THE VENEZUELAN SALT-FISH INDUSTRIES 



of the national fishing industry, and consequently for the food supply of the neighboring 

 Antilles , due to the fact that the process now used by the Venezuelan industry for the prepa- 

 ration of dried fish does not meet the requirements for exportation, according to the United 

 States Mission. Once the proper process is developed and adopted the Venezuelan fishing 

 industry would be in a position to cooperate in supplying the West Indies which have al- 

 ready begun to benefit from the Venezuelan production and to import considerable amounts 

 of preserved fisH products from Venezuela. 



Granting the possibility of the loan of the services of the desired expert for the 

 duration of the studies, the terms on which he would be oontracted are requested, as well 

 as information concerning the equipment which would be required for the work to be under- 

 taken. 



The Ambassador of Venezuela expresses his appreciation to His Excellency the Secretary 

 of State for his good offices in thia matter. 



Washington, June 7, 1943. 



On July 28 the following note was transmitted in reply to the Ambassador of Venezuela 

 by the Secretary of State: 



The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of 

 Venezuela and has the honor to refer to the Embassy's note No. 2185 of June 7, 1943, con- 

 cerning the desire of the Venezuelan Government to obtain the loan of the services of an 

 expert qualified to provide technical assistance In connection with the salting and pick- 

 ling of fish. 



The matter has been the subject of correspondence and discussion with the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior, and that organization has indicated 

 that in compliance with His Excellency's request it will be pleased to make available the 

 services of one of its experts » * * to assist His Excellency's Government for a period 

 of approximately two months in the capacity of fishery technologist, under the provisions 

 of the Act of Congress approved May 3. 1939 (Public No. 63, 76th Congress). 



Consideration has been given to the desire of His Excellency's Governient to bear the 

 expenses incident to the detail of the expert requested, and in that connection it is sug- 

 gested that the Venezuelain authorities may wish to reimburse this Government for all ex- 

 penses incident to (the expert's) salary, quarters and subsistence allowances, and travel 

 from Washington to Caracas and return to Washington. These expenses need not be paid, how- 

 ever, until after the survey shall have been completed, at which time the Secretary of State 

 will render a full accounting to the Venezuelan Government. 



The Fish and Wildlife Service has suggested that in order to render the investigations 

 requested by His Excellency's Government complete it would be desirable to have an expert 

 quaJ-ified in the field of fishery economics accompany (the expert) to Venezuela and make 

 studies of the capacity of the Venezuelan communities for producing salt- fish, costs of 

 production, and the organization of the production system * * * * it is proposed that these 

 experts study methods for the production, salting, and marketing of various kinds of Vene- 

 zuelan fish, both from the standpoint of local demand and export possibilities. Among other 

 things, it is suggested that they endeavor to obtain accurate information on the following 

 questions: 



1. What salting and drying techniques can be utilized to develop products more widely 

 usable in the Venezuelan fish trade and more suitable for export? 



2. What quantities of salt- fish can be produced in Venezuela and what proportions 

 thereof can be made available for export? 



