PREFACE 



Discovery of new fishing grounds, expanding markets, and 

 the increase in the size of the fleet have contributed to the dramatic 

 growth of the shrin^) industry within the past decade. Currently, the 

 shrimp fishery is the most iinportant in the United States measured by 

 the value of landings. Moreover, the shrimp processing industries 

 and distributive channels have also greatly expanded their facilities 

 and the volume and variety of shrimp products reaching the national 

 market during the past decade. 



The period of growth and expansion of the shrimp industry 

 was marked by occasional setbacks and periods of marketing doldrums. 

 It was during these periods that some of the basic problems of this 

 industry were revealed as pitfalls to be avoided in the future. 

 Fortunately, none of these particular basic problems, which were 

 noted during the period of field work and analysis on this stucfy, 

 appear insoluble. Rather, the shrimp industry's general welfare 

 is related mainly to the solutions of a lot of little problems — all of 

 them concerned with increasing the efficiency of operations at all 

 levels and thus effecting cost savings in shrimp production, processing, 

 and distribution. 



Survey of the United States Shrimp Industry examines all 

 phases of the fishery, vessel construction, operations and gear used 

 in fishing, production costs, the physical layout and efficiency of 

 processing plants, packaging, distribution, and marketing. Every 

 effort has been made throughout the survey to provide specific sug- 

 gestions and recommendations for improving current practices. 



Volume I of this report published as Special Scientific 

 Report - Fisheries No. 277 contains the first five chapters which deal 

 with production and processing. 



This volume contains the last four chapters, three of which 

 deal with marketing. The last chapter contains a summary of con- 

 clusions and recommendations addressed to a (^namic industry in an 

 ever-changing econony. A subject index to both volumes is appended. 



Survey of the Shrimp Fisheries of Central and South America 

 and Foreign Shrimp Fisheries other than Central and South America 

 referred to in the text have been published as Special Scientific 

 Report - Fisheries No. 235 and No. 25ii, respectively. 



