lobsters, clams and other shell-fish on the East Coast; 

 .. A proposed State fishing base in the port of La Paloma, with 

 plants for the production of flour, canned fish, etc. 



If the above enterprises fulfill expectations, it is estimated by SOIP 

 that the annual production vdll increase to 10,0Q0 metric tons within two 

 years« 



The phase of the fisheries industry v;ith the greatest commercial possibil- 

 ities is the extraction of vitamin oils from shark and other fish livers. 

 Research in this respect was begun in 1939 by SOYP and the Institute of 

 Industrial Chemdstry, As a result of the subsequent report, SOYP began labcr- 

 atcry extraction on a snail scale in 19U1-. The small output was used, with 

 satisfactory results, by the l/dnistry of Public Health. Noi? SOTP has some 

 F.cdern machinery, including two centrifuges and a mill. Delivery of a 

 spectrof ctoneter is expected shortly. Hov/ever, present production is extremely 

 limited. The new plant of SOIP is not expected to operate at capacity for at 

 least six months. 



The chief vitardn oil-bearing fish is the "tiburbn chico" (nustelus 

 cannis -Kitch) but other less profitable species are also being exploited. The 

 former is found on the continental shelf betv/een Punta del Este and the Chuy. 



Principal drav/back to proper exploitation of this industry'' has been the 

 lack of suitable vessels. SOYP acquired five nev; vessels in the past year. 

 Fvi-thermorcj. SOYP has announced that its ncyi plant will be available to all 

 fishermen in order that the yield of oils be as large as possible. Fcr this 

 service SOYP vdll receive a royalty on each liter of oil obtained or each kilo 

 of liver processed. 



Upon recommendation of Dr. Fernando DE BUEN, a Spanish fish industry 

 specialist, a total of 1^.9^000 pesos were allocated for the reconstruction of 

 buildings and installations on the Isla de Lobos, headquarters of the sea 

 wolf skin industry. The value of this ccmmcdity to Uruguay has declined steadily 

 since 1910,, when several private concerns took over the then thriving trade, 

 SOYP hopes that by improvement in quality approximately 7,000 skins can be sold 

 annually „ 



b. Ef fec t ive local d e r.and . 



The effective local demand is sor.ev;hat less than might be expected of a 

 country with abundant fish resources, because the population traditionally 

 prefers meat to fish. A recent increase in consumption was due to a shortage 

 of tho former and, to a lesser degree, to the effrrts of interested parties in 

 educating tho public as to the dietary benefits of fish. 



^ ' l-'^ port Requ ireme nts , 



Imports arc confined to canned products, since the country is self- 

 sufficient with respect to fresh fish. As noted above in the description of 

 the local industry, som.e progress in the establishment of fish-processing and 

 fish-canning factories is being made. However, it is anticipated that for 

 several years to cone canned products will continue to be imported, although 

 in gradually decreasing quantities. 



U 



