Sponges prior to the war comprised 37 percent of the total weight 

 of fishery products exported, or an average of 665,000 pounds; but owing to a 

 blight which became endemic in 1?39> exports in 19 U5 declined to only about 

 75,000 pounds or only 5 percent of the total exports. Returns for sponges 

 in recent years, however, have been amazingly high: the export value per pound 

 rose from an average of $0.8U in 1937-1*1 to $6.73 in 19UU and $7.73 in 19U5/1. 



Shark skins, meat, livers, liver oil and fins all together now*rank 

 third in fishery exports and have risen from an annual average of roughly 

 1U0,000 pounds, worth about $17,000 in 1937-Ul, to 350,000 pounds, worth almost 

 $100,000 in 19U5. 



Lesser fishery exports from Cuba include fresh, salted and canned fish; 

 morro crabs, raw and cooked; miscellaneous fresh and canned sea food; and sea- 

 shells. 



The United States in 1937-Ul took an average of 81 percent of the 

 weight and 9U percent of the value of Cuba's total fishery exports. In 19U5 the 

 proportion was slightly smaller: 72 percent of weight and 86 percent of value. 

 Lobster, shark products and sponges made up the bulk. 



Exports to Argentina, Canada, Portugal and Spain have consisted almost 

 entirely of sponges and to Mexico of canned lobster. Fishery exports to ^eden 

 were resumed in 19U5 with about 33 , 000 pounds of canned lobster valued roughly 

 at $32,000. Practically none have been exported since the war to France, Germany, 

 Belgium, Holland or Great Britain, which formerly took fair quantities of 

 sponges, canned lobster and shark products. 



Appendix XIV shows exports of fishery products from Cuba by countries 

 of destination, average 1937-Ul, annual from 19U2 to 19U5. 



b. Foreign competition, including analysis and trends . 



Exports from the United States to Cuba of canned sardines , which 

 averaged U.U million pounds during 1937-Ul, dropped to negligible levels when 

 shipping was restricted during the war and amounted to only about a million 

 pounds in 19U5« The participation of the United States in the total canned 

 sardine imports in 19U5 was 36 percent, as compared to an average of 82 percent 

 in 1937-Ul. The principal suppliers, other than the United States, were Portugal 

 whose imports increased substantially, with 20 percent of the total; Venezuela, 

 Peru and Chile, all newcomers, with 31 percent; and Spain with 7 percent. Appen- 

 dix XV lists imports of sardines by countries of origin. 



The Cuban taste for small sardines in olive oil and the psychological 

 appeal of the small oval or square tins, which Spain and Portugal supply, con- 

 stitute competitive factors which in the past have been overcome by the lower 

 price of American sardines. Once normal shipments of American sardines are 

 resumed, it is likely that Cuban imports may reach unprecedented levels, unless 

 the small sardine-packing plants in Cuba compete too strongly. At present^- 



71 See report no. 330, ibid. 



/2" For background discussion, see report no. 155, August 22, 1933, "The Effect 



of Increased Cuban Tariffs upon Imports of Canned Fish from the U. S. " 

 *19U6 21 



