The industry permanently employs some 9>000 men and, in addition, 

 provides work for 7,000 more in allied and subsidiary industries. Although 

 fish is an important item in the Cuban diet, nevertheless the total wholesale 

 value of fish production is considerably less than one percent of Cuba's 

 national income. 



Cuba's fish resources are exceedingly rich but the industry has not 

 filled the needs of its own population. In normal times imports of cured and 

 canned fish and other sea food amounted to about 20 to 23 million pounds. The 

 reasons for this incongruous situation are manifold. Fishing methods are 

 empiric and slow, and marketing is haphazard. Modern methods of refrigerating, 

 storing and distribution are not employed. Also, the advanced social legis- 

 lation imposed upon the industry without a concomitant modernization of equip- 

 ment and of standards of production has resulted in serious handicaps to the 

 industry. 



The Cuban Government recently* has shown renewed interest in develop- 

 ing the country's fisheries. It has eliminated or suspended several taxes 

 which discouraged production. It is erecting a plant at Batabano for curing 

 and canning fish and by-products. It has repaired vessels damaged by the hurri- 

 cane of 19UU* It is distributing a limited quantity of lines, hooks and small 

 fishing craft among fishing cooperatives which it fosters. It has also sought 

 amicably to remove obstacles heretofore imposed by Mexico against fishing in 

 its waters. But all these efforts hardly constitute a fraction of what needs to 

 be done. 



Large fishing companies look askance upon the Government' s aid to 

 fishing cooperatives, and although the companies need modern nets and other 

 equipment for fishing and refrigeration, they are reluctant to make new invest- 

 ments . 



The lot of the fishermen is not too good. The task of accumulating 

 a catch with individual hand lines is long and arduous. Much of the catch is 

 lost for lack of refrigeration and, since their returns are on a share basis, 

 they are never certain of a good income. They are enmeshed in a progress- 

 arresting tangle from which they can disengage themselves only if per capita 

 output is increased, and that can be achieved only if coranercial companies in- 

 vest in modern eq: ipment. 



b. History of the development of the fishing industry . 



The fishing industry in Cuba dates back to the discovery by Columbus 

 in 1U92, and evolved from the primitive stages peculiar to each succeeding 

 period. Cuban salt fish was well known during the expeditions for Mexico's 

 conquest and later, when the Spanish flotillas assembled at Habana for the 

 return voyage to Spain. 



In 1875 or thereabouts, a fishing vessel from Yucatan became wrecked 

 near Colorados on the Cuban coast. From the shipwreck the Cubans learned of. 

 the share-method of "one-third for outfitter and two-thirds for fishermen.' It 

 is definitely known that long before 1925 outfitters and fishermen entered into 

 verbal agreements of this nature. 



Prior to 19?6, fishermen were content with receiving two-thirds of 

 the wholesale price of the catch, usually fixed by the outfitter at about 5 or 



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