b. International treaties, conventions , etc . Cuba apparently has 

 entered into no treaties' or conventions affecting commercial fisheries. In 

 an exchange of notes covering the purchase of Cuban sugar of the 1°U6 crop, 

 the Mexican Government agreed to enter into some agreement which would permit 

 Cuban fishermen to fish in Mexican territorial waters and, vice-versa, Mexican 

 fishermen to fish in Cuban waters. To date f however, nothing has been done. 



Fishing by Cuban fishermen off the coast of Yucatan in the past has caused 

 much friction between the two Governments. Mexico reportedly claims that its 

 territorial waters extend 2CO miles offshore, including banks along the Gulf of 

 Mexico detached from the continental shelf and surrounded by very deep water. 



Officials in the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture are inclined to have Cuba's 

 territorial waters extended beyond the present three-mile limit, particularly 

 in view of President Truman's proclamation of September 28, 19U5, establishing 

 control over areas of the high seas contiguous to the coasts of the United 

 States for the conservation of fisheries. 



INTERNAL TRADE PATTERN 



a. Methods of marketing . Fish arriving in Habana passes through the only 

 two general markets - the "Unico" and the "Colon." ^hese markets, as well as 

 others in the interior, are supplied by four basic channels: 



Fish caught off the Mexican and American coasts 



I. A distribution cooperative formed in May l°u6 by Habana 

 outfitters. 



II. Independent outfitters and fishermen in Habana who dispose 

 of their catch to stands at the markets on a commission 

 basis, usually 0.75 percent. 



Coastal fish 



III. Commercial companies at the principal coastal fishing 

 centers, chiefly Batabano and G a ibarien, which sell through 

 agents in Habana. 



IV. Independent crews of coastal fishermen who bring their 

 catch directly to the markets. 



Neither the markets nor the suppliers have refrigeration facilities; 

 distribution of fish is therefore haphazard and the turn-over must perforce be 

 rapid. About 30 percent of the catch reportedly is lost owing to lack of 

 suitable refrigeration and the delay in bringing the catch to market. 



Industrial residues and other refuse thrown into Habana bay preclude 

 storing live fish in the interior of the bay. Consequently, the cargoes from 

 fishing vessels are unloaded at the entrance of the bay near El Morro onto 

 perforated floats known as "cachuchas" through which sea water circulates freely. 



*19U6 29 



