PRICES 



Ex-Vessel Prices 



Prices paid to fishermen, commonly referred to as ex-vessel 

 prices, are established in several ways. In many instances, prices sire 

 agreed upon between the boat operators and the buyers before the boats 

 leave port. In some localities the level of ex- vessel prices at one 

 time was influenced by minimum prices stipulated by fishermen* s unions 

 or associations. Individual buyers frequently set a price for the 

 shrimp catch before the boats leave port, but there is no formal contract. 



While ex-vessel prices at aJ.1 producing centers reflect the 

 price level in the Chicago and New York -vdiolesale markets, there is 

 considerable variation in different localities. This is due to buyers 

 in one location assuming costs or performing operations that buyers in 

 other areas do not. 



Since the species and size of the shrimp have a bearing on 

 price in an area, variations will also depend on the abundance of the 

 species and size counts. Even shrimp of like species and size sold in 

 the same narket :7iay bring different prices depending upon the condition 

 of the product and the reputation of the seller for proper handling and 

 quality control. 



It is difficult to construct a representative Index of ex- 

 vessel prices. The general trend in prices can be studied on the basis 

 of a series of average values per pound at the fisherman's level. These 

 prices may be obtained by dividing annual catch values by landings. 



Average Value Per Pound Ex-Vessel 



In figure VIII - 22 the average value of a pound of shrimp is 

 compared with the average value per pound of all other vetrieties of fish 

 and shellfish for representative years from 1930 to 1958. While the two 

 values were identical in 1930, in 1958 shrimp were more than five times 

 as valuable as the other varieties of fish and shellfish. 



The ex-vessel value of shrimp in 1958 was 3^1.89 cents per 

 pound as against 3.39 cents in 1930. Other fish and shellfish brought 

 the fisherman an average 6.^9 cents per pound in 19?8. The latter were 

 about twice as much as in 1930 compared to a tenfold increase in the price 

 of shrimp. 



Minjjnum Ex-Vessel Sharing Prices IS/ 



Quotations of minl-tium ex-vessel sharing prices have been 

 compiled from the annual reports of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, 

 Market Jfews Service, The quotations are primarily for markets where 

 a semblance of an 'administered' price is maintained; i.e., for 



15/ In areas with relatively strong labor organization activity, unions 

 sometimes participate in negotiating irdnimum ex-vessel prices. These 

 pric;es, as a rule, become the basis for the distribution of the lay 

 within the local market area and are referred to as minimum ex-vessel 

 sharing prices, 



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