ARGENTINA '"^ 



Tvo species of Ehri.-np, both pink in color, 

 are taken comiaercially along Argentina's coast. The 

 best fishing grounds are in Patagonia near the town 

 of Rawson. Over 7 million pounds, heads-on weight, 

 were caught during 1953, the peak year. The catch 

 has dropped to about one-half since then owing to a 

 scarcity of shriinp. 'jTtien shrlTip are abundant probably 

 more than 10 million pounds could be taken annually. 

 Canning and freezing plants are located in Rawson 

 and Mar del Plata. Shrijnp are on the export-control 

 list to which the official rate of exchange applies. 



COMMERCIAL SP2CIES AND FISHING GROUNDS 



Two species of shrimp are caught commercially in Argentina. 

 One, Artemesia longinaris , is quite small, rarely exceeding a size 

 greater than 50 to the pound, heads-off. This species is called "caraaron". 

 The second species, Hyrtienopenaeus mulleri , called "langostino" (the 

 young of this species are also called "camaron",) grows to a considerably 

 larger size; some will reach 10 to 15 to the pound, headless, but most 

 average between 21 and 35 to the pound. The langostino belongs to the 

 same genus as the red shrimp found in deep water in the Gulf of Mexico. 

 Both the langostino and the camaron are pinic in color. The ripe ovaries, 

 two lobes of \ijhich extend the length of the female abdomen (tail), of 

 the langostino are bright green in the fresh or frozen shrimp. The 

 United States market is not accustomed to shrimp with ovaries of this 

 color. 



The fishing grounds are scattered along the coast from near 

 Mar del Plata to Comodoro Rivadavia. The northern area from Mar del 

 Plata to Bahia Blanca is most productive in small shrimp, and the Patagonian 

 coast, particularly near Rawson, usually produces most of the large shrimp. 

 Isla Escondida, a small island near Rawson, is a famous fishing • ground 

 for the larger shrimp. 



2/ The survey of Argentina was made during May 1956 and this time is 

 Implied in references to current events or prices . 



