at Vigo. Ice was also inuch nore abundant there than in Vigo. The decline in 

 the Vigo entries is the direct result of the ->oor sardine catch and the dis- 

 banding of its fishing fleet to northern parts where supplies such as coal 

 and ice were obtained mere easily. 



Conditions under which fresh fish is being distributed have improved 

 somewhat during 194.6, but they are still, far from being satisfactory, both 

 from the sanitary and commercial or industrial viewpoints. Fish, continues 

 to be transported to the interior of the" country, principally tc Madrid, 

 which is the largest consuming center, lacked in ice either by rail or rioter 

 truck. The establishment of several small factories for the processing of 

 fish waste for the obtention of fish oil - which is being used as a substitute 

 fcr linseed oil in the manufacture of prints - has finally induced fish 

 dealers to remove head and entrails before shipment, thus saving space. It 

 has also given rise to the establishment of a small but productive industry. 

 An important handicap in the development of the new industry is the practical 

 impossibility of obtaining the necessary foreign exchange for the importation 

 of the machinery necessary for the industry, which is now using the crudest 

 of machines. 



'The fish catch at Vigo during 1946 was distributed as follows: 



Exported by rail 33,911,650 kilos 

 Exported by truck 7,494,420 kilos 

 Consumed locally 4, 276,310 kilos 



Canned 7,281,194 kilos 



Smoked or dried 1,159,555 kilos l/ 



FACKfl'G INDUSTRY 



•The- Spanish fish packing industry was created and developed with the 

 definite purpose of capturing foreign markets. One of the first factories to 

 be established in this littoral in 1880 was organized precisely fcr the pur- 

 pose of exporting the largest part of its production to France. Since then, 

 the Spanish fish packing economy expanded and developed closely together with 

 the opportunities offered by foreign markets. Due to the tenacious efforts 

 of the packers, the Spanish products found ready acceptance in almost every 

 country. Eef ore World War I Argentine and France were by far the largest 

 consuming markets. During the war many other countries opened their doers 

 to the Spanish preserved fish, thus giving the local industry an opportunity 

 to enlarge their installations and to improve their methods of production. 



The peak of the export volume was reached in 1937 with a total of 

 1,006,607 cases weighing 24,553 kilos. From that year the volume of exports 

 decreased steadily until 1945 and 1946 which were almost negligible, 



, It is unquestionable that the Spanish fish packing industry is at present 

 facing a crucial crisis, which is the natural result of the difficulties caused 

 first by the Spanish Civil War and then by World War II. 



Among the many factors working against the recovery of the industry and 



1/ Industrias Pesqueras, January 15, 1947, page 14. 



6 



