widel7 distributed than 10 years earlier. Stolting, in 1951, 13/ listed 

 23 cities in which shrinp products were distributed in volxune In I9I46, 

 but not in 1936. The geographic expanse of the "shrimp marketing belt" 

 in I9U6, as presented in figure VIII - 21 on the basis of the sales 

 pattern data, extended from Tucson, Arizona, to Savannah, Georgia, and 

 from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Washington, D. C. Although figure VIII - 21 

 relates to all varieties of fish and shellfish taken in the Gulf Area, 

 it can be considered representative of shrimp distribution. Shrimp 

 accounted for over one-half of the leading ranks reported for all Gulf 

 Area varieties by the distributors who cooperated in the preparation 

 of the sales pattern studies. Ik/ 



Broader distribution — as consumption spreads to markets where 

 shrinqp has been comparatively unknown — may continue to be one of the 

 principal factors asserting a positive influence on per capita consump- 

 tion. The fact that shrimp has no direct substitute among fishery prod- 

 ucts and is not greatly dependent on the prices of competitive products 

 makes its demand similar to other luxury class food items. Rising consumer 

 incomes have constituted an important stimulus to increased consumption. 



Despite shrimp's unique status among fishery products, its 

 demand is related in broad terms to the demand for other luxury foods. 

 The price relationship between shrimp and other luxury items will con- 

 tinue to exert an influence on consumption. There is always a chance 

 that cons\imers may substitute lobster, crab, or fancy meat cuts for 

 shrimp if the price ratio becomes too great. 



Provided that prices remain on a reasonable level, per capita 

 consumption of shrimp should continue to increase. Intelligent promo- 

 tional efforts designed to open new markets and the possibility of ris- 

 ing consumer income, are the underlying reasons for this optimistic 

 conclusion. Supply requirements in 1975 should be well above the lower 

 limit of Ii50 million pounds indicated by population growth but, because 

 of supply limitations, below the upper limit of 850 million pounds 

 indicated by the projection of past consumption trends. 



13/ Stolting, W. H., Some Economic Aspects of the Southery Shrimp 

 Fishery , Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, 

 iith Annual Session, 1952. 



Ih / The data for the sales pattern studies were developed by question- 

 naire interviews of local distributors in the markets selected for the 

 sample. The distributors were asked to rank the six varieties of fish 

 and shellfish most important from the standpoint of their business. 



113 



