mated manufacturing cost of 14 cents a gallon and of lubricating oil at 13 cents a gallon. Solubility of methane in coal.—Coals ranging in rank from lig nite to anthracite were exposed to methane at pressures up to 100 atmospheres. The amount of methane dissolved in the coals in creased with pressure and the methane-holding capacity of the coals with rank; hence, anthracite and semibituminous coal mines are apt to be much more gassy than low-rank bituminous mines. Conclusions.—All fuel consumers are at liberty to make use of the impartial and accurate data on the coals of the United States assembled by the Bureau of Mines. This information doubtless will be in much greater demand when the coal industry establishes a uniform relationship between prices and classes of coal. The data now being collected on the carbonizing properties of coal will pro mote the manufacture of smokeless fuels and tend to reduce con centrations of smoke and soot in city atmospheres. Research on the basic chemistry of natural gas will hasten the commercial devel opment of processes for utilizing some now being blown to waste. M IN IN G DIVISION Mining and milling methods and costs; metallic ores.—With the aid of some 300 managers of representative metal and nonmetal mines and mills in North America, a series of information circulars has been prepared during the past 4 years on methods and costs of mining and milling and on important problems in mining practice. Of these, about 250 have been published; 50 are still to be issued. A valuable bulletin on cost accounting, necessary as a background for these 300 circulars on mining costs, was prepared with the assist ance of the American Society of Certified Accountants and leading mine-accounting specialists; many mining companies contributed data, time, and help. Publications during the year included bulletins on gold-mining and on shaft-sinking methods and costs, 5 summary circulars cov ering special aspects of mining, 10 circulars on mining and 2 on milling at individual mines, and 6 reports on the cost of equipping and developing small gold mines (a subject upon which nothing had been published). 170 EEPOBT OF THE SECEETAEY OF COMMEEOE Manuscripts for bulletins on the following subjects were sub mitted for publication: Modern placer-mining methods; copper mining practice in the United States ; methods and costs of milling copper ores; methods and costs of mining and milling lead and zinc; tungsten mining and milling methods; underground scraping practice in metal mines; and engineering factors in the ventilation of metal mines. Nonmetallic mining.—Operating costs and technical details of the mining methods used at 3 crushed-stone quarries, 1 clay pit, 1 gypsum mine, and 7 sand and gravel pits were presented in infor mation circular's. Two others discussed the technical problems in volved in prospecting and developing sand and gravel deposits. These papers, plus the 27 already published, comprise the only tech nical library so compiled as to make information on cost records and the technique of nonmetallic mining directly available to interested operators. Although nonmetallic-mineral production far surpasses metal pro duction in quantity, and equals it in value, much less technical attention has been paid to nonmetallic-mining methods; the collec tion of these data and their interpretation attempt to remedy this condition. Falls of roof and coal.—Four technical papers, five reports of investigations, and two information circulars on falls of roof in specified coal beds were published. These investigations, which em body definite recommendations to the individual mines studied, have resulted in marked reduction of coal-mining hazards, made pos sible more complete recovery of coal, and proved of recognized assistance to the operators. Geophysical prospecting.—A comprehensive geophysical survey of 500 square miles, in and around the Government’s Texas helium reserves, was completed to promote the development of such reserves. Machines for calibrating seismometers, together with control equip ment, were completed and installed, and precision instruments of several types were designed and constructed. Geophysical observa tions were made in serpentine areas, to aid in finding a domestic supply of chromium. Two technical papers and 12 monthly abstracts of current geophysical literature were published. Ventilation.—A comprehensive bulletin on metal-mine ventila tion was completed. Ventilation studies were begun in the anthra cite district and are being continued. Conclusions.—Field work of the division personnel has made possi ble dissemination of data on mining conditions, methods of operation, factors affecting costs of production, and labor conditions in the prin cipal mining districts. Itemized costs have been ascertained for such factors of expense in mining as breaking ore and coal, loading, haul age, hoisting, developing, stoping, blasting, timbering, power and general items; and in milling as crushing, grinding, conveying, classifying, gravity and flotation concentrating, filtering, drying, and tailing disposal. The reports also show the man-hours per ton at the various mines and mills, and the quantity of explosives, timber, elec trical energy, and reagents and other mill supplies consumed per ton of ore treated. BUREAU OF MINES 171 Mere statistics would be misleading in any study of mineral pro duction looking to control of output, wages, and prices; to reach equitable conclusions it is essential for the contributing elements to be known and understood as they affect production costs. M ETALLURGICAL DIVISION The study of possibilities of production of iron and steel by direct processes has advanced steadily. The year’s accomplishments in clude the development of two methods for direct production of wrought iron from highly concentrated ores. Laboratory tests have been successful and commercial trials are under way. The reduction of iron ores by natural gas, another phase of the program, was given continued attention, and work on the problem is virtually competed. Direct reduction of ferberite tungsten ores to produce a material satisfactory for use in the manufacture of high-speed^ steel has been accomplished in the laboratory; it is hoped that this process will enable domestic ores to compete with foreign. Ore-dressing technique has been advanced, particularly in separa tion by alternating magnetic fields. Chromite ores have been concentrated by this method with especially promising results. Metallurgical fundamentals.—The high-temperature specific heats of metallurgically important substances are given in a bulletin pre senting the results of continued work in the application of thermo dynamic methods to metallurgical problems. Metallurgy of copper.—A good way to improve the economics of copper smelting is to find some method of saving the sulphur and iron in copper ores. Flotation processes may yield a fine concentrate. Methods have been devised for burning this concentrate to give high-sulphur gases and a product from which the copper and iron can be separated. A complete study of copper ferrites has been necessary in connection with this work. The existence of two forms of copper ferrites, revealed by their X-ray spectrograms, has been an interesting discovery. Metallurgy of lead and zinc.—The reduction of zinc ores by nat ural gas and lead smelting in the blast furnace have been investigated further. Metallurgy of rare and precious metals.—Many gold ores cannot be directly cyanided, but must be roasted; however, the gold is frequently so contaminated in this process that good recoveries are not obtained. A number of difficult treatment problems have al ready yielded to study, and, in view of the current importance of gold metallurgy, this work is being actively pursued. Metallurgy of iron and steel.—Nonuniformities in gas distribu tion, temperature, and smelting in blast furnaces can be traced to irregularities in the size of the feed. The usual methods of agglom eration, such as sintering and briquetting, are being studied, as well as the use of glomerules developed by the Bureau. In this latter method, the charge of fine ore is moistened and caused to ball so individual glomerules are one fourth to three fourths inch in diam eter. When heated above 1,000° C., these glomerules attain mechan ical strength and yet remain easily reducible. 172 BEPOKT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE Ore dressing.—The Bureau has pioneered in the flotation of non sulphide minerals. Methods are now available for the flotation of virtually all important nonsulphide minerals, and much has been accomplished in separation of these minerals. At present, partic ular emphasis is being placed on the tungsten and chromium min erals, as well as kyanite and other nonmetallics. The importance of efficient crushing and grinding in order to free valuable minerals from worthless gangue can hardly be over stated. The relation of power to surface produced and the effi ciency of various types of ballmills are being carefully studied. Radically new methods of ore preparation are also being developed, with especial emphasis on explosive shattering, in which the ore is subjected to an explosion of superheated steam. Special studies.