THE CARIBBEAN AREA — HAITI 



of fresh-fish distribution to outly.ng tovms would increase the demand for fresh fish. Later, 

 if and when circumstances permit, a fish-refrigeration unit should be set up to perform the 

 services of holdins fish and, also, of supplying cheap ice to the fishermen. Tlith these 

 facilities, it would be possible to increase the radius of production of fishing boats and to 

 store fish in periods of gluts to take care of periods of scarcity. 



Governmental Fishery Activities 



Prior- to October 1942, there was no agency in the Government of Haiti concerned with 

 fisheries. In that month, a Fishery Service was created to foster and prcsnote the fishery 

 industries of the Republic. 



■fliis Service can do much to insure that the fishery resources available to Haitian 

 fishermen are used to best advantages. For this purpose, it maybe desirable to disseminate 

 inforroation on Ushing methods, gear, and boats, enlarge knowledge of fish salting and drying, 

 provide credit to assist in construction of new fishing units, and encourage the building of 

 docking facilities and clean and sanitary public fish markets. During the Ytor, it may be 

 necessary to pool requirements for gear and supplies and transmit orders through a central 

 Government channel to secure results. Use of live-well vessels to permit Port-au-Prince 

 fishermen to make longer trips from the capital city should enlarge the quantity available 

 for consumers and improve quality. A terminal landing point well outside of polluted waters 

 must be provided for use of such live-well vessels. Possibly, several Bahamas fishermen 

 with live-well vessels could be induced to fish out of Port-au-Prince for at least a trial 

 period. 



As fishery resources become subjected to more intense use, it is increasingly important 

 for Government officials to recognize that most fishery resources can be over-fished, result- 

 ing in decreased yield and wasted fishing effort. Regulation of use may be necessary if the 

 resources are to be sustained from year to year. Government should be fully cognizant of 

 the character of the resources and their ability to produce, and should procure information 

 at regular intervals on the use of and condition of the resources. These data form a basis 

 for making restrictive regulations or the stimulation of fishing effort, 



CONCLUSIONS AND ^RECOMMENDATIONS 



While productivity of Haitian waters is not high, there is a considerable fishing area 

 near at hand than cannot be fished by methods now in use. Lack of transportation except by 

 sea makes the distribution of perishable fishery products difficult and low-purchasing power 

 limits the opportunities for successful fishery enterprises. 



It appears that the best use of Haiti's fishery resources would be to encourage a pei^onal- 

 use fishery by coastal dwellers, instructing these people in the preparation of cured fish so 

 that surpluses would not be wasted. Over and above this activity a fishery for the better 

 classes of fish might be carried on by full-time fishermen employing larger vessels with live- 

 wells and more efficient gear. The center of this latter activity might well be Port-au-Prince 

 Bay with the fishing boats making voyages of fairly long duration to more remote fishing 

 grounds. To provide storage for the catches, it sould be possible to install live cars in the 

 unpolluted sections of Port-au-Prince Bay, Marketing conditions should be improved by moving 

 all fish-selling and handling activities to one location. The sanitary standards of this 

 market should be rigidly enforced and there should be adequate provision for docking boats. 

 Retail-selling outlets similar to Haiti's meat stores might be operated, or fresh-iced fish 

 might be vended from sanitary, insulated fish carts. 



It is suggested that the Government of Haiti detail an official to study the fishing 

 methods used in Cuba and the Bahamas. 



186 



