marlin yearly shipped out ol" the port of Manta. It is a safe assumption 

 that about the same amount is probably consumed by the small fishing 

 villages up and down the coast. The local fishermen will not bother to 

 bring a fish into Manta for sale at the refrigeration plant if he is any 

 distance away. 



With a stable currency and no price control set by the government, the 

 fishermen receive the highest unit price in the three countries that we have 

 studied. The average black marlin of 400 to 600 pounds will return 

 $15.00 to $20.00 American. An exceptionally large fish will sell for as 

 high as $30.00. The average of striped marlin and sailfish runs from $5.00 

 to $7.00 each, and medium size sharks about the same. 



This entire area of Ecuador is extremely rich in bottom fish, and since 

 fish are the main staple of life, any type of fish is constantly in demand. 



This is the only country examined where no price control is employed 

 and consequently price is solely based on supply and demand. The demand 

 is always high and the average income of a fisherman is about 30% more 

 than that of Peru or Chile. With the abundance of fish these natives are 

 at sea far less than those to the southward. This situation develops a lack 

 of aggressiveness and a lack of desire on the part of the men to improve 

 their fishing methods and equipment. In the ofl[ years of fishing the native, 

 instead of ranging farther from his home base and working more hours and 

 days, is inclined to say on the beach eking out an existence by minor 

 agricultural pursuits. 



Conclusions. The waters of Ecuador are as rich in sea life as any 

 area that we encountered along the west coast of South America. Due to 

 its location at the meeting points of the Humboldt and the South equa- 

 torial currents, there is a far greater number of species of fish found here 

 than olT the countries to the south. The only large food fish apparently 

 scarce is the swordfish. The territorial waters farther offshore and surround- 

 ing the Galapagos Islands probably contain the largest population of tunas 

 found anywhere in the eastern Pacific Ocean. 



Due to the lack of organized commercial fishing in the coastal waters 

 and the lack of refrigeration and processing plants, the potential of this 

 area has probably only been touched. When modern facilities are expanded 

 here and proper training techniques and equipment introduced, the fishery 

 production should multiply rapidly. To achieve this, Ecuador should 

 encourage foreign capital and technology. 



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