—-The magnetic properties of minerals, and changes which can be brought about by heat treatment, have been investigated, and many minerals not heretofore susceptible to mag netic concentration have been so conditioned that they may be sep arated by alternating magnetic fields. The action of these alternat ing fields on minerals is another subject being followed with interest. Conclusions.—Conservation of our natural resources is being promotecl by continuance of work now under way. It is hoped that these investigations will reduce considerably foreign monopolies of processes or of raw materials. PETROLEUM AND NATURAL-GAS DIVISION Subsurface relationships of oil and gas.—Further national recog nition was accorded research of the Bureau of Mines on perform ance of oil and gas wells when subsurface studies of east Texas wells and investigations of the liberation of gas naturally dissolved in crude oil were completed. Data for the published reports were obtained with special instruments developed by the Bureau for tak ing samples at the bottom of drill holes and for recording pressures and temperatures in wells. The field work was made possible by financial assistance from the operators. The natural flowing life of individual wells can be predicted by this method while the reservoir pressure is above 755 pounds per square inch absolute; below this pressure, east Texas crude oil liber ates its naturally dissolved gas. Selection of correct sizes of tubinois facilitated by the data in these reports. By a new method the energy available in the reservoir fluid at various pressures was determined from the gas-liberation character istics of bottom-hole samples of oil. Information was also reported for computing the quantity of gas that must be injected into a well to produce flow by gas lift when natural flow ceases. Compressi bility data on east Texas oil showed the minor effect, as a propulsive force, of liquid expansion due to release of pressure. A comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of flow in wells was completed. The mathematics of well flow has been condensed by curves and tables into a form usable by producers. Fluid flow and recovery of oil and gas.—Recent laboratory tests, in which back pressures were held on the sand, demonstrated the beneficial effect of dissolved gas on oil recovery. The advantage BUREAU OF MINES 173 of gas over air, under back-pressure conditions, is due to the reduc tion of surface tension and decreased viscosity of the oil caused by gas going into solution. For the combination of sand, oil, and gas, 60 to 65 percent of the original oil in the sand was the limit of recovery for field operations, an important fact to operators using this method of production. Continuing the study of the flow of fluids through porous media, 33 tests, using air as the flowing medium, were completed. The re sults confirm earlier data. In addition, 44 tests of gaseous flow through cores of consolidated sands from oil-producing horizons were made. In general, analyzed results indicate flow relationships conforming to those obtained in the study of unconsolidated sands. Analysis of data from a series of accelerated oxidation tests, last ing 182 days, is expected to answer practical operating questions regarding possible changes in the characteristics of crude oil if air is Production used to stimulate production. of natural gas.—Advancing . the and transportation science of controlling and gaging natural'-gas wells, 959 back-pressure tests have been made on 577 natural-gas wells. Of these, 88 percent show a straight-line relationship between pressure conditions m the well and delivery from it. Tests by the Bureau’s method, with high back pressures and relatively low rates of flow, can be applied to determine (1) rate of flow under open-flow conditions; (2) avail ability of gas under any pressure condition; and (3) different pro ducing characteristics of a well1 in relation to such factors as the presence of water and gasoline and the effects of caving and of shootin»'. Added knowledge has been gained in the use of critical and noncritical flow provers, pitot tubes, and choke nipples for accurate measurement of gas deliveries. , The Pennsylvanian gas-producing formations of the Oklahoma City field were studied by the Bureau at the request of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. The ensuing report stated that these should be regarded merely as an auxiliary supply to augment the formation gas in the pre-Pennsylvanian oil-producing zones when the oil wells stop flowing naturally. This investigation should save the industry and the State a large investment on which returns would have been uncertain Tests of 29 lines, totaling 757 miles of pipe, ranging in size from 6 to 22 inches and in operating pressure from 30 to 600 pounds per square inch, were described in a comprehensive report on gas trans portation. A method of determining viscosity of natural gas was developed, and a report issued on the deviation of natural gas from Boyle’s law under pressure commonly used in transportation lines. The code of The American Gas Association will include these findings. Corrosion caused by traces of hydrogen sulphide, water vapor, and oxygen, in gas lines operating under high pressures, prompted the development of a test method which, when applied to operating pipe lines, permits reasonable prediction of the economic life of a line under test conditions. The practices recommended should decrease rapid attack of metal by corrosive agencies. Chemistry and refining— Sulphur in petroleum continued to be the major investigation in chemistry and refining. A chemical method was developed for removing elementary sulphur from gasoline. 174 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE Rocky Mountain high-sulphur black oils were subjected to cracking and treating tests to determine their suitability as sources of motor fuel. A refiner in the area tested these experimental motor fuels for antiknock quality. The straight-run gasolines have a low octane rating. Cracked-gasoline ratings have not been reported. Results of the Bureau’s study of paraffin were prepared for publi cation. Comprehensive laboratory tests are combined with data obtained from refineries to show commercial methods of wax manu facture. The properties of typical crude oils from the Eastern Hemisphere were tabulated in a bulletin representing the results of a continuing study of crude oils as material for the manufacture of commercial products. Additional samples from eastern United States sands were analyzed, and analyses of Texas crude oils by the Bureau of Mines method were compiled. Where possible, the characteristics of the oils were correlated with their source beds. Conclusions.—Many uneconomical practices, based upon rule-ofthumb methods, have been eliminated in oil and gas fields because basic knowledge regarding reservoir conditions has been obtained and reported by the Bureau of Mines. The development of facts regarding the_ presence and removal of sulphur in petroleum has continued to aid refiners in manufacturing commercial products. Work on oil and gas has been seriously crippled by termination of studies that had been developed to the point where definite results of practical value were assured. There is need for investigations of economic well spacing, performance of wells under production-con trol conditions, water encroachment, and economical withdrawal of oil and gas. Research into fractional distillation should be expanded to include methods of obtaining petroleum products without exces sive refining costs. The Petroleum Experiment Station continued to operate under great handicaps because no adequate engineering laboratory has been provided. EXPERIMENT STATIONS DIVISION The Annual Report of the Director of the Bureau of Mines for the fiscal year 1932 describes in detail the type of activities car ried on at each of the 11 field experiment stations. NONMHTALLIC MINERALS During the year, research by the Bureau of Mines has made several definite contributions to domestic industry. (1) It has laid the foundation for the establishment of a new American industry that will supply a commodity now imported. Laboratory and small-scale engineering tests indicate the probabil ity that potassium sulphate can be made on a commercial scale more economically from polyhalite than from any other domestic raw material, and that the costs will be low enough to compete with sul phate below.) now imported from Germany. (See recovery description (2) The possible extension of three industries to provide domestic substitutes for imported products has been shown. Certain domestic chalks and whitings have been found to be satisfactory substitutes BUREAU OF MINES 175 for those of foreign manufacture. From the kaolins of the Pacific Northwest, the Bureau has recovered quartz sand, formerly imported into that region for use in glass and pottery. Cleaning methods for Idaho and Washington clays have been developed; plant tests show that the resulting product is equivalent to material now imported from England. (3) The Bureau has developed flotation procedures and reagent combinations, for the treatment of Alabama graphite, that will be less costly than former practice. This offers some possibilities for the revival of an Alabama graphite industry, inactive because of foreign competition. Recovery of potassium sulphate from polyhalite.