58 Commercial Shark Fishing in the Caribbean Area 



the direct sun, particularly in the morning and late after- 

 noon, but this should not be done unless necessary. If 

 rainy weather sets in before the drying is finished, the 

 fillets should be salted and stacked; and when dry 

 weather comes again the salt shaken off and drying con- 

 tinued. The time for drying varies greatly with the damp- 

 ness of the air, the amount of draft, the temperature and 

 other factors. The only way to tell when drying is com- 

 plete is to examine the fillets. When they are properly 

 dried, it should not be possible to press a thumb mark 

 into them easily and when struck together they should 

 " sound dry". Under good conditions the drying should 

 take about 6 or 7 days. 



In most parts of the Caribbean there are definite rainy 

 seasons. It is best not to attempt to shade-dry fish during 

 these periods. 



Packing 



After drying is completed, each fillet should be dusted 

 with a mixture of fine mineral salt to which 10 per cent of 

 corn meal has been added. They should then be packed, 

 preferably in waxed paper, in lots of about 25 pounds 

 and kept in as dry and cool a place as can be found. 



Almost any kind of container is suitable and the type 

 chosen will depend on how it is to be handled, and the re- 

 quirements of shipping companies, etc. Mat hampers 

 woven from local materials are very satisfactory. 



The resulting product should be up to the standard of 

 good grade dry salt cod. 



Remember: 



(1) Use only absolutely fresh sharks and get on with 

 process without delay; shark meat "goes off" more 

 quickly than fish flesh. 



(2) Do not attempt to use Hammerhead Sharks, very 

 large sharks, the dark meat or sharks feeding on sewer 

 or abattoir outlets, for human consumption. 



(3) Always keep everything clean and sanitary. 



(4) Use good, fisheries-grade salt and plenty of it. 



(5) Shade-dry the fish and protect the drying fish from 

 rain and dew. Do not attempt to shade-dry fish in the 

 rainy season. 



