THE VENEZUEUN SALT-FISH INDUSTRIES 



Field headquarters were set up in Caiguire, a suburb of Cunana and experiments in salt- 

 ing and brining fish were begun. These studies were continued until October 27 and included 

 an analysis and appraisal of methods employed by the Venezuelan fishermen, as well as of 

 the procedures in general use in other countries of the Western Hemisphere. Also, an ex- 

 periment was set up to determine if cannery wastes could be nun dried for use as an ingredi- 

 ent in stock feeds. 



During the period October 8 to 27 intensive surveys and investigations were made of 

 factors influencing the capacity for production, present and potential, in the Cumana area, 

 including the Gulf of Carlaco, the Araya Peninsula, Isla Tortuga, and the entire coast be- 

 tween Cabo Codera and Cumana ( also Unare Lagoon and many of the off-lying islands near Guanta) . 

 Important salt works at Araya were visited and information was obtained as to capacity of 

 the plant and quality of the salt produced. Practically every fishing camp (rancheria) 

 of any consequence was visited and literally hundreds of fishermen were interviewed. Actual 

 fishing operations were »ritnessed on many occasions and the mission was able to follow th« 

 flow of fish from the water through the salting and drying operations to the final sale. 

 Although the mission was concerned primarily with salt-fish products, cannery enterprises 

 were visited and information was obtained relating to quantity and quality of production. 

 Data were secured relative to barrel and box making, marketing, warehousing, shipping, labor, 

 boat building, sanitation, fishing supplies, costs of production, and on other relevant 

 factors. 



From October 28 until November 3 the mission was based at Porlamar, Isla Margarita, 

 Studies as to actual production were made, comparable to those in the Cumana area, — ranch- 

 erias all around Isla Margarita, on Isla Coche, Isla Cubagua, and at Chacopata were visited. 

 Experimental work in the utilization of several very abundant species for sadting was carried 

 on. These species, namely the thread herring (machuelo) and scad (chicharra) are abundant 

 seasonally, but are not caught because no market for their sale exists at present. Data 

 were secured relating to abundance, migrations, and seasonal occurrence of important species, 

 and on production and costs. At Porlamar a third fish cannery was visited, and information 

 was obtained relating to fish-meal processing and canned-fish production. 



From November 3 until November 8 the surveyed area was extended from Chacopata east- 

 ward to Rio Caribe. From Rio Caribe the party returned to La Guaira by sea, stopping at 

 Carupano, Porlamar, Cumana, and Puerto de La Cruz. 



On November 18, after approximately two weeks in Caracas, the field party, accompanied 

 by Sr. Arriens, proceeded westward by sea. Important fish-producing regions, present and 

 potential, were visited — particularly in the Paraguana Peninsula. Information of the type 

 described above was obtained and experiments on fish salting and drying were conducted. 

 The important centers of Puerto Cabello, Las, Piedras, Los Taques, La Mocolla, Punta de Cardon, 

 Zazarida, Amuay, Carirubana and others were visited. The party arrived in Maracaibo on 

 November 28 and worked in the region until December 4, During this period numerous trips 

 were made to various fishing centers on the Lake, including Isla Toas, Punta de Palma, Alta- 

 gracia, Sabaneta de Palma and Maracaibo itself. Some experimental fishing with a small 

 shrimp trawl built by the mission was carried on and catches were made of shrimp and flounders. 

 Inquiries were made regarding lumber, box and barrel-making facilities, salt production, 

 operating and other costs. Many samples of locally produced salt- fish were examined and 

 experimental packs of sadt-fish were prepared. 



The mission returned to Caracas by automobile on December 5, From this date until 

 December 10 the mission conferred vdth officials of the Venezuelan and United States Govern- 

 ments and made arrangements for departure. On December 10 the party left for La Guaira 

 where samples of dry salt and brine salt-fish were prepared for shipment to the laboratory 

 of the Fish and Wildlife Service at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, for further study. 



Certain technological problems (bacterial reddening) affecting the keeping quality 

 of salt-fish products as prepared in Venezuela, made it necessary to undertake additional 

 investigations. Samples of Venezuelan salt were shipped to the Puerto Rican laboratory 

 of the Fish and Wildlife Service and chemical and bacterial studies, together with experi- 

 ments covering control measures are now in progress. Preliminary indications are that ef- 

 flcient methods for the solution of the reddening problem can be developed .^^ 

 1^ Preliminary results of these investigations are embodied in various sections of this 

 report. Additional studies are reported in Supplement I to this report. 