—Extensive de posits of polyhalite, a hydrated potassium-magnesium-calcium sul phate, were discovered by the Bureau in New Mexico and Texas dur ing its 5-year drilling program initiated in 1926. Since this mineral had never been exploited, the Nonmetallic Minerals Experiment Sta tion undertook to develop processes for the production of potassium salts and other industrial chemicals from it. During the past year prospects for the commercial utilization of polyhalite have improved markedly, due to the following important advances in the processes outlined in previous years: 1. Tests in small-scale engineering equipment have proved that common salt, occurring as an impurity, may be removed to any desired practical limit without much loss of potassium sulphate. 2. The time of calcination has been reduced from 30 minutes or more, previously considered necessary, to a maximum of 3 minutes. 3. The production of potassium sulphate through formation of syngenite, a hydrated potassium-calcium sulphate, has been im proved by the development of a commercially attractive pressure method of decomposition which materially reduces costs. 4. Continuous operation of the reduction step in a process previ ously developed, has replaced batch treatment. The reducing agent is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide derived from natural gas. Utilisation of domestic chalks and whitings.—Paleontological and petrographic studies, as well as tests of samples from all known domestic formations of chalk and many American limestone and marble deposits, for color, oil absorption, workability, hydrogen-ion concentration, sedimentation, decoloration, particle size, chemical composition, and putty requirements, by the Northwest Experiment Station, indicate that at least seven American limestones compare favorably with European chalk. All American chalks studied were darker than the commercial European chalks, and no inexpensive method of improving the color was found. Purification and utilization of quartz and mica from Pacific Northwest kaolins.—Quartz sands washed from eastern Washington and northwestern Idaho kaolins, subjected to laboratory and plant tests, were found satisfactory in glass and pottery, and, while useful, were not as suitable for foundry and blast sand as the tougher Belgium, Illinois, and New Jersey sands. Moscovite from the same source is useful in white fillers. Purification of sandy micaceous kaolins by pneumatic methods.— Impurities in Washington kaolins could be reduced from 70 to 6 176 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE percent in a simple apparatus consisting of an impact pulverizer and air separator in operation at the Northwest Experiment Station. While the refined material was not as clean as that prepared by water washing, it was suitable for earthenware pottery and for kalsomine and other fillers; operating costs were less. Kaolin and china clay in the Pacific Northwest.—Washington and Idaho kaolins or china clays can be satisfactorily purified by methods devised at the Northwest Experiment Station in cooperation with the University of Washington. Laboratory and factory tests have shown that the purified china clay is suitable for china, porcelain, and earthenware pottery, paper filler, superior refractories, and gen eral filler purposes. The commercial development of these materials would avoid importation to the Pacific coast of English china and ball clay, valued at $116,176 in 1929. Milling Alabama' graphite ores.—A froth-flotation study as applied to Alabama graphite ores has been completed by the Southern Ex periment Station. Proper control of the acidity of the flotation pulp would reduce the treatment to two stages, and would virtually eliminate the necessity for re-treating concentrate in a finishing mill, thus reducing substantially the cost of producing commercial graphite from these ores. Gleaning' fine coal by flotation.-—Ferric and ferrous salts are the most effective flotation reagents found by the Northwest Experiment Station for cleaning fine sizes of high-sulphur coal. Cleaned-coal froths ordinarily maintain their stability for long periods and are troublesome to handle with usual washery pumping equipment. Cleaned-coal froths have been shown to break down completely if the frothing reagents are added only as required to maintain a working froth. Conclusions.—-Industrial recovery should be promoted by applica tion of the year’s research on nonmetallic-mineral problems. Sev eral processes developed are applicable to essential, widely used products that would displace similar material now imported. The significance of new domestic industries as markets for machinery and raw materials for plant construction, and of the increased purchas ing power from greater employment of American labor, is obvious. Two new coal-cleaning plants have already been put in operation, and others may be installed. Utilization of the byproducts from polyhalite treatment for pot ash has been studied only to a slight extent. Thorough research on the production of such industrial chemicals as sodium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, magnesium chloride, and other salts from wastes would aid in solving the problem of polyhalite utilization and at the same time assist the various industries using these chemicals. EXPLOSIVES DIVISION Permissible explosives.—In 1907, the year before the Government began to test explosives, the fatality rate in coal mining was 1.687 per thousand men employed, due to the large number of deaths caused by explosives and explosions. Only about 1 percent of the explosives then used were of the short-flame (permissible) type, the remainder being black blasting powder. In 1929, the record coal- BUREAU OF MINES 177 producing year, the fatality rate was reduced to 0.432 per thousand, due in large measure to cooperative efforts of the Explosives Division of the Bureau and the coal-mine operators. Fully 50 percent of the coal mined in 1929 was blasted with explosives classed by the Bureau as permissible. During the fiscal year 1933, 18 explosives were added to the Bureau’s active permissible list, and 17 explosives were transferred from the active to the inactive list, leaving 135 permissible explo sives and 5 models of blasting devices on the active list. Eight of the explosives submitted failed to pass the tests. Nine field samples of permissible explosives have been checked to determine whether they conform to the specified requirements. Effect of moisture.—The effect of the absorption of moisture on the explosive properties of permissible explosives, when stored in coal mines, was tested. It was found that, even under most favor able conditions, storage should be limited to the shortest possible period. Investigations of the duplicability of gallery tests showed that moisture has no appreciable effect on the ease of ignition of mixtures of natural gas and air. Tests of fuse and detonants.—The chemical, physical, and explo sive properties of three initiating compounds have been tested dur ing the year as part of a continuing program to ascertain the rela tive ability of various detonants to cause complete detonation of explosives, particularly permissible explosives. The properties and characteristics of various brands of fuse obtained in open market were also determined. Assistance to other organizations.—Three inspections at explosives plants were made on behalf of the Panama Canal Commission in connection with their acceptance of explosives for use in the Canal Zone. The danger of using black powder, and the relative safety of permissible explosives, in the presence of gas and/or coal dust were illustrated by several demonstrations during the year. As a special phase of ’suitability tests, the relative ignitibility of 33 industrial explosives, submitted for use in the United States Forest Service by nine manufacturers, was determined. The Bu reau’s explosives engineers designed and constructed an ignitibility device with which to make these tests. Pressure waves.—The ignition of a gas mixture by an explosive is a process influenced by the pressure wave the explosive sends out. This wave, which is reflected from the walls, roof, and floor of the working place, increases the pressure and temperature of the gas mixture, hence the safety of an explosive when fired into an inflam mable-gas mixture also depends upon the size of the chamber in which it is fired. The S.chlieren method of photography is being used to measure the speed and relative position of the pressure wave sent by permissible explosives. Limits of inflammability of gases.