THE VENEZUELAN SALT-FISH INDUSTRIES 



of areas that are now fished. With the exception of a comparatively few pot and handline 

 fishing boats there is now no fishing activity away from the innediate shore except in Lake 

 Maracaibo where filetes are set at almost any spot desired. The introduction, then, of 

 boats and gear which can be operated away from shore will develop many new areas hitherto 

 unfishable ;vith present gear. In addition, almost virgin areas, such as the Gulf of Paria 

 and the Gulf of Venezuela will be available for fishing. Also, it will provide access to 

 new offshore banks now unfished, such as those between Isla Margarita and Grenada. 



SALT 



The local production of solar salt is ample to take care of increased demand to the 

 extent visualized in this section. However, as pointed out previously, the price of salt 

 at Araya should be lowered to the equivalent of $10 to $12 per ton. The establishment of 

 salt depots throughout the fishing areas is deemed necessary. 



If the sterilization and conditioning of salt is found to be advisable, as it probably 

 will be, adequate provision for machinery to do this Job must be made.i It is estimated 

 that about 100 million pounds of salt will be required annually to salt the /^OO million 

 pounds of fish as landed. 



CONTAINERS 



One of the most difficult problems to overcome with a great increase in salt-fish pro- 

 duction will be that of containers for packing for shipment. 



As previously mentioned, wooden boxes in sufficient quantity and suitable quality can 

 be manufactured in Maracaibo. The prices for these boxes, as quoted in December 19i!+3 are 

 too high unless the cost be added to the selling price of the salt-fish. If all the ex- 

 portable salt-fish were to be packed in 90 kilogram capacity boxes, about 375,000 boxes 

 would be required. In order to produce this number of boxes it would be necessary to make 

 special sirrangements with several sawmills in Maracaibo and to furnish assistance in ob- 

 taining the needed supplies , such as truck tires for maintaining transport of the logs from 

 the logging areas. At the quoted cost of box shooks-, Bs 6.90 for each box, plus transport, 

 nails, and making costs, the cost of each completed box would be about Bs 7.50 and 375,000 

 would cost Bs 2,812,500 or $843,750. These prices presuppose the use of jabillo which is 

 the type of wood now used for boxes and which is about the cheapest wood available. 



For a low-cost container suitable for packing dry salt-fish, baskets constructed of 

 cana amarga (bitter wild cane) could be used. Since the making of such baskets is now a 

 cottage industry, organization of supply of raw material, weaving, and construction would 

 be necessary in order to obtain the large number needed. Since these baskets can be built 

 to hold 90 kilos, 375,000 of these would be needed. It is estimated off-hand that such 

 baskets could be purchased at about Bs 1.00 each — possibly less. In this case no nails 

 would be necessary but transportation from the manufacturing points would have to be s^up- 

 plied. Such baskets would be much less expensive than wooden boxes, and for all ordinary 

 purposes Just as usable and sturdy. 



Whether fish packed in brine can form any large part of the potential Venezuelan ex- 

 ports remains to be determined, since experimental packs made 'by the mission in the field 

 indicate that such products do not keep well. If technological difficulties can be over- 

 come in the preparation of brine-salted fish with requisite keeping qualities, water-tight 

 barrels of around 70 kilos (150 pounds) must be obtained, at least for the present, from the 

 United States. Prices quoted in October-November 1943, indicate that suitable barrels were 

 available at a calculated price of about $3.00 (Bs 9.00) each,, laid down in La Guaira in 

 knock-down form. Assembly machine ry would have to be secured. Suitable barrels are not 



1/ Rotary gtcaa - .jaclceted ovens with agitators to handle 25 tons per hour would be necessary for the 

 sterilization of the salt required for salt-preserved fishery products. Rotary "baffle type" mixers 

 to handle 25 tons par hour would also be required if chemical inhibitors such as boric acid or others 

 are added to the sterilized salt. A valuable adjunct to the sterilizing and mixing machinery would 

 be salt-grinding machinery that would produce a "iizmr" greide of salt. In general, the size of the 

 ■alt crystals is much too coarse for use in salting fish. More rapid and oomplete salt penetration 

 would result if a salt of finer grain were used. 



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