MEXICO 



operated and some of the catches have been phenomenal. 

 Striped marhn all run small, a good many of them under 

 150 pounds, and they are taken within twenty miles from 

 shore. There are twenty first-class boats operating out of 

 Mazatlan and their charter rates are $50 per day including 

 ice, bait, tackle and Coca-Cola. These boats are 2 7 -foot craft 

 with enclosed cabins and toilets and two fishing chairs. 



The Indian fleet is operated by Louis Patron, who is a 

 great fellow, and the Biby fleet by Ernesto Coppel. 



The striped marlin are there from November to April and 

 the sailfish from May to October. During November and 

 December they have both, for the marlin are coming in 

 and the sailfish are leaving these waters. During April and 

 May the same thing happens since the marlin start leaving 

 and the sailfish start coming in. Offshore there are dolphin and 

 closer inshore smaller fish like Spanish mackerel, roosterfish, 

 red snapper and jack crevalle, to mention only a few. 



In 1952 the catch was 300 billfish per boat. In other words 

 they took 4800 billfish; 60 per cent of these were marlin and 

 40 per cent sailfish. 



There are three first-class hotels in Mazatlan— the Belmar, 

 the Freeman and La Siesta. All are situated on the waterfront 

 and are only a block apart. All have restaurant service and 

 bar. Rates vary from 20 pesos for room to 75 pesos, depending 

 upon the location of same and the number of occupants. 

 Average charges for a good double room would be around 

 45 pesos per day. This does not include food which would 

 run another 40 pesos per day per person. The exchange is 

 about $8.60 as I write this. There are several Motels being 

 built along the International Highway from Nogales passing 



125 



