THE CARIBBEAN AREA — BRITISH WEST INDIES 



Fishing is done mainly by handlines, troll lines, and fish-pots off the north coast; by 

 seines and gill nets in the productive northwest areaj and by seines and lines on the west 

 and south coasts. Half the catch is marketed in Port of Spain and San Fernando, where it is 

 sold at controlled prices through municipal marketing channels. 



Shortages of supplies are hampering existing fishdng efforts. Materials for net and 

 line replacements are increasingly scarce and high-priced. Wire for fish-pots has become 

 unobtainable. A continued lack of parts for outboard motors will soon immobilize many of 

 the boats* 



Land transport of fish to Port of Spain cannot be continued because alternative roads 

 to the north coast have not yet been built; and, in any case, truck transport, from the 

 east, south, and west coasts has been canplicated by the shortage of truck tires. 



The supply of fresh -fish in Trinidad has been more seriously affected by war-emergency 

 activities than that of any other of the British West Indies of the Eastern Group, The 

 fishery industry has been disrupted by (a) the loss of fishermen to more remunerative work, 

 (b) the inclusion of the principal fishing areas urithin military reservations, and (c) the 

 closure of several sea and land routes by which fish are normally carried to market. As a 

 result, local production has been reduced to about half of its normal tiirnover rate, or 

 about 3 million pounds per year. This reduction, coupled with serious shortages in imports 

 of salt and canned products, has made fish of any kind exceedingly scarce. 



The local food scarcities are aggravated by the infliix of a large number of relatively 

 highly-paid workers. This has resiilted in a generally increased purchasing power, thereby 

 creating a much larger demand for animal proteins. Other important factors are: (a) Ihe 

 curtailmfint of shipping space for food imports, (b) the price competition for deep-sea red 

 snapper by British G\iiana, (c) the supplying of locally-caught fresh fish at uncontrolled 

 prices for provisioning vessels in transit, and (d) a controlled price structure leading 

 to black market practices. 



The production of locally-produced supplies of fishery products can be stimulated by: 

 (a) a planned resettlement of displaced fishermen, (b) provision of fishing gear to supply 

 replacements, (c) adjustment of controlled prices where necessary to provide added incentive 

 to the fishermen, and (d) provision of sea-borne transport facilities to replace the rapidly 

 declining road transport and the inefficient use of small fishing boats for fish transport. 

 These measures are designed to give efficient utilization of production units now in exist- 

 ence and, also, insures that the output of these imits will be made available wnere most 

 needed. 



Further relief of scarcity in fishery products cari be provided by the formation of 

 local, iishery development projects. These should be Government financed and managed and 

 include (a) location and construction of stationary fish traps or pounds of the type used 

 in the Alaska salmon industry, (b) provision of a fishing vessel capable of exploratory and 

 experimental fishing to locate undeveloped fishing areas and to determine how these can be 

 used most successfully, and (c) a fishermen's credit fund to finance new enterprises. 



It is recommended that: 



1. The local fishery industries be expanded to relieve the shortage of food. 



2. That the deficiencies in imported fish products be made up as far as possible by 

 locally produced fish. 



3. (a) The fishing industry be stimulated by making immediately available mesh wire 

 for fish-pots, seine twine for nets, fish hooks, rope, sail canvas, spare parts for outboard 

 motors, and other necessary accessories. 



(b) One or more refrigerated motor vessels be placed in operation to transport 

 fresh fish from points of production to consuming centers. 



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