THE CARIEaEAN AREA 



Game fishing ; — ^'/hile Caribbean waters are populated by the same species of fish that 

 are valued as salt— water game fish off the coasts of Florida, there has been almost no 

 game-fishing developnent. The Caribbean area is well known to sportsmen, A few local 

 fishermen and occasional visitors have tested the quality of the fishing. From available 

 information, it appears that certain sections in the area will some day be famed for their 

 sport fishing. It is anticipated that income fron tourist fishermen in some communities 

 will eventually become a very important factor in local prosperity. Tarpon, in particular, 

 hold sport-fishing possibilities. Reports of the abundance of tarpon and their availabil- 

 ity for sport fishing were received from Colombia, through Central America, and to Cuba. 

 They are abundant near the mouths of all Caribbean rivers in these sections. Trolling for 

 migrating fish was reported as occasionally excellent in most places visited and bottom 

 fishing for snippers and groupers was also highly recommended. The routes of travel for 

 big-game fish have not been traced through the area, but it is probable that when the 

 routes are fully known, certain Caribbean communities will become favorite vacation spots 

 for big game anglers. The north and south coasts of Cuba, the west coast of Haiti, the 

 south coast of the Dominican Republic, axxi the west coast of Puerto Rico already are well- 

 known among United States game fishermen. The development of game fishing tourist facili- 

 ties in certain areas of promise offers possibilities for the futiore that overshadow the 

 potential iuqjortance of ccttunercial fishing. 



Possibilities for Enlarging Caribbean Fishery Commerce 



The survey made by the Caribbean Fishery Mission was undertaken to determine in what 

 way the fishery resources smd fishery industries of the Caribbean could give greater con- 

 tributions to the welfare of the area. With this in mind, the Mission tried to determine, 

 (a) what is the character of the fishery resources; (b) to Triiat extent the resources are 

 now used by existing fishery industries; (c) what the factors are that have retarded or 

 spurred development in the Caribbean in the past; and (d) what action can now be taken to 

 expedite more complete use of the resources. 



From all available sources of information and by means of short inspections in fish- 

 ing localities, the Mission became informed on the first three of these points. The 

 following paragraphs discuss what action can now be taken to increase commerce in fishery 

 products . 



At virtually all points visited, certain things were noticed that the investigators 

 considered could be changed to some advantage — minor improvements could be made in boats 

 and gear, in operation of gear, in the handling of fish after catching, in marketing, in 

 processing, and also in other particulars. Often conditions were noted that probably 

 could be improved with some experimental alteration. Many local fishery industries were 

 observed and the possibilities for use of resources now untouched were studied, TOiere 

 it was possible to prepare specific recommendations for improvement of conditions, these 

 were prepared. 



It was recognized throughout the survey, hovrever, that the Mission was limited in 

 ability to solve by itself in the short time allotted most of the problems of fishery 

 use in the Caribbean. The occurrence of fishery resources, the effectiveness of fishing 

 gear, the costs of actual operations, the acceptance of new fishery products by consiuaors, 

 and many other factors had to be studied in the light of probability rather than positive 

 fact. Established fact was used wherever it was found, but it was continuoiisly obvious 

 that special fact-finding studies are necessary before the full possibilities of the 

 fishery resources of the Caribbean can be positively known. 



Several important facts were positively identified. The size of existing fishing 

 operations and the present importance of local fish supplies to the area were determined 

 within limits as accurately as the character of the survey permitted. 



Under the existing conditions of War, it was necessary to view the possihilities 

 and opportunities in fishery development and management in a different light, than in 

 peacetime. An effort was made to determine what immediate steps could be taken to improve 

 local conditions during the emergency. In addition, however, the continuing or long-range 



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