—The limits of inflammability of combustible gases, and mixtures of gases, found in mines, man holes, and many industrial processes, have been determined in the explosives-chemical laboratory. Correlation of the results of many 178 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE such determinations has aided the development of a method of calculating the inflammability of gaseous mixtures from chemical analyses. Several successful applications to practical field problems have proved this method of calculation. A study has also been made of the mechanism of the initiation of gas explosions. Conclusions.—Black blasting powder, dynamite, liquid oxygen, and other explosives of special types have caused countless explosions. Such explosives will not pass the Bureau’s tests for permissibility and will readily ignite firedamp and coal dust. Discontinuance of the work of the explosives division would undoubtedly lead to disastrous explosions in coal mines, caused by use of long-flame explosives and black powder. The economic losses caused thereby would be many times larger than the cost of maintaining the per missibility tests. HELIUM DIVISION Production record.—The Amarillo helium plant, which produces all lifting gas used in Government airships, established two new records during the year—an average purity of 98.20 percent and an average recovery of 90.12 percent, attained in processing a nat ural gas containing 1.8 percent of helium. Continuing research in the cryogenic laboratory gave information of great importance on the conservation, production, and purification of helium. The output of the Amarillo plant in 11 operating months of the fiscal year 1938 was 14,749,960 cubic feet of helium, which fully sup plied the Army and Navy. This plant, with the 50,000 acres of gas lands, wells, and pipe line acquired by the Government, repre sents less than one fourth of the total capital investment in helium properties. It has used less than one seventh of the funds that have been spent in helium-plant operation. Nevertheless, in about 4 years of operation it has produced 52 million cubic feet of helium— nearly one half of all helium ever recovered in the world—and has barely commenced its useful life. OFFICE OF CHIEF MINING ENGINEER Outstanding features were the increased acceptance by the coal mining industry of Experimental-Mine findings on coal-dust-explosion prevention and establishment of regular exchange of information on mine-safety problems with European testing stations. Under agreement with research stations of Great Britain, France, Belgium, and Germany quarterly reports were interchanged, sup plemented by correspondence on specific studies, such as safety in multiple shot firing in coal mines. Mine safety hoard,.—New decisions were made on ventilation, supporting roof, guarding mine openings, barrier pillars, electricwire protection, and checking men in and out of mines. A report embodies 25 decisions. Experimental Mine investigations.—Tests of four Kentucky coals and three from the Pocahontas field, W. Va., determined the relative explosibility of the dusts therefrom. The results gave definite data concerning the rock dusting required. The relative power of differ ent sources to initiate dust explosions were studied. Tests of dif- BUREAU OF MINES 179 ferent concentrations of coal dust in air developed analogies to gas-air explosions, such as a lower limit of concentration for flame propagation and a point of maximum explosibility. Bulletin 364, Laboratory Testing of the Inflammability of Coal and Other Dusts, was issued; Bulletin 369, Explosion Tests of Pittsburgh Coal Dust, 1925-32, is in press. Other research related to the compressibility and bearing strength of coal as a buttress for ventilation stoppings and hydraulic dams; a report thereon was issued as Technical Paper 527. .. Special duties—Data on subsidence of the surface from mining adjacent to the Experimental Mine, and on subsidence of a concretelined shaft near Uniontown, Pa., were reported in papers prepared for the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. Other work related to gases from coal, bumps, and other ground movement, steel roof supports, and mining petroleum by under ground methods; the latter was covered in Bulletin 351. ECONOMICS BRANCH COAL DIVISION Service to coal industry.—Prompt reports that follow supply and demand, and detailed annual publications that trace the underlying changes in the industry, providing a background for the current service, are among the features of an information service main tained by the division for coal producers, distributors, and consumers. The annual reports are based on a canvass of each producing unit of the coal, coke, and fuel-briquetting industries. To reduce the cost of the current statistical studies, however, they have been col lected, wherever possible, through trade agencies. In 1932-38 this policy was extended with further saying to the Government. A cooperative arrangement was made with the National Association of Purchasing Agents for it to collect and summarize current data on coal stocks and consumption from manufacturing consumers, and forward detailed returns to the Bureau. These returns are then consolidated with others collected directly by Government agencies, and a joint report certified by statisticians of the Bureau and the association is prepared. The system has been satisfactory, improv ing the accuracy of results, reducing the cost to the Government, and freeing industry from the burden of overlapping questionnaires. It has also accelerated collection, so that monthly reports of stocks and consumption of industries are published before the end of the following month. A „ asso Cooperative agreements were also made with railroad-traflic ciations for publication of current analyses of the origin and desti nation of west-bound coal from the Appalachians and from Illinois, Indiana, and western Kentucky. This record will be widely used by shippers, buyers, and carriers of coal. In all, 21,395 individual services were rendered during the year by mail, telephone, and personal interviews, exclusive of the dis tribution of regular publications to established mailing lists. Economies in publication.—Large economies were effected in pub lication costs by combining reports and condensing tables to utilize 180 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE available space more efficiently. Editions were reduced, and the assistance of the coal-trade associations was obtained in reprinting extra copies. The Monthly Coal-Market Summary, formerly dis tributed direct by the Bureau, is now issued through the coal-trade journals. These and other economies have reduced printing costs from $8,000 to $2,000 a year, a saving of 75 percent, and the service has been improved. Special investigations.—Special investigations covered by reports during the year include the following : County analysis of fuel con sumption and power production by public-utility power plants, show ing the regional competition of coal, fuel oil, natural gas, and water power in the generation of electricity; distribution of Pennsylvania anthracite; use and distribution of New Mexico coals; progress of mechanization in bituminous-coal mines; and use of underground loading machines in the anthracite industry. Government fuel yards.—The Government fuel yards purchase and distribute fuel to all Federal and District Government buildings and establishments (except the Washington Navy Yard) in the District of Columbia, and to such institutions outside the District as can be economically reached. The establishment maintains its own garage and 46 heavy duty and light delivery trucks; its coal-handling plant has a storage capacity of more than 13,000 tons of coal. During the fiscal year there were delivered, to more than 500 points, 254,999 gross tons of coal, 278 tons of coke, 110,148 barrels of fuel oil, 21,188 bushels of charcoal, and 505 cords of wood. In addition, materials were hauled and motor vehicles repaired for other branches of the Government. The total value of fuel delivered and service per formed was $1,348,129.42. The trucks traveled 205,303 miles, with an average round-trip haul of 6.96 miles. The fuel yards operate under a revolving fund maintained by sales of fuel and reimburse ment for service performed. Conclusions.—Until recently the demand for the division’s services has come almost entirely from business men interested in guiding detailed operations of individual firms. In the last year new con cern for reorganization of industry and advance planning is mani fest, and the division receives many calls for information on problems connected with orderly control of production. Business statisticians seek to measure the rate of industrial change and to forecast supply and demand. In all such work the division’s service is limited to finding and certifying the facts that may be established by the statistical record or derived immediately therefrom. MINERAL STATISTICS DIVISION Advances in 1933.