THE CARIBBEAN AREA — BRITISH THEST INDIES 



(c) The displaced fishenaen be resettled in other fishing areas for the duration 

 of the emergency conditions so that their skills and implements will be continued to be 

 employed in food production. This only can be accomplished with the fulfillment of item (b). 



(d) Ihe present controlled prices be adjusted to present the maximum incentive to 

 fishing operations as well as to protect the consumers' interest, 



A, The Government undertake a fisheries development program. This program should include 

 the following projects: (a) establishment of stationary fish traps or pounds, (b) operation of 

 a fishing vessel for practical exploration and experiment, and (c) establishment of a fisher- 

 men's financing fund. 



BARBADOS 



General Conditions 



Fish is a staple article of diet for all classes in Barbados, and imported salt fish has 

 been the basic protein food of the laboring classes. 



In 19^0, 371 sailboats, 65 larger and about 100 smaller rowboats, en^sloying 1,200 fisher- 

 men, landed about 1 million pounds of fresh fish in Barbados, valued at approximately $100,000, 

 three million pounds, valued at $225,000, of all classes of imported fishery products, were 

 also consumed. With a reported population of 193,000, the annual pen-capita consumption of 

 fish products of all types is 20 pounds. 



The dominant fishery is for flying fish, conducted from small locally-built sailboats of 

 an excellent sea-going model, these boats also troll, they average 23 feet in length and 6 

 feet in draft, and operate in deep water vidthin 5 miles of the land. No motors, live-wells, 

 or ice-boxes are used. Deep handlines and fish-pots are important, expecially during the 

 hurricane season when the fljring fish fishery is suspended. The fish supply is on a day-to- 

 day basis, with little or no carry over. Prices closely follow supplies. Fish markets are 

 established at Bridgetown, Oistins, and Speightstown from which the bulk of the supply is 

 distributed by women hawkers, both in towns and throughout the countryside. Hawkers, also, 

 distribute the landings of fish from about 20 open beaches around the island. 



there has not yet been a reduction in the supply of fresh fish because of war-emergency 

 conditions, but shortages of supply of fishing gear Tdll make themselves felt in the near 

 future , 



the present fishing fleet is capable of producing more fish by the use of multiple 

 trolling lines to utilize the pelagic fisheries more fully. 



Experimental fishing operations should be undertaken for the developnent of new tech- 

 niques and application of methods not now in use; for example, bait fishing for dolphin, 

 multipls trolling and flag lines for large pelagic fish, drift pets for flying fish, trawl 

 lines, and Luproved fish-pots. 



Re commendations 

 It is recommended that: 



1. The fisheries be maintained at as high a level as possible. 



2. In order to arrest deterioration of fish supply, the Government secure for the 

 fishermai supplies of mesh vdre, seine twine, leader wire, hooks, rope, sail canvas, and 

 other accessories. 



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