THE FISHERIES AND FISHERY RESOURCES OF HONDURAS 



INTRDDUCTION 



Vne fisheries and fishery industries of Honduras were stxidied, in August 19^42, as a 

 part of a survey of the entire Caribbean area made by a Idission of the United States 

 Government under a cooperative arrangement between the United States Department of the 

 Interior, Fish and T/Tildlife Service and the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American 

 Affairs. The Mission was under the direction of Reginald H. Fiedler, Chief of the Division 

 of Fishery Industries, Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, 

 and the field party in Honduras consisted of Milton J. Lobell, Fishery Eiigineer, and 

 Clarence R, Lucas, Fishery Economist of the Service, 



During August 1942, the Mission visited practically all of the localities in Honduras 

 •rtiere extensive marine fisheries are conducted. 



The Republic of Honduras, with a coastline on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific 

 Ocean, normally consumes little fish. Hor/ever, during the visit of the Uission to the 

 country, it was found that an enterprise, en^iloylng airplanes for transportation, was 

 regularly suppljdng fresh fish from the Pacific coast to Tegucigalpa, the capital, at 

 prices less than half those nonrally charged. In addition, the fish was in much better 

 condition than that formerly sold at irregular intervals. This indicates, conclusively, 

 that large potential markets for fresh fish exist in the interior of the country if it can 

 be delivered in pure condition and sold at moderate prices. 



Note: Ihe Mission was assisted in many ways by the Honduran Conmission of Inter- 

 American Development under the chairmanship of Sr. don Ignacio Agurcia. Sr. don Jorge 

 Coello, the secretary, and Sr. don Jose Augusto Padilla, vice-president, gave excellent 

 cooperation. 



The Diplomatic Mission of the United States, headed by Mr. John D. Erwin, rendered a 

 great service to the Mission through the Legation in Tegucigalpa, and through the varioxis 

 consular offices, 



Henry IQapisch, manager of a fishery enterprise, made a great deal of information 

 available to the investigators. 



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