BRITISH GUIANA ^/ 



The present catch is mostly very Gmall shrimp, 

 the peeled and di'ied meats oi' vjliich xjili average around 

 a thousand to the pound. The sea bob is most abundant 

 towards the eastern boundary, though apparently not as 

 plentiful as in Surinam. The es-Dimated aimual catch is 

 about 800 thousand pounds, heads-on weight. Production 

 possibilities appear to be about Ii to 5 million pounds, 

 heads-on basis. Increased production is unlikely unless 

 an export market can be developed lor dried shrimp. A 

 small amount of frozen shrimp will probably be exported 

 in the near future. 



COMERCIAL SPECIES AND FISHING GROUNDS 



In British Guiana the most abundant commercial forms are two 

 species of very small shrimp, known locally as "white bellies" or "fine" 

 shrimp. They are Palaemon schmitt i and Hippolysmata oplo t horo ides . 

 The dried and peeled meats of these shrimp average about a thousand to 

 the pound. The sea bob , Xiphop eneus kroyeri , the white shrimp ^ Penaeus 

 schmitti , and the brown shrimp, P. aztec us, appear occasionally in the 

 catches near GeorgetoTm. These larger forms, including the sea bob, 

 are called "coarse" shrimp. Probably less than 5 percent of the catch 

 from the Demarara River fishery is "coarse" shrimp. The sea bob is 

 reported to be abundant only near the Surinam border betx^jeen the Berbice 

 and the Coui'antyne Rivers. White and brown shrimp are scarce. 



The fishing grounds are near the mouths of the Essiquibo and 

 the Courantyne Rivers. The catch is estimated to be about 800,000 

 pounds, heads-on weight, a year. 



About 300 fishermen using Chinese trap nets fish the entire 

 year for shrimp and small fish. 



OUTLOOK FOR PRODUCTION 



The British Guiana shrimp fishery, when fully developed, 

 probably can produce U or 5 million pounds, heads-on weight, a year. 

 Owing to the small size of the more abundant species, the probability 

 is slight that this yield will be attained in the near l\iture, unless 

 a profitable export market can be found for the dried shrimp. 



It can be expected that some frozen brown and white shrimp 

 will soon be exported. The quantities probably will not be great. 



6/ The suivey of British Guiana was made during May 19^6 and this 

 date is implied when current events or prices are alluded to. 



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