—Statistics on minerals are needed more promptly than in the past. In response to this need, and despite reductions in personnel, the mineral statistics division accomplished earlier release of annual figures and maintenance of current statis tical services. In consequence the preliminary annual reviews for 1932 on most important commercial minerals were published within 3 months after the end of that year, closely followed by final statistics on the various mineral products. On June 15 the new Minerals Yearbook, com BUREAU OF MINES 181 prising 61 chapters, 819 printed pages, and 90 illustrations, was sent to the printer. Completion of this report—-which includes economic and technical discussions as well as statistics on all important com mercial minerals—within 6 months after the end of the year repre sented a gain of more than 12 months over preceding years in prep aration of the annual volume on mineral resources. Through 108 annual statistical surveys of metallic minerals and important nonmetallic minerals, except mineral fuels, this division compiles essentially the only market information available regard ing supply, demand, and utilization of specific mineral products. It prepares about 60 studies for publication in the Minerals Yearbook, compiles statistics on world production, enters into cooperative agree ments for statistical studies with certain State geologists and mine inspectors, and maintains field offices at Denver, Colo., Salt Lake City, Utah, San Francisco, Calif., and Joplin, Mo., both for collec tion of data and for direct service to the mining industry. The field offices also prepare for publication 14 annual reports covering metal mining in all important producing areas. PETROLEUM -ECONOMICS DIVISION Production data on special naphthas, such as painters’ and clean ers’ naphthas and rubber solvent, all previously reported under the general heading of gasoline, were added to the monthly petroleum statement in 1932, increasing its scope. Information covering re ceipts of crude oil on the Atlantic seaboard, according to fields of origin, was also added during the year; shipments of crude oil to Fast-coast refineries constitute the largest movement in this country. Study of automobile travel was continued, as related to gasoline supply and demand. This investigation covers trends, seasonal variations, and distribution of automotive traffic. The main prob lem is to determine the extent to which the increased use of motor vehicles has influenced the demand for gasoline. A list of the 20 producers of liquefied petroleum gases m the United States was compiled and issued. Service work.—The division assisted the Federal Oil Conservation Board in preparing reports on the conservation of oil and gas; it furnished advice concerning Government purchases of petroleum products and natural gas, definite savings in such purchases being accomplished. Similar assistance was rendered other Government agencies. Annual reports.—Some changes were made during the past year m the division’s annual reports. In other years the petroleum chapter of Mineral Resources of the United States and a bulletin entitled “ Petroleum Refinery Statistics” have been issued separately, but beginning with 1931 the two publications have been combined as one Mineral Resources chapter, entitled “ Crude Petroleum and Petro leum Products.” Chapters on Natural Gas, Natural Gasoline, Car bon Black, and Asphalt and Related Bitumens were also prepared. The surveys of refineries and cracking plants were combmed and issued as one report, Petroleum Refineries, Including Cracking Plants, in the United States. The report, Fuel Consumption at Refineries, was also issued. 1 9 8 6 5 — 3 3 --------- 1 4 182 BEPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE Mineral market reports.—A survey covering liquefied petroleum gases in 1932 was issued as a mineral market report, as was the 1931 national survey of fuel-oil distribution. This group also included preliminary reports on petroleum, natural gas, natural gasoline, car bon black, and asphalt and related bitumens. Statements of pro duction of crude oil and natural gasoline in foreign countries were also issued as mineral market reports. Conclusions.—The increased production of natural gas, coupled with the continued expansion of distribution facilities, has increased public interest in developments, but the division has few employees and it is impossible to issue current figures on natural gas when and as desired by the industry. This commodity consequently remains the only important mineral fuel for which monthly figures on produc tion and utilization are not available. RAKE METALS AND NONMETALS DIVISION Basic economic data, including statistics on production and con sumption of nonmetallic minerals, and various industrial barometers, constituting a background for studies of individual commodities! have been tabulated by the rare metals and nonmetals division and many charts prepared. To aid in shaping the future course of the nonmetallic-mineral industries, a 52-year history (1880-1931) was compiled and published. Other phases of this' activity embraced studies of trends in the output of building materials of nonmetallicmineral origin, compared with building contracts. A special service to the aggregate industry has been established in the form of current quarterly estimates of production based on rail and water shipments, cement sales, and other indexes. An eco nomic study of the cement industry, including a market analysis, has progressed. A comprehensive economic survey of the lime industry, dealing particularly with consuming industries and market trends, has been completed. Reports.—Although printing funds were reduced greatly, the divi sion continued to make available through various channels economic data regarding the commodities for which it is responsible. As pub lished Bureau reports and articles accepted by the technical press were inadequate to meet the need, typewritten office memoranda were made to loan. Subjects covered by reports', memoranda, and press articles include stone, sand and gravel, light-weight aggregates, lime, arsenic, antimony, mercury, alkaline earths, amber, asbestos, green sand, and various other mineral commodities. Many information circulars prepared by the division are now out of stock, and, to meet the constant demand for the data, a small loan collection is available to interested persons. With the completion of 20 additional digests of foreign mineral laws, the series is virtually finished, making information available on the mining codes and ancillary legislation of about 100 countries. Text was prepared for 13 Mineral Resources (1931) chapters and 10 Minerals Yearbook (1932-33) chapters. BUREAU OE MINES 183 COMMON METALS DIVISION An unusual number of analytical memoranda and much other ma terial for use by various units of the Bureau, other Government agencies, and members of the Congress were prepared by the divi sion. Especial stress was laid upon studies of the monetary metals. Investigations of antimonial lead and litharge-glycerine cement were made for the War Department. The Mineral Resources chapters on Copper, Lead, Zinc, Lead and Zinc Pigments, Tin, Bauxite and Aluminum, Manganese, Chrome, and Sulphur and Pyrites for 1931, and corresponding MineralsYearbook chapters for 1932-33 were both written in the past year. Information circulars on Chromite and Manganese were published. A method was developed for estimating the production of sul phuric acid, including byproduct acid from smelters. Index figures tor world mineral production were worked out as a basis for show ing production relations of mineral commodities by quantity, value, and geographical distribution. Early records regarding copper stocks were compiled, and consumption of manganese in the chemical and battery industries was ascertained. The further development of data files containing fundamental material in regard to the com mon metals largely increased their value. HEALTH AMD SAFETY BRANCH HEALTH DIVISION Toxic gases and vapors.—The toxicity and health hazards of the vapors of methanol, benzol, butanone, pentanone, hexanone, n-butyl acetate, secondary amyl acetate, dichloroethyl ether, methyl cellosolve, and butyl carbitol were studied. Most of these chemicals rep resent new developments in the production of organic chemicals from coal and petroleum products, in some instances from what were here tofore waste gas. The information obtained was a basis for pro moting safety in the manufacture, distribution, and use of these products. Harmful dusts.—The tissue response produced by intraperitoneal injection of a wide variety of dusts into guinea pigs has been studied and a method developed to serve as a criterion of the harmful prop erties of dusts and the fundamentals of the reaction to dusts. A report of this work is being prepared. A bacteriological study of pulmonary infection in pneumoconiosis was made in conjunction with other studies in silicosis. Three reports dealing with pulmonary infection in pneumoconiosis have been pre pared: (1) Fuso-Spirochaetal Infection of the Lungs in Silicosis; Symbiotic Requirements for the Causation of Fuso-Spirochaetal g!)isease; and (3) Experimental Reproduction of Fuso-Spirochaetal Lesions of the Lungs. The importance and need of research pertaining to injury from industrial dusts are manifested in the increasingly wide occurrence of dust diseases; in the pending claims for compensation, estimated 184 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE to aggregate several million dollars, with conditions that will tend to foster continued filing of claims; in the lack of understanding and appreciation of the hazards by many workmen and industries; and in the compensation claims that harass the mining, metallurgical, and quarrying industries. Owing to the decrease in funds available to the Bureau, investi gations and research that apply directly to toxicology and health hazards from gases, vapors, and dusts were recessed at the end of the year. Gas masks and respirators.