THE CARIHBEAJJ AREA — HONDURAS 



types are also available at certain seasons. Offshore, pelagic types might be encountered 

 at a considerable distance offshore. 



The turtles of the region are reported to outrank the fishes in importance. The 

 principal varieties are the loggerhead, the hawksbill, and the green turtle. From March to 

 September, they inhabit the small cr-jb by the thousands while during the remainder of the 

 year, plentiful supplies may be taken in the adjoining waters. The meat of the green turtle 

 is in moat demand as food. 



Many of the fish species are found throughout the year, but kingfish and Spanish mackerel 

 are most abundant from July to October when they appear in large schools. 



The western portion of the coast is not as productive in fish as the eastern section, and 

 reports indicated that fishing around Puerto Cortez was not good during most of the year even 

 though there was some indications of seasonal abundance of certaiin species. 



Pacific Coast ; On the Pacific side, the fishing grounds in territorial waters are con- 

 fined to shallows and to estuarine habitats. Here, mullet, snook, pompano, weakfish, drums, 

 grunts, sharks, rays, seabass, groupers and snappers of some species, cabezon. Jacks, and 

 many other species are available in some quantity. 



THE FISHEHY INIUSTRIES 



Only the coastal inhabitants utilize the fishery resources of Hondiuras. In this country, 

 agriculture is the main producer of food as well as the main industry. Beef is low priced as 

 are other locally-produced meats and eggs. Fish normally enter into conmerce on a very small 

 scale. Inserts of preserved fishery products, though limited, provide much of the fish con- 

 sumed in Honduras, imported canned fish being conspicuous on grocery shelves in all communi- 

 ties. 



Prior to 19A2, trade in fresh fish was confined to coastal areas, although a reported 

 600 pounds a week reached the capital, Tegucigalpa, by road. This fish, selling for the 

 equivalent of 25 cents* per pound in the round, was usually of poor quality after a slow 

 journey frcsn Amapala on Tigre Island in the Bay of Fonseca. Fishermen reportedly received 

 about 7 1/2 cents per pound for these fish. No other organized mariceting of fresh fish 

 existed in Honduras although individual fishermen sold fish locally at all inhabited points 

 on both coasts. Fish at 15 to 25 cents per pound was forced to compete with beef at 10 to 

 20 cents, and other agricultural products at similarly low prices. 



« United States currency eq\iivalents are used throughout. 



141 



