6 cents per pound. In 1926, however, social legislation was introduced which 

 stirred the fishermen and encouraged them to demand that a written contract 

 be drawn whereby fishermen are termed employees of the outfitters rather than 

 catch-sharers, entitled not only to two- thirds of the catch but also to certain 

 other social benefits (see 3b and lUa). 



In 1927 there developed a new type of fishermen - the so-called "libre" 

 (independent). They put out to sea, brought their catch and sold it without 

 regard for social legislation or taxation. At present there are 17 such fisher- 

 men in Habana, more or less subject to Government control. 



The principal effect of the war was to reduce fishing and increase 

 prices sharply. Submarine warfare off Cuba's coast caused fishing to decline 

 considerably for a while. Increased wages in other work, the scarcities of 

 other meat and reduced output of fish caused prices to soar to twice or three 

 times the pre-war levels. With increased prices, the fishermen's share of the 

 catches rose proportionately, but a simultaneous rise in the cost of living 

 reduced their purchasing power. Nets, lines and other fishing equipment became 

 scarce and are still difficult to obtain. 



LOCATION ' 



a. The principal fishing centers are Habana l/, Batabano, Caibarien, 

 Manzanillo and Cienfuegos. THe relative importance of these and other ports 

 shifts from time to time, depending on the runs. A list of all the fishing 

 ports and their reported but inaccurate production in 1936 (the only year for 

 which data are available by ports) is submitted in Appendix I. 



b. The most prolific fishing grounds in Cuba reportedly are as follows: 



North Coast South Coast 



Arroyos de Mantua La Coloma 



Dimas Nueva Gerona 



Puerto Esperanza Batabano 



Bahia Honda Cienfuegos 



Matanzas Casilda 



Cardenas Santa Cruz del Sur 



Sagua Manzanillo 



Caibarien 



Nuevitas 



A detailed list of the breeding grounds and fisheries, including type 

 of grounds and kinds of fish and sea food obtainable, are submitted in Appendix 

 II. 



c. There are practically no commercial fresh-water fisheries in Cuba al- 

 though some fish are caught in rivers or lakes by country folk for their own 

 consumption. In the early 1930' s a number of streams in the southern part of 

 Matanzas and Habana Provinces were stocked with sunfish, carp, big-mouth black 

 bass, trout, and perch from the United States, but dry weather during the past 

 several years reportedly has reduced their numbers. 



1/ Mostly Gulf of Mexico catch, consisting of red grouper, red snapper and 



kingfish. 3 



* 1946 