—Owing to the many inefficient and therefore dangerous respirators available on the market, procedures for testing dust respirators are being developed, and a schedule of requirements for safe devices has been started. The Bureau’s con tinued work on problems of respiratory protection against industrial gases, and its approval system, are important factors in raising standards and making available safer and more efficient devices. Stream pollution.—Continued investigation of means for miti gating stream pollution by acid coal-mine drainage has confirmed the practicability of sealing worked-out or abandoned mines or similar sections of active mines to exclude air but not necessarily retain water. This has been demonstrated in the laboratory and m a group of mines placed at the Bureau’s disposal for study by the courtesy of the owners. In many instances, acidity disappeared in a relatively short time, and the water became alkaline—a natural and desirable condition. In all instances, the acidity has been mark edly reduced, and the reduction is progressing in all mines under observation. It is believed that a continuance of the observations Avill show conclusively that it is a practicable procedure for reducing the acid in domestic and industrial water supplies and consequently the corrosion and water-treatment problems and costs which have economic importance to many communities. It has been demon strated that mine operators will benefit through reductions in the cost of replacing pump lines and pump equipment. Moreover, sealing worked-out and abandoned parts of the mines will reduce ventilation problems and costs, and in many instances promote safety from explosions. The suggested procedure could readily be applied to the hundreds of abandoned coal mines throughout the country, the ownership or responsibility of many of which is in doubt or lost, but which continue to contribute acid drainage sometimes for as long as 50 years. ’ An investigation of metal-mine mill-tailings pollution of the Coeur d Alene River and Lake (Idaho) was completed, and a report sub mitted to the attorney general of the State of Idaho. This work was undertaken at the request of a commission to ascertain facts relative to a controversy between the residential, agricultural, and mining interests. Silicosis study.—Two reports on the Picher (Okla.) investiga tion (discontinued June 30, 1933) were published during the year as Bureau of Mines Technical Papers 545 and 552, Silicosis and Tuberculosis Among Miners of the Tri-State District of Oklahoma Kansas, are readyandforMissouri—I publication.and II. Three other reports on the work Analysis of mine gases.—During the year, 1,839 gas samples were received and analyzed. Of this number, 1,686 were from coal and BUREAU OF MINES 185 metal mines, collected and analyzed in connection with determining the cause of mine explosions, the control and extinguishing of mine fires, and the promotion of safe and hygienic working conditions. SAFETY DIVISION Safety records of 1931 and 1932.—A low record for mine acci dents in both coal and metal mining was made in 1931, and the rate in 1932 was almost identical, although, in the past, periods of financial depression with recession of activity in mining have been almost invariably accompanied by sharp increases in such acci dents. In 1931, 1,463 persons were killed in the coal mines of the United States, and tentative figures for 1932 give 1,166, to be com pared with an average of 2,409 annually for the previous 25 years; the 1931 fatality rate of 3.31 persons killed per million tons of coal produced is the lowest in the present century, and that for 1932 appears to have been about the same. Various factors in mining account for the excellent safety record in 1931, 1932, and the first half of 1933, but doubtless the activities of the Bureau of Mines in advancing health and safety in mining are having a vital influence. During the past 6 years, over 460,000 persons in the mining and allied industries have been given the Bureau of Mines course in first aid or mine rescue, and numbers of mining men believe that the first-aid-trained man is but one half to one eighth as likely to be injured as he who has not had this educa tion in safety. Rock dusting, long advocated by the Bureau as a preventive of widespread explosions, is now responsible for the stoppage of many coal-mine explosions; the resultant annual sav ing of lives amounts to several hundred. Similarly, perhaps largely as a result of activities of the Bureau, many accidents that might have been caused by falls of roof, haulage, explosives, electricity, and other things, are now prevented; proof of this appears in data from individual mines, mining companies, and other organizations, and from State inspectors where cooperative safety activities and campaigns have been put into effect. Safety training.—During the past fiscal year, the safety divi sion, with its total field personnel of 25 engineers and 32 safety instructors, gave 74,501 courses in first aid or mine rescue to persons in the mineral industries in 578 communities in 36 States and Alaska. To date, the Bureau has given these courses to 755,650 persons in the mineral industries, more than half in the last 4 years. To June 30, 1933, Bureau of Mines certificates had been issued to 1,037 mineral plants, indicating that all employees have received the first-aid course. During the past fiscal year, 231 of these 100-per cent certificates were issued, covering the training of 38,852 persons. The accident-prevention course for the instruction of bituminouscoal-mining officials in up-to-date methods is so extensive that sev eral weeks are required for it, and necessarily the classes are rela tively small. During the past year, this course was given to 958 mining officials; nearly 600 others took part of it. Since its start in the autumn of 1930, 4,411 bituminous-coal-mining officials have taken the full course. First-aid instructors’ certificates numbering 1,196 were issued to persons in 26 States and Alaska; Pennsylvania led with 625, Ken- 186 EEPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE tucky was second with 161, Alabama third with 108, and West Vir ginia fourth with 97. The 55 members of the safety division of the Bureau giving first-aid training are yearly bringing the full course of first aid to between 70,000 and 100,000 persons in the mineral industries. Holmes Safety Association.—At the March 6, 1983, meeting of the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association, which is sponsored by the Bureau, and of which the Director serves as president, 2 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals, and 2 certificates, were awarded to individuals for deeds of heroism; for outstanding achievements in safety, certifi cates of merit were awarded to 18 individuals, 28 bituminous-coal mines, 3 anthracite mines, 18 metal mines, 2 petroleum companies, 1 smelter, 4 nonmetallic mineral mines, and 2 miscellaneous mining or izations. past year has been the most active in organizing community safety dubs as Holmes safety chapters ; 40 new chapters were estab lished in 8 States—24 in Pennsylvania, 6 in Iowa, 2 each in Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Virginia, and 1 each in West Virginia and Arkansas—a total of nearly 200 chapters now functioning actively, with membership approximately 60,000. During the year, Bureau field _men made safety talks before about 250 Holmes-chapter meetings. .Aid at accidents—In the past year, contacts were made by safetydivision personnel with accidents in the mineral and allied industries as follows: 22 explosions in 10 States, 122 persons being killed and 34 injured; 27 fires in 14 States, 2 persons being killed and 5 injured; 54 miscellaneous accidents in 13 States, 62 persons being killed and 35 injured. Three major explosion disasters in bituminous-coal mines occurred in December, 1932, but the other 11 months of the year were free of them—the greatest period of immunity from major disasters in any fiscal year in the history of modern coal mining in the United States. Safety inspections.—The safety inspections and reports on mines and other plants in the mineral industries continued; 229 reports, based upon safety examinations or inspections of mining properties, were made by safety-division field men during the year; 70 were transmitted to operators for their information, but no reports of this type are published. These examinations and reports covered 33 States and Alaska. Safety meetings.