THE VENEZUELAN SALT-FISH INDUSTRIES 



Mr. Lobell left on the morning of December 11 for Miami and Mr. Puncochar departed 

 in the afternoon of the same day for Puerto Rico, via Trinidad. 



The majority of the time in Venezuela was spent in the field. Thus, field operations 

 in eastern Venezuela occupied 28 days, and field operations in western Venezuela, 18 days. 

 Every fishing center of consequence from the Goajira Peninsula to Rio Caribe was visited. 

 All of the travel by sea was accomplished on vessels of the Fisheries Service — the Nueva 

 Esparta and the Goajira . In addition, accessory acti'/ities, such as salt works, fish canner- 

 ies, barrel and box-making facilities, ice plants and others were stuaied. Sample packs 

 of various species of fish were prepared to determine methods, keeping qualities, and possi- 

 ble price structures. 



Acknowledgments 



It is impossible to over-emphasize the importance of the excellent cooperation and 

 assistance extended by the Government of Venezuela through the Ministry of Agriculture and 

 Animal Husbandry. It augurs well for the continued success and growth of the fishing in- 

 dustry that officials and employees of the Fisheries Service were able to arrange the itin- 

 erary and working equipment of the mission so efficiently.!' No less cooperative were the 

 members of the Venezuelan fishing industry and many others. The Ambassador to Venezuela, 

 Dr. Frank P. Corrigan, and his staff assisted the members of the mission in countless ways, 



PART I 

 THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE SALT-FISH INDUSTRIES 



PRODUCTION 



Over-all statistics of the production of fresh and salt fish have been collected by 

 the Government of Venezuela since 1940 and compilations are published annually by the Min- 

 isterio De Agricultura y Cria. They provide an excellent basis for estimating the total 

 catch. The data are secured directly by employees of the Servicio stationed at a number 

 of important fishing localities. Officials of the Servicio de Pesqueria calculate that 

 the published statistics represent from 50 to 60 percent of total production. In order 

 to calculate the production of fish as landed "in the round," the figures for salt-fish 

 have been multiplied by four in order to compensate for losses in weight due to cleaning 

 and salting. To convert kilograms to pounds the weight in kilograms was multiplied — 2,2. 



The poundages of all fish as landed in the rcund recorded were: 



1940 71,826,980 pounds 



1942 81,771,449 pounds 



1943 61,553,454 pounds (for first 6 months) 



The published totals, however, are incomplete since data for the following are lacking: 



1. Minor fishing localities not covered by Servicio employees. 



2. Fresh and salt fish locally consumed by fishermen and others. 



3. Fish carried by truck from isolated landing points to interior towns. 



In the following analyses, an arbitrarily estimated amount of 30 percent, to compensate 

 for the catches probably made or utilized as above and not recorded, has been added to the 

 published totals. 



Since maximum production is during the first six months of the year^ it is estimated 

 that the 1943 figure given above (61,553,454 pounds) represents about two-thirds of the 

 probable total catch for the entire y ear. On that basis it may be expected that the total 

 1' The Fisheries Service of the Venezuelan Government has also agreed to furnish the mission 

 with a detailed compilation of statistical data and this will bt used to prepare a subse- 

 quent report. 



