THE CARIBBEAN AREA 



The use of salt codfish (called "bacalao" in the Spanish-speaking areas), has become 

 finnly implanted in the customary diet of much of the Caribbean area. Many esteemed dishes 

 are prepared with bacalao, the use of which has become intimately associated with rice and 

 beans, two other important staples of the diet. 



Fishery exports from the Caribbean area are limited thus far to canned and frozen spiny 

 lobster from Cuba; tiirtles and tortoise shell from Central American republics, the Cayman 

 Islands, and Cubaj sponges from Cuba and Central America; pearls and canned fish from Vene- 

 zuela; and sharic livers, liver oil, fins, teeth and hides from scattered points throughout 

 the region. This trade now has been reduced by the War to a fraction of its normal size. 

 Other exported products associated with fisheries are frozen frog legs from Cuba and alli- 

 gator hides from Central America. The collective value of all these exports is estimated at 

 about $1, OCX), 000 per year during normal times. 



Most of the exports shipped are destined for the Iftiited States. Some previously went 

 to Germany and France, Natural pearls at one time were very important in export trade with 

 France and it was reported that some thirty years ago large quantities of live spiny lob- 

 sters were collected for the French market off various Caribbean islands by live-well ves- 

 sels coming from ports in France. A sizeable export trade in live spiny lobsters was also 

 established in Cuba several years ago, the shijxnents going to nearby Florida ports. 



Fishermen 



The best estimates available place the number of commercial fishermen in the Caribbean 

 at about 95,000, To this number must be added the very ccaisiderable numbers of persons who 

 fish for their own use, others wno fish only irregularly, and perhaps a relatively few sport 

 fishermen. 



Cuba leads the area with /,D,000 fishermen or about 42 percent of the total number for 

 the entire Caribbean area. Fishermen represent about 0.9 percent of the population of Cuba 

 and about 0.3 percent of the total Caribbean population. Estimates of the nxuaber of fisher- 

 men in the remainder of the area are given in an accompanying table. 



The economic level of the fishermen is low. Some of the more progressive individuals 

 have succeeded in bettering themselves by accumulating two or three fishing outfits which 

 they hire out to other fishermen for a share of the catch. It is doubtful, however, that 

 the average income of Caribbean fishermen is more than about $150.00 per year. 



Fishermen in most of the Caribbean region live in commxuiities of their own— usually 

 on the shore and away from the larger towns. In these conmunities practically everyone is 

 a fisherman or belongs to a fisherman's family. Almost everyone helps with the fishing in 

 some way. Houses and furnishings are of the simplest types and the food of the community 

 runs to fresh and dried fish with additions of various vegetables and cereals. In general, 

 people of the fishing villages are healthier than those of other communities and those of 

 the same economic level in other occupations, 



Ccaitrary to ideas frequently expressed as to the diligence of these people, it was found 

 that the average fisherman works just as hard, if not harder, than agricultural labor, and it 

 goes without argument that his work is much more hazardous. It also requires more initiative 

 and perseverance than is usually characteristic of other types of labor. In spite of this, 

 however, fishermen have been little encouraged by the various governments to better their lot. 



That fishenaen are highly individualistic is true. But in their village life they often 

 show a distinct leaning toward cooperative efforts. They do not, as a rule, wish to work for 

 an outsider but will work for another fisherman or for someone whom they like and respect. 



In the West Indies, most fishermen are of Negro stock. In the Republics of Venezuela 

 and, to a lesser extent, Colombia, they are almost all pure Spanish or mixed Spanish and 

 Indian types. Along the Caribbean coast of Central America, fishermen are either Indians or 

 Negroes or mixtures of these races. Few persons of white blood fish on this coast. In Cuba, 



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