—Attendance at safety meetings and general par ticipation in the proceedings or discussions are part of the duty of the personnel of the safety division ; usually these meetings are held at night and are attended after a full day in or around mines for warding some phase of the Bureau’s safety work. During the year, field men attended 639 safety meetings in 30 States and Alaska, at which about 112,000 persons were in attendance. Special studies.—Numerous special safety and health studies were made, one of the most important being an investigation of illumina tion in 20 mines which revealed that in general the light available to miners, in spite of their hazardous work, is only about that obtain able from moonlight on the surface. The use of explosives in mines, the dustiness of mine air and its effect on health, conditions causing various accidents in mines, items that go into the cost of accident BUREAU OF MINES 187 occurrence in the mining industry, the use of protective clothing, and various other phases of safety in mining were studied. More than 50 papers were published. Conclusions.—The drastic curtailment of safety-division funds in the fiscal year 1932-33 materially diminished the effectiveness of its work; nearly all the decrease had to be applied to the travel of field personnel, and without direct contact with workers in the mining and allied industries the opportunity for achieving results in accident prevention is seriously handicapped. One result is temporary abandonment of 8 of the 10 mine rescue cars; moreover, the safety workers are greatly reduced in number, and in ability to function effectively. Bureau of Mines accident-prevention activities have a vital influence on safety in mining, and any diminution of these functions soon will be reflected in serious recessions in the safety rates and safety records of American mines. Perhaps the most important change that could be made to increase the effectiveness of the Bureau’s safety work, provided it were given adequate personnel and money, would be the grant by the Congress of authority to enter mines to make safety investigations and to make the findings public; this would not include power to enforce recom mendations. DEMOGRAPHICAL DIVISION Achievements.—The various statistical studies conducted by the demographical division disclosed facts of interest and importance: 1. The quarrying industry lowered its accident rate in 1932 from that in the previous year. Incomplete reports indicated reduced accident rates also for anthracite and bituminous-coal mining. 2. At least two comparatively large bituminous-coal mines operated without a lost-time injury to their employees. 3. Operators’ reports to the Bureau indicate an increase in the use of rock dusting to prevent explosions in coal mines. 4. The coal-mining industry has been free of major explosions since December 23, 1932. Coal mines.—As previously stated, during the calendar year 1931, there were 1,463 fatalities and 80,349 nonfatal injuries in coal mines, compared with 2,063 fatalities and 103,821 nonfatal injuries in the previous year. In 1931, for every million man-hours of employment in the coal mines of the country there were 2 fatalities and 100 non fatal injuries, the latter ranging from 28 in Alaska to 153 in Utabu Metal mines.—Studies of accidents at the same metal mines during 1931 and 1932 showed a reduction in the latter year of 35 percent in the number of accidents, but a 5-percent increase in the frequency of accidents per million man-hours of exposure. Each employee aver aged 1,655 hours of employment during the year, or 32 hours per week on a basis of 52 weeks to the year. Nonmetallic-mineral mines'.-—The mines of the United States pro ducing nonmetallic minerals other than coal effected a reduction of 36 percent in the number of accidents, and of 3 percent in the acci dent rate. Stone quarries.—Complete reports covering the stone-quarrying industry, which includes such allied industries as the manufacture of cement and lime, revealed a decrease of 18 percent in the number of 188 BEPOET OF THE SECEETAEY OF COMMEBCE men and a reduction of 6 percent in the accident-frequency rate per million man-hours of exposure. Metallurgical plants.—This type of plant usually has fewer fatali ties and nonfatal injuries than any of the other above-mentioned in dustries. Exclusive of the steel industry, the records for identical metallurgical plants show a slight decrease (1 percent) in the fre quency of accidents per million man-hours of exposure to accident hazard. Coke ovens.—The accident rate for the coke industry was reduced 17 percent in the calendar year 1932. _Accident-prevention contest.—The eighth annual safety competi tion was conducted among more than 300 large mines and quarries in the United States with extremely gratifying results. Analytical studies of the company reports showed that 2 bituminous-coal mines, 3 metal mines, 13 nonmetal mines, and 82 quarries were operated throughout the year without a lost-time injury to any employee. Several other plants were operated with but few lost-time injuries, giving them favorable safety records. Explosives used in the United States.—Statistics were collected to determine the quantity and kind of explosives used in the United States, and the quantity used for mining and for other purposes ; the quantity of explosives manufactured for industrial use in 1932 was less than in any of the 21 years for which information is available. Conclusions.—Accident statistics supply fundamental data needed in determining the factors involved in accident occurrence and make possible intelligent programs of prevention. Bureau of Mines sta tistics, prepared on a uniform and comparable basis for all States, are made available to the mining industry, State mining officials, compensation commissions, and insurance companies, and constitute a potent factor in the promotion of safety in the mineral industries. ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH OFFICE-ADMINISTRATION DIVISION Personnel.-—On June 30, 1933, there were 739 full-time appointed employees on duty at the Bureau, and in addition there were 5 full time cooks hired under field agreements. The appointed employees were distributed as shown in the following table. Classification and number of appointees Profes Subpro C.A.F. sional fessional 1 Washington.. ______ _________ ________ ____ Pittsburgh ________________ _______________ Field in general.......................................................... Total________________ ____________________ 3 49 4 91 5 119 259 4 44 28 76 169 51 42 262 1 Includes instrument makers, safety instructors, laboratory aids, assistants, etc. 2 Includes motor-truck drivers, janitors, laborers, messengers, etc. 3 Engineers, 22; chemists, 4; miscellaneous, 23; total, 49. * Engineers, 46; chemists, 34; miscellaneous, 11; total, 91. 8 Engineers, 56; chemists, 33; miscellaneous, 30; total, 119. N ote .—Total, engineers, 124; chemists, 71; miscellaneous, 64; grand total, 259. Custo dial 2 58 53 31 142 Total 280 239 220 739 BUREAU OE MINES 189 In additon to the foregoing full-time employees, the following persons were engaged on a when-actually-employed basis: 74 laborers, etc., employed on field agreements; 9 consulting engineers, chemists, etc.; and 64 other employees holding classified, unclassified, or ex cepted appointments on a part-time .basis, making a total of 891 employees, a decrease of 101 employees as compared with the number on duty on June 30, 1932. Property.—The property records of the Bureau, as of June 30, 1933, show accounts as follows: Automobiles and trucks------------------------------------------------------- $271,947.40 Canvas and leather goods__________________ ___________ ______ 2, 985. 84 Drafting and engineering instruments-----------------------------------9, 926. 37 Electrical equipment------------------------------------------------------------64, 686. 67 Hardware'and tools------------------------------------------------------------33,087.93 Household equipment-----------------------------------------------------------19, 863. 93 Laboratory apparatus—------------------------------------------------------- 468, 835. 66 Medical equipment__________________________________________ 8, 355. 61 Office furniture and equipment---------------------------------------------- 1296, 372. 80 Photographic apparatus_____________________________________ 26, 806. 45 Machinery and power-plant equipment------------------------------------ 11,287, 223.16 Land, buildings, and improvements___________________________ 11, 842, 860. 21 Rescue cars and specialized apparatus________________________ 403, 678. 31 Grand total valuation------------------------------------------------- 4, 736, 630. 34 This property is in Washington and at various field stations and offices of the Bureau. INFORM ATION DIVISION Publications.—During the past year, this division supervised the distribution of 285,500 copies of the Bureau’s printed publications. In addition, approximately 100,000 copies were sold by the Superin tendent of Documents. Numerous brief press statements, announcing the issuance of new publications or describing current investigations, were furnished to the daily and technical press. Exhibits.