THE CARIBBEAInI AREA — HAITI 



PRESENT FISHERY INDUSTRIES 



Little if any change has marked the fishery industries of Haiti for many years. The 

 fishing craft and apparatus used, the grounds fished, and the marketing and distribution 

 channels remain essentially the same as they were years ago. The Government has, in the 

 past, given little attention to the peasant of the sea. His economic level has remained 

 low and his contributions to the welfare of the Republic have been masked by the more 

 important agricultural activities. 



Production 



Until late in ly^, there was no measure of the catch available except estimates. In 

 March 19^2, it was estimated by M. Gomez of Port-de-Paix (engaged in the fish business in 

 this place for several decades) that the total national catch was between 72,000 and 100,000 

 kilograms per year (155,500 to 22^,000 pounds). M. Andre Audant of the National College of 

 Agriculture reported in January 19^.3 that the total catch extiraated on the basis of a survey 

 conducted under his supervision amounted to about 2,065,000 pounds per year. While the 

 difference between these figures is considerable, it may be due in part to the inclusion, in 

 the latter figure, of fish not entering commerce. Audant esti.-nates that the Port-au^^ince 

 Bay region produces 600,000 pounds per yearj Gonaives Bay, 500,000 poundsj Port-de-Paix, 

 100,000 pounds; Cape Haitien, 100,000 pounds; 'Jiragoane, 200,000 pounds; Jeremie, 300,000 

 pounds, Cayes, 225,000 pounds, and Jacmel, 40,000 pounds. 



Distribution 

 Itiere is very little organized commerce in fresh fish — the only market of any size and 

 purchasing power being Port-au-Prince. This market draws its supply mainly from Port-au- 

 Prince Bay, with little omo fresh fish being received from other parts of the Republic. In 

 the outlying districts, fish is landed on the beaches by the fishermen and is sold or barter- 

 ed to consumers in the neighborhood. Some small amounts may be carried inland by peasants 

 visiting the coastal tovkns for the purpose of selling some of their produce. Before the War, 

 fishermen or traders from the Bahamas called at north-coast ports bringing in dried and salt 

 fish, fish oils, and conches which were traded for Haitian agricultural produce. Export 

 restrictions have caused the cessation of this movement. 



Fishermen 



It is reported, on the basis of the above-men tianed survey by U. Audant, that there are 

 3,017 fishermen engaged in full or part-time fishing. Iheir distribution by regions is shown 

 in the following table. 



Number of Fishermen in Haiti by Regions 

 Region Nu mber 



North Frontier to Coracol 20 



Coracol to Cape Haitien 161 



Cape Haitien to Borgne 10 



Borgne to Jean Rabel 393 



Jean Rabel to Anse Rouge 115 



Anse Rouge to Grande Saline 220 



Grande Saline to Deluge 72 



Deluge to Port-au-Prince 128 



Port-au-Prince to Leongane 138 



Leogane to Baraderes 100 



Baraderes to Carcasse 1,257 



Carcasse to Torbeck 181 



Torbeck to Cotes de Fer 187 



Cotes de P'er to Sainet 10 



Bainet to Jacmel 10 



Jacmel to Anse a Pitres 15 



TOTAL 3,017 



182 



