Table 3 Export of yarious Classes of Pearls in 19>4-6 



8. Economic importance of pearl fishery 



Economic importance of the pearl fishery may he estimated hy comparing the 

 total value of pearls obtained annually with the value of all other fishery products for the 

 same years. As can be seen from table h, during the last three years, 19'+5 to 19^7, the 

 relative value of the pearl fishery gradually increased from 6.S to lU.l percent of the 

 total value of all fisheries. 



Table 1+ Production and Value of Fishes and Pearls 



in Venezuela from'. 19^5 to I9U7 



In comparison with other products of export, such as oil and minerals, the 

 pearl industry is smeill pri<i insignificant, but it is quite important in the economic life 

 of the State of Ihieva Esparto where it provides substantial income to several hundred fisher- 

 men. According to the official data of the Section of Fisheries (SecciiJn de Pesqueria, 

 Direcci(Jn de Econonlica Agricola, Minesterio de Agricultura y Crfa, 19^8) , the following 

 nmnber of licenses were issued during the fishing season of 191^7 (table 5)« 



17 