—The division prepared, installed, and supervised seven exhibits at expositions and conventions illustrating various Bureau activities. Editorial.—During the past year, 8 bulletins, 24 technical papers, 1 economic paper, 57 mineral-resources separate chapters and 1 bound volume, 61 chapters for the new volume on mineral statistics entitled “ Minerals Yearbook, 1932-33 ”, and 5 miscellaneous papers— 157 publications in all—were edited and sent to the Printer. Owing to lack of printing funds, however, only part of the Bureau’s output could be issued in this manner; consequently, 154 papers were pub lished in the technical and trade press, by technical societies, cooper ating educational, State, and municipal institutions, and similar outside agencies. The information division also edited 18 reports of investigations and 78 information circulars. These papers supply promptly to the mining industry and the general public the essential results of the Bureau’s investigations, which are usually described in detail in later reports, or present salient facts on subjects of interest in a concise form suitable for use in replying to inquiries. 1 Includes Government fuel yards equipment. 190 REPORT OP TH E SECRETARY OP COMMERCE Motion pictures.—The Bureau has a large number of educational motion-picture films, which show where essential minerals are found and how they are extracted from the earth, refined, and manu factured into useful products. The prevention of accidents and the protection of human life have been given special attention, and several pictures deal specifically with this important subject. These f i l m s are prepared under the supervision of the information division and are made possible through the cooperation of industrial concerns which defray the entire cost of production. On June 30, 1933, the Bureau’s library contained 988 sets of films, including 2,104 reels, aggregating 1,600,000 feet. Circulation of the Bureau’s films is centralized at the Pittsburgh Experiment Station; but there are 13 subdistribution centers throughout the country, selected with regard to accessibility. The films are loaned without cost, to schools, churches, clubs, civic organizations, and other responsible borrowers. During the year, films were shown on 34,638 occasions before an estimated audience of 2,996,000 persons. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS Mining is the second largest industry, being exceeded only by agriculture. It is of basic importance, and since the Bureau is one of the few governmental agencies directly serving this industry, it is deserving of substantial financial and moral support at the seat of government. Appropriations for the Bureau of Mines have always been relatively small, yet the services rendered by this group are of immense value in increasing safety and efficiency, preventingwaste, and fostering economic development in the mineral industries. It is hoped that a better understanding of the high aims and pur poses of the Bureau may be brought about, and a realization of the good it is doing may come to those most concerned with its problems and most affected by its results. Next to whole-hearted public support, a laboratory near head quarters is of most importance to the Bureau. Such a laboratory was authorized by the Congress in 1931, and the State of Maryland has fulfilled its part of the program by deeding to the United States a fine 20-acre tract on the campus of its university. It remains for the Federal Government to complete its share by providing funds for the erection of the building. The reasons were summarized in the Bureau’s annual reports for the past 2 years. This is a most pressing need. FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT STABILIZATION BOARD The advance construction plans of the one hundred odd construc tion agencies of the Federal Government and the District of Colum bia, covering the 6-year period 1935—40, were requested by the Board in accordance with the Stabilization Act of 1931. The latter part of May, in contemplation of the National Indus trial Recovery Act, these agencies were asked to supplement their "6-year plans with additional schedules from which an emergency public-works program could be quickly drafted. These supplemen tary schedules embraced more than 30,000 items, including recondi tioning, and represented a potential outlay for Federal construction in excess of $1,000,000,000. _ . The Board immediately proceeded with a study and analysis of both the 6-year and supplemental plans and, due to its past expe rience in planning of Federal public works, an emergency program was readily developed and made available to the Public Works Ad ministrator as soon as he was appointed. It was the intent of Congress, as provided in the act, that advance planning should be sufficiently flexible to enable its application in times of emergency, thereby aiding in increasing employment and permitting the Government to avail itself of the opportunity for speedy, efficient, and economical construction during a depression period. The emergency program, as constructed under the guidance of this Board, proved to be the only immediately substantial and serviceable medium available to the Public Works Administrator in the allo cation of funds for Federal construction, as provided for in the National Industrial Recovery Act. Without the planning activities of the Board, this emergency program would have suffered, several months’ delay with consequential inertia in the construction industry and further direct and indirect unemployment in the building field. In accordance with Executive Order No. 6174, dated June 16, 1933, D. H. Sawyer, Director of the Stabilization Board, was named by the President to exercise temporarily the office of Federal Emergency Administrator of Public Works. The facilities of the Board were immediately utilized and its emergency planning pro grams and part of its personnel now constitute the basic organiza tion of the Federal Projects Unit of the Public Works AdminisAt the present time, the past 2 years’ planning activities of the Board take on added significance, both in the public works and eco nomic fields, and its experience and influence are being fully utilized by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Central Statistical Board, Plan ning Council, and the planning board of the Public Works Admin istration. Planning, in its many phases, plays a most important part in the execution of the President’s recovery program, and the 191 192 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP COMMERCE Stabilization Board is and will continue to be in an excellent posi tion to render assistance to the economic and planning units of the newly created emergency agencies. The flow of direct and indirect employment in the expenditure of the construction dollar from normal annual appropriations has been closely observed and analyzed by the Board. The contemplated expenditure of the $3,000,000,000 in the construction field more than ever warrants careful scrutiny, analysis, and interpretation of con struction data. The progress of the work undertaken, the volume of construction under way, the varying construction costs, contracts awarded, man-months of direct and indirect employment, shipment of building materials, monthly expenditures on construction, etc., are all pertinent factors which must be utilized to gage the effective ness of the emergency public-works program. In handling these economic factors since the passing of the Stabilization Act, the Board has become thoroughly conversant with the technique incident to their compilation, has developed standard formulas of computa tion, and has cultivated many reliable sources for information of this character. * » » INTER-AMERICAN HIGH COMMISSION Following is a summary report for the fiscal year 1932-33 of the activities of the United States Section, Inter-American High Com mission, the chairmanship of which was held by succeeding Secretaries of Commerce from March 1921 to March 1933. The reduced staff of the section was concerned with the prepara tion of manuscript for documentation for the Seventh International Conference of American States to convene at Montevideo, Uruguay, December 1933. Four studies under the subjects of Uniformity in Marine Insurance Law, General Average, Legal Personality of Foreign Corporations, and Comparison of Rome and Habana Conventions for the Protection of Literary and Artistic "Work were prepared and submitted to the Pan American Union for the use of dele gates to thismade meeting. Congress no appropriation of funds for the continuance ot a separate staff to carry on the duties of this section during 1934, indicating that this work could be prosecuted effectively by the pres ent personnel of the Department of State. Accordingly, during the latter half of the year the archives, files, and library were condensed and preparations were made to transfer them to the State Depart ment. These records are now being moved and disposition of furni ture and equipment is being made in accordance with instructions, or by approval, of that Department. 193 O /
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