SPANISH FISHING INDUSTRY, 1946 1/ 

 By Mario A. ley, Foreign Service Clerk 



EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY: 



Marine Biological Lafaoi 



LIBK A. it "ST 



MAR 3-1949 



WOODS HOLE, MASS. 



L 



With the exception of about 15 large companies, the fishing fleet is owned 

 and operated by individual shipowners. According to the last available figures 

 it is composed. of the following units; 2/ 



Steam : 

 Motor 



Sail 

 Oars 



Totals 



Units 



1,150 



6,076 



12,605 



14 i 569 



34.4 00 



Tonnage 



81,975 



58,690 

 36,667 



18,836 

 196.168*" 



In spite of the many difficulties encountered in obtaining supplies of 

 materials, new construction is still- going on in increasing volume. Most of 

 it, of course, is to replace old units and modernize others, but the large 

 profits made during the past .wars by ship-owners of the medium-radius type 

 (up to 200 tons registry) and the large Government loans for boat building are 

 also important factors. 



One of the main problems still confronting the industry is the proper 

 fueling of the fleet, especially coal. In 1946, there were allotted to the 

 fishing fleet, which enjoys preferential treatment in the allocation of supplies, 

 480,000 metric tons of coal but this was only theoretical since it only received 

 322,403 metric tons which represents a 67.29 per cent of the actual requirements .3/ 

 Consequently, more and more ships are being converted to oil burning, though 

 the government has imposed restrictions on these activities. 



CATCH 



The total catch of all species of fish including moilusks and crustf ceans 

 in 194-6 surpassed the total catch for the previous year, which was an all-time 

 record, by ovor 50,o5T) tons. There are no available figures at present regarding 

 patches in other fishing countries. The last available were those for 1941 



1/ American Consulate peport No. 3, Vigo, Spain, July 31, 1947 

 2/ Industries Pesqucras, May 15, 1947, page 9. 



2/ Void 



