Although shrimp are taken throughout the year, the best season 

 for the large shrimp is during tlie summer, between October and February 

 (table 1|). Examination of frozen specimens of H. mulleil taken during 

 this time of year indicated that these shrimp were spawning then. The 

 smaller species does not seem to be as seasonal in its availability. 



TABLE U.—L/iNDINGS OF UmZ SHRIMP IN ARGENTINA, 

 BY MONTHS, 1952 AND 1953 



(Converted to pounds, heads-on weight) 



Month 



January 



February 



March 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September 



October 



November 



December 



Total 



1952 



1,179,200 



5i;0,800 



15,000 



23,800 



58,000 



37,900 



lli9,500 



121^,100 



U7,600 



565,700 



l,695,Uoo 



1,397,300 



5,83ii,300 



1953 



278,200 



285,500 



72,500 



95,900 



187,900 



i|19,300 



li3,700 



287,900 



368,800 



576,500 



1,329,800 



1,753,600 



5,699,600 



OUTLOOK FOR PRODUCTION 



So little is known about the Argentinian shrimp that it is 

 impossible to estimate with any degree of accuracy what future production 

 might be. Indications are that the supply is limited and subject to 

 fluctuations. In years of abundance the catch probably could exceed 

 10 million pounds, heads-on weight. The local market now consumes almost 

 the entire production. 



FISHERMEN AND GEAR 



A few small boats operating with beam trawls out of Mar del 

 Plata are the only boats that fish for shrimp throughout the year. When 

 shrimp are abundant or market demand good, from 18 to 20 medium-sized 

 (about 60 feet long) otter trawlers go for shrimp. At other times these 

 boats will trawl for fish. The trawlers had originally been constructed 

 for the shark fishery. 



