THE CAKIBBEAN AREA — HONDURAS 



could be used with great advantage in this activity. Good possibilities for a salt-fish 

 industry along the coast exist, and this product could find a ready market not only in 

 Honduras but also in other Caribbean areas. For the war period, developments will probably 

 have to be confined to fresh fish and to salt-fish activities. 



Under normal conditions, possibilities of canning sardine, shrimp, and spiny lobsters 

 are present. Freezing of spiny lobsters, fish fillets, and other specialties has large 

 potential promise. There is evidence indicating that a small industry could be established 

 for the reduction of fish into meal and oil. 



On the Pacific coast, possibilities for fishery expansion also exist. With improved 

 transportation facilities to interior population centers, the fresh-fish trade could be ex- 

 I panded further. Operations for salting sxirplus catches should be successful for sale in 

 interior markets. 



Since Honduras has access to the open sea, there is a chance to participate in the 

 wealth of the tuna runs of this region. Since, however, these operations require large 

 capital investments, great technical skills, and the establishment of special facilities, it 

 is felt that any development along this line would be quite impossible during the War and 

 should be scrutinized in detail even in normal times. 



It is evident that large unutilized resources exist in Honduran waters. It is doubtful 

 that sufficient demand exists in Honduras to justify extensive operations, even though larger 

 amounts of fish could be sold. After the War, possibilities will be great but will depend 

 upon, to a large extent, the available maiicets for the produce. If such markets are avail- 

 able, facilities for handling and transportation, as well as for production, must be 

 established* 



GEWERAL CONaUSIONS AND RECOlfflfiWDATIONS 



Honduras is primarily an agricultviral country with practically no highways or railroads. 

 The Republic has very few facilities for the distribution and sale of perishable articles 

 with a result that each locality has to supply its local demands for such goods. Wage scales 

 are low except on the northern coast, and purchasing power remains very low. 



Until recently, fishing activities were confined almost entirely to personal-use oper- 

 ations, Oti the north coast, however, irtiere regular and more lucrative emplojment was to be 

 had, most of the fish consumed was brought in from the offshore islands. Very little, if 

 any, fresh fish finds its way into the interior. 



Inasmuch as local food-production is sufficient and the present fishery methods are 

 capable of supplying the local demands, emergency measures are unnecessary. 



Hi til the return of normal conditiems after the War, it is, believed that Honduras might 

 develop an eocport fishery based on the spiny lobster of the north coast and tuna on the south 

 coast. 



It is suggested that the Government of Honduras give consideration to the appointment 

 of a fishery officer whose duties would include collection of statistics of fish production 

 and preparation of reports on various phases of the fishery industries. 



lU 



